Did you ever read the History of Halruaa?

Dr_Asik · Wed, 24th Nov '10, 3:54am

I'm talking about that first quest in Candlekeep where you must get Phlydia's book she's forgotten in the hay nearby. I must say I have played that segment dozens of times and it never even occured to me that I could read that book.

Sparky The Barbarian · Thu, 25th Nov '10, 2:34am

At some point I have read them all, though I don't do so every time I play. Some are amusing, some give back story to events in the game (As the History of Halruua does for the Thieves' Guild quest once you reach BG). Some just help create the feel of a magic rich fantasy realm for those not familiar with the Forgotten Realms.

SlickRCBD · Thu, 25th Nov '10, 4:34am

Somebody has taken the time to extract all the text from all the books and put it in a nice text file for your convenience.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/75251-bal...ate/faqs/24524

If the above link doesn't work, it's the "book transcripts" FAQ on GameFAQS.com

http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/75251-baldurs-gate/faqs

It's much easier than hunting down all the books in the game, and if you are playing the original game without TutU, you aren't wasting game time standing around reading.

Taluntain · Sat, 4th Dec '10, 6:28pm

http://www.sorcerers.net/Games/BG/index_tips.php <- last two entries on the page

http://www.sorcerers.net/Worlds/FR/index.php <- all the BG history books available for reading online

Nakia · Fri, 10th Dec '10, 2:18am

Thank you, Slick and Tal for those links. I have read some of the books but all of them. They are very interesting. BG is still the best, a true clasic.

guywiththehair · Tue, 5th Apr '11, 1:49pm

Over the years I think I have read all those little history books. I know I was really fascinated by all this stuff when I was playing BG as a kid. Sometimes when browsing the FR wiki I'll remember little details from them.

Solaufein · Mon, 1st Aug '11, 9:45pm

At one time I read all of the books in the game. I don't any more.

Shoshino · Tue, 2nd Aug '11, 11:32am

I think Ive read them all

Son of Imoen · Tue, 9th Aug '11, 11:38am

The last BG1-playthrough I competed was with a character that just really loves books and was overjoyed to get back to Candlekeep, which she just wouldn't have left if it wasn't for all the happenings. She got bethroted to Gavin, planning to both settle in Candlekeep after the mission, and she showed him around in the library.

It was the first time I ever took the patience to read all books in the library, and I was surprised to find the infamous History of the North isn't just one book, but a whole series of books. It took some time sorting them into chronological order once I've had them all in my inventory, but it turned out it's a series of 9 books if I remember well. History of Shadowdale is 12 books long. I could have known if I clicked above links, but I didn't want to 'cheat' but read them all in-game instead, after some puzzling to get them in chronological order.

Vorona · Fri, 8th Jun '12, 4:44am

I've read it. I don't know if I've ever read it after getting it from the hay, but I know in one of my recent restarts, I was reading all the books I found stealing in Beregost, and that was one of them. I'd read it before that, too, because I remembered it, so it's possible, even likely, that I read it in Candlekeep, too.

I like reading books in game, although I like the links, too, because in the game, you come across the books in kind of random order, so it's hard to get an actual overall picture. You just have a snippet here or there. And as others have said, with the longer histories of several volumes, it's hard to figure out which one is even first. So, it's a kind of disjointed method of learning the history.

SlickRCBD · Sat, 9th Jun '12, 2:58am

I feel I should comment that by today's standard's I'm an OLD CRPG gamer. Technically I'm second generation, as missed the heyday of Wizardry and Ultima. I got my lifelong addiction to RPGs from The Bard's Tale series and the Gold Box games such as Pool of Radiance and Curse of the Azure Bonds.

Back then, you made a point to read ALL the available text, and in some of them such as The Bard's Tale you wrote down EVERYTHING as vital clues were normally found in them, even the most innocuous and seemingly random or irrelevant text could be a vitally important. Heck, in Bard's Tale II countless people had trouble getting into the final dungeon because they didn't note down the clues found MUCH easier (first or second dungeon).
I didn't realize how unimportant the books were when playing Baldur's Gate until after I'd finished the game the first time. I made sure to read History of Halruaa as back then when I first played, I was certain that with the way that book was highlighted, its text must contain some important clue.

Oh well, just a peek into the mindset of an old gamer from the old days. Although I'm not old, since I'm younger than Dennis and have never been mistaken for an old woman.

Blades of Vanatar · Fri, 4th Jan '13, 2:12pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlickRCBD

I feel I should comment that by today's standard's I'm an OLD CRPG gamer. Technically I'm second generation, as missed the heyday of Wizardry and Ultima. I got my lifelong addiction to RPGs from The Bard's Tale series and the Gold Box games such as Pool of Radiance and Curse of the Azure Bonds.

