<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
is	I-Application
a	O
series	O
of	O
role-playing	O
video	O
games	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
Forgotten	B-Application
Realms	I-Application
Dungeons	O
&	O
Dragons	O
campaign	O
setting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
has	O
spawned	O
two	O
series	O
,	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Bhaalspawn	B-Application
Saga	O
and	O
the	O
Dark	O
Alliance	O
,	O
both	O
taking	O
place	O
mostly	O
within	O
the	O
Western	O
Heartlands	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
Bhaalspawn	B-Application
Saga	O
extends	O
to	O
Amn	O
and	O
Tethyr	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Bhaalspawn	B-Application
Saga	O
was	O
critically	O
acclaimed	O
for	O
using	O
pausable	O
realtime	O
gameplay	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
credited	O
with	O
revitalizing	O
the	O
computer	O
role-playing	O
game	O
(	O
CRPG	O
)	O
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Bhaalspawn	B-Application
Saga	O
was	O
originally	O
developed	O
by	O
BioWare	O
for	O
personal	B-Device
computers	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Black	O
Isle	O
Studios	O
had	O
planned	O
a	O
third	O
series	O
to	O
be	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
Dalelands	O
and	O
be	O
a	O
PC-exclusive	O
hack	B-Application
and	I-Application
slash	I-Application
game	O
with	O
pausable	O
real-time	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
would	O
not	O
have	O
been	O
connected	O
to	O
the	O
Bhaalspawn	B-Application
Saga	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
series	O
was	O
revived	O
in	O
2012	O
with	O
the	O
announcement	O
of	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Enhanced	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
,	O
an	O
update	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
using	O
an	O
enhanced	O
Infinity	O
Engine	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
Enhanced	O
Edition	O
marked	O
the	O
first	O
release	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
in	O
eight	O
years	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
followed	O
by	O
an	O
enhanced	O
edition	O
of	O
the	O
second	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
called	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Enhanced	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Beamdog	O
was	O
granted	O
permission	O
to	O
develop	O
new	O
games	O
with	O
the	O
license	O
,	O
with	O
two	O
games	O
in	O
development	O
,	O
codenamed	O
Adventure	O
Y	O
and	O
Adventure	O
Z	O
;	O
Adventure	O
Y	O
was	O
revealed	O
to	O
be	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Siege	I-Application
of	I-Application
Dragonspear	I-Application
,	O
an	O
expansion	O
for	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Enhanced	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
III	I-Application
is	O
currently	O
in	O
development	O
at	O
Larian	O
Studios	O
,	O
the	O
creators	O
of	O
the	O
Divinity	B-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
series	I-Application
brought	O
technical	O
advancements	O
over	O
role-playing	O
video	O
games	O
of	O
the	O
past	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
BioWare	O
's	O
Infinity	O
Engine	O
offers	O
a	O
pre-rendered	O
isometric	B-Application
worldview	I-Application
,	O
with	O
sprite-based	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
was	O
the	O
third	O
computer	O
game	O
to	O
make	O
use	O
of	O
the	O
Lua	B-Language
scripting	I-Language
language	I-Language
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
engine	O
was	O
used	O
for	O
Planescape	B-Application
:	I-Application
Torment	I-Application
and	O
the	O
Icewind	B-Application
Dale	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
was	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
and	O
introduces	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
as	O
a	O
powerless	O
orphan	O
raised	O
in	O
the	O
monastery	O
of	O
Candlekeep	B-Application
,	O
south	O
of	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
and	O
north	O
of	O
the	O
kingdom	O
of	O
Amn	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
character	O
searches	O
for	O
the	O
killer	O
of	O
their	O
foster	O
father	O
Gorion	B-Application
,	O
and	O
becomes	O
involved	O
with	O
the	O
region	O
's	O
iron	O
crisis	O
which	O
causes	O
metal	O
to	O
crumble	O
,	O
while	O
battling	O
to	O
stay	O
alive	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
expansion	O
pack	O
for	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
called	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Sword	I-Application
Coast	I-Application
did	O
not	O
add	O
to	O
the	O
primary	O
storyline	O
,	O
but	O
presented	O
the	O
protagonist	O
with	O
more	O
