#and then never found the zhentarim hideout in act 1

[killerpancakeburger]

Zarys: You would make an enemy of the Zhentarims, the most powerful and dangerous mercenaries network of all Faerun, to save one man?

Me: You don't have all the facts

Zarys: Which are?

Me: I love him 😔

[hellspawn-enjoyer]

Astarion and Karlach Being Adorable Neighbors In Camp

I was mainly thinking about how cute some of the camp setups are and how the companions are placed and since I adore Karlach and Astarion's relationship, I thought I remembered there being a few times they were next to each other in camp. So I looked and didn't realize how often they actually are next to each other or not too far off from each other with some being particularly cute when thinking about both their character! No particular order just gushing about these dorks...

WILDERNESS - Main Camp

First of course is the main campsite in Act 1 I'm sure I need no reason here it's just cute that no matter the order you pick them up the fact that Karlach and Astarion are cool with being neighbors right off the bat is super endearing. Also, don't mind the blood Karlach certainly doesn't anyway.🤭

GRYMFORGE

Another favorite of mine is in The Grymforge in the Underdark. Now I originally thought that Astarion was by himself over here and found it really nice how he likes being near the light, but then I come here and see Karlach is right in front of him. Since I noticed Karlach also likes camping near sunlight (Which is understandable there's no sun in Avernous so of course she's a fellow sunlight enjoyer) I though it be cute if whenever one of them finds a nice sunny spot to camp the other comes to visit to sunbath together.

THE UNDERDARK

Y'all are so rude for this one because why did no one tell me they set up their tents back to back in the Underdark! This one surprised the hell out of me like my god my memory is bad because I remembered Shadowheart and Astarion's tents were facing each other and thought that was cute, but never remembered Karlach's tent was right behind him like these idiots got each other's back in the Underdark! I can't with them! Anyway, this is my favorite realization...🥰

OWLBEAR CAVE/ZHENTARIM HIDEOUT

They're just right across from each other in this one with Astarion being on top of the hill with Karlach being just below. Again I like to believe they chill in the sun together.

SPIDER CAVE

The most interesting group! These guys are also grouped up in the Grymforge campsite just more spread out which is cute. The late-night conversations gotta be wild with this group.

ROSYMORN CHAPEL

Look at these dorks! They're so comfortable and secure with the other around I adore them. Going through each campsite and getting these scene shots made me love them more and more.

LAST LIGHT INN

Okay, so they're a bit apart in this one but let me be delulu there still across the way from each other.

SHARRAN TEMPLE

This was another one where I thought Astarion was alone( Currently playing Origin!Karlach probably doesn't help because her tents not there so it just looks like he's alone sometimes), but then I came down and of course, Karlach was right there with him. My poor heart! These idiots are so cute camping in their own little spot by the goddam chasm no less!

ELFSONG TAVERN

Cuties grouped up! Also very proud of Astarion for being brave enough to sleep next to not one but two magical bombs.

WYRM'S LOOKOUT

uGH THEY SO CUTE! It's just interesting to think about little agreements of where they're setting their tents at different points in the story and even more so when you do an Origin run and consider where their tent would be if it was present. Just the brainrot that's forming right now I can't with them!

RIVERTON

Finally, my Durge waking up from sleeping in the stables and who's there across the way? My sillies being comfortable being near each other again. Astarion gets the pleasure of listening to Karlach gush about Jaheira I'm sure. They just like having the other nearby so often it destroys me to think about their relationship.

So yeah that's it this was fun going to each campsite and noticing how often some of the other companions camp near each other and who was cute. For instance, I didn't notice how often Shadowheat and Laezel camp near each other as well as Gale and Wyll. Astarion camps next to Shadowheat and Gale a good amount of times. So does Karlach with Lae'zel and other cute groups or pairs. All in all, I found these all adorable and thought it was fun to think about, anyway I'm done gushing over these dorks for now, hoped you enjoyed it!

