#so I guess the decisions are a hold up for BG3?

[raksh-writes]

Me: wanting to spend my last days of freedom vacation time lazing about and gaming for the fun and good relaxed feels

Also me: unable to decide if I should play BG3 or Skyrim

How do I even choose?? 😭

[devsgames]

As a dev who didn't really follow Baldur's Gate 3's development I was incredibly surprised at the number of people who have been making really sweeping and baseless claims about its success: stuff like "the game is made well by people who are passionate", or claim that other devs "just have to make good games", or that it's successful "because it doesn't have microtransactions". It's not that surprising I guess since Gamers tend to say these things about any product they happen to like and agree with, but I guess it was surprising to me how much people were saying it about this game specifically.

I'm sure the devs were passionate and I've sort of been enjoying my time with it, but frankly the success of BG3 absolutely does not feel like a design or development thing to me, but it's an obvious marketing and business one.

Having a good game obviously very much helps, but the fact of the matter is that rhetoric like this intentionally overlooks or downplays the real industry success factors: that BG3 is the third game in an already-popular and established legacy CRPG series that is built on an engine and mechanics by a studio which already made two other (unrelated) financially successful games on of the same genre, with all of it built on a back of a TTRPG franchise that has for the past few years been undergoing a huge resurgence in popularity and in no doubt funded through that partnership and licensing deals. Franchises like safe bets to make a profit, and this feels like the safest of bets. It really isn't successful because the game isn't adopting user-hostile monetization or because it's approach is radically different from any other game's development, it's successful because all these business factors.

To that end, whenever someone implies that other devs should just make games the same way...it's really funny! Like, the stars have aligned to make this product a hit and this doesn't implicitly make it a bastion or model for equitable game development just because it sold well and doesn't adopt hostile monetization schemes.

The fact of the matter is there's lots of games that are well-made by passionate devs and don't feature microtransactions or hostile monetization schemes, and they don't implicitly do well because of these design decisions alone; usually it's because they failed at marketing or didn't have the AAA budget to promote themselves like BG3. I'm also willing to bet that like every AAA studio, the devs at Larian likely weren't equitably compensated for this success, since most productions on a game of such a massive scale like this only really turn a profit because they undercut those working on it - huge profit and equitable compensation aren't often compatible concepts in game development. It's not like that would be any different here, so the "other devs should look to this game on how it should be made ethically" is a strange pull to me as well.

Basically this is all to say I think it's incredibly reductive to hold a product up on a pedestal by virtue of sales figures and choosing not to enact hostile monetization schemes. After all, I'm severely doubtful a product like BG3 would have done poorly assuming it had microtransactions in the first place. There's just way too many other factors that guided it alonge.

Do we need big budget games to move away from predatory business models that attempt to exploit the most vulnerable players? Absolutely yes I think we do, but I think people would also value from staying aware of real factors at play that define success in these sorts of situations, and not reduce development to "why don't developers simply make GOOD video games!" which I think is fairly baseless and confirmation-bias-y in its own way.

[pickyourpoisonandevolve]

Boy fucking howdy, the BG3 obsession is real, and so is being unable to sleep. I cranked this out in 20 minutes in an absolute fervor because I’m OBSESSED, as we all are. Please forgive my absence, but let us rejoice that I have been possessed enough to write again.

—————

Admittedly, you all have had better days on the road to Baldur’s Gate. There have been close calls and hard fights, but today has decidedly been the worst. What started as a hopeful descent into the Githyanki Crèche ended in most of your party downed, and watching Laezel’s eyes lose light as she died. Shadowheart thankfully still had the wherewithal to walk you through the scroll you said you’d never had to use, hand in shaky hand. It took you about an hour to detach yourself from her side once you all made it back to camp.

Quiet nods and looks of understanding were sent all around you as you commanded your feet their last few steps to your tent. Gale would take over dinner tonight. Karlach would take care of the owlbear and Scratch. Others would take other duties. You would take care of sitting down on your cot and disassociating before you could unclip both straps of your armor. That’s how Astarion found you anyways.

You had been close, today. Despite the looming threats, you both woke up in cheery spirits. You had gossiped about how Raphael was a scumbag, but a hot one, how Shadowheart and Laezel would definitely make out by the end of this journey, among other things. Once battles had started, you had even found a nice flow physically. Shooting arrows over each others shoulders, stabbing enemies before they could get to the other. Something went wrong along the way. Discussions didn’t seem to go your way. No one you all encountered seemed very convinced of your decisions or leadership. You felt that it had started to infiltrate your team, despite their objections.

But someone had died on your watch. And for that, you’d never forgive yourself.

“Sweetheart, armor comes off before bed, you know.” A little less smug than usual. “He’s worried,” you think in passing. It seemed that his voice came from farther away, until you felt the whisper of his fingers on your shoulder. His way of not wanting to scare you. He’s very familiar with the look in your eyes right now. You have enough energy to finish unbuckling the second clasp before the chest piece falls to the floor with a dull thud. As you extend your torso to stretch properly for the first time today, both sets of eyes fall to a particularly dark red patch in your torso, right underneath your heart. Seems you’ve been stabbed. How long ago is anyone’s guess, but the armor seemed to hold as the worlds worst tourniquet. The volume of voices tune back out as you hear Astarions call for help, the pitch of panic sending you deeper into… something. Not quite nothingness. Not quite enough of something to call it anything. A general state of pain and emptiness.

Two sets of hands lift you enough to lay down on your cot. Voices mill around, but you feel the large hands of Halsin gingerly lift your shirt to begin healing. He leaves you in your bra as he begins his work. He has a way of making his deep booming voice so soothing when he knows you’re in pain. Astarion sits down closer to your face, and has one hand on the side of your cheek. His thumb runs across your cheekbone a little faster than usual, trying to comfort you as well as himself. Halsin has been around this enough that both men don’t seem to be phased, but Astarion starts his mix of worry and chastisement and care. Funny how he can speak so softly and so cutting at the same time.

“How many times have I told you to tell me when you’re hurt? You’re not holding up your end of the bargain,” he says, with no real seriousness. You look over long enough to see his creased brows, but in them, something new. He’s angry at you, for compromising the plan. For compromising his journey. For compromising the trust he put in you for being a team. He’s also mad at himself for not being in front of you to catch the blade.

“You’re no good to me dead, you know. I need you… I need you here.” He says, voice shaky, as Halsin finishes his spell. The newly connected skin is always itchy, so he puts a salve on before he leaves. He puts a large hand on Astarions shoulder and exchange a few words before he leans over and kisses you gently on the temple. He whispers, between the three of you “We’re here to take care of you, my heart. Please allow us to.”

Now that the physical pain has started to subside, the emotions you’ve been pushing down through the day start to bubble up. You start to feel the dirt, the blood, the viscera on your skin. How compressed everything is starting to get. You lean up and start to breathe. A little too fast, a little too heavy. Astarions eyes get wide, he’s seen you stressed but this is something different. You hurry to a nearby abandoned building near camp while he stays behind a step, a little stunned.

Normally this would be the time he freezes, unsure of emotions, unsure how to help. But it’s usually him that’s going through something like this. It’s usually you who calms him down, brings him back to center. What has he done to make you feel like this?

You sit in the corner of a decrepit old rampart. Panic attacks haven’t been prevalent for quite some time. You don’t hear him, once again until he’s next to you. You notice your cot and some creature comforts set up a few feet away. A few curtains strewn to block out the inevitable morning sun. Some candles for light.

“Thought you might like some alone time tonight.” He says, voice deep and steady and sure of himself. For someone so lithe and nimble, you forget he can lift you in his arms. And he does settling you in bed, sitting while you feel him taking his shirt off and leaning you against his chest. The skin on skin contact, you’ve found, comforts him as much as it comforts you.

The shock of Astarion moving with such assuredness brings you a little bit back to surface. You clear your throat and say “I’m sorry for troubling everyone. Today was a little hard for me.” Your voice breaks a little at the end, and so does your resolve as you cry, letting the emotions of the day out.

He runs fingers through your hair and turns you into his chest as you release all your worry from the day. “You know, I honestly don’t know how you’ve kept it together this far, my sweet.” He brings his face to the side of yours, steadying your breathing and letting his breath warm your neck. “I haven’t had to be strong for anyone… well, other than myself. But I didn’t even do a good job then. You’re so much more than you know. To them. To me.” He lays a field of kisses to the side of your face and neck while his arms surround you, fingers lacing together. “I… don’t know how to do this part. I don’t know how to be good at this. To comfort. But I do know I’ve never been more torn apart when you’re in pain. Please. Let me… try. Let me try to be good at this.”

Chest heaving, you look up and take his mouth into yours. You kiss deeply, letting it say all the things you’re too tired to say. Too tired to thank him for. He seems to understand, as he cradles your face in his palm. A kiss that’s said more than you’ve said to each other for weeks.

As sleep overtakes you, he brings you into his chest, arm circling your shoulder.

The last burst of energy wouldn’t allow your mouth to say it, but Astarion felt the tadpole twitch with the three words you two had been dancing around for some time. If his heart still beat it would keep him up for the rest of the night. In hope. In anticipation to say it back. But you two were together. Alive. There would be time for I love yous in the morning.

[mistystepmoonbeam]

Reborn in BG3: Chapter 2

You're reborn into BG3 with only the memory of your past life. Now you're Tav's companion on his journey, and must learn about yourself as much as your new reality.

Chapter 2: Now that all the companions are gathered it's time to move on to the druid's grove.

Link to AO3

A/N: Thank you to everyone giving part one love! <3 The more I write this the more I fall in love with my own Tav lol.

Lae’zel was just as arrogant when rescued as she was in the game, but surprisingly she was the one to suggest ditching a couple of party members.  It’s too conspicuous to travel with so many, so Tav made the decision to send two on to make camp nearby.  And of all the people to send, he sent away Shadowheart and Gale.  They each questioned the decision but headed off soon enough. 

