Larian Studios debuted the Baldur's Gate 3 Panel From Hell 3 earlier today, highlighting some upcoming content for Baldur's Gate 3 Update 5 on PC with a delightful LARP adventure.
Baldur's Gate 3 is the latest game in the Baldur's Gate CRPG franchise. As Larian Studios often does, it had a rather unusual way of showcasing some upcoming features for the next big patch coming to Steam Early Access — it took Twitch viewers on a cheesy, hilarious LARP adventure.
The Baldur's Gate 3 Panel From Hell 3 Was a Wonderful LARP Adventure
The Baldur's Gate 3 Panel From Hell 3 was a little different from past events. This time, viewers got to experience a LARP (Live Action Role Play) adventure featuring Larian Studios employees.
Larian Studios founder Swen Vincke served as the "player" with a number of other employees serving as characters in a real-world adventure. Swen directed the characters in the world, but he often asked Twitch chat for their input on what should be done. A number of votes took place throughout the adventure, many of which would decide the fate of the characters.
Naturally, a number of characters met their untimely end throughout the experience. Puzzles, traps, and terrifying enemies plagued the party trying to explore the Castle of Gustav von Drakenfell. Oh, and we got some new details on Baldur's Gate 3 Update 5, too.
What Are the New Baldur's Gate 3 Update 5 Details?
The Baldur's Gate 3 Update 5 details have some promising new features for players, adding a fair bit of variety to the game while also making things a little more challenging.
The first notable addition is the "Active Roll System" which was showcased during the LARP adventure on Twitch. Players can have characters cast spells during a roll such as the "Guidance" spell to help your chances of getting a good roll. (And yes, you can stack these abilities.)
Another new addition coming in the game is "Background Goals." One such example is selecting the Background Goal "Folk Hero" which has the following description:
Folk Hero
You're a champion of the common people, challenging tyrants and monsters to protect the helpless. Saving innocents in imminent danger will make your legend grow.
Background Features
- Animal Handling Proficiency
- Survival Proficiency
If you do something that's appropriate to your Background Goal, you'll be rewarded with an Inspiration Point (or some XP if you're at the new "Inspiration Cap"). More than 100 goals have been added to the Early Access version of the game. As you discover goals, they'll be listed in a special new UI.
One of the more interesting Baldur's Gate 3 Update 5 details is the ability to free Shadowheart during the tutorial. Swen Vincke emphasizes that you don't have to save her, but doing so will open up some new options in the game.
The final major addition coming to Baldur's Gate 3 Update 5 is the new "Camp Supplies" system that Larian Studios is testing. When you rest, you'll have to use enough Camp Supplies to earn a "Long Rest." If you find yourself coming up short on supplies, you'll get a "Short Rest" bonus instead which may not refill all of your spells as a Long Rest would. Vincke notes that this is a feature they're testing, just like any other — it could very well change as development progresses.
These are just some of the things coming in the next Baldur's Gate 3 update; you can learn about everything that's on the way by watching Baldur's Gate 3 Community Update #13.
What is the Baldur's Gate 3 Update 5 Release Date?
The Baldur's Gate 3 Update 5 release date is July 13, 2021. You'll be able to enjoy all of these new features and more on Steam Early Access in less than a week!
Update 5 aside, Swen Vincke had some details about the future of the game, too. Larian has not yet decided if characters can get to Level 5 in Act 1. A lot of work is going on for "handcrafted magic weapons" to add a little special flavor to the game. Cross-classing will definitely be a thing in this game, although it hasn't quite been decided when this feature will launch. Generally speaking, Larian Studios is aiming to save a lot of content for the full release of the game, although it will still release new content and features as development progresses.
For now, you can watch the full Baldur's Gate 3 Panel From Hell 3 VOD on Twitch to experience the awesome LARP adventure that Larian Studios showed off today. If you haven't yet jumped into this great CRPG, you can buy Baldur's Gate 3 in Steam Early Access for $59.99 or your regional equivalent and you can learn more about the game on its official website.
What do you think of the new Baldur's Gate 3 Update 5 details? Which new feature are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below!
