Hint's & Tips

Welcome to the hints and tips page.  If you have not yet played the game, then there is no point in reading this page.  If you are playing the game, and want to discover everything for yourself, then read no further.

Here is the complete map of Baldur's Gate.  Please note that I have divided up the main city (Baldur's Gate city) on the map in the same way as it is in the game - different map sectors. Please note - this site is NOT complete yet; there are lots of things to add to this site yet. The notable content of each sector (which I have had time to note so far) are as follows:

(A)   The Main Gate:
        (i) Thieves guild (Dexterity tome)
        (ii) Magic Shop (level 4 spells)
        (iii)Elfsong Inn
        (iv)Lucky Aello's discount store
        (v) pub - name unknown
        Site under construction

(B) Left side of wall (approached from sector H):
        (i) Blushing Mermaid
        (ii)Undercellar (entrance from inside Blushing Mermaid)
        (iii)Splurging Sturgeon (thief meetup point)

(C)   (i) Blade and Stars Inn
        (ii)Naradin - quest to kill basilisk in warehouse
        (iii)General store (mostly potions)
        (iv)pub - name unknown
        (v) Nemphre - quest to get bloodstone necklace

(D) The Docks:
        (i) Jopalin's tavern
        (ii)Cursed guy - (quest to get skull)
        (iii)Basilisk in a warehouse
        (iv)Gauntlets of weapon expertise in crate near bitch queen temple
        (v) Building full of ogre-mages
        (vi) IRON THRONE HeadQuarters
        (vii)Bitch Queen temple
        Site under construction

(E) Site under construction

(F) Entering zone 'F' from zone 'G' (top side of wall):
        (i)  Hall of wonders
        (ii) Tremain - father of dead boy Bitch queen has (docks)
        (iii)Hall of Ladies (Tymora's temple)
        Site under construction

(G)   (i) SilverShield's estate
        (ii) Helm and Cloak Inn - Balduran Helm behind picture
        (iii)Boogie man quest - reward wand of metamorphosis
        (iv)Mage wanting you to get him Balduran Helm
        (v)pub - name unknown
        Site under construction

(H)   (i) Ramazith's tower (Intelligence tome)
        (ii)Three old Kegs inn (skull behind picture)
        Site under construction

(I)    (i) Gate through city central wall
        (ii)Oberon's house (thief quest)
        (iii)Market (poison event, and fortune teller)
        (iv)poultry shop - rabid chickens
        (v) Felonius's Manor - contains adventurer statues
        Site under construction
 
 
 

General Hints & Tips:

In this section of the page is information on how to find certain things and people, and do some quests.

(1) Location of ALL the books of PERMANENT stat gains:

    (i)  Charisma book is in a cave in the SW corner of the
          Gnoll Keep map (hard to spot - its near the cave with
          the giant worm like monster).  To have the Gnoll Keep
          added to your map you need to travel to Nashkel, then
          either get Minsc to join your party (big guy standing in
          the street in the lower part of town) and/or accept the
          quest from the mage in red, standing on the lower bridge
          also in Naskel.  Do either of these things, and the map
          will be added.
Due to the HUGE number of requests I have received from frustrated people who have searched Gnoll Keep, and still can't find the book of Charisma, and Dynaheir, I have included the map to the left. The upper red cross is the location of the pit containing Dynaheir, the lower red cross is the location of the cave containing the tome of Charisma.
 
 

    (ii) Wisdom you get from Tymora's temple in BG... you have
          to give it to the high priestess of Umberlee to get the boy's
          body back, but you can just kill her later to get it back again.
          Tymora's temple is near the Hall of Wonders. An ADDITIONAL
          tome of wisdom can be found in the CandleKeep catacombs -
          see message sent me by Bates,Allen,BLOOMINGTON,Maintenance
          below.