[tsaritza-mika]

I've been too spoiled XDDD

Ngl, I have been thoroughly spoiled by almost 20 years of playing WoW, because as much adore and respect as I have for Larian and BG3, I would really have loved if the armor had reflected the areas where you got them Act 1 took place out in the wilderness, and the only semi-civilized parts were either in the Grove or the Goblin Camp. It would have been so cool to have any armor/equipment you bought from those merchants to have been themed by them. The Grove armor could have been very druidic-looking: lots of leather, bark, leaves, vines, a kind of blending of traditional clothing with the surrounding nature they were made from. The Goblin camp could have had pieces influenced by Goblin culture; lots of tribal-looking outfits, heavy Worg and other animal leathers, warpaints, animal teeth to give an imposing and spiky appearance, even a skull/bone or two. Or even just imagine finding a few hidden gems in the Zhentarim hideout that will now never make it to the city or whoever ordered it!

The Mountain Pass could have been interesting too! Since we have a location further from any towns/major cities, yet there was the Creche that was hiding beneath the Rosymourn Monestary. It could have been so cool to find armor/robes leftover from the monestary's hayday: Flowing robes of red/gold/orange/pink/yellow/black and all of them adorned with Lythander iconography, old plate and chainmail that appear cracked and broken but when exposed to the light the cracks glow with power to protect the wearer

The Underdark... man the outfits could have been so damn cool here! An area that embraces the beauty found within the darkness, armor found at the Selunite outpost could have been dripping in the stars and crescents of its patron goddess, adorned in shades of blue with brilliant, shining silvers. Anything found at the Myconid colony could have looked old, of course, as if found left behind by either unfortunate or passing through adventurers, but covered with glowing fungus of all colors. Left over armor from Drow encounters could have been draped in pearlescent blacks, blues, pinks and greens, and much of it could be found with either Lolth or Elistree iconography as a nod to the warring goddesses. Elistree armor could be similar, but on the opposite side of the spectrum. Where Lolth armor could have been dark, Elistree's armor could be more traditionally pearlescent, with white/ivory as the base, with shining pastel pinks, blues, purples, and greens, with some black/grey/silver/gold accents

Act 2 could have been SUCH a fashion feast for the eyes... Any armor/robes found here could have looked just as shadow-touched as the land you found it in. Robes could have ended in scorch-looking marks, but almost appear to be still burning with the teal glow of the surrounding corruption. Plate and chainmail found around Reithwynn could have patches of flaking corruption, all of it with old iconography of either the Harpers or Shar. Anything from Shar's Gauntlet could look to even have a certain shadowy darkness in and of itself, making it perfect for those who value silence and stealth. Anything from Moonrise would be covered in icons of the Absolute, with hints at the secrets hidden under the towers as parts of the armor/weapons could appear almost flesh-like or with tentacles

Rivington is just outside Baldur's Gate, and as such would defs be along a heavily used road for travelers and traders as they make their way into the city. Astarion was sad to not have found any leftover Cormian silks in the Reithwynn tollhouse, but maybe they could have been found here! Traders with wagons of merchandise from all along the Sword Coast and further growing impatient with the Flaming Fist not allowing them entry into the city, so they start selling to everyone else who can't get in. Silks from Cormir, lovely bright-colored dyes and jewelry from Ahm, robes and leathers from Candlekeep and Waterdeep get Gale talking about how much he enjoyed going shopping with his mother as a young lad and how he'd love to do the same with Tav. Karlach, Lae'zel, and Shadowheart looking through armor merchants and giving their opinions on what would be best against a particular foe. Astarion and Wyll inspecting and commenting on blades from as far north as Neverwinter and Luskan. A secret Evereskan merchant hidden off the main road just past Sharess' Caress, and everything emanating the timeless beauty of the Elves

Baldur's Gate itself could still have the amazing armor we find, but also think if we had two merchants who competed with each other over who's armor was better. Similarly to the dialogue you get if you wear any of Figaro's items to Carmen's shop, maybe instead you get one merchant who thinks armor is only as good as what it covers, and another who's armor is stronger when it exposes more of the wearer. Kind of a way to let the player choose between the practical-looking stuff, and the classic chainmail bikini found in old fantasy art

Again, I'm not saying anything bad about Larian or the game itself, and I have a lot of respect for how much is in the game as it is. I admit I'm spoiled in this from my many years of Wow, but just...

