Introduction

Baldur’s Gate is a 1998 role-playing video game developed by BioWare and published by Interplay Entertainment. The game takes place in the fictional Forgotten Realms campaign setting, specifically the Sword Coast and Baldur’s Gate, a city located on the Sword Coast. The game follows the story of a young orphan named Gorion’s Ward, who is raised by the wizard Gorion in the city of Candlekeep.

The plot (main-story spoilers)

When Gorion is killed by assassins, Ward sets out to discover the reason behind the attack and come to terms with their true identity. Along the way, Ward meets many— shall I say– eccentric characters, including the half-sister thief Imoen, the melancholic enchanter Xan, the imposing fighter Minsc, and the enigmatic sorcerer Edwin. All optional, you could just create a custom party. You can import your characters in the sequel for Baldur’s Gate 2.

Speaking of which, the game features a party-based system, meaning that the player can recruit up to five other characters to join their party. These characters can be of any race or class, and each brings their own unique skills and abilities to the table. Together, they uncover a sinister plot that threatens the city of Baldur’s Gate and the entire Sword Coast. Baldur’s Gate is a classic example of a Western-style role-playing game. It features real-time combat, complex characters and storylines, and a large, open world to explore. The picture below is only a small part of the game’s world.

The game was well-received by critics and was a commercial success, selling-out the first 50,000 copies instantly.

My Bounty Hunter Thief class was a great choice for the Halfling race (there’s others but I decided on this one), because it provides a +2 bonus to their Dexterity score. The Thief class is also proficient in Stealth and Sleight of Hand, making them perfect for sneaking around and pickpocketing. My thief’s main choice of weapon is the Katana, which can be used to deal quick, powerful strikes. Thank you Winthrop.

If you’re going with the Elf as your main, they’re kinda broken since crossbow and shortbow damage is overpowered. I had two I recruited in my party. The thief’s main role in combat is to deal damage from the shadows, avoiding detection as much as possible. I just ignored this outright and attacked head on.

Alignment

The True Neutral alignment means that the character is not beholden to any particular morality. They are free to act as they see fit, without being constrained by the laws or customs of society. This makes the True Neutral alignment perfect for a character who is trying to find their place in the world, or who does not fit into the traditional good-versus-evil dichotomy. This reflects in the dialogue you have with characters. Many of the options were no-fuss, exactly what I wanted.

Ending Thoughts

Overall, Baldur’s Gate is a great game for those who enjoy classic role playing gameplay. The Thief class is a great choice for players who want to be sneaky and stealthy, and the True Neutral alignment provides a refreshing take on the typical good-versus-evil dynamic.