areas	O
to	O
explore	O
along	O
the	O
Sword	O
Coast	O
,	O
more	O
powerful	O
enemies	O
,	O
more	O
spells	O
,	O
and	O
better	O
equipment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
sequel	O
to	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
was	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Shadows	I-Application
of	I-Application
Amn	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
presents	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
innovations	O
over	O
the	O
first	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
game	O
,	O
including	O
further	O
specialization	O
of	O
character	O
classes	O
,	O
better	O
graphics	O
,	O
and	O
higher	O
power	O
levels	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Throne	B-Application
of	I-Application
Bhaal	I-Application
is	O
an	O
expansion	O
pack	O
for	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Shadows	I-Application
of	I-Application
Amn	I-Application
,	O
and	O
includes	O
both	O
an	O
expansion	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
new	O
areas	O
to	O
explore	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
conclusion	O
to	O
the	O
Bhaalspawn	B-Application
story	O
arc	O
started	O
in	O
the	O
first	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
third	O
main	O
title	O
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
will	O
be	O
developed	O
by	O
Larian	O
Studios	O
in	O
partnership	O
with	O
Wizards	O
of	O
the	O
Coast	O
,	O
which	O
holds	O
the	O
license	O
for	O
the	O
Dungeons	O
&	O
Dragons	O
IP	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
expected	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
in	O
August	O
2023	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
PC	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
action	B-Application
role-playing	I-Application
game	I-Application
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliance	I-Application
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Snowblind	O
Studios	O
and	O
others	O
,	O
and	O
released	O
in	O
2001	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
console	O
,	O
and	O
later	O
Xbox	B-Device
and	O
GameCube	B-Application
video	O
game	O
consoles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
takes	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
city	O
of	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
and	O
surrounding	O
area	O
and	O
is	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
Forgotten	B-Application
Realms	I-Application
setting	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
ruleset	O
derived	O
from	O
the	O
3rd	O
edition	O
of	O
Dungeon	O
&	O
Dragons	O
;	O
the	O
plot	O
is	O
unrelated	O
to	O
previous	O
PC	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
console	O
version	O
used	O
an	O
overhead	O
third	O
person	O
view	O
,	O
and	O
hack-and-slash	B-Application
dungeon	O
crawl	O
style	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
version	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
2004	O
,	O
with	O
reduced	O
graphics	O
quality	O
using	O
an	O
2.5D	O
isometric	B-Application
type	O
perspective	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
all	O
ports	O
were	O
very	O
well	O
received	O
,	O
the	O
original	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
was	O
the	O
only	O
one	O
that	O
gained	O
universal	O
acclaim	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
sequel	O
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliance	I-Application
II	I-Application
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Black	O
Isle	O
Studios	O
and	O
released	O
in	O
2004	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
;	O
the	O
game	O
used	O
the	O
same	O
gameplay	O
style	O
as	O
the	O
original	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
also	O
positively	O
reviewed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
gameplay	O
style	O
was	O
expanded	O
to	O
make	O
the	O
game	O
more	O
like	O
a	O
role-playing	O
game	O
,	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
craft	O
weapons	O
,	O
armor	O
and	O
amulets	O
was	O
added	O
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
became	O
a	O
hub	O
city	O
with	O
the	O
addition	O
of	O
a	O
world	O
map	O
and	O
being	O
able	O
to	O
travel	O
back	O
to	O
areas	O
,	O
making	O
the	O
game	O
open	O
world	O
and	O
many	O
more	O
side-quests	O
were	O
added	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
level	O
up	O
one	O
's	O
class	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
Dungeons	B-Application
&	I-Application
Dragons	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliance	I-Application
was	O
officially	O
announced	O
with	O
a	O
teaser	O
trailer	O
shown	O
during	O
The	O
Game	O
Awards	O
2019	O
on	O
December	O
12	O
