20th Discussion Special: What is the Single Most Awesome Moment in the Baldur's Gate Saga

ZaramMaldovar

Not a poll this time, as I've been told that my polls were flawed (except for my Alignment one) and I've been told to lay off making polls.
So I want to know from you guys, what the greatest Baldur's Gate Moment (or moments) was for you.

Anything from Lines, to Random Encounters is acceptable. And I look forward to your opinions.

elminster

The first time I beat Sarevok. Back in the original game he had 100% magic resistance and your characters were lower level and had less spells to deal with him. This was before I had access to the internet as well, so I had to figure it out myself

ZaramMaldovar

Ouch. I remember my first playthrough, I thought that meant he was immune to all Magical Weapons as well, so I sold all my magical stuff before I went downstairs, and everything on my way to Sarevok destroyed me, and I had to cheat my way through.
As I said before though, that was before I had any clue how to play the game. Now, I'm pratically a Veteran (Although I've never played BG1 on harder than Core Rules or Bg2 on harder than Normal, which I will be trying soon)

deltago

When I realized I can kill Noober and not get an Rep hit.

ZaramMaldovar

Hahaha, yeah that's great :P
I still don't do it most of the time though. But if not playing a good or Lawful character........

JLee

I agree with Elminster, beating the original BG1 took great effort and was very satisfying. The thing I remember most was that you couldn't pause while going to inventory. What a tremendous luxury it is to have auto pause now! I still think about that when I need to transfer an antidote beteeen characters.

And Yoshimo...

I'm so glad my first play through included Yoshimo. He's a tremendous character really, the sympathetic traitor. At the time though I had no idea that was coming.

Beating Kangaxx for the first time felt so great. I lost a character forever (and their gear) but it was so worth it to send that imprisoning SOB to hell.

But the single most awesome moment was probably when I soloed the game the first time as a sorcerer. Having HLAs and nearly unlimited 9th level spells by mid SoA was cheesy, but highly awesome

This thread will make for good reading. Thank you for starting it!

ZaramMaldovar

Lol yeah, If only I didn't know things were coming. I had a living Walkthrough in my Mom and Dad. And what I didn't know. I looked up. I don't like spoilers now, but as a kid, I had to know.

Playing through EE not knowing what's going to happen next in Dorn, Neera, and Rassad's quests is a great thing for me.

Please, no spoilers for their quests in BG2, I have no details on Neera's TOB, or any of Dorn or Rasaad's quests in BG2.

I could care less about Hexxat, I've heard a little bit about her, and from summoning her in TOB I know it changes, but nothing is worth going through that annoying slow voice.

No offense to anyone who DOES like Hexaat, I just don't

Cahir

I remeber that one of my most wth moments was finding out Firkraag is what he is. I thought back then "How the hell can I beat this guy?". Felt real terror back then.

And the whole Polish VO is so awesome that warms my heart to this day. I miss it dearly...

jackjack

Entering Baldur's Gate proper.

Kamigoroshi

Flying cows! I'm old fashioned like that.

RandyMcStud

The discovery that if you click on Minsc 100 times in a row, he turns into Jon Irenicus, and still remains a party member.

kcwise

"I cannot be caged. I cannot be controlled. Understand this as you die, ever pathetic, ever fools."

Abi_Dalzim

The one time I beat Vanilla BG1 before my old discs became inoperative (my brother used them for years before I did, and he didn't take the best care of them). I had a full party, but my fighter/thief PC basically solo'd Sarevok's entire party despite being only level 6. I butchered Semaj with an arrow of dispelling followed by biting arrows, and Tazok went down to arrows of piercing. After that, I buffed up with Heroism and Frost Giant potions, and one-shotted Angelo with a backstab and then escaped retaliation from Sarevok by chugging an invisibility potion. After that, I basically wore Sarevok down by backstabbing, drinking a potion, and attacking again, and thanks to my buffs I was doing in the neighborhood of 45-50 damage every hit, so he went down pretty quickly without even laying a hand on me. I think that experience basically taught me that a party's power in late-game Baldur's Gate is greatly, greatly enhanced by one's willingness to splurge on magic items, something that I've done religiously on every subsequent playthough in EE.

jobby

Discovering that BG2 wasnt a dungeon crawl when i got out of Chateau Irenicus, then subsequently discovering the scale of Ahm, good times

DJKajuru

Finding out that Firkraag was a red dragon was really an awesome moment!

ZaramMaldovar

RandyMcStud said:

The discovery that if you click on Minsc 100 times in a row, he turns into Jon Irenicus, a still remains a party member.

What?

FleshIsADesignFlaw

DJ_Sweatz_2013 said:

RandyMcStud said:

The discovery that if you click on Minsc 100 times in a row, he turns into Jon Irenicus, a still remains a party member.

What?

With permanent improved alacrity and the spells he uses to instantly detonate enemies in cut scenes, no less. Misc becomes a quite formidable party member that way.

