What are the consequences of siding with the Absolute in Baldur's Gate 3?
Siding with the Absolute in Baldur's Gate 3 is a major story decision that significantly impacts the narrative, your relationships with companions, and the overall outcome of the game. The Absolute is a mysterious and powerful force that seeks to dominate the world, and aligning with it means embracing its dark influence. This choice is not made lightly, as it involves betraying many of your allies and embracing a path of corruption and control. Below is a detailed explanation of the mechanics, strategies, and consequences involved in siding with the Absolute.
To side with the Absolute, you must first progress through the main story until you encounter key moments where you can choose to align with its forces. One of the earliest opportunities occurs when you meet the True Soul Nere in the Underdark. Nere is a servant of the Absolute, and you can choose to assist him in his mission, which involves eliminating the duergar rebels. By helping Nere, you begin to align yourself with the Absolute's agenda. Another critical moment comes when you reach Moonrise Towers, the stronghold of the Absolute's forces. Here, you can choose to infiltrate the cult from within, gaining the trust of its leaders, such as Ketheric Thorm, and furthering the Absolute's goals.
The mechanics of siding with the Absolute involve making specific dialogue choices and completing quests that align with its objectives. For example, during conversations with True Souls or cult leaders, you must express loyalty to the Absolute and avoid actions that would undermine its authority. This may involve deceiving or manipulating other characters, as well as making morally questionable decisions. Additionally, you may need to use your tadpole powers, which are linked to the Absolute, to assert dominance over others or gain favor with its followers.
One important strategy when siding with the Absolute is to carefully manage your relationships with your companions. Many of your party members, such as Shadowheart, Lae'zel, and Wyll, have personal stakes in opposing the Absolute. If you openly declare your allegiance to the Absolute, they may become hostile or even leave your party. To avoid this, you can use deception and manipulation to keep your true intentions hidden while still advancing the Absolute's agenda. For example, you might pretend to oppose the Absolute in front of your companions while secretly working to further its goals.
A common mistake to avoid is being too overt in your support for the Absolute. If you openly declare your allegiance too early or in front of the wrong people, you may alienate key allies and make it harder to achieve your objectives. Instead, it is often better to play the long game, gradually earning the trust of the Absolute's followers while keeping your true intentions hidden from your companions and other potential enemies. This requires careful planning and a willingness to make difficult moral choices.
Advanced techniques for siding with the Absolute include leveraging your tadpole powers to gain an edge in combat and social interactions. These powers allow you to dominate the minds of others, giving you access to unique dialogue options and combat abilities. For example, you can use your tadpole powers to intimidate or persuade enemies into submission, or to gain valuable information from NPCs. Additionally, you can use these powers to enhance your combat effectiveness, such as by gaining temporary buffs or summoning allies to fight alongside you.
From a D&D rules perspective, siding with the Absolute involves embracing the darker aspects of the game's morality system. This means making choices that align with the chaotic evil or neutral evil alignments, as you are essentially working to further the goals of a malevolent force. This can have significant consequences for your character's development, as well as for the overall narrative. For example, your character may become more ruthless and power-hungry, and you may lose access to certain quests or storylines that require a more heroic approach.
Specific examples of siding with the Absolute include the decision to spare or kill certain characters, such as Minthara, a drow paladin who serves the Absolute. If you spare her and align with her, you can recruit her as a companion, further solidifying your allegiance to the Absolute. Another example is the choice to either destroy or control the Elder Brain, the source of the Absolute's power. If you choose to control the Elder Brain, you effectively become the new leader of the Absolute, cementing your dominance over the world.
In conclusion, siding with the Absolute in Baldur's Gate 3 is a complex and morally ambiguous path that requires careful planning and strategic decision-making. By understanding the mechanics involved, managing your relationships with companions, and leveraging your tadpole powers, you can successfully align yourself with the Absolute and shape the narrative in a dark and powerful direction. However, this path comes with significant consequences, including the potential loss of allies and the embrace of a morally questionable agenda.
To side with the Absolute, you must first progress through the main story until you encounter key moments where you can choose to align with its forces. One of the earliest opportunities occurs when you meet the True Soul Nere in the Underdark. Nere is a servant of the Absolute, and you can choose to assist him in his mission, which involves eliminating the duergar rebels. By helping Nere, you begin to align yourself with the Absolute's agenda. Another critical moment comes when you reach Moonrise Towers, the stronghold of the Absolute's forces. Here, you can choose to infiltrate the cult from within, gaining the trust of its leaders, such as Ketheric Thorm, and furthering the Absolute's goals.
The mechanics of siding with the Absolute involve making specific dialogue choices and completing quests that align with its objectives. For example, during conversations with True Souls or cult leaders, you must express loyalty to the Absolute and avoid actions that would undermine its authority. This may involve deceiving or manipulating other characters, as well as making morally questionable decisions. Additionally, you may need to use your tadpole powers, which are linked to the Absolute, to assert dominance over others or gain favor with its followers.
One important strategy when siding with the Absolute is to carefully manage your relationships with your companions. Many of your party members, such as Shadowheart, Lae'zel, and Wyll, have personal stakes in opposing the Absolute. If you openly declare your allegiance to the Absolute, they may become hostile or even leave your party. To avoid this, you can use deception and manipulation to keep your true intentions hidden while still advancing the Absolute's agenda. For example, you might pretend to oppose the Absolute in front of your companions while secretly working to further its goals.
A common mistake to avoid is being too overt in your support for the Absolute. If you openly declare your allegiance too early or in front of the wrong people, you may alienate key allies and make it harder to achieve your objectives. Instead, it is often better to play the long game, gradually earning the trust of the Absolute's followers while keeping your true intentions hidden from your companions and other potential enemies. This requires careful planning and a willingness to make difficult moral choices.
Advanced techniques for siding with the Absolute include leveraging your tadpole powers to gain an edge in combat and social interactions. These powers allow you to dominate the minds of others, giving you access to unique dialogue options and combat abilities. For example, you can use your tadpole powers to intimidate or persuade enemies into submission, or to gain valuable information from NPCs. Additionally, you can use these powers to enhance your combat effectiveness, such as by gaining temporary buffs or summoning allies to fight alongside you.
From a D&D rules perspective, siding with the Absolute involves embracing the darker aspects of the game's morality system. This means making choices that align with the chaotic evil or neutral evil alignments, as you are essentially working to further the goals of a malevolent force. This can have significant consequences for your character's development, as well as for the overall narrative. For example, your character may become more ruthless and power-hungry, and you may lose access to certain quests or storylines that require a more heroic approach.
Specific examples of siding with the Absolute include the decision to spare or kill certain characters, such as Minthara, a drow paladin who serves the Absolute. If you spare her and align with her, you can recruit her as a companion, further solidifying your allegiance to the Absolute. Another example is the choice to either destroy or control the Elder Brain, the source of the Absolute's power. If you choose to control the Elder Brain, you effectively become the new leader of the Absolute, cementing your dominance over the world.
In conclusion, siding with the Absolute in Baldur's Gate 3 is a complex and morally ambiguous path that requires careful planning and strategic decision-making. By understanding the mechanics involved, managing your relationships with companions, and leveraging your tadpole powers, you can successfully align yourself with the Absolute and shape the narrative in a dark and powerful direction. However, this path comes with significant consequences, including the potential loss of allies and the embrace of a morally questionable agenda.