A Baldur's Gate Lore Introduction For New Adventurers in The Forgotten Realms

25.08.2023 - 17:57 / mmorpg.com / New

The hype around Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3) and its success is drawing players across the globe to the game. Many players are concerned if they will enjoy the game if they do not have any experience with Dungeons and Dragons or Baldur’s Gate games. But if you want to dive into the game with a little more context about what happened in the previous Baldur’s Gate games, we are here to help. 

We have a short lore recap of previous Baldur’s Gate games that should help you understand the Forgotten Realms better. Do note that there will be minor spoilers below. We will talk about some of the characters you meet during your playthrough and we will also go over Faerun’s history and the political landscape of Baldur’s Gate.

NO! Absolutely Not. Does having prior experience help in terms of enjoying the story? A little. 

You might not have context about some of the creatures you come across, why certain factions behave a certain way, or why people were excited when Minsc and Boo were first revealed for BG3, but it really doesn’t matter. Larian Studios has done a great job of onboarding players to the franchise even if they do not have prior experience. 

Setting the Stage for Faerun

Jaheira (Companion)

Jaheira is a potential Companion in Baldur’s Gate 3. Unlike the Origin characters, Jaheira cannot be a playable character from the start. She is a playable character who debuted in the original Baldur’s Gate. She was born in the Tethyr region (west Faerun)during the Tethyrian civil war. Her family was targeted by common folk, and she was only spared because a servant girl took her from their castle before it fell. She joins your party during the campaign and is a central figure in the series. This is why a lot of players are excited about her return to the series.

Minsc and Boo (Companions)

Minsc is a human ranger and a potential companion. Unlike Jaheira who is guaranteed to join your party, Minsc is not. When you first meet him in Baldur’s Gate 1 he reveals that he is a berserker warrior from the nation of Rasheman in the utter east. 

Boo is a “Miniature Giant Space Hamster” according to Minsc but is most likely just a normal hamster. Minsc and Boo were voluntarily turned to stone in Baldur’s Gate with the idea that they would be awoken should the city need their aid. Minsc is known as the “Stone Lord” in Baldur’s Gate 3 until you discover his identity. 

Bhaal  and Saverok Anchev 

These are two antagonists from previous Baldur’s Gate games. They are important figures in the lore and it’s best you meet them yourselfinBaldur’s Gate 3 as we would need to go into spoiler-heavy territory to explain their roles.

Baldur’s Gate takes place in the Forgotten Realms, a world designed by Ed Greenwood. The rights to the world were