Why? Why did you do that?

Why on God's earth have you put in Sarevok and Viconia in the way that you did? What you all did to those character is a disgrace. Viconia is a turbo evil moron? Sarevok is "Bhaal's obsessed cultist?" What were you thinking? Who was this garbage meant for? New fans? Who couldn't care less about those characters and maybe somehow make them care by putting them into those small cameos? Or Old fans? Was it for people who played originals? Pleasing them by showing old characters in this new high quality way? Well... If it's the latter. You FAILED! Spectacularly. This is a monumental FAILURE. On BOTH sides. Let me explain why. Let's start with old and new for Sarevok:

First of for new players. Let's even FORGET they were in OG games and just talk about how they are portrayed in this game only... They are awful. Or rather... they are BORING. Sarevok looks intimidating and sounds cool. That's all there is to him. He is some psycho weirdo who has a thing for Bhaal and incest. Yay. What a riveting character that shows up for 5 minutes and the games acts like it's a big deal, like the build up of some lines being thrown here and there with his name is in any way making him feel as grand as you thought he would. Because it's not. He is a boring character who says some generic, villain things about Bhaal and then he is gone and dead. He is utterly forgettable. Not to mention the rest of the Tribunal who have no character whatsoever as well. Such a big part of the story and you made it feel so hollow and boring. That is impressive. He has something going on with Urge, but it's basically just hyping up others like you and Orin. You prop up those two with a character people barely know or care about and the most context to his power is his boss fight which depending on a player can be made into a joke.

And now for old. This is an insult. Because Sarevok in the original was a GREAT character. His backstory was layered. His plans were devious, his voice was great (in Polish version too which I play because that dub is honestly amazing), his presence was huge and despite being a Chaotic Evil character he was more than just a boring murder junkie. He was smart, his goal was about becoming a God. Not some servant of Bhaal. He was a character you wanted Gortash to be and then some (and he was not dumb enough to speak loudly about his secret plans in front of a whole crowd... and did not have a coronation in the Bridge). Not to mention his appearance in ToB which can be seen as weird at first, but in the end it builds up to a very good story where you can see him either go back to his old ways as he tries to again become what he once was or maybe become something more and fix his mistakes to become a better man. Both leading him to burying the one person he loved. All of that complexity, story and character, GONE. Not to mention that you IMPLIED he had a redemption and went back down. What are you doing!? Also you made someone who's one of primary motivations is seeing his mother killed by his adoptive father someone who does INCEST WITH HIS OWN DAUGHTER! This is disgusting. And before anyone tells me. "Oh, but it's realistic." What? Should I expect Astarion then to abuse everyone in the future no matter what happens? Would you not be crying about it if some other studio now will do that? Of course you would you little twat. The difference is that you care about Astarion and don't about Sarevok you little hypocrite! But if this cameo is for old players and it's spitting on people who CARE about Sarevok. Also for some reason you seem to think Bhaal resurrected him or at least you want people to think that with his diary... Again.

WHO IS THIS FOR!? Because it's clearly not for fans or newcomers. Is this for you? You wanted to put in Sarevok to make yourself feel oh so good about your characters he constantly hypes up that YOU made? If so... this is insulting.

And the same doesn't get better with damn Viconia.

The New (no, not Disco Elysium "The New"). She is again, a boring, forgettable, ugly and utterly devoid of any personality character who's biggest unique feature is being a Drow who worships Shar. What is there to even talk about? She abuses kids, mindwipes people, hurts Shar and all her lines are her being evil, evil, evil. This is boring. And very uninspired. She is just a plot device. An obstacle for Shart to overcome and that's it, which could... and with big letters COULD be fine if you did not do the same thing with Astarion, in much better way too mind you. One thing I have to give to you. Astarion is good. He is better at being Viconia than the Viconia you wanted Shart to be. But let's get back on track. There is nothing to talk about here beyond implied backstory between her and Minsc and Jaheira where she is told to be "Le evil" even more. Riveting. So... what is there for new players? Nothing? Less than nothing. Shart's words ring true that no one will remember her if this is targeted at new people...

But... Oh boy if this is targeted at fans of OG games. No. I wont even dive into her backstory as someone else here already did so I will keep it short. You took one of the most complex characters in the series who even in her default ending still ended up in a VASTLY different place than what she is at in this game. Not only are you contradicting yourself with some things like with Mirror of Loss having good memories of hers even though Jaheira and Minsc have nothing, but vile things to say about her, but you also have the AUDACITY to tell old players that no one will remember her... One of the most complex and beloved characters in the series and you say... nobody will remember her. Go to Hell. Genuinely. Whoever wrote that. This is... beyond insulting. This is trash.

And this even more reinforces to me that whoever wrote those things did it for themselves to feel better about their character. Hell. They probably didn't even PLAY the BG2 because any sane person who even played through them ONCE can tell those interpretations are completely off and stupid. Were you blindfolded? Did you just let those characters die or just never recruited them? Did you ever even played those games? Seriously. Who is this for? Who are those cameos for? And the fact that you made those two, some of the best characters from OG games into CAMEOS who have little to no explanation as to how they came to be like this, none that makes sense at least, is just a baffling decision that makes me truly believe you never cared for those characters Larian. Because everyone can see that when you care you can do great things, there is some very good things to say about this game even if the story can be flawed, but it is so clear when you don't care, you DO NOT care. So next time when you are given some IP that has some beloved characters attached to them, unless you care stay the F*CK away from them. Period. Don't touch them with a 10 foot pole. Stay away. Because what you will do will do damage. That is all. That is my rant.

Play the OG games. They are great fun even if they are dated in many ways, you can get used to them. Dwarf fighter/cleric is a good build (and MY Gorion's Ward, not that Abdel thing, just install a mod for romances for all races if you want that, I did, no shame). And not like they do not have certain problems I laid out here, writing in ToB even with Ascension can have some of those flaws as well like never getting to know the Five as much, but damn were they dignified at least about what they were. Dignity that I do not feel in BG3 even if I love this game. Also hot take. Amelyssan should have lead the Tribunal. She is more powerful and she IS in fact the High Priestess. You could argue that she tried to betray Bhaal, but not like Larian cared for why Sarevok leads them or why he is in such weird state so why that would be weird at this point? Oh wait... right. Recognizability. I forgot... Okay. I'm done. I'm tired of this rant. Shame on you Larian.

P.S. Can someone PLAESE make a mod where those two turn to dopplegangers at their deaths? At least with Sarevok? And maybe use AI voices to change some dialogues with Minsc and Jaheira. Would be appreciated. Yes I know AI bad, but this is a just cause I say. Okay. I'm done now.