Baldur's Gate Novels

Harper · Post by **Harper** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:05 pm

So we all know how the Baldur's Gate novels are absolute poo and deviate from the games on a regular basis. The protagonist sucks and they are just all around bad. So as a writer I've decided to write the story of the games for a fun project. It would be just another series of novels that would be just a free to all project. I'd post them here or link them to my deviant art account, whichever becomes more convenient. But the problem arises that there is just so much content, so many different mixes and matches of Protagonist and Party members that for it to be successful the best stuff has to picked out of the rest. So I want to get opinions on what he best way to go about it would be. And so I have some questions for the fans of this great franchise.

What would the ideal protagonist be class and race wise?

I'm particularly fond of the bard and half elf. The half elves face the dilemma of not really being a part of either of their parents races and it gives some good internal struggle and alienates the protagonist from normal society even more than they already are as a child of Bhaal.

Male or Female?
This one is really up in the air. I don't know.

Favorite party members from BGI, BGII, and ToB
In BGI I like the idea of keeping Jeheira and Khalid around the whole time. As Gorion tells the protagonist to seek their help from the start. And as harpers they are pretty ideal adventurers. Not to mention the awesome dynamic they have. Imoen is a must or there would be no second part and I want to deviate from the game story as little as possible. I feel like Minsc is a must and that brings along Dynaheir. So a BGI party would be: Protagonist, Khalid, Jaheira, Minsc, Dynaheir and Imoen. Thoughts?

In 2 I love keeping Jaheira and Minsc since they have such tragic losses of their "other halves"(if you will). Yoshimo seems like an interesting choice since he is met early on, fills the thief niche and has a betrayal at the crucial moment when the protagonist meets back up with Imoen. As for the rest: Aerie would be neat as she becomes Minsc's new witch, Haer'Dalis has always been a fave of mine(again I love the bard class), Viconia would really only work if she was in the first one, I can't stand Jan and I know a lot of people hate Anomen. I've never played with the Soulafein npc mod, but I always thought he was a very interesting character, especially due to his comment the last time you see him. Thoughts?

In ToB I due enjoy Sarevok's return, but I have always thought it was a little far fetched for him to want to help. I dunno.

What are your favorite encounters, side quests, parts of the main quest and least favorite?

I love the Drizzt cameos in both games, The windspear hills quest in II with the tie in back to Gorion, and dealings with Saemon Harvarian. You?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I would really love for this to be a great project.

wise grimwald · Post by **wise grimwald** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:26 am

I would say that so long as you stcik to the script, we would enjoy whatever character you decide to use. There is room for more than one novel here. One time use a paladin, another an evil character. however try and keep a party that makes sense. Having Edwin in the same party as a Paladin doesn't work!

One of my favourite NPCs is Gavin, from the mod of that game.

I would also run through a character with the NPC project so that your story tallies with that as well.

What is important is that you expess the feelings of the characters as well as what they do.

Curry · Post by **Curry** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 8:39 am

Harper wrote: What would the ideal protagonist be class and race wise?

Human Male Fighter with the bald guy as the portrait

Sain · Post by **Sain** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 12:00 am

Has to be Human, or you will screw up the time. The class will be tough, I say roll a die(But I would personally like to see a male CG ranger) Now If you have an evil rogue, He could opt to just leave their friends in their cages, and sneak out with Imoen. The party for good people should be
You
Imoen
Khalid
Jaheria
Minsc(and Boo)
Dyhaneria

For SoA it should be
You
Imoen/Yoshimo
Jaheria
Minsc
(A love interest, heh, could be anyone)
A favored character.
Just advice. And please tell me what you DO choose so I could run it for laughs

wise grimwald · Post by **wise grimwald** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:27 pm

What you could do is tell us what the party is. Then a few people could run the game, write of their experiences which you could then use as material for your novel.
I have read some very interesting descriptions of peoples actual games that were actually written as if they were novels.

Harper · Post by **Harper** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:33 pm

wise grimwald wrote:I would say that so long as you stcik to the script, we would enjoy whatever character you decide to use. There is room for more than one novel here. One time use a paladin, another an evil character. however try and keep a party that makes sense. Having Edwin in the same party as a Paladin doesn't work!

One of my favourite NPCs is Gavin, from the mod of that game.

I would also run through a character with the NPC project so that your story tallies with that as well.

What is important is that you expess the feelings of the characters as well as what they do.

The problem I see with a paladin is that they require some sort of training in an order to become a paladin, and within the shelter of candlekeep it's not really possible. And then with evil characters, it's harder for the audience to connect with, and yeah it is fun to go through the game murdering everyone, it doesn't make for good storytelling.

I'm leaning towards the Main(bard or fighter) jaheira, minsc, khalid, imoen, dynaheir for first one, and then jaheira, minsc, imoen/yoshimo, Keldorn, and Aerie. Romance with Jaheira or Aeire, the fights between them over a male protagonist are great soap opera drama.

I like the idea of people playing through. I've recently been playing Shadows of amn, but I currently lost my copy of the first game and input on that one would be much appreciated.

Sain · Post by **Sain** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 7:23 pm

Yay. I hoped for that party. I think bard would be good, better than fighter. What is his personality? Will he be a kit? I'd like to see a blade or skald.

