Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Story & Character Discussion Is the Act 3 Romance enough for you?

So in Act 1 - there are multiple scenes, I admit I have no done all the romances but just using Shadowheart and Karlach as an example but first you flirt, get a set-up to romance scene like "hey want to do something?"
For Shadowheart her romance scene is a kiss by the waterfall.
For Karlach a kiss as well but with her heating problem it it becomes an interesting issue to resolve.

Act 2 - the whole situation has changed yes, and for Shadowheart there is not much to explore. Especially as her lover in the Gauntlet. After the Gauntlet we get a "wait for now" message.
For Karlach we go to the next stage. Which is great honestly!

Act 3 - now this is where I think where we should have had the most romance content is feels like its too little and too fast.
For both Shadowheart and Karlach they confront their old abusers and I know depending on previous decisions things could go differently but still there is only one romance scene.
For Karlach the date scene and for Shadowheart the Swim scene (or the statue scene if you are evil!)

And thats it!
In the finale where you are facing squidification there is not much to discuss between the romance partner and yourself.

I know the recent update talked about some updates to that and new cute kiss animation but I feel like there should be a few more character development points between Act 2 and Act 3.
I think to remedy this there should be a "tiefling party" moment at camp for specific milestones between your character, the romance partner and the other characters in general.

For example a Camp scene after the Creche, another one after First Light discover, where maybe you can stay at the inn instead of its vicinity! one last one for after Ketheric's defeat.
In Act 3 there should be a specific romance scene for Elf Song Tavern, This scene should be before the romance finale, there should be a camp scene before you set out for the Elder Brain fight.

These camp moments are to show comedic moments like Gale cooking, or romance partner sneaking a kiss, or some conversations between the different characters so it really shows they are companions in an adventure rather that sentinels standing by their tent 24/7. I kept waiting for these moments to come about but they never did, or just barely. It seems as though as soon as things got good the game ended!
But this is my feelings on it, How about everyone else?

I share those feelings. I would love more camp scenes, not only romantic ones but especially friendly ones that maybe show the characters as a group that grows closer together. The rooms in the Elf Song are such a nice location, it gets so little use. Wouldn't hurt Halsin to do his whittling by the fireplace, I am sure it's nicer there.

I would also like I more casual scenes with my chosen partner, scenes that focus more on being together than purely on the romance, if this makes sense. For example Astarion's Araj scene is great in this regard, as is visiting the grave of Shart's old friend or meeting Tara with Gale - I just wish you could really spend some time with everyone's favourite tressym and get to know her a little. I guess "interpersonal moments" is what I am looking for.

Minthara players; "what romance?"


Personally I don't think the issue is about there not being enough romance in ACT III, the issue is romance not being done right because romances and their pacing in BG3 are just all over the place.

They do not evolve naturally as strangers > friendship > camaraderie > romance. Instead they're shallow "we're strangers, but let's bang as soon as possible m'kay?". Due to this lack of meaningful growth the pacing ends up all over the place and that's why it feels like ACT III needs more romance scenes to one-up the romance scenes from ACT II or ACT I and truly capitalize on them.

Divinity Original Sin II for example beautifully executed romance despite how little it had, because it only starts between the finale of ACT III and beginning of ACT IV. Up until that point the player slowly gets to know their companions and build up friendship with them, explore their backstories and establish a real sense of camaraderie. Which only evolves into actual romance if the player does everything right for their companions by ACT III, at which point it begins the relationship with a lovely romantic night spent together and plans of living together forever by the game's finale.

BG3 on the other hand... doesn't have any properly paced build up, it's just straight from strangers to immediate horny strangers that wanna bang. And if you don't bang them, they'll throw a fit with the most depressing puppy eyes because how dare you not bang someone you just met (looking at you Karlach, Wyll and Lae'zel. As for Astarion, I want to rip his balls off because his approach is just so awful.)

The pinnacle of any romance should've been in ACT III, but instead; Karlach's pinnacle of romance is in ACT II, Lae'zel's pinnacle is ACT II, Shadowheart's is ACT III, Minthara's pinnacle is ACT I (as a brainwashed victim that isn't even the real Minthara). There's just no proper pacing and that's why it feels like there needs to be more.

As I said in other threads about this; I felt far more invested in DOSII when it comes to romance than I am with any in BG3 because there they were paced properly to allow the sense of actual camaraderie to build up before romance ever came into the picture.

