How do I start Minthara's personal quest in Baldur's Gate 3?

To start Minthara's personal quest in Baldur's Gate 3, you need to first recruit her as a companion, which involves making specific story choices that align with her goals and ideology. Minthara is a Drow Paladin of the Absolute, and her recruitment is tied to the main story arc involving the Goblin Camp and the Druid Grove. Here is a detailed explanation of how to start her personal quest, including mechanics, strategies, and tips.

First, you need to reach the Goblin Camp, which is located in the Shattered Sanctum. This area becomes accessible after you explore the Emerald Grove and interact with the Tieflings and Druids. The Goblin Camp is a hostile environment, and you will need to navigate it carefully. Minthara is one of the leaders of the Goblin Camp, and she can be found in the Shattered Sanctum. To recruit her, you must side with the Goblins and the Absolute, which means betraying the Tieflings and Druids at the Emerald Grove. This is a significant story choice that will have lasting consequences, so make sure you are prepared for the outcomes.

When you first meet Minthara, she will be discussing plans to attack the Emerald Grove. You need to express your willingness to help her in this endeavor. This involves making dialogue choices that show your support for the Absolute and your willingness to eliminate the Tieflings and Druids. Minthara is a pragmatic and ruthless character, so she will respond positively to actions that demonstrate strength and loyalty to the Absolute. Once you agree to help her, she will task you with infiltrating the Emerald Grove and opening the gates for the Goblin attack.

After you complete this task and the Goblins successfully attack the Grove, Minthara will join your party as a companion. At this point, her personal quest will begin. Her quest revolves around her loyalty to the Absolute and her desire to uncover the truth about the mysterious forces controlling the world. As you progress through the story, you will encounter situations where you can either strengthen or weaken her loyalty to the Absolute. These choices will affect her personal quest and the outcomes of her story.

One important tip is to pay close attention to Minthara's approval rating. Like other companions, Minthara has an approval system that tracks how she feels about your actions and decisions. To keep her loyalty and progress her quest, you need to make choices that align with her values. This includes being ruthless in combat, showing no mercy to enemies, and prioritizing the goals of the Absolute. If you make choices that go against her ideology, such as showing compassion to enemies or siding with the Tieflings, her approval will decrease, and she may eventually leave your party.

A common mistake to avoid is trying to recruit Minthara while also trying to maintain good relationships with other companions who oppose her, such as Wyll or Karlach. These companions have strong moral convictions and will disapprove of your actions if you side with Minthara. If you want to keep them in your party, you will need to carefully balance your choices or accept that some companions may leave. Another mistake is underestimating the difficulty of the Goblin Camp. The area is filled with powerful enemies, and you will need a strong party and good combat tactics to survive. Make sure your party is well-equipped and prepared for tough battles.

Advanced techniques for optimizing Minthara's recruitment and quest progression include using stealth and deception to navigate the Goblin Camp without alerting too many enemies. You can also use dialogue options to manipulate other characters and gain their trust, which can make it easier to complete Minthara's tasks. Additionally, focusing on building a party composition that complements Minthara's abilities can enhance your effectiveness in combat. As a Paladin, Minthara excels in melee combat and has powerful smite abilities, so pairing her with ranged characters or spellcasters can create a balanced and effective team.

In terms of D&D 5E rules, Minthara's abilities are based on the Paladin class, which means she has access to divine smite, lay on hands, and other Paladin features. Understanding these mechanics can help you make the most of her abilities in combat. For example, divine smite allows her to deal extra damage to enemies, especially undead or fiends, so using this ability strategically can turn the tide of battle. Additionally, her oath to the Absolute gives her unique powers and restrictions, so be mindful of how her alignment affects her actions and interactions.

Specific examples of scenarios where Minthara's personal quest progresses include encounters with other followers of the Absolute, such as the True Souls or the Chosen. These characters often have information or tasks that can advance Minthara's understanding of the Absolute's plans. Completing these tasks and making choices that align with her goals will deepen her loyalty and unlock new story developments. For instance, if you encounter a True Soul who is plotting against the Absolute, Minthara may urge you to eliminate them to prove your loyalty.

In conclusion, starting Minthara's personal quest in Baldur's Gate 3 requires careful navigation of the story and alignment with her values. By siding with the Goblins, completing her tasks, and maintaining her approval, you can recruit her and progress her quest. Pay attention to her approval rating, avoid common mistakes, and use advanced techniques to optimize your gameplay. Understanding the D&D 5E rules and her Paladin abilities will also help you make the most of her character. With these strategies, you can successfully start and complete Minthara's personal quest, unlocking unique story outcomes and rewards.