User manual GAMES MICROSOFT XBOX BALDUR S GATE - DARK ALLIANCE

BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM CONTENTS INTRODUCTION GETTING STARTED CONTROLLER LAYOUT WELCOME TO THE REALMS HOW TO START THE GAME/MAIN MENU DESCRIPTION HEROES OF BALDUR'S GATE OPTIONS MENU CONTROLLING YOUR CHARACTER CHARACTER STATISTICS SCREEN COMBAT SHOPKEEPERS SPELLS AND FEATS MONSTERS CREDITS 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 17 22 24 26 33 36 BlAcK Isle STUDios -1- BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM GETTING STARTED CONTROLLER LAYOUT USING THE XBOX VIDEO GAME SYSTEM 1. Set up your Xbox video game system by following the instructions in the Xbox Instruction Manual. 2. Press the power button and the status indicator light will light up. 3. Press the eject button and the disc tray will open. 4. Place the Baldur's GateTM : Dark AllianceTM disc on the disc tray with the label facing up and close the disc tray. 5. Follow on-screen instructions and refer to this manual for more information about playing Baldur's Gate : Dark Alliance. USING THE XBOX CONTROLLER 1. Connect the Xbox Controller to any controller port on the front of the Xbox console. For multiple players, connect additional controllers to available controller ports. 2. Insert any expansion devices (for example, Xbox Memory Units) into controller expansion slots as appropriate. 3. Follow on-screen instructions and refer to this manual for more information about using the Xbox Controller to play Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance. White button Automap toggle Left trigger Drink Rejuvenation Potion Directional pad Up/Down: Toggle Spells and Feats List Up/Down Left/Right: Toggle between melee and missile weapons BACK button Inventory/Level Up START button Pause Left thumbstick Moves character in proper direction Black button Block/Parry Right trigger Drink Health Potion A button Attack B button Use Feat or Cast Spell Y button Jump X button Use/Pick up Right thumbstick Rotate Camera AVOIDING DAMAGE TO DISCS OR THE DISC DRIVE To avoid damage to discs or the disc drive: · Insert only Xbox-compatible discs into the disc drive. · Never use oddly shaped discs, such as star-shaped or heart-shaped discs. · Do not leave a disc in the Xbox console for extended periods when not in use. · Do not move the Xbox console while the power is on and a disc is inserted. · Do not apply labels, stickers, or other foreign objects to discs. -2- BlAcK Isle STUDios BlAcK Isle STUDios -3- BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM INTRODUCTION Have you not heard of Eldrith the Betrayer, the Traitress of Swords, Eldrith of the Westering Sun? That she has been forgotten is an... irony of a sort. Eldrith was one of the greatest generals of the Sword Coast, commander of the Company of the Bladed Crescent, sworn sword and defender of Baldur's Gate. She served with honor and distinction in the first and last seasons of the Sundering War, the Stillwater Port siege, and finally, the campaign against the Black Horde. In all these battles, she was victorious. I do not know when pride burrowed into her heart, but it poisoned her. Eldrith had fought too many battles, achieved too many victories, and she had come to see the city of Baldur's Gate as her own. On the day of the Great Betrayal, Eldrith's company took the field against the Black Horde and scattered them, even though the orcs and goblins outnumbered her troops five to one. Still, in the rout, almost half their forces survived and fled the field. Eldrith was determined to pursue them. The Dukes of Baldur's Gate refused. Too many good soldiers had been lost, the Dukes told her. They -- and the people -- wanted no more of blood and death, and they felt the Horde would not return. Eldrith was furious. Even though she had lost many men, she felt it was better to deal a deathblow to the Horde and insure they never threatened Baldur's Gate again. And so she defied the Dukes, and led her soldiers to their deaths. Far from Baldur's Gate, she cornered the Horde in a narrow defile, but once their retreat was denied to them, they proved more vicious than we had anticipated. Eldrith, fearing of losing the field, sent a messenger back to Baldur's Gate for reinforcements before the Horde broke free of her trap. The reinforcements never came, and the Horde overran Eldrith's weakened troops. Eldrith survived... but many of the Company of the Bladed Crescent did not. Eldrith became a creature consumed by fury. Wounded, she returned to Baldur's Gate to demand an audience with the Dukes. Instead, she was met at the gates and told that for her disobedience upon the battlefield, the walls of Baldur's Gate would be forever closed to her and the Bladed Crescent. Eldrith gathered all of the Bladed Crescent who remained, all who had sworn to serve her, and she ordered her broken company to attack the walls of her city... she swore she would take it from the Dukes and put them to the sword. It would be justice, she said. Eldrith's attack was like the charge of a maddened animal. It was suicide. The Bladed Crescent were slain almost to the man, and they were driven from the city, hounded by the remaining troops of Baldur's Gate. They pursued Eldrith for leagues, all the way to the Marsh of Chelimber. As the last of her soldiers floundered and died within the marsh, the soldiers closed upon her. She was no longer recognizable -- blood caked her armor, her helmet, barely able to put one foot in front of the other -- she was dying, but even in death, she still struggled onwards, fueled by her vengeance. Fearing her skills with the sword, the soldiers band did not approach within arm's reach of her -- instead, they felled her from a distance with crossbow bolts. It was a cowardly execution, one without honor. As Eldrith fell, she cursed Baldur's Gate and all within it. And with her death, the Dark Alliance was born. -4- BlAcK Isle STUDios BlAcK Isle STUDios -5- BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM WELCOME TO THE REALMS If this is your first foray into the fantastic world of the FORGOTTEN REALMS® campaign setting, then welcome. Black Isle Studios and Snowblind Studios are pleased to bring you Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, the first Dungeons & Dragons® game to appear on the XboxTM video game system. The challenges in the game are great, but so are the rewards, and many hours of challenging gameplay await you and your friends. If you have played any of the Baldur's Gate games for the PC (Baldur's Gate, Tales of the Sword CoastTM, Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of AmnTM, and Throne of BhaalTM), then you are no stranger to the FORGOTTEN REALMS. Black Isle Studios and Snowblind Studios bring you another title set in the FORGOTTEN REALMS, a console role-playing experience you may undertake either alone or with a friend. Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance is an epic that puts the fate of the FORGOTTEN REALMS in your hands ­ countless lives depend on you, and it'll only be through your blood and perseverance that Baldur's Gate... and all the Realms... may be saved. Welcome to Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance. HOW TO START THE GAME/ MAIN MENU DESCRIPTION The opening movies can be skipped by pressing the START button or the A button on the controller. MAIN MENU On the opening menu, you will be presented with four options: Start New Game: Select this option when you are ready to begin playing. When selected, you will be asked to choose either a oneplayer or two-player game; if you are interested in transferring a character from another game into your game, jump ahead to "Transferring Characters from Other Games," p. 9. Once you have selected a new game, you have an option to select the game difficulty: Easy, Normal, or Hard. Play on Easy if you're just getting your bearings; Hard if you're looking for a challenging experience. After selecting the difficulty level, you (and the second player if you are playing with someone else) will be taken to the Character Selection screen. Use the directional pad to cycle through your three choices: the Human Archer, the Dwarven Fighter, and the Elven Sorceress. A small icon will appear above each character as you cycle through the choices. The advantages and disadvantages of each choice are listed under "Heroes," on p. 8. Load Saved Game: This option will allow you to load a previously saved Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance game from your hard disk. Options: Select this option if you want to customize your controller's configuration, adjust sound options, and other game options. Credits: Selecting this option will allow you to see the creators and contributors to Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance. Press the A button to select an option, and the B button to go back. BALDUR'S GATE Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance takes place in the world of Abeir-Toril (The phrase "Abeir-Toril" means "cradle of life" -- the world is most often known by its shortened name, "Toril"). Your exploits in Dark Alliance will be centered in Baldur's Gate, a port city upon the winding Chionthar River. Baldur's Gate is a city recently plagued by a growing evil. Members of the city watch have been found dead, townsfolk are afraid to leave their homes, and unsettling rumors of a thieves' guild civil war beneath the streets runs rampant through the taverns of the city. Your arrival has placed you in the middle of this cauldron of danger. A young hero, fresh to Baldur's Gate and fresh to the world of adventuring, you're carrying little else except a blade and a small purse of coins. You've come to the city to seek your fortune. That is, if the danger that threatens Baldur's Gate doesn't claim you first... -6- BlAcK Isle STUDios BlAcK Isle STUDios -7- BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM HEROES OF BALDUR'S GATE Before you can begin playing Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, you'll need to choose which character you want to play. You'll be able to choose from three characters: Vahn, the Arcane Archer, Kromlech, the Dwarven Fighter, and Adrianna, the Elven Sorceress. specialized metamagic feats and spells available to her as she advances in level. Unlike the Dwarven Fighter or the Arcane Archer, however, the Sorceress cannot use weapons that require more than one hand, such as two-handed swords and two-handed axes. Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance also supports cooperative play, so you and a friend may choose different characters. Vahn, the Arcane Archer Arcane Archers are archers known for their supernatural accuracy with a bow and the ability to imbue their arrows with magic. A fusion of skill and innate magical ability has turned them into fearsome and respected warriors. A good character for taking down opponents from a distance, the Arcane Archer employs a number of magical powers related to his archery skills, including the ability to enchant arrows with magical accuracy, create fire arrows, exploding arrows, and even fire off several arrows at once. Kromlech, the Dwarven Fighter The youngest of the Bruenghor Clan in the Sunset Mountains, this gruff and opinionated dwarf is a fearsome warrior ­ tough, strong, and devastating in combat when wielding melee weapons. A good character for hand-tohand combat and sheer toughness, the dwarf also has access to a number of specialized fighting feats unavailable to the Arcane Archer and the Sorceress. Adrianna, the Elven Sorceress A strikingly beautiful female elf with exotic features, the elven sorceress can create magic the way a poet creates poems, by drawing on the raw power within themselves... and unleashing it with devastating effects. The sorceress has the ability to cast spells, an ability unavailable to the Dwarven Fighter or the Arcane Archer, and she has a number of -8BlAcK Isle STUDios TRANSFERRING CHARACTERS FROM OTHER GAMES If you have a pre-existing character from another Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance game, you don't need to start a game over with a new character. You can simply import your current character from another game. This can be done by either loading your character file from the hard disk, or, provided you have one an Xbox memory unit. To do this, you'll need to select "Export Players" from the In-Game Pause Menu, described on p. 13. OPTIONS MENU Move up and down the Options menu by pressing up and down on the directional pad. Music When highlighted, you can press left and right on the directional pad to adjust the music volume in the game. SFX When highlighted, you can press left and right on the directional pad to adjust the sound effects volume in the game. Vibration Certain events within the game will cause the controller to vibrate. This can be switched on or off, depending on your preference. Controls This selection takes you to the Controller Configuration screen, where you can choose a configuration that best suits your style of game play. Stereo This option allows you to choose whether you want stereo sound or monaural (for single speaker televisions). BlAcK Isle STUDios -9- BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM Dialog Text When this is off, you will not see the text spoken by characters you speak to in the game (although you will see your own responses). When Dialog Text is on, a character's speech will be displayed at the bottom of the screen as they are speaking. Damage Text When this is on, you will see the number of hit points of damage you cause stream off a target when you hit (the number is colored yellow when you score a critical hit). Damage Text defaults to off. CONTROLLING YOUR CHARACTER Once in the game world, you'll need to know the basics of moving around, attacking, jumping, and casting spells. Provided here is a list of all the actions your character can perform using the controller: Moving Around: To move around, move the left thumbstick in the direction you want your character to walk. Attacking: T attack a creature with a bow or melee weapon, press the A o button. You cannot attack in towns or other "safe" areas in the game. Aiming: When you are holding a bow, you can lightly hold down the A button and you can rotate while standing in place. This allows you to aim your bow before firing it, and it is useful when combined with the Targeting Feat (see Spells and Feats, p. 26). To fire the arrow after aiming, simply push harder on the A button, and the arrow will fire. Aiming does not allow you to automatically hit an opponent, but it can make your life much easier. Jumping: During your travels, your character may need to jump over certain obstacles in their path. To do this, press the Y button. Using Spells and Feats: Spells and feats are special abilities your character will have access to over the course of the game. Some feats are passive (they are always on) and other spells and feats are active (they need to be "activated" in order to work). To activate a spell or feat, press the B button, and your character will use your currently selected spell or feat (for information on how to change your currentlyarmed feat, see "Selecting Spells and Feats," below). You cannot use spells and feats in towns or other "safe" areas in the game, and some spells and feats require that you have a certain amount of arcane energy in order to use them (see more about Arcane Energy, p. 16). LOADING AND SAVING To save, you'll need to find a safe spot in the game to record your progress. These save points are indicated on the maps by pedestals with books on them: When you reach one of these points, you can save your game by pressing the action button (X by default). Action: The X button allows you to perform almost any other action other than jumping, casting spells, or attacking. Use this button to speak to people in the game, open doors, chests, pull levers, pick up items on the floor, or save your game at save pedestals. Selecting Spells and Feats: Your character is likely to gain multiple spells and feats over the course of the game, and you'll need to choose different ones for different situations. To change your currentlyselected feats or spells, press up or down on the directional pad to scroll through your list of feats and spells. (This "L "-shaped list will appear in the lower left hand corner of the main game screen.) - 10 - BlAcK Isle STUDios BlAcK Isle STUDios - 11 - -1 BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM New: This option will replace the selected player slot with a new character of your choice. In a two player game you cannot choose the character of the other player present. This option is only available if there are controllers in both controller ports. Import: This will lead you to several prompts for finding and retrieving a character from a previously saved game. Note that you may transfer a character from a two player save game, provided that the character is not currently being used by the other player. Accept: If you have made any changes, then the level will re-load with the new player selections present. Delete: This function allows you to delete one of the players. This function is present only when two players are present. The import option will bring up the save game browser and prompt you to select a save game. Once selected, the contents of the save game are displayed, giving information on the players present, including their experience, level, health, and gold. The player can back up to the browser if a different save game is desired. Once you have imported/deleted/changed the player line up, select the "Accept" function and the game will re-load the level and reflect the changes. If no changes have been made, "Accept" returns you immediately to the game. Exit to Menu This option takes you back to the Dark Alliance main menu, allowing you to start a brand new game or load a previous save game. Character Statistics Screen: To view your character's statistics, items, gold, and other