BG3 quickstart guide - Spoiler free

</style>

## A spoiler free BG3 quickstart guide

</div>

Baldur's gate 3 is an upcoming RPG based on the 5e dnd system created by Larian Studios (who made Divinity Original Sin I/II). **This document is for groups and individuals to do some light planning on their first playthrough of BG3 without being exposed to spoilers.** Information comes from the early access so some information may not be fully accurate, for up to date information its recommended to use the [community bg3 wiki](https://bg3.wiki/wiki/Main_Page) at [https://bg3.wiki/](https://bg3.wiki/wiki/Main_Page).

### How to choose a class
There are many factors of character customization but the most important is your **Class**. Other choices (such as which skills and background) are important but are more intuitive and mostly orthagonal to your class selection. You can find more information on those in the Players Handbook 5e - note that there are some differences most notably your race will mostly change how you look and confer situational bonuses (unlike in dnd 5e, your choice in race does not effect your ability scores). 
 
#### Main Ability and associated skills
Pick classes (and other bonuses, such as **Skill Proficiencies**) that interact with main **Ability** you like interacting with, for example: 
<div style='margin-top:-10px;'></div>

-   If you want to talk to characters and immerse yourself in the story, pick high **Charisma** (CHA). 
-   If you want to steal and sneak, pick high **Dexterity** (DEX)
-   Interacting with the physics of the world requires high **Strength** (STR)
-   If you don't want to miss hidden details about the world pick **Wisdom** (WIS)
-   If you want to immerse yourself in the lore of the world, pick **Intelligence** (INT)

#### Martial vs Spellcaster
- Spellcasters are much more complicated to play, tend to be more burst-y, maximize a mental stat, and are much better at AOE
- Martials are simpler, tend to be better at single target + sustained damage, care more about magic weapons/armor 
- *Some subclasses offer a splash of spellcaster/martial prowess

### Party considerations
- **Skill checks and dialogue tags**: Its better to have different Classes, Abilities, Races, Backgrounds, and Skill Proficiencies to pass various active and passive checks. 
- **Equipment use**: A good spread of Ability, armor and weapon proficiencies will allow party members to utilize a larger portion of the magical gear they find
- **Martial and casting:** Allowing martials to spend resources when fighting extended 1-o-1s and spellcasters to spend resources when fighting weaker hordes is more consistent than having a party of all of one type

### Origin characters
Origin characters have more tie-ins into the main story and have a pre-set class (although you're free to multiclass or even respec however you wish) -- but the lead dev himself recommends not playing *as* them on a first playthrough, because doing so can spoil parts of their story or cause conflict between characters in your multiplayer party. Ultimately there are reasons to play both as custom and origin characters, unlike in divinity sin 2 where there was more to experience when playing as an origin character.

</div>

#### Astarion - Elf Rogue  
Astarion prowled the night as a vampire spawn for centuries, serving a sadistic master until he was snatched away. Now he can walk in the light and has the chance at a new life, but how long can he keep his past buried?

#### Gale - Human Wizard Sage
From a young age, Gale was a prodigy with magic, drawing the attention of the Goddess of Magic herself, Mystra. They shared an intimate relationship until one day Mystra grew distant and disappeared, seemingly displeased with Gale. Spurned by his goddess, Gale lost most of his incredible magical prowess.

#### Karlach - Tiefling Barbarian
Karlach was a citizen of Baldur's Gate before being taken prisoner and forced to fight in the Blood War, the eternal conflict between demons and devils. She was a prisoner and champion of Zariel, Archdevil and ruler of Avernus, the first layer of the Nine Hells.

#### Lae’zel - Githyanki Fighter
Crashed down to the Sword Coast from the stars, Lae'zel is a fierce warrior, even by the standards of militant githyanki society. When faced with the possibility of becoming a mind flayer, the monster she has dedicated her life to defeating, she must prove her worth and earn the right to rejoin her people.

#### Shadowheart - Half-elf Cleric 
A loyal cleric of Shar, Shadowheart is the sole survivor of a holy mission undertaken on the Mistress of the Night's behest. She alone must deliver a relic of immense power to her coven in Baldur's Gate, while threatened by a strange new magic that is burgeoning from within.

#### Wyll - Human Warlock
From a scion of a famed Baldurian house to a life of adventure on the road, Wyll’s life as the monster hunter called the Blade of Frontiers has made him one of the beating hearts of the Sword Coast. While he has done great deeds for the Coast’s people, the source of his power remains secret.

#### The Dark Urge
Similar to a custom character who has a built-in storyline involving evil compulsions. We have the least information about this class and it is the most unambiguously evil, may involve removing some agency from the player so not pick at your own risk!

\columnbreak

</div>