As Baldur’s Gate 3 players look toward their next adventure in Faerun, many have opted out of another run in favor of looking toward the source material that inspired it all: Dungeons & Dragons. For some, BG3 opened the door to D&D for the very first time, introducing them to dice rolls, party dynamics, and the kind of roleplay that extends far beyond the digital battlefield. And that in itself is a gift.
While Baldur’s Gate 3 offers a contained story with branching paths, Dungeons & Dragons thrives on limitless possibilities. This means that players who are new to tabletop gaming may face a learning curve. But the most crucial part to overcoming this obstacle is having the right tools at the table. That’s why an upcoming release on November 11 is worth paying attention to if one is a Baldur's Gate 3 player. Whether a player is a seasoned tabletop adventurer or a BG3 fan playing D&D for the first time, this book could be the key to bridging a love of the game with the boundless potential of its pen-and-paper counterpart.
Baldur's Gate 3: Every Class, Ranked
Classic D&D classes form the backbone of classes in Baldur's Gate 3. Here's how they stack up against each other.
Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerun is the Perfect Dungeons & Dragons Book for Baldur’s Gate 3 Fans
Heroes of Faerun is a part of the exhaustive Wizards of the Coast’s Forgotten Realms Ultimate Bundle. But luckily for BG3 fans, this book is sold separately. When players see the cover of the Heroes of Faerun book, they are likely to smile in recognition. It features familiar characters, with Minsc, Boo, and Karlach taking center stage in this nearly 200-page compendium. However, there are many reasons for Baldur’s Gate 3 players to acquire this book beyond just the beloved characters appearing on the cover.
Heroes of Faerun is a great resource for any player with ties to Baldur’s Gate 3. New Dungeons & Dragons players seeking guidance will find this book a helpful starting point for character creation. At the same time, experienced adventurers will appreciate the vast array of player options available, allowing them to create a hero capable of shaping the fate of Faerun as they did with their Tav or Durge. Heroes of Faerun features:
- 19 spells, including rules for all-new Circle Magic spellcasting
- 8 classic and emerging Factions
- 8 new subclasses
- Renown Rewards for 42 Gods of Faerun
- 18 new backgrounds and 34 new feats
- Catalog of regional equipment, including magic items
- Overview of 10 regions of the Forgotten Realms
- The Atlas of Faerun, a digital map of the entire Faerun continent that will be accessible via Maps VTT
Players who preorder Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerun will also receive the Dallabad Oasis Animated Map for Maps VTT.
Dungeons and Dragons' Upcoming Astarion BG3 Guidebook is a Controversy Waiting to Happen
With Dungeons and Dragons' Astarion's Book of Hungers upcoming, all eyes are on Baldur's Gate 3's Rogue. But that could mean bad news for some fans.
Heroes of Faerun: A Boon of Recognizable Content for Baldur’s Gate 3 Fans
One of the biggest joys of playing Larian's magnum opus was spotting Baldur's Gate 3's deep-cut references to Dungeons & Dragons lore while making the story feel personal. But for BG3 players who did not recognize these references, Heroes of Faerun carries that same energy by reintroducing beloved factions and debuting new subclasses. Much of the content will look strikingly familiar.
New Subclasses Reminiscent of Baldur’s Gate 3’s Patch 8
Here’s a quick look at the fresh subclasses readers find inside Heroes of Faerun. Some subclasses come with some clear nods that BG3 players will recognize immediately:
|
Class |
Subclass |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Bard |
College of the Moon |
This powerful bardic subclass features fey-inspired bardic magic stemming from the Moonshae Isles. |
|
Cleric |
Knowledge Domain |
Clerics of this Domain think that the pursuit of knowledge itself is an act of worship. These clerics will worship gods like Oghma, Gond, Jergal, or Mystra. |
|
Fighter |
Banneret |
The new Banneret subclass is a revision of the Purple Dragon Knight subclass. A Purple Dragon Knight is a warrior bonded with an amethyst dragon hatchling. |
|
Paladin |
Oath of the Noble Genies |
These genie-sworn paladins wield elemental splendor while fearing and venerating the destruction that they can bring. Fans of the game will recognize that elemental spellcasting in BG3 is a force to be reckoned with, adding some depth to this subclass. |
|
Ranger |
Winter Walker |
These Rangers have been touched by a strange magic. They become frigid terrors themselves as they hunt monsters that plague arctic wastelands. They usually hail from places like Icewind Dale. |
|
Rogue |
Scion of the Three |
A Scion of the Three usually hails from Baldur's Gate. They draw their powers from the Dead Three (Bane, Myrkul, and Bhaal), usually due to a thirst for macabre goals or through a curse. |
|
Sorcerer |
Spellfire Sorcery |
Few can claim a connection to the Weave like Spellfire Sorcerers can. Spellfire is a rare ability drawn from the Sorcerer's connection to the source of all magic, and their adventurous souls lead them to many corners of the Sword Coast. |
|
Wizard |
Bladesinger |
Bladesinger was a subclass added in Baldur's Gate 3's Patch 8. These Wizards are combat-ready thanks to their graceful attunement to their swords. |
The Factions
The world of BG3 beckoned players with brief glimpses into how the world operated beyond their plight. Part of this worldbuilding was made possible thanks to D&D’s factions. Whether one was clashing with Zhentarim smugglers or stumbling upon Harper spies, the game was quick to remind players of the world's expansive nature.
Heroes of Faerun makes these background groups playable, letting adventurers align with iconic organizations to reap in-world benefits. Completing missions or aiding factions can net rewards like housing, discounts, unique items, or even NPC allies at your side. The roster will be familiar to BG3 fans, with some new names worth watching:
- The Harpers - The same shadowy network that aided players against the Absolute in BG3, the Harpers are led by Jaheira.
- The Zhentarim - The Zhentarim are black-market fixers who are opportunistic foes or allies, depending on player choice .
- Cult of the Dragon - This faction is properly obsessed with undead dragons, tying neatly into Faerun’s draconic conflicts.
- The Emerald Enclave - Defenders of balance and the wilds who purge unnatural threats.
- The Lord’s Alliance - Political and royal power players across the Sword Coast. Also known as the Council of Lords, this partnership was founded by the noble families of major cities to counter the influence of nefarious groups and maintain watch over nebulous cities like Luskan and Amn. As a fun treat for BG3 fans, Baldur's Gate city is represented in The Lord's Alliance by Wyll's father, Grand Duke Ulder Ravenguard.
- The Order of the Gauntlet - Morally upstanding warriors, knights, paladins, and clerics who are sworn to protect Faerun against evildoers. Its members draw their strength through faith in good-aligned deities.
- The Red Wizards of Thay - Infamous necromancers hailing from Thay, whose plots often ripple through the Realms.
Other sourcebooks that could be useful for Baldur's Gate fans who want to bridge the gap between the game and Dungeons & Dragons include the Player's Handbook, Xanathar's Guide to Everything, Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide, and Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. Astarion fans will enjoy the upcoming Astarion's Book of Hungers.
Baldur's Gate 3
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- RPG
