#bg3 advice

[exileezile]

BG3 PEOPLE I NEED YOUR HELP/ADVICE

in my second playthrough and i just killed ketheric without saving art cullagh so he died and i felt genuine grief for halsin.

1. a) my autistic ass is overly empathetic for an other person

b) that “other person” is fictional

2. should i go back to save him? here are the pros and cons

PROS:

-i love halsin so much and it hurts to see him upset

-it might affect the likelihood of him joining my party

-i failed a roll after the gith fight in the astral prism so im half illithid which i didnt want to become

CONS:

-if i go back ill be rlly tempted to romance halsin and im already romancing gale

-i’ll have to do a bunch of battles again including the one against myrkul (wasn’t super hard just laborious)

-if i go back i will have wasted like 1-2 hours of gameplay (i’ve gone back for worse tbh)

it’s just a pain to have to go back but it doesn’t feel right that i let art cullagh die. lemme know what you think

[shadykazama]

Baldur's Gate 3 Builds~

I've been building onto a doc for months now, a collection of class builds for bg3. A friend encouraged me to post it to help others out, so if you see this I hope it helps 👍✨ Let's get started!

None of these are my own original builds, I will be linking the videos I got the builds from. I just find that having them in written format helps when coming back to it. I've also tried all of these out for entire runs, so I will be adding my input and suggestions 🫶

Draconic sorcerer (let the world burn) 

Fun rating: ★★★☆☆

Usefulness: ★★★★☆

How it works- This build utilizes the elemental affinity characteristic from the sorcerer class to deal crazy fire damage with scorching ray. Trying it out, it was very effective- especially if you take the elemental adept feat or use arsonist oil. BUT, I rated it 3/5 for fun because it doesn't really get going until level 6 which means you're playing a basic sorcerer for most of act 1.

Levels~

-Don’t take scorching ray till later, around level 5 or 6. It's the main feature of the build, but doesn't do good accuracy or damage till later levels.

-Take ability score first feat for charisma

-Level 8 Take elemental adept or alert

-Counterspell is your bestie

-Just to stay on brand, try and grab good fire spells, replacing when they're upgraded. Like once you get scorching ray, chromatic orb won't be as necessary and can be swapped out.

-Heightened magic for disadvantage on hold person/hold monster saves 

-Level 12 Ability score or resilient (constitution)

Equipment: 

Nature’s snare- locked chest in the underground passage of the druid’s grove

 Hat of fire acuity- strange ox act 2

Callous glow ring- locked room by balthazar in shar temple act 2

Luminous gloves- in chest by ruined battlefield act 2

Markoheshkir staff act 3, in sorcerers sundries below boss fight

Subzero wizard

Fun rating: ★★★★★

Usefulness: ★★★★☆

How it works- This build takes some setup but is 1000% worth it. It utilizes the free mage armor cast you get from warlock level 2, the extra damage of a tempest cleric (and create water), and mixes it with an abjuration wizard to make an untouchable tank. Cast armor of agathys, get people wet, and you don't even have to attack people, just walk past them! They'll kill themselves by attacking you.

Levels~

-2 levels of warlock great old one (armor of agathys as a spell, armor of shadows and agonizing blast) 

-1 level tempest cleric (can take 2 for destructive force but you'll be doing mostly ice damage so it's not necessary)

-Take dual wielder as first feat

-Fire shield (level 10)

-Stoneskin (level 11)

-Ability score improvement (level 8 wizard)

-Conjure elemental (level 12)

Equipment:

Act 1 Mourning frost/Spellsparkler

Winter’s clutches- Rosynmorn monastery trader lady

Necklace of elemental augmentation- inquisitors chamber creche

Act 2 Fleshmelter cloak- House of healing morgue

Coldbrim hat - Locked chest hidden room balthazar bookcase, have to have Nere's head to solve the puzzle.

Boots of arcane bolstering- araj, blood trader in moonrise

Snow burst ring- last light inn hidden in floorboards in room on bottom floor near the bar

Act 3 Hellrider longbow- Ferg Drogher in Rivington

Bonespike garb, dragonborn weapon seller in Rivington

Divination nuh uh wizard

So I actually lied, this is the only one I made by myself just because I love divination wizards so much.

