The enduring popularity of Baldur’s Gate 3 can largely be credited to Larian Studios’ innovative approach to the Forgotten Realms. By venturing beyond the typical fantasy elements, they’ve opened a new path for future franchise projects. The game’s focus on an illithid crisis and the lore of the Dead Three introduces a narrative web enriched with diverse factions and intriguing plotlines, proving that the series can transcend the Bhaalspawn saga of the earlier iterations. This opens up a wealth of possibilities for Baldur’s Gate 4, inviting it to explore unresolved storylines or carve a fresh narrative path by venturing past the iconic city and setting its sights on Thay.
While BG3 only scratches the surface regarding the Red Wizards of Thay, they are mentioned enough to hint at their potential complexity, blending in with Faerun’s other mysterious organizations. Despite initially coming across as villainous in a cartoonish way, the Red Wizards are steeped in rich lore that depicts a complex history, thanks to their varied portrayals over the years. With their appearance in the film Honor Among Thieves, they’ve captured the imagination and could very well serve as the launching pad for a unique take on the Baldur’s Gate CRPG experience.
The Red Wizards’ origins are firmly rooted in the Forgotten Realms’ timeline, evolving from a sophisticated “magocratic” elite into a fragmented assembly of necromancers and reformists. Governed by eight Zulkirs, or magic school representatives, the nation of Thay was renowned for its splendor until Szass Tam seized power, turning into a lich and engineering his own council of undead leaders. This saga has culminated in Thay’s extensive use of reanimated subjects.
In a modern twist, those disloyal to Tam became widely recognized Red Wizards banished from Thay, engaging as esteemed arcane merchants. Their dissent eventually fueled the Thayan Resurrection, a rebellion gaining substantial momentum. Today, this once cohesive faction has splintered into groups with diverse motivations and ethical stances, underscoring the depth of Dungeons and Dragons’ Forgotten Realms.
Given this backdrop, the tangled politics and factions of the Thayan Red Wizards offer an enticing narrative for a standalone Baldur’s Gate spin-off. Despite their loose ties to Baldur’s Gate itself, the multifaceted nature of the Red Wizards makes them ideal candidates for a fresh storyline set in a different locale like Athkatla or directly in Thay. Such an endeavor would allow the game to retain the essence of BG3 while establishing its distinct identity, complete with a new set of characters.
If class options permit, players could assume the role of a Red Wizard from any faction, weaving a compelling main story around the character’s personal conflict. Characters like Edwin Odesserion have already illustrated the faction’s potential for drama in earlier game iterations. Tapping into the struggles within the Red Wizards’ fractured ranks could yield emotional depth and ideological exploration, elements that have always been at the heart of the franchise’s most gripping tales.
