Pick a difficulty you can live with
The first menu that changes the run is difficulty. Honour Mode keeps one save. Custom Mode can load those combat rules on a new game.
Honour Mode turns save scumming off. A death screen offers statistics, and continuing disables Honour Mode.
Custom Mode can load the Honour ruleset on a new game as of the 19 Sep 2024 note. That is a place to learn a fight without spending the Honour save.
Origin or a character you make
PlayStation Japan's page says you can play a prepared origin character or a character you customize. Either way, the mind flayer infection opens the story.
The romance overview's origin companions are Astarion, Gale, Karlach, Lae'zel, Shadowheart, and Wyll. Halsin and Minthara join that partner list later. Jaheira and Minsc are not romance options.
Camp, then the grove exits
Long rest at camp when you want scenes and spell slots back. Leave the region exits until you mean to resolve the grove.
A full long rest costs 40 camp supplies, 80 on Tactician or Honour, and up to 120 on Custom. Long rests are where many companion scenes play, and some timers advance when you take one.
Save the Refugees ends if you take either Act 1 exit: the road to the Rosymorn Monastery Trail, or the road into the Shadow-Cursed Lands. Karlach leaves if the paladins of Tyr from Hunt the Devil are still alive when you take them.
Respec with Withers costs 100 gold. He still joins camp if you reach the goblin camp courtyard without opening the sarcophagus.
Official site: baldursgate3.game.