With all that said; Minthara for me is the only one who actually feels properly paced as her actual romance does not start until the very finale of ACT II, allowing the player to build a proper camaraderie with her due to survival circumstances before it actually evolves into something (which unfortunately is not much since she's entirely ignored by Larian). But overall I agree that ACT III romance does not capitalize whatsoever because the pinnacles were already reached in ACT II or ACT I.

Halsin's romance feels totally rushed, you don't get anything until after lifting the shadow curse, then he tells you his rules, you can have sex and afterwards he decides to keep monastic silence (only broken when he sees the refugees/orphans, when he sees the opportunity to have sex with the drow twins) until right before the last battle and then you get the ending.

So, yes, Halsin is not really happening in act 3, his character in act 3 doesn't fit the one in act 1 & 2 and you get the feeling that the most important thing for him has been the sex after the curse is lifted.
Yet, I have to admit that the new kisses and animations are sweet, but I could've done it without them if they would've added more dialogues.

I think that overall Shadowheart has one of the best romances in the game, if you take into account all of the smaller interactions where you can give her gifts and stuff. There are a couple of things I would like added.

First, a little bit more romance-specific dialogue in Act 2. As it is, a lot of the dialogue with her is the same whether you are romancing her or not. I’ve heard that they added romantic banter in Act 2, but had a couple of folks tell me they hadn’t seen anything like that.

It would also be really cool in Act 2 if they could add some kind of interaction with the pair of rings that allow you to cast “gentle warding bond.” Possibly talking about that in relation to the wound on her hand. I don’t think that she needs a whole romance scene in Act 2 personally. It’s a short act and she plays an enormous role in it.

In Act 3, there is one cutscene that I would like to see added more than anything. I would love a camp scene where the romance interest fully reacts to the Dark Urge’s decision-making at

It would be cool if Shadowheart had a date in the city like Karlach, or something. But, like I said, the thing I’d like to see most of all is under the spoiler tags. I think that Act 3 generally speaking suffers severely from a lack of camp scenes.

Also I want her frickin’ kiss at Grymforge fixed, LOL! It’s been broken for four months! It’s driving me crazy. By the way, I always romance Shadowheart as a cleric of Selune, which makes the romance more narratively satisfying. So that may also enable you to enjoy it more.

I do like romances having their special scene that establishes the relationship in Act 2 because it allows you to be a couple for some time in the game. For Gale this works pretty well - at least for me - because his story is so strongly tied to the main plot and figuring out what the Crown is - possibly plotting to take it for yourselves - becomes part of the romance. It gives you a good feeling of being partners with someone and working towards a shared goal. Since the epilogue was added, I am pretty happy with his romance - especially since the latest patch. (Though he still forgets that vampires don't eat when inviting you to dinner with Tara but oh well ... )

Astarion's is a romance that I more and more like better in theory than in execution. In Act 3 he very quickly comes to terms with abandoning the ritual so you can have a clean wrap up of the quest. Having some time and little events between Cazador and the graveyard wouldn't hurt. There is also the misalignment of character and player dialogue for Spawn Astarion. From Astarion's lines, his relationship is also one of partnership, of doing things together, there is nothing in the plot, environment or the player dialogue though, that allows for these feelings of partnership to be felt - apart from the Araj scene maybe.

My real problem is in Act 1 though. His night in the woods is deliberately set up as feeling fake and performative, but your character is written as to fall for it completely and you have no way to properly react to it. You are allowed to mention it the morning after, but - much like during the brothel - you are not given to opportunity to ground the situation. Being able to derail that pastel forest scene into a good, depressing conversation about what it means to feel powerless and at someone's mercy would be cool.

I would prefer a second chance romance for act 3 if you so happen to get friendzoned in act 2 I would like that first date(act 2) option to pop up at act 3 as a just in case you really didn't want to get friendzoned.

I said it already, but I'd definitely want something more for Shadowheart either in act 2 or 3. Her romance in act 2 is completely underwhelming compared to other companions. And her "romance" dialogues are almost the same as non-romanced ones.

And for the love of god, her romance for Selunite cleric needs some tweaks too. Her responses to Selunite lines are exactly the same for romance path and non-romance. There should be some tweaks, especially in the gauntlet of Shar, where she's ready to fight us if we don't want to help her. She acts exactly the same way to romance and platonic path. At the very least, she should have some doubts as our love interest.

