Larian Studios has released the following major update for their great early access D&D RPG Baldur’s Gate 3. This one evokes the Druid class and their eight animal forms that you can play with, along with other game changes and improvements. Larian has just revealed many details about Druids in their second Panel From Hell event.
Update: Swar Vincke, CEO of Larian, at the beginning of the live version pretty emphatically stated that Patch 4 ‘releases today’, although I have since received a message from Larian that he has ‘goofed’. Patch 4 actually arrives “soon, when it’s ready.”
Druids are the first new class added since the beginning of the BG3 entry, and they are definitely prepared for the journey. Larian says they have access to more than 30 spells and abilities, including Wild Shape, that enable them to turn into an animal. You can also talk to other animals in their form, which I hope will be a source of much hijinx. Divinity: animals from Original Sin 2 were some of the funniest people to talk to.
There are eight animal forms available in Patch 4: cat, crow, horrible wolf, tie, spider and polar bear all have their own benefits, such as powerful attacks or stealth. There is also the deep peace, a creature that looks like a yak and lives in the Underdark, and the destructive form that comes from the horrible fluttering head that lives in your hero’s head. Druids will make even more forms available with the launch, Larian says.
In addition, Druids can also be aligned with two different circles, the circle of the land or circle of the moon, which affects how they play. Landruids gain extra power based on the geography to which they are connected, while Moon Druids gain access to the most powerful forms of the wild form such as those polar bears. Suppose I know which circle I am going to choose. Bears beat everything.
I spotted this beautiful bear in RPS’s Baldur’s Gate 3 preview (now somewhat outdated, mind) from last February and have not forgotten it since. I’m definitely planning on becoming a polar bear myself so I can talk to this sleepy friend.
Aside from the Druids and their abilities, Patch 4 still has some changes and improvements. The “loaded dice” option is intended to smooth the extreme ends of random chance matrols. Multiplayer friends will be able to see each other’s game, inventory, and other information. They will also be able to take and place items in each other’s pockets. Larian will let you lock up the ability later, but for now, you say you should just trust your friends. It’s going well, I’m sure.
Larian warned last week that Patch 4, like Patch 3, would not be compatible with previous storage files for the game. Make sure you follow the instructions to play on Patch 3 if you are not ready to put your party together and just dare to do it.
You can see the Druids specifically in the trailer above or watch the entire live stream on YouTube.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 4 is coming “soon when it’s ready”. As always, you can find it on Steam, GOG and Stadiums.