Baldur's Gate 3 II: The Urge for a Second Playthrough

[Zevox]

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If you start the fight with her in her house and she escapes down the fireplace all the redcaps outside turn hostile. I don't remember if they automatically/always join the fight, but if you still have someone standing outside where they can see them, or you try to run away, the redcaps will attack you.

They're outside, in the swamp; they aggro if

Spoiler

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you piss off Ethel in her hut, e.g. by insisting on telling Mayrina about her brothers, which makes her call for help.

But it takes them a couple of rounds to get to the front door, plenty of time to lay down a nasty welcome (I did Cloud of Daggers.)

Spoiler: Ethel

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Oh, it's just the ones outside? I always killed those before even entering her house. They get automatically pissed if you can tell what they are, after all, so unless I want to play dumb it's kind of unavoidable. Or if I were to fail that check to realize the terrain's an illusion I guess, but it seems to be pretty easy, as none of my three very different characters did.

[Anonymouswizard]

Spoiler: Ethel

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Oh, it's just the ones outside? I always killed those before even entering her house. They get automatically pissed if you can tell what they are, after all, so unless I want to play dumb it's kind of unavoidable. Or if I were to fail that check to realize the terrain's an illusion I guess, but it seems to be pretty easy, as none of my three very different characters did.

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You could always just play along, it tends to get an approval boost (not that you really need those).

[LibraryOgre]

Hypothetical:

Spoiler: Act 2

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So, let's say you're doing Gale as your Origin character. You've knocked Ketheric Thorm down, and he's gone down to the Absolute, and you're at the top of the tower.

Would it be possible to just solo-run down to the lower level and blow everyone up? Maybe throw up an invisibility or two (potions yay!), skip the entire 1st floor of that, and just... end everything, including the game?

[Keltest]

Hypothetical:

Spoiler: Act 2

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So, let's say you're doing Gale as your Origin character. You've knocked Ketheric Thorm down, and he's gone down to the Absolute, and you're at the top of the tower.

Would it be possible to just solo-run down to the lower level and blow everyone up? Maybe throw up an invisibility or two (potions yay!), skip the entire 1st floor of that, and just... end everything, including the game?

Yes, and the writers planned for it.

[Cikomyr2]

Yes, and the writers planned for it.

Oh, care to spoil me what happens? In spoilers?


About Ethel disguising herself: i realized she had a bigger Wisdom save than her "hostage", so i managed to figure out who was who. Felt smart about myself for that one.

[Keltest]

Oh, care to spoil me what happens? In spoilers?


About Ethel disguising herself: i realized she had a bigger Wisdom save than her "hostage", so i managed to figure out who was who. Felt smart about myself for that one.

Spoiler: gale

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He blows up and the credits play, having killed the Absolute and all 3 chosen, plus yourself. You win?

[Cikomyr2]

Spoiler: gale

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He blows up and the credits play, having killed the Absolute and all 3 chosen, plus yourself. You win?

Oh that's nice!!!

Can you make him do it if you dont play him?

[Anonymouswizard]

Oh that's nice!!!

Can you make him do it if you dont play him?

IIRC you have to convince him notn to.

[Zevox]

Spoiler: gale

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He blows up and the credits play, having killed the Absolute and all 3 chosen, plus yourself. You win?

Spoiler: Note about this.

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When you do this at the end of Act 2, it says that without the Absolute, those infected with tadpoles all started turning into Mind Flayers, so it becomes kind of a bad ending. Not sure what the difference is between this and when you do it at the end of Act 3 that prevents that from happening there, but that's how it plays out anyway.

At least normally, I don't know if it differs if you're doing Origin Gale.

[Cikomyr2]

Spoiler: Note about this.

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When you do this at the end of Act 2, it says that without the Absolute, those infected with tadpoles all started turning into Mind Flayers, so it becomes kind of a bad ending. Not sure what the difference is between this and when you do it at the end of Act 3 that prevents that from happening there, but that's how it plays out anyway.

At least normally, I don't know if it differs if you're doing Origin Gale.

Spoiler

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Just from the top of my head, destroying the Absolute and the tower leaves Baldur's Gate at the "mercy" of all the infiltrated agents that have gone there under the guise of refugees.

Destroying the Absolute at the end of Act 3 would kill all of them. And Baldur's Gate.

[Zevox]

Spoiler

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Just from the top of my head, destroying the Absolute and the tower leaves Baldur's Gate at the "mercy" of all the infiltrated agents that have gone there under the guise of refugees.

Destroying the Absolute at the end of Act 3 would kill all of them. And Baldur's Gate.

Spoiler: Ending, Gale

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No, letting Gale blow up the Absolute at the end of Act 3 works fine. It's high enough in the air that the detonation only kills it, and he sends the rest of your group away beforehand. The tadpoles all still die instead of completing ceremorphosis too.

[Cikomyr2]

Spoiler: Ending, Gale

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No, letting Gale blow up the Absolute at the end of Act 3 works fine. It's high enough in the air that the detonation only kills it, and he sends the rest of your group away beforehand. The tadpoles all still die instead of completing ceremorphosis too.

