What are the consequences of siding with the Absolute in Baldur's Gate 3 for companion relationships?
Siding with the Absolute in Baldur's Gate 3 has significant consequences for your relationships with your companions, as it directly conflicts with their personal goals, morals, and storylines. The Absolute represents a powerful, malevolent force that seeks to dominate and control, and aligning with it often means embracing tyranny and destruction. This choice will alienate many of your companions, as most of them have personal stakes in opposing the Absolute or are morally opposed to its ideology. HereÔÇÖs a detailed breakdown of how this decision impacts your companions and what you need to consider.
First, letÔÇÖs discuss the mechanics involved. Each companion in Baldur's Gate 3 has an approval system that tracks how they feel about your actions and decisions. This approval is influenced by dialogue choices, quest outcomes, and major story decisions. Siding with the Absolute is a major story decision that will drastically lower the approval of companions who value freedom, justice, or personal autonomy. For example, companions like Shadowheart, Gale, and Wyll are likely to disapprove of this choice because it goes against their core values. Shadowheart, for instance, is deeply tied to her faith and personal quest, which may conflict with the AbsoluteÔÇÖs goals. Gale, who seeks redemption and knowledge, would find the AbsoluteÔÇÖs destructive nature abhorrent. Wyll, a hero at heart, would see this as a betrayal of his ideals.
Step-by-step, siding with the Absolute typically involves making choices during key story moments, such as when interacting with the Cult of the Absolute or during pivotal quests like the assault on Moonrise Towers. To align with the Absolute, you would need to support its leaders, such as Ketheric Thorm, and carry out their orders. This might involve betraying allies, sacrificing innocents, or embracing dark powers. As you make these choices, your companions will react in real-time, often expressing their disapproval or even threatening to leave the party.
Important tips and considerations include understanding each companionÔÇÖs motivations and how they align with the Absolute. For example, Astarion, who is more morally ambiguous, might be more tolerant of your decision, especially if it benefits him personally. However, even he may draw the line if the AbsoluteÔÇÖs goals threaten his freedom or survival. LaeÔÇÖzel, who is fiercely loyal to her people and their goals, might initially support the Absolute if she believes it serves her peopleÔÇÖs interests, but this could change as she learns more about its true nature. ItÔÇÖs crucial to weigh these dynamics before making your choice.
Common mistakes to avoid include assuming that all companions will tolerate or support your decision. Many players make the error of thinking they can balance their alignment with the Absolute while maintaining good relationships with all companions. This is rarely possible, as the AbsoluteÔÇÖs goals are fundamentally opposed to the values of most companions. Another mistake is underestimating the long-term consequences of this choice. Siding with the Absolute can lock you out of certain companion quests, romance options, and story outcomes, as companions may leave or become hostile.
Advanced techniques or optimizations involve carefully managing your party composition and dialogue choices to minimize fallout. For example, if you plan to side with the Absolute, you might want to prioritize companions who are more likely to tolerate or support this decision, such as Astarion or LaeÔÇÖzel. You can also use persuasion or deception checks to mitigate disapproval from other companions, though this is not always effective. Additionally, completing certain companion quests before making this choice can strengthen your bond and make them more forgiving, though this is not guaranteed.
In terms of related D&D rules and mechanics, the approval system in Baldur's Gate 3 is inspired by the alignment and relationship dynamics in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition. Characters have their own alignments and motivations, which influence how they react to your actions. Siding with the Absolute is akin to embracing an evil alignment, which naturally conflicts with characters who are good-aligned or value freedom and justice.
Specific examples and scenarios include the moment when you are asked to pledge allegiance to the Absolute during the assault on Moonrise Towers. If you choose to do so, companions like Wyll and Gale may express immediate disapproval, with Wyll even threatening to leave the party. Shadowheart, depending on her personal quest progression, may also react negatively, especially if she is leaning towards rejecting her dark past. On the other hand, Astarion might see this as an opportunity to gain power, though his support is conditional and self-serving.
