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old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jul 2019
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Okay I now possess BG: DiA and it has a fair sized Gazetteer on Baldur's Gate and it explores other areas and possible events and machanics that will likely impact BG3.
The Gazetteer was honestly better then I expected, soooo many interesting plothooks and 5e made Baldur's Gate way more interesting then it used to be thanks to the cool outer city (which honestly should have gotten more space).
Spoilers Alert Below:
Baldur's Gate feels less like a unified City like Waterdeep and more like a metropolian area of 4 linked cities, with upper, lower, Little Calimshan, and the rest of outer districts.
My favourite districts are Bloomridge, Temple, Little Calimshan (part of the Outer District, walled off, very Calimshan flavoured), Twin Songs (Religious District, with mental health retreat), super inhuman Sow's Foot (those worried about how more monsterous humaniods would not be killed on sight by BG, Sow's Foot is mostly very exotic, with like Lizardfolk and the like in it).
There is also a Hospital in Baldur's Gate staffed with Clerics from all sorts of Religions, even evil ones, so that is very interesting in a lot of ways.
Also possibly the funneist place in BG, Undercellar is like a Cross between a giant brothel, illegal market place, tavern, ect..., it has it's own police force if sorts (so does little Calimshan). There is a huge Chessenta style Bathhouse that is also basically a brothel as well, although it does have other uses.
So many different groups function in the city.
A lot if really cool BG backgrounds.
Twin Songs allows shrines of any religion, even evil Gods and Fiends as long as no violence is committed. Most religiously diverse district of BG, the way Sow's Foot is the most species diverse region.
I'm just scratching the surface so far. Like there are stables with exotic animals like Owlbears.
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old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jul 2019
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If the Hell part of BG: DiA is like Mad Max in Hell, then the BG parts like the Gazetteer remind me of the movie The Warriors, with soooo many gangs "Crews" have their turfs, either territory or professions, plus the Guild, the main Thieves Guild.
My Favourite Crews are the Revelers Union, Bloomridge Dandies, Little Pashas, Bannerless.
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old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jul 2019
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Huge Spoiler Alert One of the Dukes of Baldur's Gate is possessed by a Mindflayer, people just think she's having seizures.
Last edited by vometia; 20/09/19 03:15 AM. Reason: Added spoiler tags to spoiler
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member
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member
Joined: Jun 2019
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I looked up Descent Into Avernus at Barnes & Noble, and I have to say, I love the gazetteer pages. Too bad I can't find a group that is preparing to play this adventure, I've been looking forward to this for months.
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old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jul 2019
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I looked up Descent Into Avernus at Barnes & Noble, and I have to say, I love the gazetteer pages. Too bad I can't find a group that is preparing to play this adventure, I've been looking forward to this for months. Yeah it's better then expected. A portal between Baldur's Gate and Waterdeep would allow for some epic Urban campaigning.
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enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2019
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Anything else that might be noteworthy? Be so kind as to keep us posted, eh? I'm starting to think hell might freeze over twice before we get some news on BG3. I can't fathom this obsession with representing bathhouses as brothels. I'm still fresh from reading a book on the medieval era that focuses on France and it was forbidden to bathe naked, let alone run a brothel on the side which would have likely been raided by authorities back then. Just a minor gripe.
Last edited by korotama; 21/09/19 03:16 PM.
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old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jul 2019
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Anything else that might be noteworthy? Be so kind as to keep us posted, eh? I'm starting to think hell might freeze over twice before we get some news on BG3. I can't fathom this obsession with representing bathhouses as brothels. I'm still fresh from reading a book on the medieval era that focuses on France and it was forbidden to bathe naked, let alone run a brothel on the side which would have likely been raided by authorities back then. Just a minor gripe. BG isn't midevil France, for example it's polythiestic and even has public fiend worship. And Faerun has enough sex gods/goddesses to make their own Pantheon. And I'll be exploring it again later.
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enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2017
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Anything else that might be noteworthy? Be so kind as to keep us posted, eh? I'm starting to think hell might freeze over twice before we get some news on BG3. I can't fathom this obsession with representing bathhouses as brothels. I'm still fresh from reading a book on the medieval era that focuses on France and it was forbidden to bathe naked, let alone run a brothel on the side which would have likely been raided by authorities back then. Just a minor gripe. BG isn't midevil France, for example it's polythiestic and even has public fiend worship. And Faerun has enough sex gods/goddesses to make their own Pantheon. And I'll be exploring it again later. No problem brothels were pretty common on the other side of the rhine in the Holy Roman Empire. Though of the standards varied a lot since the HRR had no central government. So claiming prostitution didn't exist in medieval Europe is just wrong.
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enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2019
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Anything else that might be noteworthy? Be so kind as to keep us posted, eh? I'm starting to think hell might freeze over twice before we get some news on BG3. I can't fathom this obsession with representing bathhouses as brothels. I'm still fresh from reading a book on the medieval era that focuses on France and it was forbidden to bathe naked, let alone run a brothel on the side which would have likely been raided by authorities back then. Just a minor gripe. BG isn't midevil France, for example it's polythiestic and even has public fiend worship. And Faerun has enough sex gods/goddesses to make their own Pantheon. And I'll be exploring it again later. Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm not disparaging DiA per se but merely lamenting the trope that many works of fiction set in the Middle Ages seem to perpetuate. Also, the trade routes established during the Crusades brought many interpretations of the Gospel and Byzantine-influenced mysticism to Europe (especially France), which propelled the Inquisition even further to root out heresy (any deviation from Church-approved teachings). Contrast that with Faerun's polytheistic society, lol! I guess Siege of Dragonspear taps into inter-religious strife for story purposes but yeah I felt they could have done more with it.
