Baldur’s Gate 3 Improves One Important Mechanic From Dungeons & Dragons

achieved critical acclaim last year for its phenomenal story and cast of characters. The game from Larian Studios also seamlessly adapts the rules and mechanics of ' fifth edition, one of the most popular tabletop games in the world, into a video game format. But not every mechanic in a TTRPG is suitable for a video game.

Some rules function due to the ability to improvise and the creative freedom available to the DM, the person running the game. Making a video game, the team at Larian had to be more thorough in planning out what options players would have to interact with the world. Each potential choice had to be accounted for beforehand. One particular mechanic the team adapted to, that of awarding players Inspiration, demonstrates this concept well. It showcases how the game emulates the open-ended feeling of the tabletop game while simultaneously clarifying a vague rule from .

Screen Rant's Game of the Year 2023 is Baldur's Gate 3, a testament to how much space remains for grand storytelling and characters.

The term Inspiration can be confusing in due to the fact that there are two distinct resources which share the name. Bardic Inspiration is an ability that certain characters possess and can be used to help other players. Inspiration, meanwhile, is a reward that the DM can give to players which can be used to improve one's dice rolls. It is awarded to players who do something particularly cool at the table, act in a way that perfectly embodies their character, or otherwise impress the group with their creativity.

The mechanic is ambiguous within the rules as written and leaves a lot of freedom to the DM on how to actually use it. Thus, Inspiration can work differently at different tables, and even work inconsistently at the same table. is designed to provide such freedom, but inconsistency in rulings can be an issue for players who prefer more structure. This rule wouldn't translate well to a video game setting, which requires more clarity in its