Originally Posted by Crimsomrider
Personally I love how tadpoles are now.

Even during Early Access; the whole tadpole situation was indicating that the more it's used the more it acts as a focusing lens for the Guardian to connect with us, which gradually grew stronger the more we used the tadpole. Allowing the Guardian to protect us while harnessing its power.

  • At the start the Guardian could only speak to us while we are unconscious or asleep
  • Using the tadpole allows the Guardian to communicate with us more frequently and eventually even while we're fully awake
  • If the player did not use it at all however, they'd entirely miss out on that whole aspect of the story (which happened to me).


Larian made the Guardian at the time incredibly vague and mystical, but it was always acting in our best interest. The only difference was they were quite annoyed if you kept implying they're a tadpole illusion or even tried to kill them. The whole Guardian/tadpole aspect was in fact so obvious with its subtlety in many situations that JAndK, me and several others basically unraveled the majority of ACT 1 and ACT 2 story at the time, with some minor ACT 3 elements as well, using nothing but subtle hints given throughout Early Access and connecting the missing pieces. Was a very fun thread to participate in grin

I'm glad Larian caught onto the problem quickly and decided to make it better it for full release. The player in full release is still somewhat misguided into thinking the tadpoles are bad and evil for them, but that's kinda the point. Seeing how even the Guardian does not know their true potential and gets surprised when they end up empowering us even further when they're tampered... fills me with joy.

Instead of punishing the player with consequences for using it, they instead are cleverly warning and punishing the user for trying to get rid of it. Because naturally that's the obvious thing to do... the human thing to do. We fear that which we do not understand and through that primal instinct we act, always resulting in destruction.

So instead of consequences for using it, there are severe consequences or even beneficial boons for trying to remove it. Naturally there are pretty severe consequences for using the giga-tadpole, but I disagree that the regular tadpoles need any severe consequences. I'm glad Larian left that choice to me for roleplay reasons and that the game reflects on my choice whether I wish to or don't wish to use them.
Tbh Guardian/Daisy in EA was extremely rapey - that was the main reason, I didn't use my tadpole during EA, I don't want to get groped against my will..
I still do think, using the tadpoles should do something. You just put more worms into your brain and if you go into the tadpole menu ( your brain), the parts, that are activated with more tadpoles, look unhealthy, even dead. That should be shown with more than an ugly face imo .
I'm not dying on that hill, I still think, there should be some difference. I like Niaras suggestions, that it will become harder, to not use tadpole infused powers in dialogue and maybe come across as more alien and even unfriendly at times
But yes, it was good, that they changed Daisy to Guardian.

Last edited by fylimar; 16/11/23 02:31 PM.
"We are all stories in the end. Just make it a good one."

Doctor Who