*shakes head sadly* Oh sweet summer children.
The consequences are not immediate, at times they are easily missed, other times they are not. Some open optional quests, others don't. some lead to more deaths, others lead to easier time for the party. yet they are their if you pull the blinders and need for immediate gratification, lose the win/fail mindset.
For instance [spoiler} if you persuade/intimidate whatever the tiefling that is trying to kill Sazza, one some of your party approves of the attempt, some disapprove of it. Then free the goblin. Take the goblin out of the druids grove, and when you get to the goblin camp you waltz on in. Yet if you go to a certain location you find the tiefling dead. How are being able to freely enter the goblin camp, and finding the tieflings body not a consequence of your actions? What is it to small should everything you do even this small encounter have some massive consequence? I'd call being able to freely enter the goblin camp pretty as you please a pretty hefty bonus. What if you fail and like having Wyll in your party? Well chances are of him sticking around is far slimmer if you kill the tiefling and free the goblin. meaning he may very well leave your party, or attack you when you camp. Again another consequence of your actions, and pass/fail. [spoiler]
plz stop and start to open your eyes, explore the world. Pay attention to things more. One pass, or one fail has a large consequence often immediate, and a small consequence sometimes easily missed. yet they are there you just need to open your eyes, and stop being so thin skinned, and needy.
I did this with Sazza. And this was a good example of how the whole game should be. You make a choice, its open a subquest and another path. The dialogue changes, the cut scene change, the NPC react differently . That is not what was described by the OP.
Yet it is, I could of used any of the interactions pass/fail things as a reference point, and shown how things change as you progress. Alot of them are subtle, but they all have impacts down the road, or immedaitly.
Even the fights have impact on what you can and can't do, that differs if you knock someone out. (which to me the mechanic is wonky but I went over it in another thread). Yes if you knock someone out they are still going to be hostile to you, forcing you to do it again, or just kill them. see below for examples as to why stuff makes sense to me. will mark it as spoilers since it may have not been found or has things I've found that others may not have.
[spoiler]
On this let me ask you If someone came up to you and told you they were changing into a mindflayer and you attacked them, they knocked you out. What would you do. They are still a threat to become a mind flayer, they seem to want to become one because they chose to continue their existance, when they really dont appear to have the time to go around like they did normally. Would you refrain from doing what most rational people think is right, putting down such an abomination, that goes against what you believe in with all your heart, is dangerous to your loved ones and family, is dangerous to everyone around. or would you let them continue, and eventually change?
You hate outsiders, an outsider came in and challenged your authority tried to manipulate you in front of your underlings. Mind you your not wholly good, you have an agenda, and they are in the way of it. They are also a threat to your people do to the belief you have that they are attracting monsters. Would you let them go, perhaps bring more goblins to your door, and this time not help you? Or would you do (seeing as how Kagha seems to be more beast then man, and more like a serpent then other beasts) what is necassary to protect yourself, and your family?
You are a High Priestess of a God, someone comes in that has a chance of turning into a mindflayer, which your God/Goddess can't stand, your a zealot, your crazy (both found out through interactions), this thing is a threat not only to your goddess but again to you, and your power. You yourself don't realize their is a worm inside your head, plus he/she is nothing to you. It again tries to manipulate you, or refuses to end itself. It is an abomination (as mindflayers are considered to be to everyone but their own kind for good reason) do you again simply let them walk free?
[spoiler]
What seems to be missing from many arguements is that your character is really no body important over all. That he/she is turning into what every race but one considers to be an abomination, that he/she is trying to manipulate people, or seems to be wanting this to happen by refusing treatment. There fore your character is a threat, a serious one. To everyone around him, everyone that really doesn't owe you anything, doesn't know you, that has other threats around, that has their own agendas, and beliefs. Sure you saved a grove, yet that is outweighed by manipulation, coercion, and you refusing to do what they want, or are showing you oppose them in some way.
No leader, noone wants Joe Smo to come in do whatever he wants, whenever he wants. He has already proven himself capable, and in alot of cases able to challenge you. When you do a check your trying to get them to do what you want, through coercion, manipulation, or whatever. In some instances they found out about your passenger again an abomination that will turn you into an abomination.
and a threat, and more of a threat when you change.
Yes you have choices, yes the npc's have choices. You have a goal, the Npc's have a goal, your companions have goals. This isn't skyrim were everyone wants you on their side, where everyone figures out your the Chosen One Dragonborn! This is a game with npc's that actually have an agenda that at times, and by your choices does, or doesn't align with their own. Which is far more realistic then go meet the Jarl who gives you a quest, and after said quest happily places you in front of those that have served him for years! Oh joy the great writing in that game....such a story line, do this we love you!! do that we love you!! your the Dragonborn I'm going to sing about it, doesn't matter you slaughtered an entire village, it wasn't near us!