    (iii) Constitution book is in the NW corner of the LightHouse area.
          To be more specific - after you leave Candlekeep, go south 1
          map, then go west 1 map; this new map should have a lighthouse
          picture on it.  Follow the coastline down, killing lots of sirens on
          the way - worth 2k exp each, though I recommend having
          skeletons with you who are immune to their calls.  Eventually you
          will come to a group of sirens, one of which is called Sil - she will
          tell you to go away.  Just to the north of her is a cave - enter the
          cave (contains Flesh Golems worth 2k experience each) its only
          about 4 room areas.  In one of the rooms there is an "island"; if
          you click on the island, there's a load of treasure, INCLUDING the
          book of constitution.

    (iv) Dexterity book is in the thieves guild in BG.
          To be more specific - when you enter Baldur's Gate city, there are some
          plain looking houses on the far left-middle of the first map screen.
          If you enter one of those houses, a man will approach you, tell him
          you know the password, then select option 4. (something like Fafrhd).
          He will then let you pass; if you go into the back of the house, you'll
          find the thieves guild.  The book is in a barrel just north of Black Lily.

    (v)  Strength book is under Candlekeep (chapter 7) in the west part of the
          catacombs.  See message in the Sent to me section below from
          Bates,Allen,BLOOMINGTON,Maintenance.

    (vi) Intelligence is in BG in the tower in the NNE corner of the city
           To be more specific - in the city of Baldur's gate there is a little place
           called Ramazith's tower (see sector 'H' above).  In the top level of
         the tower is the book of Intelligence.

(2) The belt of piercing resistance:
         When you have found your way to the Friendly Arms Inn, enter the
           fort and then enter the inn itself (top middle of the fort).  In the middle
         left hand corner are the two adventurers that Gorion advised you to
         seek out.  Take the stairs up one level, and the end room on the right
           contains a dwarf who will complain about a belt collecting ogre.
         (While your here you may as well nip upstairs and talk to the old crone
        standing in the hallway - she will give you three quests for later on in
           the game).  Leave the inn, and go south 1 map.  Follow the right hand
           side of the screen passed some rocks - you want to travel east just
           south of those rocks - and you will come across the ogre.  Kill him and
           you will find two belts - one is the belt of piercing, the other is a cursed
           belt of sex change; do NOT put the cursed belt on as it can only be
         removed with a remove curse spell.

(3) Rings of +1 protection:
           There are 2 rings of +1 protection that are quite easy to get hold off.
           The first is on the same screen as the ogre above - just press the letter
           L on your keyboard, and it will give you the X and Y coordinates of
           the mouse pointer.  Move the mouse, and your party, until your
          mouse is at location X: 1005, Y: 1115.  Your mouse pointer should
           turn into the hand with a ring in it (get treasure) when you move it
          over a notch in the rock - that's 1 of the rings.
          The other ring you get by first going to Beregost - the houses are
          arranged into groups; the eastern most group (the group containing
          the armour) is the group you want - almost directly north of the
          armourer is a house with the door facing east; enter in and talk to the
          women.  She will ask you to try and find news of her husband. Leave
          the house and travel 1 map south, STICK TO THE ROAD and follow it
          down; you will be accosted by a couple of monsters - kill them.  One
          of the monsters is carrying a letter it got off a halfling it killed.  Take
          this letter back to the women again, and she'll give you a ring +1. That's
          the other ring.

(4) Ring of wizardry (doubles the number level 1 spells your mage can memorize):
          On the same map as the Friendly Arm Inn, follow the southern most
          boundary east , pressing L from time to time, until you come to a large pine
          tree with a rock in front of it.  Move the mouse slowly around the base of
          that tree until it turns into the hand with the ring in it - there's the ring!

(5) Secret Armour:
          Goto the city of Neshkel, and in the farmland area press L until you get to
          X: 187, Y: 2747 (near a small pine tree).  You will find some cool armour
          and a pearl.

(6) Helm of Belduran
          The helm of belduran can be found in the Helm and cloak in, which is
          located in Baldur's Gate City sector 'G' (see map above).  Enter the inn,
          go upstairs, have your thief turn detect trap on, and have them walk
          upto each picture on the wall - one will light up with a red square.
          Disarm the trap, open the picture, and you have Balduran's helm.
          BIG TIP: Do NOT give it to the mage - keep it, its COOL.

