My take on a BG3 plot (SPOILERS)
Kilivitz
Member Posts: 1,459
FIRST: This post is long-winded and meant only for the bored and/or very patient reader. It was inspired by a brief exchange I've had with @CaptRory, starting here.
SECOND: It's got ALL the spoilers, so if you're not familiar with the ending(s) of BG2:ToB, you're better off just skipping this one.
THIRD: There has already been a lot of discussions about what could be done with BG3 (or BGNext as the folks in Beamdog call it) in terms of plot, rules and everything else. I decided to start a new one instead of casting Raise Dead on old threads as that may be a better move.
FOURTH: Of course the game has a long way to go and possibly still relies on how well BG2:EE will do saleswise. Also, whatever decisions are made will most likely not rely on the suggestions and/or speculation of a few fans.
However, I still think it's an interesting exercise to imagine how some of us would handle a third installment of the Bhaalspawn saga. I'll start with my own long-winded version (did I mention this is going to be a long post? Yeah), starting with the following assumptions:
1) The game will use the next version of D&D rules (D&D Next, or 5e) and thus, whatever changes the 4e version of the Forgotten Realms brought continue to be considered canon, specially the Spellplague. It's not the framework I'd prefer to have, but it's the most likely scenario, so that's what I'm going with.
2) This is a new adventure on a new version of the system (not to mention on a new engine), and thus you are back to Level 1. However, the game will assume you are the same character from the previous game (Gorion's ward from Candlekeep, the bhaalspawn). How can that be possible, you ask? Read on.
3) Just as BG2 made some assumptions about your BG1 character (that you were a hero and travelled with Imoen, Jaheira, Khalid, Minsc and Dynaheir), BG3 will also assume that you ascended to godhood (even though that's but one of the possible endings).
The prologue cutscene states your time as a new member of the Faerun's pantheon didn't last for too long. Cyric (who killed Bhaal in the first place and wasn't too fond of you in ToB), with the aid of one or more gods, successfuly struck against you. However, due to the interference of opposing gods (or any somewhat plausible explanation that doesn't spit on the face of FR lore), you were not killed, but stripped of your divinity, made mortal again and sent back to the Prime Plane, where your followers are now scattered and being persecuted.
There is an insurgence of Evil going on. If you are of good alignment, you must stop it, lest everything you fought for on your previous incarnation is now undone. If you are of evil alignment, you are *very* pissed off and you must not only reclaim your power, but also exact vengeance on those who have done you and followers wrong.
Your return to mortality will not go unnoticed. As soon as you begin your new life, the rumours start to spread. It won't be long before the assassination attemps will begin. You will need to choose your allies carefully. Perhaps you could find some old friends, people who can be trusted.
Not long after you start looking, a familiar face greets you. A now middle-aged Imoen, stripped of her arcane powers after the spellplague, and thus no longer an archmage, has come to your aid. Will you take her as your trusted sidekick once more?
Now, I know some of you might be groaning at Imoen coming back, specially like this, so feel free to disregard that last paragraph. But I think a prologue such as this certainly allows some old NPCs to return, if those events don't happen too many years after your ascension. It'd also contribute for a more BG-esque feel to the story.
Anyway, I'll write more as more ideas come to my mind. Please feel free to contribute with your own ideas and opinions, even if you think this is absolute crap - in that case, tell me what tell us what would be your take, if you've got the time and/or patience.
SECOND: It's got ALL the spoilers, so if you're not familiar with the ending(s) of BG2:ToB, you're better off just skipping this one.
THIRD: There has already been a lot of discussions about what could be done with BG3 (or BGNext as the folks in Beamdog call it) in terms of plot, rules and everything else. I decided to start a new one instead of casting Raise Dead on old threads as that may be a better move.
FOURTH: Of course the game has a long way to go and possibly still relies on how well BG2:EE will do saleswise. Also, whatever decisions are made will most likely not rely on the suggestions and/or speculation of a few fans.
However, I still think it's an interesting exercise to imagine how some of us would handle a third installment of the Bhaalspawn saga. I'll start with my own long-winded version (did I mention this is going to be a long post? Yeah), starting with the following assumptions:
1) The game will use the next version of D&D rules (D&D Next, or 5e) and thus, whatever changes the 4e version of the Forgotten Realms brought continue to be considered canon, specially the Spellplague. It's not the framework I'd prefer to have, but it's the most likely scenario, so that's what I'm going with.
2) This is a new adventure on a new version of the system (not to mention on a new engine), and thus you are back to Level 1. However, the game will assume you are the same character from the previous game (Gorion's ward from Candlekeep, the bhaalspawn). How can that be possible, you ask? Read on.
3) Just as BG2 made some assumptions about your BG1 character (that you were a hero and travelled with Imoen, Jaheira, Khalid, Minsc and Dynaheir), BG3 will also assume that you ascended to godhood (even though that's but one of the possible endings).
