Unveiling a Hidden Gem: Baldur's Gate Fan's Astonishing 20-Year Discovery

Highlights

A Baldur's Gate fan discovers an original game manual, providing a nostalgic find for long-term fans of the series.

Baldur's Gate 3, considered one of the greatest RPGs ever made, owes its triumph to its predecessors, Baldur's Gate 1 and Shadows of Amn.

The 264-page manual of the game represents a time long gone, when game guides were prevalent, highlighting the link between Baldur's Gate and Dungeons and Dragons.

A devoted fan of the Baldur's Gate series recently rediscovered the original game manual for the second installment. This well-preserved relic from over two decades ago evokes nostalgia for fans who have been dedicated to the series since its early days.

Baldur's Gate 3 has firmly established itself as one of the greatest RPGs in history, and there is a high possibility that it will be crowned Game of the Year. Nevertheless, Larian Studios' exceptional game owes its success to a lineage of beloved titles, including the original Baldur's Gate and its sequel, Shadows of Amn.

Redditor and Baldur's Gate enthusiast, PlanbOZ, recently shared an interesting find related to the old CRPG series. They came across their original 264-page game manual for Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, which showcased noticeable signs of use with old notes and highlighting still visible in the snapshots they shared. The pages they posted contained spell descriptions that still bear resemblance to spells found in the current edition of Dungeons and Dragons.

During the release of Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amn in 2000, game manuals like this were more commonplace. However, as time passed, game guides began to be sold separately and are now nearly extinct. Nevertheless, PlanbOZ's book serves as a prime example of such a relic, mainly due to the fact that Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2 implemented rules derived from the 2nd Edition of Dungeons and Dragons, giving it the appearance of a D&D sourcebook rather than a traditional gaming manual.

PlanbOZ’s fellow Baldur’s Gate enthusiasts were ecstatic about what they had discovered. Within just one day, the post received over 200 comments, many of which included notable quotes from Baldur’s Gate. Fans expressed their immense love for the game, offered congratulations on the find, and complimented the excellent condition of the manual.

For fans of Baldur’s Gate 3 who have not yet played the previous installments, embarking on the journey would be an unforgettable experience. Although Baldur’s Gate 3 is considered a sequel, it was created by a different company, utilizes a distinct D&D system, and incorporates different gameplay mechanics. However, Baldur’s Gate and its first sequel have long been regarded as the foundation of the RPG genre, even remaining as definitive Dungeons and Dragons video games to this day. Therefore, if fans choose to immerse themselves in these retro games, it would be wise for them to read their own manual before assembling their party and embarking on their adventure.

Baldur's Gate 2 is available now for PC.