I play Idle Champions, an idle game that WotC has been using to promote new products. It features the characters of sponsored streamers and popular characters from D&D. Now, the game came out around the same time as that comic that had a Minsc statue come to life. Minsc and Delina were day 1 champs included.
All of the adventures in the game are 5th ed campaigns and some of them were even previews of ones not released yet. The most recent campaign included? Descent into Avernus. Which Larian has already stated is a prequel to "BG3". As more and more champs are released, they usually are of current streamers (Avren, Spurt, etc.) or super popular or famous characters (Drizzt, Melf!). We also get characters that feature in the campaign released. Like a Lycanthrope guide that you follow through Tomb of Annihilation, eventually being unlocked and playable.
How does this relate to Jaheira? Well, she isn't really popular enough (very vocal hatedom) to be included on popularity. Especially not with characters like Viconia, Keldorn, or Imoen available. Now WotC has been ignoring BG media lately that wasn't brand new (the comic, new game, P&P campaigns). So we have Minsc, who is alive around the time of the game and able to take part, due to magic shenanigans. Remember the last campaign I said was released? Descent into Avernus. The newest champ? Jaheira. As a half elf, she could be still alive, is being released the same year as "BG3". WotC would definitely use characters from the game to promote in Idle Champs. Its something they've been doing since release.
If nothing else, that's good news because it means Larian isnt hewing too closely to the lore from the books. I've certainly never read any of them, but it is my understanding that Jaheria has a rather ignominious death early in the BG2 adaptation.
They could always pull a Minsc and have her around as some kind of magical contrivance, but it's more likely (I hope) that they're just not following the books much at all.
@BallpointMan Well, considering EVERYONE but Abdel died in the books, oh and Minsc had an afro and was an inkeeper, no I don't think they are following the books closely. AFAIK, the only book element is Abdel himself.
I play Idle Champions, an idle game that WotC has been using to promote new products. It features the characters of sponsored streamers and popular characters from D&D. Now, the game came out around the same time as that comic that had a Minsc statue come to life. Minsc and Delina were day 1 champs included.
All of the adventures in the game are 5th ed campaigns and some of them were even previews of ones not released yet. The most recent campaign included? Descent into Avernus. Which Larian has already stated is a prequel to "BG3". As more and more champs are released, they usually are of current streamers (Avren, Spurt, etc.) or super popular or famous characters (Drizzt, Melf!). We also get characters that feature in the campaign released. Like a Lycanthrope guide that you follow through Tomb of Annihilation, eventually being unlocked and playable.
How does this relate to Jaheira? Well, she isn't really popular enough (very vocal hatedom) to be included on popularity. Especially not with characters like Viconia, Keldorn, or Imoen available. Now WotC has been ignoring BG media lately that wasn't brand new (the comic, new game, P&P campaigns). So we have Minsc, who is alive around the time of the game and able to take part, due to magic shenanigans. Remember the last campaign I said was released? Descent into Avernus. The newest champ? Jaheira. As a half elf, she could be still alive, is being released the same year as "BG3". WotC would definitely use characters from the game to promote in Idle Champs. Its something they've been doing since release.
So the one original voice actor that Beamdog couldn't find is one of the returning characters for BG3.
I actually haven't followed the adventures of Drizzt for quite a long time now. What is he up to these days? I think the last Salvatore book I read about him had him and Catti-Brie finally winding up together, although given that BG3 is set in the future, Catti-Brie, Wulfgar and possibly Regis would all be dead by now. Only Drizzt and Bruenor (and I think that's pushing it a little since I believe he was already middle-aged for a dwarf during the first books) would remain from the original party.
@Zaxares I haven't read past the first book of "Transitions" but I've heard a couple things.
Drizzt and Catti is(was) indeed a thing. The spellplague of 4th ed killed her iirc. But she apparently has this reincarnation thing going on? I'm not clear on it. Bruenor went down in a blaze of glory (Soloed a pit fiend) and stayed dead as far as I know.And that's about as much as I've gleaned. I don't read much anymore.
Any chance that psionics might be part of BG3? With mind-flayers involved that would be an interesting addition to the game.
I doubt it'll be a major component. I say that because psionics are not currently in 5e at all at this point, and I'm not sure that Larian has the okay from WotC to invent a system like that for the game.
