Summary
Theclassic tabletop roleplaying game,Dungeons and Dragons, has seen a huge resurgence in recent years thanks to its prevalence in popular culture. Streamed campaigns, likeCritical Role,The Adventure Zone, andDimension 20have brought the game to a wide audience, along with the help of large media, like the television show,Stranger Things, or theDungeons and Dragonsfilm,Honor Among Thieves.
In the video game scene, 2023 saw Larian’s RPG,Baldur’s Gate 3, achieve Game of the Year, garnering even more interest in the tabletop game, thanks to its faithful recreation of the system in a video game format. For the manyBaldur’s Gate 3fans who are looking to get into the tabletop game, these are some great campaigns with some familiar faces and themes.
10Tyranny Of Dragons
Familiar Political Intrigue And Apocalyptic Threats
TheTyranny of Dragonsstoryline, includingHoard of the Dragon QueenandRise of Tiamat,are likely to appeal toBaldur’s Gate 3fans who particularly enjoyed the aspects of the game surrounding political intrigue and world-ending threats.
Both of those collide inTyranny of Dragons, as players will fight to stop a dragon incursion. Players are also likely to engage with factions that they recognize fromBaldur’s Gate 3, such as the shady Zhentarim agents.
9Phandelver And Below: The Shattered Obelisk
Features Mindflayers As Prominent Enemies
Phandelver and Belowis a recent update to theDungeons and Dragonsstarter set campaign,Lost Mines of Phandelver. While it gives a faithful update to the old starter set campaign, it also adds an extension to it.Lost Minesonly takes players from levels 1-5, butPhandelver and Belowtakes the adventure up to level 12.
It’s this extended story that is likely to appeal toBaldur’s Gate 3fans for one very particular reason: mindflayers. These aberrations are the prominent threat withinBaldur’s Gate 3and are also central to the conflict inPhandelver and Below.
8Icewind Dale: Rime Of The Frostmaiden
Further Explores Netheril And Netherese Magic
The campaign inRime of the Frostmaidenmainly centers on the eternal winter created by the Frostmaiden herself, and the threat of an all-powerful deity is certainly nothing new toBaldur’s Gate 3players. But there are plenty of other familiar plots for players to latch onto in the Far North.
Players are likely to see a fair bit more of the duergar, encountered in Grymforge inBaldur’s Gate 3. They are also likely to hear a lot about the ancient Empire of Netheril, and the Netherese magic that is still prevalent in the area, explored inBaldur’s Gate 3through the arc of the wizard companion, Gale.
7Tales From The Yawning Portal
Familiar Names From The RPG
Tales from the Yawning Portalis an anthology collection of seven campaigns from the history ofDungeons and Dragons.Baldur’s Gate 3players may recognize the name of the Yawning Portal from a story thatthe wizard companion, Gale,can regale them with.
While the anthology will take players away from Baldur’s Gate and into Waterdeep, Gale’s home city, the Yawning Portal may not be the only familiar name for those who’ve played the RPG, as characters like the great wizard Elminster can also make appearances during these adventures.
6Tomb Of Annihilation
Set In The Chult Jungle
This campaign, renowned for being one of the hardest inDungeons and Dragonshistory, is also likely to appeal toBaldur’s Gate 3players if they’re up for a challenge. The campaign is set in Chult, a jungle that players can visit inBaldur’s Gate 3if they upset a certain genie but, unfortunately, players can’t explore it for long in the RPG.
Tomb of Annihilationprovides a chance to explore this intriguing setting in a little more depth. Alongside this, players are likely to have prominent dealings with the Harper faction, who are also quite important to the narrative inBaldur’s Gate 3.
5Out Of The Abyss
Further Explores The Underdark
Speaking of settings, the setting forOut of the Abyssis also a prominent and intriguing location withinBaldur’s Gate 3, the Underdark. In this adventure, the party finds themselvestaken to the Underdarkas captives of the drow.
Together, the party must work to escape the Underdark. During their journey, players are likely to encounter plenty of creatures that they recognize from the Underdark inBaldur’s Gate 3, including interactions with a colony of myconids or mushroom-folk.
4Princes Of The Apocalypse
Face Similar Threats And Factions
Princes of the Apocalypseis another tale of apocalyptic threats, this time from the forces of Elemental Evil. As with the threat of the Absolute inBaldur’s Gate 3, the fight against Elemental Evil will see players go head-to-head with devout cultists, whose ultimate aims guarantee destruction for Faerun.
As withBaldur’s Gate 3, players can expect to ally with familiar factions to tackle this threat, including the Harpers and the Zhentarim. These features combined result in a tabletop experience quite similar toBaldur’s Gate 3.
3The Wild Beyond The Witchlight
Hags And Wacky Circuses
If a player’sfavorite part of Act ThreeinBaldur’s Gate 3is the Circus of the Last Days, then they are sure to love thisDungeons and Dragonscampaign.The Wild Beyond the Witchlightbegins and centers around a circus called the Witchlight Carnival.
As with the circus inBaldur’s Gate 3, the Witchlight Carnival is a weird and wacky place, thanks at least in part to its connection with the Feywild. For moreBaldur’s Gate 3relevance, hags are a prominent part ofThe Wild Beyond the Witchlight, and players are sure to show caution around them after run-ins withBaldur’s Gate 3’sgreen hag, Auntie Ethel.
2Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Lots Of Recognizable Elements, Including The Quest Giver
This short little campaign would be perfect forBaldur’s Gate 3players who are hoping to dip their feet intoDungeons and Dragons. While only taking players from levels 1-5, it manages to pack in a lot of elements thatBaldur’s Gate 3fans would recognize. On a minor level, players are likely to havedealings with the Zhentarim, who have a few questlines in the RPG.
The campaign also has varying villains depending on the season the DM sets it in and, if they set it in spring, the villain is an infamous beholder called Xanathar.Baldur’s Gate 3players face off against spectators, like mini beholders, so it should be impressive to encounter the real deal! On top of all this, the quest itself is given by none other than Volo, a prominent and amiable character withinBaldur’s Gate 3.
1Baldur’s Gate: Descent Into Avernus
Acts As A Prequel To Baldur’s Gate 3
The title alone could be enough to explain why this campaign is a must-play for fans ofBaldur’s Gate 3. This campaign once again sees players attempting to save the city of Baldur’s Gate from cataclysmic ruin, this time from being dragged into the hells. This may sound familiar toBaldur’s Gate 3players, as it is actually a prequel to the game.
It is referenced a few times,notably by the tieflingsin the Druid’s Grove. The story centers around the city of Elturel, which has been dragged into Avernus. The party is tasked with being the heroes who save Elturel and prevent the same fate from befalling Baldur’s Gate.