Shadowheart: I'll fight you.
Romanced Shadowheart: I'll fight you.

Tweaked:
Romanced Shadowheart: I don't want to, but I will fight you if you don't stand aside.


That was just an example, but those small details would make a world of difference for her romance.

EDIT: I forgot to add that as ladies go, Shadowheart is the only one who doesn't say "I love you" or anything similar to it. Karlach says it, Laz has her gith words for expressing it, I think even Minthara says something. Shadowheart...? Nope, nothing. Just something about MAYBE being in love with Tav.

Since my reply is just a bigg mess full of spoilers I decided to wrap it all up, so if you have not completed your first game yet, please do not read below it would ruin your first time experience.


When you grow a companionship romantically with an origin character, I have always felt satisfied about it narratively (including Act 3 romances) and that makes me feel like a vocal minority, Ihowever with that being said I can agree there should easily have been more camp party moments in the game but the spots where I find it would make most sense and where I would have placed them are as follow:


My biggest worry is that just because a character cant be an origin should not have meant that they cant get the origin character treatment, Minthara is so delicately woven into the plot of The Dark Urge origin that this is just a huge mistake and an oversight to not have given her such treatment as they both share a lot of details in common, both are pragmatic strong willed characters, both got victimized by Orin and as result both share history with her for that same reason, Minthara should have had more bond-up moments throughout each Act of the game at bare minimum specially given how much you potentially give up on from the choices you can make in Act 1, right now it feels like Minthara is held together by stitches that comes loose on the occasion.

I've probably mentioned this before, but I enjoy Shadowheart's romance a lot. However it does feel as though something is missing in act 2 rather than 3 - directly after the Tiefling party (or her first romance scene) the pacing of the relationship just kind of pauses, and there's a huge gap where very little goes on between then and when it picks up again after the Nightsong encounter - yet it's indicated you're clearly in a relationship. You could explain it away with her internal struggle weighing up her ambitions to be a Dark Justiciar vs. feelings for the player character... but I won't. Compared to other romances it practically sits in limbo until you're all but finished with the Shadow-Cursed Lands.

Her reactions to choosing her -should you have pursued another potential romantic interest up until that point in act 2- and (romanced) Dark Urge waking her in the night to save her and also conflict with the state that the relationship is in.

Of course, more camp scenes that you can enjoy as a group would be more than welcome, this is something I've felt the game was missing since the first time I played.

This. Thank you. I'm glad someone else sees it the same way I do. It's even worse if you don't play as Durge (which I don't, I just prefer Tav), then there's literally nothing for me romance-wise in act 2.

I noticed this too, though I'm more than satisfied with the equivalent phrases she uses. She does refer to the player character as "my love" and her "true love" and the person she wants to be with "now and always" but it's almost a glaring omission that you can't say it to her either, especially since her non-Sharran path is one of the more traditionally romantic relationships in terms of interactions.

Also I always found it a bit funny that you can tell her she's beautiful and she will respond with "I know" on two separate occasions.

Yes, she reffers to the player as "true love". But it would be cool if you had some interactions where you can simply say "I love you"(or she says it).

Agree, I'd love that option even just for Tav.

You know, I agree, I noticed that omission as well. At first it really bothered me, but then I realized that she gives more validation consistently throughout the game than the other two female romance interests. So I’m at peace with the fact that she doesn’t clearly say that she loves the player character, etc.

But I would NEVER say no to the inclusion of something like that. It would be a great addition! Maybe at the end of the game when you think you all might be about to die. Lol. I think it would fit very well there. Or even casually in the epilogue.

What are the two times that she responds with “I know”? I remember that there’s one in the Act 3 romance scene, but I can’t remember the other one.

First romance scene.

Yeah, I think for me it's an instance of it goes without saying. Of course, I'd love for it to be included, it would be a nice fit for the Morphic Pool / High Hall "final kiss" moment, or even the Elfsong epilogue...

The first "I know" is during the first time during the act 1 scene if you pick the option (look into her eyes).

I'm pretty sure we all are aware that you're satisfied with everything regarding Shadowheart romance, but some of us are really not. Compared to other romances, SH doesn't really "validate" Tav as much as Karlach or even Laz. That is pretty lacking.

Care to explain what you mean by that?

That's because the writer unfortunately has different interest. I apologies but at this point I can't help but be a little bit impish in regards to this whole situation.

edit. I cant even make a single post without this forum crashing :I