Baldur’s Gate 3was significant forDungeons and Dragonsin that it not only brought many new players to the game, but it also introduced many new ways to streamline features and mechanics that already existed in the game. With the 2024 rework of the 2014Player’s Handbook, some of those changes thatBaldur’s Gate 3introduced were brought over toDungeons and Dragons, such as drinking healing potions as a Bonus Action.
Improvements thatBaldur’s Gate 3made toDungeons and Dragonsmechanics and spells not only helpedDungeons and Dragonsevolve, but they also helped streamline parts ofDungeons and Dragonsthat some DMs and party players may have found to be clunky in practice or took up a lot of time during the campaign.Baldur’s Gate 3’s approach to Song of Restwas a massive help to players who played support playstyles, and reworking Prayer of Healing in the2024 Player’s Handbookto something that resemblesBaldur’s Gate 3’s Song of Rest will likely be a big help in practice to many players.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Was a Trailblazer in Reworking Dungeons and Dragons Spells
One Bard ability in particular was reworked forBaldur’s Gate 3to work better with the game’s mechanics, and the changes it went through have been carried over to the2024Player’s Handbookversion of the Bard. In the 2014Player’s Handbook, Song of Rest was applied during a Short Rest, and added extra healing to all characters in a party who were within hearing range of the Bard. Rather than using these mechanics fromDungeons and Dragons,Baldur’s Gate 3’s version of Song of Rest instead bestowed the same benefits as a Short Rest in the amount of time it takes to cast a spell.
With the2024Player’s Handbookcame many changes. Prayer of Healing, which was previously used to just grant hit points equal to 2d8 + the spellcaster’s spellcasting ability modifier, now grants the benefits of a Short Rest, in addition to restoring 2d8 hit points. While Prayer of Healing still takes ten minutes to cast in-game, it takes less time than an actual Short Rest, and can seamlessly be added to a dungeon crawl or adventure while a party is out in the field, provided they aren’t in an active and dangerous area, essentially giving the party an additional Short Rest between Long Rests.
The Benefits of a Prayer of Healing Rework in Dungeons and Dragons
This is a major change to Prayer of Healing. In contrast to this change, Song of Rest was controversially entirely removed from the 2024Player’s Handbook. This was done to encourage shorter but more frequent rests for parties, rather than longer rests that are less frequent and more difficult to obtain. Thischanges the rhythm and pacing ofDungeons and Dragonsto be faster and more streamlined, which can be experienced firsthand inBaldur’s Gate 3.
The2024Player’s Handbookversion of Prayer of Healingis a spiritual successor to Song of Rest inBaldur’s Gate 3. Rather thanBaldur’s Gate 3adapting all spells exactly as they appear inDungeons and Dragons, it made changes where needed and made improvements thatDungeons and Dragonswould go on to adapt. This kind of spell rework is perfect for playthroughs where time is of the essence, and for characters who play a support character.
Dungeons and Dragons
Created by Gary Gygax, Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop game in which players craft their own worlds and band together to take on adventures through mysterious realms outlined in companion materials. One of the best role-playing games ever made, it has been adapted into a variety of video games and other media.
