Baldur's Gate 3: Why You Shouldn't Sleep on Hirelings

As one might expect, Baldur's Gate 3 has been the recipient of heaps of praise thanks to its stellar character writing, impactful player choice, and strong narrative. These are all obvious strengths of the award-winning RPG, but it can be easy to dismiss or overlook its strong game mechanics when focusing solely on them. Indeed, Baldur's Gate 3 is a great story-driven game, but it's also, plainly put, a fantastic mechanical experience.

Turn-based combat systems can be divisive, but games that put a unique spin on the concept's fundamentals tend to be the ones that get the most attention from mainstream audiences. Baldur's Gate 3 is no different in this regard, as its focus on positioning and environmental interaction add invaluable layers to the basics of turn-based play. These complexities intermingle with a much more traditional facet of turn-based gameplay, party composition, which is considerably impactful in BG3 thanks to the importance of things like movement and area-of-effect attacks, not to mention the gross difficulty of many of the game's enemy encounters. Needless to say, picking the right team for the job at hand can be not only practical and effective, but incredibly rewarding, as different class combinations can lead to virtually endless possibilities.

One of Baldur's Gate 3's Best Areas is Also Entirely Optional

This Baldur's Gate 3’s area is a fascinating, optional area filled with lore, challenges, and narrative depth.

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By Jervon Perkins

How Hirelings Buttress Baldur's Gate 3's Gameplay Strengths

Experimentation Is the Name of the Baldur's Gate 3 Hireling Game

Technically, any Baldur's Gate 3 party member can be changed to whatever class the player chooses, but this can be daunting for many players. For instance, if someone is already sold on Astarion's stealthy combat moves, they may not want to mess up a good thing, so to speak, even if they have a concept for a more outlandish party. This is where Hirelings come in.

Hirelings come with certain immutable characteristics, such as their race and name, but their appearance can be altered in a number of ways that don't apply to Origin characters. Since characters' races can have a significant impact on their abilities in and out of combat, Hirelings offer an additional layer of party experimentation that can't be enjoyed otherwise. For instance, if a player wants to have a Half-Orc wizard as a party member, they can use the Hireling feature to achieve that goal. Plus, since these Hirelings don't have strictly defined personalities, players may feel more comfortable changing their class or engaging with the multiclass system than they would with an Origin character. In a nutshell, Hirelings offer much more wiggle room for experimentation, which can greatly enhance the BG3 experience.

Hirelings Come With Benefits That Other Baldur's Gate 3 Party Members Don't Have

Beyond class composition, which can have a major impact on combat, exploration, and NPC interaction, Hirelings can be a great boon for players seeking other non-standard experiences. For example, if one wants to do a "lone wolf" playthrough, rejecting every companion through whatever means they wish, they can still be a formidable foe on the battlefield by gathering Hirelings. Since Hirelings are expendable, players can also use them to, for instance, commit crimes or set off a room full of traps, clearing out the space at the cost of one of those poor souls.

One of the best parts of Baldur's Gate 3 is how Origin party members will react to the player-character's decisions, approving or disapproving of certain actions. This helps make them feel more alive and less like bits of static set-dressing. But if a player wants to be free from judging eyes, then Hirelings are a good alternative, as they won't take any moral or ethical stances. Thus, Hirelings can be particularly beneficial during repeat playthroughs, as they allow for the advantages of party-based gameplay without any strings attached.

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OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%

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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
Engine: Divinity 4.0
Multiplayer: Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
Cross-Platform Play: Full cross-platform play.

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Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.

THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCE
Choose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.

A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPIC
Forged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian's next-generation RPG engine.