Baldur's Gate 3 is an upcoming video game that adapts the fifth edition rules of Dungeons & Dragons into the video game format. The rules of D&D are changed in the Early Access build of Baldur's Gate 3, as not all of them match the video game format, especially in a game with a stronger focus on combat and exploration than many D&D campaigns. Some of the changes in Baldur's Gate 3 are beneficial to the game and they should be considered for the upcoming 5.5 edition of D&D that is set to launch in 2024.

The first two Baldur's Gate games used the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules, which meant that gamers around the world were introduced to some of the worst aspects of that edition, including THAC0 rulesBaldur's Gate is a notoriously deadly game during its opening hours, as low-level AD&D characters were 0 weak, especially spellcasters and rogues, meaning they were always one critical hit away from death. This is one of the reasons why Baldur's Gate 2 is considered the superior game, as it starts the player at a higher level when they're less likely to be one-sh0tted. The third edition of D&D was adapted in the two Neverwinter Nights games, while the fourth edition never received its own video game, despite it being the most suitable for adaptation.

Related: Why Baldur's Gate 3 Draconic Bloodlines Could Change The Game

Baldur's Gate 3 is available in Early Access and it only includes a handful of classes and a maximum character level of four. This is because it only contains the first of three planned chapters. The version of Baldur's Gate 3 that is currently available already has a number of changes from the fifth edition of D&D, but they work well within the confines of the game. An updated version of fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons is going to be released in 2024 and Wizards of the Coast should use some of the changes that were introduced in Baldur's Gate 3.

D&D 5.5 Changes Should Turn Rangers Into Pokémon Trainers

Ranger's as an Archer Build in Dungeons & Dragons

The version of the ranger in the Player's Handbook is generally considered to be the weakest class in D&D, to the point where many groups use the revised version of the ranger that appeared in an Unearthed Arcana article. The ranger also had the weakest subclass in the game, in the form of the beast master. The beast master had an animal companion that was incredibly weak and required actions in order to command in battle. The revised ranger replaced the beast master with the beast conclave, which had the animal companions improve at a faster pace, giving them more abilities, and removed the need to spend actions to command them.

The beast master ranger in Balder's Gate 3 replaces the animal companions with the Summon Companion feature. This turns the animal companion into a summoned monster, which can be switched out whenever the ranger isn't in battle. The ranger can choose between the bear, boar, giant spider, raven, or wolf, giving them options that have a lot of utility. D&D has experimented with this idea, as the drakewarden subclass in Fizban's Treasury of Dragons allows the ranger to summon a draconic ally. This change would drastically improve the beast master, especially if it receives an aquatic option, as they have a range of allies that can be called on to help in different situations.

D&D 5.5 Update Needs To Give Sorcerers Earlier Access To Metamagic

Dungeons & Dragons Tiefling Cover

In D&D, one of the benefits of playing a sorcerer is their Metamagic class feature. Sorcerers gain Sorcery Points at level two, which can be spent on additional spell slots. Once they hit level three, they gain Metamagic abilities, which allow them to spend Sorcery Points to change how their spells work. These include abilities like Subtle Spell, which removes the need for somatic and verbal components when casting a spell, or Quickened Spell, which allows a spell to be cast as a bonus action. In D&D, this means that the caster can use a cantrip in the same round as the Quickened Spell. In Baldur's Gate 3, the spell casting time rule has been removed, allowing the caster to use two spells in one turn. This has been balanced out by increasing the Sorcery Point cost to use Quickened Spell from two to three.

Related: Baldur's Gate 3: Every New Spell Patch 6 Adds

Baldur's Gate 3 added sorcerers in its last update and they received several tweaks. One positive change to the class is that they receive a single Metamagic ability at level two from a smaller selection, and gain a second one at level three, from a bigger selection. This change gives sorcerers a more interesting ability at level two, as Font of Magic only lets them use Sorcery Points to buy additional spell slots. Font of Magic is just an extra spell at level two, so giving earlier access to Metamagic means that the sorcerer can at least do something new with their existing abilities.

D&D 5.5 Can Bring In The Varied Magical Arrows From Baldur's Gate 3

Baldurs Gate 3 Goblin Battle Screenshot

Baldur's Gate 3 uses many of the same elements as Divinity: Original Sin 2, as this was the previous game made by Larian Studios. One aspect of Divinity: Original Sin 2 that is an important part of Baldur's Gate 3 is creating surfaces using objects. These include being able to create frozen surfaces, fiery surfaces, and pools of acid, which can deal damage to enemies and restrict their movement. The ability to create surfaces using items and spells is an important part of the combat system, as manipulating the battlefield can help tip the odds in the player's favor, especially in a game as challenging as Baldur's Gate 3.

Baldur's Gate 3 has several magical arrowheads that can be used to create surfaces or shake up the battlefield. These include the Arrow of Fire, Arrow of Ice, and Arrow of Roaring Thunder. It's no secret that the current edition of D&D has downplayed the importance of magical items, especially in comparison to older editions. There are barely any magical arrows in the current edition of D&D, and adding these items as one-off use weapons would be a great addition to the game, without giving players too much of an advantage. Their traits could also be given to different types of weapons, in order to give the sling some much-needed love. The slow trickle of magic items in Dungeons & Dragons can be alleviated by giving the party some one-shot items that boost the strength of ranged attacks, and it would give the archers some more exciting options in battle.

Next: Baldur's Gate 3: How Wild Magic Changes The Game

Baldur's Gate 3 is currently in development for PC and Google Stadia.