information, press the BACK button. This will take you to the Character Statistics Screen described on p. 17. MAIN GAME SCREEN 1 2 4 3 6 5 1. Hit Points Bar 2. Experience Bar 3. Arcane Energy Bar 4. Level Up Icon 5. Spells and Feats Menu 6. Automap There are three main bars on the upper left corner of the main game screen. These bars represent your hit points, the amount of experience points to reach the next level, and the amount of arcane energy your character currently possesses. Hit Points Bar: Hit points (HP) are a measure of how many points of damage your character can take before dying. When a character reaches 0 hit points, they are dead. Hit points for your character are represented by the red bar on the upper left corner of the main game screen. Hit points can be healed via healing potions, and they will also regenerate over time. A high Constitution (see Character Abilities, p. 20) allows you to regenerate hit points faster than normal. - 14 - BlAcK Isle STUDios BlAcK Isle STUDios - 15 - BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM Experience Bar: The green bar represents how many experience points you need to reach the next level of experience. This bar will fill up the closer you are to the next level. When you have enough experience points, the level up icon will appear: This alerts you that you are ready to advance to the next level. Press the BACK button to level up. Arcane Energy Bar: Arcane Energy is a measure of how much energy a character has to cast spells and perform some arcane energydependent feats. When a character has 0 points of arcane energy, they will be unable to cast spells or use any feats that require this energy. Arcane energy can be recovered via rejuvenation potions, and the energy will also regenerate over time. A high Intelligence allows you to recover arcane energy faster than normal. There may be instances where certain icons appear beneath your health and arcane energy bars: No Rotation: This icon looks like an eyeball with a slash through it. It appears if you try to rotate the camera on a level that doesn't allow it, or if you are at the edge of some maps. No Health Potions: This icon will appear when you are trying to drink a healing potion but you are out of them. No Rejuvenation Potions: This icon will appear when you are trying to drink a rejuvenation potion but you are out of them. No Arrow Icon: This icon will appear when you are trying to shoot your bow but are out of arrows. Looting: To gather any gold your enemies have dropped, simply walk over the gold where it lays on the floor, and your character will automatically pick it up. To pick up weapons, armor, and potions, or to open a chest, you'll need to press the X button. If picking up an item would raise your character's carrying capacity above 100%, then your character will be unable to pick up the item until he lightens his load, either by dropping or selling excess items. CHARACTER STATISTICS SCREEN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1. Carrying Capacity 2. Gold Piece Total 3. Weapons Tab 4. Armor Tab 5. Potions/Magic Items Tab 6. Statistics Tab 7. Quest Journal Tab 8. Feats Tab 9. Character Model When you press the BACK button while playing, you'll be taken to the Character Statistics Screen. This screen contains the following information: Carrying Capacity: This lists the percentage of the character's total carrying capacity that is currently being used. The number on the left is your current weight in pounds, the number on the right is your total carrying weight. You cannot carry more than your total carrying capacity... you must either drop or sell something first in order to make room for new items. Gold Piece Total: This is the total number of gold pieces your character has. - 16 - BlAcK Isle STUDios BlAcK Isle STUDios - 17 - -1 BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM CHARACTER ABILITIES Charisma: Charisma measures a character's force of personality, persuasiveness, personal magnetism, and physical attractiveness. The higher your character's Charisma, the less trouble they will have buying and selling items at the local store... in fact, your character may find the prices quite reasonable indeed. Note that as you gain levels, you will gain points to spend on increasing your abilities. Every four levels you attain gives you one point you can spend to increase an ability of your choice (you get one point at 4th level, another at 8th, the third at 12th, and so on). Secondary Statistics Experience: This is the total number of experience points your character has. Your character gains experience points both by completing quests and killing monsters. Note that in a two player game, the player that kills a monster gets 60% of the experience, while the other player gets 40%. Both players get 100% of the experience gained from quests, however. There are a number of abilities that define your character: Strength: Strength measures your character's physical power. Characters with a high Strength have a better chance to hit opponents in melee combat, do more damage when they hit, and can carry more weight than weaker characters. Intelligence: Intelligence determines how well your character learns and reasons. The higher your character's Intelligence, the faster your arcane energy regenerates, and the more arcane energy points you gain each time you advance a level. Wisdom: Wisdom describes your character's willpower, common sense, perception and intuition. The higher your character's Wisdom, the more experience points your character will gain when they kill monsters or accomplish quests. Dexterity: Dexterity measures your character's hand-eye coordination, agility, reflexes, and balance. Characters with a high Dexterity have a better chance to hit opponents with ranged weapons and have a better Armor Class (See Armor, p. 22). Constitution: Constitution represents your character's health and stamina. A high Constitution means your character will have more hit points and a faster hit point