Fun level- ★★★★☆

Usefulness- ★★★★★

How it works- Divination wizards get random dice rolls at the beginning of every long rest that they can use to change rolls throughout the day. You rolled a 1? Nah actually I'm pretty sure you rolled a 19 ;) Or alternatively just used to bully enemies; you hit me? Ehhhh I don't think you did- forces them to miss. This is basically just piling on every piece of equipment that increases spell save DC to make saving against your spells impossible.

Levels~

- Take resilient (Constitution) feat

- Highest intelligence possible

- This is a really great support build, taking spells like hold person/monster, confusion, fear etc are great bc enemies will rarely save against your spells.

Equipment~

Act 1 Melf's first staff, Blurg myconid colony

Act 2 Fistbreaker helm moonrise merchant

Robe of exquisite focus moonrise merchant

Infernal rapier, bring wyll to the ketheric fight to save zariel's asset and ask Mizora for a reward afterwards

Ketheric shield

Act 3 Hood of the weave- Mystic Carrion in Philgrave’s Mansion

Robe of the weave- Ramazith’s tower

Gauntlets of the tyrant/Helldusk gloves- Dropped by Gortash/Haarlep

Cloak of the weave- Helsik, devil’s fee

Amulet of the devout- Stormshore Tabernacle

Bard/Cleric (aka the best support you could ever ask for) 

Fun level: ★★☆☆☆

Usefulness: ★★★★★

How it works: You're here to be a tank, healer, and have amazing support spells. The usefulness of this build is INSANE. It can make a great party face, being primarily a bard, but in my opinion the actual combat for this character is helping your team do well which isn't the most invigorating. You can tweak to have more damage spells, but for this build it's a 2 or 3/5 for fun.

Levels~

-1 level of life cleric, gives heavy armor proficiency

-11 levels of bard 

-Resilient (Constitution)/Alert for first feat

-Heavy armor master is a great feat for this tank or dual wielder if you want two good weapons

Equipment~

Act 1 Hellriders pride- steal from zevlor, easiest way is to let aradin knock him out, but can steal them off him later anyway

Whispering promise, bought from Volo. I don't think it gives the option in dialogue, you have to click the trade button.

Boots of aid and comfort- grat in goblin camp

Mystra staff- wizard tower in underdark

Ring of salving- Omeluum after parasite 

Blood of Lathander- creche

Cloak of protection- act 2 trader last light inn

Reviving hands- steal from stormshore tabernacle merchant

Amulet of the devout- stormshore tabernacle basement

Helm of Balduran- dragon quest with Wyll

Viconia’s walking fortress- shar mother superior, house of grief

Darkfire shortbow- dammon act 3 only

Magic missile go brr

Fun level: ★★★★★

Usefulness: ★★★★☆

How it works: Today we make magic missile terrifying using reverbation. Yes it works, yes it's hilarious every time. And most enemies in the game aren't resistant to force damage :)

Levels~

-Sorcerer until level 10 then respec into evocation wizard

OR, depending on your style

-Divination wizard until level 10 then respec into evocation

-Magic missile and some utility spells is all you'll really need.

- Let priestess gut brand you

Equipment~

Act 1 Spell sparkler, counsellor Florrick reward for saving her at Waukeen's rest

Phalar Aluve, underdark stuck in a stone

Gloves of belligerent skies- Creche inquisitor 

Psychic spark necklace- myconid colony blurg

Pearl necklace- Omeluum 

Ring of absolute force- sergeant thrimm grymmforge

Act 2 Ne'er miss crossbow- moonrise merchant

Spellcrux amulet- warden moonrise 

Callous glow ring- locked room by Balthazar in the shar temple

Act 3 Celestial haste bow- steelwatch titan

Helm of Balduran- Ansur questline reward

Cloak of displacement- Danthelon's dancing axe

Armor of persistence- Dammon, act 3 only

Ranger rogue, two handed archer 

Fun level: ★★★☆☆

Usefulness: ★★★★☆

How it works: You'll be a normal archer until around level 8 and in act 2, hence the docking of points for fun level- but it's all worth it in the end. This is a consistently good build that pumps out great damage through every act. The basic premise is dual wielding hand crossbows and using the thief subclass from rogue to get two bonus actions, garunteeing four arrow shots per REGULAR turn, without any haste or bloodlust shenanigans.

