Get to Know the Lingo
Before we get into some of the basic tips and tricks, or even character building, it's important to comprehend some of the basic terminology of the game.
Baldur's Gate 3 comes with its own special language, so to speak. For example, having an “advantage” means something more technical than it does in the real world. Other terms are acronyms that will come up often. So it's worth taking the time to understand the concepts behind the terms to make the most of the game.
Below are the most relevant terms you'll want to learn:
ABILITIES
Abilities, or Ability Scores, are the numerical ratings to simulate your character's prowess. These six core "stats" consist of: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma. The higher the number, the better your character is in that ability. Bonuses derive from the even numerals of an ability score which are added to relevant rolls.
AC
An acronym for Armor Class. AC is a numerical indicator of how hard it is to hit or be hit by a creature, depending on whose armor class you're talking about. In either case, the final number on an attack roll must equal or exceed the AC number in order to score a hit. Here's the typical formula for determining armor class:
10 + DEX modifier + armor bonus + shield bonus + misc bonuses or penalties
ADVANTAGE
In BG3, having “advantage” means that when a dice roll is made (see below), two dice are rolled instead of one, and the higher result is used. Modifiers are then added to this higher result. This typically occurs when a character gains a strategic edge over a target, such as being hidden during an attack or when the target is asleep.
AOE
An acronym for Area of Effect. Area of effect usually indicates that an attack affects everyone within the area instead of a single target. Using a real world example, a bullet usually affects a single target whereas a grenade can affect everyone within a certain radius of its detonation. Therefore a grenade would be considered an AOE attack.
BACKGROUND
The Background you select defines your character's life before becoming an adventurer. Perhaps they were an aristocrat, a street urchin, or even a criminal. In Baldur’s Gate 3, each Background grants proficiency in two preset skills, allowing you to tailor your character’s abilities to their past. BG3 also ties these features to the Inspiration system, which you can learn more about below.
BOSS
In most video games, a Boss is an enemy with a significant role in the story or is much harder to defeat than routine enemies. An example Boss in BG3 is Ketheric Thorm, whose defeat has role-playing consequences in the storyline as well as being quite a bit harder to defeat than typical enemies.
BUILDCRAFTING
Buildcrafting in games is the ability to define a character's particular look, theme, or specialty by selecting specific abilities, classes, gear, and accessories to optimize and maximize the character's performance for that particular playstyle. This results in what are known as a “builds” which can then be shared with other players who want a similar experience. There will be several articles on this site that cover particular builds, such as my Invisible Thief build and my Nightcrawler build.
BUFF
The term “buff” in the context of video games refers to a positive change made to a character, item, or ability, typically to make it stronger or more effective. The origin of the term can be traced back to Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) and was likely derived from the term “buffing” which originally referred to polishing or shining something such as armor.
CANTRIP
A Cantrip is a spell that can be cast an unlimited number of times per day. Unlike other spells, Cantrips don’t consume spell slots, making them a reliable and always-available option. In D&D 5e, Cantrips often serve as a spellcaster’s core actions, shaping their approach to combat and utility. For instance, a Bard’s Vicious Mockery or a Wizard’s Firebolt provides a dependable way to deal damage, while a Druid’s Shillelagh enhances their melee capabilities for close combat. Some Cantrips focus on utility rather than offense, such as Guidance, which adds a +d4 bonus to skill checks, proving invaluable in non-combat scenarios.
Fun Fact: The term "Cantrip" originates from Scottish folklore, where it described a minor trick or prank, often attributed to witches or charlatans. It may also trace back to the Gaelic word "canntaireachd" referring to a piper’s chant.
CHA
CHA is short for Charisma. Charisma is one of the six ability scores used to represent characteristics about a character. In the case of Charisma, it indicates one's force of presence or social prowess. For example, successfully persuading or deceiving an enemy requires a certain charm or convincing personality.
CHECK
A check is a dice roll to see if a character succeeds on a certain type of action in the game. For example, an ability check or skill check might have a difficulty score (see DC below) that must be overcome to succeed. In the game, you will often hear the sound of dice rolling to indicate the game has made a “check” of some kind for your character. Walking past a secret treasure and being able to notice it is a common occurrence in the game. If one or more of your party characters succeeds on the Perception check, you will be rewarded with seeing the hidden item appear.