regeneration rate. Next Level: This number represents the number of experience points your character needs to reach the next level of experience. Every time you gain a level, you gain more health, arcane energy points to spend on feats and, depending on the level, your ability scores. Health: Health or hit points (hp) is a measure of how many points of damage your character can take before dying. When a character reaches 0 hit points, they are dead. Hit points are represented by the red bar on the upper left corner of the main game screen (see Main Game Screen, p. 15). Hit points can be healed via potions, and they will also regenerate slowly over time. A high Constitution allows you to regenerate hit points faster than normal. Arcane Energy: Arcane energy is a measure of how much energy a character has to use active feats, spells, or special attacks. When a character has 0 points of arcane energy, they will be unable to use any spells or feats that require energy. Arcane energy can be recovered via potions, and the energy will also regenerate slowly over time. A higher Intelligence allows you to recover arcane energy faster. - 20 - BlAcK Isle STUDios BlAcK Isle STUDios - 21 - BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM Armor: Armor represents a character's Armor Class (AC), a measure of how difficult it is to hit and damage a character in combat. The higher this score, the better. Base Attack: This is the bonus your character has to hit an opponent in combat. The higher, the better your chances of hitting your enemies. Damage: This is the base attack damage your character does. Once again, the higher the better, much to your enemies' dismay. Long Weapons (Staves) Sequence: Attack-Attack-Attack-Knockback-Attack-Pause This is a fast attack, similar to one-handed weapons. The fourth stage knocks your opponent back. Again, these attacks occur automatically. You do not need to perform a sequence of actions to make them happen; simply equipping the appropriate weapon and attacking will cause these attack combinations to occur. There are other combat effects your character should be aware of: KNOCKBACK Every time you hit an opponent he gets knocked back slightly; if you are doing a sequence attack, your character will move forward slightly to compensate. BLOCKING You can only block permanently (unless you have the feat, Improved Block) if you have a shield equipped. While two-handed weapons may do more damage, sometimes it pays to have a decent onehanded weapon and a shield at the ready. A character wielding a bow cannot block. COMBAT To attack a creature, you choose a weapon (or no weapon, if you're feeling brave), then simply press the A button in the game. You will attack in whatever direction your character is facing. There are a number of combinations of attacks that may occur automatically when your character is using certain weapons: One Handed Weapons Sequence: Attack-Attack-Attack-Attack-Pause This is the fastest attack method, but it doesn't tend to do as much damage as the other types of attacks. On the other hand, wielding a one-handed weapon also allows you to hold a shield, which is good for blocking. Two-Handed Axes Sequence: Attack-Attack-Slight Pause-Sweeping Arc-Pause This is slower than the one-handed weapon attack. The third part of the sequence does a sweeping attack which hits all foes in an arc in front of you. Two-Handed Swords Sequence: Attack-Attack-Slight Pause-Big Attack-Pause The "Big Attack" in the middle of this sequence increases your chance of scoring a critical hit on an opponent. Some enchanted weapons in the game have a special attack when they score a critical hit. SPOILS OF COMBAT When you defeat an opponent in combat, your character gains experience points (and occasionally some loot as well). When a character gains enough experience points, they gain a new level. When a character achieves a new level, they gain additional hit points, additional arcane energy points, and even special points that may spend on gaining feats and raising their statistics, and even new spells. See the spell and feat descriptions, p. 26, for more details. Note that in a two-player game, the player that kills a monster gets 60% of the experience, while the other player gets 40%. Both players get 100% of the experience gained from quests, however. - 22 - BlAcK Isle STUDios BlAcK Isle STUDios - 23 - BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM SHOPKEEPERS 1 2 Armor Tab: When this tab is selected, it shows all the armor the shopkeeper has for sale, or all the armor in your inventory, depending on whether you're buying or selling. Potions/Magic Items Tab: When selected, this tab lists potions and other magic items (such as amulets and rings) in the shopkeeper's store if you're the buyer, or the potions and magic items in your inventory if you're the one selling items. 3 4 5 WEAPON ATTRIBUTES Weapons in Dark Alliance have several attributes: Damage: This is how much damage in hit points (hp) the weapon does. It does not include your Strength bonus, so hand-to-hand weapons may do more damage than listed if your character has a high Strength. Value: The gold piece value of the item. Weight: The weight of the item. Some weapons also have magical attributes: 1. Carrying Capacity 2. Gold Piece Total 3. Weapons Tab 4. Armor Tab 5. Potions/Magic Items Tab Fire: This weapon can do fire damage to an opponent when it hits. Keen: This weapon has an increased chance of scoring critical hits. Ice: This weapon can do frost damage to an opponent when it hits. Shock: This weapon can do electrical damage to an opponent when it hits. Over the course of the game, you'll encounter shopkeepers you can buy and sell items from. To open their shops, simply speak to them, and you'll be given a choice as to whether to buy or sell items, then you'll be taken to a sub-screen which resembles the character inventory screen. Carrying Capacity: This lists the percentage of the character's total carrying capacity that is currently being used. You