Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Story & Character Discussion On Returning Characters

An important thing is this, if the character was recruitable, nothing else about their set up or reintroduction in the plot actually matters all that much.

Once you get them from point B to point A (into the party) then whether they work or not is down to things like banter and how it feels to actually have them along for the ride.

This is why Jaheira works, cause she has room for that to happen.

If all you got from Jaheira was her plot point re-introduction it would be the same way, but as soon as you get to bring her on board you can ignore all that in favor of what you have in mind. You know, to fit your own story about it. You really don't want the player forced into these party break, either/or situations, we should want to add to the party. It's a better strategy with more room to play around.

This is a key difference between the returning Characters.

They aren't actually returning if we can't recruit them as companions with agency that they can borrow from the Protagonist.

To gate one character's content behind another is a miss I think, everywhere that happens, like to the point about playing an Origin instead for this if somehow the characterization is different there. Somehow I doubt that, but even if it was, the experience of the Tav should take priority.

For me the canon party of BG2, mine was was Imoen, Jaheira, Minsc, Viconia and Edwin, since that was our party of returning old timers. Imoen is kidnapped so you get a rotating slot for your full cast of 6. Sure some people would trade em out for the other BG2 companions at various points, or try to make a party where everyone agrees and has the same alignment, but if you wanted the funny banter and cutthroat romances, it was hard to top the gold standards. In BG3 we have Minsc and Jaheira which while fun, we are still missing that villainous touchstone for the stroll down memory lane.

I can't be the only one who wants to get misty eyed when...

also, specifically regarding the visualization. Thing there is that we already had nearly the perfect look. It is head 1, default hair. This one...


Like all you really need to do is up the maturity slider (only 10-15% max on that for an Elf), move the skin tone palette a few swatches to the right, slightly darker eyes. Put her in a hood and we are are pretty much good to go. I think the VA is fine, but when recruited you need a good bark set that fits. If the character was recruitable then an appearance respec would easily allow people to choose among the default options at camp, which is fine for me. Key is to get her in the party, ideally not having to trade out another character for that.

If Larian can't pull this off, then the first mod who does will have the gratitude of many returning BG players. I think the set up mentioned earlier would work quite well for a mod...


Finally "fetch me something to eat!"

Now that we actually have stuff to eat, this needs to be a thing! heheh