CINEMATIC
A cinematic is prerecorded visual element that when triggered launches into an important turning point or exposition of the story. The player usually loses control over the character, as the character and any NPCs enter into a short, movie-like experience.
CON
CON is short for Constitution. Constitution is one of the six ability scores used to represent characteristics about a character. In the case of Constitution, it indicates the health, stamina, and physical resolve of the character. For example, CON adds a bonus to the amount of health points (hit points) a character has.
CONCENTRATION
Concentration is a key mechanic for certain spells, keeping their effects active as long as the caster maintains focus. To see if a spell requires Concentration, hover over its icon—an eye symbol with the word “Concentration” will appear in the spell's description, along with its duration in turns. Concentration begins automatically when the spell is cast and doesn’t require any additional input from the player. However, only one Concentration spell can be active at a time. Casting a new Concentration spell will instantly cancel the previous one. Additionally, taking damage while maintaining Concentration forces the caster to make a CON Saving Throw. Failing this roll will break the spell immediately. Concentration is also lost if the caster is knocked unconscious or killed. Despite this limitation, the caster remains free to move and cast non-Concentration spells while maintaining an active Concentration spell. To maximize the effectiveness of these spells, position your caster strategically to keep them out of harm’s way. By doing so, you can prolong the spell’s duration and prevent enemies from disrupting it through damage or other means.
CONDITIONS
Conditions, sometimes called statuses, are effects that alter a character's state, ranging from beneficial boosts to harmful hindrances. They can originate from a variety of sources, including spells, class abilities, environmental surfaces, and hazards. Most conditions are temporary, with durations determined by their source, and many can be dispelled using specific spells or potions. However, some conditions persist indefinitely, often tied to passive abilities or proximity to certain effects. Additionally, conditions may have specific "types" that define how they interact with other mechanics, such as being removed, countered, or influenced. A common example of a condition is the burning effect caused by contact with a torch.
CRITICAL HIT
A critical hit, sometimes shortened to crit, is a strike that does more damage than usual due either a favorable dice roll or for a particular proc (see Proc below).
CUTSCENE
Very similar to a Cinematic (see above) except that a cutscene is usually generated by the game engine in real time. And sometimes the player even has limited control over the character during monologues by NPCs.
DC
DC is an acronym for Difficulty Class. The DC is the number that needs to be met or exceeded on a dice roll (plus modifiers) in order to succeed on a check.
DICE ROLL
In normal RPG tabletop play, the player is usually allowed to roll their own dice. This adds an element of randomness to the story and gameplay as well as a limited feeling of control over fate. Since BG3 is a computer-simulation, the game engine will roll all your dice for you. However, unlike most other games, you'll often get to see your dice rolls on the screen for known checks or get pull up the stat logs to see them after the fact.
DISADVANTAGE
Having “disadvantage” in BG3 means that when there is a dice roll (see above), two dice are rolled instead of one and the lower result is used to which then any modifiers are then added. It usually occurs when the character has an actual disadvantage over a target character. For example, if a character is too far away (or too close) when they make a ranged attack or the target is on higher ground.
DEBUFF
A “debuff” is a negative effect or status applied to characters, items, or special abilities in a video game that weakens or hinders them in some way, such as reducing their speed, strength, or defense. It's essentially the opposite of a BUFF (see above).
DEX
DEX is short for Dexterity. Dexterity is one of the six ability scores used to represent characteristics about a character. In the case of Dexterity, it indicates the speed, coordination, and reflexes of the character. For example, DEX adds a bonus to the Initiative and Armor Class of the character.
DND
DND or D&D is simply short for Dungeons and Dragons. If you don't know what Dungeons and Dragons is then you might need to rethink your life(֊ ‿ ◦).
DPS
DPS is an acronym for damage per second. It usually refers to temporary but continuous damage to a character, such as being set on fire or burning from acid.
FACE CHARACTER
A party's face character is the character who primarily does the talking to NPCs. In games such as BG3, where Charisma is one of the ability scores, the Face character usually has the highest CHA score in order to facilitate the best checks in that department (e.g. persuasion or bartering).
GISH
Gish is a role-playing term for a character who's good at both combat and spellcasting. It likely originated with Githyanki multi-class characters in D&D.
