History Headscratchers / BaldursGate

** WordOfGod states that they are meant [[strike: [[Series/BattlestarGalacticaReimagined The FinalFive]]]] the Throne of Bhaal Bosses, but they hadn't figured out that they weren't all going to be Humanoids when they did the Cut Scene.

** Apparently, after ascending as a deity, a mortal character changes ''a lot''. To the point of not being able to continue romance not only with a mortal, but even with another deity (see Mystra and Kelemvor).
*** Sadly, the real reason is just bad writing, in both the long paragraph and the small note above. There's no good reason whatsoever.
**** The mere fact that you don't like it doesn't automatically make it bad writing. In Forgotten Realms, deities are psychologically extremely different from mortals and no longer possess a mortal perspective. That the games remember this instead of just handwaving it for the sake of a minor godling's super speshul romantic relationship actually makes it pretty good writing in my book.

*** Mystra possessing Dornal Silverhand's wife was in order to beget the mortal that would eventually either replace her or beget the mortals that would fight alongside the one that would replace her (aka Mystra's Chosen Ones), as Mystra may have also predicted her own death at the hands of Helm during the Time of Troubles. Elminster was one of her Chosen Ones, which means he was specifically blessed by her in the ways of magic. Sure, your PC could make their former lover a Chosen One as well, but the fact that your lover knew you as a mortal puts a more personal spin on the god-and-Chosen-One relationship than if a god saw a mortal that had potential, made them a Chosen one, and then formed an attachment to them. I sincerely doubt Elminster could have gotten away with not doing the goddess' will, she would have stripped him of his power. Also, the story of Kelemvor is probably a good parallel to this, as he had initially some problems being the new god of the dead and was too lenient in judging the deceased as a result of his being a former human that ascended to godhood. It wasn't until he realized that there was nothing human about being a god that he was able to perform his godly duties successfully, and the fact that his lover Midnight became a goddess around the same time meant that he didn't really have much in the way of attachments to the living. Having attachments to the living would severely hamper <charname> being a god of the dead as well. Also note that Mystra and her successor, Midnight, are both deceased now, but Kelemvor is very much still in power.

** I don't know if I can explain this very well...but the reason could be that having a personal connection to a god would give your former lover/companions an edge in the mortal world that no one else had. I mean, if you had a god on speed-dial, how often would you be bugging your immortal buddy for favors? How jealous are other mortals gonna be of your friends once they find out? Amittably the Bhaalspawn-turned-god could watch their love and help them out at any time, but being favored by a god still maintains the "god is above and more powerful than mortals" aspect that being buddies with a god (god is equal to mortals) doesn't really maintain.

*** I believe Edwin has extra spells due to an amulet he wears. There's a ring in the first game that does the same for any mage.
*** As has been said elsewhere, the only reason why Minsc is a ranger at all is because of Boo. Beastmaster is a ranger kit in the second game. It would make more sense for him to be some other fighting class, especially since his stealth sucks (a ranger's stealth is much better than his ever will be), he keeps talking about his berserker rage in the second game (and even has it as a special ability in the first), and he works much better as a meatshield than as a bowman. The game handwaves his low wisdom by saying that he took too many blows to the head before <charname> even meets him.

** Uh, he also has a bunch of mephits and duregar. I wouldn't say the place is staffed almost entirely by goblins at all.

** If the definition of MarySue is a sad backstory and a rule-breaking class, half the other characters are also [[MarySue MarySues]]. See also: Minsc (can't be a ranger with that wisdom), Anomen (can't dual-class with that wisdom), Kagain (illegal Constitution), Edwin (extra spells), Mazzy (extra special abilities), et al. Jaheira, Viconia, Anomen, Mazzy, Valygar, and Sarevok also have notably sad backstories.

*** Not necessarily. It is Official Realms Canon that dwarf/human half-dwarves are, for intents and purposes, dwarves (it was indicated to happen relatively often in some regions, as one of the few differences that were there were that the human-related dwarves didn't have the reproductive problems other dwarves had at the time -- not all dwarves are immune to pragmatism when it comes to the future of the race). Mind, if nothing else it is very likely that Bhaal used a suitable avatar for whatever it was he was 'spawning a score of progeny' with (he was a god, he could decide to manifest in the form of a chincilla if he feels like it).

