New D&D book - Minsc and Boo's Journal of Villainy

[Planeforger]

This is semi-related to BG3, but Wizards of the Coast has just released a short 5e supplement - Minsc and Boo' Journal of Villainy - written by one of the original writers of the Baldurs Gate series.

I don't know whether it counts as canon, or whether BG3 will follow it at all, but the new book provides updates, new art, and stat-blocks for a lot of Baldurs Gate cast members (plus a certain character from Neverwinter Nights).

A surprising number of characters from BG1 and 2 are still alive in the 5e timeline (or less dead than we thought) - which feels like a silly cash-grab-for-charity, but hey, they're all legendary heroes by this point so why not.

[Ronin Gamer]

Well I guess it comes down to how long life spans are in a world of magic and gods, and how much that can be altered. I'd assume that a world of magic and gods has a number of ways a life can be extended, or snuffed out, so it will depend on the viewer I guess.
I have no play time with the original Baldur's Gate games since I wasn't much of a PC gamer at the time, and I tend to not like games I go back to when I never played them near release and it's been a decent advancement in how games work. I generally just pick up tid bits from various videos going over the story and characters, so we'll have to see what Larian chooses to use, if much at all, and how it relates to the story.

[Alex :V]

Looks like it's canon from what I've read. They are really stretching it though in a lot of cases. I for one hope that characters like Irenicus and Imoen that they've re-introduced into the 5e timeline don't make an appearance. There's a certain point where it feels like fanservice just for the sake of fanservice, and there's things to explore without trying to drag the old cast and plotlines along for the ride unecessarily.

What's most relevant to BG3 is probably the Bhaal statblocks and some of the fluff around him. The implication from the text is that he's actually in/near Baldur's Gate currently and is actively hunting people down in order to grow his strength. We might see some of these statblocks used for a bossfight against him later on in the game, should we encounter him.

On a side note, Mephistopheles is a pretty insane monster. He probably has the second strongest statblock in 5e outside of Tiamat. Certainly blows his peers like Demogorgon, Orcus and Zariel out of the water.

[.Blade.]

D&D sucks.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by .Blade.:

D&D sucks.

You are definitely in the right place then.

[Hunter]

Viconia DeVir, Imoen, Jon Irenicus, Bodhi, Sarevok Anchev, Kivan, the prisoneer in Nashkel Mines (nobody remember his name, let's be honest here), Kagain, Montaron, Xzar, Lorroakan, Jaheira, Minsc and Valygar ARE ALIVE IN THE EVENTS OF BG3. Damn, Let's hope at least somebody besides Minsc will appear in the events of BG3

[Яeplicant]

Originally posted by Hunter:

Viconia DeVir, Imoen, Jon Irenicus, Bodhi, Sarevok Anchev, Kivan, the prisoneer in Nashkel Mines (nobody remember his name, let's be honest here), Kagain, Montaron, Xzar, Lorroakan, Jaheira, Minsc and Valygar ARE ALIVE IN THE EVENTS OF BG3. Damn, Let's hope at least somebody besides Minsc will appear in the events of BG3

How can Irenicus still be alive when he was swarmed at the end of BG2? Other than that, the bhaalspawn were supposed to be dead after Abdel was assassinated.

That can't be right. Impossibru!

Minsc was somewhat hinted at by Larian to either be a companion or just as an cameo.

[SnarkOne]

Originally posted by 󠀡󠀡:

Originally posted by Hunter:

Viconia DeVir, Imoen, Jon Irenicus, Bodhi, Sarevok Anchev, Kivan, the prisoneer in Nashkel Mines (nobody remember his name, let's be honest here), Kagain, Montaron, Xzar, Lorroakan, Jaheira, Minsc and Valygar ARE ALIVE IN THE EVENTS OF BG3. Damn, Let's hope at least somebody besides Minsc will appear in the events of BG3

How can Irenicus still be alive when he was swarmed at the end of BG2? Other than that, the bhaalspawn were supposed to be dead after Abdel was assassinated.

That can't be right.

WOTC doesn't mind giving permission to bend the lore when it comes to increasing sales...
I know I'll be a happy camper if Sarevok returns somehow.

[Яeplicant]

Originally posted by SnarkOne:

Originally posted by 󠀡󠀡:

How can Irenicus still be alive when he was swarmed at the end of BG2? Other than that, the bhaalspawn were supposed to be dead after Abdel was assassinated.

That can't be right.

WOTC doesn't mind giving permission to bend the lore when it comes to increasing sales...
I know I'll be a happy camper if Sarevok returns somehow.

Yeah, I believe they did the same thing with either BG1 or Planescape. Both weren't that great, as I recall.

[trippint82]

Copped it....very worth it and for a good cause might I add. Tbh not sure if this thing was suppose to drop yet....Hamster got out of the bag of holding :P. There are characters missing and doesn't include any thing from the enhanced editions which is kinda a shame. Lilarcor seems to be missing tho.....from browsing it at least.... bummer.

I will also say I kinda wish Cernd was alive or had something, I know he isn't the best character in the games but he is like the only Native American type in this game and they hardly have any rep anywhere. Time changes things idk the idea of Werewolf Druid was cool just had really bad functionality in the game. I know Pathfinder has Natural Spell which would suit him as a feat....Caster Werewolf sooo good.

Updated archetype template would be Chingachgook from Last of the Mohicans.

I would give him a D&D version of the gunstock club blunt, natural, piercing....cause Shillelagh !!!!

Idk concept need work Cernd also needs more use out of that high wisdom score. Some downside only wolf forms which ain't really that bad. Also needs some Native American input cause I want it to be cool and not offensive...so tired of walking on eggshells. But elder druid werewolf tho....

