Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Story & Character Discussion Halsin Romance, Expectations and Obligatory Poly

Lol, exactly. I feel almost silly for saying this but you're right - when I began the romance in Act 3 after waiting patiently all this time, it really stifled my joy. I no longer wanted him in my party and couldn't bear to hear him talk. It suddenly made me cringe, really badly. I hate to say it but I began rushing through the game just to end my campaign and start over again. Not kidding, that is how much he gave me the ick.
The odd monologue he gives when you ask him how the relationship is was the cherry on the crap milkshake for me. The most disingenuous line they could've made him say. And so pretentious too! Like they just wanted to add something in to really hammer it home that he's poly and different and super chill about it you guys. Nothing about it felt natural.

I was sort of alright until my second run, when he then hit on my character romancing Astarion and started to guilttrip her, subtly accuse her of manipulating him, and started to debate id she was sure what her own feelings were.

It got so predatory I have left him in camp since then.

What flirt did I choose to end in this dilemma? I asked him his age... that was it

For what it's worth, there was a similar distaste for how the Red Prince's romance plays out in DOS2 - both from myself and many in the DOS2 community at the time. It wasn't quite to this level of ick, and it was set up early enough in Act 1~Act 2 to at least give a player a heads up of "hey, this may be a complicated and/or potentially unfulfilling romance if you're monogamy-inclined or want to be the truly important one in Prince's life".

Personally, while I found the ending incredibly unsatisfying despite having that heads up anyway, I do feel it was at least somewhat handled better and never completely broke character or went against how Prince had been depicted up until then. So it was better handled than Halsin, at least - still unsatisfying, but eh. I'd still cite Prince as one of my favorite characters in DOS2.

Though what my long-winded point is trying to get at, is that this isn't the first time they've attempted to write a character who is poly or doesn't put you first in their life over some other fling or soulbond or w/e. They've just also managed to do it better, before.


Honestly for me, Halsin in Act 1 feels like he's barely there. I didn't pursue any flirtations or romance triggers with him at all, since my first playthrough is for Astarion - but it's like after I talk with him at the grove and then the party, and the morning after, he never has anything to say at all until I guess Thaniel in Act 2. Which feels as disappointing as everything else, tbh, considering how much interaction you can have with everyone else just in Act 1 alone.


It does feel like there was some kind of disconnect from what people wanted/expected. I don't want to assume malicious monkey's paw curling, but as horrid as this all is, I wouldn't put it off the table either. Ultimately, Halsin just feels disappointing in most respects, and maybe that's simply a result of him being added as a companion/"romance" from fan demand rather than actual planning. I don't know.

I'm the same, I played through EA a bunch and never actually understood why Halsin got so much love. He was always just there, and there was a contingent of people who adored him for no reason I could see. No one during that time ever really talked about his character either from what I saw. Even when I explicitly asked, the explanation was kind of lackluster to me for explaining why he had so much love. He had like, 5 minutes of dialogue in EA and it was never enough to make me interested in him. Maybe Larian thought the way I did and just assumed people liked him because he was sexy, so they leaned into that.

I think you need to look at what he says and his actions before and during early access. Who you get to know is an extremely kind and wise man, who is passionate about helping others and creating balance. He is critical of himself and owns up to his failures. Added to that he has warm personality and offers to help you. The dialogue you got from Halsin in EA establishes a wise and caring man, who can provide a feeling of safety.

For me there were a lot of reasons as well as him being attractive why I wanted him as a companion! In EA he was a good and kind character, and for me there is a lack of good companions. I love environmental themes so him being a Druid is great, and I thought they might give him quests related to that. I also love elves, so the more elves the better! I like to do romance subplots, but none of the male companions worked for me (Astarion was too evil to start, and I disliked Gale’s romance in EA).

To be honest, I can't really put my finger on what exactly it was that made me really like Halsin as a character in EA. There wasn't much going on with the character per se at that time (or now), but there was something there from the moment we met him. I think a lot of it has to do with his voice actor too, because there's just something so calming about that voice. He makes you feel safe. And I think paired with the fact that he's the leader of the druids, he's old and mature and seems to be kind and wise and how he cares for nature and balance and animals and so on. And, I mean, add to that how he's not exactly bad to look at either.

