Unlike in Dungeons & Dragons, the maximum level that can be reached as a character in Baldur’s Gate 3 is significantly lower. While some players are disappointed by the inaccessible power potential, others find that exactly appealing.
What makes Baldur’s Gate 3 different from Dungeons & Dragons? The maximum level in Baldur’s Gate 3 is level 12, making it the highest level that can be reached as a character. This means the game opts out of the potential maximum level 20 from Dungeons & Dragons and the corresponding 8 levels that would make the character even stronger.
When players reach the third and final act of the game in Baldur’s Gate 3, it usually doesn’t take long for them to reach the maximum level. Nevertheless, the game offers a plethora of additional opportunities, challenges, and opponents in the third act where players can prove themselves.
Some players see this as wasted potential for even more level-ups and even developed a mod that allows leveling up to level 20. However, other players, like the author of a Reddit post in the BG3 subreddit, state: “Limiting the maximum level to 12 is good game design.”
Here you can see the animated short film for Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3:
Some players want balance, others prefer more power
What are the arguments against a limited maximum level? In the subreddit for Baldur’s Gate 3, some players discuss why they think the limit at level 12 is good or wish for more levels.
While one post mentions many valid reasons for this limitation, most players also agree. However, it is the feeling of being noticeably more powerful than anything else in the game that makes them wistful. Just like the potential for even more complex builds that simply cannot be fully executed by level 12.
- ClockworkDreamz: “My logical self says yes, my power-gamer self says ‘the number should go up.'”
- Raverntx: “Dopamine from the number going up makes happy.”
- rugbymoose12367: “I have more fun nearly fully mult-classing into two classes.”
Yet for these reasons, other players find the level 12 limit so great.
What are the arguments for a limited maximum level? The argument regarding mult-classing simultaneously supports the limit, as LostAccount2099 explains:
“That’s exactly why level 12 is so great. It forces you to make choices, and you have to make compromises to get something else. Of course, a lot has changed with Patch 8, but not being able to have everything in one build is brilliant.”
Other players also explain why they find the limit at level 12 so good:
- poystopaidos: “As I run the TTRPG as a DM, I thought the limit was 100% good. Beyond level 12, there are some crazy and game-breaking things that the game couldn’t incorporate or where too many additional spells would be needed to rebalance the game. Also, I thought I was already OP enough at level 12.”
- jembutbrodol replies: “[…] Imagine if Tav could use the level 9 spell ‘Wish’. ‘I wish my larva was gone.’ Poof, end.”
The author of the original post (Grandkahoona01) sums it up well: “Since everyone can reach the maximum level (as long as they don’t skip too much), this means that experience points are not as important. You can play the game however you want without worrying about being too weak in level.”
If you truly believe that the limit at level 12 is set too low, you can work towards 8 more levels thanks to the mod UnlockLevelCurve, which can make your characters even stronger. This is just one of many mods that can enrich the game and players’ experience. Here on MeinMMO, we present to you 5 mods that are so good that even the developers would recommend them: 5 mods for Baldur’s Gate 3 that are so good that even the developers recommend them
