Experience: Difference between revisions

'''Experience''' (commonly abbreviated '''exp.''' or '''xp''') is a central [[Gameplay mechanics|gameplay mechanic]] in ''Baldur's Gate 3''.

== Characters ==

All characters start at [[Character level|level]] 1, and level up when they receive enough experience. Leveling up allows a character to take another level in a [[Classes|class]]. After reaching level 12, no further levels are gained.

* defeating characters

* discovering new [[List of locations|locations]]

In many occurrences during the game, the player has the possibility to side with a character for the purpose of succeeding a quest, then kill them afterwards. In doing so they effectively gain the experience from succeeding the quest and the experience from defeating the character. For example, the player can side with [[Nere]] for the purpose of succeeding [[Free True Soul Nere]], then kill him and his minions afterwards to obtain the maximum of experience as possible (in addition of obtaining both the quest rewards and his items).

Discovering new locations is the only source of experience that scales with the main [[character level]]. As a result, the amount of experience granted for visiting an area will be different from one player to another, depending of when each player visits the area for the first time.

The amount of experience rewarded by defeating a character, discovering a location or completing a quest is not visible in the user interface until the task is completed. Once completed, the amount of experience gained will briefly appear on screen, as well as in the Combat Log.

=== Defeating characters ===

The amount of experience obtained by defeating a character is determined by:

# the character level (see below for an exception)

# the reward category assigned to the character

Defeating "Zero" and "Civilian" characters grants respectively 0 and 1 experience at any level. "Pack" characters are the next weakest category and will provide much less experience than "Boss" characters. For example, [[Nere]] is a level 5 "Elite" character, so defeating him rewards 90 experience. His minions are level 5 "Combatant" characters, so defeating them rewards 75 experience each. Characters of level 13 and above will provide as much experience as a level 12 character.

If the defeated character level is lower than the area level, then the game uses the area level instead of the character level to choose the reward. For example, when defeating a level 1 "Combatant" [[Goblin]] character in the level 3 [[Blighted Village]] area, the game will use the area level and grant the experience rewarded by a level 3 "Combatant", so 20 experience.

Examining a character doesn't provide its reward category, preventing the player to determine the precise amount of experience it will reward. However, the player can approximate it using the character level, visible in the Examine window or while hovering the character. The area level is not provided in the user interface either.

The category "Zero" is actually the most used category in the game, it is assigned to 82 characters.

! scope="row" style="text-align:center;font-weight:700" | Characters

Defeating a character can reward no experience if the player already resolved the encounter without fighting. For instance, if the player peacefully talks their way out of an encounter, they will gain the same experience as if they had killed the characters. Killing them afterwards will not earn the player any more experience. This is to prevent the player to double up on experience. When resolving the encounter peacefully, the player gets the experience for the character they interacted with, as well as the experience for all the nearby characters who would normally join the fight if the player decided to attack. For example, when entering the [[Crèche Y'llek]] and attacking [[Far'aag]], the 3 other [[Non-player characters|NPC]]s in the room join the fight. Killing them grants 75 each, since they are level 5 "Combatant" characters, for a total of 300 experience. Instead of attacking, the player can talk with Far'aag to avoid a fight, in which case they are granted 300 experience too. Killing the 4 NPCs afterwards grants 0 experience.

=== Discovering new locations ===

The amount of experience obtained by discovering new [[List of locations|locations]] (internally referenced as "Exploration Reward") is determined by: