Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Suggestions & Feedback Mind Flayer as a late game companion

Since the player most likely cannot transform into a mind flayer (https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=92146&Number=704692#Post704692 )

It would be interesting to get such a companion at level 6-7 or later.
In the first act, we meet at least one non-aggressive mind flayer with whom we can communicate, which means there may be others. For example, a neutral mind flayer who has retained memory and personality, and therefore has to fear other mind flayers. The presence of such a character could fully reveal the theme of the mind flayers.

It would be an interesting experience, since it is impossible to create such a character in the editor, but the race is represented in the game and is sentient. I would even say too smart.

This shouldn't be a problem, as in Dragon Age Origin we cannot create Qunari, but we can take Stan into the party.

They communicate on the ship because they think you are thralls.

Mind-flayers would no more join your party than you would join a pack of squirrels foraging for nuts. Mind-flayers are alien, not just non-human.

I give you the write-up on mind-flayers:

Mind flayers, also known as illithids, meaning "mind flayers" or "mind rulers" in Undercommon, and sometimes referred to as ghaik by the githyanki, were evil and sadistic aberrations, feared by sentient creatures on many worlds across the multiverse due to their powerful innate psionic abilities.Dwellers of deep Underdark areas, these alien humanoid-looking beings sought to expand their dominion over all other creatures, controlling their minds to use them as hopeless slaves and devouring their brains for sustenance.

Not creatures to invite to adventure with. And please don't suggest they be romanced.

I was referring to the non-aggressive illithid that is available in the "Extracting the Parasite" quest in one of the options. There are also mentions in the lore of rare Ilythids who retained memories of life before the transformation, and are enemies of the rest of the Ilythids. Such rare cases may well be of a neutral alignment. Perhaps even regret that they have become so. And one of them may have their own motives to help our heroes

The problem with this lies in the lore and Larians commitments. Playable illithid are in Xanathars I think and they are not going to include non PHB material. The other problem is that illithid cannot really work against one another. They slowly wither and die without connection to the overmind and will do pretty much anything to be able to return to this state. Imagine if you slowly lost your ability to breath or eat if your community decided you are working against their interests. There is also the problem that the only thing that can feed them and sustain them is a combination of biological brain matter as well as the consciousness and psyche of sentient intelligence a.k.a humanoids.

Took the information, thank you very much

I'm sure the anime weirdos would love that

There is no playable illithid race in 5E. Xannathar's book has some monstrous options such as goblins and the yuan-ti, but that is how far it goes. 3.5E had an illithid option for players as monster class levels, but that was never really a playable option for most games, maybe epic levels. I do expect however that Larian will introduce some of the non-PHB races, since they've already included some options for the tieflings and half-elves that are not from Players Handbook.

Also, you mustn't forget that mindlayers are completely alien, almost Lovecraftian horrors that seldom have any need to form any social connection with lesser beings (AKA. food or slaves). There are individuals that break the norm, but their thoughts and reason should still be too alien in my opinion.