(7) Cloak of Belduran
          In sector 'I' of Baldur's Gate City is Felonius's Manor - if you enter the
          manor with 5 stone to flesh scrolls, and free the 5 adventurer 'statues',
          then the party leader (the guy behind the table) is the guy you want to
          talk to.  First save game - you have to get the sequence right or you
          won't get the cloak, and there are no second chances.  Basically, first
          ask him for Belduarn's helm, then when he says he has earned it, agree
          with him!!!! He will then say something like, although I will not
          surrender the helm, I can let you have the cloak - he then tells you the
          name of a girl that is holding the cloak for him.  The girl is in the
          undercellar.  To get to the undercellar, enter city zone 'B' from zone
          'H' - this makes sure you are on the correct side of the wall.  Then enter
          the Blushing Mermaid Inn - follow the left wall INSIDE the inn, and take
          that back door; it is a secret entrance to UNDERCELLAR!! The girl is
          in one of the rooms on the left.  Tell her you don't recall how he looked,
          and ask for the cloak. Bam, you got it!

(8) Ring of Fire Protection
          Another little beauty is the ring of fire protection which can be found at
          coordinates (remember press L to find the current coordinates of your
          mouse pointer) X: 1957 Y:2372, on map AR5500.
 

Locations of NPC's:

(i)    Imeon - Female, Thief, Neutral Good, Human.
        (Str 9, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 17, Wis 11, Char 16)
        Just outside CandleKeep at the beginning of chap 1.

(ii)    Xzar - Male, Necromancer, Chaotic Evil, Human.
        (Str 14 , Dex 16, Con 10, Int 17, Wis 16, Char 10)
        He can be found on the same road as Imoen, just follow
        the road eastward. Has scrolls of Larlock and chill touch.

(iii)   Montaron - Male, Fighter/Thief, Neutral Evil, Halfling.
        (Str 16, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 12, Wis 13, Char 9)
        Stood next to Xzar; you can't have one without the other.

(iv)   Khalid - Male, Fighter, Neutral Good
         (Str 15, Dex 16, Con 17, Int 12, Wis 10, Char 9)
         Friendly Arm inn (1 screen east and 1 screen north of Iomen)

(v)    Jaheira - Female, Druid/Fighter, True Neutral
         (Str 15, Dex 14, Con 17, Int 10, Wis 14, Char 15)
         Stood next to Khalid; you can't have one without the other.

(vi)  Kagain - Male, Fighter, Lawful Evil, Dwarf.
         (Str 16, Dex 12, Con 20, Int 15, Wis 11, Char 8)
         Runs a caravan post in Beregost - when you enter
         Beregost from the north, you are on a road above a
         block of houses, Kagain's shop is on the top right
         hand corner of the block SE of that first block.
         He wants to look for lost child. After a while he
         says "forget it, lets do what you want to do".

(vi)  Garrick - Male, Bard, Chaotic Neutral
        (Str 14, Dex 16, Con 9, Int 13, Wis 14, Char 15)
        Beregost - stud in front of inn, asks if you'll  guard Silke. After
        killing her (pretend to do her will then say that these men obviously
        are not evil) he wants to join.

(vii) Minsc - Male, Ranger,  Neutral Good, Human.
        (Str 18/93, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 8, Wis 6, Char 9)
        Nashkel; on the main road through town. He wants to rescue Dynaheir
        from Gnoll Keep, and will stay with you if you do.
        Special ability: Berserk

(viii) Dynaheir- Female, Invoker, Lawful Good
        (Str 11, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 17, Wis 15, Char 12)
        In the second pit in Gnoll Keep (see map above).

(ix) Edwin - Male, Conjurer, Lawful Evil, Human.
        (Str 09, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 18,Wis 09, Char 10)
        Standing on the lower bridge in Nashkel. He wont stay
        with you long, but wants to kill Dynaheir.

