Obviously, big spoilers ahead.
I am sorry if such a thread already exists, I couldn't quite find it.
So I've just finished my first playthrough, and, while I liked the game quite I bit, the ending felt... abrupt.
The good ending just doesn't feel good to me. The fact that it's just a cinematic with very little dialogue options, makes it feel like a bad, or very bittersweet ending. When you win, but it comes at such a big cost, that victory is almost indistinguishable from defeat. That really isn't the case with the good ending, is it?
The good ending has to feel good, it has to give the player a hint of the bright future ahead of the characters, not the worrying uncertainty that we get here.
And I agree with the people in the Durge ending discussion thread: at least, there has to be some kind of party at the end. Something like the party at the end of act I, but bigger. Where the player could talk to companions and plenty of other characters, ask them about their plans for the future, and share his plans, if he has any.
I have thought about this for some time, and I have some ideas I would like to share. Don't be too harsh to them, these are just things I myself would want to see in game.
Disclaimer: I am also giving some ideas about the ending where you become a mindflayer, but I don't know what happens in the ending, so some of my ideas may already be present in the game.
Firstly, some additions to the scene on the shore. There could be an option to tell Orpheus that you want to join the githyanki when the time for the final battle against Vlaakith comes, and he could tell you that he allows you to keep the egg you stole from the crèche. If you didn't give the egg to anyone that is.
And then at the party in the Elven Song you would be able to ask all the companions something like: "So, what now?" Good Astarion would tell you that he doesn't know what to do know, he can stay in Baldur's Gate but doesn't really know if he is welcomed there, and if you are one of the Underdark races you could tell him that you plan to return there, and he can go with you to look after those 6000 vampires that he freed. And if you became a mindflayer he could straight up offer you to join these vampires, as they don't really have anything to do with brains.
Evil ascended Astarion… Don't really have any ideas as I never picked that route with him.
Good Shadowheart could stay with Isobel and Aylin and help rebuild the city perhaps? Or maybe offer to follow you on whatever quest you want to pursue.
Evil Shadowheart has Sharite things to do, so there's really not much question here.
Non-romanced Laezel who you convinced to stay could… help you achieve your goal? I don't know, this route doesn't make much sense for her arc.
Karlach and BoA Wyll could tell more about their plan to return to Avernus, and if you are an illithid they could offer you to join them, provided that mindflayers can eat demon brains. Illithid Karlach could tell you about some way you can contact her if need be after she leaves.
Gale is actually fine IMO, he gets a somewhat reasonable ending to his arc.
Halsin could join Jaheira and her Harpers (seriously, the guy didn’t even show up at the final battle, what is wrong with him?). Minsc can either stay with Jaheira or work for the Ninefinger.
For Jaheira there could be another scene with her family perhaps?
Some other characters who weren’t present at the final battle could show up too. Misora could say hi if you didn’t break Wyll’s contract, Omelum could offer mindflayer you/illithid Karlach a place in the Society, Alfira could be performing at the tavern, etc.
And before going to the party, you definitely must’ve retrieved the Crown, and decided what to do with it. Attempt to destroy it, give it to Gale for his arc, maybe something else. And if you did sign the contract, you can only keep the crown. And in the end of the party Raphael would show up, say something based on when you signed his contract, and demand the Crown, which you can’t refuse to give. And maybe, if you are illithid, Raphael could hint that he can un-mindflay you, for a price. (I have no idea if that’s possible in the lore.)
Lastly, once the party ends, your LI would ask you the very same question: “What now?”. Maybe it could be a choice between you following your LI on their next quest, or you them you on your quest, based on race/class/playthrough choices.
So this is it for now, if these ideas are somewhat welcomed I could give them a little more thinking and put them to the Suggestions thread.