HP
HP is the acronym for Hit Points, similar to health points or a “health meter” in other video games, which is the amount of damage a character can take before they die.
INSPIRATION
In tabletop D&D, Inspiration points are awarded for staying true to your character's personality, ideals, or role-playing choices, and they allow you to roll with advantage on any d20 check. Baldur's Gate 3 puts its own spin on this mechanic, tailoring it specifically to skill checks. In the game, you earn Inspiration by taking actions that align with your character's Background. Each Background provides hints about what triggers these moments—such as a Sage gaining Inspiration for uncovering new knowledge. Interestingly, your companions can also earn Inspiration, and all points are pooled together, giving you a shared resource to use when re-rolling skill checks.
INT
INT is short for Intelligence. Intelligence is one of the six ability scores used to represent characteristics about a character. In the case of Intelligence, it indicates how smart or knowledgeable a character is as well as their aptitude towards traditional magic. For example, INT adds a bonus to the DC of Wizard spells as well as a bonus to skills such as History or Investigation.
MULTICLASS
When you level up in Baldur's Gate 3, you have the option to take a level in a different class, stacking it with your current one. This opens the door to creating powerful hybrid multiclass builds—but it’s a path best taken with a clear strategy in mind. Randomly dipping into other classes can dilute your character’s strengths, leaving them weaker compared to the rest of the party. Unlike D&D 3.5, where optimal builds often required multiclassing and prestige classes, D&D 5e—and by extension, Baldur’s Gate 3—makes single-class progression not only viable but often the most effective choice for your character's development throughout the campaign.
NPC
NPC is an acronym for Non-Player Character. In most video games, the player usually controls one protagonist. NPCs are all the characters in the game that the player doesn't usually control, which can range from important characters all the way down to unnamed pedestrians. BG3 is unique in that the player gets to control the actions of an entire party. But there's still only one true PC, while the rest of the party consists of NPCs.
OP
OP is an acronym for overpowered. Sometimes controversial, sometimes not, it usually refers to an item, skill trick, or combo that gives a significant advantage to a character, over and above what was originally intended. I'll be featuring several articles where spell combos or race/class combos can be particularly OP.
PC
PC is an acronym for Player Character. This is the character you build or choose in the beginning of the game, intended to be the primary protagonist of the story.
PROC
Proc is a video game term for the activation or trigger for a condition or event. It could be short for Programmed Occurrence. For example, if your character has a dagger that can poison an enemy on a critical hit and you score a critical hit, then the poisoning that's triggered is a proc.
PROFICIENCY
In Baldur’s Gate 3, every character has a proficiency bonus that increases as they level up. This bonus enhances rolls tied to your proficiencies, such as skill checks, attack rolls with weapons your character is trained to use, and saving throws linked to your class. It represents your character’s growing expertise and provides a consistent boost to their abilities. Armor proficiency, however, works a bit differently. If your character is proficient with a specific type of armor, they can wear it without issue. Without the proper proficiency, wearing armor imposes disadvantage on Strength and Dexterity checks and prevents you from casting spells, making it crucial to match your armor to your character’s training.
REACTIONS
Reactions are special attacks or abilities that trigger automatically (Proc) when specific conditions are met during combat. Some reactions, like Opportunity Attacks, are universal and can be used by all characters and enemies, while others are class-specific, such as a Paladin’s Divine Smite. You can manage your character’s active reactions by navigating to the Reactions tab in the Spellbook menu. From there, you can toggle reactions on or off, giving you control over which ones will activate during combat scenarios.
RESPEC
Respec is a term used in video games where players can develop their character's abilities by allocating points, and later reassign those points under certain conditions. Respecing (short for “re-specialization”) allows players to reset their chosen skills and redistribute the points into a different set of abilities. This process typically requires spending in-game currency or another earned resource. In BG3, this is usually done through the NPC named Withers.
REST
In Baldur's Gate 3, resting is an essential part of managing your party's health and abilities. A “short rest” is a quick break that allows you to recover some health and spell slots, while a “long rest” is a full 8-hour period of sleep and recovery, fully restoring health, spell slots and class abilities. The game simplifies the tabletop D&D rules: short rests can be taken only twice per day and restore half your character's hit points. Long rests, on the other hand, fully heal your party, reset your short rest limit, and refresh key abilities. Additionally, long rests can lead to unique interactions with your companions or trigger overnight events, adding depth to the game’s narrative and character development.
