I don’t disagree with everything, but regarding the tadpoles:
I played through first time not enhancing my tadpole abilities at all. The Emperor offered me a special tadpole to become half illithid. I refused, job done.
Then I read everywhere that using tadpoles makes no difference at all, and was a bit disappointed, because I thought it would.
Now on my second playthrough and I’ve popped a couple of tadpoles way back (probably would have taken more, but kind of forgot about them). I’ve just had the scene with the Emperor where he offers to enhance me, only this time I have a wisdom 21 check to resist my own tadpoles making the decision for me and turning me into a freak. Not sure if the check gets harder, the more you use? I managed to pass with shadowheart’s guidance and burning through all 4 inspirations, but I might not have.
So despite what everyone is saying, their really IS a consequence for using the tadpoles. Granted it’s a consequence you can save scum your way through if you are that way inclined, but it’s not the no consequence everyone makes it out to be.
When it comes to the ending, I’ve been similarly happy to accept what everyone else has said that whether you are partial illithid or not makes no difference, but I’ve not actually tried it myself so now wondering if it might play out a similar way?
Turns out people complaining on the internet aren’t a 100% reliable source of information.