Imagine it... ^--^

[sugoiney-weaver]

I finally finished my first playthrough of BG3 last night, and it's maybe the worst/most depressing playthrough possible. I went into the game mostly blind, and tried not to savescum any major decisions or events. Spoilers below the cut

I accidentally killed the Owlbear mama. Without Speak with Animals, I got the gist that she wanted me to leave and not come back. I found a potion of animal speaking, and she was serious about the not coming back part.

I did not free the owlbear cub from the goblin camp, but it showed up at my camp later. It was only there for a few days before I accidentally made its hurt paw worse and it ran away, never came back

I didn't know Minthara would be a companion until after I killed her

I completely missed Halsin until after I killed all the goblins and saved the tieflings

I misunderstood/misclicked the levers at the windmill and sent Barcus flying

At Waukeen's Rest, I saved the guy upstairs, not realizing there was anyone else to save. I then went and found the Zhentarim hideout and didn't come back for a while. The other person (people?) died. Could I have saved the Duke there? IDK.

I saved Baelen by yeeting a healing potion at him, but he triggered the Bibberbang field so I didn't get the Noblestalk

I didn't realize that the world moves on and events resolve themselves without you, so Nere died behind the cave-in. I was trying that fight over and over, kept dying, so I went and explored the rest of the area and came back after a couple long rests. I had been drinking so I was very confused. I KNOW I didn't kill EVERYONE here, but where the fuck are they?

I explored the Grymforge but didn't actually use it. I thought for sure that I would find something that would explain how to use it, but I didn't. I refused to look up walkthroughs so I missed a lot of content because I didn't immediately understand what I was doing

When I first got to Last Light Inn, I missed Dammon. I failed to rescue Isobel and reloaded when I saw Zombie!Dammon. I then went and talked to Dammon to fix Karlach's heart, tried again to save Isobel, failed, and killed ALL the Tieflings and Harpers

Jaheira died on the front steps of Moonrise Towers. Because she wasn't actually in my party, I couldn't revive her.

I remember seeing some stairs that probably led to where the rest of the Tieflings were being kept, but I forgot to check it out before I moved on. I assume they're still there.

I decided not to give a fuck about Halsin's quest, so he was very sad that I did not lift the Shadow Curse

When I found Mizora at Moonrise Towers, I correctly translated the button that said "Unleash" and assumed it meant "unleash the Illithid." I failed to translate the one that apparently says "annihilate," so I pushed that one. Mizora and Wyll went WOOSH and Karlach was pissed

I didn't know that Isobel was saveable so I killed her.

Gale got kidnapped by Orin in Act 3, before I had a chance to take him to Sorcerous Sundries

Because I didn't need him (I was already a wizard) I took my sweet time rescuing him. I think I accidentally killed him on the altar with a Fireball. He wasn't technically in my party so Spell Sculpting didn't help?

I completely skipped Cazador's Palace for the sake of finishing the game. I hadn't taken Astarion out of camp since act 1 so he was only level 4 the whole time lol.

At the end, I turned Karlach into a Mind Flayer, released Orpheus, fought the Emperor.

I crit failed my attempt to convince Laezel to stay with us

That's pretty much it lol. I also abandoned so many quests that I probably could have gotten an extra 60 hours out of this playthrough. I ended at 129 hours though!

[archived-from-the-realm]

Some companion quest stuff that I haven't named because I can't think of anything that wouldn't be cringe, and this is cringe enough for me.

Act 1

His quest starts after encountering the Zhentarim either in the gnoll encounter or in the hideout.