,	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hattem	O
and	O
lead	O
game	O
designer	O
Kevin	O
Neibert	O
have	O
also	O
clarified	O
that	O
Dungeons	B-Application
&	I-Application
Dragons	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliance	I-Application
will	O
use	O
a	O
more	O
"	O
intimate	O
"	O
third-person	O
perspectives	O
rather	O
than	O
the	O
traditional	O
2.5D	O
isometric	B-Application
perspective	I-Application
of	O
the	O
previous	O
Dark	O
Alliance	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
re-released	O
on	O
multiple	O
platforms	O
as	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Enhanced	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
,	O
a	O
collection	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
and	O
its	O
expansion	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Sword	I-Application
Coast	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
brand	O
new	O
expansion	O
named	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Siege	I-Application
of	I-Application
Dragonspear	I-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
March	O
31	O
,	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
March	O
15	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Enhanced	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Enhanced	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
as	O
a	O
Beamdog	O
exclusive	O
that	O
would	O
feature	O
some	O
new	O
content	O
and	O
widescreen	O
compatibility	O
,	O
and	O
would	O
continue	O
to	O
utilize	O
2nd	O
Edition	O
D&D	O
rules	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Beamdog	O
since	O
also	O
made	O
enhanced	O
versions	O
of	O
other	O
Infinity	O
Engine	O
games	O
,	O
including	O
Icewind	B-Application
Dale	I-Application
,	O
Planescape	B-Application
:	I-Application
Torment	I-Application
and	O
Neverwinter	B-Application
Nights	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
enhanced	O
versions	O
were	O
released	O
for	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
in	O
October	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Overhaul	O
Games	O
announced	O
that	O
,	O
after	O
finishing	O
the	O
Enhanced	O
Editions	O
of	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
and	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
they	O
would	O
be	O
developing	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
3	I-Application
with	O
funding	O
from	O
Kickstarter	O
,	O
as	O
Wasteland	B-Application
2	I-Application
had	O
gotten	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Overhaul	O
Games	O
later	O
clarified	O
their	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
game	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
separate	O
game	O
from	O
The	O
Black	O
Hound	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Beamdog	O
began	O
calling	O
the	O
game	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
Next	O
as	O
a	O
way	O
to	O
differentiate	O
it	O
from	O
the	O
Bhaalspawn	B-Application
Saga	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
III	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
on	O
June	O
6	O
,	O
2019	O
,	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
for	O
Google	O
's	O
Stadia	B-Application
and	O
PC	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
being	O
developed	O
at	O
Larian	O
Studios	O
,	O
the	O
Belgian	O
developer	O
behind	O
the	O
Divinity	B-Application
:	I-Application
Original	I-Application
Sin	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
’s	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
III	O
will	O
be	O
based	O
on	O
"	O
current	O
D&D	O
mechanics	O
and	O
spells	O
and	O
is	O
the	O
official	O
new	O
chapter	O
in	O
the	O
legendary	O
series	O
,	O
"	O
according	O
to	O
a	O
press	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dungeons	B-Application
&	I-Application
Dragons	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliance	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
on	O
December	O
12	O
,	O
2019	O
,	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
for	O
PC	O
and	O
consoles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
billed	O
as	O
a	O
spiritual	O
successor	O
to	O
the	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliance	I-Application
games	O
,	O
and	O
will	O
feature	O
a	O
storyline	O
based	O
on	O
characters	O
from	O
R	O
.	O
A	O
.	O
Salvatore	O
's	O
novel	O
series	O
The	O
Legend	O
of	O
Drizzt	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
2021	O
Panel	O
From	O
Hell	O
livestream	O
studio	O
head	O
Swen	O
Vincke	O
revealed	O
that	O
the	O
target	O
release	O
date	O
for	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
3	I-Application
would	O
be	O
"	O
hopefully	O
somewhere	O
in	O
2022.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Hound	I-Application
