History Franchise / BaldursGate

** Many of the games' antagonists feel that this is InTheBlood for the Bhaalspawn, but [[spoiler:the main character]] can act any way the player likes, to the point of becoming one of the world's most renowned heroes.

* InTheBlood: Played with at length (it's one of the major themes of the series), but ultimately subverted.
** Evil Bhaalspawn are happy to believe it about themselves, but as [[spoiler:Imoen]] and potentially Charname prove, in this universe people ultimately choose their own moral nature.
** Sarevok is an even stronger subversion -- at first he himself believes it, as does his lover Tamoko, but his backstory and potential HeelFaceTurn (in [[spoiler:''Throne of Bhaal]]'') prove him wrong; if he and Charname are at different ends of the ethical spectrum, it's not because of their shared parentage, but because of [[UpbringingMakesTheHero their different experiences growing up]].
** Portalbendarwinden will tell the PC that their "coin is on edge", which in this universe means that the goddesses of luck and misfortune have no hold on you and you are free to [[ScrewDestiny forge your own path]], regardless of what your divine lineage may try to dictate. Whether Elminster or Gorion knew this is never revealed, though.

** The ''Enhanced Bard Song'', a High Level Special Ability exclusive to Bards, on the other hand, is usually considered one of the best High Level Abilities there are. To elaborate, it gives all party members ''+4'' to THAC0, damage, AC and +5% magic resistance. The best part? It stacks! Not to imply that you have more than one Bard in your party, but [[GoodBadBugs clones created by the ''Mislead'' spell can actually also sing]]...

* ManipulativeBastard: Oh, so many.

''Baldur's Gate'' is a RolePlayingGame series set in the HighFantasy setting ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'', using an adaptation of the ''Advanced TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' 2nd edition ruleset. The focus is on quests, characterization and dialogue, combined with a solid combat system and a continuous plotline. The original games were developed by Creator/BioWare and published by Creator/BlackIsleStudios. More recently, other developers have taken up work on the series -- updated editions and a new expansion were produced by Beamdog, which was founded by [=BioWare=] alumni, and in 2019, it was announced that a full new game would be created by Creator/LarianStudios.

* AGodAmI: All the main antagonists have plans that hinge on this.

* LivingLegend: Most of the Bhaalspawn toil in anonymity, but Sarevok and the PC stand out. By the end of the series, though, everyone is moving on a plane that is beyond most mere mortals. At that experience level, everyone who represents a challenge to the PC is very nearly a god. In fact, the PC can [[AGodAmI become a god]].

* ''Baldur's Gate'' (1998)

** Seeming to pick up on the players' dissatisfaction with this, the four Enhanced Edition [=NPCs=] will take partners from any race as long as they are the appropriate gender. Yep, even half-orcs. (Dorn's romance even gets a moment that picks up on this, allowing Charname to comment on how they both have "fantastic tusks".) Neera and Rasaad are straight, Hexxat is a [[LipstickLesbian lesbian]] and Dorn is [[BiTheWay bisexual]].

* ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIII'' (TBR)

** ''ComicBook/LegendsOfBaldursGate'' (2014 - 2015, possibly ongoing)

An [[UpdatedReRelease enhanced version]] was [[http://www.vg247.com/2012/03/15/atari-reveals-baldurs-gate-enhanced-edition-for-summer-2012/ announced on March 15th 2012]] and released for PC on November 28th, 2012, also available in Mac and tablet versions. The enhanced edition includes all essential bugfixes and tweaks, a gorgeously streamlined look, and three new characters with their own quests who will make casual conversation/argue/flirt with you. The Enhanced Edition of ''Baldur's Gate II'' was announced on August 30th 2013 (delayed by legal issues with Atari that had temporarily suspended sales and work on the games) for PC and Mac for November 15th 2013. It carried over the enhancements from the first game, and added another new character with her own quest (in addition to the three introduced in the first game). This version has also been ported to [[UsefulNotes/IOSGames iOS]] and [[AndroidGames Android]].

* TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou: ''Every'' party member, including , will have something to say to the person-behind-the-mouse when selected.

