Dark Sun was ana amazing setting. It's a shame it only works really well in second edition rules.
Have to agree with you there. Dark Sun turned the arbitrary class limitations of 2E, and its leveling system, into something central to the setting. If everyone can suddenly do everything, if there is a hard level cap of 40, the worldbuilding of Dark Sun breaks down. It's a strictly 2e setting in my opinion, but one of my all time favorites.
The 2nd edition campaign setting may have provided some inspiration for the plot of BG1
(found under the Iron Throne section)
Obviously this isn't quite the plot. But it is remarkably close all things considered. Admittedly, dead dieties coming back is not a new thing but it was a section of the book I found kind of interesting.
Your familiar will give you tidbits of advice based on what chapter of the game you are in. If you are in Candlekeep for instance it may tell you to stay put.
Different familiars give different advice as well (good familiars give one set, neutral another, evil another).
Technically, Ogres in Baldur's Gate 1 have 16 intelligence. Even though they aren't portrayed as such, most characters are less intelligent than ogres.
Technically, Ogres in Baldur's Gate 1 have 16 intelligence. Even though they aren't portrayed as such, most characters are less intelligent than ogres.
Bears too! Somebody once wrote a fic based on the possibilities opened by that.
Nalin, the Priest of Helm in Nashkel, uses the same dialog file for rumors as the Nashkel tavern. The result of this is that apparently Volo even left a review of the church and the priest is none too happy about it
... apparently Volo even left a review of the church and the priest is none too happy about it
"Now see here, Mr. Volo. You see that eye up there? Helm is always watching. We're always watching. And there are a lot of us. We've got temples all up and down the region. If you keep saying those things about us, we'll just have to tell everyone what sort of a man you really are. And then you won't be getting all those free drinks anymore. Understand?"
A wild boar also makes quite a scary sound if you disturb one in the jungle. You hear the sound of them running through the undergrowth and that is followed by a scary roar. Apparently it does that when it is scared. I wish that I'd known!
A wild boar also makes quite a scary sound if you disturb one in the jungle. You hear the sound of them running through the undergrowth and that is followed by a scary roar. Apparently it does that when it is scared. I wish that I'd known!
A wild boar also makes quite a scary sound if you disturb one in the jungle. You hear the sound of them running through the undergrowth and that is followed by a scary roar. Apparently it does that when it is scared. I wish that I'd known!
Boars sound like a demon out of hell and they have the personality to match. Can be vicious things.
When I went to Nepal in the 80s they were running through the undergrowth two or three yards away from me, but I couldn't see them. It was that which made them scary!
Last year one was following me about two yards away wanting to be fed. The guide was ushering me away knowing how dangerous they can be! (A sloth bear came equally close but I was in a jeep. No problem. It too was after bananas.) They have lost their fear of people which is now a problem!
I saw a rhino attack another. It made be glad of the vegetation between us!!
Even domesticated animals can be dangerous. A sow attacked a friend of mine who had to vault a gate to escape, and a cow killed a friend's father.
Just to make things clear about "Namaste."
It is indeed a Sanskrit word, but it is also a Nepali word, a Gujarati word, an Urdu word and a Hindi word (Not Hindu. Hindu is a religion. Hindi is one of the main languages of India being spoken mostly in Northern India) Namaste is written as नमस्ते in Devangari script. I would not be at all surprised if the word has spread into other languages too in the same way that Hallelujah has spread from Hebrew to English, Greek, French, Russian and even Nepali.
The neutral familiars (ferrets, rabbits & cats) put pickpocketted quick-slottable items in their quick-slots and can use them? This includes wands, scrolls and potions (haven't tried other items like the Genie Bottle but it would probably work). The caveat is that you need to leave the familiar outside of your pack if you want to take advantage of this. Pickpocketted items are flagged as stolen so as soon as you ask for the items back, or put the familiar back in your pocket (they empty their items when you you do that) they can't steal those items back. With a bit of micro-managing, however, this can be a game-changing exploit for any non-good, non-evil solo adventurer that can cast Summon Familiar.
Oh, also, you have to load a save before you can access the items with the familiar for some reason...
Edit: I'm going to try this with the Book of Infinite Spells at some point. That would be an awesome upgrade for any familiar! Could turn your wimpy rabbit into a cute little vorpal bunny!
It's not the pickpocketing that sets a troublesome flag. Instead, it's when the familiar gives the item back to you. That action sets a "can't be stolen" flag on the item, so the familiar can't steal it again.
A neat little fact: evil party members won't leave you when you have a high reputation in ToB. Example:
After all the trouble of managing reputation in a mixed party before that, you can just let your reputation grow in ToB and not worry about it anymore.
There is one exception - the blackguard Dorn still has a breaking point at reputation 19. If you get too popular, he's gone.
Did you know that lightning strikes do actually have a higher chance of hitting metal-clad adventurers?
Each character was "chosen" to be struck 1000 times, the percentages of success (from the GIF) are as follows:
Hit Terminsel 29.60% of the time!
Hit Minsc 64.60% of the time!
Hit Keldorn 100.00% of the time!