The prologue cutscene states your time as a new member of the Faerun's pantheon didn't last for too long. Cyric (who killed Bhaal in the first place and wasn't too fond of you in ToB), with the aid of one or more gods, successfuly struck against you. However, due to the interference of opposing gods (or any somewhat plausible explanation that doesn't spit on the face of FR lore), you were not killed, but stripped of your divinity, made mortal again and sent back to the Prime Plane, where your followers are now scattered and being persecuted.
There is an insurgence of Evil going on. If you are of good alignment, you must stop it, lest everything you fought for on your previous incarnation is now undone. If you are of evil alignment, you are *very* pissed off and you must not only reclaim your power, but also exact vengeance on those who have done you and followers wrong.
Your return to mortality will not go unnoticed. As soon as you begin your new life, the rumours start to spread. It won't be long before the assassination attemps will begin. You will need to choose your allies carefully. Perhaps you could find some old friends, people who can be trusted.
Not long after you start looking, a familiar face greets you. A now middle-aged Imoen, stripped of her arcane powers after the spellplague, and thus no longer an archmage, has come to your aid. Will you take her as your trusted sidekick once more?
Now, I know some of you might be groaning at Imoen coming back, specially like this, so feel free to disregard that last paragraph. But I think a prologue such as this certainly allows some old NPCs to return, if those events don't happen too many years after your ascension. It'd also contribute for a more BG-esque feel to the story.
Anyway, I'll write more as more ideas come to my mind. Please feel free to contribute with your own ideas and opinions, even if you think this is absolute crap - in that case, tell me what tell us what would be your take, if you've got the time and/or patience.
6
Comments
Aerie's child gets kidnapped by a bhaal cult knowing that it contains some of the taint. Is raised in his grandfather's image, A winged half-elven assassin that is attempting to usurp his father and claim the throne of bhaal for himself.
You as a God must choose a worthy avatar and walk the mortal plane again to seek out your son and either destroy him (evil) or redeem him from this wicked path he walks.
But if you merely choose an avatar and comes down, how to justify a lack of godly powers?
~
I also see Aerie being twisted. Gone mad over the years of both losing the man that she loved and then her son. She realizes the world is a cruel place with everyone looking to take advantage of the innocent and naive. She longs for the circus, even her cage where at least the people gawking at her sometimes showed pity and she was safe from those who attempted to do her real harm. She tried in vain to find her son after he disappeared, but without being able to recruit allies had no success. After Minsc died, she formed a bond with a very old rodent, who if was a normal hamster would of died a long time ago, yet, this one still lives.
She could be your ally in finding her son, however, will she let something she once loved, destroy something she still loves?
The Paladin Michael waged a long but eventually unsuccessful war against Lloth despite kicking butt up and down the Underdark and was reincarnated by the overarching forcess of goodness to lighten the dark bitter evil coffee flavor of iniquity with the sweet cream of justice and light! His quest for Justice, spurred by the assassination of his lover Viconia, will continue after he hits level 40 again.
I'm not a big fan of having Charname return. His or her story is done with Throne of Bhaal.
I'm more in favor of playing his descendant, either through one of the romances (it could be mentioned that Jaheira/Viconia/Aerie/Anomen/Dorn/Rasaad/Neera is your ancestor, though this may restrict your race selection) or from a random post-questing relationship.
The storyline would be about Bhaal returning again in some fashion and because of your heritage, you feel like you should stop it.
So while the OP idea is interesting, I don't see the reason to tell such a story unless it contains some important conclusion, which was missing from previous parts. Something that justifies breaking the final closure of ToB (not just "I want another BG"). And if there wasn't one, I'd prefer Beamdog to make entirely new FR series.
You control a small party of game developers battling to wrest control of the Baldur's gate licence from a diabolic web of intriuge, mystery and suspense.
Delve into the headquarters SINISTER organisations
Fight back HORDES of swarming fanboys
BRIBE or blackmail marauding judges
Choose to take a lethal or non-lethal approach to LAWYERS.
Descend into the DEPTHS of development hell.
Coming: Summer 2014.
My own opinion, and it's only one person's opinion, is that any BG3 needs to have a completely new character and stories. All it needs to be worthy of the name is that it be set in the Sword Coast area of Faerun, that it have a good story, good immersive gameplay, and perhaps that there be lore references to the original story, and possible cameos by a few of the long-lived original cast (no humans, unfortunately, unless it's through dreams or visions or flashbacks.)
Bioware followed this pattern to some success with the NWN series. Each of the expansions was its own self-contained story that didn't have anything to do with the Neverwinter plague or the villain from the original. NWN2 was a completely new story, and its only real claim to the name was that the city of Neverwinter was one of its settings. It's arguable how good NWN2 and MotB wound up being, but I got some pleasure out of them, and sales were good.
