Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Story & Character Discussion Halsin Let Down *SPOILERS*

Fully agree. I would really like that they kept his attitudes towards relationships and sex as intended, and some of the jokes are spot on. Just make him respect consent and boundaries and I am all good with the character.

Yes and maybe give him some quest for act 3 on top of that. Even in my first playthrough, when I didn't know the full extent of his toxicity, I rarely took him with me, because there was no need. I just juggled my companions around doing their quests, trying to get reactions from them and Halsin just had nothing going on.

I agree with this, though I would say that his romance needs to be as fluid as he claims.

A part of the issue is how rigid and uncompromising he is. If my Tav is to compromise to be with him (saying that they're monogamous, but they respect and accept that he isn't), then there should be the option of him being willing to allow the relationship to involve into something committed (not speaking monogamy). I don't mind that it would be difficult with specific choices in a quest line, but the option should be there.

Given Halsin's character it makes no sense that he is being rigid and demanding in this specific thing, when he is fine with long term commitments and loyalty in all other areas.

I put in a suggestion for a quest for him, I thought you might like: Halsin Quest suggestion act 3

Sure I suppose, but given the glaring errors we have seen them overlook so far, I am still hesitant and worried that I would have to constantly babysit him and something icky suddenly happening that forces me to send him to timeout in camp again. It would take some time to re-build my trust in the character and not get creepy vibes as soon as he appears.

First playthrough I had, I went in without reading any spoilers revealing anything about the characters or story beforehand and letting things play out according to the choices I made. So I missed completing his quest to lift the shadow curse and he left at the end of act 2. And this was a playthrough where I played Tav as a lesbian female who romanced Shadowheart, so I really dodged a bullet there.

Subsequent playthroughs now that I know what is in store for me. If I lift the shadow curse, I just leave him in camp during act 3 and in my headcanon he stays behind helping with re-building the lands and isn't actually there anymore. It makes more sense storywise anyway and in this headcanon he remains the wise and kind ally from act 1 and 2 and not some disgusting creep.

YES! That and the abuse, like I cannot say enough how much that Drow story of his rattled me. I couldn't forget that and how traumatizing that must be, but they have Halsin say it wasn't all bad. Like what??

I will die on my rock that I love Halsin because of his Act 1/2 demeanor as well as how fricken cute his lines are when you romance him. Like the yes my heart, all of natures bounty pales next to you and so forth.

It just sucks as I've said before how in Act 3 his dialog turns into something that sours him for so so many people. The lack of listening to Tav when Halsin is not given consent to have a relationship with them, the flirting with other companions when some people play their Tav monogamous, the disregard for sexual related trauma and the consistent sex sex sex drive he has instead of something more meaningful.

I truly hope and wish these threads bring this to the Devs attention and they can work on him. I don't want him gone at all because that would make me so sad...but I just want him fixed please.

A simple rewrite is to have him infected with a tadpole and branded with the absolute's mark pretty much just brainwash him, goblins might think they have a new pet bear rather than a pet druid, personally I would have Halsin be a better Druid, doesn't make sense to have a guy who can't control his wildshape to be in charge of the Druids, like what if he goes bear and mauls his fellow druids, if he was infected It'll make the whole bear thing more believable since the Tadpoles seem weaken their hosts, (Wyll and Gale mention that they could cast higher level spells before the events of BG3).

I will say this, with Halsin's personality it isn't required that he has the tadpole at all. It totally works that he is just there because he wants to help.

The issue is that in act 3 they don't really focus enough on it - friendship or romance - that he feels an obligation to help his friend or lover. He says so, but it seems more like a sidenote of "dang, I promised".

And with how his libido suddenly goes absolutely crazy, it seems like just a way to get into people's pants. So, one more point for toxic nice guy behaviour.

Had act 3 been implemented properly, then this wouldn't have been much of the issue. But instead of focusing on that,nthey threw energy into you being able to screw a bear and a very forced romantic attraction to everything.