Daaaaamn

I am happy I did not do it then. My Durge expected a high body count.

[ArlEammon]

Spoiler: Waukeen's Rest

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The burning building in Waukeen's Rest seems empty but people keep yelling for help. I can't find anyone. Where are they?

Nevermind. Foundem.

[Anonymouswizard]

Back in the underdark, slowly murdering my way through Absolute minions. I somehow accidentally became the chosen of a fake Bhaal, but I'll probably just flog that knife to the next merchant I meet.

Now just to make sure I don't cancel Shadowheart's romance during Act 2.

[Cikomyr2]

Back in the underdark, slowly murdering my way through Absolute minions. I somehow accidentally became the chosen of a fake Bhaal, but I'll probably just flog that knife to the next merchant I meet.

Now just to make sure I don't cancel Shadowheart's romance during Act 2.

A fake Bhaal? Now you drew my interest.

[LibraryOgre]

Got a bit tired of BG2 in the Underdark, and I found a mod that lets you assign your background skills (so no more overlap between half-orc and Haunted One background), so I started again... again.

Still tooling around Act 1. I haven't hit Waukeen's Rest or the Absolute's Fortress, yet, but chugging along.

As I'm tooling around the ruined village, though, I keep thinking "You know what? The tieflings could have done worse than to set up in this village, at least for a while, once I've killed the goblins." They'd hardly be in worse shape than they were in the Grove, and the grove would be right there for trade and aid.

[ArlEammon]

I'd love to experiment with themed custom characters. So, what's, in your opinion, the perfect build for King Bowser, from the Mario Franchise?
I chose a dragonborn, green dragon ancestry, warlock character with fire themed spells. Later I will probably choose a fighter class, then put the rest of the classes in either more warlock levels or draconic sorcerer levels.

Also, what are some idea for other characters? Mario, for example. . . I was thinking some kind of Monk class, with a warlock "fiend patron".

[LibraryOgre]

I'd love to experiment with themed custom characters. So, what's, in your opinion, the perfect build for King Bowser, from the Mario Franchise?
I chose a dragonborn, green dragon ancestry, warlock character with fire themed spells. Later I will probably choose a fighter class, then put the rest of the classes in either more warlock levels or draconic sorcerer levels.

Also, what are some idea for other characters? Mario, for example. . . I was thinking some kind of Monk class, with a warlock "fiend patron".

I'm lazy; I'd just go with a Red Dragonborn, using green dragonborn colors, and pump it all into 4 Elements monk.

****

So, I'm thinking that, after 8th level, I'll multiclass my swords bard. Kind of leaning towards Battlemaster fighter, which makes me the King of Technique. But, playing around with options, I'm seeing

Swords 6/Fighter 6; same number of feats as 8/4, misses 4th level spells, but keeps Countercharm and, importantly, Font of Inspiration. Could go as far as 5/7, but would need to wait until at least 8th level, so I could keep my two attacks (at 8th, resetting to 3/5).

Swords 8/Thief 4. That extra bonus action for mobility and/or poison, along with my TWF.

How does multiclass spellcasting work in BG3?

[Anonymouswizard]

A fake Bhaal? Now you drew my interest.

There's a fake Bhaal in the underdark, just look around and you'll stumble across them.


Anyway, finished the Underdark and decided to go back and do the Githyanki Creche. Picked up the special monk gear on the way and now my damage output is finally climbing. By which I mean my unarmed attacks are doing 1d6+5(bludgeoning)+1d6(fire)+1d4+3(Radiant, Necrotic, or Psychic) damage, which is nearly on par with GWM builds but without the accuracy drop.

Also vaguely considering doing an Origin Character run with classes swapped after this one. I'm considering the obvious Paladin Shadowheart, but I'm also liking the idea of Wild Magic Sorcerer Lae'zel.

[Errorname]

There's a fake Bhaal in the underdark, just look around and you'll stumble across them.

I actually found it very difficult to find the Festering Cove even knowing that it existed and generally where it was, I'm not used to thinking in 3d with CRPGs.

[LibraryOgre]

I actually found it very difficult to find the Festering Cove even knowing that it existed and generally where it was, I'm not used to thinking in 3d with CRPGs.

I don't think I know it, TBH. I only just found the place behind the ruined temple/the bridge/gate west of Waukeen's Rest.

[Psyren]

Got a bit tired of BG2 in the Underdark, and I found a mod that lets you assign your background skills (so no more overlap between half-orc and Haunted One background), so I started again... again.

Still tooling around Act 1. I haven't hit Waukeen's Rest or the Absolute's Fortress, yet, but chugging along.

As I'm tooling around the ruined village, though, I keep thinking "You know what? The tieflings could have done worse than to set up in this village, at least for a while, once I've killed the goblins." They'd hardly be in worse shape than they were in the Grove, and the grove would be right there for trade and aid.

(I assume you meant BG3 here)

Yeah I hate the Haunted One skills too. I found a similar mod but it just adds skills, so Haunted One picked up Stealth and Sleight of Hand, skills I usually want on my Durge anyway.