Back then, you made a point to read ALL the available text, and in some of them such as The Bard's Tale you wrote down EVERYTHING as vital clues were normally found in them, even the most innocuous and seemingly random or irrelevant text could be a vitally important. Heck, in Bard's Tale II countless people had trouble getting into the final dungeon because they didn't note down the clues found MUCH easier (first or second dungeon).
I didn't realize how unimportant the books were when playing Baldur's Gate until after I'd finished the game the first time. I made sure to read History of Halruaa as back then when I first played, I was certain that with the way that book was highlighted, its text must contain some important clue.

Oh well, just a peek into the mindset of an old gamer from the old days. Although I'm not old, since I'm younger than Dennis and have never been mistaken for an old woman.

That was one of the big disappointments of the BG series. There were tons of books, but nothing was included in them that was required for the continuation of the game path. I am a collector of the FR campaign setting and I read all the books in game. But then I started to realize that a) they had nothing to do with the story line and b) I already read everything they had to say in the PnP supplements. I was hoping they were going to add a few tidbits of lore that would be new to the FR fans, but I was wrong.

SlickRCBD · Thu, 10th Jan '13, 12:48am

The only one that really ties into the story is "The History of the Dead Three" and only indirectly.

As for the disappointment, is there anything that isn't in the set of books that comprised the core "Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting" as opposed to supplements?
I'm not sure if I got the name of that set of books correct, it's been over 20 years since my newly formed group bought it. We went for the Realms straight off because it was the Gold Box games that got us interested in AD&D in the first place.

View Poll Results: Did you ever read the History of Halruaa?
Yes	22	64.71%
No	12	35.29%
Voters: 34. You may not vote on this poll

Wed, 24th Nov '10, 3:54am	#1
Dr_Asik Gems: 6/31 Latest gem: Jasper Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 176 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 664 Level: 9 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 12.59% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 1.73% Achievements	Did you ever read the History of Halruaa? I'm talking about that first quest in Candlekeep where you must get Phlydia's book she's forgotten in the hay nearby. I must say I have played that segment dozens of times and it never even occured to me that I could read that book.

Sat, 4th Dec '10, 6:28pm	#4
Taluntain SPS Account Holder Founder Resident Alpha and Omega Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Cori Celesti Posts: 20,801 Blog Entries: 13 Like: 152 Liked 120 Times in 78 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 53,135 Level: 58 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 48.71% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 49.01% Achievements Awards	http://www.sorcerers.net/Games/BG/index_tips.php <- last two entries on the page http://www.sorcerers.net/Worlds/FR/index.php <- all the BG history books available for reading online
	__________________ Help Support Sorcerer's Place! Join the Sorcerer's Place page!

Fri, 10th Dec '10, 2:18am	#5
Nakia SPS Account Holder Distinguished Member The night is mine Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: A Pocket Plane somewhere in NJ. Posts: 5,315 Blog Entries: 5 Like: 66 Liked 23 Times in 17 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 12,463 Level: 32 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 72.26% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 1.73% Achievements Awards	Thank you, Slick and Tal for those links. I have read some of the books but all of them. They are very interesting. BG is still the best, a true clasic.
	__________________ I am a ROGUE not a Rouge!

Mon, 1st Aug '11, 9:45pm	#7
Solaufein Gems: 1/31 Latest gem: Turquoise Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: The Frozen North Posts: 21 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 166 Level: 4 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 74.75% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 1.73% Achievements	At one time I read all of the books in the game. I don't any more.
	__________________ Chosen of Mystra TeamBG

		Sorcerer's Place Home \| Chatrooms \| BoM Rules & FAQ Sorcerer's Place Stores: Games, Books, DVDs, Merchandise (buying via these links & our affiliated stores below helps support the site - thanks!)
Have you liked us yet?

Thu, 25th Nov '10, 2:34am	#2
Sparky The Barbarian Gems: 5/31 Latest gem: Andar Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 124 Like: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post vBActivity - Stats XP: 422 Level: 7 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 43.97% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 1.73% Achievements	At some point I have read them all, though I don't do so every time I play. Some are amusing, some give back story to events in the game (As the History of Halruua does for the Thieves' Guild quest once you reach BG). Some just help create the feel of a magic rich fantasy realm for those not familiar with the Forgotten Realms.

Thu, 25th Nov '10, 4:34am	#3
SlickRCBD Gems: 15/31 Latest gem: Waterstar Join Date: May 2005 Location: in front of a computer Posts: 726 Like: 16 Liked 17 Times in 17 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 2,542 Level: 16 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 49.73% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 14.06% Achievements	Somebody has taken the time to extract all the text from all the books and put it in a nice text file for your convenience. http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/75251-bal...ate/faqs/24524 If the above link doesn't work, it's the "book transcripts" FAQ on GameFAQS.com http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/75251-baldurs-gate/faqs It's much easier than hunting down all the books in the game, and if you are playing the original game without TutU, you aren't wasting game time standing around reading.