Levels~

-Start by going 5 levels into ranger, taking gloom stalker as your subclass

-I'd recommend the eldritch knight (I think that's what it's called) option in preferred prey, it gives you heavy armor proficiency- which isn't necessary, but could be good for act 1-2.

- Level 6, multi-class into rogue for four levels. Take thief as subclass

-At level 10 respec and start as fighter for 1 level to get better proficiencies and health.

-1 fighter, 5 ranger, 4 rogue, 2 fighter 

-Take champion subclass in fighter

-Sharpshooter as your first feat!!

-Ability score improvement (dexterity) or Alert

Equipment~

Act 1 Good bow until act 2, Titanstring (with the club of hill giant strength), gandrel's inspiration, etc..

Archery gloves- goblin camp trader

Caustic band- mushroom merchant underdark

Strange conduit ring- inquisitors chamber creche

Cat’s grace armor- Rosynmorn monastery trader

Knife of the under mountain king- creche merchant

Act 2 Ne’er misser- moonrise merchant 

Shield of devotion- last light lady

Archer hat OR circlet of hunting- moonrise merchants

Cloak of cunning brume- mattis last light 

Risky ring- blood trader moonrise merchant (would replace strange conduit if you chose the Archer hat instead of circlet ^)

Hellfire hand crossbow- Yurgir in shar temple when killed

Act 3 Armor of agility- stormshore armoury

Legacy of the masters- Dammon act 3 only

Amulet of Bhaal- Murder tribunal, can kill Sarevok or impress him

Reverbarb

Fun level: ★★★★★

Usefulness: ★★★☆☆

How it works: Inflict reverbation on bleeding targets, maiming and proning them. An absolutely vicious build that doesn't struggle in any act. It's incredibly fun, but can struggle against hard to hit targets or really spaced out enemies. Wouldn't recommend running this and magic missile build together since they use most of the same items :)

Levels~

-Wikdheart subclass aspect of the tiger/badger (later on) make people bleed!

-The cleave ability you get while raged with aspect of the tiger is infinite, so don't be afraid to use it even if you're only hitting one person, to keep bleed stacks up.

-Great weapons master is an incredible feat for barbarians, since reckless attack basically counteracts the -5 attack penalty.

-Ability score for strength and Mobile are great feats for this as well.

-Get branded by priestess Gut

Equipment~

Act 1 Boots of stormy clamour- Omeluum, underdark

Gloves of belligerent skies- Inquisitors chamber, creche

Ring of absolute force- grymmforge seargant Thrimm

Titan string bow- zentyrim trader

Act 2 Halberd of vigilance- moonrise towers trader

Ring of spiteful thunder- moonrise merchant

Cloak of protection- last light trader

Bull strength armor- last light trader

Act 3 Deadshot bow- stormshore armoury 

Bonespike garb- weapon merchant, Rivington

Bonespike helmet- undercity ruins ancient rune circle dude

Amulet of greater health- house of hope

Shadow assassin

Fun level: ★★★★★

Usefulness: ★★★☆☆

How it works: A dual wielding rogue monk shadow assassin. Fun points are almost entirely for how cool you feel doing this. Relies on attacking in darkness though, so you'll want party members who can see through darkness, or better yet- also play in darkness.

Levels~

-1 level fighter

-6 levels shadow monk

-3 levels thief rogue 

-1 level great old one warlock

-1 level fighter

Equipment~

Act 1 Knife of the under mountain king- creche trader

Strange conduit ring- creche inquisitors chamber

Disintegrating night walkers- Nere's dead body

Banshee bow- dwarf trader at grymmforge

Act 2 Ever sight ring, looted from chest in house of healing morgue

Sword of life stealing- dammon act 2

Covert cowl- looted from chest in the 'investigate last light inn' quest

Yuan-ti scale mail- last light trader

Helldusk gloves- Dammon if given materials

Cloak of the cunning brume- Mattis at last light

Shadow cloak ring (act 2 but best used in act 3)- Can be looted from the shadow mastiff in a cursed camp north of the ruined pottery. The nearby everburning torches must be destroyed before the Mastiff will appear.