cannot carry more than 100% of your carrying capacity... you must either drop or sell something first in order to make room for new items. Gold Piece Total: This is the total number of gold pieces your character has. Weapons Tab: When this tab is selected, it will show all the weapons the shopkeeper has for sale, or it will show all the weapons in your inventory, depending on whether you're buying or selling. - 24 - BlAcK Isle STUDios BlAcK Isle STUDios - 25 - BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM ARMOR ATTRIBUTES Armor in Dark Alliance has several attributes: Name of the Item: This is the name of the item as it appears in your inventory. Armor Class Bonus: This is how many points of protection the piece of armor provides. The higher, the better. Value: The gold piece value of the item. Weight: The weight of the item. Arcane Quiver: (Arcane Archer) This feat reduces the weight of arrows in your inventory, allowing you to hold enough to take down an army. Combat Reflexes: (Arcane Archer and Dwarven Fighter) With this feat, your attack speed increases slightly, allowing you to hammer down foes more quickly. Death Blow: (Arcane Archer and Dwarven Fighter) If you take the Death Blow feat, your critical hits will deal more damage. Deflect Missiles: (Arcane Archer) This feat gives you a chance of automatically blocking missile attacks. This is useful when that swarm of kobold archers suddenly pops up from around the corner. Dodge: (Arcane Archer and Dwarven Fighter) If you don't like being hit, take the Dodge feat. It gives you a +1 bonus to your Armor Class and makes your enemies' lives much harder. Enchant Arrows: (Arcane Archer) With this feat, every normal arrow you fire becomes enchanted, doing additional damage when it hits. Endurance: (Arcane Archer and Dwarven Fighter) Increases your carrying capacity, allowing you to haul more loot out of dungeons. Improved Block: (Dwarven Fighter) Improved Block allows you to block with a melee weapon, without having a shield equipped. Perfect for characters who prefer two-handed weapons but still want the ability to block when need be. Improved Critical: (Arcane Archer and Dwarven Fighter) Increases your chance of scoring a critical hit in combat, something your enemies won't care for too much. Intestinal Fortitude: (All) Intestinal Fortitude increases your health regeneration rate. This reduces the amount of time you have to spend to wait to get back up to full health in the dungeon. Note: Kromlech, the dwarven fighter, begins the game with one rank in this feat. Meditation: (All) Increases your arcane energy regeneration rate. Just as regeneration aids your health recovery, meditation reduces the amount of time you have to spend to wait to get back up to full power in the dungeon. Shield Expert: (Dwarven Fighter) Your character really knows how to use a shield. This feat gives you an additional armor class bonus when you have a shield equipped. SPELLS AND FEATS Spells and feats are special abilities your character gains, such as a new attack types, additional health points, and so on, that help to customize your character as you go up in levels. Every time you gain a level of experience, you gain a number of points equal to your level that you can spend to gain a new spell or feat, or improve an existing spell or feat. At 1st level, you will get one point, at 2nd level, two points, and so on. Some spells and feats cost more points than others to gain or improve, so you may need to save your points from level to level to get some of the more expensive spells and feats earlier on. Spells and feats work on a rank system, and many spells and feats have multiple ranks. The more points you place into a spell or feat, the more powerful that spell or feat becomes. Presented here is a list of spells and feats the characters may choose from over the course of the game. Each character has only a selection of the spells and feats listed below to choose from -- no character has access to all the spells and feats in the game. Next to each spell or feat below is a listing of which character(s) can use the feat. Keep in mind, active spells and feats usually require energy to use. PASSIVE FEATS Passive Feats are always on and do not need to be activated. Accuracy: (All) Improves the accuracy of your ranged attacks. You'll find it much easier to wound creatures at a distance when you have this feat. Note: Vahn, the Arcane Archer, starts with one rank in this feat. - 26 - BlAcK Isle STUDios BlAcK Isle STUDios - 27 - BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM Sword and Fist: (Dwarven Fighter) This feat increases your chance to hit with melee weapons. Targeting: (All) Helps you aim your weapon by providing a targeting line on the screen. This handy feat can save you a fortune in arrows in the long run. Note: Vahn, the Arcane Archer, starts with one rank in this feat. Toughness: (Arcane Archer and Dwarven Fighter) This feat grants you a permanent +3 Health bonus per rank. Willpower: (All) This feat gives you +5 arcane energy permanently for each rank you take in it. Useful for the sorceress and any other character that relies on energy for their main attacks. Fire Shield: (Sorceress) This spell encircles the caster in a flaming wreath that damages any enemy that comes into contact with it. Perfect for those close-quarters combats when you're being mobbed from all sides. Fireball: (Sorceress) A Dungeons & Dragons classic, a fireball is a burst of flame that the sorceress can hurl at a target. It detonates when it hits, doing damage to all creatures within its radius; the greater the number of ranks in the spell, the more damage it does. Flaming Arrows: (Arcane Archer) This feat grants a flaming aura to your arrows, causing them to do more damage when they hit. Hail of Arrows: (Arcane Archer) Allows you to fire multiple arrows at once, starting with two arrows at rank one, all the way up to six arrows at rank five. This feat allows you to get more bang from your buck from any quiver