In Baldur’s Gate 3, your background defines your inspiration goals, and your Criminal world’s connections will save you… as always.
By Pixel | Updated for Patch 9 on June 16th, 2023
What is Criminal Background?
Criminal is a background in Baldur’s Gate 3, and it represents their proficiencies, where the character comes from and what their life was like before. NPC characters, including your companions, will recognise your Criminal origin and sometimes ask questions about your shady past, but you can manipulate others around you with your persuasion skills. Being a Criminal can occasionally earn you acceptance or foes.
You have a history of breaking the law and survive by leveraging less-than-legal connections. Profiting from criminal enterprise will lead to greater opportunities in the future.
Source Baldur’s Gate 3
What are Criminal’s Proficiencies?
In addition to the role-playing aspect, the background defines proficiencies, giving you a slight bonus to dice rolls and success in checks. Proficiency is what your character is good at and what knowledge they possess. This Background’s default proficiencies are Deception, Stealth, History, Perception, and Medicine. Your Criminal’s proficiency features are Deception and Sleight of Hand.
Deception is a Charisma skill that will help you with the following checks:
- Ability to hide the truth through actions and verbally
- Maintain a straight face when lying
- Fast-talk
- Earn money through gambling
- Con a merchant
- Successfully disguise yourself
Stealth is a Dexterity skill that will help you with the following checks (You will need to pass multiple checks while sneaking every time you enter the NPC eyesight cone):
- Sneaking
- Conceal yourself from foes
- Escape without being noticed
Should you choose Criminal in Baldur’s Gate 3?
In Baldur’s Gate 3, you should choose Criminal if it fits your character and you like it. Criminal and other backgrounds have defined proficiencies, while classes have a list of skills they can be proficient with, and you can pick only two or three. As a Criminal, NPC will not trust you, sometimes they may refuse to even talk to you if they recognise you. The game will reward you for illegal actions, like murder or manipulation. So make sure it’s how you want your character to act before you make a final decision.
How Inspiration Goals Work Baldur’s Gate 3?
Further, in Baldur’s Gate 3, your Criminal background allows you to complete special goals that will award you with inspiration that you can later utilise when playing the game. When you perform an action that is authentic to your Criminal origin, your character will be inspired.
Criminal Inspiration Goals
The following table presents the Criminal’s Inspiration Goals:
| Inspiration Goal | Description |
|---|---|
| A Fine Fortune | Steal an item worth at least 1000 gold |
| A Sound Investment | Give Mol money for a guild in Baldur’s Gate 3 |
| Blood Price | Murder an innocent civilian. |
| Culling The Crowd | Poison the goblins in the camp. |
| Escape Artist | After being arrested, escape from jail. |
| Finders Keepers | Refuse to return Barth’s locket |
| Friend of the Family | Ally with Zhentarim |
| Heretic | Steal the Idol of Silvanus in the Druid Grove before the ritual is stopped. |
| Jailbreaker | Help Sazza the goblin escape from Makeshift Prison in the Druid Grove |
| Lesser Evils | Rob the Enthralled fishermen on the shore. |
| Serpent’s bounty | Take Zevlor’s payment for killing Kagha in the Druid Grove |
| Slaughter’s Prize | Ally with Minthara, the goblins’ leader and slaughter the Druid Grove |
| Swifty Stolen | Steal the Duergar boots from the Gnome |
Looking for more Baldur’s Gate 3?
Thank you for reading the “Baldur’s Gate 3 Criminal: Background and Inspiration Goals” Guide! We provide the latest news and create guides for the BG 3. Additionally, check out our website, watch me play games on Twitch, or visit my YouTube channel!