(Act 3) Saravok's horned helmet

Deadshot bow- stormshore armoury

Shade slayer cloak- Guildhall, sticky dondo

Bloodthirst (Orin knife) 

Amulet of greater health- house of hope

Armor of agility- stormshore armoury

Helldusk gloves/legacy of the masters- dammon act 3

Helldusk boots- wyrms rock fortress, found in a locked Gilded Chest on the top floor

Bard Archer 

Fun level: ★★★★★

Usefulness: ★★★★☆

How it works: From the high charisma to the insane damage, this is easily one of the best builds on the list for a main character. You're set for dialogue and fights, not to mention access to plenty of spells if your bow just isn't cutting it. And to top it all off? You feel strong right from act 1.

Levels~

-Levels 1-6 Bard, college of swords subclass

-3 levels ranger for gloomstalker subclass

-3 levels fighter, champion subclass (or more levels in the others for more feats. This is mainly for action surge and crit chance.)

- (If you took fighter) You'll only get one feat without mods, so take sharpshooter.

- (If no fighter) Take dual wielder.

-Take ethel's boon to get dexterity up to 18 (assuming it started as 17)

Equipment~

Act 1 Gloves of archery- goblin camp trader

Titan string bow- Zentyrim

Club of hill giant strength- underdark wizard tower stool, top floor. Break the stool to get the weapon.

Caustic band- mushroom trader, myconid colony

Nere's boots

Graceful cloth- rosynmorn monastery trader lady

Knife of the undermountain king- creche trader

Amulet of branding- Kill the creche trader, it's on her body

Act 2 Callous glow ring- locked room by balthazar in shar temple

Surgeons amulet- house of healing boss

Risky ring- Blood trader moonrise

Marksman hat- moonrise merchant

Cloak of protection- last light trader

Act 3 Bhaalist armor (potentially on another member, whoever is closest to enemies)- become an unholy assassin, the trader that appears has it

Deadshot bow/Gontr Mael (either work)- stormshore armoury/steel watch titan

Legacy of the masters- dammon act 3 only

Amulet of bhaal (murder tribunal) 

Rhapsody- Cazador's dead body

Bloodthirst- Orin

Saravoks helmed helmet 

Armor of agility- stormshore armoury

Band of the mystic scoundrel (maybe)- piss off the Djinni at the circus by stealing his ring and winning his game. The ring is looted from a backpack where you're sent to. (It's not a vital item, just a fun one)

Yeet barbarian 

Fun level: ★★★★★

Usefulness: ★★★★★

How it works: Abuse the tavern brawler feat to make the funniest build ever. And I don't mean abuse as in its a glitch- it's just a niche feat and it makes this build beautiful. Not only is it funny, it's STRONG, and fast! You're having a blast from the second you land.

Levels~

-5 levels berserker barbarian 

-Tavern brawler 

-4 levels rogue, thief subclass

-Ability score improvement

-Finish with 3 levels fighter for champion

-17 strength, 14 Dex, 16 Con 

Equipment~

Act 1 Ring of flinging- emerald grove halfling trader

Returning pike- goblin camp trader

Sparkle hands- Chest by big tree a bit away from auntie ethel's house. Can also be found by following the investigate Kagha quest.

 Haste helm- blighted village chest

Gloves of uninhibited Kushibo- mushroom merchant in underdark after saving her husband

Act 2 callous glow ring- locked room next to Balthazar in shar temple

Killers sweetheart- self same trial shar temple  

Mighty cloth- Last light trader

Cloak of elemental absorption- Ketheric's bedroom in moonrise

Act 3 Nyrulna- Anger the Djinni at the circus in Rivington by stealing his ring and winning his game. Weapon is in the chest at the end of where he sends you.

Rhapsody/bloodthirst (if dual wielding)- cazador/orin

Bhaalist armor- become an unholy assassin

Helmet of grit- cazador palace cursed body

Deadshot bow- stormshore armoury

Cleric/sorc lightning build 

Fun level: ★★★★☆

Usefulness: ★★★☆☆

(I wrote this down for someone else and do not know which video was used. 🥲 and I personally haven't tested it, but my partner used it in our playthrough so I've seen it firsthand.)

