The Ultimate Baldur's Gate 3 DLC: Uncovering the Uncharted Paths!

Highlights

Baldur's Gate 3 has the potential for an expansion that could take players to Avernus, the first layer of the Nine Hells in Dungeons and Dragons lore.

A standalone expansion allows for the avoidance of contradicting the endings of the base game, but it may lead to the exclusion of beloved characters from the original cast. With an expansion, there is an opportunity to increase the level cap and reintroduce removed spells in a balanced manner, considering the uncertain nature of post-release content for Baldur's Gate 3.

Baldur's Gate 3 offers players an incredibly vast and thrilling gaming experience as they embark on an epic adventure through the Sword Coast. With so much content to explore, it's best to take the game one day at a time. However, there is still room for expansion to further enhance the game.

Currently, Baldur's Gate 3 has a level cap of 12, which is lower than the level cap of 20 found in the Dungeons and Dragons TTRPG. This was done to ensure a reasonable development time and balance for the game. Nevertheless, there are some powerful and exhilarating abilities that remain untapped. While the base game provides a complete adventure with satisfying conclusions, there is potential for another adventure that ventures far beyond the confines of the base game's setting.

Avernus Would be a Great Setting for Baldur's Gate 3 DLC

Avernus, the first layer of the Nine Hells in Dungeons and Dragons lore, plays a significant role in Baldur's Gate 3. Throughout the game, it is frequently mentioned and makes multiple appearances. One of the companions, Karlach, has a strong connection to the forces of Avernus. As a Tiefling, she was betrayed by her employer Gortash and forced to serve Zariel, the Archduchess of Avernus. Zariel conducted experiments on Karlach, resulting in her heart being replaced with an infernal machine. This modification causes her body to emit extreme heat, making her untouchable. None of Karlach's storylines in the game lead to a permanent cure for her condition. However, one possible ending allows her to return to the realm with either Wyll or the player, enabling her to continue living her life.

With the various possible endings of Baldur's Gate 3, a concern arises regarding how to prevent the storyline of an expansion from contradicting the endings of the main game. One solution is to set the expansion in a different realm, ensuring it remains a separate experience while acknowledging the choices made by players.

However, a drawback of having a standalone Baldur's Gate 3 expansion is that most beloved characters from the base game may be missing. If there is an option for players to import their saved progress into the expansion, characters such as Karlach and Wyll could potentially make appearances as they would have a reason to be in Avernus. On the other hand, characters like Astarion and Shadowheart would likely not be present.

The expansion's success depends on whether it continues the storyline of the original game's characters. Even if they choose to conquer Faerun, Avernus offers a unique and challenging setting. The key is to give characters a compelling reason to venture into Avernus, making a standalone approach more suitable for the expansion's narrative.

Whichever approach is chosen, it presents an ideal opportunity to raise the level cap to around level 16. This allows players to feel powerful without encountering the imbalances associated with high-level abilities. Additionally, the expansion provides Larian Studios with a chance to reintroduce some of the cutting-edge spells that were removed from Baldur's Gate 3 but can be unlocked at the base game's level cap. Integration of these spells should be done carefully to maintain balance within the game's mechanics.

The possibility of a Baldur's Gate 3 DLC or expansion remains uncertain despite the game's success, as it would be a significant challenge to match the quality of the main title. With Larian Studios already engaged in discussions about future projects, it is possible that post-release content for the game may be limited, which could disappoint some fans. Whether the studio chooses to leverage its expertise for an expansion or an entirely new game, exploring at least one of the Nine Hells would be a compelling concept. Baldur's Gate 3 is currently available on PC, and it will be released on September 6 for PS5. An Xbox Series X/S version is currently being developed.