(x)    Branwen - Female, Cleric, Neutral, Human.
         (Str 13, Dex 16, Con 15, Int 9, Wis 16, Char 13)
         Fair east of Naskel - turned to stone. Either buy a stone
         to flesh scroll, or you can buy one from a midget near
         her for 500Gc.
         Special Ability: Spritual Hammer

(xi)    Xan - Male, Enchanter, Lawful Neutral, Elf.
        (Str 13, Dex 16, Con 7, Int 17, Wis 14, Char 16)
         Level 4 of Naskel mines, just past the baddy.
         (Has an enchanted sword that only he can use)
         Special Ability: gets one 3rd level spell as a 1st level spell

(xii)  Viconia - Female, Cleric, Neutral Evil, Drow.
        (Str 10, Dex 19, Con 08, Int 16, Wis 15, Char 14)
        A member of the flaming fist guard - will join  you,
        but lowers reputation by 2.

(xiii)Coran - Male, Fighter/thief, Chaotic Good, Elf.
        (Str 14, Dex 20, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 09, Char 16)
        Is in the upper left hand corner of the area standing
        in the middle of a bridge.

(xiv) Eldoth - Male
        (Str ,Dex ,Con ,Int ,Wis ,Char )
         Has a scheme - somewhere on a bridge.

(xv)  Fladorn - No idea
         (Str , Dex , Con , Int , Wis , Char )

(xvi) Yeslick - Male, Fighter/Cleric
         (Str , Dex , Con , Int , Wis , Char )
         Level 3 of the secret cloakwood mines, behind a secret
         door at the end of a long corridor.

(xvii) Ajantis - Male, Paladin, Lawful Good, Human.
        (Str 17, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 13, Char 17)

(xviii) Kivan - Ranger, Chaotic Good, Elf.
        (Str 18/12,  Dex 17, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 14, Char 08)
 

Hints & Tips emailed to me:

Sent by: Alex Kaz - WAND OF POLYMORPHING
        I got a fine wand of Polymorphing from settling a dispute between Voltine and Gervisse. Their house is located east of Silvershield's estate (SEE MAP ABOVE). Their twins tell of the bogeyman looking in the window at night. You must kill Gervisse and return to Voltine to get the wand. The wand
turns your enemy into a squirrel.

Sent by: Leor Kass - RING OF FIRE
        On the world map there is unnamed territory E of Larwsood and SE of Pelvdate (See MAP above).  In this unnamed area there's are some ruins with some magic users, who are trying to kill you.  I found two potions in the bandits camp that spray fire and incinerated two of them with that.  For the last magic user, I had everyone gang-up on him and watch body parts fly everywhere.  On one of the bodies is a gold ring needing identification.

Sent by: Craig@outlands.com & IIShmRokII@aol.com - WAND OF FROST
        In the very top NW corner of the Nashkel mines there is a tree, and in a notch on the side the tree is a ice wand. The exact coordinated of the tree are X: 165, Y: 178, AR: 5400.

Sent by: Craig@outlands.com - CLOUDKILL SCROLL
        The Cloudkill scroll can be found on the map square west of the Naskel Mines (see MAP above).  The exact coordinates that the scroll can be found at are X: 1781, Y: 413, AR: 5300.

Sent by: Bates,Allen,BLOOMINGTON,Maintenance - TOMES OF STRENGTH + ANOTHER WISDOM
        There is also a book of Wisdom in the Candle keep catacombs.  When you first enter the catacombs you will be in a large room with three other exits.  To the east is the way to the second part of the catacombs, to the north are several rooms with Ghasts and eventually a room with 4 or 5 Ghasts and a
treasure including a wand of fire.  To the west is a hall that again has more halls off of it.  To the south there is a room with traps and a trapped and locked crypt that contains the book of Wisdom. To the north more traps in a hall that leads to a room with more traps, phase spiders, and another trapped and locked crypt that one contains the book of Strength.
 

Acknowledgments for information contributions:

With special thanks to Gryphon (aiel@mindspring.com) who emailed me so much info on NPC's.
 

Please note: above are actual screen shots I captured from Baldur's Gate, excluding the red lines which I have drawn in to indicate locations and split into sectors, which is a BIOWARE product, in collaboration with TSR and Interplay.