of arrows you pick up in a dungeon. Ice Arrows: (Arcane Archer) This feat enchants your arrows with an icy aura, increasing their damage and can freeze opponents struck by them. Lightning Bolt: (Sorceress) When cast, a bolt of lightning streaks from the sorceress toward a nearby enemy, inflicting electrical damage. At higher ranks of this spell, it evolves into chain lightening, allowing the sorceress to harm multiple enemies in the bolt's path. Magic Missile: (Sorceress) When used, a missile of magical energy darts forth and unerringly strikes a target. The Sorceress gains an additional magic missle for every two levels above first (at 3rd level she fires two missles, at 5th fires three missles) up to a maximum of five missles. ACTIVE FEATS Active spells and feats need to be selected from the spell and feat menu and activated by pressing the B button in order to take effect. Ball Lightning: (Sorceress) A ball of electricity travels forth from the caster, striking all nearby foes with lightning. Much like the Arcane Archer's "Hail of Arrows" feat, Ball Lightning can help clear a room quickly. Bull Rush: (Dwarven Fighter) This is a short, powerful charge that inflicts tremendous damage. It costs arcane energy to use, but the results are worth it. Burning Hands: (Sorceress) When used, Burning Hands turns the sorceress into a magical flamethrower, emitting a cone-shaped blast of fire from her hands to torch any enemies within range. Note: Adrianna, the Elven Sorceress, starts with one rank in this spell. Clangeddin's Fist: (Dwarven Fighter) A gift of the dwarven god Clangeddin, this feat allows you to strike the ground with a warhammer to smite your foes. Exploding Arrows: (Arcane Archer) Enchants arrows so that they explode when they strike a target. Perfect for scattering large clumps of monsters quickly. - 28 BlAcK Isle STUDios BlAcK Isle STUDios - 29 - -3 BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM CHARACTERS You'll meet many people in Dark Alliance, some friendly, some... not. Jherek Jherek is a mysterious robed figure with a nononsense attitude, a stern voice, and an intensity that can be offsetting to anyone meeting him for the first time. He is a member of the Harpers, a group that strives to protect the Realms from evil. There are rumors that he has the support of the Dukes of Baldur's Gate, and his arrival on the scene is usually a guarantee that some great evil is afoot. "Lady" Alyth Elendara Alyth is a half-elven bartender that owns the Elfsong Tavern in Baldur's Gate. A peculiar establishment frequented by outlaws and pirates, the Elfsong Tavern gets its name from a beautiful female elven voice that can be heard singing in the tavern when night falls. No one knows why the spirit sings her sad lament, but it is heartbreaking to listen to and keeps patrons returning to the tavern night after night. Bartley Bartley is a crusty equipment shop owner with a voice that sounds like it's coming from deep within an empty wine cask. He has set up shop in the Elfsong Tavern with Alyth's permission, and he has a fine selection of goods that players can buy... and he's always on the look out to buy any choice treasures adventurers come across in their journeys. Karne A thief by trade and an opportunist by nature, Karne is a bandit who has been known to ply his trade in Baldur's Gate and throughout the Sword Coast. There are many rewards posted for his capture, but he has never been caught. Rumors claim he has recently returned to Baldur's Gate after an extended journey north and that he now serves a powerful (and wealthy) patron... though the identity of the patron is anyone's guess. Ethon Ethon's a regular in the Elfsong Tavern; he's a sharp, helpful fellow who's always willing to share a drink as well as give tips to aspiring adventurers -- even if the advice is simply to warn them to steer clear of adventure and take up less dangerous pursuits. He spends most of his time sitting in a corner of the Elfsong Tavern, watching people come and go -- and occasionally playing "gopher" for Alyth by running down to the Elfsong cellar and fetching bottles of wine for her. MONSTERS Kobolds These cowardly little dog-headed humanoids are known for their rapid breeding and their tendency to mob any adventurers that invade their territory. They prefer to attack from a distance when possible with spears or spells, and many shamans can be found amongst their tribes. White Dragon White dragons can be found in extremely cold environments, making their lairs in icy caverns safe from the rays of the sun. These dragons are fearsome opponents; not only can they bite and claw opponents for horrendous amounts of damage, but they also have the ability to breathe a cone of frost at opponents, freezing them solid and rendering them helpless. Fayed Fayed is a fresh-faced young priest of Ilmater (the goodly god of suffering and martyrs) who is in charge of the burial services and interring ashes in the crypts beneath the Shrine of Suffering (the temple of Ilmater in Baldur's Gate). He is proud of his responsibilities at the Shrine, and his superiors are quite pleased with his performance. - 32 - BlAcK Isle STUDios BlAcK Isle STUDios - 33 - BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM Ogres About nine to ten feet tall at the shoulder and strong enough to rip a tree out of the ground, ogres are savage creatures known for their voracious appetites and foul temper. They are frequently found in the company of other evil humanoids such as gnolls and bugbears and are more than content to let these creatures do the thinking for them. In combat, ogres tend to smash anything in their way with their fists or great clubs; only rarely does an enemy survive one or two blows from these dimwitted brutes. TUTORIAL From the Main Menu, if you choose Start New Game, you will notice a tutorial option that is available to you. While it is not necessary you do so, it can provide some helpful information that can aid your character on his quest. Some additional hints that may aid you at the beginning of your quest in Baldur's Gate: 1. Take it slow. If you are wounded early on or run out of energy quickly, simply wait around in an empty room and rest for a while until your hit points and energy are back up to full. It can save you from having to reload your game when an extra rat jumps out at you when you were least expecting it. 2. Smash and break everything you can. Often, barrels, crates, and vases contain items or gold that can help you on your quest. 