Summary
Baldur’s Gate 3is beloved for its character customization, but it could go even further in its sequel, evidenced by the amount of mods dedicated to giving players more options. From cosmetics to new races, the roleplaying potential and depth of character inBaldur’s Gate 3are preceded by its adoredDungeons and Dragonsorigins. Because of this,D&D’s sourcebookTasha’s Cauldron of Everythinghas the perfect feature forBaldur’s Gate 4to expand on—custom lineages.
In short,Tasha’s Cauldron’s custom lineages allow players to choose mechanics separately for a unique, comprehensive build rather than relying on thestatistics provided by the baseD&Drace. The build impact could be groundbreaking inBaldur’s Gate, not only for the sheer customization of stats but also the idea of players being able to have complex backgrounds essentially built-in, making the game infinitely more personal.
Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything Could Be the Sourcebook BG4 Needs
For the custom lineage, instead of a player choosing a race at first level, they can choose the following traits: creature type, size, speed,ability score increase(spread at their prerogative), one feat, a variable trait (darkvision or one skill proficiency), and one language other than Common. While not all of these are particularly relevant to the wayBaldur’s Gate 3is played, there are several pieces of this that encourage player imagination regarding their character’s distinct origins.
The Customization of Mechanics Creates Unique and Satisfying Builds
The open customization that custom lineages offer ensures that the character in play is unique, and traits like proficiencies and feats play into whatever backstory they have. In other words, at the core of manyBG3players’ games are choices that fit into whatever backstory they’ve come up with for their characters, and the custom lineage encourages that very personal connection.
While certain changes are announced with theupcoming update toD&D’s Player’s Handbookthat will perhaps satisfy the same purpose (such as allowing players to have a starting feat), the custom lineage route is developmentally accessible. Rather than wading through statistics still based on race, trying to mix and match sensibly within the confines of what’s provided, this would prioritize individual in-game mechanics that come into play while setting up a story players are happy with.
Features Introduced in Tasha’s Cauldron are Already Beloved in D&D
There are two features that stand out from the custom lineage as being useful forBaldur’s Gateplayers due to their functionality. Firstly, a starting feat makes a build more well-rounded, as there are a lot of feats to choose from that both inform the backstory and provide powerful boons. First-levelD&Dcan feel like a slog to begin with, but a starting feat could buff a character considerably. Not to mention that thelevel 12 cap inBaldur’s Gate 3means players wanting to max out their main stat to 20 can generally only have one feat, which is a hard choice.
Secondly, the flexible split between ability scores is an overdue change. Many homebrew tables already allow this rule, and that speaks to how desirable this trait is. Fixed ability score increases through racial abilities can feel to players like they’re being shoehorned into one archetype without regard for interesting builds, especially in a game likeBaldur’s Gatewhich is typically going to use those racial stats as a base. But if a typicallyintelligentD&Dgnomewanted to become a barbarian, a very hit-now-think-later class, thisTasha’s Cauldronfeature makes that possible without having to literally sacrifice strength for a compelling racial background. Additionally, custom stats like this also make up for races or subraces that players had hoped to see inBG3.
Custom Lineages Can Subvert Stereotypes and Make the Game More Interesting
Seeing the custom lineage specifically inBaldur’s Gate 4subverts the major downside that might show up in aD&Dgame, especially for those who lean intohow the classic fantasy races present themselves. At the table, a character that looks like a halfling but acts like an orc might be confusing, especially for how they fit into the world. But ifBG4is anything like its predecessor, the story written for players will stop that awkwardness in its tracks, allowing players to witness the full breadth of their custom creation without in-world discord.
Simultaneously, the same issue of the classic fantasy races and their associated tropes is likely negated with the custom lineage on its own. To reject statistics based on race alone is to possibly reject cliches. As fun as it can be to seeBG3’s race-specific dialoguesand skill checks, a custom lineage might present numerous options in this regard, letting the player take the lead on how they act rather than allowing themselves to be swept away by Faerunian stereotypes.
Overall,Tasha’s Cauldron of Everythingprovides players with the perfect opportunity to create characters strong in both mechanics and story from the jump. Features already popular at the tabletop are popular for good reason, buffing characters in ways that don’t feel like it’s over-optimizing. The obvious choice for theBaldur’s Gate 3sequel is to allow this extensive customization, satisfying players with a more immersive story in the process.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
