BASIC Studios

Introduction

 

Hello, everyone! The Magical Mythtress is back with one final entry. Today, we’re following up on my previous article, where I introduced you to Aelynthi and her mysteriously-appearing identical twins, with some additional tips and tricks, including how to enable achievements on PC while playing with mods!

 

As I said, this is my final regular blog entry – I’m moving on within BASIC towards the more business-sided aspect, but I’ll still be around in our Discord to chat with all of you! And, the best news of all – BASIC is looking for more folks! That’s right – we’re hiring. Go ahead and scan the QR code below to apply. If you’re an artist, writer, social media maven, coding genius, or graphic designer who prefers to work remotely, we’d love to meet you!

 

Top Tips and Tricks

 

By the time I reached the final battle at last, a few habits had become second nature. They didn’t guarantee an easy victory, but they dramatically improved my chances of surviving encounters that had ended previous runs.

 

Never start a boss fight unprepared. Cast your long-duration buffs before combat whenever possible, stock up on healing potions, and make sure every party member has useful consumables. Potions, scrolls, and special arrows exist to be used—not saved indefinitely.

 

Position your party before initiating combat. High ground, stealth, and proper spacing can completely change how the opening round unfolds. Avoid bunching everyone together where a single area-of-effect attack can cripple your entire team.

 

Control the battlefield instead of chasing damage. Spells like Spike Growth, Hunger of Hadar, Wall of Fire, and Hypnotic Pattern often provide more value than simply dealing extra damage. Preventing enemies from acting is usually better than trying to outpace them.

 

Explore thoroughly before moving on. Honour Mode rewards experience, equipment, and preparation. Completing optional quests often provides valuable experience, levels, and magical gear that make later encounters significantly more manageable.

 

Accept that retreat is a valid strategy. Not every battle has to end in a glorious victory. If things spiral out of control, escaping with even one surviving party member allows you to regroup rather than risking dozens of hours of progress.

 

Don’t hoard your resources. This was probably my biggest mistake during earlier playthroughs. I finished the game with bags full of potions, scrolls, and specialty arrows that could have saved countless difficult encounters—to be fair, though, I still suffer from this, I’m sure at least in part because  of my adolescent and young adult experience of resource hoarding in RPGs. If you’re thinking, Maybe I should save this for later, chances are you’re already in a fight worth using it in.

 

Most importantly, slow down. Honour Mode rewards careful planning far more than confidence. Treat every encounter as though it could end your run—because eventually, one of them will if you aren’t paying attention.

 

What About Mods?

 

Now for the question that inevitably comes up whenever someone starts talking about Baldur’s Gate 3: What about mods?

 

If you’re playing on PC, the answer is… yes, but there is one important catch.

 

Normally, activating mods disables achievements. That can be a little frustrating if you’re someone who enjoys customizing your game but also wants to collect achievements along the way. Fortunately, there is a solution for PC players: the Achievement Enabler mod, available through Nexus Mods.

 

Achievement Enabler on Nexus Mods

 

Achievement Enabler is designed to allow Steam and GOG achievements to function while you have mods installed. The current version listed on Nexus Mods is version 1.3, updated for Patch 8, and it requires Native Mod Loader to be installed first.

 

There is one particularly important thing to remember: install the Achievement Enabler before you start earning the achievements you want to keep track of. According to the mod’s documentation, it isn’t retroactive. In other words, if an achievement was disabled when you fulfilled its requirements, installing the Enabler afterward won’t necessarily make that previously completed achievement appear.

 

This is particularly useful for players who want to customize their Honour Mode experience without giving up the satisfaction of earning achievements. Whether you’re using cosmetic changes, quality-of-life improvements, character customization, or other gameplay modifications, you don’t necessarily have to choose between a modded game and your achievement collection.

 

 

That said, there is an important Honour Mode caveat: be careful about mods that specifically alter Honour Mode’s rules.

 

There is a difference between using a mod that makes your characters prettier and using one that removes Honour Mode’s restrictions. If your goal is to genuinely complete Honour Mode and earn its rewards, make sure you understand exactly what a mod changes before installing it.

 

Personally, I think mods are one of the best things about playing Baldur’s Gate 3 on PC, as my screenshots of customized companions will attest to. They can add variety to a game that is already enormous, and they can make subsequent playthroughs feel fresh. Just remember to check compatibility whenever the game receives a major update. A mod that worked perfectly yesterday can become a very effective way to make your game crash tomorrow.

 

And, as always with modding, back up your saves first.

 

Because there is nothing quite like spending dozens of hours surviving Honour Mode only to discover that your favorite mod has decided to declare war on your save file.

 

Conclusion

 

Honour Mode isn’t just the hardest way to play Baldur’s Gate 3—it’s arguably the most rewarding. It asks you to trust your planning, embrace the unexpected, and learn from every success and failure along the way. While losing an entire campaign can be frustrating, it also makes every victory feel earned in a way few modern games can replicate.

 

Looking back, I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. My first Honour Mode run forced me to become a better player, appreciate mechanics I’d previously overlooked, and discover just how flexible Baldur’s Gate 3 can be when every decision carries real weight.

 

Whether your goal is earning the Golden Dice or simply experiencing the game from a fresh perspective, don’t let the difficulty intimidate you. Go in with a plan, be willing to adapt when things inevitably go sideways, and remember that every failed run teaches you something new.

 

After all, what kind of hero’s journey would it be if there weren’t a few near-death experiences along the way?

 

In the comments, tell me about your Honour Mode experience! What was the silliest way you experienced  a party wipe? What are your go-to classes for an optimal run? Who’s on your Honour Mode team?

 

Happy adventuring, y’all, and may the dice be ever in your favor.