A picture says a thousand words. As such, and in stark contrast to my other write-ups which go into great detail, my commentary here will be sparse. No point clogging the post up with descriptions of images when people can see for themselves, and form their own impressions. If you want in-depth commentary on the Baldur's Gate series, please refer to my treatment of BG and BG2. And, depending on how keen you are, you could also check out the Baldur's Gate-esque campaigns available for Neverwinter Nights (see here) as well as my two-part analysis of the Infinity Engine user interface (see here). You won't find this sort of content anywhere else online so make yourself a cup of coffee, and I hope you enjoy the reads!
The raw image files have been manually extracted, downsized, and converted by me for manageable presentation purposes (TIS→PNG→JPG). At 2-10mb the full-sized images are still quite large but at least they're down from 30mb.
The raw image files have been manually extracted, downsized, and converted by me for manageable presentation purposes (TIS→PNG→JPG). At 2-10mb the full-sized images are still quite large but at least they're down from 30mb.
A strong argument could be made for the campaign of Baldur's Gate 2 standing as the most epic in the entire genre. I mean, for a lot of people BioWare's representation of the city of Athkatla, the country of Amn, and the exotic locales that stretch out beyond the bounds of civilization, are without peer. The sprawling Shadows of Amn world map speaks for itself; and the best part is? It's actually much bigger than it looks because the hundreds of sub-areas are not even shown..! (In contrast, and in keeping with its campaign in general, the Throne of Bhaal world map is comparatively pathetic!)
This is the only map that is watermarked because I did it for my BG2 walkthrough a while back.
Athkatla (see inset, above) is Amn's capital city and one of its largest trade ports. The famous trade route that has featured in many cRPGs over the years, known as the Coast Way, snakes its way 200 miles north, linking Athkatla to Baldur's Gate city.
The city of Athkalta is comprised of seven major districts and innumerable sub-areas that can be explored in non-linear fashion... from opulent palatial residences to the stinking slums; from minor abodes to mega-dungeons - it's all here.
The rest of this post is given over to high resolution images of the seven major districts - surfaces only. Most of these districts feature vast subterranean areas, some which I'll cover when I get to the "Dungeons" post. I didn't bother with the Gates "district"; it's minor and unimpressive.
The rest of this post is given over to high resolution images of the seven major districts - surfaces only. Most of these districts feature vast subterranean areas, some which I'll cover when I get to the "Dungeons" post. I didn't bother with the Gates "district"; it's minor and unimpressive.
Waukeen's Promenade
You dare to attack me here? Do you even know whom you face? You will suffer! You will ALL suffer!
Twice the size of Waterdeep's Market and built as an open, oval stadium surrounded by terraced 50-foot walls, Waukeen's Promenade lies at the city's center and provides four 75-foot-wide levels for consumer and mercantile traffic. — The Lands of Intrigue.
This district presents itself in spectacular fashion, with Irenicus destroying a large portion of the wall as he unleashes his arcane arsenal against the authorities of Athkatla, the Cowled Wizards. You can see the collapsed portion in the north, sealing off re-entry to the "Chateau" from which Irenicus emerged - with Charname and party in pursuit!
The conspicuous circus tent in the center contains a non-trivial illusion which must be dispelled if the party is to recruit the wingless Avariel, Aerie.
And, ofc, the Adventurer's Mart will be frequented by the heroic party over the course of the campaign.
This district presents itself in spectacular fashion, with Irenicus destroying a large portion of the wall as he unleashes his arcane arsenal against the authorities of Athkatla, the Cowled Wizards. You can see the collapsed portion in the north, sealing off re-entry to the "Chateau" from which Irenicus emerged - with Charname and party in pursuit!
The conspicuous circus tent in the center contains a non-trivial illusion which must be dispelled if the party is to recruit the wingless Avariel, Aerie.
And, ofc, the Adventurer's Mart will be frequented by the heroic party over the course of the campaign.
Slums
Coo! You'd be the one I be looking for, if I not be mistaken?
The domed structure in the northwest is the Planar Sphere, a massive area in itself that I'll cover later. The Copper Coronet is also huge, with an entrance down to the sprawling sewers that lead to the slaver compound; the exit for which brings you back out to the surface, near Gaelan Bayle's home. Anomen, Korgan and Nalia can be recruited here; in fact, it's where most of the party members hang out (if they're told to).
Bridge District
I'm warning everyone, so as to get the word out that there are guards on the streets. We've had a...a string of killings, and I don't want any more happening.
What, a couple of fools die in a bar fight or something?
Docks
My name is Renal, as I'm sure you've been told. Renal 'Bloodscalp'...a little nickname I've earned over time. Rather grisly, but it keeps the fearful in line.
