Baldur's Gate 3 should inspire a new set of rules for dungeons and dragons

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Baldur's Gate 3 is one of the biggest video game successes of recent years, and it's all thanks to the massive efforts of Larian Studios, faithfully recreating the world of Dungeons & Dragons and constantly improve the game. Still, a natural part of turning a TTRPG into a video game is considering what to leave behind and what to change. Here, one Baldur's Gate 3 elements stand out.

The key to D&D is its combat system, but there are several complex parts that make up a good battle. IN BG3the environment takes its toll, much more than what is implemented in D&D 5e. Whatever comes off D&D next, new rules can take inspiration from Larian.

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Baldur's Gate 3: 10 ways to use the environment to win fights

In Baldur's Gate 3, players can use the environment to their advantage, often to devastating effect.

BG3's setting would be suitable for an immersive D&D game

Environmental hazards are plentiful and effective in BG3

Every meeting in Baldur's Gate 3 has the potential for environmental damage – and for players to profit from it themselves. Grease and oil can be used to engulf the map in flames (or oil drums for explosions), or water can be turned into electrifying lightning or paralyzing ice. Poison can, well, poison and acid can reduce a character's armor class. Each effect has clearly written rules, but D&D have not actually codified them.

Aside from their basic effects, including environmental conditions can teach players to be strategic in their combat. Mud and entanglements greatly reduce movement speed, and several of BG3The druid spells, for example, create similarly difficult terrain. Especially for new players, being subject to the environment teaches them how useful their own spells can be against enemies.

Perhaps these elements are effective because this is also not the first time Larian has played with them. Divinity: Original SinEnvironmental hazards are an important part of its combat, which made the game stand out when it was released. It seems Baldur's Gate 3 was the development team's way of refining that mechanic – and it's really paying off.

DMs could learn something from BG3's combat

This is not the only case BG3 offer a valuable lesson to D&D dungeon masters, from loot distribution to Strange Ox's storytelling potential. That is, Baldur's Gate 3 is successful in part for its ability to make table games accessible. There is no doubt D&D is a complicated game, so BG3 had to make it digestible and enjoyable, resulting in elements that would even work better if applied back to the table.

Baldur's Gates combat environments are only one facet of a strategically exciting game, and half of a DM's battles present consistently interesting challenges for their players. While individual DMs can make this more or less intense depending on the player's preferences, environmental mechanics can add immersion and realism to the game.

As often seen in BG3it can also convey a certain attitude or provide easy fallout, for example. Grease on the floor is made lethal with fiery drops, like in the Dank Crypt, or a flooded room that shocks players with lightning, both of which create a sense of urgency and encourage problem solving. A party traveling through a swamp will, due to the difficult terrain, do so at a much slower pace, or visibility may be reduced due to desert sandstorms.

All said, the fact that D&D has not officially codified environmental effects is a missed opportunity, but Baldur's Gate 3 essentially proving why it should be TTRPG's next step. D&D can also explore many places like BG3 didn't, which means there's more unexplored potential for environmental immersion—ultimately creating better D&D game.

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