Fans are already abuzz in speculating just how the upcomingBaldur’s Gate 3will tie in with the original games. Developer Larian Studios has already confirmed that therewillbe connections, likely multiple ones since thehistory ofBaldur’s Gateis so rich, but it’s still a mystery what those connections will look like.
One thing known for sure is that certain characters from the originalBaldur’s Gatesaga will appear inBaldur’s Gate 3, and given the sheer number of optional companions present inBG, BG2,andBG2: ToB, that leaves a number of possibilities. Roughly a century will have passed between the events of the original saga andBaldur’s Gate 3so that naturally rules out (most of) the human characters, but some of those otherDungeons & Dragonsraces are plenty long-lived enough to still be kicking–and available for a cameo.
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Viconia DeVir
Viconia DeVir, as one of the drow elves, has the capacity to live well over 700 years, which would certainly mean she’d be alive in late 15th-century DR whenBaldur’s Gate 3takes place. She’s a powerful priestess of Shar, having fallen out of favor with the Spider Queen Lolth (the usual patron deity of drow elves) after refusing to sacrifice a baby in her name. Viconia fled to the surface, leaving House DeVir and the Underdark behind her, and can potentially join forces with the player character of theoriginalBaldur’s Gateseries.
She can also supposedly die if romanced, as the ending slide for a player character in a romance with Viconia states that she is eventually murdered by agents of Lolth. However, it’s highly unlikely that’ll be kept as “canon” for futureBaldur’s Gateadventures, seeing asromance in the gameswas also entirely optional and Viconia wasn’t the only romanceable character. Assuming her death isn’t canon, she’d certainly be available to guest-star inBG3. After all, the notoriously l0ng lifespan of elves is also the reason that Drizzt Do’Urden has a series of over 20 books with no signs of stopping.
Jaheira
Jaheira, meanwhile, isn’t a full-blooded elf, but her status as both half-elf and powerful druid gives her a pretty decent chance to make it intoBG3. Jaheira was a member ofthe Harper faction(though this becomes a turbulent matter inBaldur’s Gate 2), and originally came into the company of theBaldur’s Gateplayer character through association with their adoptive father–also a Harper. Headstrong and dedicated the balance of nature, a mass slaughter orchestrated by mind flayers could certainly be enough to draw Jaheira back into the action.
Half-elves generally live between 180 to 200 years, so depending on her age inBaldur’s Gateit’s possible that she’d still be fit for battle as well. Plus, consideringtheD&Ddruidic class’sTimeless Body ability that kicks in at level 18, she could very well appear exactly the same as she did inBaldur’s Gate 2.
Jan Jansen
Every game needs a touch of comic relief, right? Even the traditionally darkBaldur’s Gateseries. That’s not to say the eccentric turnip salesman isn’t also good at his job as a thief and illusionist wizard, but he’s definitely got some interesting quirks stemming from his life as an inventor and, yes, turnip farmer.
The gnomish race wasn’t terribly popular in previous editions ofDungeons & Dragons, to the point that the 4th edition cut them out entirely, but they’ve enjoyed a resurgence with 5th edition. Gnomes are typically capable of living to around 350 years, which means Jan could, logically, involve himself in theevents ofBaldur’s Gate 3in some way.Howhe’d be involved is another story, considering Jan’s hobbies, but the possibility is still there.
Aerie
Though she no longer has her wings, Aerie is a member of the avariel elves; they’re a winged subrace of elves that are relatively rare in the world of Faerun. To say she had a rough childhood would be an understatement, as Aerie was sold to a circus and had her wings chopped off due to infection, but she’s a powerful cleric/mage companion inBaldur’s Gate 2. And though she’s quite naive and inexperienced in those games, current-day Aerie might not be if she kept to the adventuring lifestyle. As an elf, she’d once again most definitely be alive inBG3, and goodness knows her abilities would be useful in a pinch–or, say, amind flayer invasion.
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Coran
Coran is actually one of the few party members ofBaldur’s Gateto be mentioned outside of the games. He makes his first appearance inBaldur’s Gateas a potential companion, an elven archer (specifically, a fighter/thief multiclass) with a tendency for womanizing. He’s not featured so heavily in the second game, although he can be optionally encountered in the Forest of Tethir along with another former companion, Safana. It’s also been established in theLegends of Baldur’s Gatecomic that Coran lives a steady life in Baldur’s Gate by 1479 DR, and sinceBaldur’s Gate 3takes placeonly a decade or so later, he may still be there when the mind flayers arrive.
Minsc (and Boo!)
Of all the characters who might make a return inBG3, Minsc and his trusty miniature giant space hamster Boo are the most likely. Minsc is actually human, and normallywouldn’tbe alive to seeBG3, but his status as one of the most iconicForgotten Realms settingcharacters to date has been his saving grace. As revealed inLegends of Baldur’s Gate, Minsc was petrified into a statue and has only recently become unfrozen (Coran was the one to bring him up to date when he woke!), so he’s both alive and in the area.
Minsc and Boo returned to the adventuring life after rejoining the land of the living, so if anyone is going to helpBG3playersensure that butts are liberally kicked in good measure, it’ll be this dynamic duo. Where Minsc goes, evil stands aside. And who knows? Maybe fans will finally get to see Boo go for the eyes!
Baldur’s Gate 3is currently in development for PC and Stadia.
