Summary
Through the success of its detailed depiction of part of the Forgotten Realms,Baldur’s Gate 3has established itself as one of the most popularDungeons and Dragonsadaptations in gaming. With gameplay inspired by the tabletop game’s 5e ruleset, the Larian Studios-developed title borrows plenty of concepts fromDnDwhile also diverging at several key points. The cast ofBaldur’s Gate 3is one of these, as it largely features a completely original cast of NPCs that have managed to capture the hearts of many players. Apart from the new characters Larian has crafted for the game, however, there are actually a few representatives of books from the source material.
It might be the latest in a well-known series of RPGs, butBG3is far from a title that leans on elements of its franchise’s successful past. Faces from the original duology end up making important appearances, but they are still largely relegated to Act 3. Players are guaranteed to be surrounded by original characters for much of the story, butBaldur’s Gate 3isn’t without its callbacks toDnD. They might not be obvious to the uninitiated, but seasoned tabletop players will find several NPCs during their adventure who originated from existingDungeons and Dragonssourcebooks.
Volothamp Geddarm
Volo’s Memorable Role in BG3
Appearing early into Act 1,Baldur’s Gate 3NPC Volo can be encountered in the Emerald Grove for the beginning of one of the game’s more humorous questlines. He will be captured in the Goblin Camp while trying to write about his experiences before stabbing out one of the player’s eyes throughVolo’s attempt at surgery in campif he is allowed, making it somewhat unsurprising that he needs to be saved from an angry mob later in Act 3. He may simply seem like one ofBG3’s camp followers who happens to be a bit of a scoundrel, but there’s far more to Volo than his appearance in the game.
The Dubious Origins of Volo
Full name Volothamp Geddarm, he is actually a character that has been appearing inDnDsince the early 1990s after being created by Ed Greenwood. Even before the publication of his first full book, Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep, it’s been clear that the character is an unreliable narrator who exaggerates his stories and has drawn the ire of many as a result.Volo’s appearance inBG3has odd implications for his advanced age, but his true nature as an unaware “anchor” of the Weave chosen by Mystra is a secret only those into tabletop are likely to be aware of.
Elminster Aumaur
One of BG3’s Biggest Cameos
Another NPC associated with the goddess of the Weave, Elminster appears before the party member Gale when the player reaches the point of crossing into Act 2. He has a decent enough temperament for an old Wizard, but the fact that Elminster is only there to deliver Mystra’s orders regarding the usage ofGale’s Netherese Orb, and therefore death, is likely to paint him in a bit of a negative light to some. He isn’t seen again until Act 3, assuming Gale is still alive, where he once again functions as a mere messenger.
Elminster’s Status Outweighs Gale’s Adventure
He might not have any major purpose inBaldur’s Gate 3, but Elminster is one of the Forgotten Realms’ most legendary heroes. Appearing since the late 1980s in adventures across many published stories, he is a Wizard who has accrued a level of power that few mortals are ever likely to achieve. Elminster is well over a thousand years old, and has even seen the incarnation of his goddess Mystra change after the original’s death. While it may seem like a missed opportunity to not have featured him more,the struggles of Gale inBG3may ultimately be beneath him.
Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard
A Key Character in BG3’s Narrative
Appearing in a key moment of the main story that has likely made many players familiar with him, Ulder Ravengard is the Supreme Marshal of the Flaming Fist, Grand Duke of all of Baldur’s Gate, and the father of the party member Wyll. He is revealed to be captured by the Chosen of the Dead Three in the Mind Flayer Colony, and will later swearBG3’s Gortash in as Archdukewhile under mind control in Act 3. Ravengard can later be saved from the Iron Throne prison and reunited with his son or face a far more grim fate if the player chooses, but this is technically the conclusion to a story that began years prior.
Duke Ravengard is No Stranger to Crisis
Having been around since at least 2013 with theMurder in Baldur’s Gatecampaign that ended with the death of the city’s previous Duke,BG3’s Ulder Ravengardhasn’t always held his seat. He rose to replace the fallen Abdel Adrian, a controversial hero from the malignedBaldur’s Gatetie-in novels.
Ravengard has since earned a more favorable reputation as a righteous NPC in theDnDmodulesDescent into AvernusandRise of Tiamat, the first of which saw him captured and potentially rescued from the Hells by the player. Whether Wyll intends to succeed his father or not by the end ofBaldur’s Gate 3, it’s safe to say that the Duke has already seen his fair share of adventures by the time of the game’s Illithid invasion.
Dungeons and Dragons Characters Mentioned in Baldur’s Gate 3
There are only a few characters originating fromDnDsourcebooks who pop up inBG3, but there are also several references to known figures scattered throughout the world. It’s unsure if they’ll ever show up in the medium of gaming, but these easter eggs show that Larian is well aware of the rich history of the setting. There’s a massive quantity of books and dialogue throughout the game, and there have been multiple connections to pre-existing characters found within them so far. From the more obvious instances ofZariel’s role in Karlach’s backstoryto the more nuanced presence of a note naming Malice Do’Urden found in the Underdark, there are hidden callbacks to the Forgotten Realms throughoutBaldur’s Gate 3which reflect a rare respect for the source material.
