Where is the hidden vault in the Counting House in Baldur's Gate 3?
The hidden vault in the Counting House in Baldur's Gate 3 is one of the game's more intriguing secrets, requiring careful exploration, puzzle-solving, and sometimes combat to access. This vault is located in the Lower City of Baldur's Gate, and it contains valuable treasures, including gold, rare items, and potentially powerful equipment. To access it, you will need to navigate through the Counting House, deal with its security measures, and solve a puzzle involving the vault's locking mechanism. Here is a detailed guide on how to achieve this.
First, you need to reach the Counting House, which is located in the Lower City. Once inside, you will encounter several bank clerks and guards. The Counting House is a secure location, so you will need to either talk your way in or find a way to bypass the guards. If you have high Charisma or Persuasion skills, you can convince the clerks to let you in without any issues. Alternatively, you can use stealth or invisibility to sneak past them. Be cautious, as the guards are well-armed and will attack if they detect any suspicious activity.
Once inside the Counting House, you need to locate the vault area. The vault is located in the basement, and you will need to find a way to access it. There are several ways to do this. One method is to find the key to the vault, which is held by one of the bank clerks or guards. You can pickpocket the key, or you can use dialogue options to convince them to hand it over. Another method is to use lockpicking skills to open the vault door. If you have a character with high Dexterity and proficiency in Thieves' Tools, this can be a viable option. However, the vault door has a high difficulty level, so you may need to use spells like Knock or items that boost your lockpicking abilities.
Once you have access to the vault, you will encounter a puzzle that involves aligning several levers to open the vault door. The levers are located on the walls of the vault room, and each lever corresponds to a different mechanism. You will need to experiment with the levers to find the correct combination. One common mistake is pulling the levers randomly, which can trigger traps or lock the vault permanently. To avoid this, pay attention to the clues in the room. There may be inscriptions or symbols that indicate the correct order of the levers. If you have a character with high Intelligence or Investigation skills, they may be able to decipher the clues more easily.
After solving the lever puzzle, the vault door will open, revealing the hidden treasures inside. Be prepared for combat, as the vault is guarded by powerful enemies, such as constructs or animated armor. These enemies are resistant to physical damage, so you will need to use spells or magical weapons to defeat them. If you have a spellcaster in your party, spells like Fireball or Magic Missile can be effective. If you have a melee character, consider using weapons with elemental damage, such as a flaming sword or a frost axe.
One advanced technique is to use stealth to avoid combat altogether. If you have a character with high Stealth and Invisibility spells, you can sneak past the guards and loot the vault without engaging in combat. This requires careful timing and positioning, as the guards have a wide field of vision and can detect you if you are not careful. Another optimization is to use spells like Silence or Fog Cloud to obscure your movements and reduce the chances of being detected.
In terms of D&D rules, the mechanics of the vault puzzle and combat are based on the 5th Edition ruleset. The lever puzzle is a form of skill challenge, requiring Intelligence (Investigation) checks to solve. The combat encounters are balanced for a party of level 10 or higher, so make sure your characters are well-equipped and have a balanced mix of abilities. The enemies in the vault have high Armor Class and hit points, so you will need to use strategic positioning and teamwork to defeat them.
In conclusion, accessing the hidden vault in the Counting House requires a combination of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat. By following the steps outlined above, you can successfully navigate the challenges and claim the valuable treasures inside. Remember to use your party's strengths, pay attention to clues, and be prepared for tough fights. With careful planning and execution, you can uncover one of Baldur's Gate 3's most rewarding secrets.
First, you need to reach the Counting House, which is located in the Lower City. Once inside, you will encounter several bank clerks and guards. The Counting House is a secure location, so you will need to either talk your way in or find a way to bypass the guards. If you have high Charisma or Persuasion skills, you can convince the clerks to let you in without any issues. Alternatively, you can use stealth or invisibility to sneak past them. Be cautious, as the guards are well-armed and will attack if they detect any suspicious activity.
Once inside the Counting House, you need to locate the vault area. The vault is located in the basement, and you will need to find a way to access it. There are several ways to do this. One method is to find the key to the vault, which is held by one of the bank clerks or guards. You can pickpocket the key, or you can use dialogue options to convince them to hand it over. Another method is to use lockpicking skills to open the vault door. If you have a character with high Dexterity and proficiency in Thieves' Tools, this can be a viable option. However, the vault door has a high difficulty level, so you may need to use spells like Knock or items that boost your lockpicking abilities.
Once you have access to the vault, you will encounter a puzzle that involves aligning several levers to open the vault door. The levers are located on the walls of the vault room, and each lever corresponds to a different mechanism. You will need to experiment with the levers to find the correct combination. One common mistake is pulling the levers randomly, which can trigger traps or lock the vault permanently. To avoid this, pay attention to the clues in the room. There may be inscriptions or symbols that indicate the correct order of the levers. If you have a character with high Intelligence or Investigation skills, they may be able to decipher the clues more easily.
After solving the lever puzzle, the vault door will open, revealing the hidden treasures inside. Be prepared for combat, as the vault is guarded by powerful enemies, such as constructs or animated armor. These enemies are resistant to physical damage, so you will need to use spells or magical weapons to defeat them. If you have a spellcaster in your party, spells like Fireball or Magic Missile can be effective. If you have a melee character, consider using weapons with elemental damage, such as a flaming sword or a frost axe.
One advanced technique is to use stealth to avoid combat altogether. If you have a character with high Stealth and Invisibility spells, you can sneak past the guards and loot the vault without engaging in combat. This requires careful timing and positioning, as the guards have a wide field of vision and can detect you if you are not careful. Another optimization is to use spells like Silence or Fog Cloud to obscure your movements and reduce the chances of being detected.
In terms of D&D rules, the mechanics of the vault puzzle and combat are based on the 5th Edition ruleset. The lever puzzle is a form of skill challenge, requiring Intelligence (Investigation) checks to solve. The combat encounters are balanced for a party of level 10 or higher, so make sure your characters are well-equipped and have a balanced mix of abilities. The enemies in the vault have high Armor Class and hit points, so you will need to use strategic positioning and teamwork to defeat them.
In conclusion, accessing the hidden vault in the Counting House requires a combination of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat. By following the steps outlined above, you can successfully navigate the challenges and claim the valuable treasures inside. Remember to use your party's strengths, pay attention to clues, and be prepared for tough fights. With careful planning and execution, you can uncover one of Baldur's Gate 3's most rewarding secrets.