There could be little bits and pieces of a psionic system, but I doubt there will be any psiunic base class.
(Although - it would be pretty near if WotC released a new setting or something that added a psionic class to coincide with the release of BG3. I sincerely doubt it'll happen, but I wouldnt mind that one bit).
@Zaxares I haven't read past the first book of "Transitions" but I've heard a couple things.
Drizzt and Catti is(was) indeed a thing. The spellplague of 4th ed killed her iirc. But she apparently has this reincarnation thing going on? I'm not clear on it. Bruenor went down in a blaze of glory (Soloed a pit fiend) and stayed dead as far as I know.And that's about as much as I've gleaned. I don't read much anymore.
They all (except Drizzt) died at various times and came back. Wulfgar, Bruenor, Catti-Brie, and Regis. They reincarnated and hooked back up with Drizzt.
They all (except Drizzt) died at various times and came back. Wulfgar, Bruenor, Catti-Brie, and Regis. They reincarnated and hooked back up with Drizzt.
Yikes. XD I wonder how much of that was due to Salvatore's own creative designs and how much of it was due to WotC wanting to keep one of its most recognizable groups intact for future marketing and game tie-ins. While I do understand the desire of fans and execs alike to keep their favourites/moneymakers around, let's not turn this into a comic universe where people like Batman mysteriously stay the same age despite having been around for nearly a century by now. :P
They all (except Drizzt) died at various times and came back. Wulfgar, Bruenor, Catti-Brie, and Regis. They reincarnated and hooked back up with Drizzt.
Yikes. XD I wonder how much of that was due to Salvatore's own creative designs and how much of it was due to WotC wanting to keep one of its most recognizable groups intact for future marketing and game tie-ins. While I do understand the desire of fans and execs alike to keep their favourites/moneymakers around, let's not turn this into a comic universe where people like Batman mysteriously stay the same age despite having been around for nearly a century by now. :P
I've heard that is was planned by Salvatore, since he (and another author I think) heard about the Spellplague in advance, and reincarnation was Salvatore's way around losing his most popular characters.
RAS knew in advance what WotC had in store for the setting, so he set up his story to make it possible for his characters to return in the future. All except Drizzt died in various ways due to the Spellplague. Cattie-brie and Regis died almost immediately. Wulfgar and Bruenor died somewhat later. But to save them, per Drizzt's plea, his goddess created a special planer pocket within which their souls would live peaceful and happy lives for a hundred years until they could be returned after the time-jump. But when they eventually returned, it was in new bodies. So initially they had different looks and even different personalities, and also different family and background stories. As they grew up, their previous looks and personalities slowly emerged until eventually they returned to being the characters they had been before. Drizzt reunited with them, but the intervening century which he had spent with his drow acquaintances had changed him in many ways and he is not that close with the old gang anymore. In particular he's no longer a thing with Cattie-brie.
Greenwood did something similar with his characters, in particular El (who absorbed Mystra's leftover essence and is now essentially a god) and a couple of the Seven Sisters. The other Chosen of Mystra are dead as are most other powerful wizards. But Manshoon is also back and more badass than ever.
So the one original voice actor that Beamdog couldn't find is one of the returning characters for BG3.
Not to be morbid, but I thought the reason Heidi Shannon couldn't return for SoD was because she was, well, deceased? Or am I misremembering?
Really? I can’t find any information on it.
I don't remember where I heard it from. It might have been third-hand chatter on Reddit or a BG Discord server somewhere. But yeah, I've also heard no other information to corroborate that claim, but it's the only explanation I've heard mentioned so far for why Heidi simply seems to have vanished and been uncontactable.
Why would the Archdevil seek the help of a mere character (your character).
The forced re-organization of the Planes back into the old Great Wheel in 5E means that the Blood War restarted without Asmodeus wanting it to. He's nowhere near as strong as he was when Mystra was dead and Azuth was in his belly, and he now has to defend against attacks from every direction. The souls collected go on to serve to beat back the demonic legions of the Abyss in the Blood War. Asmodeus is following the laws of the Nine Hells in collecting souls. Every soul can help.
Contracts:
(from Descent into Avernus). In all agreements, Asmodeus wants one thing only: a character signing one of these contracts gives up their soul forever. In exchange for a soul contract, the following gift can be given:
Resurrection. Asmodeus sends one of his loyal priest followers to cast true resurrection on a deceased
character.