To me, he stood out as a character compared to what we'd seen, and he definitely wasn't like the companions, who I felt were young-ish and unpredictable with hidden agendas and secrets. And here came the middle-aged man who just seemed to have his shit together and could hold you and comfort you when the storms would hit.

Your correct in he doesnt have much to say after the party, I just really felt like what little he did was very meaningful and good insight into his character. He was clearly not fulfilled being the Archdruid, as he tells you that he isnt going to miss it, its too much people management, and he wants to simply enjoy nature again. Again that thing he says about people who seek out positions of power, are probably not the best people for the job. This tells me hes humble, dutiful, wise, and gives us insight into his values.

Plus his excuse to not drink with me at the party made me laugh. That whole exchange was amazing. The back and forth teasing and Halsin gently turning you down because he is a gentleman but implying he also kinda wants to hang out with you. I need to see drunk Halsin.



For me I really think this was purposeful. Based on what someone posted before about his writer saying bUt ThInK oF tHe FaNaRt seals the deal for me. He was added as a sex meme, written as a sex meme, and they slapped the poly/SA victim labels in there to try and justify his deviant behaviour, which in and of itself is very disgusting.

I am one of people who played EA only a little and I met Halsin righ after saving the Grove from goblins (I did not find him in their camp and since Minthara got a chance to learn where the Grove is located I just ran there to fight). I remember funny moment: during attack I summoned trolls, the last minutes of fight took place within gates and when it was all over Halsin appeared and killed trolls. I was just: "Welp, let's loot! =D " So basically, I had only couple of minutes of conversation with him.
I learned about his romance after famous stream with bear and was curious if it is possible to have this scene with him in his "human" form.
Yeah, same here, I didn't like Astarion as LI for my first character (half drow woman) becausse of the same reason and I was thinking about Gale (since, as I said earlier, he reminded me of Alistair and Anders from DAO and DAA), but I decided I need to wait.

Yeah, Dave Jones did an amazing job, the voice is so warm, when you hear him you just feel so peaceful, you want to trust Halsin, especially when he shows his care towards people in need, etc. An ultimate good guy.

Plus, Halsin is non typical elf: we remember elves from LOTR, who are tall, slim and misterious, we know other elves, who are not so tall, but can be slim or physically fit, but not too muscular. And Halsin is HUGE - both tall and bulky, which is kind of breaks the stereotype and makes him interesting.

Halsin has a great sense of humor too, which you learn potentially from the first moment you meet him (the goblin guts line). And that continues into Act II ("I am?" when you mention that he's large for an elf ).

I would just like to add that the way Halsin is changing over the full story is one of the things that keep me and my S.O. from playing the whole story again. At least we were fortunate enough to not have SH and Halsin together but rather each companion with one of us. And while I felt pretty satisfied with SH's developent based on my choices, I really felt bad for my S.O. as she wasnt happy at all when he turned out to be a wannabe-thousand-beds-traveler-teenager disguised as a wise, goodlooking and charming man.

He does! It's such a shame they botched him because he is so lovely. /cries

So... you were each romancing them seperately and they hit on each other... Nice John... that was some first class writing.

True. And also, this makes no sense because he tells you he wasn't interested in anyone for a long time because of the shadow curse. But then suddenly he's a sex pest.

I ADORE that about Halsin. He plays with you and plays back when you play with him. Imagine the silly banter.

I LOVE the fact that you can actually talk about him being that large. And the story about his scars, I find it funny. And yes, his sence of humor is good. Such a sweet sweet guy. Ugh, I need to go and kiss him again. Even knowing how he is messed up I still love him.

I am... really blown away by all of this that people have taken away from his dew minutes of EA conversation. I feel like I missed a whole bunch of interesting conversations with him somehow because I just never gave him a second thought after rescuing him. He was a plot point I needed and he exposited some lore after his rescue. Its like I experienced an entirely different character.

Me too. Just take me along on the orphan train, Halsin! We will never speak of the Underdark and all will be well!

Also I found out if you're playing as a barbarian, after Halsin says his "a true friend of nature, or perhaps a lunatic" about aiding a bear, there's a dialogue option where you can say you'll never abandoned the bear. Then Halsin immediately responds, "Ah, lunatic then."

Halsin was so awesome! In real life I even have ducks! So I was sold... and then they destroyed him.