Romance Ending Suggestions:
Everything we currently have should be considered a bad ending. As for what I would have liked to see, here you go:

1. Tav decides to not turn into an illithid. They accept the Emperor as a mind flayer and partner, do whatever the Emperor wants from them and never bother to do anything beyond that. The Emperor never sees any need to change himself, only thinks that Tav missed an opportunity to become stronger. They never connect on a deeper level. In the end, when they get to talk for one last time, Tav is allowed to ask about their relationship, and the Emperor tells them that while they were good partners, he is not ready to accept Tav as a lover. When Tav tries to stay by the Emperor's side, no matter what they suggest, the Emperor always leaves.

2. Tav decides to turn into an illithid. They accept the Emperor as a mind flayer and partner, do whatever the Emperor wants from them and never bother to do anything beyond that. The Emperor never sees any need to change himself, only thinks that Tav made the right choice in order to defeat the enemy. They never connect on a deeper level. In the end, when they get to talk for one last time, Tav is allowed to ask about their relationship, and the Emperor tells them that while they were good partners, he is not ready to accept Tav as a lover. When Tav tries to stay by the Emperor's side, the Emperor agrees, but specifies that they can only be partners in work. It is left unclear whether or not they attempt to enter a romantic relationship ever again.

3. Tav decides to not turn into an illithid. They accept the Emperor as a mind flayer and partner, do whatever the Emperor wants from them and try to convince them that being a humanoid is not worse than being a mind flayer. Emotions can be a hindrance but also a great force. Feelings can hurt and heal. Relationships don't always have to end with betrayal. The Emperor starts to see a need to change himself, thinks that Tav has a point, that he has to accept his feelings, emotions and painful past as invaluable parts of himself. He leans more towards his guardian form, joins the final fight in that form while retaining all of his mind flayer abilities. He and Tav connect on a deeper level. When Tav falls from the platform and is about to reach the harsh waters below, the Emperor saves them from the fall the same way he did when they first met. In the end, when they get to talk for one last time, Tav is allowed to ask about their relationship, and the Emperor tells them that they were good partners and he wants to remain by Tav's side as their lover. They stay in the city and help it rebuild, after which they either work as its guardians or venture on another journey together.

4. Tav decides to turn into an illithid. They accept the Emperor as a mind flayer and partner, do whatever the Emperor wants from them and try to convince them that being a humanoid is not worse than being a mind flayer. Emotions can be a hindrance but also a great force. Feelings can hurt and heal. Relationships don't always have to end with betrayal. The Emperor starts to see a need to change himself, thinks that Tav has a point, that he has to accept his feelings, emotions and painful past as invaluable parts of himself. However, when Tav decides to become a mind flayer, the Emperor is taken aback. He asks if this is something Tav genuinely wants to do, and when Tav agrees, the Emperor starts to doubt everything. He joins the final fight in his mind flayer form. He never has any need to catch Tav, because Tav can now fly just like him. They never connect on a deeper level, and to the Emperor it somehow feels like betrayal. In the end, when they get to talk for one last time, Tav is allowed to ask about their relationship, and the Emperor tells them that while they were good partners, he is not ready to accept Tav as a lover. Moreover, he doesn't think they should ever meet again. When Tav tries to stay by the Emperor's side, no matter what they suggest, the Emperor always leaves.

Other suggestions:

1. Allow us to persuade the Emperor to side with Orpheus (high approval or romanced). Have him be right all along, beat Orpheus when he lashes out and let the Emperor/Tav/Karlach consume his brain (alternatively betray the Emperor and side with Orpheus instead).
2. Allow us to communicate and bond with the Emperor when using the artefact.
3. Reveal the truth behind the Emperor's mind control of Stelmane.
4. If romanced, add a cutscene after the ending sequence. Every romance interest has one, he should too.
5. If romanced, have the Emperor come up with a name for himself. Let everyone else refer to him as the Emperor/mind flayer/illithid/whatever they want. Tav is not voiced, so using a new name in their dialogue lines should not be a problem.
6. Have party members react to the intimate scene.
7. Make it an exclusive relationship.

Last edited by Dotsat; 01/09/23 02:40 AM.