Of course, there might be another, additional and hidden, reason Asmodeus is interested in the main character due to the main plot element we know about (illithids).
Why would the Archdevil seek the help of a mere character (your character).
The forced re-organization of the Planes back into the old Great Wheel in 5E means that the Blood War restarted without Asmodeus wanting it to. He's nowhere near as strong as he was when Mystra was dead and Azuth was in his belly, and he now has to defend against attacks from every direction. The souls collected go on to serve to beat back the demonic legions of the Abyss in the Blood War. Asmodeus is following the laws of the Nine Hells in collecting souls. Every soul can help.
Contracts:
(from Descent into Avernus). In all agreements, Asmodeus wants one thing only: a character signing one of these contracts gives up their soul forever. In exchange for a soul contract, the following gift can be given:
Resurrection. Asmodeus sends one of his loyal priest followers to cast true resurrection on a deceased
character.
Of course, there might be another, additional and hidden, reason Asmodeus is interested in the main character due to the main plot element we know about (illithids).
Well, I'll be damned. You may actually be right here.
I don't expect a lesser evil to be able to extract a tadpole from someone, but Asmodeus would definitely can. But.... Asmodeus in a low-level campaign? Come on...
Why would the Archdevil seek the help of a mere character (your character).
The forced re-organization of the Planes back into the old Great Wheel in 5E means that the Blood War restarted without Asmodeus wanting it to. He's nowhere near as strong as he was when Mystra was dead and Azuth was in his belly, and he now has to defend against attacks from every direction. The souls collected go on to serve to beat back the demonic legions of the Abyss in the Blood War. Asmodeus is following the laws of the Nine Hells in collecting souls. Every soul can help.
Contracts:
(from Descent into Avernus). In all agreements, Asmodeus wants one thing only: a character signing one of these contracts gives up their soul forever. In exchange for a soul contract, the following gift can be given:
Resurrection. Asmodeus sends one of his loyal priest followers to cast true resurrection on a deceased
character.
Of course, there might be another, additional and hidden, reason Asmodeus is interested in the main character due to the main plot element we know about (illithids).
If that’s the main plot, I’ll be extremely disappointed.
Why would the Archdevil seek the help of a mere character (your character).
The forced re-organization of the Planes back into the old Great Wheel in 5E means that the Blood War restarted without Asmodeus wanting it to. He's nowhere near as strong as he was when Mystra was dead and Azuth was in his belly, and he now has to defend against attacks from every direction. The souls collected go on to serve to beat back the demonic legions of the Abyss in the Blood War. Asmodeus is following the laws of the Nine Hells in collecting souls. Every soul can help.
Contracts:
(from Descent into Avernus). In all agreements, Asmodeus wants one thing only: a character signing one of these contracts gives up their soul forever. In exchange for a soul contract, the following gift can be given:
Resurrection. Asmodeus sends one of his loyal priest followers to cast true resurrection on a deceased
character.
Of course, there might be another, additional and hidden, reason Asmodeus is interested in the main character due to the main plot element we know about (illithids).
If that’s the main plot, I’ll be extremely disappointed.
I mean, if this game isn't disappointing to you, then you never really cared about a BG3 in the first place.
Why would the Archdevil seek the help of a mere character (your character).
The forced re-organization of the Planes back into the old Great Wheel in 5E means that the Blood War restarted without Asmodeus wanting it to. He's nowhere near as strong as he was when Mystra was dead and Azuth was in his belly, and he now has to defend against attacks from every direction. The souls collected go on to serve to beat back the demonic legions of the Abyss in the Blood War. Asmodeus is following the laws of the Nine Hells in collecting souls. Every soul can help.
Contracts:
(from Descent into Avernus). In all agreements, Asmodeus wants one thing only: a character signing one of these contracts gives up their soul forever. In exchange for a soul contract, the following gift can be given:
Resurrection. Asmodeus sends one of his loyal priest followers to cast true resurrection on a deceased
character.
Of course, there might be another, additional and hidden, reason Asmodeus is interested in the main character due to the main plot element we know about (illithids).
If that’s the main plot, I’ll be extremely disappointed.
I mean, if this game isn't disappointing to you, then you never really cared about a BG3 in the first place.
This is so not true on so many levels. I'm not disappointed (I was, but not anymore) and I do care deeply for BG3. Stop telling us how we should feel, all right? This is getting tiresome.
