Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 7 Makes Major Changes To Honour Mode So Even Beginners Can Try (2024)

Baldur's Gate 3's Honour Mode changes the game in a number of interesting ways, but it's punishing single save file mechanic can make it frustrating for all but the most skilled adventurers. The extra level of challenge is the point, of course, and triumphing over all of Honour Mode's trials and tribulations is a fantastic feather in any Baldur's Gate 3 player's cap. All the same, the gap between what it offers and what the more standard Tactician hard mode brings to the table is surprisingly significant, and the concept of more flexible options in between is certainly appealing.

Although ongoing development on Baldur's Gate 3 has slowed somewhat, the community is currently waiting for the promised Patch 7, which is shaping up to be an exciting addition to the game. The most exciting element for many players is the addition of official mod support and a Mod Manager, which should open the doors to a wider world of Baldur's Gate 3 custom content than ever before. More evil endings are another cool inclusion, fleshing out an area where the game has historically been notoriously weak.

Honour Mode Mechanics Are Coming To Custom Mode

Some Fun BG3 Combat Tweaks Will Be More Accessible

Baldur's Gate 3 developer Larian Studios recently announced a brief delay for the Patch 7 Closed Beta, but that unfortunate occurrence was accompanied by some news that will be a lot more welcome to fans. According to the news post on the official Baldur's Gate 3 website, the update will make it possible to turn on Honour Mode mechanics in Custom Mode campaigns. Custom Mode allows players to mix and match rulesets for Baldur's Gate 3, and finally adding some Honour Mode options to the array significantly increases the possibilities for Custom Mode experiences.

Although Honour Mode's most famous mechanic is the single save file rule — which Custom Mode will allow players to circumvent — it has some other fun tweaks that everyone deserves to experience. The best example lies in its addition of Legendary Actions for various bosses, making fights even more challenging and interesting by borrowing a concept from tabletop Dungeons & Dragons. Legendary Actions allow bosses to break turn order with powerful maneuvers, disrupting any sense that the party is monopolizing the round and making every risk more significant.

Legendary Actions In Baldur's Gate 3's Honour Mode

A Lot Of Enemies Get Extra Techniques

Honour Mode Legendary Actions have been a continual work in progress, and Patch 7 will also be adding a fresh batch into the mix. A couple of characters who already have Legendary Actions in place will be getting some new options, while others are set to receive their first Legendary Actions ever. The list of characters who currently have Legendary Actions or are officially slated to gain them in Patch 7 is getting to be impressively lengthy, especially considering that the concept wasn't present at all in the launch version of Baldur's Gate 3.

Considering how many bosses with tough Legendary Actions are found in Act 2 and Act 3 of the game, it's easy to fail a Baldur's Gate 3 Honour Mode run before getting to many of the exciting additions. It's possible to continue a save file after dying in Honour Mode as long as the player accepts the loss of Honour Mode status (and the inability to earn golden dice upon completion), but it maintains a single save file requirement, something that the new Custom Mode option will presumably circumvent.

Custom Mode Changes Make Baldur's Gate 3 Better

More Options Are Always Great

All the details of how Honour Mode's ruleset will work in Custom Mode haven't yet been made clear, the notes released with the beta delay announcement refer to "new exciting battle mechanics without the pressure of Honour Mode," so it's safe to assume that Legendary Actions (and some special Conditions that enemies gain in Honour Mode) will be the most significant feature. This could be the perfect incentive to start up a fresh Baldur's Gate 3 campaign, especially for those who want a new kind of challenge without embracing true punishment.

Custom Mode currently allows several different toggles to be set to Explorer, Balanced, and Tactician, so it might ultimately be possible to pick and choose some Honour Mode mechanics on individual toggles. There's also already an option to enable a single save file in Custom Mode, so that restriction can be applied to campaigns without the other difficulty increases found in Honour Mode.

Patch 7 won't be the final update for Baldur's Gate 3, but it does feel like it's putting a lot of things into place to help the community continually entertain itself with the game for years to come. More difficulty options and a chance to experience some fun Honour Mode additions without the pain are great inclusions, and opening that door doesn't diminish the exclusive glory of beating Honour Mode itself. Baldur's Gate 3 is a game for everyone, and now even beginners can feel comfortable attempting some of its more unique trials.

Source: Baldur's Gate 3

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Baldur's Gate 3

Developed and published by Larian Studios, Baldur's Gate 3 is an upcoming role-playing game set to release in August of 2023. Players will create a character to embark on a large-scale journey and can do so solo or cooperatively with a friend. Combat is a turn-based style this time around.

RPG

Franchise

Baldur's Gate

Platform(s)

PC , macOS , PS5 , Xbox Series X

Released

August 3, 2023

Developer(s)

Larian Studios