Tue, 5th Apr '11, 1:49pm	#6
guywiththehair Gems: 1/31 Latest gem: Turquoise Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 11 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 116 Level: 3 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 89.5% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 1.73% Achievements	Over the years I think I have read all those little history books. I know I was really fascinated by all this stuff when I was playing BG as a kid. Sometimes when browsing the FR wiki I'll remember little details from them.

Tue, 2nd Aug '11, 11:32am	#8
Shoshino Irritant Alien Scum Slaughter Champion! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: South Wales, UK Posts: 2,000 Like: 5 Liked 13 Times in 12 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 5,528 Level: 23 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 14.11% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 9.95% Achievements	I think Ive read them all

Tue, 9th Aug '11, 11:38am	#9
Son of Imoen Gems: 4/31 Latest gem: Sunstone Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 78 Like: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post vBActivity - Stats XP: 340 Level: 6 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 74.28% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 1.73% Achievements	The last BG1-playthrough I competed was with a character that just really loves books and was overjoyed to get back to Candlekeep, which she just wouldn't have left if it wasn't for all the happenings. She got bethroted to Gavin, planning to both settle in Candlekeep after the mission, and she showed him around in the library. It was the first time I ever took the patience to read all books in the library, and I was surprised to find the infamous History of the North isn't just one book, but a whole series of books. It took some time sorting them into chronological order once I've had them all in my inventory, but it turned out it's a series of 9 books if I remember well. History of Shadowdale is 12 books long. I could have known if I clicked above links, but I didn't want to 'cheat' but read them all in-game instead, after some puzzling to get them in chronological order.

Fri, 8th Jun '12, 4:44am	#10
Vorona SPS Account Holder Shadow-Whisperer Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: The Abyss Posts: 161 Blog Entries: 9 Like: 36 Liked 31 Times in 24 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 650 Level: 9 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 4.59% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 8.01% Monthly Activity 74.5% Achievements	I've read it. I don't know if I've ever read it after getting it from the hay, but I know in one of my recent restarts, I was reading all the books I found stealing in Beregost, and that was one of them. I'd read it before that, too, because I remembered it, so it's possible, even likely, that I read it in Candlekeep, too. I like reading books in game, although I like the links, too, because in the game, you come across the books in kind of random order, so it's hard to get an actual overall picture. You just have a snippet here or there. And as others have said, with the longer histories of several volumes, it's hard to figure out which one is even first. So, it's a kind of disjointed method of learning the history.

Sat, 9th Jun '12, 2:58am	#11
SlickRCBD Gems: 15/31 Latest gem: Waterstar Join Date: May 2005 Location: in front of a computer Posts: 726 Like: 16 Liked 17 Times in 17 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 2,542 Level: 16 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 49.73% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 14.06% Achievements	I feel I should comment that by today's standard's I'm an OLD CRPG gamer. Technically I'm second generation, as missed the heyday of Wizardry and Ultima. I got my lifelong addiction to RPGs from The Bard's Tale series and the Gold Box games such as Pool of Radiance and Curse of the Azure Bonds. Back then, you made a point to read ALL the available text, and in some of them such as The Bard's Tale you wrote down EVERYTHING as vital clues were normally found in them, even the most innocuous and seemingly random or irrelevant text could be a vitally important. Heck, in Bard's Tale II countless people had trouble getting into the final dungeon because they didn't note down the clues found MUCH easier (first or second dungeon). I didn't realize how unimportant the books were when playing Baldur's Gate until after I'd finished the game the first time. I made sure to read History of Halruaa as back then when I first played, I was certain that with the way that book was highlighted, its text must contain some important clue. Oh well, just a peek into the mindset of an old gamer from the old days. Although I'm not old, since I'm younger than Dennis and have never been mistaken for an old woman.

Thu, 10th Jan '13, 12:48am	#13
SlickRCBD Gems: 15/31 Latest gem: Waterstar Join Date: May 2005 Location: in front of a computer Posts: 726 Like: 16 Liked 17 Times in 17 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 2,542 Level: 16 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 49.73% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 14.06% Achievements	The only one that really ties into the story is "The History of the Dead Three" and only indirectly. As for the disappointment, is there anything that isn't in the set of books that comprised the core "Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting" as opposed to supplements? I'm not sure if I got the name of that set of books correct, it's been over 20 years since my newly formed group bought it. We went for the Realms straight off because it was the Gold Box games that got us interested in AD&D in the first place.