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maransreth
Learned Scribe
Australia
157 Posts |
 Posted - 24 Jul 2020 : 06:26:10
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When people have played the various Baldur's Gate games, did you ever read the books that you could find in the game?
If you did, did you learn anything new that you don't remember reading elsewhere?
How long was the text in the books - short, longish, etc?
I think I may have once read one of the books and it dealt with the Dead Three and how they diced with Jergal, but I may be mis-remembering my lore - too many books over too long a period of time.
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keftiu
Senior Scribe
656 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jul 2020 : 08:26:02
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| I believe the novels are infamously bad. |
4e fangirl. Here to queer up the Realms. |
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maransreth
Learned Scribe
Australia
157 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jul 2020 : 09:42:17
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quote:
Originally posted by keftiu
I believe the novels are infamously bad.
Definitely agree with you there - being an editor does not make you a writer.
I didnt mean the actual novels related to the video games, instead I meant that while playing the game you can come across lots of books. Some of these are plot quests, others just there.
I answered my question - https://baldursgate.fandom.com/wiki/Books
The link lists all the books you can come across AND contains the text in each book as well!
But back to my original question - while playing any of the Baldur's Gates games, did you ever read any of the books in game? btw there is a re Bane, Bhaal and Myrkul, aptly named "Book of the Dead Three".
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Seravin
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1288 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jul 2020 : 23:10:10
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Weird I just grabbed a book on the history of Sembia from that link:
"The Moonsea's (Dragon Sea's) mineral wealth was discovered by humankind at this time, and pressure began to grow for a trade road through the elven woods to make Sembia the world's gateway to all these riches. The Raven went alone as an envoy to the Elven Court. There, he asked the elders of their council to approve a road, open to humans, linking Sembia to the shores of the Dragon Sea"
I've never before heard the Moonsea called the Dragon Sea? Baldur's Gate is pretty recent relative to the OGB era; anyone know why they called it the Dragon Sea in the game when it's always been the Moonsea elsewhere? |
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AJA
Senior Scribe
USA
770 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jul 2020 : 23:32:51
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That's just a direct sampling of text from the Sembia entry in the OGB (see the Cyclopedia of the Realms, p.74). "Dragon Sea" is mentioned a couple of times in that entry.
Also, from the 2E supplement The Moonsea;
"The Moonsea was once known as the Dragon Sea or Sea of Dragons due to the scores of dragons that would come to the sea to mate." (p.3)
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AJA
YAFRP
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Seravin
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1288 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jul 2020 : 23:50:10
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| Cool!! I knew there had to be some source for that, thanks AJA. |
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maransreth
Learned Scribe
Australia
157 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jul 2020 : 04:46:23
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I liked the small excerpts on the Valley of the Gods and the Giants Last March. The Giants one was interesting as it gave a different take on the creation of the Sea of Fallen Stars.
Both excerpts originally came from the 2e book Faith & Avatars.
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jul 2020 : 15:41:28
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| Yeah, I think I read all of them, and I don't recall any of them at the time not having something that I read in F&A or something else. That would have only been in BG, BG2, and there was some expansion I believe BG2 shadows of amn. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Mirtek
Senior Scribe
595 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2020 : 15:59:36
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quote:
Originally posted by keftiu
I believe the novels are infamously bad.
Understatement of the century!
The first one is bad, the second one is a little less bad (which doesn't mean it's anywhere near being good) and the final one, the less is said about the final one the better |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2020 : 21:17:11
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quote:
Originally posted by Mirtek
quote:
Originally posted by keftiu
I believe the novels are infamously bad.
Understatement of the century!
The first one is bad, the second one is a little less bad (which doesn't mean it's anywhere near being good) and the final one, the less is said about the final one the better
They made 3? |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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The Masked Mage
Great Reader
USA
2420 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jul 2020 : 17:55:46
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quote:
Originally posted by Seravin
Weird I just grabbed a book on the history of Sembia from that link:
"The Moonsea's (Dragon Sea's) mineral wealth was discovered by humankind at this time, and pressure began to grow for a trade road through the elven woods to make Sembia the world's gateway to all these riches. The Raven went alone as an envoy to the Elven Court. There, he asked the elders of their council to approve a road, open to humans, linking Sembia to the shores of the Dragon Sea"
I've never before heard the Moonsea called the Dragon Sea? Baldur's Gate is pretty recent relative to the OGB era; anyone know why they called it the Dragon Sea in the game when it's always been the Moonsea elsewhere?
Its always been the Moonsea, and is only mentioned in one liners like this as the Dragon Sea, or the Sea of Dragons.
Its its usually the very first sentence - like in the Moonsea sourcebook - first line after the intro quote :P
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The Masked Mage
Great Reader
USA
2420 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jul 2020 : 18:34:20
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As for the actual topic - the books that came with the video games were for the most part just rulebooks - not much new lore to speak of. They were presented as Volo's Guides that focused on the locations and characters in the game. I think the second one - Volo's Guide to Baldur's Gate II might have been sold separately - someone with a better memory can confirm or refute. It was much better as far as lore goes - I think Ed actually wrote it, and it is very much like the other Volo's guides. Pdfs are readily available, I'd guess finding a paper copy harder. There were a couple unique items or spells described very briefly, but that's it.
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Edited by - The Masked Mage on 28 Jul 2020 18:35:19 |
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Seravin
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1288 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jul 2020 : 18:42:51
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Volo's Guide to Baldur's Gate 2 was the worst named sourcebook in D&D and Forgotten Realm's history.
Yes it had a write up on Athkatla and a map that maybe helped in the game, but it was just a wonderful book on cities and shops from Volo's point of view of Amn and Tethyr. It should have been called Volo's Guide to Amn or Volo's Guide to the Lands of Intrigue.
But some absolute douchebag of a marketing genius at TSR decided to name it the worst name ever to sell a few books to people who would mistakenly buy it as a hint book to BG2.
It SUCKS and makes me really angry to this day. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jul 2020 : 20:00:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Seravin
Volo's Guide to Baldur's Gate 2 was the worst named sourcebook in D&D and Forgotten Realm's history.
Yes it had a write up on Athkatla and a map that maybe helped in the game, but it was just a wonderful book on cities and shops from Volo's point of view of Amn and Tethyr. It should have been called Volo's Guide to Amn or Volo's Guide to the Lands of Intrigue.
But some absolute douchebag of a marketing genius at TSR decided to name it the worst name ever to sell a few books to people who would mistakenly buy it as a hint book to BG2.
It SUCKS and makes me really angry to this day.
I cannot disagree with any of this. I was disappointed to not have any Baldur's Gate info in the book.
The cover art had issues, too -- neither elf could have put that arrow through Volo's shirt from that position, and the one with the drawn arrow looks like he's aiming at the opposite side of the tree. The second elf looks like he's gazing past Volo, as well. |
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Books from the original Baldur's Gate video game