ROLL
When I use the phrase “you roll” a specific dice in the game, it’s shorthand for the game performing the roll on your behalf. In some cases, Baldur’s Gate 3 visually represents this with an animated d20 roll in a skill check interface. Other times, the rolls happen behind the scenes, and you’ll only see the final result, streamlining the process while keeping the focus on gameplay.
RPG
In the context of BG3, "RPG" is an acronym for Role-Playing Game. It doesn't stand for rocket-propelled grenade (although ironically, rocket-propelled grenades do exist in the game in the form of fireworks called Popdrakes, Squidjins, and Wogglims, but I'll cover those in a separate article). Anyway, RPGs are a genre of video games where players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players often progress through the game by completing quests, engaging in combat, and making decisions that influence the story or the world. RPGs typically feature elements such as character customization, skill development, and narrative choice. The genre can range from traditional turn-based gameplay, as seen with Baldur's Gate III, to real-time action-based systems, like in The Witcher series.
SAVE
The term "Save" can simply mean to preserve your game in the save files. But in the context of BG3, it's more likely meant as a nickname for Saving Throw. A saving throw is one of the dice checks that occur in the game, usually for resisting a harmful outcome (see Checks and Dice Rolls above). For example, resisting the toxic effects of poison requires a CON save, or dodging out of the way of a Lightning Bolt requires a DEX save.
SKILLS
Skills define the specific actions your character can perform in the world. When attempting a skill check, you roll a d20 and add several modifiers: your relevant ability bonus, your proficiency bonus if you’re skilled in that area, and any additional bonuses from spells or class features. The result is then compared to the Difficulty Class (DC) of the task. If your total meets or exceeds the DC, you succeed; if it falls short, you fail. In Baldur's Gate 3, for instance, you might use your Deception skill to tell a convincing lie or roll Sleight of Hand to pick a lock and gain access to a locked door.
SPECS
Specs is short for specifications. It usually references the details of a player's stats, gear, or build (see also Respec).
SPELL SLOT
Casting a spell in Baldur’s Gate 3, aside from a Cantrip, consumes one of your available spell slots for the day. Spell slots are tied to levels, determining the spells they can be used for—a level 1 slot, for instance, can only cast level 1 spells. However, you can use higher-level slots to cast lower-level spells, which can sometimes enhance the spell’s effects. Spell slots are generally replenished after taking a Long Rest. Keep in mind that each spellcasting class has unique rules governing how their spells and slots function, so it’s worth reviewing the tooltips for your class to ensure you’re ready to make the most of your magic.
SPLASH DAMAGE
Splash damage is similar to the term “AOE” except it implies that the AOE damage is not the primary intent. There's usually a singular target of the intended brunt of the damage from an attack. However, any other characters (including the deliverer) in close proximity to the original target may take a lesser amount of extra damage from the “splash” effect.
STR
STR is the acronym for Strength. Strength is one of the six ability scores used to represent characteristics about a character. In the case of Strength, it indicates how much a character can carry or how powerful the character can swing a melee weapon. For example, STR determines how far a character can jump or how far you can push another character.
TAV
Tav is the default name for the player character. If you choose not to give your character a specific name, it will appear as Tav in the menu.
THEORYCRAFTING
The process of analyzing and developing optimal strategies, builds, or tactics in a game through theoretical calculations, simulations, and knowledge of game mechanics, rather than solely relying on in-game experimentation. Common in complex games, it helps players optimize their performance and share insights within the community.
WIS
WIS is the acronym for Wisdom. Wisdom is one of the six ability scores used to represent characteristics about a character. In the case of Wisdom, it indicates how in tune a character is with their senses, intuition, and any spiritual connection. For example, WIS determines how adept a character is at Medicine, Survival, or how effective their divine spells are.
XP
XP is short for experience points, which is the numerical tally needed to level up a character.
There are many more terms in the general arena of video games, but they either don't apply specifically to BG3 or they're self-explanatory. For example, I didn't include the term “status effect” because most gamers already understand the concept of a status effect. However, if there is a term that you've run across in the game that you don't understand, feel free to get in touch with me through my About page options and I'd be happy to add the term to the list above.