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enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2019
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Anything else that might be noteworthy? Be so kind as to keep us posted, eh? I'm starting to think hell might freeze over twice before we get some news on BG3. I can't fathom this obsession with representing bathhouses as brothels. I'm still fresh from reading a book on the medieval era that focuses on France and it was forbidden to bathe naked, let alone run a brothel on the side which would have likely been raided by authorities back then. Just a minor gripe. BG isn't midevil France, for example it's polythiestic and even has public fiend worship. And Faerun has enough sex gods/goddesses to make their own Pantheon. And I'll be exploring it again later. No problem brothels were pretty common on the other side of the rhine in the Holy Roman Empire. Though of the standards varied a lot since the HRR had no central government. So claiming prostitution didn't exist in medieval Europe is just wrong. I did not claim that though. I was referring to bathhouses which had an obvious purpose back then. Anyway, you can PM me if you want to chat about medieval history I don't want to derail this thread.
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old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jul 2019
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Minsc and Boo's statue has been rebuilt after the original turned out to be well Minsc and Boo. I think it's a safe bet we will met them in BG3, although I'm not assuming they will be companions.
One important think the Gazetteer plays up compared to Murder In Baldur's Gate, are the Crews, I really think they will figure into BG 3.
Also a bunch of Patriar families get at least some details, for example Rillyn House.
I do expect that BG 3 will have at least one new Duke compared to BG: DiA.
Upper City, Lower City, and Outer City all have tons of plot looks.
Is there any particular questions anyone have?
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old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jul 2019
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Comparing Waterdeep and Baldur's Gate books, BG Gazetteer is over twice the size of the Waterdeep Endirdion, with waaay more plot hooks, which annoys me in that it feels like the Waterdeep guide could have been better. The two cities do feel vastly different.
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enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2019
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They said in, I think one of Chris Perkins streams with D&D Beyond, That " If Waterdeep is Metropolis, then Baldur's Gate is Gotham."
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old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jul 2019
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The comparision I'd use is Waterdeep is Toronto, Baldur's Gate is New York.
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old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jul 2019
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The Art in BG: DiA btw is absolutely spectular, the best art of 5th edition.
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veteran
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veteran
Joined: Mar 2013
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thats not exactly a high bar to surpass
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stranger
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stranger
Joined: Nov 2019
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I created the account for the sole purpose of thanking you - for bringing attention to this material.
I am having a great time so far, the Gazetter part is very well-done.
I agree, this book is one of the best Wizard's creations. Very well-illustrated, and text style is one absolute pleasure.
The exposition is great, very intriguing and promising. Way better than any "classic" fantasy city, I can't wait to actually join this sprawl.
Everything is cool, but the best part imho are the crews. The introduction of these union-like communities and socialist vibe makes this version of the city closer to victorian London or New York, adding additional depth and intricate layers to the setting.
I am way more interested in the game now. Thank you for sharing.
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stranger
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stranger
Joined: Dec 2019
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Hey everyone! Is there any further reading that you could suggest for background lore on Baldur's Gate and it's surrounds? I'd like to get completely immersed for BG3 :)
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old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jul 2019
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I created the account for the sole purpose of thanking you - for bringing attention to this material.
I am having a great time so far, the Gazetter part is very well-done.
I agree, this book is one of the best Wizard's creations. Very well-illustrated, and text style is one absolute pleasure.
The exposition is great, very intriguing and promising. Way better than any "classic" fantasy city, I can't wait to actually join this sprawl.
Everything is cool, but the best part imho are the crews. The introduction of these union-like communities and socialist vibe makes this version of the city closer to victorian London or New York, adding additional depth and intricate layers to the setting.
I am way more interested in the game now. Thank you for sharing. Your welcome!
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old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Jul 2019
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Hey everyone! Is there any further reading that you could suggest for background lore on Baldur's Gate and it's surrounds? I'd like to get completely immersed for BG3 Well restriicting it to 5e material I'd suggest Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Not about Baldur's Gate specifically, but Volo's Guide to Monsters exploring Monsters and Races common to the area like Yuan Ti, Orcs, Lizardfolk, Gobliniods, and more, also its Mindflayer section I think helped inspired Larian Studios their story choices. Not in Baldur's Gate, in closest Major City is Waterdeep, which is detailed in Waterdeep: Dragonheist and its greatest Dungeon Undermountain is detailed in Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage. Mordienekian's Tome of Foes has a section on the Gith, who are likely appearing BG3 as a counter to the Mindflayers. Plus its has lore exploring the demihuman races of Halflings, Dwarves, Elves, Gnomes, and sort of Tieflings. And finally Storm King's Thunder has a chapter with plothooks spread throughout Swordcoast Region.
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