Summary
Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke has revealed thatBaldur’s Gate 3was originally going to feature entirely different death and resurrection mechanics. The cut features would have taken players on an immersive journey through the afterlife and expandedBaldur’s Gate 3’s rich lore and storytelling.
Despite selling over 10 million copies andwinning many Game of the Year awards, Larian Studios recently broke the shocking news that it will be stepping away from theBaldur’s Gatefranchise. Following the revelation that Larian will not be developing any DLC for the critically acclaimed fantasy RPG, players eager for moreBaldur’s Gatecontent have been keen to discover hidden features missing from the game’s final release.
Modders have begun to uncover clues towards canceled content, including evidence of a potentiallycut companion character inBaldur’s Gate 3, while players have highlighted the many changes made over the game’s three years in early access. However, on PC Gamer’sRPG Roundtable podcast, Larian’s CEO shared an intriguing mechanic that never made it into the game. Larian originally planned to send dead characters on an adventure to an entirely new realm. “Whenever you died, you were supposed to go to the Fugue Plane,” said Vincke, “but the rest of your party would still be walking around in the material plane.” InDungeons & Dragonslore, the Fugue Plane is an interim domain connecting the mortal Forgotten Realms with the many various afterlives, where deceased souls gather to be judged and assigned to their respective heavens or hells.
What is the Fugue Plane in Dungeons & Dragons?
Sending players on a journey through the Fugue Plane would have been the perfect opportunity to explore the nuances ofBaldur’s Gate 3’s rich mythology. Spiritual clerics and paladins could have potentially appealed to their chosen deities for reincarnation, while evil-minded characters could be forced to face the consequences of their misdeeds. As the remaining party members would remain in the overworld, players could also potentially embark on high-stakes rescue missions to save their companions, similar toBaldur’s Gate 3’s thrilling descent into Avernus.
“Whenever you died, you were supposed to go to the Fugue Plane […] but the rest of your party would still be walking around in the material plane.”
Unless players are dauntless enough to faceBaldur’s Gate 3’s permadeath Honor Mode, dying in the final release of the game is an easily remedied affair. Players must revert to a previous save after a full party wipe, but a single character’s untimely demise is quickly rectified by the plentiful Revivify scrolls and spells, or via a trip to the camp’s resident undead miracle worker and potential God of Death, Withers. An extended trip into the underworld would flesh out this otherwise simple mechanic. Although fans will never get to experience this immersive feature, Larian has just announced exactly when gamers can expect theirlong-awaited Deluxe Editions ofBaldur’s Gate 3.
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.
