36 replies to this topic

[Sir_Carnifex]

It is time to begin the search for the extra-bizarre in the Baldur's Gate World. This time, I've gathered up some things from the original game. Here we go:

1. Why is it the protagonist is not allowed to spend the night for free in his own home? Try sleeping on the ground in Candlekeep. The silly guard tells you to go rent a room from Winthrop. Candlekeep must be in dire financial straits to force money from its own residents for room and board.

2. Why does the Friendly Arm Inn allow anyone to sleep within the compound? Sleep in any town and you'll be awakened and accused of vagrancy. I guess that's why they call it the FRIENDLY Arm Inn. Still, sleeping outside the keep would be better if they had a few park benches out there...

3. Why does Candlekeep forbid most guards from carrying swords and then sell all sorts of weaponry at the store? My guess is that it's more profitable to keep swords away from guards and sell them as souvenir's to the tourists. Either that or they provide loans to the visitors. "Hey, look what I got at the library! They said I had to return it in two weeks, though."

4. Why do assassins believe crowded inns to be the best place to slay someone? Haven't they ever heard of using the cover of darkness, waylaying in alleys, or using subtle means of extermination? Apparently not. If the Iron Throne can afford to hire entire mercenary bands to prey upon merchants, why couldn't they get some competent killers, too? The answer is probably nepotism. I bet all those higher-ups hired their friends to do the job.

5. Why do hobgoblins have blond hair after you scalp them? Have you ever seen a live hobgoblin with blond hair? I didn't think so.

6. Why do stores buy bounty notices and other such documents? Do they want to ship them out to be used again? Is it a conspiracy to get the protagonist killed? Or is it part of a scrap paper drive to save Toril's environment? Personally, if they're going to do that, I'd rather have them make landfills on top of ancient druid groves.

[Vicen]

Yeah number 5 and 6 are pretty wack and of course it is quite funny to meet tons of assassins in Inns with random civilians

[Lysan Lurraxol]

I think the most Hopelessly Incompetent Assassin Award has to go to Nimbul. The one who walks up to you in broad daylight, in the middle of the main road in Nashkel, right outside the Inn. and then proceeds to deliver the immortal line "I am death come to thee". Only if it is death by laughter.

[Klorox]

The guards are carrying quarterstaves because the metal is crumbling. People still sell the stuff because they can.

[Miloch]

Can you scalp hobgoblins? I thought it was only the human bandits who had scalps...

[Sir_Carnifex]

Can you scalp hobgoblins? I thought it was only the human bandits who had scalps...

Yes indeed. But you can't scalp all of them. I can't remember which ones exactly, but a lot of the ones who speak before attacking drop scalps when they die.

[Echon]

1. Why is it the protagonist is not allowed to spend the night for free in his own home? Try sleeping on the ground in Candlekeep. The silly guard tells you to go rent a room from Winthrop. Candlekeep must be in dire financial straits to force money from its own residents for room and board.

Because they decided there was no real reason to allow the player to go inside the keep just for sleeping for free? Or perhaps because since Gorion and the PC are leaving, Candlekeep is no longer their home.

2. Why does the Friendly Arm Inn allow anyone to sleep within the compound? Sleep in any town and you'll be awakened and accused of vagrancy. I guess that's why they call it the FRIENDLY Arm Inn. Still, sleeping outside the keep would be better if they had a few park benches out there...

Probably due to an oversight.

3. Why does Candlekeep forbid most guards from carrying swords and then sell all sorts of weaponry at the store? My guess is that it's more profitable to keep swords away from guards and sell them as souvenir's to the tourists. Either that or they provide loans to the visitors. "Hey, look what I got at the library! They said I had to return it in two weeks, though."

Because the player would be annoyed if he could not properly fit his character?

4. Why do assassins believe crowded inns to be the best place to slay someone? Haven't they ever heard of using the cover of darkness, waylaying in alleys, or using subtle means of extermination? Apparently not. If the Iron Throne can afford to hire entire mercenary bands to prey upon merchants, why couldn't they get some competent killers, too? The answer is probably nepotism. I bet all those higher-ups hired their friends to do the job.

Because they needed to make sure that the player met these assassins. If they were standing behind a building, they might never encounter the party. Similarly, you meet Elminster in Beregost near the Thunderhammer Smithy and in Baldur's Gate near Sorcerous Sundries.

5. Why do hobgoblins have blond hair after you scalp them? Have you ever seen a live hobgoblin with blond hair? I didn't think so.

Because most scalps come from the blond bandits and the developers might have been more focused on finishing chapter 7 than adding hobgoblin scalps.