The Shadow Thieves are based in the northwest and the Harpers in the southwest. Mae'Var's thieves' guild is central on the lower tier of the docks, where Edwin can be recruited after jumping through hoops. A demi-lich dwells here, too! Naturally, this is also our point of departure when we set sail to Brynnlaw at Chapter 3's end.
Note the sloppy patchwork of buildings in the top-right corner of the image. Most people aren't gonna see that when they're playing, though. And the top-left corner is just left blank (but again, it isn't seen in normal game-play).
Government District
Look ye all upon this foul drow that we have bound before ye! A creature of evil and darkness, my brethren! A creature of foulness and deceit, bent only on our destruction!
Most prominent is the H.Q of the Council of Six, who are the true rulers of Athkatla (along with the Shadow Thieves). This is where the aristocrats live in their estates. Viccy and Jan are recruitable here.
Note the elevation of this district over the lowly peasant neighborhoods. :P
Temple District
Death to the disbeliever!
Temples of this, that and the other. Also, guarded compound. The lengthy Unseeing Eye quest takes the party far below the district. The beholder and illithid encounters make this district one of the deadliest in Athkatla. Keldorn and Haer'Dalis can be picked up here. From memory, there is a path beneath the district that brings you out to the Docks.
Graveyard
You work for the Shadow Thieves, on the pretense they will help locate your missing companion, Imoen. Yes, they are Shadow Thieves, and yes, they are as nefarious as you have probably heard. I would offer an alternative.
Vamps! Bodhi lurks in her lair beneath these crypts.
Aesthetic Appreciation of BG2 - Part II:
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de'Arnise Fortress
Odd that they didn't fit the entire building completely on the map, don't you think? There is plenty of space for it.
Trademeet
The Skinner Murder quest (which is picked up in the Bridge District) is finally solved in Trademeet. Cernd can be recruited here as part of the major sidequest that takes us to the Druid Grove. This quest is unique in that it's one of the very few in the campaign that check Charname's alignment in order to offer a second solution to it.
Druid Grove
Trolls, trolls, trolls. If you didn't get enough of them during the liberation of De Arnise, you would surely get enough of them here. This is one of the prettiest maps in the game, with some very nice music.
Umar Hills
This is one of the most boring areas in the campaign. Valygar can be recruited here and Mazzy is found in the Shadow Temple, nearby. Evil characters can have some guy make them human flesh armor after they have returned from the Underdark with the appropriate items. The piece of flesh is found in the Bridge District, during the Skinner Murders quest.
Windspear Hills
This is the approach to Firkraag's dungeon, which you can see in the northeast. The acorns you were given in the Chateau can finally be given to the dryads in the southeast.
Aesthetic Appreciation of BG2 - Part III:
Brynnlaw
Pirates! This is where we disembarked from the ship that took us out of the Docks at Chapter 3's conclusion. Spellhold is accessed in the northeast. I remember some funny dialogue here between Minsc and the Pirate captain. This is a nice map but does every building have to be dome-topped?
Spellhold
A great map; one of my fave in the entire Bhaalspawn Saga. Not much to do it in, though. You're basically just moving upwards to get inside Spellhold itself, in order to catch up with Irenicus and Imoen.
The High Seas
There are two ways to leave Spellhold when all is said and done there: portal or ship. The portal takes you straight to the Underdark but the ship takes you on high-seas adventure and then to an entirely separate area, shown below this one.
Sahuagin City
An underwater city populated by fishfolk? The questing here is really boring but the map is visually quite striking with its acqueducts.
The Underdark
Ok, this is a huge, huge area that branches off into other large areas including Beholder, Illithid and kuo toa lairs; not to mention the Drow city known as Ust Natha. My interest in the campaign is often refreshed at this point. There is a crapload of things to do here but all of it can be bypassed if you just kill the silver dragon.
Ust Natha
Another stunning map. It's like something straight out of Salvatore's imagination.
Suldanessellar
The party must fight their way out of the Underdark in order to reach the surface; then, they take out Bodhi in the Graveyard before making their way to the forest of Tethir. Nice contrast between the subterranean drow city of Ust Natha and the tree-top elven city of Suldanessellar. Visually speaking, this is the most complex map in the Bhaalspawn Saga.
mb-wise, this is one of the biggest TIS files in the game (5120x3184, 36.7mb).
mb-wise, this is one of the biggest TIS files in the game (5120x3184, 36.7mb).
The Tree of Life
Some imaginative area design here, with the party moving along the branches in search of Irenicus and Queen Ellesime.
