What happens if I let the Absolute take over in Baldur's Gate 3?
In Baldur's Gate 3, the concept of letting the Absolute take over is tied to the central narrative involving the Mind Flayers, the Illithid Tadpole, and the cult of the Absolute. The Absolute is a powerful entity that seeks to dominate the world, and your character is directly connected to this threat due to the Illithid Tadpole implanted in your brain. The game presents you with choices that can either resist the Absolute's influence or embrace it, leading to different outcomes for your character and the world.
To let the Absolute take over, you must make specific choices throughout the game that align with the goals of the Absolute and its followers. This involves embracing the power of the Illithid Tadpole, siding with the cult of the Absolute, and making decisions that further their agenda. The mechanics of this path are deeply tied to the story and your interactions with key characters, such as the Dream Visitor, the Chosen of the Absolute, and your companions.
The first step in this process is to embrace the Illithid Tadpole's power. Early in the game, you will encounter situations where you can use the Tadpole's abilities to influence others or gain advantages in combat. Each time you use these powers, you gain Illithid Wisdom points, which unlock new abilities and increase your connection to the Tadpole. To fully let the Absolute take over, you should consistently choose to use these powers and avoid resisting them. This will gradually increase your alignment with the Absolute's goals.
As you progress through the game, you will encounter the Chosen of the Absolute, who are key figures in the cult. These characters, such as Ketheric Thorm, Orin the Red, and Gortash, will offer you opportunities to join their cause. To let the Absolute take over, you should side with them and support their plans. This may involve betraying other factions, such as the Harpers or the Druids, and making morally questionable decisions that further the Absolute's dominance.
One important tip is to carefully manage your relationships with your companions. Some companions, like Lae'zel and Shadowheart, may be more open to embracing the Absolute's influence, while others, like Wyll and Karlach, will strongly oppose it. To avoid conflicts, you should focus on building relationships with companions who are more likely to support your choices. This can be done through dialogue options that align with their beliefs and by completing their personal quests in a way that reinforces your alignment with the Absolute.
A common mistake to avoid is resisting the Tadpole's influence too often. If you consistently choose to resist the Tadpole's powers, you will weaken your connection to the Absolute and make it harder to achieve this outcome. Additionally, failing to side with the Chosen of the Absolute at key moments can lock you out of this path. It's important to pay attention to the story and make choices that align with the Absolute's goals.
Advanced techniques involve optimizing your character build to take full advantage of the Illithid powers. For example, focusing on abilities that enhance your control over others, such as Charm Person or Dominate Person, can make it easier to manipulate NPCs and further the Absolute's agenda. Additionally, investing in skills like Persuasion and Intimidation can help you convince others to join your cause or intimidate them into submission.
From a D&D rules perspective, the Illithid Tadpole's powers are similar to certain psionic abilities found in the Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition rules. These abilities allow you to influence the minds of others, gain telepathic communication, and even transform into a Mind Flayer. The game's implementation of these rules is streamlined for gameplay, but the core mechanics are rooted in the D&D 5E system.
Specific examples of scenarios where you can let the Absolute take over include the confrontation with Ketheric Thorm in Act 2. If you choose to side with him and support his plans, you will strengthen your connection to the Absolute. Similarly, in Act 3, you can align with Gortash and Orin to consolidate power and further the Absolute's dominance. These choices will lead to a unique ending where the Absolute's influence spreads across the world, and your character becomes a key figure in this new order.
In conclusion, letting the Absolute take over in Baldur's Gate 3 requires a deliberate and consistent approach to embracing the Illithid Tadpole's power, siding with the Chosen of the Absolute, and making choices that further their agenda. By carefully managing your relationships, optimizing your character build, and avoiding common mistakes, you can achieve this outcome and experience a unique ending to the game.
To let the Absolute take over, you must make specific choices throughout the game that align with the goals of the Absolute and its followers. This involves embracing the power of the Illithid Tadpole, siding with the cult of the Absolute, and making decisions that further their agenda. The mechanics of this path are deeply tied to the story and your interactions with key characters, such as the Dream Visitor, the Chosen of the Absolute, and your companions.
The first step in this process is to embrace the Illithid Tadpole's power. Early in the game, you will encounter situations where you can use the Tadpole's abilities to influence others or gain advantages in combat. Each time you use these powers, you gain Illithid Wisdom points, which unlock new abilities and increase your connection to the Tadpole. To fully let the Absolute take over, you should consistently choose to use these powers and avoid resisting them. This will gradually increase your alignment with the Absolute's goals.
As you progress through the game, you will encounter the Chosen of the Absolute, who are key figures in the cult. These characters, such as Ketheric Thorm, Orin the Red, and Gortash, will offer you opportunities to join their cause. To let the Absolute take over, you should side with them and support their plans. This may involve betraying other factions, such as the Harpers or the Druids, and making morally questionable decisions that further the Absolute's dominance.
One important tip is to carefully manage your relationships with your companions. Some companions, like Lae'zel and Shadowheart, may be more open to embracing the Absolute's influence, while others, like Wyll and Karlach, will strongly oppose it. To avoid conflicts, you should focus on building relationships with companions who are more likely to support your choices. This can be done through dialogue options that align with their beliefs and by completing their personal quests in a way that reinforces your alignment with the Absolute.
A common mistake to avoid is resisting the Tadpole's influence too often. If you consistently choose to resist the Tadpole's powers, you will weaken your connection to the Absolute and make it harder to achieve this outcome. Additionally, failing to side with the Chosen of the Absolute at key moments can lock you out of this path. It's important to pay attention to the story and make choices that align with the Absolute's goals.
Advanced techniques involve optimizing your character build to take full advantage of the Illithid powers. For example, focusing on abilities that enhance your control over others, such as Charm Person or Dominate Person, can make it easier to manipulate NPCs and further the Absolute's agenda. Additionally, investing in skills like Persuasion and Intimidation can help you convince others to join your cause or intimidate them into submission.
From a D&D rules perspective, the Illithid Tadpole's powers are similar to certain psionic abilities found in the Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition rules. These abilities allow you to influence the minds of others, gain telepathic communication, and even transform into a Mind Flayer. The game's implementation of these rules is streamlined for gameplay, but the core mechanics are rooted in the D&D 5E system.
Specific examples of scenarios where you can let the Absolute take over include the confrontation with Ketheric Thorm in Act 2. If you choose to side with him and support his plans, you will strengthen your connection to the Absolute. Similarly, in Act 3, you can align with Gortash and Orin to consolidate power and further the Absolute's dominance. These choices will lead to a unique ending where the Absolute's influence spreads across the world, and your character becomes a key figure in this new order.
In conclusion, letting the Absolute take over in Baldur's Gate 3 requires a deliberate and consistent approach to embracing the Illithid Tadpole's power, siding with the Chosen of the Absolute, and making choices that further their agenda. By carefully managing your relationships, optimizing your character build, and avoiding common mistakes, you can achieve this outcome and experience a unique ending to the game.