6. Why do stores buy bounty notices and other such documents? Do they want to ship them out to be used again? Is it a conspiracy to get the protagonist killed? Or is it part of a scrap paper drive to save Toril's environment? Personally, if they're going to do that, I'd rather have them make landfills on top of ancient druid groves.

Because stores either buy all scrolls, including spell scrolls and scrolls of protection, or none at all.

[Sir_Carnifex]

DRAT! These aren't supposed to be taken seriously!!!

[Scipio]

DRAT! These aren't supposed to be taken seriously!!!

Good. I would hate to receive a serous reply to this:

You and presumably other adventurers scrape the bottom of every barrel looking for loot. Yet you can store items worth thousands of GP in any old barrel or box and nobody ever takes your stuff.

There, it wasn't even phrased as a question.

[Sir_Carnifex]

DRAT! These aren't supposed to be taken seriously!!!

Good. I would hate to receive a serous reply to this:

You and presumably other adventurers scrape the bottom of every barrel looking for loot. Yet you can store items worth thousands of GP in any old barrel or box and nobody ever takes your stuff.

That's easy. I just stick a sign on the barrel:

BEWARE!!! Mustard Jelly Inside.

[Icendoan]

Wouldn't that get MORE adventurers digging for the bottom of your barrel?

Icen

[Miloch]

Why do stores buy bounty notices and other such documents?

Because stores either buy all scrolls, including spell scrolls and scrolls of protection, or none at all.

Not absolutely true - if the item has a price of zero, no one will buy it. Personally, I'm happy to unload such rubbish on stores, even if it's just for a single coin. It's like when you go to pubs and they have old license plates, photos and whatnot on the walls... I figure that's what they do with it.

Wouldn't that get MORE adventurers digging for the bottom of your barrel?

Probably not if it was a "BEWARE!!! Fission Slime Inside" notice instead. Damn things are nearly unkillable due to a scripting glitch, and they multiply like Gremlins.

[Vicen]

Here is one other question though some of you might know the answer...

Why does Mulahay(sp?) not kill Xan outright when he captures him? Because when you confront him he attempts to kill you and make no effort of capturing you...

[Choo Choo]

Here is one other question though some of you might know the answer...

Why does Mulahay(sp?) not kill Xan outright when he captures him? Because when you confront him he attempts to kill you and make no effort of capturing you...

Because Xan is an adorable Elven cutie... specializing in the school of Enchantment. That explains it all!

(And no, don't start playing with an Elven enchanter with 18 charisma now. It still won't work, because Xan is SPECIAL. Yes. )

Excuse my blatant fangirlism.

[Sir_Carnifex]

Xan's overwhelmingly depressing personality is very catching. Mulahey decided it would be best to just toss him in a separate part of the cave. The intention was that if CHARNAME managed to kill him (Mulahey) that they'd take Xan along in the party and he'd discourage the party to the point of giving up.

[Cal Jones]

And of course, the biggie - why does Sarevok, awesome behemoth that he is, not deal with the PC personally while he had the chance? I mean, short game, yeah, but rookie mistake, big bro!

[Choo Choo]

And of course, the biggie - why does Sarevok, awesome behemoth that he is, not deal with the PC personally while he had the chance? I mean, short game, yeah, but rookie mistake, big bro!

Overconfidence, I suppose.

[Miloch]

And of course, the biggie - why does Sarevok, awesome behemoth that he is, not deal with the PC personally while he had the chance? I mean, short game, yeah, but rookie mistake, big bro!

That would be violating one of the prime rules of bad guys in fiction. It is the same reason why the bad guys don't just shoot James Bond in the head, and he always escapes.

[Cal Jones]

Well yes, or it'd have been a very short game, as I said.

But this I've not been able to figure out. Here is this absolutely huge mutha, with facial tattoos and glowing eyes, yet somehow he is able to infiltrate Candlekeep and fool the PC into thinking he's some regular Joe called Koveras, which, as we all know, is Sarevok backwards (not very original for a guy with 17 int) just by removing his armour. If Sarevok isn't terribly smart for not eliminating the PC earlier in the game, then the PC is doubly stupid for failing to recognise him.

Likewise, in BG2, if you choose the bridge route into the Asylum (as opposed to getting yourself committed), how is it the PC fails to recognise that the "director" is Irenicus? Yes he's wearing a cowl, but after being tortured by this guy for months, you'd sure as hell recognise his rather distinctive voice.

[Lysan Lurraxol]

Shush. You're making the plot holes angry. Any more questions and they will devour your soul.

Although, the people of BG are very stupid to allow a man who likes to wear spiky armour of death and cackle a lot, the opportunity to rule their city. Sarevok's not exactly a figure that inspires trust, is he?