Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Story & Character Discussion SPOILER - Dark Urge and Romance

To be more specific I'm talking about the final confrontation with Orin and the rejection of Bhaals gifts.

Let me start this of by saying that I've enjoyed the game for the most part but the lack of reaction from companions and especially your romantic partner have left me rather disappointed.

If you decide to reject Bhaal what follows is a temper tantrum by Bhaal where he ends up taking away your Bhaalspawn powers and he ends up killing you.

You get a scene where you end up levitating above the ground as your blood and your life leaves you, truly a gruesome scene and while this is happening what are your companions doing. Nothing, they just stand there like puppets.
There is no scream of terror coming from your significant other that their partner is dying, there are no attempt from them or your other companions trying to save you, just you dying.

And after you die and your party is just standing there like a bunch of mannequins Withers shows up to resurrect your ass and again what do your companions do, nothing. (at this point I found it rather funny that the main character went through a painful death and resurrection in front of their whole party without anyone lifting a finger or saying anything)

There are no shouts for joy, there are not comments how they thought they lost you just blank stares and Withers monologuing how your became a hero and rejected the evil that was inside you.

The only reaction you get from your companions and your romance partner is the little Evangelion reaction where they say congratulations and clap after you click on them..

So I really do hope Larian is paying attention to their forums unlike BioWare and if they do decide to release the Definitive Edition they do at least reconsider changing that whole scene a little by adding something that would make the companions and especially the romanced ones come of as more human and not just meat puppets that are just there.

I mean the entire party are all battle hardened warriors so I don't really have a problem with the partner not screaming...probably doesn't even realize exactly what's going on at first. As for saving you...what do you expect them to do? There's nobody they can see or attack...should they start stabbing the dead...well, whatever Sceleritas is? Should they be stabbing the pool of blood on the floor that Bhall is talking to? Should they attack the giant Bhaal symbol on the wall at the back? There's nothing they can do for you...no enemy they can go after. The companions do appear quite shocked but beyond that there's nothing they can do for you.

I suppose there could be a bit more dialogue about it afterwards but what is there is fine. I don't think overly exaggerated reactions. This is a bunch who face death on a daily basis and are aleays fully aware that any one of them could die at any given time. It would be beneath them to start screaming or to to be in too much shock. Also worth pointing out that death and resurrection is fairly common business for D&D parties.

Fist let me apologize if this comes of as a combative response, it is not meant as one. (you never know how people will interpret your response on the internet)

I find it rather funny that you would say that they are all battle hardened warriors and yet throughout the story all of them have multiple breakdowns. (showing emotions)

Shadowheart freaks out when confronting Shar and cries when the whole ordeal is over (parents alive/dead) - Significant other dies, just stands there.

Astarion freaks out when he sees his old lover as a vampire spawn and the whole Cazador thing - Significant other dies, he just stands there.

Wylls father gets kidnaped and he witness him becoming a thrall, what does he do? He freaks out and shows emotion. - Significant other dies, he just stands there.

Karlach is freaking out about dying and wanting to experience love? That finally happens to her and she is so happy. - Significant other dies, she just stands there

You get my point.

As for saving the main character, no I didn't actually mean them saving you or stabbing pools of blood (I might have worded that part poorly)

But a normal human reaction is to do something, run towards the body of the fallen, comment about using resurrections, saying some sappy shit like 'I cant lose you!' etc.

Either way its not that big of a deal, just personal preference. (and its a bit funny since act 1 has a lot of reactivity but as you progress through the story act 2 and 3 have less of it, and this scene was just a cherry on top for me)

There are other more important things in the game that need attention but as I said those are already covered in other threads.

Shadowheart does lose her parents, you don't stay dead, she's forced to kill her parents, your partner isn't the one killing you, etc. At that moment there is nothing they can do, and they don't even understand what is happening. They're all a bit in shock as they understand something way out of their depths is going on but they don't really know what is happening. You can't compare characters showing emotion in moments when they understand what is going on to moments when they have no idea what just happened...and even if they did they all have a basic understanding that giving in to Bhaal would be vastly worse. There is absolutely nothing they can do in that moment but stand back in shock.

I understand where you are coming from and can see it as a situation that would put someone in a state of shock where they wouldn't be able to react. (or know how to)

I think my interpretation of the whole scene came from the fact that this was my 2nd playthrough and at that point I had already experienced quests ending abruptly/ cut content/ bugs messing with dialogue-quests.
So the way I saw it wasnt shock but more of a companions = idle stance lol.

And the response after the whole thing was over was rather bland (my opinion). At the end of the day its up to Larian if they want to add something more to it or not.

Either way I appreciate your response, it was interesting to see someone else's interpretation of that scene.

Your companions simply did not see anything. These are gods we are dealing with, right? Baal and Jergal. Nothing is stopping them from removing you from reality, of use timestop, or vail the minds of your companions somehow. They do not need all collective tadpoles (or six heroes) to be involved and ruin their plans for you. Maybe something later got through, but not in the moment.