(	O
code	O
named	O
Jefferson	O
and	O
FR6	O
)	O
was	O
mentioned	O
in	O
early	O
2001	O
as	O
a	O
new	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
series	I-Application
to	O
be	O
made	O
by	O
Black	O
Isle	O
Studios	O
using	O
a	O
new	O
3D	O
engine	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Black	O
Hound	O
was	O
originally	O
going	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
departure	O
from	O
the	O
high-powered	O
epic	O
of	O
the	O
Bhaalspawn	B-Application
saga	O
to	O
a	O
low-key	O
,	O
role-playing	O
plot	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
only	O
titled	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
due	O
to	O
Interplay	O
having	O
lost	O
the	O
general	O
D&D	O
license	O
to	O
Atari	O
,	O
but	O
still	O
retaining	O
the	O
right	O
to	O
make	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
and	O
Icewind	B-Application
Dale	I-Application
branded	O
D&D	O
games	O
(	O
the	O
same	O
reason	O
as	O
for	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliances	I-Application
title	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
not	O
going	O
to	O
be	O
connected	O
to	O
the	O
previous	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
series	I-Application
in	O
any	O
way	O
and	O
would	O
start	O
a	O
new	O
series	O
,	O
the	O
Black	O
Hound	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
sequel	O
in	O
terms	O
of	O
gameplay	O
and	O
not	O
story	O
,	O
although	O
it	O
would	O
continue	O
some	O
aspects	O
of	O
the	O
Icewind	B-Application
Dale	I-Application
II	O
story	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
on	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Hound	I-Application
was	O
cancelled	O
in	O
2003	O
and	O
the	O
third	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
Dark	O
Alliance	O
series	O
was	O
also	O
cancelled	O
in	O
2004	O
when	O
Black	O
Isle	O
Studios	O
was	O
closed	O
in	O
2004	O
by	O
parent	O
company	O
Interplay	O
Entertainment	O
Corp	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
engine	O
for	O
The	O
Black	O
Hound	O
was	O
re-purposed	O
for	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
the	O
similarly	O
ill-fated	O
Van	O
Buren	O
project	O
,	O
the	O
working	O
title	O
for	O
the	O
eventual	O
Fallout	B-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
cancellation	O
happened	O
due	O
to	O
Interplay	O
losing	O
the	O
right	O
to	O
publish	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
games	O
on	O
the	O
PC	O
yet	O
retaining	O
the	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
name	O
for	O
consoles	O
,	O
the	O
result	O
of	O
this	O
was	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliance	I-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
December	O
2	O
,	O
2008	O
,	O
Atari	O
stated	O
in	O
a	O
press	O
conference	O
that	O
the	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
series	I-Application
(	O
among	O
others	O
)	O
would	O
be	O
revisited	O
after	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
personal	O
side	O
project	O
,	O
Sawyer	O
continued	O
work	O
on	O
The	O
Black	O
Hound	O
as	O
a	O
module	O
for	O
Neverwinter	B-Application
Nights	I-Application
2	I-Application
for	O
a	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
series	I-Application
features	O
a	O
wide	O
array	O
of	O
noteworthy	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aerie	B-Application
is	O
an	O
avariel	O
,	O
an	O
elven	O
subspecies	O
that	O
possess	O
wings	O
,	O
but	O
she	O
lost	O
hers	O
as	O
a	O
child	O
when	O
she	O
was	O
imprisoned	O
in	O
a	O
circus	O
by	O
slavers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
She	O
was	O
eventually	O
rescued	O
and	O
restored	O
to	O
health	O
by	O
Quayle	O
,	O
a	O
gnome	O
and	O
potential	O
companion	O
in	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aerie	B-Application
is	O
relatively	O
young	O
and	O
inexperienced	O
during	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
and	O
embodies	O
the	O
damsel	O
in	O
distress	O
archetype	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
She	O
is	O
a	O
recruitable	O
companion	O
,	O
and	O
potential	O
love	O
interest	O
for	O
a	O
male	O
player	O
character	O
in	O
Shadows	B-Application
of	I-Application
Amn	I-Application
;	O
if	O
the	O
romance	O
continues	O
into	O
the	O
Throne	B-Application
of	I-Application
Bhaal	I-Application
,	O
she	O
will	O
eventually	O
bear	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
's	O
child	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Allessia	O
Faithhammer	O
is	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
player	O
characters	O
of	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliance	I-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
She	O
travels	O
to	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