How it works: The ultimate lightning damage build. Works great with the subzero wizard since both want to get people wet. Lightning damage is crazy, and can get up there as one of the highest damage outputs in the game but it takes some setup and doesn't always go crazy like you want it to. Inconsistent, but still good.

Levels~

-2 levels tempest cleric

-6 levels draconic sorcerer

-4 levels cleric

Equipment~ (there are some repeats for pieces, so choose whatever works best for you)

Act 1 Holy Lance helm (Creche monastery) 

Diadem of arcane synergy- creche inquisitors chamber

Jolty vest- zentyrim

Protecty spark wall- grymmforge, looted from gilded chest on trapped bridge

Gloves of belligerent skies- creche inquisitors chamber

Boots of stormy clamor- ommeleum myconid colony

Watersparkers- gilded chest by minthara

Necklace of element augmentation- creche inquisitors chamber

Ring of arcane synergy- creche looted off a body

Ring of elemental infusion- also looted off body in creche

Real Sparky sparkswall shield (grymforge) 

Spellparkler- reward for saving counselor Florrick at Waukeen's rest

Bow of awareness (shattered sanctum) 

Act 2 hat of storm scion's power- blood trader in moonrise

Thunder skin cloak- blood trader moonrise

Dwarven splint mail- trader in moonrise, but only after talking to Zrell and asking for more help

Spineshudder amulet- looted from the chest in Isobel's room in moonrise towers

Spellcrux amulet- moonrise prison warden

Ring of spiteful thunder- moonrise merchant

Coruscation ring- Last light inn cellar in a chest

Ketheric shield 

Act 3 amulet of the devout- stormshore Tabernacle

Spell savant amulet 

Sharran legendary shield

Clown hammer *

Fun level: ★★★★★

Usefulness: ★★☆☆☆

How it works: One of the funniest builds, and it's not BAD either, it just gets points docked because you can only do it in act 3. The very beginning of act 3- yes, but still act 3. Using the clown hammer you get from killing dribbles the clown in Rivington, you make people laugh until you kill them~ *Note, you can get these items in act 1 with a mod that's in the mod manager- giving a bunch of mission specific items to the Rosynmorn monastery trader.

Levels~

-1 level fighter 

-5 levels pact of blade warlock, take devil's sight and darkness

-3 (or 5 for extra attack) levels fighter champion

- (if you didn't take the extra levels of fighter) 3 levels bard 

Equipment~

Act 1 Death stalker mantle (reward for Dark urge, recommend playing dark urge for this just for flavor.)

Strange conduit ring- creche inquisitors chamber

Act 2 Charge bound Warhammer (last light) 

Dark justiciar helmet- silent library, end of shar's trials

Amulet of the harpers- last light

Ring of mental inhibition (in house by shadowed battlefield waypoint) 

Brain drain gloves (mind flayer colony in a chest)

Act 3 clown hammer- on dribbles in Rivington

Face painting kit- at the circus in Rivington

Dead shot bow- stormshore armoury

Saravoks horned helmet 

Slinging shoes- Highberry's home, sold by Gale's tressym after talking to her at the open hand temple in Rivington, at the devil's fee, and after purchasing another item and long resting beforehand.

That's all I've got! Feel free to repost, comment, DM, or send an ask giving me ideas for builds you'd like to see added to the list. I personally am an addict for trying out builds and new playthroughs so I'd appreciate any new ideas. I will credit you if you send any suggestions.

[moghraidhtrinity]

Okay someone advise me for my next BG3 run!

I'm romancing Shadowheart rn (almost finished the game) and I love her but I am DYING to romance Astarion. So the question is:

I want to play a good-aligned character, keep Astarion unascended, and get a happy ending. I know that's possible with a custom Tav... Is that also possible with Dark Urge? Is good-aligned Durge who fights their urges a better romo with Astarion? Can they still get a happy ending? Can Durge GENERALLY get a happy ending?

[a-rogue-tiddy-bot]

With my next BG3 character I'm going to put at least 3 points in rogue to get an extra bonus action from thievery, horde every tadpole without using them, demand to be "purified" before Lae'zel at the creche, accept the Super Tadpole, cash-in my tadpole horde, and become a GOD.