This is so not true on so many levels. I'm not disappointed (I was, but not anymore) and I do care deeply for BG3. Stop telling us how we should feel, all right? This is getting tiresome.
Yep. I have to ask: What do folks think they're accomplishing here?
Why would the Archdevil seek the help of a mere character (your character).
The forced re-organization of the Planes back into the old Great Wheel in 5E means that the Blood War restarted without Asmodeus wanting it to. He's nowhere near as strong as he was when Mystra was dead and Azuth was in his belly, and he now has to defend against attacks from every direction. The souls collected go on to serve to beat back the demonic legions of the Abyss in the Blood War. Asmodeus is following the laws of the Nine Hells in collecting souls. Every soul can help.
Contracts:
(from Descent into Avernus). In all agreements, Asmodeus wants one thing only: a character signing one of these contracts gives up their soul forever. In exchange for a soul contract, the following gift can be given:
Resurrection. Asmodeus sends one of his loyal priest followers to cast true resurrection on a deceased
character.
Of course, there might be another, additional and hidden, reason Asmodeus is interested in the main character due to the main plot element we know about (illithids).
If that’s the main plot, I’ll be extremely disappointed.
I mean, if this game isn't disappointing to you, then you never really cared about a BG3 in the first place.
Hey, Thaco, here is a thought for you: were you expecting BG3 at all? I mean, before it became apparent it was in development: did you have ANY expectation BG3 would happen?
My reply to the same question is: NO. The story of BG2 was finished, and I never expected "a sequel", "a direct sequel" or whatever.
What I did expect, though, is BG3 as is the game that would become the same revelation for RPGs as BG 1&2 were back in the day. The game that would in spirit continue the feeling of DnD in BG 1&2, but anew.
@Cahir "Stop telling us how we should feel, all right? This is getting tiresome."
Pot and kettle much.
@JuliusBorisov When a game was announced that was literally called "BG3", YES, I did in fact *edit* expect *edit* something approximating BG3. But nope, it was just fraudulent marketing. I'm honestly surprised that so many people apparently don't care about being blatantly lied to.
Larian is going to be rewarded for un-ethical business practices and it makes me sick.
The main plot will be related to the Dead Three, and THIS will be the connection to original BG I & II but Larian can't tell that directly because that would spoil the main plot.
Notice the sign of a skull with flames around it (the necklace):
So the "cult of the Absolute" to which the goblins and the hobgoblin belong to is connected to the Dead Three.
From the Descent into Avernus campaign:
"Baldur's Gate has long been plagued by followers of the Dead Three-the gods Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul. I
thought we had wiped them out, but apparently not."
"Bane (the Lord of Tyranny), Bhaal (the Lord of Murder), and Myrkul (the Lord of Bones) make up the Dead
Three. While these deities have lost much of their power, their faiths still command respect and fear
throughout Baldur's Gate. While open worship of the Dead Three is frowned upon in Baldur's Gate, their worship is not illegal-so long as worship remains within the laws. Every now and then, rumors surface that a powerful political figure is a Bhaalspawn. These claims almost always prove to be smear campaigns with no basis in truth- though, in some cases, such claims have actually raised a figure's standing in the public eye."
Comments
If nothing else, that's good news because it means Larian isnt hewing too closely to the lore from the books. I've certainly never read any of them, but it is my understanding that Jaheria has a rather ignominious death early in the BG2 adaptation.
They could always pull a Minsc and have her around as some kind of magical contrivance, but it's more likely (I hope) that they're just not following the books much at all.
So the one original voice actor that Beamdog couldn't find is one of the returning characters for BG3.
Not to be morbid, but I thought the reason Heidi Shannon couldn't return for SoD was because she was, well, deceased? Or am I misremembering?
@Zaxares Unknown. Beamdog simply couldn't FIND her to make an offer.
I doubt it'll be a major component. I say that because psionics are not currently in 5e at all at this point, and I'm not sure that Larian has the okay from WotC to invent a system like that for the game.
There could be little bits and pieces of a psionic system, but I doubt there will be any psiunic base class.
(Although - it would be pretty near if WotC released a new setting or something that added a psionic class to coincide with the release of BG3. I sincerely doubt it'll happen, but I wouldnt mind that one bit).
Specifically Coran.
