The Unwritten Rules of Baldur's Gate 3 Explained (2024)

One of the biggest similarities between RPGs and online games is how unwritten rules often form around certain actions. For example, it is an unwritten rule to never trust a mage in the Dragon Age games, while spamming moves in fighting games like Mortal Kombat is seriously frowned upon. As an extensive RPG with online co-op elements, Baldur's Gate 3 has its own unwritten rules already, even though it's not even on PS5 yet.Baldur's Gate 3 has established itself as Game of the Year material and the personal GOTY for many fans. While many reviews for Baldur's Gate 3 are likely still in progress, it has still established itself as one of the best PC and RPGs of the year, as its Metacritic score currently sits at 97 (after 21 reviews as of this writing). For comparison, that's one point higher than Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (but it has 145 reviews). What's clear is how gaming fans have survived multiple massive games that have created major waves throughout the industry, and because of that, certain etiquette for BG3 has already been made apparent.RELATED: Baldur's Gate 3 Releases Another Hotfix Update

Baldur's Gate 3 Stats: Community Engagement Rules

Recently, Larian Studios released some stats tied to its first weekend after release. It's easy to gleam how players are tackling Baldur's Gate 3 via these stats, especially when it comes to certain rules of engagement.

Stat/Rule

• 368 players have beaten the game - Baldur's Gate 3 players should take their time and take it all in.
• Over 93% of players chose a custom character - A custom character is the best way to experience Baldur's Gate 3.
  • It's not clear how or if this stat takes Baldur's Gate 3's Dark Urge character into account.
• 10% of players spent an hour in character creation, with 88 total years being spent there - You've got to get your character just right in BG3.
• 815,000 NPCs were shoved into chasms - Shoving is fun in BG3.
• Most players choose the good path in BG3 - An Unwritten Rule for all RPGs is how the good path is the best path.
• Scratch and the Owlbear are the best pets.

Baldur's Gate 3 Unwritten Co-Op Rules

When it comes to co-op in Baldur's Gate 3, there are a couple of obvious unwritten rules and etiquette to follow. Combat-wise, it's best if each player controls some of BG3's companions because it speeds up combat.

If players are starting the game together, then anything goes. Players may or may not miss out on certain conversations, but it's how such a game should be enjoyed. There's nothing wrong with listening in (except for in Baldur's Gate 3's romance scenes - those should be set to private dialogue for obvious reasons). On the other end of the spectrum, if someone is joining another player's game but have either beaten it or are farther along, they should let the host enjoy as much as the game as possible. Giving them a powerful custom character to use later on is nice too.

Baldur's Gate 3: A Word on Min-Maxing and Save-Scumming

If there is one area that the greater Baldur's Gate 3 community seems split on, it's how one embraces RPG and minmaxing classes and if they should save scum or not. Save Scumming references using saves and loads to get the best results possible every time, instead of letting the dice play out as they should. Some folks think it's fine, others hate save scumming with a passion. There's no hard unwritten rule here, but as long as everyone is enjoying Baldur's Gate 3, however they play, fans should just be happy for them.

Baldur's Gate 3: Unwritten Rules for Companions

In a game like BG3, it's impossible for every player to decide on the same fate for a companion. Karlach, Wyll, Minthara, and so forth are so complex with so many endings that dubbing one of them the "best" is highly subjective. However, there are three unwritten rules for RPGs that do come into effect here.

• 1 - Whoever a player is romancing should remain in the party at all times, unless players want/need specific characters for personal quests. For example, if players want to romance Karlach in Baldur's Gate 3, she should almost always be in the party.
• 2 - Exhaust all dialogue - whether a character hates or loves the player, all of their dialogue should be experienced. Going to bed when a companion still has something to say is essentially a cardinal sin in BG3.
• 3 - Have a Balanced Party. It's not always cut and dry, but across their characters, players ideally want someone for DPS, tanking damage, full magic use, stealth (like lockpicking), and healing. Some characters like Shadowheart, Jaheira, or Minthara can handle multiple roles, but balancing elements like these is key.

Baldur's Gate 3's Most Important Unwritten Rule is Simple

There are certainly other unwritten rules that fans engage with, and as players grow more experienced with it, more will likely emerge. However, there is one key unwritten rule for Baldur's Gate 3 that dominates every other discussed so far. And it's pretty simple. However one plays, whatever rules one breaks, or however one engages with its system, Baldur's Gate 3 is the player's story, whatever they want it to be. There are no canon choices, there are no strict do this or do that rules, or anything like that.

Baldur's Gate 3 is a feat in freedom for the player, and this rule protects it above all: someone giving into Illithid Powers has their personal story, just as someone resists them. It's a beautiful thing that every story in-game is just as valid as the other, and no two players or playthroughs will ever play out the same, not when Baldur's Gate 3's endings have 17,000 variations.

Baldur's Gate 3 is available now on PC, with a PS5 version releasing on September 6.

MORE: Baldur's Gate 3's Warlock Feels Incomplete Without One Subclass