An [[UpdatedReRelease enhanced version]] was [[http://www.vg247.com/2012/03/15/atari-reveals-baldurs-gate-enhanced-edition-for-summer-2012/ announced on March 15th 2012]] and released for PC on November 28th, 2012, also available in Mac and tablet versions. The enhanced edition includes all essential bugfixes and tweaks, a gorgeously streamlined look, and three new characters with their own quests who will make casual conversation/argue/flirt with you. The Enhanced Edition of ''Baldur's Gate II'' was announced on August 30th 2013 (delayed by legal issues with Atari that had temporarily suspended sales and work on the games) for PC and Mac for November 15th 2013. It carried over the enhancements from the first game, and added another new character with her own quest (in addition to the three introduced in the first game). This version has also been ported to [[IOSGames iOS]] and [[AndroidGames Android]].

*** Intelligence: Unless you're a mage, you don't really need that stat since it doesn't really have an impact on anything: it doesn't modify your saving throws, normal skills don't exist in the game (and therefore you don't get bonus points for them), and your conversation choices are mostly standardized.

*** Warriors' dump stats are (in that order): INT, CHA, WIS, additional class requirements notwithstanding (they should go for max STR first, then for max CON and DEX - unless you play a ranged character who doesn't need high STR).

** In practice, though, it's actually INT that provides significantly higher lore gains on level up than wisdom. This is why bards, wizards, and characters with high INT like Imoen are good for identifying items. Wisdom may give a bit of a bonus to lore, but it's not really noticeable with an INT of 10. Stating WIS gives the better lore scores is a mistake in the game.

''Baldur's Gate'' is a RolePlayingGame series set in the HighFantasy setting ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'', using an adaptation of the ''Advanced TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' 2nd edition ruleset. The focus is on quests, characterization and dialogue, combined with a solid combat system and a continuous plotline. It was developed by Creator/BioWare and published by Creator/BlackIsleStudios. Considerably later, updated editions and new content have been produced by a different developer, Beamdog, which was founded by [=BioWare=] alumni.

* FollowTheLeader: Baldur's Gate is often credited as singlehandedly saving the WesternRPG genre from drying up entirely as well as [[TropeCodifier setting the standards that RPGs follow today]]. Ironically, it only managed to do so by adopting certain traits from the EasternRPG genre: instead of letting the player generate a party of what essentially constitutes a bunch of FacelessMooks without personality or backstory, the BaldursGate-style game has the player assemble a party of premade NPC companions; only the main character is generated, with the player usually having some choices when it comes to deciding on a class, a personality and possibly some background elements (that part is a departure from the EasternRPG where the hero usually is as predefined as any other character).

On June 6th, 2019, it was publicly revealed that Creator/LarianStudios, creators of the famous ''[[VideoGame/DivineDivinity Divinity]]'' series, will be taking up the mantle and creating the official third installment in the series. The launch trailer suggests the setting of ''Baldur's Gate'' will transition to current 5th Edition. The game will revolve around a mind flayer invasion of the eponymous city, from [[https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Ceremorphosis within]] and without.

* ''Baldurs Gate III'' (TBR)

** '''III''' features [[https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Ceremorphosis ceremorphosis]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcP0WdH7rTs which is not a pretty sight]].

* BodyHorror: The [[spoiler: main character's transformation into the Slayer]].

On June 6th, 2019, it was publicly revealed that Creator/LarianStudios, creators of the famous ''[[VideoGame/DivineDivinity Divinity]]'' series, will be taking up the mantle and creating the official third installment in the series. The launch trailer suggests the setting of ''Baldur's Gate'' will transition to current 5th Edition.

An [[UpdatedReRelease enhanced version]] was [[http://www.vg247.com/2012/03/15/atari-reveals-baldurs-gate-enhanced-edition-for-summer-2012/ announced on March 15th 2012]] and released for PC on November 28th, 2012, also available in Mac and tablet versions. The enhanced edition includes all essential bugfixes and tweaks, a gorgeously streamlined look, and three new characters with their own quests who will make casual conversation/argue/flirt with you. The Enhanced Edition of Baldur's Gate ''II'' was announced on August 30th 2013 (delayed by legal issues with Atari that had temporarily suspended sales and work on the games) for PC and Mac for November 15th 2013. It carried over the enhancements from the first game, and added another new character with her own quest (in addition to the three introduced in the first game). This version has also been ported to [[IOSGames iOS]] and [[AndroidGames Android]].

On June 6th, 2019, it was publicly revealed that Creator/LarianStudios, creators of the famous ''[[VideoGame/DivineDivinty Divinity]]'' series, will be taking up the mantle and creating the official third installment in the series. The launch trailer suggests the setting of ''Baldur's Gate'' will transition to current 5th Edition.

