But to be honest, what else is there? Can you give me examples of further possible and logical conclusions to this story? I really can't think of any that would make much sense or are satisfying:
How about:
3. Destroy the brain, take the crown.
3a. Keep the crown for yourself (semi evil ending)
3b. Give the crown to Raphael if you made a deal and he’s still alive (probably bad idea ending)
3c. Let Gale give the crown to Mystra (conclude his story arc and probably relatively safe)
3d. Give the crown to any party member showing an interest in being super powerful (I’m sure they can be trusted not to be too naughty)
I don’t think it’s as bad as some are saying, and I don’t agree with all the reasons people say they don’t like it, but I think there is room for improvement.
Sure, but all your suggestions are still:
"Destroy the Brain" with some different window dressing. And at least in my playthrough, Gale did actually say he would try to claim the crown andgive it back to Mystra, and I encouraged him. So I got 3c.
Keeping the Crown right away seems to be impossible, since it seems to be partly destroyed after destroying the Brain. Gale says he needs to reforge it or some such. I haven't made a deal with Raphael, but I think the game should reference that deal once the Brain is dead ("Oh sh**, now we need to get that crown somehow, or Raphael will come kill us).
Well that was the simple version, that could be implemented with least number of changes. It could be much improved with a few more reasonable changes that don’t mess too much with what’s already in the game. Personally, I would have had a more options and then lock some of them off depending on earlier choices. For instance:
a) To take and utilise the crown yourself without specific companion outcomes, you need the help Lorroakan, which would mean betraying the Nightsong.
b) You could do it with Gale by nudging him towards being power hungry and defying Mystra, with the aid of the book. Ideally making that more challenging (maybe a showdown with Elminster or something)
c) You could do it by aligning with Shar, if Shadowheart has embraced the dark side (doing that means killing the Nightsong, so that rules out the Lorroakan route).
d) Possibly an Uber Astarion could do it, if he completed the ritual?
e) Probably something with Minthara, but I’ve not recruited her yet so don’t know what that could be
f) Raphael could offer a much better deal, to give you power in other ways, to make that option more tempting as he gets the crown.
g) Maybe something else with Vlaakith?
Additionally, using too many tadpole powers, particularly the special one, could prevent Orpheus from making the sacrifice to become a mindflayer. So if you’ve done that, you can only either screw over Lae’zel and the Githyanki by sticking with the Emperor or make the sacrifice yourself.
So there would be a lot more variety for power hungry/moderately evil players that aren’t the most evil choice. There’s more consequences for your choices, as they affect what endings you can have. Character arcs matter more, as do potential alliances with major powers. Without really rewriting too much, a couple of small changes earlier in game and some new cut scenes at the end.
