D&D: ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ Patch 8 Adds Bards & Gnomes, De-Genders Hair
After a thrilling Panel from Hell, Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8 is here. And with it come Bards, Gnomes, and hair unbound by gender.
Yesterday was a big day for Baldur’s Gate 3. A new Panel From Hell revealed the big changes coming to Baldur’s Gate 3 in Patch 8. Gnomes and Bards are here at last. These are the two biggest changes. But as the game nears completion, there’s so much more in store.
Here’s everything that we learned about Baldur’s Gate 3, Patch 8. Which, by the way, is live now.
Bring On The Bards – Baldur’s Gate 3, Patch 8 New Class
Let’s start with the biggest change of all. Baldur’s Gate 3 gets a new class in Patch 8, the Bard. Bringing the total roster to ten of D&D’s 13 total classes. You can play as a Barbarian, Bard, Cleric, Druid, Fighter, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock, and of course, Wizard.
Which leaves Monk, Paladin, and Artificers to go. Larian have said that the first two won’t show up in Early Access but are expected for the game’s full release. Artificers are anyone’s guess, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s a future DLC, further down the line.
Which means, Bards are the newest and (for now) final kids on the block.
As part of the Bard release, players get two full subclasses, the College of Lore and College of Valour. Musical instruments are implemented in the game, and any class with the Performer feat at Level 4 can use them. You can play Drum, Flute, Lute, Lyre, and Violin.
Bards play much like their tabletop counterparts. They cast spells primarily. And each bard starts with 2 cantrips, including Vicious Mockery, which rolls out with a whopping 97 different insults.
Alongside their spells, we got a glimpse of their mechanics in action. Bards inspire their parties. In Baldur’s Gate 3, the devs tweaked the mechanic. As a result, it’s a bonus action that lasts until Long Rest. Instead of the typical die of inspiration.
Bards bring a number of new spells as well. We saw Phantasmal Force and Calm Emotions on display. We also got to see Cutting Words in action, and Larian have really pulled out all the stops here.
Gnome Matter, New Race in Patch 8
But Bards aren’t the only new thing in Baldur’s Gate 3, Patch 8. Now you can bring the curiosity and fey magic of the Gnomes to your games. Playable Gnomes are officially in the game now.
You can play a Forest Gnome, and gain darkvision and the innate ability to speak with animals. And if you’ve talked to animals in Baldur’s Gate 3, you know that ability alone makes it worthwhile to play one. But you can also play as a Deep Gnome, or Svirfneblin.
Svirfneblin gain darkvision and stone camouflage. While Rock Gnomes are natural tinkerers who gain expertise in a skill.
And All The Rest at the Panel from Hell
Of course these changes aren’t the only thing coming. Just the big ones. The game is a lot more polished now. Larian says that many parts of the game are getting “orange boxed.” So it looks like that 2023 release date will be pretty solid. As Act 1 is mostly complete, and Acts 2 and 3 are getting “refined” then “polished.”
There’s a great segment in the Panel From Hell that has the devs being real transparent about their progress. It’s a refreshing change of pace. So take a gander if you’ve got 1:49:20 to spare.
Happy Adventuring