You wonder why he chose to keep you, clearly the weakest link.  You wonder those thoughts aloud when you approach the Emerald Grove and hear Aradin demanding entry, and the goblin assault begins.

“Hardly the time for those questions,” Astarion answers.  

“Just stay back,” Tav warns.  “And get your dagger out.”

You stand atop the small hill across from the gate, two goblins on the stair-like cliffside and climbing up, while Tav and Lae’zel jump down to help those at the gate.  Astarion has his bow drawn and sends an arrow to the closest goblin’s face—it goes down with a heavy thud, body tumbling into the other one knocking him down long enough for the vampire to pull out a dagger and start stabbing.

You do as Tav says and pull your own dagger from your boot..  What once felt large in your hand now seems incomparably small when facing a group of goblins.  

And there’s no turns here.  The goblins aren’t about to wait patiently for you to stick your blade into them.  The fray is nothing but chaos until a young man in a red coat jumps down from the top of the gate, rapier in hand.  That stills the goblins enough for you to make sense of some of the battle.

Tav and Aradin have taken down two goblins themselves while Lae’zel thrusts her sword into the bugbears chest—another two goblins are felled by Astarion and the female archer, and then the last of them are taken out by Wyll’s Arms of Hadar.  The green and black tendrils erupt from the ground, draining the nearest creatures of life before fading back into the dirt.  All the while you stood behind Astarion holding the tiniest dagger known to Faerun.

You take careful steps to the edge of the cliff, avoiding any spilled blood, and look at the carnage below.  Astarion moves up to the ledge below where you stand, saying something that sounds like “good to have you in the group” but you don’t pay him any mind.  There’s too much blood rushing in your ears to hear his snark, and that phantom limb has grown friends as it reaches towards the dead that surround you. 

Take, something whispers, take what is yours.

Take take take take! 

It repeats in your mind as the body nearest you twitches, legs twisting as if alive but stills as soon as Astarion pulls the arrow from its face.  The squelch of sputtering blood is enough to draw you from your trance, facing Astarion.  

“What did you say?”  Your voice is barely above a whisper.

“A sheltered one, aren’t you?” he asks.  He thinks you’re scared of the bodies, the violence.  You nod, because he’s not technically wrong.  Those limbs retract and that little voice that demanded something of you vanishes.  Let them all think you’re scared of the blood, because that’s what the trill in your chest was, wasn’t it?  Fear.

“I’ll get used to it,” you say more to yourself than Astarion.   You stow your blade back in your boot, noticing that Tav is leaping between the goblin bodies and searching them for loot.  His tail wags in the air as he bends to scavenge each corpse, eagerness on display.  

“I would have almost guessed you were excited by the way you gripped that dagger.”  Astarion holds a hand out to you.  He’s a ledge below you, waiting to help you down despite the attitude you hear in his tone.  Or maybe not attitude but…accusation?  No. That doesn’t fit him.  But neither does helping a stranger down a rocky cliff, yet there he is holding out a hand.

You stupidly stare at his pale hand, pondering its purpose.  He sighs with a roll of his eyes before he grabs your hand and tugs.  “Come along then, all the scary goblins are dead.”

You let him lead you down the cliffside, his hand actually…warm?  Well, nothing llike the heavy warmth of Tav, but still comforting as you pass the dead.  Astarion swaps holding your hand with his left rather than right as you reach the bottom, placing his now free hand on your back to guide you on the last large descent.  

“There now,” he says, all fake smile and fake emotion, “safe and sound.”

His words are directed at Tav, who is still searching the last body.  Ah, he’s endearing himself to Tav.  Help the person the leader is helping, because you’re stuck with them anyway, and you’ll look better to the group overall and be less suspicious should anything unsavoury happen to them.   The memory of critically failing your rolls when he fed on your Tav comes to mind and you make a mental note to keep your dagger very close at night.

Astarion lets go of your hand once Tav deems you safe enough.  You give him a small thanks and receive that fake smile in return.  You can’t bring yourself to smile back, knowing what you know.

“Hurry inside!” a tiefling shouts from atop the gate.  Zevlor.  “Before more of them come!”

“Here,” Tav says excitedly.  He pushes his hands towards you, a staff laying gently on both palms as if this were an offering to his better.  The top of the staff is decorated with some poor creature's skull and assorted bones.  A fox, maybe?  No matter, its bones have now been shaped and tied together along the smooth wooden staff like some sort of talisman.  As you take it Tav adds, “It may not be what you’re used to, but it should help you channel your magic.”

Your brows raise—he was more perceptive than you thought a barbarian would be.  Even if he was assuming you could use magic, and were having trouble doing so.

You notice there are small clear crystals dangling from some of the stones, and two large cut pieces of amethyst within the eye sockets of the skull.  The more you look at the staff the more you see how finely it’s been crafted—hardly the work of goblins.  

“Thanks,” you say.  You twirl it in your fingers, watching the crystals sparkle in the light and feeling a comforting chill fall over you.  Almost like stepping into the shade on a hot summer day. 

