I imagine there is a similar thread somewhere in the forums already, but I couldn't find it no matter how far back I scrolled, so forgive me if I'm repeating more of the same. Spoilers ahead.
I thought that the Emperor reveal/storyline was genius - so much better than the hero from the past coming to our aid/the worm in our head trying to corrupt us with hallucinations cliches. And while I loved what content of it was there, it really did feel lacking/unpolished/unfinished at times:
- The fact that its past identity reveal has no impact, and no one comments on it and it can't be discussed further with anyone (other than a comment from Duke Ravenguard).
- Is it the Mindflayer that infected us? Yes the model in the cinematic is 100% his, but it doesn't make much sense chronologically, not to mention the same scene still plays out even if you play Durge. How much of it is intentional and how much is just a EA/full release inconsistency? (personally I'm leaning towards the latter)
- Stelmane. The Emperor presents the situation in different light depending on whether it wants to intimidate you or not. I assume some of it is intentional so that the player never knows where it stands with the Mindflayer, but you should really have the option to look further into this and call the Emperor out on it.
- Similarly, you find bits and pieces about its past throughout Act 3 but never get so much as a comment on any of them. With every major character you get expendable questions (ie you can question Isobel about her relation to Ketheric if you find the associated journal), but you never get a chance with the Emperor.
- Completing House of Hope without falling out with the Emperor. That's probably my biggest gripe. Why isn't 'killing Raphael' enough of a reason to go to the House? He has the hammer and he wants the Crown. The logical thing to do is to *secure* the hammer from him in case he contracts someone else to wield it and gets in our way during the final confrontation. Which btw Rapael should have done, being the manipulative mastermind he is. Instead he becomes utterly irrelevant to the story and doesn't appear at all during the ending --which, like everything, probably has to do with the studio meeting deadlines and staying on budget. But at least give the PC an option to justify their actions.
- No romance resolution. Was that a fling? You married? You're adopted as his pet? You'll never know because the game pretends it never happened. I imagine the companions would have a lot to say about it. And it deserves addressing in the ending, one way or another. As it is now it feels like a superficial late-game addition, which it probably is, but if you were going to do it half-heartedly, perhaps don't add it at all (although I'm glad they added it, that's top RP right there).
- Small things. You know how other companions' dialogue changes slightly depending on the order you do things. It should have been the same with the Emperor, ie if you learn that it was Balduran before the dream sequence, you should have the option to address it.
- Generally more interactions.
I know that it's unlikely we'll ever get much more out of its character, but one can hope.
*Please no Emperor hate on this post. This isn't a "25 (more) Reasons Why the Emperor is a Manipulative C*nt" thread nor is it a "MFs (M stands for Mindflayer) Unite - The Emperor Did Nothing Wrong" thread.
You can love it or hate it, but my point is that its story is underdeveloped. Incidentally, in one playthrough I allied with it, in another I freed Orpheus, and in another I ate its head. I find its character one of the most intriguing in the game, and the sheer amount of debate and speculation it sparks is testament to that.
Last edited by kirkoni; 27/11/23 02:08 PM. Reason: add spoiler tag