** I don't know if I can explain this very well...but the reason could be that having a personal connection to a god would give your former lover/companions an edge in the mortal world that no one else had. I mean, if you had a god on speed-dial, how often would you be bugging your immortal buddy for favors? How jealous are other mortals gonna be of your friends once they find out? Amittably the Bhaalspawn-turned-god could watch their love and help them out at any time, but being favored by a god still maintains the god > mortal aspect that being buddies with a god (god = mortal) doesn't really maintain.

*** Mystra possessing Dornal Silverhand's wife was in order to beget the mortal that would eventually either replace her or beget the mortals that would fight alongside the one that would replace her (aka Mystra's Chosen Ones), as Mystra may have also predicted her own death at the hands of Helm during the Time of Troubles. Elminster was one of her Chosen Ones, which means he was specifically blessed by her in the ways of magic. Sure, your PC could make their former lover a Chosen One as well, but the fact that your lover knew you as a mortal puts a more personal spin on the god-and-Chosen-One relationship than if a god saw a mortal, saw their potential in being an acolyte, made them a Chosen One, and then slept with them that I'm probably not explaining well enough to get across here. Also note that Mystra and her successor, Midnight, are both deceased now.

** What I don't understand is, why does everyone keep calling you a child if you're twenty? It's driving me nuts.

*** I think you guys missed the point. Ulgoth's Beard, Durlag's Tower, Ice Island, and the Island of Balderan have to be done BEFORE you go after Sarevok, otherwise the game ends after you beat him and you're locked out of doing the side quests entirely. So this means that you decide to leave him alone while you go off to the Island of Balderan for a couple of months, then come back and kick his tail. The problem is that the main part of the game doesn't mention any of these places ahead of time aside from Marl in Beregost mentioning Ulgoth's Beard, since they're all in the expansion pack, and the only way to access them is to go to Ulgoth's Beard first and then go to the extra questing areas. It makes it jarring when playing the game the first time with the expansion pack, and the difficulty of the TotSC quests means that most people will leave the expansion pack for last as well. There is nothing in the game that states that the expansion pack quests are quests that you're doing in the five months between games, and since you can't do them after Sarevok's death at all, there's no reason to assume this, either.

*** If you pick half-elf in ''[=BG1=]'', your bio states that your mother was a half-elf. It's also stated that this is something you learned from Gorion. No matter what race you pick, though, your mother will always be the same race. Dunno if Gorion is just feeding you the line that your mother was a half-elf, though, or if he's telling the truth.

*** Not everyone. Kivan didn't. Considering his whole mission in ''[=BG1=]'' was to [[BestServedCold kill Tazok for killing his wife,]] I didn't understand why he wasn't there, especially since he's from Shilmista. Except for the fact that his voice actor became the voice of Anomen. There is a mod that puts him in the game, though.

** Bhaal assumed the forms of the Slayer and Ravager during the time of troubles. The PC's mother was whatever race you are.
*** Bhaal was very week during the time of troubles and while his natural avatar was the Slayer he would more often than not posses a host.

*** I think you guys missed the point. Ulgoth's Beard, Durlag's Tower, Ice Island, and the Island of Balderan have to be done BEFORE you go after Sarevok, otherwise the game ends after you beat him and you're locked out of doing the side quests entirely. So this means that you decide to leave him alone while you go off to the Island of Balderan for a couple of months, then come back and kick his tail. The problem is that the main part of the game doesn't mention any of these places ahead of time, since they're all in the expansion pack, and the only way to access them is to go to Ulgoth's Beard first and then go to the extra questing areas. It makes it jarring when playing the game the first time with the expansion pack, and the difficulty of the quests means that most people will leave the expansion pack for last as well. There is nothing in the game that states that the expansion pack quests are quests that you're doing in the five months between games, and since you can't do them after Sarevok's death at all, there's no reason to assume this, either.

