Is this game set in the future/sci fi or medieval or what?

[sjiraff]

I thought this was a medieval-ish setting, but when I start i'm in some metalic industrial lab? What is going on here with the setting?

[FAButzke]

It's a fantasy medieval setting. Though you will see some contraptions here and there.

[sjiraff]

Originally posted by FAButzke:

It's a fantasy medieval setting. Though you will see some contraptions here and there.

seeing glass vaults and modern industrial catwalks breaks immersion i think >>:(

[FAButzke]

It's not like real medieval setting, thus the "fantasy". It's not like you are going to see cars, guns, spaceships or anything of the sort.

[sjiraff]

Originally posted by FAButzke:

It's not like real medieval setting, thus the "fantasy". It's not like you are going to see cars, guns, spaceships or anything of the sort.

I guess :( I thought I was playing Panescape when I started up BG2 shadows of amn to be honest

[FAButzke]

They are similar (same 'universe'). BG2 is more of a mix of Planescape and Icewind Dale when it comes to gameplay.

[sjiraff]

Originally posted by FAButzke:

They are similar (same 'universe'). BG2 is more of a mix of Planescape and Icewind Dale when it comes to gameplay.

Yeah this is what confuses me though, I always percieved planescape as more sci-fi ish and I thought Baldur's Gate was medieval. Even the wikipedia description says it's a medieval pre-industrialised setting, but that must be wrong given the steel catwalks and stuff,

[FAButzke]

Both BG and Planescape share the same universe (although, different planes). You will see references to Planescape while playing BG.

Regarding technology, it's pre-industrial in a sense. Gnomes, for example, have a knack for technology (and science in general) thus you could see several odd contraptions when dealing with their kind (you will know what I'm talking about when you meet Jan Jansen...)

Something you will not see is advanced technology. Steam powered ships, cars, guns, etc are all off the table.

[sjiraff]

Originally posted by FAButzke:

Both BG and Planescape share the same universe (although, different planes). You will see references to Planescape while playing BG.

Regarding technology, it's pre-industrial in a sense. Gnomes, for example, have a knack for technology (and science in general) thus you could see several odd contraptions when dealing with their kind (you will know what I'm talking about when you met Jan Jansen...)

Something you will not see is advanced technology. Steam powered ships, cars, guns, etc are all off the table.

Well I thought so too but look at this http://i.imgur.com/Tx5xKaw.png

Things like this as well as even metal catwalks would need an industrialised society with size standards and machiens and steel and electricity, I know dwarfs and gnomes are usually with technology but this seems like startrek to me!

[FAButzke]

Not really. You probaly are looking too much into it.
This only means they had the tech to build something like this. Plus, most of this stuff is infused with magic as well to make it work. Also, as opposed to a industrialized society, there's no production lines to make this stuff, so you can say your captor either made this himself or had it comissioned to some artificer somewhere to make it.

This is the lab/dungeon/den of a highly powerful individual with some nasty connections. You will see when you get out of there that the world is not like this at all. There will be exceptions, and again, you should remember that science, technology and magic go hand to hand in this world.

[sjiraff]

Originally posted by FAButzke:

Not really. You probaly are looking too much into it.
This only means they had the tech to build something like this. Plus, most of this stuff is infused with magic as well to make it work. Also, as opposed to a industrialized society, there's no production lines to make this stuff, so you can say your captor either made this himself or had it comissioned to some artificer somewhere to make it.

This is the lab/dungeon/den of a highly powerful individual with some nasty connections. You will see when you get out of there that the world is not like this at all. There will be exceptions, and again, you should remember that science, technology and magic goes hand to hand in this world.

I guess but that kind of technology is very much symptomatic of an industrial society, it's machines and computers performing tasks we can't do, if you had magic what would even be the point? And why would they make or even know about modern human steel catwalks and stuff?

I will keep playing anyway even if it means i spit on the mixing of themes >:(

[FAButzke]

Well, for starters there are no computers =)
Machines, yes.

Look on it this way: Not everyone is keen to magic. So some folks turn to technology. Thus you have both in this world.

You mentioned the wiki, so I'll leave the wiki link with the descriptions of a pre-industrial society and, if you look into it whily playing the game, you'll see that all of those descriptions apply to this world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-industrial_society

You should also remember that our preconceptions about what's modern and what's not, cannot be applied to the game. First because it's a fantasy game, in a fantasy universe (not a realistic portrayal of our own medieval society). And second because, who knows, with all the crazy stuff you've seen in Planescape, surely it's not impossible to some of that stuff to have ended up "here".

Anyway, I'm sure you will have fun nonetheless =D

[sjiraff]

Originally posted by FAButzke:

Well, for starters there are no computers =)
Machines, yes.

Look on it this way: Not everyone is keen to magic. So some folks turn to technology. Thus you have both in this world.

You mentioned the wiki, so I'll leave the wiki link with the descriptions of a pre-industrial society and, if you look into it whily playing the game, you'll see that all of those descriptions apply to this world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-industrial_society

You should also remember that our preconceptions about what's modern and what's not, cannot be applied to the game. First because it's a fantasy game, in a fantasy universe (not a realistic portrayal of our own medieval society). And second because, who knows, with all the crazy stuff you've seen in Planescape, surely it's not impossible to some of that stuff to have ended up "here".

Anyway, I'm sure you will have fun nonetheless =D

Thank you I did enjoy Baldur's Gate 1

[kaiyl_kariashi]

All of the above.

The 2nd edition of DnD was connected to several different settings all at once, before Copyright issues forced them back into unconnected settings again.

Forgotten Realms is where it mainly takes place and is a high magic medevial fantasy (though the nation of Lantan, Priesthood of Gond, most gnomes, are bastions of technology though due to the ease and prevelance of magic in most areas technology has had little reason to progress, though the occassional Magi-tek thing isn't out of the question). Though it's also got direct references to Planescape, Spelljammer, Dark Sun, Dragon Lance, and Greyhawk.

Spelljammer is more of a sci-fi-ish setting (with space ships and travel between planets) (Boo is from Spelljammer, as is the ship the Githyanki pirates in the game use)

[☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺]

AH' ive been waiting for somebunny to talk about this. The truth is that Farun( BG2 settings) was once linked to earth. but over time fell apart. and Forgoten -(hints the name Forgoten Realms) Meaning its ACOULY shi fi/mixed with medevil so even thow in game it seas the year 13 somthing. it acouly might be WAY in the futur on earth When you enter the firt area of the game wher the Jin is. you can click on the pools and one of them tells you of a world with metalic builings and machines taking them to their daily lives (cars) :D

[kaiyl_kariashi]

Faerun briefly touched Earth back during 3000 bc, that's where the Mulhorandi came from (and why Egypt largely collapsed afterward. Their gods were trapped in Faerun by the raising of the Sharn Wall and could no longer adminster to their followers on our world, in addition to a large chunk of their population being transported to Faerun as well).

Those pools are planar nodes, and that's referring to Mechanius, the clock-work plane.

Irenicus's dungeon is actually on the plane of air, aside from the 2nd half, which is in not-Athkatla.