* ''Baldurs Gate III'' (In Development)

On June 6th 2019, it was publicly revealed that Creator/LarianStudios, creators of the famous ''Divinity'' series, will be taking up the mantle and creating the official third installment in the series. The launch trailer suggests the setting of Baldur's Gate will transition to current 5th Edition.

** The cloud kill spell, due to a GoodBadBug. You can stay out of the sight of an enemy and simply cast cloud kill, wait until it has expired, and then cast another one, until that enemy finally dies. Even works on Firkraag.

** The ''Enhanced Bard Song'', a High Level Special Ability exclusive to Bards, on the other hand, is usually considered one of the best High Level Abilities there are. To elaborate, it gives all party members ''+4'' to THAC0, damage, AC and +5% magic resistance. The best part? It stacks! Not to imply that you have more than one Bard in your party, but [[GoodBadBug clones created by the ''Mislead'' spell can actually also sing]]...

* KarmaMeter: The reputation level. Unfortunately, you receive a significant bonus for a high reputation and serious penalties for a very low one, so it ends up being in the best interests of even the most psychotically evil of player characters to end up being a VillainWithGoodPublicity. You can commit any atrocity you like as long as you donate money to the church occasionally, which is cheap enough to keep the guards off you. So it's not a very ''accurate'' karma meter.
** Another backwards element is the way your party members react to it. Good characters don't like a low Reputation, which is obvious, but in the first game, Neutral characters like Jaheira, Xan and Branwen will alternate between praising and complaining about both low ''and'' high Reputation, which can be incredibly annoying. Also, Evil characters complain if your Reputation gets too high, and will eventually leave, which makes little in the way of sense [[FridgeLogic when you think about it]]. Perhaps this was acknowledged; in the EE you get ChaoticNeutral Neera who is generally chirpy as long as you don't get ''too'' evil, and NeutralEvil Dorn, who is consistently sullen and bitter even when you're slaughtering your way through small orphanages.

* FollowTheLeader: Baldur's Gate is often credited as singlehandedly saving the WesternRPG genre from drying up entirely as well as [[TropeCodifier setting the standards that RPGs follow today]].

* DumpStat: Charisma, unsurprisingly (since this is ''VideoGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' that we're talking about here, after all). Most roleplayers (and in particular those who have a bit of pride and self-esteem will refuse to set it too low, but {{Munchkin}}s in particular have a tendency to dump it as low as possible (unless it is a class that requires high Charisma, such as a Paladin, a Bard or a Druid). The reason for that is the fact that the only charisma stat that is ever measured by the game engine is that of the party leader. The first NPC recruited in both games, [[BreakoutCharacter Imoen]], also happens to have very good charisma. Go figure.
** It's because, in the first game at least, you could make Imoen party leader and have her do the talking, and the game would calculate based on ''her'' charisma instead of yours -- the game actually calculated based on which [=NPC=] was doing the talking, not just Charname's. As of the Enhanced Edition versions, having an [=NPC=] be your "spokesperson" no longer works-- Charname's charisma is the only value calculated.
** There is a good reason to have charisma as high as you can get it in the first game, though. In the beginning at Candlekeep, if your charisma is 17, Fuller won't give you the +1 Dagger as a reward and talking to Firebead multiple times won't yield the 300 gold you'd get if your charisma was 18. The dagger can be identified and sold, and the player can buy better armor and even a spare weapon with the 450 gold from the dagger and Firebead. A bit of a helpful cheat for new players and those that wear armor, not so much for mages. [=NPC=]s met early in the game when reputation is still low may not join if charisma is also low because every significant [=NPC=] is programmed with an [=NPC=] Reaction value. [[http://www.forgottenwars.com/bg1/miscellany.htm The NPC Reaction]] section linked does a good job of explaining how the reaction is calculated. The walkthrough on that same site will give the reaction value needed for each quest and the rewards that can be given for them. [[http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/7591/charisma-reaction-adjustment-actually-do-anything This page]] gives the Charisma reaction values.
** Charisma is also the leadership stat, and doesn't really have anything to do with your character's appearance (although it's easy to assume that good-looking people have an easier time persuading people to do what they want). As a result, having a high charisma can delay MutuallyExclusivePartyMembers from fighting with each other to some extent, although it won't delay their fighting permanently.

*** In practice, though, it's actually INT that provides significantly higher lore gains on level up than wisdom. This is why bards, wizards, and characters with high INT like Imoen are good for identifying items. Wisdom may give a bit of a bonus to lore, but it's not really noticeable with an INT of 10. Stating WIS gives the better lore scores is a mistake in the game.