Summary
A dedicated fan of the hit RPGBaldur’s Gate 3has shared their love for their favorite character, the tiefling warrior Karlach, in the form of a paint job on a physical Karlach figurine. The job reportedly took over eighty hours to complete, and won praise from theBaldur’s Gate 3community for its attention to detail.
Developer Larian Studios took the gaming world by storm when the full release ofBaldur’s Gate 3seemingly took over the public’s consciousness, capturing attention and sweeping major awards shows in 2023.Baldur’s Gate 3won so many accoladesthat year that many players now consider it one of the greatest RPGs of all time. Core to that appeal is the characters, as players can fight alongside, romance or even come into conflict with the many personalities of the mainBaldur’s Gate 3playable cast. Thanks to Larian’s “Origin Character” system, players can even take on the pre-constructed story of one of the party members, using characters like Shadowheart or Karlach as a protagonist rather than a custom hero.
That centralization of characters toBaldur’s Gate 3’s storytelling won it many fans, one of whom is hobbyist Jleefish Studios,who shared his painting of a Karlach miniaturewith the game’s community. The job stands out among othertributes toBaldur’s Gate 3charactersfor its professional-grade quality. Jleefish also showed his process in a detailed video uploaded to their YouTube channel.
Intricate Baldur’s 3 Karlach Miniature Paintjob Took Over 80 Hours to Complete
In their process video, Jleefish said that Karlach is his favorite character, thanks to her utility in combat, sense of humor, and her unique outlook on life. Jleefish’s painting job started with the assembly of an unpainted 3D printed miniature acquired from a 3D modeler named Bulkamancer via Etsy. Even without colors, the features of Karlach as aZariel Tieflingstand out, particularly her prominent horns, unique chest patterning, and the web of burn scars on her right side. Jleefish faced particular challenges coloring in the figure’s eyes, as they were so small they were dwarfed by the tip of a ballpoint pen.
TheBaldur’s Gate 3fan community praised Jleefish for expertly capturing the detail in Karlach’s in-game model. Some fans drew particular attention to the work done on the weapon, which isone of many axes found inBaldur’s Gate 3. Jleefish used a particular painting technique called “non-metallic metal” to replicate the telltale patterns of Damascus smithing patterns on the axe, as it was the model’s major focal point and deserved extra attention.
The fervor of fan activity aroundBaldur’s Gate 3is a testament to how well Larian has managed to capture players' hearts. Now that the studio is officially stepping back from DLC or expansions, any developer that steps up to Hasbro’s call for a sequel will have its work cut out for it.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
