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

I snorted way too hard while reading everything.

YEAH, yeah, that feeling when--

(nice art too!)

SAVING THIS AND INJECTING IT INTO MY VEINS

They said at first that there would be no dlcs but already backtracked on that and said that dlc is possible but not anytime soon. The issues are lvls but they already didn't include few spells they deemed too problematic so maybe that could be the tactic here

I MUST KNOW should I revert to classic format with calculations and only the "we did all we could" header or should I keep it to all the examples shown?! I'll color it in tomorrow and whenever it's done it's obviously going up on twit.

They're also not known for beating Cyperbunk's top record and Dota 2's concurrent count less than a month after launch, so hey, brave new world and all that. It's anybody's guess of course but I think with this kind of success they'd be nuts not to do it.

I like the uniqueness you got with out the classic math formulea but honest both would be great lol

Knowing twitter I'd say yeah, make both variants, double strike x)


Also very true!

Does anybody have answers for this?

The only hiccup i actually have with an Avernus DLC as opposed to it just being added in to complete karlachs story.
Is that it really reaallly ties into her being fixed....like i feel that shouldnt be a DLC. Thst should just be...added.
A DLC option i would almost argue could be adding in upper city maybe? With a portal to icewind dale or some far off place that coukd be isolated for an expansion?
A DLC to address the issues of karlach seems a tad bit ingenuine.
.....dont get me wrong they could still do the avernus dlc and charge 40 bucks for it and id still pay it cause they got me by the short hairs at this point. Im just saying >_>

Don't take my word for it, since I haven't played that path myself, but 99% sure that yes you can go with her to Avernus as a mindflayer, which I think indicates that she doesn't break up with you (actually I think I saw a gif where she compliments your tentacles? so, you know)

As for maintaining your own self as a mindflayer - that's a topic I'm very unsure about. On one hand, there's that explanation you (Blook88) quoted, on the other hand I'm pretty sure I heard that the Emperor is just that strong willed and that helps him maintain memories of his old self and therefore act accordingly (in that case, Tav is also remarkably strong willed I believe), but those are just that, his memories and the impersonation of the individual they portray... Withers insists that mindflayers don't have souls, but does that include those who stopped before being fully taken over? Ceremorphosis is a tricky thing, I'm not fully sure what to believe in that regard.

I’m not 100% either, but as I understand it, “free” mind flayers like the emperor are not actually their old selves, just a grown brain parasite that has inherited the original person’s memories and personality. It’s mimicry and the original person is dead. Withers and the game in general are very clear about ceremorphosis being soul death, and in fact now that I think of it the only ones in the game who try to contradict this are themselves illithid.

Correct. The established dnd lore seems to be the old self/soul is indeed truly dead. The parasite has just consumed the memories of the host and now their identity is just the memories of the host creature.

If anyones played the old Prototype game on xbox. Think alex mercer. And the virus.

Her being fixed isn't necessarily tied to going to avernus because if Larian wanted to go for avernus dlc, they could just have her fixed but wanting to settle the score. What people think (and have reason to think so) is that for whatever reason, Larian didn't add an option to fix her and is so heavy on avernus ending because they go for the dlc where ideally we'll get our fix. Hence why they added all the extra lines where Karlach is totally hopeless, why they added the whole cutscene at the end and why they called it "the ending she deserves". You know, "avernus is the only hope but don't worry, dlc is on the way and you'll get what you want there"

In tabletop as general rule DM should take control of a newborn Illithid from the player as soon as the ceremorphosis completes, and per rules it is no longer considered an original player's character. However, that 'soul consumption' thing is new I think, previously I read that soul safely leaves the body to the Planes and could be revived via True Res or Wish only as its body is considered completely lost.

Thank you all for the replies!

Despite my poor english skills, I'm here to add an opinion.

I will write it as concisely as possible for you to understand.

I like tragedy. but I think the tragedy should be fully explained to match the impact it has.

I don't think that's the case with Karlach.
the attempt to fix her actually feels like it didn't even start.

is Dammon the 'only' solution we can think of? If he says no, is it absolutely impossible?

many people would think of Gondians and Raphael as the solution. I feel the same way.

they may not be a solution, either.

but let me try, let me realize that I can't, and let her prepare herself.

keep trying, realising it's impossible, and maybe she'll reconsider going back to hell. maybe go back expecting to find a solution in hell (and of course she's not alone anymore)

her storyline is so lacking compared to other characters that it makes us feel like we haven't tried anything, and it really is.

what annoys me the most is that there is always an option in conversation with her that "we may find a solution".

why the hell is that option when we're doing nothing? or does the solution mean going back to hell??

If you play as Gale and decide to take one for the team, Mystra can still bail you out if you decide to go with her, so even after becoming squid, further shenanigans are possible

It genuinely disturbs me how much forgiveness Gale gets for being a douchy prat, meanwhile Karlach, a good person cursed by a vile employer has an option between shit, shitter and shittest.

A'aight everybody get your pretty butts over to Larian's discord and up that two-part post I just made based off of the past 10 threads of everyone's feedback here!!! I tried to include everything as concise as poasible and it became 2 parts, someone ought to chop me for it, but go go go!

Edit: in bg3 feedback channel

It's almost as if her story is so badly written you just can't help but think that someone at Larian really hates Karlach and really went out of their way to make either tragic ending or pushed for her returning to avernus too damn hard then later tried to justify the decision