Tav’s tail swishes back and forth at your approval.  “Let’s get inside before they change their mind.”

Inside the grove Aradin and Zevlor are already arguing.  Like with Astarion’s false cries for help, Tav is quick to move ahead and get into the thick of things.  You can hear a woman crying above the gate—Arka, mourning the loss of her brother.  You block it out as much as possible, along with the voice in your head that whispers, Take.

You watch Tav settle the argument without any fists flying, then Aradin and what’s left of his crew storms off.

Zevlor and Tav exchange a few words, but your attention is on the spaciousness of the grove itself.  It looked so small on a computer screen, but now you can appreciate the majesty of it; the smell of the forest, the way the wind comes from down in The Hollow and wraps you in a safe cocoon.  It would be so peaceful if not for the scared tieflings, and the angry druids, and of course the rats you know aren’t really rats.

“Goblin got ya?” Zevlor says to Tav with a bit of surprise.  “You should talk to Nettie—she’s not as profound as Halsin but she can take a look at you.  While you’re there maybe you could talk Kagha out of this Rite of Thorns.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Tav replies.

“We’re messengers now?”  Astarion has no qualms complaining directly in front of the one making the desperate request.

Without thinking you give him a quick elbow to the ribs.  You hiss, “Be nice!”

Astarion is so taken aback by your assault he can only baulk at you, eyes wide.  You try to keep your face as neutral as possible while you stand next to him, ignoring his stare in your peripheral vision.  Tav snickers at your actions, and that in itself is enough to keep Astarion at bay.  You imagine a die in your mind, the big number one mocking you as you try to push away the thought of Astarion feeding on you in the dead of night.  

You felt a glare directed at the back of your head as you followed Tav and Lae’zel down the hill and into The Hollow. It could be your imagination, but there was a particular weight to Astarion’s gaze whenever you looked back at him.  Still, you stood by your decision and kept your chin up.  

Tav stops to talk to the three siblings, successfully convincing them to stay and help the other tieflings.  You all take the boarded path towards the back of the cave where Aradin and his crew sit, and there you spot Meli, a young tiefling refugee, about to pickpocket Barth for his mothers locket.  You wonder if you should stop him but it’s Tav that steps up and sets a hand on the boy's shoulder, surprising Meli and you.  Tav squats down and whispers something in the boy's ear—whatever it was it has Meli smiling and darting off, locket all but forgotten. 

“What was that?” Barth asks, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

“Just telling him he should challenge himself,” Tav answers.  He doesn’t elaborate and instead goes right into questioning the trio about Halsin.  

You listen as they discuss the wizard in Baldur's Gate and the Nightsong when you feel the faintest touch at your hip.  You glance to your right to find Meli dashing off, and the weight of the bag beneath your coat gone.

“Hey!” you shout.  Meli doesn’t even turn around as he runs out of sight beyond the bend.

Astarion chuckles.  

You spin towards him standing behind you, where he would have had an uninterrupted view of you getting pickpocketed.  

“Really?” you question.  

Astarion shrugs in response, one arm crossed over his torso while he waves his other hand up as if to say, “What can you do?”  

You don’t even know what you lost but the embarrassment of being robbed, with witnesses, brings a heat to your cheeks.  Frowning, or maybe just pouting, you hurry after Meli.  At least you know where they are.

You pass by the siblings that have made their way down, past Dammon, and the two older women of which neither were human, to get to the kids’ hideout.  You wonder if Mol would be kind enough to return your things as you go over the different events that could give you her favour.  

You’re ready to beg, honestly, for a look at what you lost at the very least.  For all you know your entire identity is in that bag that you haven’t had a moment to investigate. But that gets put on the back burner when you hear a woman yell, “Shut up!  Just shut up!”

“Arka, please,” a man says.  You turn to your left, spotting Arka and a male tieflings whose name escapes you in the makeshift prison.  She’s already got her crossbow aimed at the goblin Sazza.  You swear under your breath as you look back at the others, Tav still engaged in conversation with Aradin and Lae’zel talking to Remira.  The only one that watches you now is Astarion, all the other tieflings around you minding their own worries.  You bounce on your heels, unsure if you have time to get Tav before Arka takes her shot.  When you hear the goblin taunt her about losing her nerve you decide you can’t wait, and dash into the prison.

“Here it comes you little—“

There’s a lot you could do to stop Arka.  You could shout, “Stop!” or “Help!” or hit her with your new staff.  But none of that happens.  Instead you let out a puff of air that’s supposed to be words, drop the staff, and dive to stop the arrow from penetrating the goblins skull.  It works…mostly.

You see blood splash onto Sazza’s face before you feel the pain.  When you land, the collision with the ground vibrates through your body before you feel the shock of the arrow that now penetrates through your right hand.

If it wasn’t for your plush coat, you would have felt the gravel digging into your hip.  You can certainly feel it on your right thigh, the small slide along the ground enough to grind the rocks against your body.  Your right arm is bent at the elbow with your hand in the air, head down as you try to take stock of all the different things you’re feeling in that moment.

