Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Story & Character Discussion [END SPOILS WARNING] Addressing Karlach (PLEASE PUT SPOILERS IN TAGS)

100% Agreed.

While I can certainly entertain Doomslaying, a front against Zariel/the Hells and fighting through them. I see no way to justify being in Avernus for any purpose other than to find a permanent solution and way out, using the House of Hope as a half-way refuge type deal. It'd require a super satisfying piece of writing to make an expansion on the Avernus ending as good as/better than simply using the tools available during Act 3 of the game (The Gondians) to create a holistic, and well written positive ending for Karlach that completely nullifies the need to, for lack of better words, "return to sender". I don't doubt that Larian is capable of performing either, if not both of those feats, given their positive history.

#JusticeForKarlach

This as well, I think we've got a game with such "something for everyone" quality, and with something that feels missing, rather than completed in a way, it'd really just shine the whole game up. Bad endings are ok, as long as they feel that they have their place, and were deserved by the players' overall actions. That's why there ARE multiple endings for characters, but Karlach is a lesson in just tugging the chain out of reach during all of Act 3.

This is actually EXACTLY what I was thinking as well, outside of just having Gale with Mystra's help/the crown magic her up a new heart. This even neatly ties it all together in a gameplay sense by making her happy ending very annoying to get, since you'll need to go to the Iron Throne and rescue everyone (which is also what makes Wyll's happy ending with his father if you break the pact very annoying to get as well). You don't just hand the happy ending to the player on a silver platter, but you do make it actually possible and it MAKES SENSE.

Exactly. While there are 10s of solutions present, the fact that there's such a clean one that fits into the arc already is the stinger.

I personally didn't like Karlach story overall , bland story, and just not hitting the mark with the character writing..like other companion stories did.. I feel she is too nice and goofy for someone that killed thousands of devils in the Blood War.. During the gameplay I hoped we would visit Avernus or Elturel since it has a huge demonic presence and progress her story there. Larian decided no. Maybe a DLC is cooking, I hope Larian does this, would be great

While her personality is bubbly, its clear that she's coping with the trauma in her own way (especially when she breaks down). Karlach is filled with hope, and is simply glad to be "alive" once again, free of Avernus and Zariel's service. Someone who had a life stolen from them being happy, upbeat but also brutal in combat ("Fuck yeah!" when it comes to smashing skulls), is kind of as good as it gets when it comes tot his kinda character, especially with how excellently Samantha delivered the voice acting. Its what makes it all the more painful that Larian overlooked the solution to her issue, its right there, everything you hoped for, and its not even accessible.

Here's to hoping for expansions and/or a Definitive Edition.

#JusticeForKarlach

Noticed more people asking for the discord feedback thread so I'll pop some of the links down below:

Discord Justice For Karlach Thread

Reddit Addressing Karlach Thread

If just heat is the problem she could also simply move to the Plane of Fire.
The City of Brass there is a large, interplanar trading hub not all to dissimilar to Baldurs Gate on a grander scale.

Yeah, I saw a similar suggestion like this on reddit, not a bad idea at all. Efreeti culture is also dope as hell.

The discord link is not working as we're were not invited to post messages in the room first. It stuck like nothing was loaded

Ah damn, here's the Official Larian discord invite link: https://discord.gg/larianstudios

We're easy to find! Just come down to the feedback section in the server. Anyone is welcome.

Just wanted to chime in and agree with this. Don't misunderstand me, the writing and voice acting on the Karlach story as-is are superb- at least one scene with her legit made me tear up a bit- but it does feel very frustrating to have the game just kind of shrug and go "Nope, she's going to have a tragic ending, and there's noting you can do about it" even when there's a bunch of dangling story threads like the Steel Watch Engines and Dammon that don't really go anywhere, despite seeming like they're related. Especially since she is by far my favorite character in the whole game. I don't need or expect a perfectly happy ending, but something that's not bitterly tragic- even if you have to work your *ass* off to get it- would be a huge improvement.

I also want to chime in,
i love the game,
i totally love Karlach
but i as i startet to finish ACT3... the more i looked for a solution the more it killed my drive to finish the game with this run.
Many quests can be solved so differently, entire fights can be ended with word.
There is all that magic in the world, and your party has access to some very powerfull Gear, Spells, Allies
Please...add some endigs, make addition to some
There where so many hints, that there could be a solution, we found material, engineers but nothing came from it

I ain't playing hundred of hours to witness my kindest companion literally go back to hell. This ending is the opposite of fantasy and feel bad, please fix.

Just made an account after completing my first playthrough, the sole purpose here is just to add my voice in the hopes larian Studios does something to fix Mama Ks ending.
Amazing game amazing product best Rpg ive played in along long while, but Karlachs ending left a sour taste in my mouth and left me feeling stuck in a corner with the choices available.
Alot of choices in this game are hard and thought provoking especially to a new player and that is part of the charm and shows the amazing depth Larian is capable of.
but Karlachs lack of saving in any real capacity, especially when you romance her (god did it hit harder for that lol) just felt like such a glaring mistep in an otherwise perfect and i sincerely mean PERFECT rpg experience.

Please Larian studios dont leave BG3 without giving the fans something to solve this one blemish in an otherwise amazing experience!

I also made an account today just to post about this (but at the time didn’t see this thread).

I wanted to:

1) chime in here to say that I am also extremely disappointed in the current ending and have little interest in finishing the game now, for all the reasons highlighted by previous posts and

2) I feel like (while the character certainly deserves the Definitive Edition revamped quest treatment) even something as simple as some player dialogue (so no voice acting required) could provide a quick improvement,

Her storylines endings are basically the combination of the two worst features in the narrative: 1)Larian pushing the degrading cermorphosis horrors into romance territory and 2) The overtly dark tone of the story, that doesn't allow much in the field of happy endings. Also, not thrilled that the character that seems to me one of the queerest companion of the lot, even with everyone being playersexual, has the most distinctly unhappy romance.

I had to make an account after seeing this thread as well! I’m so glad to see that other people are just as disappointed in her endings! I accidentally spoiled it for myself and I honestly don’t feel like continuing. It’s like the happiness of having her be my partner was just yanked away. Why continue with her when every ending is either sad or bittersweet? I really hope Larian does something about this, like in a definitive edition or what not, but sadly I’m not holding my breath.

I have a hard time really caring much about Karlach...is there some way to change Karlach to be more evil? Right now the way I see it is she's not good for much more than a trial for Wyll and a bounty to collect in Act 1 that leads to a good sword and mage robe.

Karlach is pretty hard aligned to good. Hee whole schtick is that she’s wholesome and fun.