Following last month's meaty gameplay delivery, Larian Studios has revealed a bit more about how the various systems in Baldur's Gate 3 work.

If you've been reading up on everything Larian Studios has revealed so far, you're probably already familiar with much of it, but this community update offers a few more details on the changes and how they work, along with some neat GIF images.

Combat is much more exhilarating than in Original Sin 2. Part of this is due to the turn order mechanics, but you may have noticed that they are a bit different from what was released earlier this year.

Originally, parties could act simultaneously, but after feedback and playtesting, Larian made it a bit more like D&D turn order. Now, as determined by initiative, characters are commanded one at a time, but party members next to each other in turn order can still act simultaneously as before. It's a mix of old and new.

"In other words, you will experience different tactical puzzles in each battle based on the results of initiative rolls, and everything will really mix, but you can still react to the 'cards you are dealt' so to speak," says Larian, clarifying that there are no literal cards Larian clarifies that there are no literal cards. Between the initiative's RNG and planning, you should have a fresh experience in every battle."

This is true in multiplayer as well, where you can score combos and control characters simultaneously with co-op buddies as long as they are next to each other in turn order.

So it's not the free-for-all it used to be, but according to Larian, the reduced wait time between turns creates a flow in "Baldur's Gate 3" that most turn-based romance games do not have. Animation reduces the gaps in the action and makes it even faster.

"We've invested heavily in what drives the animation pipeline, specifically tweaking it to improve the feel and motion of combat. The brevity and flow has improved because a lot of changes have shortened microseconds (sometimes a full second). For example, another character's turn begins behind the scenes as the previous character is finishing an animation. Even something as simple as combining a move animation with a melee hit shortens the battle by several seconds."

Sneaking can also help you avoid a fight altogether. Becoming one with the shadows requires some skill, of course, but the environment is also a factor. Enemies have visibility cones, but they can become invisible in the dark. However, if the enemy has night vision, you are out of luck. One can affect this in a variety of ways, such as pouring water on torches or casting spells.

"Sneaking is a very useful technique to position your party before you take the initiative and ensure a first strike," says Larian.

"With stealth, you can sneak into camp, avoid detection, and even win the game with a critical strike. With a little thought, you can make the perfect rush."

When Baldur's Gate 3 launches in Early Access this August, you'll be able to push people off ledges and participate in turn-based brawls.