But Beast mode!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8ZisDHg6v0

Seems to pass the rule of cool imo.

Sorry for the geekin out moment but...pretty darn happ about this drop and THANK YOU WOTC for this :D..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuraQCCsKgE

[Alex :V]

Originally posted by 󠀡󠀡:

How can Irenicus still be alive when he was swarmed at the end of BG2? Other than that, the bhaalspawn were supposed to be dead after Abdel was assassinated.

That can't be right. Impossibru!

Minsc was somewhat hinted at by Larian to either be a companion or just as an cameo.

The book kind of makes an attempt to explain this.
Exact quote is:

Originally posted by Minsc and Boo's Journal of Villainy:

Abdel escaped imprisonment and eventually hunted down and killed Jon, bringing his existence to a seemingly ignominious end.

But that was not to be Jon’s final fate. Due to a pact with the Dark Powers of the Shadowfell, Jon and Bodhi were drawn into a dark reflection of the treetop city in the Domain of Dread. Trapped and unable to escape the prison of his own making, Jon is still able to inflict misery on the elves of Suldanessellar with the help of his sister and their loyal followers.

The pact in question seems to be:

Originally posted by Minsc and Boo's Journal of Villainy:

Bodhi was enraged at what had happened to her. Despite her brother’s protests, she returned to Suldanessellar to try and murder the queen. She slaughtered dozens of her kin before Ellesime finally killed her.

But Bodhi did not stay dead. Instead, the Dark Powers of the Shadowfell brought her back as a vampire so that she could continue to corrupt her brother and bring about his final downfall as well.

Originally posted by Minsc and Boo's Journal of Villainy:

But that wasn’t the end of Bodhi’s story. Her brother suffered his final downfall shortly after her death, completing the pact Bodhi had originally made with the Dark Powers of the Shadowfell. As a result, she and her brother were drawn into a dark reflection of the treetop city in the Domain of Dread.

Despite being trapped there, Bodhi and her brother still find ways to torment the elves of Suldanessellar, even as they seek to escape their prison.

So there you go. Seems pretty shoe-horned to me, but it is what it is.

[Planeforger]

Originally posted by trippint82:

I will also say I kinda wish Cernd was alive or had something, I know he isn't the best character in the games but he is like the only Native American type in this game and they hardly have any rep anywhere.

Cernd gets a mention. He's still alive, and now happily married to Kivan.

[trippint82]

Originally posted by Planeforger:

Originally posted by trippint82:

I will also say I kinda wish Cernd was alive or had something, I know he isn't the best character in the games but he is like the only Native American type in this game and they hardly have any rep anywhere.

Cernd gets a mention. He's still alive, and now happily married to Kivan.

Yeah I guess he does get a mention, tbh it seems kind of weird tho cause I don't recall Cernd ever establishing being bi...I mean he did have a wife and child. Also he doesn't have his own page so not sure if that is a typo or an oversite or a just throw something in there. Seems a bit out of character.

I guess they hook up because they both lost wives???

IDK about that....human sexuality doesn't work like that. Need some splainin on dis Wotc. I know LGBT representation and all that but not sure if doing it like this is the best move.

Tho with the baby you save you still can set up the Last of the Mohicans type thing....and the child could be LGBT and a new character....also sets up better story of parent accepting kids.....IDK just throwing that out there cause it really seems like they pushed for something gay when it doesn't lend it self to that.

Tho if I remember Cernd might have been somewhat of a homophobe so maybe Wotc wanted to bury that by making him gay idk. Tho the dynamic of him being homophobic plus having a child that is sets up a better journey to acceptance imo.

Cernd: "One must be sensitive to even those of the vegetative or fruity persuasion amongst us, my dear paladin."

Also they did remove this book then put it back out so maybe they didn't really proof all of it or totally flesh things out. Plus Cernd doesn't have a stat block so.....idk.

*facepalm*

[Ginkgo Biloba]

BG 3 is based on this book https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/564650.Baldur_s_Gate which is loosely based on the games which is the reason for the inconsistencies and nonsense.

Better to pretend baldurs gate 1 and 2 never existed as this game makes a more sense then.

[trippint82]

Originally posted by Crone:

BG 3 is based on this book https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/564650.Baldur_s_Gate which is loosely based on the games which is the reason for the inconsistencies and nonsense.

Better to pretend baldurs gate 1 and 2 never existed as this game makes a more sense then.

Yeah that probably is a really really bad idea....even in that link you gave me if you read the books reviews its like universally panned by the audience. It's really just bad business sense. From what I gather it goes from the games...that questionable book...Murder at Baldurs Gate, then Decent into Avernus...

IDK talking that book seriously would be like saying World of Power books are NES cannon which they are not...thankfully....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCAYbD16bhs

[Alex :V]

Originally posted by 76561198027958525:

BG 3 is based on this book https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/564650.Baldur_s_Gate which is loosely based on the games which is the reason for the inconsistencies and nonsense.

Better to pretend baldurs gate 1 and 2 never existed as this game makes a more sense then.

Pretty sure this is explicitly not true, considering that a bunch of the material in the book isn't canon. People like Imoen and Jaheira (Jaheira is also going to appear in BG3 coincidentally) are confirmed to be alive in current canon, despite being explicitly killed in the books. In fact, pretty much everything in that book just got retconned by the recent Minsc and Boo's Journal of Villainy. The only thing that hasn't been retconned from the novels is that Abdel Adrian is a human fighter who is supposed to be the canon MC of the original series.

All evidence points to BG3 ignoring the events of the books, just like the rest of the current Forgotten Realms canon.