during	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Dark	O
Alliance	O
II	O
after	O
hearing	O
of	O
the	O
troubles	O
in	O
the	O
city	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
is	O
a	O
potential	O
companion	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
love	O
interest	O
in	O
Shadows	B-Application
Of	I-Application
Amn	I-Application
if	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
is	O
female	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Edwin	B-Application
Odesseiron	I-Application
is	O
a	O
haughty	O
member	O
of	O
the	O
Red	O
Wizards	O
of	O
Thay	O
who	O
seeks	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
's	O
cooperation	O
to	O
kill	O
a	O
potential	O
companion	O
,	O
the	O
witch	O
Dynaheir	B-Application
,	O
and	O
will	O
join	O
the	O
party	O
if	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
agrees	O
to	O
help	O
him	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
may	O
also	O
be	O
recruited	O
in	O
Shadows	B-Application
of	I-Application
Amn	I-Application
,	O
where	O
he	O
may	O
be	O
encountered	O
as	O
an	O
agent	O
employed	O
by	O
the	O
Shadow	O
Thieves	O
of	O
Amn	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Progressing	O
Edwin	B-Application
's	O
personal	O
side	O
quest	O
to	O
pursue	O
the	O
Nether	O
Scrolls	O
will	O
result	O
in	O
him	O
changing	O
sex	O
after	O
he	O
attempts	O
to	O
invoke	O
the	O
scroll	O
's	O
power	O
;	O
while	O
the	O
story	O
arc	O
itself	O
is	O
treated	O
as	O
purely	O
comic	O
relief	O
with	O
no	O
connection	O
whatsoever	O
to	O
a	O
real-world	O
issue	O
,	O
Esther	O
MacCallum-Stewart	O
noted	O
the	O
subplot	O
as	O
an	O
early	O
example	O
of	O
an	O
LGBT	O
theme	O
being	O
included	O
in	O
a	O
Bioware-made	O
RPG	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Imoen	O
is	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
's	O
childhood	O
friend	O
and	O
fellow	O
ward	O
of	O
their	O
foster	O
father	O
Gorion	B-Application
,	O
living	O
in	O
Candlekeep	B-Application
where	O
they	O
were	O
raised	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
She	O
is	O
a	O
loyal	O
companion	O
throughout	O
the	O
original	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
and	O
her	O
skills	O
as	O
an	O
expert	O
thief	O
may	O
be	O
put	O
to	O
use	O
throughout	O
the	O
Baldur	B-Application
’s	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Childlike	O
and	O
naive	O
by	O
nature	O
,	O
she	O
is	O
forced	O
to	O
endure	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
traumatic	O
experiences	O
during	O
Shadows	B-Application
Of	I-Application
Amn	I-Application
;	O
she	O
is	O
tortured	O
along	O
with	O
the	O
rest	O
of	O
her	O
companions	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
later	O
arrested	O
and	O
incarcerated	O
by	O
an	O
organisation	O
of	O
magic-users	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Cowled	O
Wizards	O
for	O
unlicensed	O
magic	O
use	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Imoen	O
's	O
popularity	O
with	O
the	O
Baldur	B-Application
Gate	I-Application
series	O
fandom	O
was	O
not	O
anticipated	O
by	O
Bioware	O
;	O
the	O
original	O
purpose	O
of	O
her	O
inclusion	O
in	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
was	O
to	O
"	O
fill	O
a	O
non-psychotic-thief	O
gap	O
in	O
the	O
early	O
levels	O
"	O
late	O
in	O
the	O
development	O
cycle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Gorion	B-Application
leaves	O
instructions	O
for	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
to	O
meet	O
her	O
and	O
her	O
husband	O
Khalid	O
after	O
he	O
is	O
killed	O
,	O
although	O
it	O
is	O
optional	O
to	O
recruit	O
the	O
couple	O
into	O
the	O
party	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jaheira	O
is	O
available	O
as	O
a	O
companion	O
in	O
the	O
beginning	O
of	O
Shadows	B-Application
Of	I-Application
Amn	I-Application
,	O
and	O
is	O
revealed	O
to	O
be	O
widowed	O
soon	O
afterwards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
She	O
is	O
a	O
potential	O
love	O
interest	O
for	O
a	O
male	O
player	O
character	O
if	O
certain	O
conditions	O
are	O
met	O
;	O
Gaider	O
noted	O
the	O
romantic	O
subplot	O
itself	O
was	O
lengthy	O
in	O
terms	O
of	O
content	O
,	O
but	O
riddled	O
with	O
bugs	B-Error_Name
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jaheira	O
is	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
popular	O
and	O
well-regarded	O
characters	O
in	O
the	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
series	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jan	B-Application
Jansen	I-Application
is	O
a	O
gnome	O
,	O
a	O
race	O
with	O
an	O
average	O
lifespan	O
of	O
over	O
350	O
years	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
eccentric	O
inventor	O
of	O
multiple	O
gadgets	O
which	O
only	O
he	O
knows	O
how	O
