History FanficRecs / BaldursGate

** ''A Cappella'' by Silrana. A Massive, and Complete, 325 chapter fic that goes through the entirety of ''[=BG2=]'', Throne of Bhaal and well after it. Follows the Jaheira romance plot, but is in no way a shipping fic. Notable in that it manages to turn [[TheScrappy Anomen]] into an [[BetterThanCanon extremely likable character]] without really changing anything about the character [[ObviousTrap (okay, maybe one thing)]]. [[http://www.gamejag.net/forum/index.php?/forum/424-silrana/page__prune_day__100__sort_by__Z-A__sort_key__start_date__topicfilter__all Read it here]]

** Very much better than it sounds, especially if you only skim over it and see that the protagonist is a psionic tiefling (human with fiendish blood) soulknife who later becomes a priestess-she is presented as a compelling, interesting character nowhere near the MarySue you might think her to be. To the author's credit, he has also publicly admitted she was originally a Sue, and has developed her in a very different direction.

** I really didn't like it. The writing isn't very good at the start and it doesn't get much better. I didn't much like the characters and I thought they suffered from character derailment from their game personalities. Some of the in-jokes are funny until FridgeLogic sets in. However, the HollywoodAtheist-to-Priestess character arc is just awful. It comes out of nowhere and makes no sense. I don't like how MarySue the tiefling is extremely easily converted (Sorry. It's a pet peeve. I hate the EasyEvangelism trope and I hate how common it is in fantasy literature). Anyway, if you don't take violent dislike to this story because of a personal bias, this fanfic is OK. Not good. Certainly not great. Just OK. Honestly, you're better off replaying the games.

* ''Comments'': The best Baldur'sGate fanfic This Troper has read. It's an AU of the first game with quite a few liberties taken in regards to the characters and the story (which is, arguably, a good thing for a video game fanfic - rehashing the same plot every time gets boring very fast), is very well written and sometimes bittersweet in tone.
** Heartily seconded. This is not a tedious blow by blow replay where the main character uses a wand of frost, followed by a charm spell, etc. Incanto knew to strip out the side quests and they pared down the narrative to its essentials. If BG and its fanfic are Tolkien, Incanto is George RR Martin, bringing to life a cast of flawed, well-drawn characters who are struggling to do their best in a crapsack world. There's a lot of heart and atmosphere. The villains are particularly well-done--I am in awe of how Incanto handled the mage Semaj and the cleric Neria. They imagined a beautiful and dramatic backstory for each of them, and I'm just so impressed at how they fleshed out two characters that had at most, one line of cheesy dialogue in the original game. The hero is believably fragile and endearing. The emotional stakes are high. Fury is the most literary BG fic I've ever read, and if you're only going to read one, read this one. -- zhezhijian

** Heartily seconded. This is not a tedious blow by blow replay where the main character uses a wand of frost, followed by a charm spell, etc. Incanto knew to strip out the side quests and they pared down the narrative to its essentials. If BG and its fanfic are Tolkien, Incanto is GRRM, bringing to life a cast of flawed, well-drawn characters who are struggling to do their best in a crapsack world. There's a lot of heart and atmosphere. The villains are particularly well-done--I am in awe of how Incanto handled the mage Semaj and the cleric Neria. They imagined a beautiful and dramatic backstory for each of them, and I'm just so impressed at how they fleshed out two characters that had at most, one line of cheesy dialogue in the original game. The hero is believably fragile and endearing. The emotional stakes are high. Fury is the most literary BG fic I've ever read, and if you're only going to read one, read this one. -- zhezhijian

** Heartily seconded. This is not a tedious blow by blow replay where the main character uses a wand of frost, followed by a charm spell, etc. Incanto knew to strip out the side quests and they pared down the narrative to its essentials. There's a lot of heart and atmosphere and well-drawn characters. Particularly the villains--I am in awe of how Incanto handled the mage Semaj and the cleric Neria. They imagined a beautiful and dramatic backstory for each of them, and I'm just so impressed at how they fleshed out two characters that had at most, one line of cheesy dialogue in the original game. The hero is believably fragile and endearing. The emotional stakes are high. Fury is the most literary BG fic I've ever read, and if you're only going to read one, read this one. -- zhezhijian

** Heartily seconded. This is not a tedious blow by blow replay where the main character uses a wand of frost, followed by a charm spell, etc. There's a lot of heart and atmosphere and well-drawn characters. The most literary BG fic I've ever read. -- zhezhijian

* ''Synopsis'': Two complete novels of the ''Frnachise/BaldursGate'' tale, covering the second game and its expansion pack. A LOT of character interaction, while hitting many of the sidequests. The leading man is a snarky thief who progressively becomes more mature as he deals with the events of the games and the growing influence of Bhaal.

* ''Comments'': A nice litte character piece, its biggest strength is the interaction between the two women.

* ''Status'': In-progress at three chapters.

* ''Pairing'': PC/[[BattleHarem]]
* ''Synopsis'': A quick, humorous piece that answers the question: "What happens when a female PC is playing with a bunch of romance mods all at once?" Involved parties are Xan, Solaufein, Valygar, Haer'Dalis, a badly friend-zoned Anomen, and [[spoiler: Sarevok]], accompanied by some epic DeadpanSnarker moments from Imoen.

These are recommendations made by Tropers for ''BaldursGate'' fanfics, all of which have to be signed to stay on the page. Feel free to add a fanfic of your own to the list, but remember to use the template found [[Main/FanficRecommendations here]].

