What are the consequences of siding with the goblins in Baldur's Gate 3 for companion relationships?
Siding with the goblins in Baldur's Gate 3 is a significant story choice that can have profound consequences for your relationships with your companions. This decision is tied to the main questline and occurs early in the game, where you are presented with the option to either help the goblins or side with the druids and tieflings at the Emerald Grove. Choosing to side with the goblins will drastically alter the course of the story and your interactions with your companions, as it involves betraying the tieflings and druids, who are seen as the more morally upright factions.
The mechanics involved in this decision revolve around the approval system, which tracks how your companions feel about your actions and choices. Each companion has their own personality, values, and moral compass, and they will react differently to your decision to side with the goblins. For example, companions like Wyll and Karlach, who are more inclined toward heroism and protecting the innocent, will strongly disapprove of siding with the goblins. On the other hand, Astarion, who is more morally ambiguous and self-serving, may not disapprove as strongly, or might even approve, depending on how you frame your decision.
To side with the goblins, you will need to complete certain tasks for them, such as infiltrating the Emerald Grove and helping them attack the tieflings and druids. This will involve combat and dialogue choices that can further influence your companions' approval. For instance, if you choose to spare certain characters or show mercy, some companions may react more favorably, while others may see it as a sign of weakness. It's important to pay attention to the dialogue options and the reactions of your companions, as these will give you clues about how they feel about your choices.
One important tip is to consider the long-term consequences of your decision. Siding with the goblins will lock you out of certain quests and storylines involving the tieflings and druids, and it will also affect your ability to recruit certain companions. For example, if you side with the goblins, you will not be able to recruit Halsin, the druid leader, as a companion. Additionally, some companions may leave your party altogether if they strongly disapprove of your actions. Wyll, for instance, is likely to leave if you side with the goblins, as he is deeply committed to protecting the innocent.
A common mistake to avoid is making this decision without considering the impact on your party composition and the overall story. If you are relying on certain companions for their abilities or if you are pursuing a romance with a companion who disapproves of siding with the goblins, you may find yourself at a disadvantage. It's also important to consider the role-playing aspect of your character. If you are playing a character who values loyalty and heroism, siding with the goblins may not align with your character's values, which can make the story feel less cohesive.
Advanced techniques for managing companion relationships when siding with the goblins include using dialogue options to mitigate disapproval. For example, you can try to justify your actions to your companions by framing them as necessary for survival or as a means to a greater end. This can sometimes soften the blow of their disapproval, especially if you have built up a high level of approval with them beforehand. Additionally, you can focus on building relationships with companions who are more likely to approve of your decision, such as Astarion or Lae'zel, who have more pragmatic and self-serving outlooks.
In terms of D&D rules and mechanics, the approval system in Baldur's Gate 3 is a simplified version of the influence system found in tabletop Dungeons & Dragons. In tabletop D&D, the Dungeon Master (DM) has more flexibility to adjust NPC reactions based on the players' actions, but in Baldur's Gate 3, these reactions are pre-programmed based on the companions' personalities and values. This means that your choices will have more predictable outcomes, but it also means that you need to be more strategic in how you manage your relationships.
Specific examples of how siding with the goblins can affect companion relationships include the potential for Wyll to leave your party, as mentioned earlier. Another example is Shadowheart, who may disapprove of siding with the goblins but is less likely to leave the party outright, as her primary focus is on her own goals and survival. Gale, on the other hand, may disapprove but will likely stay with the party, as he is more focused on his own arcane pursuits. Lae'zel, who values strength and survival, may not disapprove as strongly, especially if you frame your decision as a strategic move.
In conclusion, siding with the goblins in Baldur's Gate 3 is a major decision that will have significant consequences for your relationships with your companions. It's important to consider the approval system, the long-term impact on the story, and the role-playing aspect of your character when making this choice. By paying attention to your companions' reactions and using dialogue options strategically, you can manage their approval and maintain a cohesive party, even if you choose to side with the goblins.
The mechanics involved in this decision revolve around the approval system, which tracks how your companions feel about your actions and choices. Each companion has their own personality, values, and moral compass, and they will react differently to your decision to side with the goblins. For example, companions like Wyll and Karlach, who are more inclined toward heroism and protecting the innocent, will strongly disapprove of siding with the goblins. On the other hand, Astarion, who is more morally ambiguous and self-serving, may not disapprove as strongly, or might even approve, depending on how you frame your decision.
To side with the goblins, you will need to complete certain tasks for them, such as infiltrating the Emerald Grove and helping them attack the tieflings and druids. This will involve combat and dialogue choices that can further influence your companions' approval. For instance, if you choose to spare certain characters or show mercy, some companions may react more favorably, while others may see it as a sign of weakness. It's important to pay attention to the dialogue options and the reactions of your companions, as these will give you clues about how they feel about your choices.
One important tip is to consider the long-term consequences of your decision. Siding with the goblins will lock you out of certain quests and storylines involving the tieflings and druids, and it will also affect your ability to recruit certain companions. For example, if you side with the goblins, you will not be able to recruit Halsin, the druid leader, as a companion. Additionally, some companions may leave your party altogether if they strongly disapprove of your actions. Wyll, for instance, is likely to leave if you side with the goblins, as he is deeply committed to protecting the innocent.
A common mistake to avoid is making this decision without considering the impact on your party composition and the overall story. If you are relying on certain companions for their abilities or if you are pursuing a romance with a companion who disapproves of siding with the goblins, you may find yourself at a disadvantage. It's also important to consider the role-playing aspect of your character. If you are playing a character who values loyalty and heroism, siding with the goblins may not align with your character's values, which can make the story feel less cohesive.
Advanced techniques for managing companion relationships when siding with the goblins include using dialogue options to mitigate disapproval. For example, you can try to justify your actions to your companions by framing them as necessary for survival or as a means to a greater end. This can sometimes soften the blow of their disapproval, especially if you have built up a high level of approval with them beforehand. Additionally, you can focus on building relationships with companions who are more likely to approve of your decision, such as Astarion or Lae'zel, who have more pragmatic and self-serving outlooks.
In terms of D&D rules and mechanics, the approval system in Baldur's Gate 3 is a simplified version of the influence system found in tabletop Dungeons & Dragons. In tabletop D&D, the Dungeon Master (DM) has more flexibility to adjust NPC reactions based on the players' actions, but in Baldur's Gate 3, these reactions are pre-programmed based on the companions' personalities and values. This means that your choices will have more predictable outcomes, but it also means that you need to be more strategic in how you manage your relationships.
Specific examples of how siding with the goblins can affect companion relationships include the potential for Wyll to leave your party, as mentioned earlier. Another example is Shadowheart, who may disapprove of siding with the goblins but is less likely to leave the party outright, as her primary focus is on her own goals and survival. Gale, on the other hand, may disapprove but will likely stay with the party, as he is more focused on his own arcane pursuits. Lae'zel, who values strength and survival, may not disapprove as strongly, especially if you frame your decision as a strategic move.
In conclusion, siding with the goblins in Baldur's Gate 3 is a major decision that will have significant consequences for your relationships with your companions. It's important to consider the approval system, the long-term impact on the story, and the role-playing aspect of your character when making this choice. By paying attention to your companions' reactions and using dialogue options strategically, you can manage their approval and maintain a cohesive party, even if you choose to side with the goblins.