to	O
use	O
,	O
and	O
tends	O
to	O
ramble	O
on	O
with	O
lengthy	O
stories	O
that	O
never	O
get	O
to	O
the	O
point	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
is	O
a	O
recruitable	O
companion	O
in	O
Shadows	B-Application
of	I-Application
Amn	I-Application
;	O
he	O
is	O
encountered	O
peddling	O
his	O
wares	O
in	O
the	O
city	O
of	O
Amn	O
,	O
which	O
in	O
actuality	O
are	O
dangerous	O
weapons	O
in	O
their	O
own	O
right	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jon	O
Irenicus	O
is	O
the	O
chief	O
antagonist	O
of	O
Shadows	B-Application
Of	I-Application
Amn	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Khalid	O
is	O
murdered	O
by	O
Irenicus	O
in	O
Shadows	B-Application
Of	I-Application
Amn	I-Application
,	O
widowing	O
Jaheira	O
and	O
leaving	O
her	O
with	O
survivor	O
's	O
guilt	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Minsc	O
is	O
originally	O
tasked	O
with	O
serving	O
as	O
a	O
bodyguard	O
to	O
the	O
Rashemi	O
witch	O
Dynaheir	B-Application
as	O
part	O
of	O
his	O
rite	O
of	O
passage	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
inseparable	O
from	O
her	O
once	O
she	O
is	O
rescued	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
is	O
a	O
potentially	O
recruitable	O
companion	O
throughout	O
the	O
original	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
outliving	O
Dynaheir	B-Application
,	O
who	O
is	O
murdered	O
by	O
Irenicus	O
prior	O
to	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Shadows	B-Application
of	I-Application
Amn	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sarevok	O
Anchev	O
is	O
the	O
chief	O
antagonist	O
of	O
Baldur	B-Application
’s	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
,	O
and	O
as	O
a	O
mortal	O
spawn	O
of	O
the	O
dead	O
God	O
of	O
Murder	O
Bhaal	O
,	O
the	O
half-brother	O
of	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
child	O
he	O
was	O
the	O
would-be	O
victim	O
of	O
a	O
sacrificial	O
ritual	O
which	O
was	O
stopped	O
by	O
Gorion	B-Application
and	O
the	O
Harpers	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
later	O
adopted	O
by	O
a	O
member	O
of	O
a	O
mercantile	O
organization	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Iron	O
Throne	O
,	O
Rieltar	O
Anchev	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sarevok	O
's	O
foster	O
father	O
is	O
a	O
central	O
figure	O
in	O
fomenting	O
the	O
iron	O
crisis	O
in	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
to	O
gain	O
power	O
for	O
the	O
Iron	O
Throne	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
doppelganger	O
infiltration	O
of	O
merchant	O
rivals	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
His	O
goal	O
is	O
to	O
take	O
advantage	O
of	O
the	O
ensuring	O
chaos	O
orchestrated	O
by	O
the	O
Iron	O
Throne	O
to	O
kill	O
his	O
fellow	O
Bhaalspawn	B-Application
and	O
ascend	O
into	O
divinity	B-Application
himself	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sarevok	O
reappears	O
in	O
Throne	B-Application
of	I-Application
Bhaal	I-Application
where	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
may	O
restore	O
him	O
to	O
life	O
and	O
recruit	O
him	O
as	O
a	O
party	O
member	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Vahn	O
is	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
player	O
characters	O
of	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliance	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Being	O
in	O
the	O
wrong	O
place	O
at	O
the	O
wrong	O
time	O
,	O
Vahn	O
quickly	O
finds	O
himself	O
mired	O
in	O
the	O
political	O
and	O
social	O
upheaval	O
of	O
the	O
city	O
of	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
,	O
and	O
up	O
against	O
the	O
Dark	O
Alliance	O
led	O
by	O
Eldrith	O
the	O
Betrayer	O
,	O
the	O
main	O
antagonist	O
of	O
Dark	O
Alliance	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Viconia	B-Application
DeVir	O
is	O
a	O
drow	O
outcast	O
and	O
Cleric	O
of	O
Shar	O
,	O
the	O
goddess	O
of	O
darkness	O
,	O
night	O
,	O
and	O
loss	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
She	O
is	O
a	O
recruitable	O
companion	O
throughout	O
the	O
original	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
and	O
a	O
potential	O
love	O
interest	O
for	O
a	O
male	O
player	O
character	O
in	O
Shadows	B-Application
Of	I-Application
Amn	I-Application
,	O
embodying	O
the	O
femme	O
fatale	O
archetype	O
;	O
if	O
her	O
relationship	O
with	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
continues	O
into	O
Throne	B-Application
of	I-Application
Bhaal	I-Application
,	O
a	O
possible	O
ending	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
epilogue	O
would	O
reveal	O
that	O
Viconia	B-Application
is	O
murdered	O
by	O
agents	O
of	O
the	O
drow	O
goddess	O
Lolth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yoshimo	B-Application