Yeah, someone who immediately jumps to conclusions and starts pestering you about sex because you asked them about their age, and then doesn't respect a no, isn't exactly great leadership material. I always wondered why the grove conveniently had a little prison area with a cage to hold Sazza, I think I know the answer now...

Agree! Any good character would want to help stop the events of the main plot.

Exactly. And they could have done so much with him, and instead they turned him into this toxic representation.

Also, when he says he sleeps alone and he doesn't engage unless he can give you his attention, he sounds so devoted. I really feel like it's a toxic nice guy trying to get laid.

Him and Gale are "nice guys", one of whom tried to get back with his ex by absorbing shadow weave.

This is sadly valid. Astarion: The only" healthy" male romance... well, Will is supposed to be nice too.

I think Wyll seems to be the genuine nice male romance for the most part.

The reason why Astarion works and Halsin doesn't: The ability and willingness of personal growth and challenging one's own beliefs.

The traumatized (arguably morally dubious) vampire excels at this

The wise druid with a vast life experience and knowledge, who is self-deprecating and shows signs of self reflection apparently rolls a critical 1.

You would think the modifiers would apply XD

Maybe that's the point. Halsin became popular as a character for basically superficial reasons. So Larian created a character that was just as superficial as his fan base. Honestly if you step back it's quite funny.

Jaheira on the other hand is WAY more interesting and has so much more dialogue and interactions with you if you pick her up in Act 3 and keep her on board she is amazing, and her lines are both funny and endearing. Honestly I would have loved to romance her, but with the maturity of age I realize her value is not in that she looks amazing for being almost 150 years old - but that she is an incredible friend, brave, deeply caring, and ardent-hearted. She is the opposite of the Druid Himbo...I mean Halsin.

Although MY Jaheira is Monk/Thief and crushes the enemy while breaking into every vault in the city.

Jaheira is actually the best. I love her so much in this game ( and the other two, that I want to cosplay her at a fantasy convention here in Germany next year.
I wouldn't blame his fanbase per se- there are a lot of horny people but there are also the people, who want him as a serious companion. And I mean, there are a lot of very horny people demanding Minthara as a companion, like the guy, who writes under every patch, that he wants more sex with Minthara, but according to the feedback, she turned out decent for what she supposed to be: an evil paladin, working through her issues.

About Halsin and Astarion: I think the difference is, that Astarion actually works through his trauma and can succeed and become a better person. It is the opposite of what Halsin does: making a fetish out if his trauma (according to what I read here, I'm not planning on romancing him ever).

Exactly, but I would take this further - after Act 2 Halsin has nothing to contribute. He was supposed to be gone by then but people insisted and it really makes little sense, he really should stay in the hopefully "former" Shadow-cursed lands and help the land heal. That's his damn job.

"We want to romance halsin" - Larian should not have capitulated on this because he doesn't fit into the Act 3 story at all. That he has the least lines and interaction should not be a surprise to anyone - but for some reason it is.

Way better, to have romanced him in Act 2 and said farewell with some steamy Bear druid Sex or whatever and then he stays to focus on healing the land.

Oh hell yes, I totally agree. Astarion is a deeply complex character that had YEARS of planning that went into his possible Arcs. A SA survivor that is deeply traumatized and has internalized cruelty as normal but who has sparks of goodness in him that you can connect with.

Halsin, just isn't, and he was never meant to be. You get what you get. I just don't think it's reasonable to expect a tacked on, late edition character like Halsin that had his role expanded last minute to have the kind of depth of any of the others.

Extra points for the Jaheira cosplay - would love to see that. She is my favorite as well.

But Minsc - oof, I always save him but I really can't stand him. They didn't get him wrong, but with more depth you realize how sad a character he is. He reminds me of a friend I know who has been an alcoholic for his entire adult life and in his 40's he can barely string any coherent thoughts together. He is constantly reaching back into his past to find meaning for things and it doesn't fit but he just so needs to have SOME context for reality that he just superimposes those old narratives on the present. That's Minsc. It's almost irrelevant whether his hamster is guiding him or just a figment of his imagination.