D&D 5e Is Fully Represented In Solasta 2, For Better And Worse

Solasta: Crown of the Magister, a D&D-inspired game that closely follows the rules of the tabletop game's fifth edition, evidently released too soon. The 2021 RPG released to favorable reviews but didn't break into the mainstream. But now we live in a post-Baldur's Gate 3 world, which rocked the gaming industry (GameSpot named it our Game of the Year in 2023), and dice-based games are getting a spotlight they previously didn't have. Solasta II is launching into a far more favorable position than its predecessor, and feels like it could be a great game for folks who enjoyed Baldur's Gate 3 but now want a game that more closely aligns with the experience of playing Dungeons & Dragons.

I played about an hour of Solasta II and the most striking part of the demo was how closely the game more strictly sticks to the parameters of D&D 5e in comparison to a game like Baldur's Gate 3. You can't, for example, drink a health potion and melee attack on the same turn. Baldur's Gate 3 adopts the commonly homebrewed rule (and now official rule in the latest edition of D&D) that considers drinking a health potion to be a bonus action and not an action, so you could reserve your action to attack and then use your bonus action to heal on the same turn. That's not how it works in the rules for D&D 5e, so that's not how it works in Solasta II. This parallel seems to extend across Solasta II and although I appreciate the accuracy, it does highlight some of the problems with D&D 5e that games like Baldur's Gate 3 have already circumnavigated by outright changing how they work.

Different members of the party will want to solve problems differently and sometimes have unique skill checks.

Ignoring the comparisons to Baldur's Gate 3, the combat otherwise feels great. Figuring out when to use my Rogue's unique cunning action ability to bonus action dash so I can save her main action to attack an enemy being flanked by the Fighter (a scenario that lets me add sneak attack damage!) felt awesome. I was repeatedly rewarded for thinking things through before engaging a target. Knowing when and how to use resources is paramount as Solasta II tracks ammunition (so I had to keep count of how many arrows my short bow-wielding sorcerer had on him, for example), and there even seems to be a risk-versus-reward consideration tied to the rest mechanic, as the first time I tried to camp to regain health and recharge the party's abilities, one of the members of the party cryptically warned that doing so might cause enough time to pass, meaning I'd potentially miss out on future storylines. That added a sense of urgency to what seemed to be an optional quest in the demo, but I'm curious to see if this same feeling is applied to portions of the main storyline as well and how often resting might cause a player to miss out on a quest.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Topics

Boston's historic 3-point performance continues -- for better or worse

Have the defending champs reached a point of diminishing returns?
ESPN - 1d
The D&D Monster Manual Just Got Its First New Edition In Over A Decade

Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Monster Manual ...
GameSpot - 2d
2025 NFL mock draft roundup: Patriots should bolster d-line in Round 1

The 2025 NFL Draft is loaded with quality edge rushers and defensive tackles, so it makes sense for the Patriots to take one of those players in Round 1.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Tubi Is Not the Next Netflix. It’s Something Better

The ad-supported service is home to the biggest content library of any streamer. So why is Tubi still considered a social punching bag?
Wired - 2d
Pope not fully recovered, condition not life-threatening, doctors say

Pope Francis was hospitalized with a respiratory tract infection and now has pneumonia in both lungs. He has been hospitalized since last week.
ABC News - 1d
'Tyranny is rising in the White House': Voters slam representatives on Trump, DOGE

Some Republicans are facing pushback in their hometowns as President Donald Trump and DOGE makes severe cuts across the federal government.
ABC News - 20h
Trump Eyes a Bigger, Better Trade Deal With China

U.S. officials are considering whether they can strike a deal with China that would ramp up its purchases of American goods and investments in the United States.
The New York Times - 3d
Moyes doing a better job than me - Amorim

David Moyes is doing "a better job than me" says Ruben Amorim, with Manchester United travelling to Goodison Park on Saturday below Everton in the Premier League table.
BBC News - 1d
House Republicans representing large shares of Medicaid, SNAP beneficiaries face tough budget test

Some Republicans have raised concerns about potential cuts to anti-poverty programs that their constituents rely on as they search for ways to pay for Trump’s legislative agenda.
NBC News - 1d

More from GameSpot

These Licensed Games Are Perfect For Youngsters

If you’re looking for a fun way to bring your kid’s favorite TV shows and movies to life, consider adding a licensed video game to your collection. These give you (and your kids) a chance to jump ...
GameSpot - 14h
Charizard-Shaped Cheeto Is Up For Auction, And Already At An Astounding Price

Pokemon fans are known to be passionate, especially as Pokemania nears its 30th anniversary in 2026. Sometimes, fans are even willing to pay shockingly high prices for unofficial Pokemon items, ...
GameSpot - 21h
While We Wait For State Of Decay 3, This Punishing New Zombie Game Is Hitting All The Right Notes

I've long appreciated State of Decay as the exciting middle ground between an approachable zombie game like Days Gone or Dead Rising , and unforgiving survival sims like DayZ and Project ...
GameSpot - 23h
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Site Is Counting Down To An Announcement

Earlier this week, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 had an update that teased the return of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater . In a skate park map called The Grind, there is a banner with the THPS logo and the ...
GameSpot - 1d
Avatar: The Last Airbender Joins Magic: The Gathering This November

Last year, at MagicCon Las Vegas, Wizards Of The Coast revealed three "Universes Beyond" collaboration sets would be coming to Magic: The Gathering in 2025: Final Fantasy , Spider-Man , and one ...
GameSpot - 1d