Embarrassment from being robbed, pain all along the right side of your body, a piercing burn in the palm of your hand, and more embarrassment that you didn’t just smack Arka with your staff because that is literally what it is for.

The three beings that surround you stay silent, as if they too cannot believe you just did that.  You’re lucky the arrow is thin and crudely made—a stronger one would have probably gone through your hand and into Sazza’s eye.

“Oh, my,” comes Astarion’s lilting voice, “it seems I missed the show.”

Weakly, you raise your head and turn to face him, body relaxing onto the ground.  He stands in the doorway of the prison, a finger to his lips as he grins at your valiant display of courage.  Not everyone would do what you did!  Not everyone was so reckless as to risk their life for a goblin that would kill them just for fun.  Yes…that was a special kind of stupid.  Your face burns again as Sazza laughs loudly.

“Looks like the Absolute sent me a saviour,” she says, voice scratchy and mocking.  It’s directed at you just as much as it is Arka.

Arka growls.  “Why did you do that?!”

You cough away the dust you’d been breathing in and straighten on the ground.  There are a few responses you can give, but the honest truth isn’t one of them.   You’d let her kill Sazza before, multiple times—sometimes you skipped the scene all together!  But…when it’s no longer a game something in your soul drives you to stop it.  All you’re left to do is shrug and shake your head.

Arka glares at you as you lift yourself to your feet.  You’re shaking again like when you’d first woken up, except this time there’s a clear reason why.  The arrow through your hand is forcing your body to pump out heavy doses of adrenaline, and if not for the arrow you’d probably be bleeding profusely.  It still drops down your forearm as you hold it above your waist.

“She’s a prisoner,” you finally relent, “she’s not here to be killed.  She could have useful intel on the goblin camp.”

Sazza huffs at the idea of her giving up her tribe.  You ignore the goblin and watch Arka bite her bottom lip and storm away.   The male tiefling—what the hells was his name again?— bows his head as thanks before following her.

Astarion moves out of the way to avoid any misdirected rage from Arka.  As he approaches you he says, “I see you’re one of those self-sacrificing types.”

“No, just stupid,” you reply.  

A sudden puff of a laugh comes from him and when you try to meet his eyes you find him looking away from you, a smile hidden beneath one hand.  “That’s another way of putting it.”

He doesn’t come too close to you as you observe the wound.  While it hurts, it’s not as bad as you thought a piercing wound would be.  Not that you thought much about that, anyway.  You flipped your hand around, observing the wound carefully—should you just pull the arrow out?  You recall how difficult it had been to get Gale out of the sigil and think better of doing the task yourself.  You hold your bloody hand towards Astarion.  “Do you mind? I won’t be able to do it myself.”

Whatever he’s thinking is kept to himself, his mouth still and eyes unwavering as they survey your face.  

“Why don’t we find you that healer?” he suggests.  “I’m sure this Nettie will get you fixed up and ready to dive in front of a fire arrow in no time.”

When you only nod Astarion adds, “I feel this should go without saying, but don’t jump in front of a fire arrow.  Unless it’s to save me, at which point, follow your instincts, darling.”

You press your lips together in an attempt to hide your growing smile.  He called you darling.  It sounded so much sweeter with those red eyes on you than it ever had in game.  You let the smile out and laugh.  “No promises, but I think I’m okay with losing a bit of blood for you.”

“Oh my goodness!” 

You and Astarion look to the doorway to see Auntie Ethel standing there, mock worry on her face.  It really did look genuine though, if you didn’t know what she is.  She is a much better actor than Astarion.

“You poor thing,” she says, hurrying to your side and wrapping an arm around your shoulders, observing your injury.  “What happened?  Oh, no matter, I’ll get this treated.  Come with me, petal.”

Despite her frail appearance, Auntie Ethel is able to strong-arm you out of the makeshift prison.  She makes a fuss the whole way to her little cove within the cave.  You’re careful to avoid looking for Arka, and to avoid meeting anyone’s eyes as the woman makes a fuss over you.  You can’t hear Astarion’s steps but you know he’s following, if only by the icy grip that reaches out from the back of your head.

TAGLIST

@half-poison-and-half-hope @sanscas @hotmesshobbit @godoffuckedupcats @thequeen-oni @terrenuserinj @straewberrysoda @theomnipotentfox @becksynthetic @quitecontrary-to-mary @furblrwurblr @mega-trash-cringe @fandomsbookclub

[argetcross]

BG3 Ending Spoilers

I don't know who's made it to the end, so putting all my thoughts and feelings under a cut to be safe:

So guess who was a noble idiot, sacrificed themselves to become a mindflayer, and then subsequently got left behind by half of their friends???

THIS BITCHHHHHHH

It's like, when the Emperor is telling you to ascend and pushing you to do so, Keres was like no no, hell no, I'm keeping my autonomy.

