Baldur’s Gate 3 hides many mechanics that not a few players are unaware of. Since the game is so big and explains so few things, it is very normal for dozens of options to come up. Many of them would have to appear along with explanations, while others of them it is logical that they remain hidden and only appear when we pull our wits. The one to render our enemies unconscious should not be one of them.
Indeed, the Larian Studios title has brought back a Dungeons and Dragons mechanic called non-lethal damage. As its name indicates, with this we are able to attack our enemies in such a way that they do not die. Hence its name. Unfortunately, nothing and no one tells us that it exists, so it is very normal that we do not even know of its existence. And that’s a shame, because it opens up a lot of possibilities in the world of Baldur’s Gate 3.
Killing in Baldur’s Gate 3 is so easy that we even forget that we can not do it
At this point, it is very possible that your character has become a butcher (or a herald of justice, it all depends on the perspective) that devastates everything in its path. Unfortunately, killing an enemy can have more consequences than missing a dialogue or two. And although it is true that later we can talk to his corpse, it is not the same. Especially when we don’t know that there are other options. The problem is not killing, it’s not knowing that there are other options.
That’s why it hurts me so much that many players are not aware of it because there are no more tutorials. It’s more, It bothers me because not even I, who have played Dungeons and Dragons a lot, did not realize. Something logical if we take into account that the option is not exactly visible. The worst of all is that now I know that I have missed many things because of not knowing it, but hey; I will discover them in my second game.
And if you’re wondering why this is so important, it’s because of the narrative options it gives us. Although we are in a fantasy world and it is typical that in these the value of death is underestimated, DnD is not a universe in which to kill like this because it is well seen. That’s why non-lethal damage exists and that’s why it’s so important. So, don’t tell us that it exists… Well yes, it bothers me.
Non-lethal damage is a key mechanic in Dungeons and Dragons and is not given importance here
If you would also like to explore its singularities, You just have to go to the passive option and check the non-lethal damage option. Yes, it is that simple. And even though it has conditions like hitting melee, it’s very easy to use. However, since it is in the last tab, it goes very unnoticed. I know I’m not the only one this has happened to.
Be that as it may, it is a detail. Despite this, I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if, instead of killing that goblin or drow or dealer, it had dealt non-lethal damage. In many cases, possibly, the conclusion would have been the same. There are enemies that don’t even react and simply remain unconscious, but there are others that beg for their lives.
Here, however, I have my doubts. On the one hand, I’m fine that Larian wants us to find out everything for ourselves. On the other hand, there are things that I think they should tell you from the first minute… And this is one of them. Especially since it’s not something that many RPGs offer..