Has anyone else made a build like this? If so, what other class did you choose to get the most out of it?

[visenyaism]

Orin baldursgate is conceptually the funniest character of all time on account of simultaneously being a changeling whose whole thing is SHE COULD BE ANYONE AT ANY TIME who also cannot refrain for more than 45 seconds from monologuing about getting into someone’s thoracic cavity with her teeth and lovingly tearing all the heart-muscle to pearly pink ribbons

[kirain]

If you could give every bg3 companion advice what would it be?

[wyllzel]

Like moons make swell and wane the nescient seas, so too the sky-strewn gods ordain the tidal fates of mortal days. And yet - a notion born in lonely hours - come ebb, come flow, come all that is beyond the breadth of our dominion: be a moon unto yourself. - ELMINSTER, ACT II

[grezzirossi]

Wyllach my beloveds <3 Mini strip under the cut (Tw wounds)

[meanbossart]

I LOVE DU drow and I love your art style! I also really like how you draw Astarion's hair, it looks flowy but still with his trademark curls.

Can you give any advice on drawing Astarion's hair? I find it a nightmare to draw. Whenever I free hand it, it just doesn't have the amount of curliness I want, and when I try to use a reference it ends up looking rather stiff.

Take care and thanks for the art 😊

THANK YOU though to be honest I'm shocked to find this ask in my inbox because every time I draw Astarion a war is waged between me and his hairdo. But sure, lets give this a shot!

First of all I feel like its a good idea not to be too attached to his in-game model hair when drawing unless your style is very realistic. The only reason why that dry-noodle helmet looks so regal and bouncy is because of the high-detailed graphics. Like you mentioned yourself and many of us have experienced, if you try and stick to it too closely in most art-styles it just ends up looking terribly stiff.

Instead, I suggest just keeping growth-direction and shape in mind and applying as much movement as you want to it when you draw it. Here's some things to remember that might help you with that:

-I employ the liquify tool a lot when sketching his hair because I never get it big enough on the first try, lol. This can also aid you with "distorting" more curliness into your lines if you aren't used to doing that right off the bat, just try not to become too reliant on it!

-I usually leave the areas around the ears and back alone but imply a lot of movement with the top and front of the hair, taking as many liberties as I want even if it's not entirely faithful to the model. I feel like the impression of curliness comes entirely from the silhouette of the hair and little fly-ways that I add, and everything else I just try to do without overthinking it too much for a more natural look.

In truth, I feel like a lot of times we get stuck on things like parting-placement, right amount of curl, which brush we're using yada-yada when in reality we are neglecting what actually makes a character's hair recognizable: Hairline, growth pattern, and shape. If you get these three things right I feel like everything else is entirely just stylistic choice. It's worth pulling away for a moment and checking on these things if you feel like you're continually unhappy with your outcome!

-Astarion has a hairline capable making most men over 30 cry. It's very low on the forehead and tight on the temples with the slightest hint of a widow's peak. As someone who drew a lot of big-foreheaded characters with receding hairlines prior, this was a STRUGGLE for me to get used to and a big reason why I felt like I couldn't get his hair to look "right" for the longest time.

-His hair swoops to the right side of his face in a fanning kind of shape and is the longest at the front and top. You can imply a strong part if you want, you can split it into sections, you can have it falling over his forehead or not at all - as long as it's going in the right direction you will probably be fine.

-A mistake I would catch myself making often was getting the shape totally wrong - making it too slick at the top and putting all the volume in the back when that's pretty much the exact opposite of what his hair does. IT'S ALL AT THE FRONT AND TOP, REPEAT IT TO YOURSELF LIKE IT'S A MANTRA: IT'S ALL AT THE FRONT AND TOP.

And lastly, if you absolutely hate how his hair looks or hate to draw it, you can forego all of this and just do whatever you want. These tips are only worth something if you like how I draw his hair specifically.

Hopefully this was helpful at all!

[leopardmuffinxo]

does your blood sing as mine does, my love?

