How Baldur’s Gate 3 almost derailed D&D’s Descent into Avernus adventure
Dungeons & Dragons’ 2019 adventure module Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus brought players to Avernus, the first layer of Hell and a plane dominated by lawful-evil devils. The module has become popular among D&D players despite a troubled development process marked by controversy that complicated its creation. Among its notable features is the Sword of Zariel, one of the most distinctive weapons in D&D’s arsenal.
The adventure exemplifies D&D’s unique approach to world-building, blending moral and religious inspirations with gamified fantasy elements. Rather than presenting Hell, the Abyss, and the Heavens as purely narrative concepts, the game treats them as accessible planes of existence that players can visit under appropriate circumstances. This cosmological framework allows players to engage with mythologically-inspired settings through interactive gameplay mechanics.