Even if Larian had unlimited resources it wouldn't have made a difference. Minthara is not in this state because they spent more effort on other companions, the truth is simply (as much as I hate saying it) they just don't care about anything outside the scope of their intended good path. This was their mindset even during Early Access and is reflected throughout the entire development, which is why this isn't just an issue with Minthara either, as Sarevok and Viconia equally got shafted as characters that weren't even their own. Same story with Gortash, Orin, Ketheric, Nere, Marcus and the entire evil path. It's also the reason why they discarded Minthara (and Astarion) like utter trash in these extended evil endings too, which were supposed to enrich their characters further and fully include them... which they forced so hard it broke both their own lore and player's roleplay by doing so (I don't think I'll ever recover from that).
So as someone who never played BG1/BG2; I equally despise what was done to Sarevok and Viconia as well, because the story consistently kept bringing up these characters only to end up being braindead shallow villains - one with Unholy Daddy issues, the other with Unholy Mommy issues. A sad and pathetic desecration of established characters just to have 'notable' villains for their heroes to slay, when literally anyone could've been in their place and Orin and Gortash could've been made more prominent in ACT III, who are awfully lacking in presence.
Jaheira and Minsc on the other hand - I absolutely adore with all my heart. Jaheira's commanding presence followed by her snarky 'hello' captivated me from the moment she stepped into view because when a character is properly established and has their place cemented within the story, one can just sit back and admire its growth as the story evolves. Jaheira is such a well and beautifully written character I LOVE interacting with so much, because (just like Minthara) she wasn't written to 'appease the players' like the Origin companions, but to be an interesting character with a uniquely defined personality that enjoys butting heads against the player.
I love that she is flawed and fallible, snarky yet straight-as-an-arrow with her honesty. Someone that can both lecture and criticize, yet also crack jokes and even take jokes; like when I called her ancient and she burst-out laughing, then approvingly called me a bastard for saying it like it is. I LOVE that sort of dynamic because it makes characters so much more natural and forms an actual camaraderie that eventually evolves into a beautiful friendship, like two best friends messing with one another. Same with Minsc and Boo, freaking love Minsc! Minsc is so positively... Minsc! He is the Minsciest companion of them all, the biggest Minsc-reant! I cannot imagine ACT III without him ever again.
So I am extremely grateful Jaheira and Minsc exist, because unlike the Origin companions they weren't written to 'appease the player' and bombard me with exhausting feelings and intimacy, but to be interesting characters - which makes them feel more real, thus interacting with them much more enjoyable.
Unfortunately, yes. Unlike BG1/BG2 where “evil” was implemented perfectly, I recall another player's account of his playthrough of BG2 and yes, there was a lot of content, and such content that you just wonder, “Come on! Can you really do that?” I found it somewhat ironic to myself that it was BG3 that gave me a “taste” for evil walkthroughs, in BG2, and even more so in soulful games like the Pathfinder series, I just had the pity to “do evil” in a greater degree than was necessary for the well-being of “evil” companions. And here - I want to, but, alas... At the same time, the evil characters turned out by Larian more interesting, intelligent, attractive and much more touch the soul than the favorites of their “good way”. I came to BG3 as a fan of the BG series and seeing my old friend Viconia like that was certainly depressing, which is why, among other things, I thought it would have been better if Larian hadn't touched the characters of BG2 at all and had properly dealt with their own instead. Jaheira's character was changed quite a bit compared to the original. Minsc succeeded much better, he differs from the original Minsc only by the greater concentration of the word “ass” in speech (in BG2 it was less frequent, more appropriate and funnier, while interacting with Minsc in BG3 I involuntarily regularly think of Grandpa Freud, otherwise he is the same).
I got the feeling that Larian just don't like their own evil characters. They don't want to let the player love them, or not that they don't want to let the player love them on purpose, but rather they don't take us into account, believing that players should be delighted with “good” companions and “good” paths, and that “evil” is just “for the sake of roleplay”, like watching the story. Other, serious and deep attitude of the player to his evil LI, is not noticed or perceived as something significant in the development of the game. The new evil endings clearly demonstrate this - they are suitable only for those who play the “evil” for fun, as a “cartoon to watch”, without any immersion and certainly without love. Or like to play a bloody maniacal loner, as it seems that in the authors' perception “evil-isolation” should look like. Although I saw this “evil isolation” more as an excuse, an attempt to put some kind of “philosophy” on top of a trivial desire to save money and not make content, but maybe it really is a kind of “philosophy”. The only positive thing about all this is the gaming community itself and the fans, and the modding tools. The modders sometimes do just magic, and I can't imagine BG3 for me without mods anymore. I think mods can give Minthara a full interesting game life too, and I also hope in time to see and download a mod that will focus on fixing her.
- Recruiting her legitimately by raiding the Grove kills the content of over 60 NPCS, several companions and takes away Shadowheart's romance... but enables the player to have sex with Minthara's dominated body (I say body intentionally here because that is not Minthara in ACT I).
- Knocking her out instead takes away her one and only camp scene in the entire game, but saves the content of over 60 NPCs and all companions so ACTs II and III are significantly more fulfilled.
- Outside of that Minthara herself reacts just a tiny bit differently in ACT II depending on her recruitment, but that's about it (I don't mean just the post-Ketheric dialogue, but also when entering her mind while she's being erased).
I also liked the option of giving Minthara the Silvanus idol stolen from the druids on the Mol quest. You have to deceive her by telling her it's what she's looking for (you have to pass a Deception check). She will go to Moonrise Towers. The end result is the same as knocking her out, but it all looks a bit more interesting in terms of story and roleplay.
