Welcome to Juegos Al Detalle, I'm Tupac, and today we're going to dive into the intricate combat mechanics of Baldur's Gate 3 at a basic level. If you've found yourself in a dangerous bind in the middle of combat, don't worry! This guide will equip you with the knowledge you need to emerge victorious from every fight. We'll unravel the mysteries of initiative, advantage, disadvantage, attacks, and more. Get ready, because we are about to demystify everything. Picture this: You're in the heat of battle, and every decision you make counts. Understanding the initiative is your first step toward tactical success. When combat begins, the result of each character's initiative roll establishes the order in which they will act. Higher Dexterity scores grant you a bonus in determining your Initiative, so nimble rogues and rangers generally lead the attack. But don't assume this is a fact; even an agile character can fail his roll. Why is it so crucial to go first, you ask? Attacking before your enemy can be very profitable, being able to take out or disable them before they have a chance to respond, thinning their ranks and reducing the overall threat to your party. Here another nifty trick comes into play: surprise your enemies and they won't even know what hit them. With the C key we can enter stealth individually per character and with Shift+C we get the whole party to hide. Ambushing opponents in this way can catch them off guard, leaving them reeling as you dictate the direction of combat with advantage on your first attack. Advantage means that your attack rolls will be made twice and you will keep the higher number. Don't worry if this rolling dice thing still doesn't make sense to you, I'll explain it with a bit more detail later. Now, let's get into the core of the combat structure. Each turn, each character has one action, one additional action, and a set amount of movement that can be used before and after actions as needed. Actions are generally weapon attacks, weapon actions, or spells, as well as throwing objects, hiding, running to extend your movement, disengaging to avoid receiving attacks of opportunity, helping a teammate with a debuff, and other actions specific to each class. On the other hand, additional actions generally have a minor impact but taking advantage of them is key to turning the tide in your favor. Whether it's a word of healing to lift an ally from the brink of death, a nifty push, or a quick spell cast, combining these actions strategically may be just what you need to turn a battle that seemed lost. A true warrior knows the art of his weapons, and so do you! Your attack dice rolls determine whether your hits hit. Let's look at this scenario: You're up against an enemy with the most basic armor class in the game, an AC of 10. To hit it with a weapon, you then need to roll a 10 or higher on a 20-sided die. That translates to a mere 55% chance that your punch will land. These odds may seem bleak, but luckily your ability scores play a huge role. Your Strength or Dexterity modifier is added to your dice roll depending on the weapon used, making it even more likely that you will hit the target. Keep in mind that having, for example, both 17 and 16 in these characteristics would help you in the same way in this case, since the modifier only improves at each even number. 12, 14, 16, etc. Also remember that proficiency with the type of weapon you are using is your secret trick, adding extra points to your chances. What you are proficient at depends on your race and class choices, and their bonus will increase at levels 5 and 9. For sorcerers, wizards, and other spellcasters, their arsenal is their spells, each with their own way to hit. . Some spells test the enemy's armor class just like weapons, while others target their characteristics, before which the adversary must execute the corresponding saving throw to avoid or mitigate the effects of the spell. Wisdom, Charisma, and Intelligence are your casting abilities depending on your class, and they determine your chances of success. Keep this in mind when determining your character's attributes when creating, equipping, and leveling up. Going back to proficiencies, be careful when equipping armor that you are not proficient with as this severely penalizes your attacks by giving you disadvantage, which means you will have to roll twice and keep the lower number. Also, wearing armor without proficiency prevents you from casting spells, do we need more reasons to avoid it? Now be careful! Opponents also have their tricks up their sleeves, and the same rules that apply to you apply to them. Be aware of the various factors that can create disadvantage, such as the disadvantage gained from attempting to shoot a ranged attack while an enemy is in your melee range. In this same order, let's not forget the battlefield dance. Position is crucial in other ways as well, whether it's high ground for ranged archers or tight spaces for melee fighters wanting to lock their enemies into position who will suffer a "free" opportunity attack if they try to leave the area. Avoid adverse terrain that makes your blows less accurate. If you attack an enemy higher than your character, you will take a -2 penalty on your roll. You can also take this advice the other way, and take advantage of the terrain by positioning yourself on higher ground than your opponents, which in turn will give you a +2 to your attacks. Always try to attack within the range of your weapon, otherwise you would also take a disadvantage penalty. So here you have it! Whether you're a spellcasting sorcerer or a blade-wielding barbarian, mastering the art of combat is all about understanding your actions, modifiers, and positioning. Armed with these insights, you'll be able to take on any foe, defeat the darkness (or embrace it), and emerge victorious. Of course, do not put away your weapons yet! If you have your own hard-earned combat tips to share, leave them in the comments below to help other adventurers on their journeys. If you are interested in further analyzing a topic or have any questions, also leave your comment. This is Túpac from Juegos Al Detalle, saying goodbye until next time: may your rolls be high and your enemies defeated!
