Baldur’s Gate 3has become a staple for fantasy RPG lovers for numerous reasons, but a standout feature of the game is its characterization. Drawing on the immense storytelling potential ofDungeons and Dragons, its main characters and NPCs alike are memorable. But there is one major facet ofD&Dthat the nextBaldur’s Gategame should include tenfold.
From its very title, dragons are among the most unforgettable monsters fromD&D.Baldur’s Gate 3, however, rarely drew attention to these fearsome creatures, staples of the fantasy genre and limitless in their potential.Baldur’s Gate 4could learn a great deal from them moving forward.
Baldur’s Gate 4 Needs a Bigger Emphasis on Dragons
Dragons are notoriously some of the strongest and most intelligentcreatures in the Forgotten Realms. No matter their motive, they are infinitely more interesting than most media manages to portray, andBG4could take the lead on this. InD&D, there are numerous types of dragons with both different personalities and abilities, leaving a lot of uncharted territory to thrill future players.
The Variety of True Dragons Leaves BG4 with Options
For one, there aredifferent types of true dragons inD&Dwith astounding abilities. The most classic dragon type is perhaps the chromatic, a grouping of evil-aligned dragons. For example, among them sits the greedy, fiery red dragon, reminiscent ofThe Hobbit’s iconic Smaug. There are dragons ruling over icy domains and swampland, harboring poison or electricity in their devastating breath. There is no shortage of combat flavor for writers to work with in this regard.
On the other hand,D&D’s metallic dragons are generally good-aligned, most likely to help humans.Baldur’s Gate 3’s best use of dragons came in the form ofbronze dragon Ansur, heroic companion to Balduran. While that encounter inevitably ends in combat, the short interaction with him is interesting for his force of personality alone. The friendly nature of these dragons could lend itself to incredible roleplaying opportunities with a dragon as a recurring NPC.
There are also dragons that embody qualities of gemstones, said to be self-centered and elusive but not necessarily evil-aligned. Similarly, there are dragons from other planes, opening up to the exciting possibility of exploringoutside the Material Planeand encountering these great beasts as beacons of their foreign environments.
A final feature of dragons that is perhaps underutilized is their collective ability to shapechange into a humanoid, making them a potential centerpiece of the story. For instance, ifBG4keeps the same party format where one collectsBaldur’s Gate’s permanent camp companionsalong the way, it could be interesting if one of them were a dragon in disguise. This fascinating opportunity could easily extend to NPCs, both friend and foe.
The History of the Draconic Species is Entirely Unexplored
Although the biggest, beefiest dragons are the most exciting,draconic bloodlines and their variantsare far more complicated than they seem in the Forgotten Realms. “Lesser” beasts such as wyrms, drakes, and wyverns still make fearsome enemies. There is the playable dragonborn, a favorite pick forBG3players with plenty of race-specific dialogues, and their kobold cousins made minor appearances inBG3, leading to a call to include them as playable as well.
In the same vein, relationship between dragons matter. Among true dragons, a common thread is that they all love their hoards, some quite famously. It beckons the question of whether dragons would be competitive, especially for those of vastly different alignments. It might even explore the certain conflict between the metallic dragons, more inclined to help players, and the sinister ambitions of evil dragons across Faerun.
In this manner, other fantasy media that dives into dragon territory does it well. For instance,season 2 ofThe Legend of Vox Machinahandles an entire conclave of wicked dragons working together to conquer Tal’Dorei. Plots like these are not only compelling but explore the relationships between massively powerful beings where other media might simply settle for dragons as lone enemies.
While playingD&D, the most ancient among dragons create memorable boss battles. Fromtheir bone-shaking magic to their legendary breath power,Baldur’s Gate 4would do well to honor its tabletop origins by leaning into these iconic winged beasts.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