But the moment you fail to dominate the Elder Brain, completely and utterly, and then be told you have to betray Lae'zel and the Githyanki by letting the Emperor consume Orpheus? I feel like the bad decision spiral just went deeper at that point. Saying no to the Emperor and then being called out by Orpheus (for not letting myself be killed by his honor guard) made me desperate to prove I wasn't doing the wrong thing......

Which led to taking on the mindflayer transformation.

Which fucking sucked. Orpheus was fully my friend at that point, but everyone else was confused and put-off. The allies gathered to fight and make the last stand didn't know what to make of me. Astarion was immediately pretty taken aback (which hurt quite a bit, considering the "forced to become a monster" parallels are quite something).

There's also the element of watching all the red dragons descend on the capitol that feels... really bitter sweet, playing as a Red Draconic Sorcerer. Seeing what you once were a part of, a descendant of the creatures, fighting and protecting the city against an enemy you now look like.

So that was all pretty shitty.

But I committed. It was the noble thing to do, to take on the burdens of everyone and not make anyone do what I wouldn't, and we defeated the Netherbrain.

And then the ending.

There's a choice of what to do, now that you're a mindflayer. And you want to live. (But I gotta say, choosing to die felt somewhat cathartic, especially after what happens next. At least it feels like a noble heroic sacrifice instead of being left alone. Shame only Gale tries to stop you from killing yourself. Not a single other word, guys??)

But obviously I wanted to see how things played out so I kept going.

I don't know what I was expecting with Lae'zel, but it was gut-wrenching to watch her go. Even asking her to stay, she's like, I can't. You are ghaik now no matter how noble you are. And there was a look she gave when climbing up a dragon, where, just for a moment, it felt like we were remembering the journey and battles we fought together, but that connection cooled and fizzled away.

Okay, so we lost one of our friends, but that's okay, I hope? Wait no, Karlach is burning up now, shit.

All her lines, her holding onto this friend who is now this sad little squid, made me cry real tears. So Wyll jumping in and volunteering to go to Avernus, Wyll who just escaped Mizora's influence and who has no more powers as a Warlock and my heart just gave up.

In that moment, I saw the option to go to Avernus with her and I picked it without hesitation.

And that was actually a kind of good ending! Better to be an illithid in hell with your friends than an illithid in Baldur's Gate without friends and generally being disliked. Also I bet imps have brains. Shouldn't be too hard to stay fed.

So it was all good until, I was like wait. Shit. I forgot my boyfriend. Going to hell with Karlach and Wyll means leaving Astarion behind. There was no ending card, I have no idea what happened to him, that's no good. So I had to reload. Was there an option to bring him along? I doubted it (nor do I think he'd want to), but I wanted to know what happened to him considering the last scene I got with him was him running sad from the sun.

...And then it bugged out on me.

which is. Fine. Hearing his voice in a darkened room as he gently let me down was Fine. I wasn't thinking wistfully back to being in hell with my friends, nope, siree.

Like I get it. It's mature of him to not rush into a romance with a mind flayer when he's clearly uncomfortable. And it's very very sweet the friendship lines. I feel like the entire playthrough, we were just edging our way between sexless romance and QueerPlatonic Partners. So in some ways, it's fucking hilarious. In the last possible moment, friendship proves it is indeed, magic.

BUT MAN OH MAN DID IT KIND OF STING. I think moreso because everyone was gone. Karlach and Wyll were in the Hells. Lae'zel has gone to the Astral Plane. Shadowheart is probably off with her parents. Gale is. Not around. Probably off to talk to Mystra.

And poor squiddy Keres who sacrificed her body and all chances of a normal life is stuck in hiding in Baldur's Gate. At least she and Astarion are hiding in the sewers together I GUESS. Like it just seems kind of lonely. Maybe they'll become the best of buds again, but honestly Astarion probably will want to stretch his wings and do other things.

So, the ending choices for becoming a squidkid is really:

a) Go to Superhell with your best buds and leave your boyfriend alone in Baldur's Gate with no friends.

b) Stay with your boyfriend who dumps you because he's not into tentacle porn, he becomes your immortal friend for life, and you both run a very successful mortuary/Guild business.

Oh, the choices in an RPG. 😔

(Larian, please fix the epilogue, I want to replay the endgame so badly. Free me from squidkid super hell.)

[sorcerous-caress]

I’m a die hard Shart’zel shipper (Astral Hearts too I guess, shadowheart does have two hands). But now I can’t stop thinking about Yeehaw Shart and and Yeehaw Bae’zel both being rival bounty hunters that are forced to work together to catch a criminal on the loose. The increasing tension between the two as they spend more time together. One of them has to come out on top eventually (pun intended).

-Ex-lurker

Ngl anon I have no eggs in the bg3 shipping basket. I haven't even dipped a toe in that pool yet, I'm barely aware of the ship names let alone what's the popular dynamics in them.

The only ship I'm a complete die-hard for, is me and Shadowheart's dad.

But i love talking about topics i know very little about so here are my two cents.

The reason Shadowheart hates gith is because of the artifact mission she went through right? She saw how brutal they were and that she was the only survivor.