**** This troper has already drawn one such picture [[http://www.elfwood.com/~davidm2/Aerie.3452261.html here]]

*** Not everyone. Kivan didn't. Considering his whole mission in ''[=BG1=]'' was to [[BestServedCold kill Tazok for killing his wife,]] I didn't understand why he wasn't there. Except for the fact that his voice actor became the voice of Anomen. There is a mod that puts him in the game, though.

*** Mystra posessing Dornal Silverhand's wife was in order to beget the mortal that would eventually either replace her or fight alongside the one that would replace her, as Mystra may have also predicted her own death at the hands of Helm during the Time of Troubles. Elminster was one of her Chosen Ones, which means he was specifically blessed by her. Sure, your PC could make their former lover a Chosen One as well, but the fact that your lover knew you as a mortal puts a more personal spin on the god-and-Chosen-One relationship than if a god saw a mortal, saw their potential in being an acolyte, made them a Chosen One, and then slept with them that I'm probably not explaining well enough to get across here. Also note that Mystra and her successor, Midnight, are both deceased now.

*** I think you guys missed the point. Ulgoth's Beard and Watcher's Keep have to be done BEFORE you go after Sarevok, otherwise the game ends and you're locked out of doing the side quests entirely. So this means that you decide to leave him alone while you go off to Werewolf Island for a couple of months, then come back and kick his tail.

****** Very interesting reasoning, I think. New god of 'death' might be {{Psychopomp}}, as Hermes was in Greek mythology. Interesting, fact, that souls of the dead go to the [[{{AfterlifeAntechamber}} Fugue]] Plane, where they're being taken to the destined afterlife by the Deities, they were worshipped in life. Or going to City of Death. But while they wait, some might be bought by baatezu or kidnapped by horde of tanar'ri. Good Bhaalspawn could be guide and protector of dying or guardian of dead souls, who would not tolerate necromancy, like Kelemvor. He might be seen, as source of respite and comfort for those, who died in suffering, illness or battle. More neutral Bhaalspawn could become TheGrimReaper, though...

****** Very interesting reasoning, I think. New god of 'death' might be {{Psychopomp}}, as Hermes was in Greek mythology. Interesting, fact, that souls of the dead go to the [[{{AfterlifeAntechamber}} Fugue]] Plane, where they're being taken to the destined afterlife by the Deities, they were worshipped in life. Or going to City of Death. But while they wait, some might be bought by baatezu or kidnapped by horde of tanar'ri. Good Bhaalspawn could be guide and protector of 'dying', or guardian of dying, who would not tolerate necromancy, like Kelemvor. He might seen, as source of respite and comfort for those, who died in suffering, illness or battle. Or he could become TheGrimReaper...

****** Very interesting reasoning, I think. New god of 'death' might be {{Psychopomp}}, as Hermes was in Greek mythology. Interesting, fact, that souls of the dead go to the Fugue plane, where they're being taken by servants of the Deities, they were worshipped, when were alive. Or going to Kelemvor. But, while they wait, some might be bought by baatezu or kidnapped by horde of tanar'ri. Good Bhaalspawn could be guide and protector of 'dying', or guardian of honorable death, who would not tolerate necromancy, like Kelemvor. He might seen, as source of respite and comfort for those, who died in suffering, illness or battle. Or he could become TheGrimReaper...

****** Very interesting reasoning, I think. New god of 'death' might be (Psychopomp), as Hermes was in Greek mythology. Interesting, fact, that souls of the dead go to the Fugue plane, where they're being taken by servants of the Deities, they were worshipped, when were alive. Or going to Kelemvor. But, while they wait, some might be bought by baatezu or kidnapped by horde of tanar'ri. Good Bhaalspawn could be guide and protector of 'dying', or guardian of honorable death, who would not tolerate necromancy, like Kelemvor. He might seen, as source of respite and comfort for those, who died in suffering, illness or battle. Or he could become TheGrimReaper...