Majorman · Post by **Majorman** » Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:47 am

Well, it's gonna be a novel, so no need to constrain yourself with only 6 characters. Others can make cameos too, like meeting (and freeing) Branwen and then helping her get a revenge on Tranzing (and then parting ways), or having Kivan join just to have him die in a heroic battle against Tazok in the final battle. Or you can put Tiax babbling his nonsense in front of the Flaming Fist HQ just because he's goddam funny. I think that there are some BG I characters that should appear in the novel at all costs, others that can add to the story and characters you shouldn't bother mentioning.
- Minsk, his witch, his hamster, Imoen, Khalid, Jaheira are a must. The BG II leaves you little choice. But I think that one should add Viconia and Edwin, even if they make a short cameo, since they key figures for the game and are also fun.
- Kagain, Shar-teel, Eldoth, Skie, the happy halfling thief chick are not needed and will probably make the novel longer and more boring. There are probably others (Yeslik, Garrick) as well.
- Elmisnster's appereances are also a must.
Oh, one more thing. It will be good if there is a difference between the protagonist's abilities and those of his companions. After all, Khalid and Jaheira are supposed to be experienced adventurers and the child of Bhaal's supposed to be trained but unexperienced. Just make sure that the protagonist doesn't kill a bunch of baddies all by himself on page 5.

Pellinore · Post by **Pellinore** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:37 pm

Gotta have a cameo for Garrick "Yes, Sir!" . A good, safe cast would be:

Protagonist
Jaheria
Kahlid
Minsc
Dynaheir
Imoen

BGII:
Protagonist
Jaheira
Minsc
Yoshimo/Imoen
Anomen
Keldorn

But, hey... its your story. Do it how you want, we will enjoy reading it.... I honestly think they should have used the BG script for the Dungeons and Dragons movie (s)...

Harper · Post by **Harper** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:46 pm

I do wanna go with the "standard" party loadout, ending with Protagonist, minsc, dynaheir, khalid, jaheira, imoen. But I still do want to incorporate things like Branwen Tiax(definite as he is to fun to miss) Edwin and Viconia, possibly even having them working together but ultimately ending with those 6.

Anyway I finished a first draft of the prologue. I would have liked to include the quote by Nietzsche, but I'm pretty sure that breaks some kind of copyright thing putting it up on Deviantart. anyway here's a link to it on my deviantart account. I figured that was a lot of text to put up on the forum.

http://nilechild.deviantart.com/art/Bal ... -118705404

Thanks for the continued feedback. Comments are more than welcomed and encouraged.

Oh and if people who want to play through and tell me their experience(you don't have to but all help is welcome) id you could take down bits of dialogue you think are important to the story could you?

wise grimwald · Post by **wise grimwald** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:42 am

I would have thought that Nietzsche was out of copyright by now since he died in 1900.

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:21 am

wise grimwald wrote:I would have thought that Nietzsche was out of copyright by now since he died in 1900.

He is. But if you quote a translation that's more recent, it could cause issues, because translations are subject to international copyright law. The easy way to go is to make your own translation of a passage.

Harper · Post by **Harper** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:13 am

I know that it probably wouldn't catch anyone's eye on some nobody's deviantart, but still I've learned in my time in Theatre that you never want to piss anyone off in regards to copyright, so I apply that everywhere I dabble.

On the note of the rest of the story, how do people feel about first person from the protagonist's POV? I feel like that relates well to the fact that the protagonist is you in the game. But I also like the idea of maybe some parts of it switching back to that third person omniscient perspective.

Silvanerian · Post by **Silvanerian** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 6:42 am

I think your project sounds interesting, though I think some of the magic about the game is that it is viewed/imagined individually by players. "Your version" of specific characters or events might conflict with what people have in their own minds.

Anyways, I wanted to read your prologue, but the site requires signing up due to it apparently being "Mature art"..

Last comment on the first or third person style:
Personally, I dislike books written in first person. I think it adds more to the storytelling when done third person. While not a writer, I suppose it also gives you a lot more freedom and maneuverability when it comes to switching to other character's views (for instance the villians).

Good luck with your project!

Sain · Post by **Sain** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 10:15 pm

Just read it, very good.

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:33 am

Silvanerian wrote:I think your project sounds interesting, though I think some of the magic about the game is that it is viewed/imagined individually by players. "Your version" of specific characters or events might conflict with what people have in their own minds.

I think that's inevitable, given a decent grade of author who employs any kind of license. Part of the fun in reading fanfiction, after all, is in seeing how the authors take the same basic characters and events, filling in all the details. If the reader expects nothing but rote repetition of the lines and subplots from the original media, they will always be sorely disappointed.

Harper · Post by **Harper** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 2:03 pm

Silvanerian wrote: Anyways, I wanted to read your prologue, but the site requires signing up due to it apparently being "Mature art"..

Fixed that, you can pick either "warning" or "strict" for mature content but I didn't think a warning would require people to sign up. Took off the warning for ease of access.

wise grimwald · Post by **wise grimwald** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 1:53 am

I wish that I could write like that.
Excellent!!

Harper · Post by **Harper** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:51 pm

Thanks everyone for the generous compliments. And again all constructive criticism is encouraged. I'm in the midst of finals and running the light board for a musical, and finding an apartment, and getting ready to move out so please forgive me if the next part is delayed. Chapter one is in progress.

cheers.