Greenwood did something similar with his characters, in particular El (who absorbed Mystra's leftover essence and is now essentially a god) and a couple of the Seven Sisters. The other Chosen of Mystra are dead as are most other powerful wizards. But Manshoon is also back and more badass than ever.
Really? I can’t find any information on it.
I don't remember where I heard it from. It might have been third-hand chatter on Reddit or a BG Discord server somewhere. But yeah, I've also heard no other information to corroborate that claim, but it's the only explanation I've heard mentioned so far for why Heidi simply seems to have vanished and been uncontactable.
"Some of those actors are out of the industry now." That is everything Beamdog ever said about Heidi Shannon. She was unavailable to reach out to.
https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/49947/jaheira-where-has-your-beautiful-voice-gone
This is Asmodeus (the Archdevil).
Monster Manual (1977)
Descent into Avernus (the prequel to BGIII)
Note the scepter which looks very similar to the Ruby Rod.
Context:
Why would the Archdevil seek the help of a mere character (your character).
The forced re-organization of the Planes back into the old Great Wheel in 5E means that the Blood War restarted without Asmodeus wanting it to. He's nowhere near as strong as he was when Mystra was dead and Azuth was in his belly, and he now has to defend against attacks from every direction. The souls collected go on to serve to beat back the demonic legions of the Abyss in the Blood War. Asmodeus is following the laws of the Nine Hells in collecting souls. Every soul can help.
Contracts:
(from Descent into Avernus). In all agreements, Asmodeus wants one thing only: a character signing one of these contracts gives up their soul forever. In exchange for a soul contract, the following gift can be given:
Resurrection. Asmodeus sends one of his loyal priest followers to cast true resurrection on a deceased
character.
Resurrection can work for those infected by an Ithilid Tadpole.
Of course, there might be another, additional and hidden, reason Asmodeus is interested in the main character due to the main plot element we know about (illithids).
Well, I'll be damned. You may actually be right here.
If that’s the main plot, I’ll be extremely disappointed.
I mean, if this game isn't disappointing to you, then you never really cared about a BG3 in the first place.
This is so not true on so many levels. I'm not disappointed (I was, but not anymore) and I do care deeply for BG3. Stop telling us how we should feel, all right? This is getting tiresome.
Yep. I have to ask: What do folks think they're accomplishing here?
Hey, Thaco, here is a thought for you: were you expecting BG3 at all? I mean, before it became apparent it was in development: did you have ANY expectation BG3 would happen?
My reply to the same question is: NO. The story of BG2 was finished, and I never expected "a sequel", "a direct sequel" or whatever.
What I did expect, though, is BG3 as is the game that would become the same revelation for RPGs as BG 1&2 were back in the day. The game that would in spirit continue the feeling of DnD in BG 1&2, but anew.
And I care for the latter.
Pot and kettle much.
@JuliusBorisov When a game was announced that was literally called "BG3", YES, I did in fact *edit* expect *edit* something approximating BG3. But nope, it was just fraudulent marketing. I'm honestly surprised that so many people apparently don't care about being blatantly lied to.
Larian is going to be rewarded for un-ethical business practices and it makes me sick.
The main plot will be related to the Dead Three, and THIS will be the connection to original BG I & II but Larian can't tell that directly because that would spoil the main plot.
Notice the sign of a skull with flames around it (the necklace):
It's the symbol of the Dead Three (Bane, Myrkul and Bhaal). https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2019/06/dd-baldurs-gate-the-dead-three.html
So the "cult of the Absolute" to which the goblins and the hobgoblin belong to is connected to the Dead Three.
From the Descent into Avernus campaign:
"Baldur's Gate has long been plagued by followers of the Dead Three-the gods Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul. I
thought we had wiped them out, but apparently not."
"Bane (the Lord of Tyranny), Bhaal (the Lord of Murder), and Myrkul (the Lord of Bones) make up the Dead
Three. While these deities have lost much of their power, their faiths still command respect and fear
throughout Baldur's Gate. While open worship of the Dead Three is frowned upon in Baldur's Gate, their worship is not illegal-so long as worship remains within the laws. Every now and then, rumors surface that a powerful political figure is a Bhaalspawn. These claims almost always prove to be smear campaigns with no basis in truth- though, in some cases, such claims have actually raised a figure's standing in the public eye."