****** Very interesting reasoning, I think. New god of 'death' might be [[Psychopomp]], as Hermes was in Greek mythology. Interesting, fact, that souls of the dead go to the Fugue plane, where they're being taken by servants of the Deities, they were worshipped, when were alive. Or going to Kelemvor. But, while they wait, some might be bought by baatezu or kidnapped by horde of tanar'ri. Good Bhaalspawn could be guide and protector of 'dying', or guardian of honorable death, who would not tolerate necromancy, like Kelemvor. He might seen, as source of respite and comfort for those, who died in suffering, illness or battle. Or he could become [[TheGrimReaper]]...

****** Very interesting reasoning, I think. New god of 'death' might be "Psychopomp", as Hermes was in Greek mythology. Interesting, fact, that souls of the dead go to the Fugue plane, where they're being taken by servants of the Deities, they were worshipped, when were alive. Or going to Kelemvor. But, while they wait, some might be bought by baatezu or kidnapped by horde of tanar'ri. Good Bhaalspawn could be guide and protector of 'dying', or guardian of honorable death, who would not tolerate necromancy, like Kelemvor. He might seen, as source of respite and comfort for those, who died in suffering, illness or battle. Or he could become "TheGrimReaper"...

******* Very interesting reasoning, I think. New god of 'death' might be Psychopomp, as Hermes was in Greek mythology. Interesting, fact, that souls of the dead go to the Fugue plane, where they're being taken by servants of the Deities, they were worshipped, when were alive. Or going to Kelemvor. But, while they wait some of them might be bought by baatezu, or kidnapped by horde of tanar'ri. Good Bhaalspawn could be guide and protector of 'dying', or guardian of honorable death, who would not tolerate necromancy, as Kelemvor. He might seen, as source of respite and comfort for those, who died in suffering, illness or battle. Or he could become TheGrimReaper...

** Well, only Mazzy and Anomen appear on both lists and I'm convinced that only some sort of JerkSue powers can explain anyone falling for him so I'd agree with that one. Mazzy's backstory isn't that distinctive - she's an experienced adventurer, fell in love with a companion, and he died on their last quest together. It's like Jaheira's, and they both mention it occasionally later but don't constantly draw the focus to that. Aerie, however, even in her non-romance dialogues, constantly mentions hers. Although I'll admit, along with the general YMMV of this entire page of tropes, "whiny and annoying" aren't defining Sue tropes and my dislike of her based on those qualities might cloud my judgment on the Sue part as well.

** If the definition of MarySue is has a sad backstory and a rule-breaking class, half the other characters are also [[MarySue MarySues]]. See also: Minsc (can't be a ranger with that wisdom), Anomen (can't dual-class with that wisdom), Kagain (illegal Constitution), Edwin (extra spells), Mazzy (extra special abilities), et al. Jaheira, Viconia, Anomen, Mazzy, Valygar, and Sarevok also have notably sad backstories.

** If the definition of MarySue is has a sad backstory and a rule-breaking class, half the other characters are also [[MarySue]]MarySues. See also: Minsc (can't be a ranger with that wisdom), Anomen (can't dual-class with that wisdom), Kagain (illegal Constitution), Edwin (extra spells), Mazzy (extra special abilities), et al. Jaheira, Viconia, Anomen, Mazzy, Valygar, and Sarevok also have notably sad backstories.

** If the definition of MarySue is has a sad backstory and a rule-breaking class, half the other characters are also [[MarySue]]s. See also: Minsc (can't be a ranger with that wisdom), Anomen (can't dual-class with that wisdom), Kagain (illegal Constitution), Edwin (extra spells), Mazzy (extra special abilities), et al. Jaheira, Viconia, Anomen, Mazzy, Valygar, and Sarevok also have notably sad backstories.

** If the definition of MarySue is has a sad backstory and a rule-breaking class, half the other NPCs are also MarySues. See also: Minsc (can't be a ranger with that wisdom), Anomen (can't dual-class with that wisdom), Kagain (illegal Constitution), Edwin (extra spells), Mazzy (extra special abilities), et al. Jaheira, Viconia, Anomen, Mazzy, Valygar, and Sarevok also have notably sad backstories.