* ''Synopsis'': An ongoing serial of the ''[[BaldursGate Baldur's Gate]]'' saga, with ''ASE'' covering the first game and the in-progress second installment covering the second game, that takes some liberties with the canon plot and characters in favor of a more realistic world and characters.

* ''Synopsis'': Two complete novels of the ''[[BaldursGate Baldur's Gate]]'' tale, covering the second game and its expansion pack. A LOT of character interaction, while hitting many of the sidequests. The leading man is a snarky thief who progressively becomes more mature as he deals with the events of the games and the growing influence of Bhaal.

''[[http://yuletidetreasure.org/archive/68/onthe.html On the Subject of Gratefulness]]'' by Tami

You can also add to the current recommendations if you want. Refrain from posting ConversationInTheMainPage though; that goes in the discussion page.

Proof that [[SturgeonsLaw the remaining 10% is worth dying for]] here.

** ''A Cappella'' by Silrana. A Massive, and Complete, 325 chapter fic that goes through the entirety of BG2, Throne of Bhaal and well after it. Follows the Jaheira romance plot, but is in no way a shipping fic. Notable in that it manages to turn [[TheScrappy Anomen]] into an [[BetterThanCanon extremely likable character]] without really changing anything about the character [[ObviousTrap (okay, maybe one thing)]]. [[http://www.gamejag.net/forum/index.php?/forum/424-silrana/page__prune_day__100__sort_by__Z-A__sort_key__start_date__topicfilter__all Read it here]]

* ''Synopsis'': Separated from the Bhaalspawn's party during BG2, Viconia and Jaheira encounter a witch who collects the ghosts of her victims, and who curses the drow with a ghost of her own: Khalid.

* Recommended by beetnemesis, seconded by {{Pykrete}}

* Recommended by [=FurryFury=]

** "Bethphel's Diary" by Leo. A complete fic that takes on Baldur's Gate I. Lyrical, beautiful, descriptive writing; at least a cameo from every single joinable character; a troubled protagonist on a redemption arc; and a delightful sense of time. [[http://www.gamejag.net/Bethphel/index.html Read it here]] or [[http://www.gamejag.net/Bethphel/TheMelting.html starting from here]].

"[[http://www.gamejag.net/forum/index.php?/topic/13765-just-out-for-a-walk-part-one-i-think-its-on/ Just Out For A Walk]]", "[[http://www.gamejag.net/forum/index.php?/topic/13800-just-out-for-a-walk-part-two Part Two]]", by Reality-Helix

"[[http://www.gamejag.net/Bethphel/TheMelting.html Bethphel's Diary]]" by Leo

* "Synopsis": A young woman begins in Candlekeep. Her tattered, blood-stained diary tells a story...
* "Comments": Lyrical, descriptive, and beautifully written. This novella is succinct and poetic, but encompasses all the main events of Baldur's Gate I. As a completed Baldur's Gate I fic, this is a must-read for fans of the first game. I don't think a single joinable character fails to make at least a cameo appearance, and the characterisation is all intriguing. There's also a great sense of passing time, and a full character arc for the troubled fighter protagonist. If the language reaches out and grabs you from the beginning, then you'll love this fic. It sustains the artistic, expressive mood all the way to its inexorable conclusion.

[[http://www.gamejag.net/forum/index.php?/topic/13765-just-out-for-a-walk-part-one-i-think-its-on/ Just Out For A Walk]], [[http://www.gamejag.net/forum/index.php?/topic/13800-just-out-for-a-walk-part-two Part Two]], by Reality-Helix

----

** It's worth noting that the author portrays a more complex and realistic world than the games do as well-in particular, the games' near-epic levels of SomebodyElsesProblem are thrown out the window in favor of intelligent, capable, and resourceful allies-who nevertheless still require the protagonist's aid. A great deal of AlternateCharacterInterpretation is also present, most notably with Nalia so far.

** ''A Cappella'' by Silrana. A Massive, and Complete, 325 chapter fic that goes through the entirety of BG2, Throne of Bhaal and well after it. Follows the Jaheira romance plot, but is in no way a shipping fic. Notable in that it manages to turn [[TheScrappy Anomen]] into an [[BetterThanCanon extremely likable character]] without really changing anything about the character [[ObviousTrap (okay, maybe one thing)]]. The first 190 parts can be found [[http://www.gamejag.net/Cappella/ here]] and the rest can be found in the [[http://www.gamejag.net/forum/index.php?/forum/284-serials/ Serial Archive]]

** YourMileageMayVary. I really didn't like it. The writing isn't very good at the start and it doesn't get much better. I didn't much like the characters and I thought they suffered from character derailment from their game personalities. Some of the in-jokes are funny until FridgeLogic sets in. However, the HollywoodAtheist-to-Priestess character arc is just awful. It comes out of nowhere and makes no sense. I don't like how MarySue the tiefling is extremely easily converted (Sorry. It's a pet peeve. I hate the EasyEvangelism trope and I hate how common it is in fantasy literature). Anyway, if you don't take violent dislike to this story because of a personal bias, this fanfic is OK. Not good. Certainly not great. Just OK. Honestly, you're better off replaying the games.

** Very much BetterThanItSounds, especially if you only skim over it and see that the protagonist is a psionic tiefling (human with fiendish blood) soulknife who later becomes a priestess-she is presented as a compelling, interesting character nowhere near the MarySue you might think her to be. To the author's credit, he has also publicly admitted she was originally a Sue, and has developed her in a very different direction.