The entire series (both BG and NWN) are also bound together by their use of D&D rules and lore, as published by Wizards of the Coast.
Any attempt to bring back and continue the same characters and story from over a hundred years ago in the currently standing WotC historical timeline is going to please a handful of people, and really piss off a whole bunch of people, because it can't possibly indulge all of the different fan interpretations.
I used to like the idea of some kind of "Brunhilda" or "Thor (the movie)" story, i.e., the former god is cast down and made mortal, but other people convinced me it was a bad idea. Such a character retains memory of divine knowledge, and the audience knows the fallen one is going to be restored in the end, or else choose to die for love. The whole point of the character story becomes redemption and restoration, rather than growth and development.
It winds up taking away the essence and the fun of playing a first-level character, with a whole world of new experiences to explore. Or so the counter-reasoning goes.
I could maybe get into playing a fallen god, but that really wouldn't be the same kind of game as Baldur's Gate. Also, it opens up a huge can of worms about why a good Charname would have agreed to become the Lord of Murder in the first place. *My* Charnames always refuse evil godhood, and choose to live out their mortal existences, living, loving, and dying in their times.
Similarly, I'd like a new BG to be original and new, not an immitation of the cool events of the previous games, crammed full of cameos by old NPCs and companions.
I'd argue that the Star Wars prequels failed (well, not financially - they made a shit-ton of money) not only for being bad movies, but also for not staying true enough to the original ones. Sure the story ties in relatively well in some points, and you have a lot of visual references, but that comes with plot holes, inconsistencies and a general feeling of STAR WARS XTREME EDITION that alienated a lot of fans.
Cameos, specially on a sequel, can help keeping a sense of familiarity if used wisely. I feel a story with strong ties to the previous arc would be nice, but of course, a lot of people may disagree.
I would think that the Sundering will also also have to factor into the gameworld for BG Next. The Sundering will either be underway or perhaps wrapping up when BG Next (assuming it is made) begins production. So I would imagine that BG Next will at least have to be consistent (and could even have some tie-ins) with the changes wrought to the the Forgotten Realms by that momentous set of events.
IIRC, the BG series CHARNAME could choose either to become a brand new god, in his or her own right, or the new Lord of Murder. So the design Kilivitz envisions should ideally allow a choice of which godhood option CHARNAME chose.
The time-frame for the most current setting places it well after the normal human and half-elf lifespan. Some more long lived race NPCs could still be around, though (I've forgotten the fates of all the various NPCs in the ToB epilogue). I'm not sure how many years the Sundering will advance the setting. It will play out over the next few years (real world, via the release of six FR novels). The Sundering Book I is scheduled for publication in August of this year (see here).
But the basic framework of the NPC becoming mortal again, stripped of all god powers and adventuring skills, and returning to the world of mortals, sounds like a story that has decent potential. CHARNAME became a god in his or her early-mid twenties. And I guess immortality would (or could) keep the god's avatar in the same basic form.
I'm kind of ambivalent about whether this should involve Bhaal's essence yet again trying to reassemble itself. It certainly could be a factor. But I don' think I would want that to be pivotal to the story.
On a side note, I'm hopeful that Edition Next's reported modular and highly customizable (?) design will allow the devs to craft an amazing ruleset. Take what works from Infinity and make it even better!
It winds up taking away the essence and the fun of playing a first-level character, with a whole world of new experiences to explore. Or so the counter-reasoning goes.
There is the essence of what I look forward to in BG3. It must "start" with the thrill of playing a first-level character with the fascination that there is a whole world of new experiences to explore. Fresh and with the challenge that you don't know what lies before you. At least in the first run through, no chance to metagame.
What I would desire most of all though, although it is not so likely to occur, is that on subsequent run-throughs some of the NPC characters would not all be in the same place unless the logic of the story line demands it. Also, the magic items would not show up in the same places on each run unless they are also integral to the story line. Think of a somewhat refreshed new experience each time out which would mean
a fresh challenge. Think of the stories we could tell on this forum.
Also, what exactly would the other gods take be on Cyric doing all that?
But I think it would be best to assume that no romance is canon, or at least the offspring of the Bhaalspawn is from another relationship, leaving the most choice and freedom for character creation. And besides, we wouldn't want to mess with what's established about the original characters development and fate at the end of ToB.
Some characters like Aerie, whose ultimate fate is left unknown, could certainly cameo in any sequels. We know she settles or at least makes a home in a gnomish village, but it's very likely she would keep travelling and adventuring across the realms and maybe other planes (which would have allowed her to escape the spellplague). I could definitely see her dropping in to visit the descendants of her old companions, and imparting some of the experience and wisdom she's gained over the years.