[kittenintheden]

*dumps her random characterization and voice notes into your lap* here hope this helps

- Astarion speaks a little bit like a man removed from time and a little bit like an Upper City patriar, but not excessively so and not as a rule. Posh and embellished, but not completely avoidant of slang or casual swearing. Like a person who was once in a certain position in life, was ripped from it, and then spent a very long time in survival mode among people of lesser station/education. His mouth is often ahead of his brain. Many of his pricklier interactions are a direct result of trauma response. He longs to be in control, of his circumstances and of himself. His terms of endearment make subtle shifts from insincere and condescending to genuine and affectionate. When he feels threatened, he becomes distant and detached. He's funny, in both an awkward unintentional way and a very intentional witty way. He walks a razor's edge between a person who relies on his charms and an animal in a cage.

- Wyll is a deeply idealistic noble raised on tales of good knights and mighty heroes. His father was a soldier first, a noble second, and instilled in him a rigid moral code and high expectations for leadership. Those teachings led him to make a life-altering choice at seventeen years old that he was resoundly punished for due to manipulation and misunderstanding. Instead of becoming embittered, he cemented his dedication to his ideals and holds on to a sense of failure. He's eloquent and learned, with an abiding sense of chivalry and propriety. He's young, but not completely naive -- he has a firm personal code, but it's not immutable. Much of his conversation comes from stories he's heard or read that resonated with him. He is charismatic, friendly, and wants to believe in goodness. He's not above a cringe-worthy pun that he likely picked up from being around common folk.

- Lae'zel thinks non-githyanki beneath her, at least at first. Common is her second language and one she doesn't hold a lot of respect for -- she uses it to communicate and that's it. Her words are economic and blunt, but have a rich current of culture underneath. She is a soldier, but she is learned in the lore and ways of her people, and very proud of it. She does not deal in metaphor or hedging her opinions. She trusts her leadership and her queen implicitly. Her word is the truth (to her).

- Shadowheart is deeply mistrustful of people outside her cloister/belief system, which comes off as distance or aloofness. Her specific memories have been altered or removed, but all her core experiences and dedication remain. She's been raised in an environment that is very cult-like and spreads the idea that anyone unlike them is probably an enemy. Nothing is more important than proving herself to her parent-figure. Even so, she wants to connect. She wants to trust. Her communication is guarded and emotionally detached, until it isn't.

- Gale is extremely intelligent, but he's been removed from interacting with everyday people for a long time. His terminology tends to default to his book learning, which can come off as superiority. He has Gifted Kid Syndrome -- literally Chosen for his ability and knowledge, and experiencing a deep sense of, "Who am I if I'm not Chosen? What is my greater calling now?" He's used to his voice mattering, his expertise respected, but also internalized a sense of guilt and shame. He can err toward arrogance, but it comes from a place of wanting to make things better.

- Karlach was an Outer City street kid with what sounded like a reasonably happy home life and she ended up in the employ of a charming young entrepreneur who she completely trusted as hired muscle. That man betrayed her in an incredibly horrific way that she didn't see coming -- not because she's a fool, but because she wants to love people and he tricked her into loving him. She's spent a decade terribly lonely and literally untouchable by anyone but fire-immune fiends. She's cheery and optimistic, but it's largely a front to hide her hurt and sadness. Being a fighter is who she is, not only what she was forced to do. She believes her value is in her physical strength because she has no formal education or skills (she thinks). Her speech is casual, full of slang, blunt, crass, almost childlike (but she is NOT a child -- important distinction). There's a darkness in her she doesn't want to face, so she hides behind humor and affection. Still, when she loves, it is completely in earnest.

[valentjin]

linkedin profile pic energy

[lazylittledragon]

How do you shade/render your drawings?? It looks so nice!

thank you!!

i'll make a proper tutorial one day but right now there's not much to say since i'm always changing how i do things. mostly i use a hard circle brush for skin/clothes and one of my lineart brushes for hair. i don't do a lot of actual rendering, just one multiply layer on top of flat colour and then details on top of the lineart. the lighting is normally just a hard light layer coloured with an airbrush.

when i finish a drawing, i sharpen the png a few times to crisp up the edges which makes it look a lot more refined than it is.

tl:dr: i cheat, quite a lot.

[dustybones]

had to draw this scene from @jazzfordshire’s fic

[demiesop]

hello I survived another week

[sylvainahyperfixation]

ma'am i..,,..,you..,.....,*sweats*