-

Beating Sarevok as a kid who didn't comprehend hit dice ranks high for sure, as does reaching the epilogues in TOB (with that sad music). The games are full of great and memorable moments, really.

InvictusCobra

Hating this bloody franchise to death when I began BG1, restarting the game and finishing the whole saga (about a week ago) and thinking that Bioware is truly the shit. Thinking back on how I hated the game and now was motivated to kill Amelyssan for the sake of the world and my wife (romanced Aerie).

And on the epilogues, knowing what had happened to companions who had traveled with me for the three games. WHY DID KELDORN HAVE TO DIE??? ;-;

Seeing my party progress from weak people who cast Magic Missile and had 10HP to badass legendary warriors with fabled weapons and armor who could summon angels and bring down Meteors upon their enemies.

elminster

InvictusCobra said:

And on the epilogues, knowing what had happened to companions who had traveled with me for the three games. WHY DID KELDORN HAVE TO DIE??? ;-;

As the acorn must fall from the tree, so too must that tree eventually wilt and fall over. Something perhaps even quickened by a storm.

It is nature's will, if only a bit expedited.

- Something Cernd might have said (if he had the opportunity).

ZaramMaldovar

Yeah, I cried knowing Keldorn died too, and Viconia. Even though I've never had them as permanent party memer.s

the_spyder

I am going to go with like 5 minutes outside of Candlekeep that very first play through. Or more specifically that point where I started to fall in love with the game.

Foune

The part where Bhaal hunts me in my dream, his voice and dialougue just sends shivers right through my bones.

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The user and all related content has been deleted.

jscohen

For me, one of the greatest moments was saving the lost temple of Amaunator as part of the Unseeing Eye quest, especially the climax when the worshippers are freed to go to the Keep of the Eternal Sun. I literally teared up the first time I heard the avatar say "Our time is over."

Abi_Dalzim

jscohen said:

For me, one of the greatest moments was saving the lost temple of Amaunator as part of the Unseeing Eye quest, especially the climax when the worshippers are freed to go to the Keep of the Eternal Sun. I literally teared up the first time I heard the avatar say "Our time is over."

"Please, we have need of you." *Sniff*...

ZaramMaldovar

@jscohen Yeah, that was amazing. Although that Empathic Manifestation stumped me for period of time I'm not comfortable admitting.
Also, your picture is awesome.

Moff

First time i played BG2, i'm walking into an Illithid cavern in Underdark, and not realising that the door behind me had been shut, i overwrite my only recent save. I wasn't any good at this game back then (i played BG1 before, but nether got farther than Nashkel at the time), so my party was pretty weak, my charname was a fighter with intelligence of 3, and i haven't fought against mind flayers before. Then it turns out that i also can't rest, cause i was on a timer to return to drow city, and my cover would've been blown if i didn't make it in time.

This ended up being a real nightmare. My charname was dying from a single hit, and i couldn't realise why it was happening, everyone were failing their saving throws, i didn't had a cleric and Jaheira was short on healing spells... I spent a whole night biting and clawing my way through this dungeon, but when i finally did got out, i felt like i just climbed up a mountain or something. I think i never was quite as satisfied with doing something in any other RPG i ever played.

I also always loved dream sequences in BG2. Perfectly voice-acted and very creepy.

CoM_Solaufein

Winning

tennisgolfboll

When i completed a dead is dead game. Wtfpwned everything, ah good times.

Tuth

Oh man that's very hard to pick just one moment, so I will list some of my favourites and point out the best one at the end.
- The beginning of chapter 1, when you're out in the wilderness not knowing what to do or where to go. This feeling of the mysterious and enormous world you can explore.
- This may be too broad, but just the exploration of some areas not connected to the main quest and encountering strange creatures (ankhegs, wyverns, basilisks etc.), folks (Bassilus, Brage, Thalantyr etc.), or areas (Firewine bridge, Archeological site, farmlands north from Friendly Arms inn etc.).
- Cloakwood and the mines is one of my favourite segments of the whole game, it's challenging and has beautiful areas with great atmoshpere.
- Entering the Baldur's Gate city. It's an amazing moment and feels like an accomplishment, looking back where you started. It's the title of the game and one of the most interesting cities to be in.
- The Iron Throne tower has in my opinion an amazing atmosphere, the cinematic and its music, as well as the encounter at the top (also you can visit the place of the intro cinematic).
- Going back to the Candlekeep and the discovery that it's not the same place anymore since you left, but actually it's the main character/the player that has changed.
- Entering the ship of Balduran. Especially for the first time when you are not certain what you will find there, this place has a very grim atmosphere, but I have the same feeling everytime.
- The Undercity and the following ending is such a powerful segment, full of tension and atmosphere, the final encounter and the dialog with Sarevok are really great moments.

If I were to choose just one moment form the ones I mentioned, it would be the ending of the game, that final battle, the ending cinematic, the music and the Bhaal's symbol at the end (also the credits after).

TethorilofLathander

Dragons with rabbit feet...'tis true, I swear!