If during the gnoll encounter, Rugan will ask about Astrophel, saying he looks like someone one of their informants had described

If in the hideout, a half-orc will approach after the party deals with Zarys either persuading her to stand down in exchange for Astrophel or trying to persuade the party to hand him over in exchange for a fair amount of gold

If the party hands him over, he will be found dead and beyond recognition in the hideout

Afterwards, he can be asked about it. He'll admit that he hasn't been entirely honest about his past, but an insight check will confirm that he wouldn't be lying about not being officially part of the Zhentarim.

While in the underdark, he would find a corpse of a large barbarian elf that he recognizes, but he deflects instead of answering any questions about who she was.

Act 2

With a high affinity, he would confess about his past as a warlock of Hyrsam along with revealing that the corpse had been bothering him as she was someone he knew since he was 12, the age he first entered into his pact.

At Moonrise, there will be another offer for the Zhent to take him in exchange for a parasite and the gold from before.

If taken, he'll be found dead in the dungeons, otherwise, they'll just tell him, specifically, to watch his back if he ever gets back to Baldur's Gate.

After this encounter, he'll confess the reason they want him so badly is because he killed a spy that worked for them. When asked for more details, he'll admit to having helped the spy gather information due to a complicated relationship with him.

If romanced, he'll give the details of the relationship which are summed up as very not good, and he'll admit that the spy helped him get out of his pact along with being the first person he's ever had romantic feelings for.

Either way, he'll finish the conversation with the death of the spy is the reason the Zhent are after him as he has a lot of confidential information.

Act 3

While in the city, other revelers of Hyrsam can be found performing in the streets near Sorcerous Sundries. They approach either to talk to Astrophel or to thank the party for caring for him for so long.

They ask for help due to the Zhent coming after them to get to Astrophel, and Astrophel pleads for the party to help his "family."

Endings

While he can be persuaded to forget about them, it's would be a high check, and it would make Astrophel leave a romantic relationship for this.

If agreed to help, a quest to seek out and assassinate spies of the Zhent is given, leading to a fight in an old hideout where Astrophel used to live with his former flame along with some of his old things like a cape that grants +2 charisma [total 22] and +1 spell save DC.

If helped, the revelers will stay to help with the final battle, though they do request that Astrophel rejoin them.

If the revelers are not helped or sided with the Zhentarim spies: He spends the rest of his days running from the Zhent, never feeling safe enough to trust or get close to anyone outside of getting what he needs and leaving them either dead or with nothing.

Encouraged to rejoin the revelers: He reenters his pact with his patron. While he does still long for stability, he is somewhat happy though a part of him is resentful for being constantly on the move without any hope of settling down outside of the feywilds due to the enemies he made and the chaos that follows them.

Encouraged to remain independant: He finds a permanent home in Baldur's Gate, aiding Alfira in creating a bard's school and teaching there, mainly about history.

[softness-and-shattering]

I was fully expectinflg ghe hag to have lair acrions, after all that warning eith the door and the myltie stage descent into the lair. Though I guess having the duplicates fulfilled the same role re action economy, and a party of four isnt so big, its not like a cr or d20 party of 6-8. Ive played in bigger groups and its not great.

I wasnt feeling fantastic today so I noodled around unfinished act 1 quests. I found the letter to Kagha. Im torn bc its super fun to have a secret backstory of shadow druids but like. She cant just be a bitch, she has to be 'evil' too? Idk.

Curious if Ill get a dialogue option to tell Halsin about it and how he'll react. I still cant seem to add him to my party. Does he just hang out at camp?

I also found the Harpers lookout. Ive found the scuffed rock, and a similar significant rock by the bridge on the Risen Road but neither Laezel or Larlach can throw them, shoving does nothing, shatter does nothing. Do I specifically need thunderwave? Or a telekinesis spell? What am I missing?

