I don't think they've done an entirely good job of this
Wich may also be intended ...
I mean our character should be aware of the fact that s/he is at risk ... but on the other hand s/he should also be aware of that risk isnt exactly imminent ...
I want to believe that writers in Larian are really trying to hit the middle ground here, where our characters cant really know how serious their situation is ...
To give us enough space to chill ... but also to freak out ... dont give any strong suggestion one way, or another, so they dont block out any of those options as completely irational.
But maybe that is just my feeling.
Well if it is intended, then my opinion on the matter is that it'sjust the wrong way to go about things. Maybe the characters shouldn't be aware (maybe) but for the players, we should be. Trying to leave us in the middle ground just results in a nebulous feeling of tension that just lingers for hours on end before inevitably fizzling out, because you can't maintain that kind of tension-especially half hearted tension, for that long without providing some final catharsis. A 90 minute movie can't maintain tension for its entire runtime and only resolve it at the end. Even if we try and rush through the game as quickly as possible because we're super scared of ceremorphosis, I predict it would take longer than 90 minutes to reach the point where we get the tadpole dealt with. And in doing so we would miss a LOT of content as a result. In my first playthrough, I tried to long rest as little as possible and as a result I missed out on SO MUCH companion interaction, which is my favorite part of these games.
And maybe it's just my cautious nature, but if there's a possibility of violent, painful transmutation into a whole different being, then any uncertainty as to the timetable to me can only logically be reacted to with "solve this as soon as possible." Even if we the players lose our sense of tension, it wouldn't make sense for the characters to do so, since they're the ones that actually have to live with the constant danger and uncertainty. So yeah, if this approach is a choice they're making, then I think it's the least satisfying choice.
