Originally Posted by fylimar
The main story is too convoluted. Did we really need the Elder Brain and Balduran? It would have been much more satisfying, if it would have been about getting rid of the three Chosen ones. Make Gortash and Orin more important.
As it is, I run out of steam after doing Auntie Ethel and Raphael, because they are my favourite encounters in act 3. I like the Minsc storyline and the underwater heist and after that, I mostly go through the motions. As a Durge, the Bhaal story is interesting, but everything after is just not my cup of tea anymore. Especially the Balduran reveal is too much.
I see this differently. I do think we need the mind flayers and the brain

There are 2 points in the story that may not have been stressed enough . They seem to have been hidden behind the other quests and actions. Yet I think they form the kernel of the story and they are the reason, IMO, why the brain and mindflayers are essential.
1. The absolute is a new and unknown god entity, behind which the dead three are hiding. Because it is unknown, yet very successful in attracting humanoid adepts, it puts in motion several important story threads : Minthara going to Moonrise towers to see what this is about and destroy it, and Viconia, with the same motivation starting the Shadowheart mission. If the dead three had sent their chosen openly to conquer the world, everything would change.

2. As Withers pointed out, ceromorphosis destroys the soul of the host. This has the Gods themselves worried and getting involved to investigate this absolute. It is the reason why Withers has appeared in the party to help them defeat the absolute, to restore the "balance". He is sent by the Gods.. (If you play dark urge, his involvement and challenge to Bhaal becomes even more explicit) In the end, he says to the three : I overestimated you, they (= the mortal player party) didn't.

So this plan of the "absolute" backfiring to the three is an aspect of thje story that I find logical and that I actually like.