Laezel doesn't hate Shadowheart from the start, she treats her with the same indifference and disdain she does with anyone else. But the more Shadowheart is openly hateful towards her, the more Laezel grows aggressive.

The thing is, both of them are similar in the way they can be "too mean" or "too snide" for other people's liking. Laezel would openly insult you and see nothing wrong with it if it's a fact, Shadowheart would tease and bully you over small things like she does with Astarion and Gale.

In theory, they make great friends.

Which is why I think it was Shadowheart who extended the olive branch after holding a knife against Laezel's throat. When she saw she couldn't kill her, she thought it would be better to have her as a friend instead.

And they really grow on each other, sure they're still mean and the snide comments never stop, but it's more playful or mutuality agreed on now.

They have a special kind of connection that both of them lack with the other companions who are either "too nice" or "too stoic and cold" (cough Minthara)

If we're in this yeehaw cowboy universe, I'd imagine that Shadowheart also stole an important artifact from Laezel's people.

They end up working together for a common enemy, Laezel finds out about the stolen artifact, drama ensures. They have this whole talk of "we need each other, like it or not" and agree not to kill each other until they catch the criminal.

But oh! They slowly start actually enjoying each other's company. Laezel is more funny than Shadowheart cares to admit with her dry humour, and Shadowheart is more beautiful than Laezel wants to admit.

Then when they finally find the criminal, one of them gets the golden opportunity to catch them and become the hero of her people.

But what's that? Catching the criminal right now would cost the life of the other women? And even if they swore to kill each other, something stirs deep between them as they decide to save the other one and letting the criminal escape.

They both are aware of this silent confession, of the weight that decision held. Yet both of them refuse to speak about it or acknowledge it.

[sgt-farron]

For the BG3 ask meme! 8, 21, 41 OR 44 if there’s a question that appeals more 😘

8. Do you have a favorite member of the Druid Circle? Is it the same as your Character's?

I didn't have an answer to this before lol. I guess I'd have to say Rath as he was very immediately on-board with not punishing Arabella with death for her mistake so I was like, "you have some sense!" While I think most of the druids are super weak willed for insisting their hands were tied because they cared more about their hierarchy than justice, I was glad he wasn't entertaining it.

In general I'd say the same for my Tav, Alder'ren if they had to choose. Druids were super in the wrong and were stupid for letting the bad apples spoil the lot, but they managed to resolve everything peacefully.

21. What are your Character's thoughts on the strange artifact that was in Shadowheart's possession? Did it jump to your pack because you changed her out of your party? Fun fact: Shadowheart has never left my party😂 I am currently mostly done with act 3. So no, she still has the artifact in her inventory.

Alder'ren was very curious about it of course, but while they are very charismatic and a very persuasive person, they also respect people's boundaries and right to have their secrets. Maybe it's because of their natural charm, but Alder'ren tends to believe that the important stuff will be shared in due time with trust and it'll all come out in the wash. 41. Is your Character accustomed to being on the road from before the events of the adventure? Yes, Alder'ren as an elf is older than they look and have been around. They were away from Baldur's gate in Yartar laying low, trying to shake a tail from their past when they got snagged up by the Nautiloid. Before spending time in Baldur's gate before the story, they had been a bit of a monster slayer. While in Baldur's gate, they used their dexterous hands act as a thief - specifically specializing in art heists. They could never hold down a regular job. 44. Asker wants Blogger to choose a question from the list.

Oh how fun! I'll answer number 1. Tell us about your Tav! Name, class and subclass, race, pronouns. Do you have a headcanon for where they're from? Their family? Are they a Dark Urge? Or did you choose an Origin Character? Was it an easy decision? Alder'ren (The Crimson Tempest) Storm Sorcerer/Rogue High Elf They/Them

I am not super familiar with forgotten realms lore so I wouldn't know where to canon them being from specifically (thought it would have been a full elven community), but they were definitely at odds with their family and community as a storm sorcerer as they did not fear the destructive nature of their magic and instead leaned into it. It wasn't a bad separation and there was no inciting incident, just a parting of ways as they matured. I do imagine they used their strengths to take of monster threats in places where folks really wouldn't stand a chance to stand against.

Fun fact: in their original conceptions as my ttrpg dnd character, they are a eladrian elf - storm sorc/blood hunter. BG3 is a much softer, well adjusted version lol

[wretcheddthing]

Are there any songs you associate with Venali?

Hello ! :))) I’m just gonna give you the Playlist™️ break down. Fun fact! I have all of my playlists organized into folders and Venali is my only BG3 character to go directly into the BG3 folder rather than the OC one :3 it’s bc she’s canon 2 me

Songs and Reasons under the cut

• Don’t Let the Good Life Pass You Bye by Cass Elliot

Chosen bc since gaining magic, she hasn’t settled Once. This song is her reminder to slow down, appreciate the beauty of the present, don’t focus so hard on getting back to a life that can’t be returned to. It’s up to her to make her current path good.

