Isometric games have always been a fan favorite, especially for us RPG aficionados. The charm of looking over the battlefield with the precision of an eagle, guiding our heroes through the myriad challenges of the game, is truly unmatched. This experience is particularly profound in Baldur's Gate 3, with its intricate terrains, challenges, and don't even get me started on Astarion's captivating hair. However, Baldur's Gate 3 takes this allure a notch higher, providing the players an option to switch between a bird's eye view and an immersive third-person perspective.
Though extremely fascinating, it's a tad perplexing why this intriguing perspective is unavailable to PC players without a controller. This left many, including myself, green with envy. But, worry not! Thanks to the dedicated modding community, specifically NexusMods user Ch4nKyy, we can now relish the delight of WASD movement in the game. Paired with Ershin's "Native Camera Tweaks", you can roam around the Forgotten Realms with an enhanced sense of immersion. And, definitely, it's a seamless transition between both views, offering the best of both worlds.
Let's delve deeper into these mods and learn how to equip your Baldur's Gate 3 with them.
Related: Baldur's Gate 3 Performance Boost - Low FPS, Stuttering Fix
Baldur's Gate 3 WASD Movement Mod
One of the paramount modifications to Baldur's Gate 3, the WASD Movement mod allows you to:
- Control your character directly using the WASD keys, making the game undeniably more immersive.
- Switch between character and camera movement, primarily with Caps Lock.
- Start and end combat automatically.
- Sprint with ease using Shift+W.
- Tweak between sprinting and walking by pressing Insert.
Moreover, this mod is designed to be compatible with both Vulkan and DX11, supports multiplayer (even without other players having the mod), and is adaptable to GOG. Customizing keys and settings is possible, and for this, you can check out the "Hints" section.
BG3 Native Camera Tweaks Mod
This mod is an open-source plugin that greatly enhances Baldur's Gate 3's camera mechanics. Features include:
- Adjusting the camera pitch for both exploration and combat.
- Overriding the set pitch and zoom limits.
- Tweaking the camera's field of view.
- Enhanced mouse and keyboard rotation multipliers.
- Support for controllers and local splitscreen.
Importantly, this mod doesn't come with any separate executable files, ensuring a smooth gaming experience.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Install WASD Movement and Native Camera Tweaks Mods
With the plethora of modifications available, installation can sometimes be confusing. However, I've broken down the process into simple steps, ensuring you can immerse yourself in the game without any hitches.
- Start with the Base: Head over to NativeModLoader and download the necessary files. Once done, extract them and place both bink2w64.dll and bink2w64_original.dll in the specified folder (C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Baldurs Gate 3\bin\). If Windows asks for permission to overwrite, say yes. Note: Your path might vary based on the disk or version you have.
- Installing the WASD Movement Mod: Grab the WASD Movement mod, extract its contents, and drop BG3WASD.dll and BG3WASD.toml into the NativeMods folder. If it doesn't exist, simply create one.
- Topping it off with Native Camera Tweaks: Download the Native Camera Tweaks mod and follow the same steps as mentioned for the WASD Movement mod.
Easy Installation with Vortex
For those who prefer a more streamlined process, the Vortex mod manager is a boon. Here's how to use it:
- Download and set up the Mod Manager Vortex.
- Use Vortex to download NativeModLoader and install it. Whether you choose "as mod" or "as replacer", it doesn't really matter. In case of errors, don't sweat and simply ignore them.
- In Vortex, locate the Mods tab and select NativeModLoader. From there, designate "Mod Type" to "Engine Injector".
- Navigate to Notifications and click on "Deploy".
- Rinse and repeat the aforementioned steps for both WASD Movement and Native Camera Tweaks mods.