Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Story & Character Discussion The pretense of consent

They did add him as fan feed back, but I think they listened to the horny joke posts and not the people who actually wanted him as a general romance.

I just find it problematic that this got past so many people.

I've seen abduction lists and am pretty sure is #2 in priority behind , but will confirm once I finish Illithid colony.

I just completed Halsin's healing the land quest and boy does he want to join the party. He's been pretty suggestive it's not what he want to do next, but 'who' he wants to be with. No option to ask him to leave.

Actually, I had a really deadly encounter with where 3 party members got straight up killed. Level 9, optimized, almost TPK. Thank you Astarion, saving the day.

Anyway, Withers presented the option for him to take into care the souls of the dead... I'll test whether this removes the dead companion from party and camp. That said, it feels awfully like leading someone into the woods and somehow returning alone. In a different play through, sure. But not for this MC, already defined character.

You have to have Gale and Lae'zel in your party and Halsin at camp. Then he will be abducted. From those three it's the one with the highest approval not in the active party.

Understood. Thanks

Edit: Just re-read this and the penny has dropped. Gale never made it out of the waypoint as far as I know, Lae'zel is always in my party and Halsin is only in camp because I can't get rid of him. If Halsin gets abducted I will ask the abductor if they need an assistant.

There again my game is crashing for fun in Wyrm's Crossing so it may never come to pass.

I'm not a fan of Halsin but I'm not sure what the problem is with him in particular. The game is rated mature and characters can be creeps. In fact, most of the characters in BG3 make creepy unwanted advances like they're somehow incapable of reacting to cues and navigating social situations. The game seems very "horny" and sex-obsessed in a way that comes across as immature and frankly just unsexy (something that is to be expected from a game that leans into its sex scenes for advertising). Thankfully, you're not forced to interact with that though.

All the other ones will eventually reach a key point where you can say you are not interested and they will not pursue it anymore after that. Halsin is the only one that continues to pursue it, in an even more creepy and disturbing manner, after you have made your rejection clear to him (and he has confirmed that he has understood it and that he will respect it).

I didn't really notice that while playing. I guess that's the logical end result of turning a reddit thirst trap meme into a companion.

Well there's funny kinky, like Scanlan Shorthand, and then there's icky and creepy kinky. Certain situations with Halsin crosses over into the R Kelly territory of creepy, which isn't funny.

Orientation options in character creation seem like they would’ve been a good idea. Would’ve at least helped reduce the number of “we’ll bang ok?” moments

That and the ability yo turn on/off Poly should have been included in the game.

I don't know who that is but it is exceedingly rare to see sexually aggressive characters in video games that don't make me want to alt f4 from cringe. This game is especially heavy handed with that stuff. No, Lae'zel I don't care to taste your sweat. No, Isobel I do not want to know that you are about to have sex with your wife.

Maybe that's just how DnD characters act but it's certainly not for me.

I went into BG3 blind and I thought the romances were going to be like DAI in terms of characters having their own preferences, so not everyone was able to be romanceable depending on your character's sex/race etc.

Of course we all have different tastes when it comes to sexual themes. But you can just say no to tasting Lae'zel's sweat and she won't bother you about it again. Now imagine that you instead turn to the less sexually aggressive Wyll and form a romantic relationship with him, and out of nowhere Lae'zel pops in again and despite your previous rejection still insists that she wants to share sweat with you and now Wyll chiming in and urging you on to do it. Welcome to the highly uncomfortable and toxic world around Halsin!

Yes, and different tastes should be represented (to a degree). But there are themes here that are being pushed more and more into a place where it is uncomfortable. And there are toxic behaviours being presented that are trying to "umbrella hide" under the LGBTQ+ label. As if as soon as you fall under this term you are suddenly immune from personal responsibility and toxic behaviour? Like this fear of calling our a minority - and in the process damaging the minority you're trying to hide under.

There are so many healthy examples of healthy polygamy, and instead they choose to present it in this toxic and entitled form - with complete disregard for the characters and what makes sense for them.

If you take Shadowheart and Halsin into the temple of Sharr together, they're highly antagonistic towards each other. And here is the kicker: Shadowheart actually calls Halsin out for his lack of devoted responsibility!

But then - with no foreshadowing and no character development - she is sudden all hot and bothered for Halsin no matter what. And she goes from being "possessive" to completely open. It's so freaking inconsistent.

I agree, I think you hit the nail on the head with the writing with those two being so inconsistent. I think that's probably my biggest gripe. I did point that out in my feedback I submitted to Larian a while ago but not sure if the writer will take it unjust or heck even be aware of it.

It's just sad both of them do have the hots for each other at some point.

It is of course fine to write characters that aren't likeable and who does awful things. The dark justiciar Shadowheart is not supposed to be a likeable person, or Minthara before turning her over to your cause, and even after that it's not like she fully re-deems herself. But this date-rape douchebag storyline with Halsin feels like a really poor choice. With it being so common in our real world it is really insensitive to just throw it in there as some joke to which the player cannot respond or react in any way and which happens no matter how they try to respond to it (show of hands anyone who has ever been in a similar situation with someone who doesn't accept no for an answer ). And then making their romance partner who they care for and like completely blindside you and be an accomplice in the whole scenario to further rub it in your face?? Totally unneccessary and unacceptable!

unfortunately. There are just so much intitelment. I really thought we would be past such things being portrayed in a positive light in media.

I don't mind dark characters and behaviours. They work. I mind when they're being romanticed. How is it possible to do these things so right and so wrong in the same freaking game?

It's the Christian Grey/Edward Cullen syndrome all over again isn't it? Toxic and harmful behaviour romanticized in a viral wave where everyone swept away in their rosy imaginary dream loses their moral compass.

Yes! Why is this a thing?

Also, speaking of 1% content. Where is my wholesome demi/asexual romance? Nowhere! /Cries

As has been noted in this thread already, we seem to be rehashing points already covered in the thread about Halsin’s romance at https://forums.larian.com/ubbthread...Words=Halsin&Search=true#Post905301.

I’m therefore going to lock this thread to cut down on duplicate discussion.

I will also ask everyone to consider whether they have made their point and are simply repeating themselves, which is not fair to other forum members.