HomeNewsBaldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 might not cap player levels to ten after allLevel with me
Level with me
Baldur’s Gate 3will probably be herenext month, and it’s still unclear where it will land on the critical issue of a level cap.
Developers Larian previously stated ina Reddit AMAthat their upcoming sequel will cover levels one to ten, but in our recent interview, lead systems designer Nick Pechenin said that this isn’t certain, as they’re still weighing it up.
More Baldur’s Gate 3 Gameplay Explained | Larian Answers Our Biggest Questions (Part Two)Watch on YouTube
More Baldur’s Gate 3 Gameplay Explained | Larian Answers Our Biggest Questions (Part Two)Watch on YouTube
More Baldur’s Gate 3 Gameplay Explained | Larian Answers Our Biggest Questions (Part Two)
Though initially fragile, player characters become near demigods at 20, which makes balancing raw numbers even more difficult than a typical RPG. Narrowing the range means that a more satisfactory experience can be built within that range, as well as making life easier for Larian. As Pechenin says: “You get to spend a bit more time on every level, this means the content that we have - the situations, the combat - they can be tailored a lot more specifically to what we expect the player to have at this moment”.
If you’re not familiar with The Dungeons And The Dragons, ten sounds like a very low cap for an RPG. It’s actually the exact middle, as the tabletop rules treat level 20 as the end point for player progression. Even then, it’s uncommon to take a character that far. Most campaigns are ready to tap out many levels before then, and a game that covered the full range would have to be extremely long. There’ll likely be disappointment whatever Larian go with, not least as some classes really hit their stride later on, and level 11 specifically is a notable power bump for many. But a sub-20 cap is near inevitable. Exactly where it’ll land though remains to be seen.
Disclosure: Former RPS deputy editor Adam Smith is a senior writer at Larian studios working on Baldur’s Gate 3. He edited much of my freelance work, and I can’t remember which way round but one of us probably bought the other a drink the one time we met in person. I would normally add an insult here but it seems less funny now that he can’t fire me.