Hell
Again, some nice contrast. This hub branches off into separate areas in which Charname faces several challenges. The final battle is waged here against The Exile. Then, it's on to Throne of Bhaal.
Aesthetic Appreciation of BG2 - Part IV:
The Throne of Bhaal expansion adds in Watcher's Keep to the Shadows of Amn world map, and also adds a separate map for its campaign, which I think is too small.
Grove of the Ancients
This is where the party finds themselves transported after SoA Hell. Visually, there is nothing special about this map; it could have come straight out of BG1. We fight our first Bhaalspawn here, the faceroll known as Illasera.
Pocket Plane
This is more like it. The Pocket Plane acts as a hub for the expansion campaign. Party members can be recruited here, including Sarevok. Crafting is done through the imp, Cespenar. The PP is similar to SoA Hell in that several challenges need to be completed in order to progress to the Throne for the final battle.
Saradush
A pretty small but atmospheric hub that is being besieged by Yaga-shura from beyond its walls. It's pretty cool how the catapults lob firebombs over the walls. You can actually farm giants by shooting back over the walls, too. The party needs to gain access to Gromnir by fighting their way through vamps and other nasties that are clogging up its underground sectors.
Yaga-Shura Camp
The muddied moat looks better in this map (more reflective). It's another minor AR but the two-stage battle against the fire giants is not. This is one of my fave stages for battle when it's been thugged out with SCS/Ascension.
Forest of Mir
I think that, from an aesthetic PoV, these swamps represent one of the best maps in the game.
Fire Giant Country
The fiery approach to Yaga-Shura's stronghold. Love the Robert E. Howard inspired visuals and music.
Amkethran
Another underwhelming ToB hub from a game-play standpoint, but the desert setting is a welcome change. It's a pity that deserts aren't featured very much in the Baldur's Gate series. That's Balthasar's fortress in the northwest. From here we gain access to Sendai, Draconis and Abazigal as well.
Eyrie of Draconis
The stage for one of the toughest Bhaalspawn battles.
The Throne
Watcher's Keep, Baldur's Gate 2:
Watcher's Keep, BG2
Almost looks inviting, doesn't it? Backdrop of a waterway and nested amidst autumnal foliage...
The Ritual
The Chromatic Demon
More suicidal fanatics willing to die in the service of Helm, I see. Or have you been forced into service, as I once was a millenium ago? - TCD.
The Maze
The Machine of Lum the Mad
The Final Seal
Demogorgon
I'm quite sure Baldur's Gate city was just a single imagine, but I wonder if Athkatla's districts were also once a single imagine from which they were cropped out and then reshuffled in a chaotic manner and modified because, for example, the Nort-West side of the Temple District (beyond the wall) is clearly the Slums —you can see the Copper Coronet and the Jansen's house— and the Nort-Eastern part of the Graveyard is also the Slums (but not the other way around.)
ReplyDeleteYes, I have successfully pieced together BG city into a single seamless image, but it was a low res test (default map size rather than TIS).
DeleteIt would have been great if Athkatla's districts seamlessly interlocked, but it's a mess.
Yay, it was a beautiful experience visiting such a huge city...then I realized I had to swap cd 2 with cd 3 every time I entered the Temple district! ^^' Aesthetically better than Tarant, but hey it was rather annoying at the time.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking about aesthetic, Athkatla's maps remind me a lot of Lionheart maps: the colors and domes are quite similar (and also the idea of different districts).
Yeah, I seem to recall there also being a fair bit of IWD/PS:T influence in Lionheart's aesthetics, too (mainly the colors and textures).
DeleteInteresting, I don't recall having to make that swap. I seem to recall it for when I went to Spellhold.
DeleteAhh, Good Times!
Could be a localization/install thing. Disc-swapping is something I've tried to forget about. :P
DeleteI think BG1 was like 6 discs; BG2 5? Something like that. And they all got pretty scratched back in the day. I've long since made ISOs of them, ofc.
Bg2 was in 4 discs for Shadows of Amn + 1 for Throne of Bhaal.
DeleteWell I don't remember if at the time there was a "full installation" option, anyway I am sure that I also had to change disc for exiting Athlanka too.
But I miss the old videogame packagings...
That brings a lot of memories.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad. :)
DeleteI remember that shadow thieves collapsed the wall in the promenade during their attack, not Irenicus himself.
ReplyDeletePersonally I was surprised when I first saw Athkatla once I emerged from the dungeon back in a day. Its djinni/persian theme wasn't as appealing to me as "human" BG city :-)
Hi Luce! I'll check up on that and fix it, if need be, upon reprisal of this write-up. Thanks!
Delete