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

Not a single developer is happy when they have to ship a product they haven't finished working on or haven't been able to give it proper polish, i'm sure it was internally discussed and they figured they had to one up starfield by anticipating the release date. They didn't anticipate the massive success they had though, i assure you that if they KNEW the amount of attention they were going to get + the sales figure they are currently looking at, they would've waited way more time no questions asked. But those things are impossible to know beforehand, especially for a game like baldur's gate, it was a gamble (and it paid off for them). That unfortunately means that we got what we got, but it's also the reason why most of us are hopeful and still posting: since they never had a release this big on their hands, there's a higher chance that they will not outright drop the game and call it a day. Taking a break from development? Sure thing, it makes sense. But dropping your golden goose? Doesn't make a speck of sense from a financial standpoint.

Yup same thing, first platthrough i was blown away by the game. The combat, the VA, the story the choices, the plot fwists. Only to feel horr8blt confused and sad at the ending. Cause i just coukdnt fathom that THIS is what ive worked towards. It felt hollow. And worse still it wasnt cause i messed up a quest or missed a convo. It was cause i had no choice in the matter. The character i romanced. Either was sent to hell or died traumtically infront of me.... just...ick

Kole knows what I'm talking about and if you'd take a head out of your ass, you'd know I used CDPR and BioWare because they were famous for good reputation among the players. I can also bring up blizzard, maybe ubisoft if you want or whatever else became crude parody of what it used to be. In this business everyone turns on the customers eventually

I don't know what part of "independent studio" isn't getting to you, but everything you used for a comparison was never an independent studio to begin with.

And again please remind me whats wrong with CDPR? They released CP2077 1.0 with lots of issues and now they released awesome expansion and changed many things in the original game according players feedback (The whole police system for example which was terrible in the original game). Isn't it exactly what we want here?

Larian released 8 or how many hotfixes + 3 huge content patches in a month. IN A MONTH. What more do you want?

Not saying this applies to Larian, but there are devs out there who do not care about the product they do and only for their paycheck.

Also, about this golden goose, we don't really know how long they can use the DnD license. One would assume it's a long deal, but you never know.

That's true as well! Only time will tell I guess

Not really an update, But just a little recent kotaku interview with Samantha discussing the character.

Orders received, need to get Larian to make a barkeep ending for Karlach (Joking of course but that does sound really nice).

I would say this is quite the update. The video itself is showcasing this very forum. We might just see Karlach's tavern as a good ending.

I don’t mind that idea for an ending at all

not only that, this very thread! ahah

That ending for her is literally perfect in my opinion lol. Seems like Larian forgot to ask Sam about the endings, maybe if they asked Sam and gave Karlach that ending, we wouldnt even have to fight for Justice ( Justice 4 Karlach )

Indeed.

Hoping Larian sees this and takes notes.

Not gonna lie thats a pretty sweet ending option.

#tavernforkarlach

Haa, tavern end sounds pretty good! I'm risen all my paws for it!
TavernForKarlach

The part of the interview where "if a fight breaks out, she'd join in" is SO TRUE hahaha. And I guess she'd secretly hope for it, so she could get to smashing something every once in a while.

I wonder if everyone here is content with her engine possibly exploding trope at all, personally I found it utterly boring to begin with. Do you guys want her story to be about saving the damsel from unstable heart to be fleshed out or something else entirely? I think it would lack nuance in the matter, you either help her if you like her or not, there is no room for debate or moral dilemma. They can introduce it of course that in order to save her you have to sacrifice someone else, we'll see.

I already made a point that I would like them to redo her questline from scratch from act 2 onward (there isn't much to scrap tbh), based on what is known about her and her engine:

- The engine gives power and martial prowess to the user and modifies their body (fire resistance, fiery skin) and personality a bit (makes her rage more)
- The engine can be modified by an infernal smith with infernal iron and maybe something else
- Zariel is very offended that her asset escaped Avernus and wants her back dead or alive
- Karlach experience in Avernus is very traumatic due to almost constant warfare for a span of 10 years and initial betrayal of the person she trusted who sold her to Zariel

This are enough pointers to evolve her character on a basis of Revenge vs Freedom. In act 2 Dammon comes to her with a project of further improving her engine, pushing it beyond its limits. Some rare creatures or elementals must be hunted for the materials, but in result she gains more power and some unique abilities. Zariel lackeys then attack, but Karlach disposes of them alone and without much effort. However it becomes clear that overclocking the engine had an effect on her personality, she suddenly becomes more violent and irritable. She notices it too and makes an apology to the MC, but time is of the essence and we move forward to act 3.

In act 3 we travel to Baldur's gate so here we can find several unique opportunities to tune her engine. Untimately she can take one of three paths:
- become a paladin of Torm (oath to fight demons in Faerun and defend people), her engine is cleansed from demonic corruption and retains some of its abilities, but she must follow the law of Torm who now powers her engine and should she step from it she dies. Her personality restores.
- make the engine overpowered. Filled with rage and demonic might, Karlach leaves to Avernus to kill and overthrow Zariel and make the most of her newfound strength. Her personality takes a violent turn, influenced by the engine. But she would possibly rule Avernus.
- restore the heart. Her personality restores, but she loses her awesome powers from the engine and must fend off Zariels killers by herself or with the help of friends


I wrote some more details about this here somewhere in this thread and on Steam forums (https://steamcommunity.com/app/1086940/discussions/0/3823047940155998564/)

What would you prefer? Her story to be about saving her from impending doom or what I wrote? Sadly I cant launch a poll here.