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 think a HUGE catch there could be that, say, Raph only promises to help Karlach after you fulfill the contract. And perhaps he actually does, but if there's a catch in that contract (as there probably is), then, well, that's your open bittersweet ending - Karlach lives, but now you're going to have to figure out how to get your soul back in post-game.

My godness I've been scrolling through this thread for a few day now and my god what an ungrateful bunch you are. Karlach is supposed to be a doomed character, I don't know why you just wont accept it. By god Larian even rushed and added new cutscene just for her, and it's still not enough for you. Clearly there was no plans for her to have a good ending, and it becomes obvious when you listen to devs. They seem to be happy with her story as it is, they think its the fate she deserves and thats it, its their story they can do whatever they want. Just accept it

Guess I won't have my answer then

Lol- at no plans

Pretty much all of this. People talk as if we want those depressing endings removed. These endings will remain: we want ONE good ending for her that doesn't result ending up in Avernus; her prison. The others can get their own good endings just fine.

Because it destroys the narrative. What's the point of her realizing she has few days left and needs to do live to the fullest with the time she has left if the solution magically appears and throws away the whole arc? And you can't save everyone, in act 1 you have to basically chose between Karlach and Minthara because even if you don't side with refugees or absolute, thieflings will die and lock you out of Karlach's questline. You have to side with either Emperor or Orpheus, as Dark Urge you'll be forced to kill Alfira (who's also sweet and Innocent character, yet terrible thing can happen to her btw), don't act like there is always a way out in this game.
Except even after you get her upgrade in act 2, she says that she doesn't care about the engine and wants to use her remaining time now that she can touch someone. The Watcher said her engine should be scrapped (propably alongside her) and Gondians can't help her because if her engine was possible to remove, we wouldn't have a problem but it isn't, that's why new version won't solve the issue.


And how in the world she's supposed to be fine with her (presumably) lover selling their soul to the same monsters that enslaved her? She'd literally rather die than stay in the House of Hope, Tav selling themselves out would be like a knife to the back for her.


And what the hell has Astarion to do with that? Or rather any other companion?

I mean you're free to do whatever you want but for me it's just wrong. I don't even want to imagine how much it costed them, both money and health to make that one cinematic, yet you still complain. Thats so toxic of you

Don't appreciate the personal attack, but that's fine.

"Karlach is supposed to be a doomed character" -- citation needed. Nobody has ever said that. Not Swen, not the devs. No one.

In fact, everything that's present in the game points in the other direction -- the abundance of enriched infernal iron and a bunch of advanced infernal engine mechanics. But you can't interact with them on that one conspicuous point. A bit of a coincidence, don't you think? Doesn't help that Dammon's VA accidentally admitted to there being voicelines of her getting a fix recorded. If she was planned to be a doomed character from the get-go, why have them?

Her Avernus scene filled in what was once an abrupt cut to black when you chose that option. We appreciate the effort they put into it, and some people love that ending as a whole. But we asked for a fix, we didn't ask to send her to hell.

Lastly, getting railroaded into one particular narrative in a game about choices is the last thing you should expect.

Thats of course true, but this is another story with its consequesnces. The main issue remains. Could you try it? Could you ask for it? No and No. You are not allowed by the game and yet it is so obvious that it should be possible.

Whats the point of making a deal with rapheal when you can raid the house of hope?
Whats the point of continuing wylls contract when you can still save his father?
Dude i get you like the depressong stuff and the idea* of making the *hard choice* and in bg3 you have the OPTION* to pursue it in alot of areas.
But no it doesnt dimmish the narrative. To implement the fixed engine ending which was clearly intended baded on stuff alrdy in the game. No ones going to take away your tragedy.
Your good.
For the rest of us we are just spitballing ideas and concerns and hoping Larian takes note.

Haha im the toxic one? Ok i know know yoir either trolling or you havnt been reading this thread at all.
But ok my dude

Literally only 2 or 3 accounts in this whole thread has been actually toxic regarding larian and the rest of us defend the company. But were allowed to critque a product weve bought.

I'll be dead honest with you, I don't think the realizations you gain when dying are in any way diminished or going anywhere if you survive. She still went through all that, still felt all that, it's not going anywhere.

In fact, I believe there are a bunch of stories written all over the world about people going ham on living their lives to the fullest only to learn at the very end that their diagnosis was wrong and they won't die. Never once have I heard anyone call those arcs cheap.


The Watcher is hardly a definite undebatable expert on the subject and at no point can we ask the Gondians (who built it) IF they can help, so how exactly does our character know that? Like, we can come to that conclusion as a player through meta-gaming, because we see the options on the screen, but did anyone give that information to our character?


She probably wouldn't be, that's the beauty of making choices and facing consequences in a role-playing game.


In the most kind, sincere, human and concerned way possible: wouldn't you rather spend all that time on people whose point of view does not annoy you by default?

Aye, would add a nice touch as well in the sense that in the current endings Tav is generally the one who's okay. Would be cool if there was one where Tav was the one making the sacrifice for a companion (one that isn't going full mindflayer). Would need some kind of different solution to raiding the House of Hope for the Orphic Hammer then I suppose, but I'm sure they can think of something.


In my opinion, the opposite is the case right now. So many things hint at her being savable while also giving you hints at what happens if you don't. Which makes sense - it should be a choice and you have to work for the solution, so the game should prepare you for both scenarios. But instead, no matter how hard you work for it and follow all the hints at saving her, it all accomplishes nothing and she's doomed regardless - choice was never actually there and trying to pursue it was pointless. Just a whole list of red herring solutions.

Yes, there are NPCs in the game that are doomed regardless, or require one to be sacrificed to get another. But none of those that you mentioned are origin companions, with the exception of Wyll turning into a demon if you want Karlach. For each other origin companion there is a way out to the point where they can start healing. That doesn't mean that's their only outcomes - they can all meet a dreadful end all throughout the game and in the endings. But the option is there.


It was a joke about how the game needs more options for hugs. Currently only Karlach and Astarion get one.

Oh but sending her back to Avernus, something she despises, is fine? You know, an ending that exists in game. Even before the 'extended scene'. What if Tav doesn't want Karlach to die or go back to Avernus? We are talking about a game where we can have solutions for every single companion. We can either kill them, doom them to their past (Astarion ascending, basically doing what Cazador did even if he likes it, Shadowheart can remain a Shar slave, Wyll can remain as a slave to Mizora and Zariel....) or we can prevent all of those.

We can do literallly nothing for Karlach. And it's off for a game like BG, a game that already provides different outcomes for your companions, minus Karlach. Good, bad, bittersweet. Karlach's endings are all bad.

Not sure why you are against all this, you'll still get your depressing ending anyway. It won't destroy your narrative.

Constructive criticism doesn't mean we don't appreciate the work that they've done.

I feel lately the threads just getting brigaded. Not sure why as what we are originally doing (sharing ideas voicing our concerns and hopes to larian for an added ending, sharing bg3 news etc etc) harms absoluafely no one. Yet the past 2 weeks feels like ppl just coming in here to say no dont listen to these ppl- like why dude? We aint hurting you or your games endings why come here and and actively try to crap on our desires for a better outcome for a character that we like?

And yet were toxic? Lol i just cant lol

Again gang, there is a lot of emotion in this topic. Which means Larian did good However let's keep this civil. So far nothing bad but I see some emotion building. Every opinion on this is valid

For some reason they think we want the bad endings removed or we are bashing Larian. God forbid we are giving Larian some feedback.

Really? As for now all I see is almost 100 pages of complaining

It's a test for our community. We can overcome this. We just need to stay positive.