While trying to work out if Wyll can learn thunderwave (seems not) I discovered he has Gaseous Form so I tried using that to investigate some of the burrows Ive come across. The risen road one behind the bouse just leads into the crllar. Havent actually looted that yet. Went into the owlbear cave but couldnt find the burrow in there. And then I remembered Auntie Ethel and got caught up in that quest area.

Thr guy hunting Asterion is interesting. Left him peacefully. Astarion doesnt like me much. I wanted to ask who was huntong him but instead he asked where he was to be taken. Baldurs Gate of course. All roads lead to Baldurs Gate. Excepting that I have quests in thr city like finding Dammon and Mol, Id be starting to believe getting there is the end of the game. I want to buy my people nice clothes! Especially Karlach! And I took Wyll out of armour so he could use mage armour and he was suddenly rather naked. Switched him to showing camp clothes but it was a bit silly.

Mm at one point I directed Wyll to eldritch blast a redkap and instead he used arms of hadar on my bard. I dont know if I misclicked badly or if his patron is messing with him but it didnt happen again. I did swap him out soon after.

Slaps BG3 thus bad boy can hold so many entrances to the underdark! Theres the selunite temple, the drop from the spider lair, the elevator from the zhentarim hideout (considering gaseous form to loot those juice treasure rooms), the feather fall portal from Ethels lair, am I missing any? Presumably the moon towers/baldurs gate exit.

I was partway through the arcane tower when I started today but I wanted lighter questing. And geez area/act 2 has so many magical weapons. Im tempted to keep them all for some super specific cirumstance but id probably do better to sell them. Slowly working out what can be sold.

Im actually kinda mad that rope isnt practical. I got into a dumb pickle in the caravan cave with the gnolls. Jumped down to loot an area and two of my guys couldnt jump back. Grabbed rope and...its useless. So I took a long redy and fed em potions of giants strength and they made the leap easy. (Speaking of I am so tempted to open the case but those letters were very strict about not opening it and idk who its for and what their significance may be. Maybe its treasure. Maybe its a chest full of eye-yeerks. Who knows?)

Im also not absorbing the other eye slugs. Was it the narrator or dream guardian, the first time I used the illithid power, who said "You have lost something you will never get back". I do nooot trust it. Probably second playthrough Ill do it just to play with the game mechanic. Also romance Minthara maybe. I dont trust the sleep guardian but I dont super distrust her either. Idk what her deal is. But we're not absorbing more slugs losing more of ourselves no thanks. Back to the yeerk pool with them.

I do really love the quest diamonds that tell you where to go. "Find my missing husband please" oh there he is he got quite lost huh. Im still laughing at "and dont try ransom him back to me or you'll be skiny and stuck with an old man". The dialogue is really good. Laezel doesnt say shes monogamous, she says "I was interested but all the dogs have been picking you over. I prefer fresher meat". A little degrading, but at leasy shes not doing some weird jealousy thing. Usually I face with my bard. But then I used Karlach to talk to Dammon and all the dialogue options are perfectly in her voice, its great.

Im also loving the map design. Theres plenty going on and plenty to do, but not so much that you get lost in the weeds. Enough that it feels like a big grand world full of history and places to explore that arent directly plot relevant. Its a delicate balance of referring back to main events and keeping things tangential. (The women dealing w the hag for her husband. I never got to tell her about her brothers?? I thought it would be the first dialogue option but no zomvie busband abd off she goes to find their corpses on the fucking path?! Hut the devs cant think of *everything*, its ok).

Also the little things, undergrounds start getting spidery consistently, underground lairs lead to the underdark its very....verisimilitudinous???

Im also wondering if I can fo the underdark and the mountain pass righer in serial or at the same time. I do need to find the githyanki for Laezel that was our very first lead. Plus double the xp double the loot but I was forced into telling Halsin one or the other so idk if the game forces the issue.

K I think thats all I have to infodump today. Oh except seems like Shadowheart was a selunitr kid and thats pretty fucked. She likes me a lot. I dont think I reciprocate to that level. But astsrion doesnt like me much so yknow. Win some lose some.