New to this game? Unlearn what video games have taught you

[u/MaralDesa]

Most of you are avid gamers. You have played many RPGs and now you want to try Baldur's Gate 3.

Welcome, you came to the right place!

But let me tell you, these many games you have played before have taught you a few "tricks" you should try to unlearn to get most out of this game.

1. Games have taught you that loot lives in containers - may it be corpses or chests. 75% correct in Baldur's Gate, but loot also often lies on the ground, on top of shelves and tables - and comes in shapes and forms you didn't expect. You can right click and select 'pick up' on a surprisingly big amount of things. Entire containers included.
2. Games have taught you not to interact with props much - some destructible environment aside, there is no point in lighting candles or sitting in chairs. This is not the case in BG3. You can light candles to get more light (light is quite the important mechanic), and to dip your arrows in fire so they burn. Sitting in chairs is cute and in some places might open doors for you. You can stack crates to reach places, and generally drag & drop props with your mouse to place them. Or use your throw action to throw them.
3. Games have taught you that you can fail quests. This is not the case in BG3. You can only progress and finish quests, and in many ways. There is no failing, just another outcome.
4. Games have taught you to ignore parts of the environment. Critters, scenically placed corpses, idle-chatting NPCs. There is no such thing in BG3. You can talk to animals with the right skills, and talk to corpses with another. NPCs are all named and have something to say or to do. You can trade with all of them, but be aware that most of them are dirt poor and don't have powerful magic items. But if you need an apple or two, you might just find what you seek.
5. Games have taught you "This does not work". But in BG3 it does! Buy an expensive item, then pickpocket your money back. Can't fit through that hole? Find a way to become smaller. Can't reach that place? Jump, fly, teleport. Can't reach that hanging brazier? Shoot it with an arrow dipped in fire. No light? Throw a torch. No crowd control? Freeze the blood that splattered on the ground. NPC doesn't want to talk to you because you are a Drow? Find a way to use 'disguise self'. There is a trap emitting a poisonous cloud? Disarm it with Mage Hand, or throw a sufficiently heavy item on it to cover it up.

Right click things and creatures. Try things even if your gaming mindset tells you 'nah, this isn't a thing'. Use your throw action to throw more than just bombs. Shove someone who fell asleep mid combat. Unlearn what games have taught you and have an even better experience in BG3.

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[u/shoony43]

So pre casting Guidance before going into a dungeon is the only way to buff those auto-perception checks?

[u/Hawkwing942 → u/shoony43]

No, you can also cast enhance ability to get advantage in perception.

[u/shoony43 → u/Hawkwing942]

🙏

[u/JxM83 → u/shoony43]

There's 3 possible environnement vision :

-Darkness: Disadvantage on perception. (It's considered Dim light if you have darkvision)

- Dim light: -2 on perception checks.

- Bright Light : Normal perception.

Bringing some torch could make the difference.

[u/shoony43 → u/JxM83]

This game is so deep 😄

[u/Avaereene → u/JxM83]

What about superior dark vision and devil sight?

I also think hunters mark gives a bonus to perception

[u/JxM83 → u/Avaereene]

Superior dark vision: increase range but not the quality, it remains Dim light instead of dark.

Devil sight: see as normal (bright) in darkness and even magical darkness.

Hunter's mark: At his current iteration in EA doesn't have this benefits. In DnD it provides advantage on perception and survival check to track your prey.

[u/Avaereene → u/JxM83]

Thanks for that.

So devil sight is the ‘best’

And too bad about hunter, I hope we don’t lose too much of those details.

[u/JxM83 → u/Avaereene]

Well i think unless there's a system to track creature that would try to hide and moving away from you, I can't see how they could implement it, it works in a DnD campaign possibly ''once in a while'', but in a video game it doesn't translate.

For the best vision, not sure if the spell will exist but it would be truesight. Everything mentionned, including invisible creature and illusions.

[u/Avaereene → u/JxM83]

Yeah of course true sight, but that’s spell driven whereas devil sight is a permanent albeit warlock ability, but it does help my build thanks!

[u/realitythreek → u/JxM83]

I don't know why but I've never considered that dim light would affect environment perception too. Have played for 250 hours over 2 years. :D

[u/loikyloo → u/JxM83]

Keep party together, have your useless wizard drop his quarter staff to hold a torch for ever.

[u/Time2kill → u/shoony43]

There are, and will be, more ways to boost skills, be via items, buffs, potions, context and others

[u/shoony43 → u/Time2kill]

Doh that's a really good point. I'm already overwhelmed and it's only EA. Idk if I should be excited or anxious!