Baldur’s Gate 3’s world is based on the setting and ruleset ofDungeons and Dragons. It features the same locations and some famous characters fromDungeons and Dragons, such as Waterdeep and the archwizard Elminster. Alongside its setting and characters, many of its TTRPG gameplay systems were faithfully adapted toBaldur’s Gate 3.
Baldur’s Gate 3includes the 12 base classesfromDungeons and Dragons5th edition and many of their subclasses. Some of these classes have had basic features and mechanics changed, either as an adaptation for the video game medium, or to streamline gameplay. Many of these changes were embraced by many players, as they remained close to the spirit of the classes and often turned out to be an improvement to the class. TheBaldur’s Gate 3Thief Rogue is an incredibly agile and versatile subclass thanks to its additional Bonus Action, which gives them more opportunities to use magical items and consumables during combat.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Reinvents the Thief Rogue While Keeping It Recognizable
The Rogue subclass of the Thief had most of its original early features fromDungeons and Dragonsremoved in favor of a new feature. The Thief subclass now gets an additional Bonus Action, which is granted at Level Three with their class feature Fast Hands. AllRogues get Cunning Actionas a class feature, which allows them to Disengage, Dash, or Hide as a Bonus Action, allowing them greater freedom of movement than other classes, but the Thief having two Bonus Actions takes this even further.
TheThief’s two Bonus Actions inBaldur’s Gate 3synergizes particularly well withBaldur’s Gate 3’s plethora of consumables, which are consumed by using a Bonus Action while in combat. While every other class needs to sacrifice their only Bonus Action to take a consumable, which includes Health Potions, Thieves can take a consumable then another Bonus Action. This aligns well with their original class features inDungeons and Dragons, as many magical items inBaldur’s Gate 3are activated on a Bonus Action.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Keeps the Thief’s Affinity for Items
Baldur’s Gate 3’s Homage to the Thief’s Affinities
TheThief unlocks the Use Magical Device class feature at Level 13, which allows Thieves to ignore all class, race, and level requirements when using any magical item. The Thief’s affinity for magical items is carried through in a meaningful way inBaldur’s Gate 3through their additional Bonus Action, where they have more opportunities to activate or use a magical item during their turn.
Centering Thief Builds on Consumables
Thieves are also primed to make use of the many consumables inBaldur’s Gate 3during combat, and a build based on consumables could potentially become very powerful. Consumables that are useful in combat include Coatings, Grenades, Potions, Elixirs, Scrolls, and Barrels. Scrolls, Potions, and Coatings are particularly useful for this, as Scrolls are incredibly versatile and allow the Thief to cast spells, which would otherwise not be possible unless the Thief has multiclassed as a spellcaster.Potions inBaldur’s Gate 3are versatile and can be thrown at other party members to confer their benefits, while applying a Coating to a weapon uses a Bonus Action which often wastes a turn for other classes, but is better used for the Thief.