In conclusion, siding with the Absolute in Baldur's Gate 3 is a major decision that will profoundly impact your relationships with your companions. It is essential to understand each companionÔÇÖs motivations, manage their approval carefully, and be prepared for the consequences of your choice. While this path offers unique story opportunities and power, it comes at the cost of alienating many of your allies and potentially locking you out of key storylines and romances.
First, letÔÇÖs discuss the mechanics involved. Each companion in Baldur's Gate 3 has an approval system that tracks how they feel about your actions and decisions. This approval is influenced by dialogue choices, quest outcomes, and major story decisions. Siding with the Absolute is a major story decision that will drastically lower the approval of companions who value freedom, justice, or personal autonomy. For example, companions like Shadowheart, Gale, and Wyll are likely to disapprove of this choice because it goes against their core values. Shadowheart, for instance, is deeply tied to her faith and personal quest, which may conflict with the AbsoluteÔÇÖs goals. Gale, who seeks redemption and knowledge, would find the AbsoluteÔÇÖs destructive nature abhorrent. Wyll, a hero at heart, would see this as a betrayal of his ideals.
Step-by-step, siding with the Absolute typically involves making choices during key story moments, such as when interacting with the Cult of the Absolute or during pivotal quests like the assault on Moonrise Towers. To align with the Absolute, you would need to support its leaders, such as Ketheric Thorm, and carry out their orders. This might involve betraying allies, sacrificing innocents, or embracing dark powers. As you make these choices, your companions will react in real-time, often expressing their disapproval or even threatening to leave the party.
Important tips and considerations include understanding each companionÔÇÖs motivations and how they align with the Absolute. For example, Astarion, who is more morally ambiguous, might be more tolerant of your decision, especially if it benefits him personally. However, even he may draw the line if the AbsoluteÔÇÖs goals threaten his freedom or survival. LaeÔÇÖzel, who is fiercely loyal to her people and their goals, might initially support the Absolute if she believes it serves her peopleÔÇÖs interests, but this could change as she learns more about its true nature. ItÔÇÖs crucial to weigh these dynamics before making your choice.
Common mistakes to avoid include assuming that all companions will tolerate or support your decision. Many players make the error of thinking they can balance their alignment with the Absolute while maintaining good relationships with all companions. This is rarely possible, as the AbsoluteÔÇÖs goals are fundamentally opposed to the values of most companions. Another mistake is underestimating the long-term consequences of this choice. Siding with the Absolute can lock you out of certain companion quests, romance options, and story outcomes, as companions may leave or become hostile.
Advanced techniques or optimizations involve carefully managing your party composition and dialogue choices to minimize fallout. For example, if you plan to side with the Absolute, you might want to prioritize companions who are more likely to tolerate or support this decision, such as Astarion or LaeÔÇÖzel. You can also use persuasion or deception checks to mitigate disapproval from other companions, though this is not always effective. Additionally, completing certain companion quests before making this choice can strengthen your bond and make them more forgiving, though this is not guaranteed.
In terms of related D&D rules and mechanics, the approval system in Baldur's Gate 3 is inspired by the alignment and relationship dynamics in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition. Characters have their own alignments and motivations, which influence how they react to your actions. Siding with the Absolute is akin to embracing an evil alignment, which naturally conflicts with characters who are good-aligned or value freedom and justice.
Specific examples and scenarios include the moment when you are asked to pledge allegiance to the Absolute during the assault on Moonrise Towers. If you choose to do so, companions like Wyll and Gale may express immediate disapproval, with Wyll even threatening to leave the party. Shadowheart, depending on her personal quest progression, may also react negatively, especially if she is leaning towards rejecting her dark past. On the other hand, Astarion might see this as an opportunity to gain power, though his support is conditional and self-serving.
In conclusion, siding with the Absolute in Baldur's Gate 3 is a major decision that will profoundly impact your relationships with your companions. It is essential to understand each companionÔÇÖs motivations, manage their approval carefully, and be prepared for the consequences of your choice. While this path offers unique story opportunities and power, it comes at the cost of alienating many of your allies and potentially locking you out of key storylines and romances.