Summary
The announcement from Larian Studios that it is handingBaldur’s Gateback to Wizards of the Coast afterBaldur’s Gate 3is unfortunate.This removed the possibility of anyBaldur’s Gate 3DLC, and was a disappointment for many fans who wanted more from the RPG. Larian had created characters with a lot of potential, and 2024 is an exciting time forDungeons and Dragonsthanks to the release of the newPlayer’s Handbook, creating the perfect opportunity for a collaborative DLC.
The newPlayer’s Handbookbrings with it 12 classes and 48 subclasses, along with a myriad of new rules aimed at equalizing gameplay.Baldur’s Gate 3DLCwould have been the perfect place to showcase the new rules and subclasses, and would have givenBaldur’s Gate 3something fun and unique for fans ofDungeons and Dragonsto play before implementing it in their own games.
The New Subclasses and Rules in the 2024 Players Handbook
The main classes for the 2024Player’s Handbookhave remained the same, and Wizards of the Coast have controversially made the decision toexclude the Artificer from the newPlayer’s Handbookclass list, which will presumably be added in a later expansion. It’s under the subclasses that thePlayer’s Handbooksees the biggest changes, with several new additions to each class. A new rule has also been added that only lets all classes choose a subclass at Level 3, instead of specializing at different levels depending on class.
Warlock
Most of these subclasses were included in other sources fromDungeons and Dragons, such asXanathar’s Guide to EverythingandTasha’s Cauldron of Everything, but weren’t included inBaldur’s Gate 3. These subclasses weren’t accessible to players who didn’t have access to source books outside thePlayer’s Handbook, but now there will be one place where everyone can access them.
Implementing the New Player’s Handbook in Baldur’s Gate 3
A DLC with these new rules and subclasses doesn’t need to be massive or even story-based, but just an added bonus with the new content from thePlayer’s Handbook. Releasing the newPlayer’s Handbookin collaboration withBaldur’s Gate 3would be a lucrative opportunity to advertise thePlayer’s Handbookand encourage players to transition from 5e to 5.5e. Some struggle with bringing classes and characters to life, andBaldur’s Gate 3is a great way to bridge that gap, just as it brought many new players toDungeons and Dragonswhen it launched in 2023.
New subclasses would be a great boon forBaldur’s Gate 3for replayability, especially withBaldur’s Gate 3’s level cap. The newPlayer’s Handbookalso takes steps to balance the classes better by adding some popular subclasses from other sources to classes that need a boost, such as Druid, Rogue, and Monk. Although these classes are already implemented well inBaldur’s Gate 3, they can feel overshadowed by other classes such as Sorcerer, Bard, and Cleric, which have more powerful spells and greater flexibility in gameplay. More unique subclasses such as Circle of Stars for Druid and Soulknife for Rogue could make these classes more versatile, unique, and appealing to players, especially on a replay.
