I was so reluctant to give Necromancy of Thay to Astarion because I didn't want it to come back to bite us in the ass later. And it turned out to be worth nothing. He didn't even bonk Cazador over the head with it.
On my first run I gave it to Astarion, and sure there was one fun cutscene of him screaming at the book and that's it. No special abilities aside from the passive and free speak with the dead spell, and later the summon ghouls spell. I was legit scratching my head asking myself: is that it? So from then on I just went and read the book on my mains in the subsequent playthroughs, I'd rather have that speak with dead spell always available on my Tavs/Durges without having to constantly carry that amulet which gives the spell, swapping it in to activate the spell and swapping it out (I always forgot to swap it out), it's just an unnecessary chore.
But yeah, there should've been more to this book. It's been hinted at but nope, goes nowhere, just like that cave under Cazador's mansion (the one under his ritual zone), looked like there were supposed to be some puzzles, but got cut.
Originally Posted by t1mekill3r
I lost interest in the main plot the moment the Emperor showed up in its true form. And after seeing the "endings" my Act 3 goes like this: Cazador first to make Astarion's life easier, Orin next because I play Durge, then House of Grief because we understand and take care of Shadowheart, and finally Lorroakan because Rolan grew on me. There are some interesting side quests, but the lack of companion reactivity makes things so dull. Nothing happens in camp anymore either which makes long rests a chore.
Yup, I've reached this point for the 3rd time now and I also feel a sudden loss of will to continue playing even BEFORE the Emperor's reveal. All 3 runs I romanced Astarion too. Interestingly patch 3 reshuffled his 'You are incredible' confession, so you are more likely to get the one he thanks you for letting him avoid munching on Araj (unless you go out of your way to not speak to her until you have dealt with Yurgir, or talk to her without Astarion around so you can at least try to buy some things), quite interesting that Larian has decided to bind 'you are incredible' confession to killing Yurgir for Raphael. Sure, makes sense I guess.
What I generally like doing in act 3 is... everything in Rivington, start the murder quest chain, then finish the murder quest chain (without entering the Tribunal ofc, that I save for much later) in Lower City, save Minsc asap - he has a ton of commentary and reactivity to a lot of quests (including Mizora's nighttime visit), from there I do Shadowheart's quest first, then Gale's, then Iron Throne, then Foundry, then Baldur's Mouth Gazette (no Steel Watchers harassing me after Foundry goes poof), then Ansur, then Emperor's hideout in Elfsong, then House of Hope, then Cazador (finally - doing it so late too is cause I want Astarion's siblings to try to abduct him, sure, could rush to Cazador immediately, but if you wait, you get more content and more info on Astarion's backstory), then Lorroakan, then Gortash (or Tribunal and Orin), then Tribunal, then Orin, then the end game. I genuinely think doing the main quests in act 3 in this order makes for the best flow story wise.
Regardless, I really gotta push myself to finish the game again... ugh. I just wish more was happening in camp between long rests. Currently it's so damn front-loaded. 1st rest - Emperor's "rEvEaL", 2nd rest Vlaakith comes to say hello and taunts Lae'zel, 3rd rest - Dark Urge's Bhaalspawn 'reveal' (if you are on good path it's basically when you rediscover who you are), 4th rest - Emperor's overhears and is sad about Stelmane's death (this one can bug Durge's out to the point you'll need Gortash to tell you who you are - discovered that the hard way on my 1st Durge), then nothing until you visit Gortash and enter the Lower City, then you are bombarded by: Mizora's visit, Orin's visit, Astarion's siblings visit, also Jaheira arguing with Minsc. Once all that is done, you get nothing until you start doing companion quests...
Still, there is nothing more I dread than seeing Astarion being scorched AGAIN. Ugh...
