Role-playing video games found their inspiration in tabletop board games like Dungeons and Dragons, so it follows that there are a multitude of games that would take heavy inspiration or even be based on the franchise's comprehensive lore. Baldur's Gate 3 is a recently released-in-early-access CRPG from developer Larian Studios. The game has been successful in its launch, mostly thanks to the extensive freedom it gives players in determining their story.
In Baldur's Gate 3, the player character is made from one of the following races: Drow, Human, Githyanki, Dwarf, Elf, Half-Elf, Halfling, or Tiefling. Combined with one of many Dungeons and Dragons classes, players are able to live out several character styles. However, there are a few choices missing that would help players relive those classic role-playing memories.
The Amazing Race
While the available races give players a wide array of choices in how they tell their story, this list is still missing a few choices. While this is to be expected, as the game is still in Early Access, players are hoping they see Larian Studios add more races sooner rather than later. Larian won't have to shoot in the dark to figure out which races to add, as the fan demand for certain characters in Dungeons and Dragons Beyond isn't hard to deduce.
A cool race to add would be the scaly Dragonborn, popularized in the 4th edition. These egg-born humanoids are known for being charismatic as well as an exceptional strength. Some members of this race also have Breath Attacks, which use their latent dragon heritage to breathe forth destructive energy. It is always good to have a friendly party member who can get dangerous when the time comes.
If Larian Studios wanted to complete its half-race collection, it would add in Orcs and Half-Orcs. The Orc race is known for being hostile towards other races, as their lore states that everything in the world was stolen from them. The same can be said for Half-Orcs, although their human blood tempers the reaction a little. This anger would likely lend itself to strength in battle, at the sacrifice of poor social interactions.
Shake It Up
Something that would shake up the gameplay would be to introduce the outsider race of the Genasi. They're a mixed race between a genie and a human, known for being outcasts by the mortal and magical realms. A wild-spirited Genasi is constantly improving on their craft, with the self-assurance to show for it. That confidence can go a long way in a bluff or when it comes time to impress someone of high status.
Last, but not least, the small and vibrant Gnome race could add an extra dose of humor and challenges to Baldur's Gate 3. The cheeriness they bring to the party could allow for inspiration and newfound hope. That should make up for the huge inconvenience of their tiny legs and tendency towards impulsivity. A Gnome class could help with machinery, chemistry, or any of their other technical specialties in the field.
While Larian Studios has many races to pick from, it will eventually have to stop somewhere. This will likely disappoint the Dungeons and Dragons fans who were holding out hope that their classic character race would be included. Unfortunately, technical and time constraints will always affect how much content any video game developer can include in its game. It's this reason that the tabletop Dungeons and Dragons still draws so many players to the imagination-based format.
Baldur's Gate 3 is available in early access now for PC and Stadia.