Baldur's Gate 3 has earned widespread acclaim from Dungeons and Dragons enthusiasts for its faithful emulation of the D&D experience within a video game. Set in the Forgotten Realms, an integral part of D&D lore, BG3 not only brings the rich lore of Dungeons and Dragons to life but also faithfully adapts many aspects of the fifth edition D&D, including races, combat mechanics, and classes, to the video game medium.
However, it's worth noting that Baldur's Gate 3 lacks a few options found in the official Dungeons and Dragons materials. Notably absent are the Artificer class and several iconic subclasses that can significantly alter the gameplay of standard classes. Additionally, there's the possibility of including the Blood Hunter class, which originates from the Critical Role spin-off materials, adding further diversity to the available choices in BG3.
The Blood Hunter
You are correct; the Blood Hunter is not an official Dungeons and Dragons class but was introduced exclusively for Dungeons and Dragons Beyond in partnership with Critical Role. This class utilizes profane magic called Hemocraft and offers a unique hybrid playstyle.
Due to its exclusivity to Wizards of the Coast's official online D&D service and its association with Critical Role, it's indeed unlikely that the Blood Hunter will be added to Baldur's Gate 3. However, the fact that Matthew Mercer, the dungeon master for Critical Role, is involved in BG3 as the voice of Minsc opens a slim possibility for the class's inclusion. Still, it remains uncertain.
For now, players interested in experiencing the Blood Hunter class in Baldur's Gate 3 may have to rely on dedicated modders to bring this unique class to life within the game.
The Artificer
The Artificer is indeed a notable and iconic class in the world of Dungeons and Dragons, known for its mastery of arcane and mechanical invention. While it wasn't part of the base fifth edition of the tabletop RPG, it was introduced with the Eberron: Rising from the Last War sourcebook and later included in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. Artificers are versatile characters who excel in manipulating objects with magic and are often portrayed as engineer or mechanic-type characters, capable of creating constructs like the Steel Defender.
It's true that the Artificer class was not included in the initial release of Baldur's Gate 3. Larian Studios, the developer behind the game, has not been known for releasing downloadable content (DLC) in the past. However, the overwhelming success of BG3 has led to speculation among players about the possibility of Larian Studios revisiting Baldur's Gate and introducing the Artificer class or other additional content. While this remains uncertain, the potential for future updates or expansions is always a topic of interest for the game's dedicated player base.
Expansions To DnD Existing Classes
The fact that Baldur's Gate 3 successfully incorporated 12 out of the 13 official Dungeons and Dragons classes, along with most of their standard subclasses, is indeed commendable and adds significant variety to the game. However, it's important to acknowledge that BG3 does not provide a one-to-one representation of all official D&D classes and subclasses.
The number of missing subclasses, including those introduced in additional official materials, is quite substantial and nearly matches the number of subclasses that made it into the game. Subclasses that did not find their way into BG3 encompass a wide range of options, which may lead to varying playstyles and character archetypes being unavailable.
Bringing every aspect of Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition and its official expanded volumes into Baldur's Gate 3 would be an immense undertaking. While it's uncertain whether Larian Studios will release expansions for the existing 12 classes, players can look to the modding community to potentially bridge some of these gaps and enhance their gaming experience by adding missing subclasses and content over time.
