Baldur’s Gate 3is the most recentDungeons & Dragonsadaptation and arguably its most successful. The astounding CRPG won Game of the Year at last year’s Game Awards, and its modding capabilities allow for seemingly endless replayability, and one could argue that it’s possible to applyBaldur’s Gate 3’s tactics toD&D.
It’s no secret Larian Studios’ creativity works deeply in favor of its world-building and familiar aspects of the tabletop game.D&Dis notoriously immersive, and that feature can be hard to replicate in any video game. The Strange Ox, however, is one example of whatBG3does exactly right.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Conveys Strong Lessons to Dungeon Masters
BG3 Goes Above and Beyond with Interactive Features
Immersion and interaction go hand in hand. To make a game feel alive, or to pull players into it, it needs to directly affect them. Assuming players don’tkill the Strange Oximmediately, it shines in its consistent interaction, especially considering it appears in all three acts while remaining a largely inconsequential side quest. In fact, not all players may even pick up on this quest.
Playersmeet the Strange Ox inBG3early in the Emerald Grove, inconspicuously sitting next to the other oxen. Most players likely don’t interact with animals as thoroughly as other NPCs. Further, the initial meeting of the Strange Ox doesn’t go beyond noting its peculiarity unless a player can speak with animals (via potion or spell). This rewards players who pursue total investigation. It’s not unusual forD&DDungeon Masters to see how little things, even if improvised in one session, can be built into something huge.
Its presence in all three acts allows the players' relationship with the Strange Ox to change throughout the game, as they learn more with each meeting and even come to help it enter Baldur’s Gate. It’s a recurring character with its own story, but at the end of its journey, the party either gets a memorable fight or a powerful ally inthe final fight against the Absolute. In other words, regular interaction pays off, and from a DM’s standpoint, it wouldn’t require a whole load of extra work.
The Devil’s in the Details—and it’s not Raphael
WhatBaldur’s Gate 3does right is fundamentally its attention to detail, which is hard to nail in a tabletop game. These are things that fiercely enhance world-building, which is another necessary piece to making players feel like they’re a part of something bigger than themselves. The Strange Ox is obscure and largely unimportant, but so many parts of it call toForgotten Realms' Faerunas a whole.
The Strange Ox is an interesting creature. Players learn later that it’s actually quite aunique monster inBG3. But its characterization alone establishes it as complex and intelligent, and it possesses its own motives. It’s humorously dismissive of player characters and shown to be aggressive through bloody visions. It raises questions regarding what it is, the reason why it needs to go to Baldur’s Gate so badly, where it comes from, and what it may have seen. And more than anything else, these questions aren’t really answered.
Aside from the implications of its existence, this unexplored lore would suit aD&Dgame perfectly. With a longer story, more flexible roleplay, and existing player investment, these unexplored pieces could be fleshed out and shown later. In other words,Baldur’s Gate 3could’ve given the Strange Ox a wholeside quest in Act 3if it wanted. DMs, on the other hand, have the power of active storytelling.
At the end of the day,BG3succeeds in its trivial details—the things that make Faerun an interactive, living setting. Having such a world can be half the joy ofD&Din the first place, where players become someone else. The Strange Ox, a tasty little secret that runs the course ofBaldur’s Gate 3, is one of the best lessons for DMs in keeping players invested in a vibrant world and unforgettable game.
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.