is	O
a	O
bounty	O
hunter	O
rogue	O
from	O
Kara-Tur	O
who	O
is	O
encountered	O
in	O
Irenicus	O
 '	O
complex	O
early	O
in	O
Shadows	B-Application
of	I-Application
Amn	I-Application
,	O
and	O
offers	O
to	O
join	O
the	O
party	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
increase	O
their	O
odds	O
of	O
escape	O
and	O
survival	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
taken	O
to	O
Spellhold	O
,	O
where	O
Irenicus	O
and	O
Imoen	O
are	O
incarcerated	O
by	O
the	O
Cowled	O
Wizards	O
,	O
Yoshimo	B-Application
reveals	O
the	O
terrible	O
secret	O
he	O
had	O
been	O
hiding	O
:	O
he	O
was	O
under	O
the	O
thrall	O
of	O
Irenicus	O
all	O
along	O
,	O
and	O
his	O
purpose	O
is	O
to	O
betray	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
mage	O
's	O
contingency	O
plan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yoshimo	B-Application
is	O
the	O
only	O
Shadows	B-Application
of	I-Application
Amn	I-Application
companion	O
who	O
is	O
not	O
available	O
for	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
to	O
recruit	O
in	O
Throne	B-Application
of	I-Application
Bhaal	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
major	O
Forgotten	B-Application
Realms	I-Application
characters	O
make	O
guest	O
appearances	O
throughout	O
the	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
such	O
as	O
Drizzt	O
Do'Urden	O
,	O
Elminster	O
,	O
and	O
Volothamp	O
Geddarm	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Drizzt	O
in	O
particular	O
appears	O
alongside	O
his	O
fellow	O
Companions	O
of	O
the	O
Hall	O
,	O
Bruenor	O
Battlehammer	O
,	O
Catti-brie	O
and	O
Wulfgar	O
as	O
the	O
protagonists	O
of	O
the	O
2021	O
video	O
game	O
Dungeons	B-Application
&	I-Application
Dragons	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliance	I-Application
,	O
a	O
spiritual	O
successor	O
to	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliance	I-Application
and	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliance	I-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Philip	O
Athans	O
,	O
editor	O
of	O
the	O
Forgotten	B-Application
Realms	I-Application
novel	O
line	O
,	O
wrote	O
the	O
first	O
two	O
novels	O
in	O
the	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
trilogy	O
of	O
novels	O
:	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
and	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Shadows	I-Application
of	I-Application
Amn	I-Application
,	O
both	O
are	O
novelizations	O
of	O
the	O
video	O
game	O
series	O
 '	O
storylines	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Bhaalspawn	B-Application
main	O
character	O
is	O
named	O
Abdel	O
Adrian	O
in	O
the	O
novels	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
third	O
novel	O
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Throne	I-Application
of	I-Application
Bhaal	I-Application
,	O
was	O
authored	O
by	O
Drew	O
Karpyshyn	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
July	O
2014	O
,	O
a	O
comic	O
titled	O
Dungeons	O
&	O
Dragons	O
:	O
Legends	O
of	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
in	O
October	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
set	O
generations	O
after	O
Throne	B-Application
of	I-Application
Bhaal	I-Application
,	O
and	O
features	O
Minsc	O
as	O
the	O
main	O
character	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1999	O
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
won	O
the	O
Origins	O
Award	O
for	O
Best	O
Role	O
Playing	O
Game	O
Computer	O
Game	O
of	O
1998	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
2000	O
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Tales	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Sword	I-Application
Coast	I-Application
won	O
Best	O
Role	O
Game	O
Playing	O
Game	O
Computer	O
Game	O
of	O
1999	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Academy	O
of	O
Interactive	O
Arts	O
&	O
Sciences	O
would	O
award	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
the	O
AIAS	O
award	O
for	O
PC	O
Role	O
Playing	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Throne	I-Application
of	I-Application
Bhaal	I-Application
and	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dark	I-Application
Alliance	I-Application
too	O
would	O
later	O
win	O
AIAS	O
awards	O
for	O
Role	O
Playing	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
,	O
taking	O
the	O
award	O
for	O
both	O
its	O
PC	O
and	O
Console	O
categories	O
in	O
the	O
year	O
2001	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
considered	O
Baldur	B-Application
’s	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
's	O
characters	O
as	O
the	O
cornerstone	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
some	O
of	O
them	O
were	O
the	O
best	O
RPG	O
companions	O
ever	O
written	O
.	O
</s>