As it turns out, when the engine decides to do a lightning strike, it randomly picks one creature in the area. If that creature is on screen, it'll do a check to see whether the lightning actually strikes. The chance of success is dependent on the animation of the body-armor the character is wearing:
(Anything) => 30%
Chain mail => 65%
Plate mail => 100%
As you can see, this lines up with our test numbers
To be honest, I always thought this rumor was fun concept that just so happened to line up with people's experiences, but it's pretty awesome that it is actually coded into the engine.
Did you know that Kolssed's dialog file is Desslo.DLG
(he's the character you encounter on the road just east of where you first meet Imoen when you leave Candlekeep)
Baldur's Gate 1 especially sometimes has this. Where file names don't match up at all to the characters names. In this case maybe they decided later into development to flip the characters name backwards?
Did you know that in Icewind Dale 2 on Heart of Fury Mode, the basic goblins in the prologue have 157 HP? IWD2's Heart of Fury Mode is utterly ridiculous.
Did you know you can sell bandit scalps to the bartender in the Feldepost's Inn? He buys them at 25 gold. Not as profitable as selling them to Officer Vai, but maybe someone needs to do that when the Officer is not around.
Did you know you can sell bandit scalps to the bartender in the Feldepost's Inn? He buys them at 25 gold. Not as profitable as selling them to Officer Vai, but maybe someone needs to do that when the Officer is not around.
That bartender can also buy Wyverns' Heads.
I didn't know about the wyvern heads. That could be useful on occasion particularly if you have returned to Beregost to raise dead. Fighting wyverns is dangerous.
Comments
Have to agree with you there. Dark Sun turned the arbitrary class limitations of 2E, and its leveling system, into something central to the setting. If everyone can suddenly do everything, if there is a hard level cap of 40, the worldbuilding of Dark Sun breaks down. It's a strictly 2e setting in my opinion, but one of my all time favorites.
(found under the Iron Throne section)
Obviously this isn't quite the plot. But it is remarkably close all things considered. Admittedly, dead dieties coming back is not a new thing but it was a section of the book I found kind of interesting.
However, the earlier book Cloak and Dagger spells it as Ritchar
Different familiars give different advice as well (good familiars give one set, neutral another, evil another).
Bears too! Somebody once wrote a fic based on the possibilities opened by that.
Edit: https://kariachi.tumblr.com/post/182358539965/gangler-wanted-a-fic-involving-the-rather-rude
"Now see here, Mr. Volo. You see that eye up there? Helm is always watching. We're always watching. And there are a lot of us. We've got temples all up and down the region. If you keep saying those things about us, we'll just have to tell everyone what sort of a man you really are. And then you won't be getting all those free drinks anymore. Understand?"
https://www.mithrilandmages.com/utilities/MedievalBrowse.php?letter=W&fms=F
This is the kinda sound you need to hear while exploring before you see the thing.
Wonder how many iconic dragons have been sampled from an alligator?
King Kong was a backwards tiger roar iirc. Foley art is kinda underappreciated. I think the cave troll in LotR was 3 different animal sounds?
Boars sound like a demon out of hell and they have the personality to match. Can be vicious things.
Sorry for acting the know-it-all, but isn't "namaste" Sanskrit?
Namaste
One of Grace's spell chants is Shiawase which means "Good fortune".
(I don't speak either language - or Sanskrit - but I've a very good friend called Google.
It is indeed a Sanskrit word, but it is also a Nepali word, a Gujarati word, an Urdu word and a Hindi word (Not Hindu. Hindu is a religion. Hindi is one of the main languages of India being spoken mostly in Northern India) Namaste is written as नमस्ते in Devangari script. I would not be at all surprised if the word has spread into other languages too in the same way that Hallelujah has spread from Hebrew to English, Greek, French, Russian and even Nepali.
Oh, also, you have to load a save before you can access the items with the familiar for some reason...
Edit: I'm going to try this with the Book of Infinite Spells at some point. That would be an awesome upgrade for any familiar! Could turn your wimpy rabbit into a cute little vorpal bunny!
There is one exception - the blackguard Dorn still has a breaking point at reputation 19. If you get too popular, he's gone.
beamdog seemed to not understand that as tob has a conflict between rassad and seravok.
I find the Rasaad/Sarevok conflict more consistent and believable than ToB's blanket "everyone gets along now", personally.
Each character was "chosen" to be struck 1000 times, the percentages of success (from the GIF) are as follows:
As it turns out, when the engine decides to do a lightning strike, it randomly picks one creature in the area. If that creature is on screen, it'll do a check to see whether the lightning actually strikes. The chance of success is dependent on the animation of the body-armor the character is wearing:
As you can see, this lines up with our test numbers
To be honest, I always thought this rumor was fun concept that just so happened to line up with people's experiences, but it's pretty awesome that it is actually coded into the engine.
(he's the character you encounter on the road just east of where you first meet Imoen when you leave Candlekeep)
Baldur's Gate 1 especially sometimes has this. Where file names don't match up at all to the characters names. In this case maybe they decided later into development to flip the characters name backwards?
That bartender can also buy Wyverns' Heads.
I didn't know about the wyvern heads. That could be useful on occasion particularly if you have returned to Beregost to raise dead. Fighting wyverns is dangerous.