[Keltest]

(I assume you meant BG3 here)

Yeah I hate the Haunted One skills too. I found a similar mod but it just adds skills, so Haunted One picked up Stealth and Sleight of Hand, skills I usually want on my Durge anyway.

BG2 also has a significant underdark section.

[LibraryOgre]

(I assume you meant BG3 here)

Yeah I hate the Haunted One skills too. I found a similar mod but it just adds skills, so Haunted One picked up Stealth and Sleight of Hand, skills I usually want on my Durge anyway.

Nope, BG2. I was playing BG1, SoD, and BG2 for a while, but I got sorta tired of them, so I went back to BG3.

[Anonymouswizard]

Nope, BG2. I was playing BG1, SoD, and BG2 for a while, but I got sorta tired of them, so I went back to BG3.

It happens, I got kinda tired of BG3 after restarting as a Rogue to actually have decent social skills so I've switched to JRPGs for a bit. I'll be back in a week or two.

[Psyren]

BG2 also has a significant underdark section.

Nope, BG2. I was playing BG1, SoD, and BG2 for a while, but I got sorta tired of them, so I went back to BG3.

Then the Haunted One Background thing is what threw me, apologies.

[Cikomyr2]

Nope, BG2. I was playing BG1, SoD, and BG2 for a while, but I got sorta tired of them, so I went back to BG3.

You structures your sentence really strangely by first making a comment a about BG2 and then, following a comma, switched to BG3.

Im with the people who thought you had mistyped. Just try to be clearer if you want to avoid that confusion.

[Eldonauran]

I just cleared Act 2 on my Origin Astarion Honor run. Literally saved right before clicking the Exit from Act 2. We will be entering Act 3 at level 9 (halfway to 10).

I've got to say something about Minthara. While I would never (and will never) acquire her through the normal nefarious deeds, having picked her up in Act 2 and spending some time with her, this is probably (IMO) one of the best written companions for all of Act 2. I had to choke up the reigns on her just a little (come on, you might be a oath of vengeance 'paladin', but I am THE PALADIN, and you will save that blood thirst for our actual enemies). The writers did an excellent job of portraying Minthara as a person in pain, sympathetic to those who were unjustly tormented, and simultaneously blending that with a personality that veers towards the darker side of the alignment spectrum. And the voice actor, and animators, just ... amazing.

Spoiler: Disclaimer

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And that might all be stemming from a bit of awe from what she did in the final half of the BBEG fight. She ran up to the target (who still had half of their health) and proceeded to curb stomp them worse than the aasimar does to Ketheric. With a freaking quarterstaff and a handful of 1st level (and two 2nd level) spell slots. And action surge. She did not miss, not once. And her sitting on the throne AFTER the fight was ... perfect. She looked so satisfied.

All in all, I am glad I put my Durge play through on hold for now. I wasn't able to get Minthara on that play through (before the patch that made it possible). I'll likely restart that play through on Honor mode as well, just so that I can get everyone, and live with every consequence of my actions. Its been an exciting ride so far with Astarion.

[Psyren]

I just cleared Act 2 on my Origin Astarion Honor run. Literally saved right before clicking the Exit from Act 2. We will be entering Act 3 at level 9 (halfway to 10).

I've got to say something about Minthara. While I would never (and will never) acquire her through the normal nefarious deeds, having picked her up in Act 2 and spending some time with her, this is probably (IMO) one of the best written companions for all of Act 2. I had to choke up the reigns on her just a little (come on, you might be a oath of vengeance 'paladin', but I am THE PALADIN, and you will save that blood thirst for our actual enemies). The writers did an excellent job of portraying Minthara as a person in pain, sympathetic to those who were unjustly tormented, and simultaneously blending that with a personality that veers towards the darker side of the alignment spectrum. And the voice actor, and animators, just ... amazing.

Spoiler: Disclaimer

Show

And that might all be stemming from a bit of awe from what she did in the final half of the BBEG fight. She ran up to the target (who still had half of their health) and proceeded to curb stomp them worse than the aasimar does to Ketheric. With a freaking quarterstaff and a handful of 1st level (and two 2nd level) spell slots. And action surge. She did not miss, not once. And her sitting on the throne AFTER the fight was ... perfect. She looked so satisfied.

All in all, I am glad I put my Durge play through on hold for now. I wasn't able to get Minthara on that play through (before the patch that made it possible). I'll likely restart that play through on Honor mode as well, just so that I can get everyone, and live with every consequence of my actions. Its been an exciting ride so far with Astarion.

"I will never tire of sitting on dead men's thrones."

I'm glad more people (in all the BG communities/threads I'm in, not just this one) are realizing how well-written Minthara is. And I'm very happy Larian let good playthroughs recruit her now without needing to mod or cheat.

[ArlEammon]

Spoiler: Minthara

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It's weird recruiting Minthara. I killed her in my first playthrough by accident. (Didn't know she was recruitable.) So are there only weird, indirect ways of recruiting her, or can you get her in Act I without eradicating The Emerald Grove?