3. Be careful with any barrels you encounter. Before attacking them, wait to see if the "Ignite" option appears when you go up next to them. If so, do not attack the barrel - at least with a melee weapon, or else it will explode, doing a great deal of damage to your character. 4. Don't forget the camera. You can move it around using the right analog stick, and it can allow you to see into corners or sections of the room that might otherwise be blocked to your line of sight. It can prevent you from missing barrels and chests that are hidden in the shadows. 5. Save often. When you see a new save point, use it. It can save you a lot of frustration later on. 6. Recall. Using your recall potions can save you a lot of running back and forth between town and the dungeons. When you use a recall potion to take you from a dungeon to the Elfsong Tavern (or wherever your "safe point" is), just be sure not to leave the Tavern so you can recall back to your original spot in the dungeon. Good luck and good adventuring... all of Baldur's Gate hinges on your success! Displacer Beast Resembling a puma with two barbed tentacles sprouting from its shoulders, displacer beasts are strange predators with the ability to bend light around their bodies, making it difficult to determine exactly where the creature is until they attack. Adventurers are advised to hold their attacks until a displacer beast is almost upon them, or else they are in danger of their attacks striking empty air. Frost Giant Frost giants make their homes in frozen, snow-covered lands across the FORGOTTEN REALMS and survive by hunting and raiding the surrounding area for slaves and food. Towering more than twice the height of a human, these giants are incredibly strong and are quick to use brute force to solve any problems they come across. - 34 - BlAcK Isle STUDios BlAcK Isle STUDios - 35 - BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM CREDITS PRODUCED BY BLACK ISLE STUDIOS www.blackisle.com PRODUCTION El Presidente Feargus Urquhart Producer Darren Monahan Line Producer Kevin Osburn Audio and Localization Producer Fred Hatch Design Chris Avellone Additional VO Animation Pete Meihuizen David Pursley Glenn Price Division Operations Manager Benson DEVELOPED BY SNOWBLIND STUDIOS www.snowblindstudios.com Lead & Engine Programmer Ezra Dreisbach Game Design Chris Avellone Ezra Dreisbach Ryan Geithman Game Programming Ryan Geithman Paul Haugerud Raoul Said Lead Character Artist John Van Deusen Lead Background Artist Brian Sostrom Senior Artists Brian Johnson Jason Wiggin Artists Chris Donovan Tami Foote Joel Payne Javier Rodriguez Cinematic Artists Brian Sostrom Jason Wiggin John Van Deusen Business Directors Ryan Geithman Brian Sostrom CREDITS INTERPLAY ENTERTAINMENT AUDIO Sound and Music Supervisor Adam Levenson Supervising Mastering Engineer Craig Duman Sound Design Rebecca Hanck Mark Allen Paul Gorman (Duff Studios, Inc.) Ann Scibelli Harry Cohen (Soundelux) Mike Kamper Music by Jeremy Soule (www.jeremysoule.com) Will Loconto (Elfsong Remix) Elfsong Vocalist Darlene Koldenhoven Elfsong Vocal Recording Engineer Doug Lenier Music Editing Ron Valdez VO Casting/ Direction Supervision Chris Borders VO Recorded at Screenmusic Studios VO Talent Michael Bell Earl Boen Jim Cummings Grey Delisle Wayne Grace Jennifer Hale Vanessa Marshall Bill Martin John Mayer Kevin M. Richardson Hidi Shannon Dwight Schultz Frank Welker Cam Clarke John Rhys-Davies Tony Jay Cree Summer Jeff Bennett Corry Burton Supervising Dialog Editor Stephen Miller Dialog Editing JP Walton Scott Purvis Mastering Frank Szick Audio Scripting & Supervision Craig Duman Audio Scripting Stephen Miller JP Walton Dialog Localization Mastering Frank Szick - 36 - BlAcK Isle STUDios BlAcK Isle STUDios - 37 - BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM BAlDUR's GATe TM: DARK AlliAnce TM CREDITS Foley Supervision Charles Deenen Foley Artist Gregg Barbanell (Wilshire Stages) Foley Mixer Shawn Kannelly (Wilshire Stages) Sound Librarian Scott Purvis Audio Director Charles Deenen Audio Operations Manager Gloria Soto Mixed in at Interplay Entertainment Mixing by Lance Brown Charles Deenen (End Cinematic) MARKETING Director Barbara Gleason Product/Public Relations Managers Paige Slaughter Tamara Johnston Manual Chris Avellone Manual Design and Layout Michael L. Quintos Tim Baker Traffic Manager Kathryne Wahl VIDEO SERVICES Senior Video Manager Dan Williams Senior Media Producer/Editor Dave Cravens Media Producer/Editor Chris Folino Web Jessica Urquhart Bill Stoudt Kristen Adam QUALITY ASSURANCE QA Special Product Manager Eric Fong QA Operations Manager Shanna Takayama QA Product Manager Amy Presnell QA Analysts Gary Tesdall John Kirkland Amy Presnell Charles Salzman Jeff Husges Ed Hyland Tex Yang Jeff Mitchell Matthew Phillips Justin Hamilton Robert Hanson Chris Heidari Michael Los CREDITS QA Analysts (cont.) Tony Chan Erick Lujan John Boomershine LOCALIZATION International Product Manager Tom Decker International Product Assistant Rafael Lopez Localization Editors Olaf Becker Carole Huguet Hedwige Steleman SPECIAL THANKS TO Eric Demilt, Rodney Relosa, Gabriela Sanchez, Chris Parker, Ray, Greg and everyone at BioWare Corp., and Floyd Grubb and J.E. Sawyer for their keen eyes for rules and rule implementation. Jason would like to thank his patient wife Heather and their son Christopher. Raoul would like to thank his wife Maureen for her unbounded support and patience. bgdaxbox.blackisle.com - 38 - BlAcK Isle STUDios BlAcK Isle STUDios - 39 -