Summary
Baldur’s Gate 3is steeped in a kitchen-sink approach to fantasy, with the game’s opening alone jumping between scenes of sci-fi horror, swords and sorcery, and more Tolkien-adjacent vistas. This is a natural side effect ofBaldur’s Gate 3taking place in one ofD&D’s most popular settings, one that has gone without a proper sourcebook in recent years.
While the Forgotten Realms has always stood as one ofD&D’s biggest settings, only rivaled by Greyhawk and Dragonlance, thehugely acclaimedBaldur’s Gate 3boosted it into the stratosphere. Created by Ed Greenwood c1967, the fantasy setting was sold to TSR (the previous owners ofD&D) in 1986. Since then, it has been the setting for manyD&Dadventures as well as related media, including movies, games, and books—with the most notable of the latter being R.A. Salvatore’sDrizztnovels.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Shows That The Forgotten Realms Needs A Major, Dedicated Sourcebook
D&D 5eis the version ofD&Dthat’s beenconcurrent toBaldur’s Gate 3, and it has also made much use of the Forgotten Realms. Much of the flavor text included in monster and character abilities accepts Faerun and its neighboring continents as the default, and adventures likeOut of the AbyssandTomb of Annihilationtake place in this world. However, despite the love this setting has received, the current edition ofDungeons and Dragonshas yet to give The Realms a proper sourcebook. While settings like Eberron and Planescape have gotten dedicated books that cover a lot of ground, The Realms has only seen sourcebooks for bits and pieces of its incredible totality.
D&D 5e’s Forgotten Realms Sourcebooks Leave A Lot To Be Desired
DuringD&D 5e’s tenure, one official sourcebook has been released that could be called a Forgotten Realms sourcebook. TheSword Coast Adventurer’s Guidecovers the Sword Coast, a region of the Forgotten Realms that includes iconic locations like Waterdeep and Baldur’s Gate. It’s a large part of the continent, but this one book isn’t a substitute for material on the entire continent of Faerun or the rest of Toril. It doesn’t help that this book in particular is viewed poorly by much of the community, with lackluster DM support and the debut of race-specific subclasses, a concept that never got off the ground.
Considering how much theForgotten Realms has been used inD&D 5e, other books have also provided brief gazetteers for the rest of the continent. The most notable example of this isStorm King’s Thunder, but even that adventure module is limited to mainly the Sword Coast. The Forgotten Realms has an impressive treasure trove of lore, but new fans will find it tough to make a dent considering the lack of official support. Details on The Realms' history and broader geopolitics require newcomers to delve into wikis, search through YouTube, and/or dig up some nuggets of lore from prior editions.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Proves A Demand For More Forgotten Realms Sourcebooks
It’s not terribly surprising thatBaldur’s Gate 3is also somewhat limited to the Sword’s Coast, given howD&D 5ehas tied itself to that area. The game takes place inthe eponymous city of Baldur’s Gateand a number of other locations near the River Chionthar, all of which are within the general orbit ofD&D 5e’s domain.
Despite being typical for the game’s current epoch,Baldur’s Gate 3has reallyanchored players into the Forgotten Realmsas a setting. By getting general audiences attached to its characters, factions, villains, and iconography, it’s set a deeper sourcebook up for success. More fans are getting into this incredibly vast fantasy world than ever before, and WOTC should work towards breaking down its nigh-impenetrable density.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
