Highlights

  • Baldur's Gate 3 embraces the world of Dungeons and Dragons with original characters and hidden easter eggs from the source material.
  • Original NPCs like Volo and Elminster add depth to the story, while references to existing DnD characters enrich the game's lore.
  • The appearance of established figures like Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard ties the game to previous DnD adventures, creating a rich narrative experience.

Through the success of its detailed depiction of part of the Forgotten Realms, Baldur’s Gate 3 has established itself as one of the most popular Dungeons and Dragons adaptations in gaming. With gameplay inspired by the tabletop game’s 5e ruleset, the Larian Studios-developed title borrows plenty of concepts from DnD while also diverging at several key points. The cast of Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of these, as it largely features a completely original cast of NPCs that have managed to capture the hearts of many players. Apart from the new characters Larian has crafted for the game, however, there are actually a few representatives of books from the source material.

It might be the latest in a well-known series of RPGs, but BG3 is far from a title that leans on elements of its franchise’s successful past. Faces from the original duology end up making important appearances, but they are still largely relegated to Act 3. Players are guaranteed to be surrounded by original characters for much of the story, but Baldur’s Gate 3 isn’t without its callbacks to DnD. They might not be obvious to the uninitiated, but seasoned tabletop players will find several NPCs during their adventure who originated from existing Dungeons and Dragons sourcebooks.

baldur's gate 3 dlc
Related
Baldur's Gate 3 Would Be Leaving Money on the Table Without DLC

Baldur's Gate 3's popularity and established role in the industry means that DLC would be a wise decision from all angles.

Volothamp Geddarm

Volo's Memorable Role in BG3

Appearing early into Act 1, Baldur's Gate 3 NPC Volo can be encountered in the Emerald Grove for the beginning of one of the game’s more humorous questlines. He will be captured in the Goblin Camp while trying to write about his experiences before stabbing out one of the player’s eyes through Volo's attempt at surgery in camp if he is allowed, making it somewhat unsurprising that he needs to be saved from an angry mob later in Act 3. He may simply seem like one of BG3’s camp followers who happens to be a bit of a scoundrel, but there’s far more to Volo than his appearance in the game.

The Dubious Origins of Volo

Full name Volothamp Geddarm, he is actually a character that has been appearing in DnD since the early 1990s after being created by Ed Greenwood. Even before the publication of his first full book, Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep, it’s been clear that the character is an unreliable narrator who exaggerates his stories and has drawn the ire of many as a result. Volo's appearance in BG3 has odd implications for his advanced age, but his true nature as an unaware “anchor” of the Weave chosen by Mystra is a secret only those into tabletop are likely to be aware of.

Elminster Aumaur

One of BG3's Biggest Cameos

Another NPC associated with the goddess of the Weave, Elminster appears before the party member Gale when the player reaches the point of crossing into Act 2. He has a decent enough temperament for an old Wizard, but the fact that Elminster is only there to deliver Mystra’s orders regarding the usage of Gale’s Netherese Orb, and therefore death, is likely to paint him in a bit of a negative light to some. He isn’t seen again until Act 3, assuming Gale is still alive, where he once again functions as a mere messenger.

Elminster's Status Outweighs Gale's Adventure

He might not have any major purpose in Baldur’s Gate 3, but Elminster is one of the Forgotten Realms’ most legendary heroes. Appearing since the late 1980s in adventures across many published stories, he is a Wizard who has accrued a level of power that few mortals are ever likely to achieve. Elminster is well over a thousand years old, and has even seen the incarnation of his goddess Mystra change after the original’s death. While it may seem like a missed opportunity to not have featured him more, the struggles of Gale in BG3 may ultimately be beneath him.

Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard

A Key Character in BG3's Narrative

Appearing in a key moment of the main story that has likely made many players familiar with him, Ulder Ravengard is the Supreme Marshal of the Flaming Fist, Grand Duke of all of Baldur’s Gate, and the father of the party member Wyll. He is revealed to be captured by the Chosen of the Dead Three in the Mind Flayer Colony, and will later swear BG3's Gortash in as Archduke while under mind control in Act 3. Ravengard can later be saved from the Iron Throne prison and reunited with his son or face a far more grim fate if the player chooses, but this is technically the conclusion to a story that began years prior.

Duke Ravengard is No Stranger to Crisis

Having been around since at least 2013 with the Murder in Baldur’s Gate campaign that ended with the death of the city’s previous Duke, BG3's Ulder Ravengard hasn’t always held his seat. He rose to replace the fallen Abdel Adrian, a controversial hero from the maligned Baldur’s Gate tie-in novels.

Ravengard has since earned a more favorable reputation as a righteous NPC in the DnD modules Descent into Avernus and Rise of Tiamat, the first of which saw him captured and potentially rescued from the Hells by the player. Whether Wyll intends to succeed his father or not by the end of Baldur's Gate 3, it's safe to say that the Duke has already seen his fair share of adventures by the time of the game's Illithid invasion.

Dungeons and Dragons Characters Mentioned in Baldur’s Gate 3

There are only a few characters originating from DnD sourcebooks who pop up in BG3, but there are also several references to known figures scattered throughout the world. It's unsure if they'll ever show up in the medium of gaming, but these easter eggs show that Larian is well aware of the rich history of the setting. There's a massive quantity of books and dialogue throughout the game, and there have been multiple connections to pre-existing characters found within them so far. From the more obvious instances of Zariel's role in Karlach's backstory to the more nuanced presence of a note naming Malice Do'Urden found in the Underdark, there are hidden callbacks to the Forgotten Realms throughout Baldur's Gate 3 which reflect a rare respect for the source material.