Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Story & Character Discussion Companions: how have your views on them changed from first impressions?

In my evil/dark urge playthrough, I reached Moonrise Towers last night. Loved the opening to act 2 in general, but Minthara... Well, there's a change in my impressions! First game I don't think I even spoke to her, just put a smokepowder barrel beside her desk because I just saw her as any other enemy. But now... I can already see why she has so many fans. I love that there's so much extra depth there for a second playthrough, rather than having every path open in my first game. This was easily the best scene so far in my evil game, partly because I hadn't seen it before

Minthara - Is like the rainbow coated in color black, you'll assume she's all dark and black but once you start scraping it off, my first impression changed to see her in more complex layers that of a rainbow, wanted to explain this in the most poetic way possible.

So, would you say that she's...a rainbow in the daaaaark?



I had to, sorry XD

For me, the core 4 haven't changed; Astarion, Lae'zel, Gale and Shadowheart are likable and compelling companions in their own ways. I omit one or two on a run only for keeping their inclusion fresh.

I realized in original play-through Karlach and Wyll were tier 2 companions, in terms of story and likability, and this hasn't changed. I had high hopes for Karlach on release, but she didn't match expectations of what I thought a Blood war veteran would be like. I might recruit 1 of these just for interactions.

(I consider Wither's followers kind of more interesting in that they include uncommon races.)

Jaheira and Minthara are wonderful non-origin companions. They're really well grounded in the setting and enhance a play through. Originally I was inundated with companion choices, so didn't appreciate them as much. Prefer to recruit either/or so that one can get plenty of party time.

Minsc and Halsin were and remain tier 2 non-origin companions. Minsc comes far too late and I'm not really into comedic companions, though I could see myself including him in a sillier run. I found Halsin not compelling as a companion compared to his npc roles in the story in Acts 1&2.

Overall, Jaheira, Minthara and Astarion have improved the most favourably since original play through. And to be clear, six well liked companions is plenty enough for me.

Yeah, I rarely took Minsc out and didn't feel like I was missing much. I'd talk to him in the Elfsong most evenings and hear any updates to his thoughts, and I got all of his background, and that was fun; but rarely actually had him in the party. Except that I specced him as a gloomstalker ranger, and used him when I wanted a max stealth party.

Minsc has some really funny banter when you have him in your party. Well, if he align with you humour prefrences that is, I know many don't find him funny.

Well, my Tav felt dumber after every conversation with Minsc, but I must admit that he brought some much needed comedic relief into the last sessions. Some of his lines are such WTF-material that even Astarion is nonplussed by them sometimes. During Act 3, I sometimes felt like a showrunner making sure every character gets enough screen time.

One of my most memorable moments was overhearing Minsc telling Astarion how he thought fishies was the perfect dish for him.

Thanks, Minsc! The keyboard really looked thirsty for some coffee.

Gale: Thought he was a decently nice guy at first (I give a lot of credit for this to his voice actor), with some inconsistencies thrown in. But my views on him completely changed for the worse during Act 3 when playing as Dark Urge. I started to warm to him some more again though after seeing banter between him and Minthara.

Shadowheart: Immediately jealous of her voice. Wish Larian would have given an option for a similar high-pitched voice for Tav, but for some reason that was forbidden and only reserved for Shart.
Not much changed regarding my initial views on her. At first I thought she was made to be just a pretty face type character who is a little aloof, but have noticed a tiny bit more nuance to her character since then.