• Dreams by The Cranberries

Sort of the same vein as the last song, except more along the lines of meeting and falling in love with Gale

• What’s Up? by 4 Non Blondes

bc tbh what the hell wven is happening

• The Cave by Mumford & Sons

Sorta follows Ven simultaneously running from and pursuing that which she considers to have ruined her. It’s a pep talk but also a reprimand to herself for putting herself in an u favorable position but knowing she’s strong enough to see it through.

And I’ll find strength in pain

And I will change my ways

I’ll know my name as it’s called again.

This bit ^ in particular bc she’s spending all of her time pretending to be somebody she isn’t (a wizard). Allowing herself to be authentic again is as much a motivator to see her task through as being rid of her magic entirely.

• Left Behind (Together) by Gustavo Santaolalla

idk how much you know about the last of us or the left behind dlc and ellie’s relationship with riley but this song. ….. …….. …. . good lird. put it on the playlist for venali and maude bc i think their relationship favors ellie and riley’s, especially how it ended.

i don’t think i’ve gone that deep into that aspect of ven’s backstory here but long, Long story short. Ven had 7 other friends, the 8 of them did adventures in childhood that turned into pursing for actual careers in adulthood. of all of them, maude was ven’s closest friend, co captain, favorite person in the world. they also had a sorta romantic, kinda almost dating thing going on. part of how ven got her powers is the entity demanded sacrifice, took control of 4 of them, made them kill the other 4. venali had to kill maude. thusly, song from left behind but specifically fun a really soft and happy moment to make me want to eat glass. also the title, being left behind together. maude because she lost her life, venali bc she lost a large part of herself.

• Euthanasia by Will Wood

honestly only here bc i’m mean. listen.

I was right there, while you fought tooth and nail

Gasping in the gas mask, thrashing ‘til you disappeared

mostly it’s the grief venali feels over the entire situation, but specifically being made to kill maude.

• We’ll Meet Again by Johnny Cash

i mean. following a theme here.

• My Silver Lining by First Aid Kit

it’s SUCH a venali song. i guess it could be a tav song in general but it encapsulates her specific journey so well.

I don’t wanna wait anymore

I’m tired of looking for answers

Take me someplace where there’s

Music and there’s laughter

I don’t know if I’m scared of dying

But I’m scared of living too fast, too slow

Regret, remorse, hold on

Oh no I gotta go

litchrally describing her search for information on what basically cursed her and her friends to have a connection to the weave they Don’t Want and Can’t Control. She’s struggling to live in the present but has to choice in the matter. She can’t dwell on the past bc it will consume her, she can’t worry about the future because it will demoralize her.

These shackles I made in an attempt to be free

Be it for reason, be it for love

I won’t take the easy road.

she’s bound herself to her current path. by running head first into the first idea she had, she’s had to full send that decision. and it isn’t easy maintaining a deception of the magnitude she is for so many years. she’s gonna see it through, though. plus the latter half of the song is pretty hopeful.

so i guess this song would be a more direct answer to your question but. venali hours, you understand.

• Don’t Forget About Me by CLOVES

and we return to “songs about Ven’s dead friends”

• Locked in a Cage by Brick + Mortar

(love these guys btw they’re great live) but basically another song about how ven feels trapped by the path she’s chosen

• Who Are You, Really? By Mikky Ekko

mostly just for the opening lyrics

So you feel entitled to a sense of control

Make decisions that you think are your own

You are a stranger here, why have you come?

Why have you come? Lift me higher, let me look at the sun.

• We Haven’t Turned Around by Gomez

i don’t remember adding this tbh. but i do like it. maybe something about that line “so you wanna make catastrophe”

• Cul De Sac by Duncan Fellows

another song speaking to how venali is unhappy with how her life has turned out thus far but also kinda allowing gale to show her that there’s some good further down the path she leads. also sort of a gale song. a big part of their dynamic is they teach each other to appreciate the parts of themselves they’d sooner forget so Y’know.

You’re just what I need

Oh, I just wanted you to see it for yourself, my dear

• Runaway by The National

bc i didn’t have enough sad song about ven being resolute but unhappy about it

• Silhouette by Aquilo

so many of these songs describe ven Before the events of bg3 but this one hits the nail on the head for the entirety of the campaign.

Devil’s on your shoulder

Raphael seeking her out for a deal

Strangers in your head

The tadpole, The Emperor, and everyone whose mind she’s connected to because of it.

As if you don’t remember

As if you can’t forget.

being essentially forced to forget half of her childhood by how the entity had her friends killed, but still being the only one left who remembers any part of them.

Let’s go out in flames

So everyone knows who we are

‘Cause these city walls never knew

That we’d make it this far

the odds were so insanely stacked against everyone by the end of the campaign that they Were willing to sacrifice themselves to stop it. at least venali was prepared for the reality that she might not walk away from this battle. also the line about the city walls calls back to ven’s simple childhood in baldur’s gate dreaming of some personal greatness.

and that’s what i have. i’ll probably add more after posting this :)