If there are no nuances to the Emperor or any mind flayer for that matter, like Swen implies in the interview, then forcing upon players/companions the choice of becoming one/giving up any identity (at the very end of an RPG!) is just a really cruel plot: one way or another you're going to become a monster.

And it's because of the contrived binary nature of that ending, it comes across as a mere joke / a place holder ending for a seemingly unfinished game: clearly they can't be serious about it (but according to the interview, sadly they are.)

Even though I didn't like the Emperor at all and maybe therefore I missed to notice any nuances, I think making him that rouge mind flayer with a fleshed out personality/identity and actual choices at the end would be a huge improvement as it would allow us to interact with someone (instead of another some*thing* being forced upon us, because surely the tadpole isn't enough already).

The fact that people are not able to decide if the nuances to the Emperor are intentional or accidental might itself be a fully intentional choice by Swen and the writers. While in theory this makes a great "solution" to a "story problem", on the emotional level this ambiguity doesn't work whatsoever.

Last edited by Staunton; 10/03/24 11:17 AM.
- You are one of us now. - Yes, I suppose I am.