Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Story & Character Discussion I have never been mocked so hard for choosing a romance route in a game before

I can understand the difference in Shadowheart's character between Act 1、2 and Act 3. In Act 3, her personality feels a bit out of character to me. However, in my second playthrough, I staying loyal to her and not talking to the drow twins or accepting Mizora, that was the kind of romance I was looking for. Still, I left Halsin at the camp to be kidnapped by Orin, simply because I feel like he has no connection to Act 3.

Additionally, after installing Really Shadowheart from Nexus, I’m very satisfied with it:)

I haven't pursued a romance with Shadowheart, nor have I brought Halsin into act 3, so I don't know what you're actually talking about. The most I got is Shadowheart commenting that Halsin is nice to look at.

I'm gathering that part of it is that although you've turned down Halsin, you've found Halsin and Shadowheart talking about him joining you? If so, I'd agree that's probably inappropriate (probably because I haven't seen the details for myself) and I'd support that being changed. Now, when something happens in a video game that seems 'wrong', I tend to take one of two views. I can interpret it as a bug and ignore it, or I take it absolutely literally and use it to build my interpretation of the world (the real world isn't always predictable).

But if the point is that early in the game Shadowheart says she prefers monogamy, and then later on she tells you she's interested in polygamy, then I don't see any problem with it from a character design perspective. Part of the point of the companions is that you don't know everything about them. They all have secrets that they keep from you at the start of the game, so maybe she just didn't want to talk about it then. Or maybe her preferences changed over time: Extra Credits did a video talking about how much more interesting it would make a game if an NPC could start a relationship with either the player or another NPC:

If this really affects you, I'd suggest having a think about why. I had something kind of similar in my earlier game: I was playing a shy, awkward character with a story arc about her gaining in confidence as people start turning to her as a hero. It was clear that she was a good match for Wyll, and late in act 2 he asked to dance with her. Then, the option to kiss came up and I stopped to think for a while, before deciding she was still a little too shy to take the active step to kiss him, and she briefly looked away. Even though this fitted the character, and at the time I believed that there would be another opportunity later in the game, I actually felt guilty for the next few days that I'd denied this person, who does not exist, her chance at love! Especially when Withers started poking at it... And yes, this did make me think about things. In the end, I did post on the forum that it would be nice to be able to start a romance in act 3 if you failed to do so earlier in the game, but what happened to my character is just part of her story, too. I see it as a statement on missed opportunities; I'll leave it up to you if you want to put your own interpretation on what happened with Shadowheart

I really wish I could see it that way too. But I fail to see this as playful teasing now, since I know it goes way beyond that and she actually craves for sex with him, my blissful ignorance is gone. And yeah, you are absolutely right that a platonic friend would never pry, but also a partner, who genuinely care for you and respects you, would never be so enthusiastic about it all of a sudden, especially since you have never been interested in it. I begged for them to put that banter behind the flag. Sadly, it didn't happen. But I hope some changes will happen in the upcoming patch, fingers crossed.


I have heard a lot of good things about that mod. But I am afraid that if I will use this mod, I wouldn't be able to play co-op with my friends, and also, thoughts like "It's not the way it was intended" would steel might creep in.


If NPCs would hook up when you are not involved that would be fine. If you're not involved - you're not involved. But what happens in Shadowheart romance route is that you're involved a lot, you gradually build something beautiful together slowly, brick by brick, never once I got the hint from her on willingless to let anyone in, on the contrary. The only reason I could think of her to have this sudden change and these feelings towards the other is that the protagonist wasn't good enough for her, no matter what lengths you went for her. And that's the part of the story, very bitter one and hurtful for a faithful protagonist.

Great video and excellent points. I love the drama, conflict, altercations and obstacles on the path to the goal much more than the actual ending. A sweet and romantic ending becomes much more meaningful to me knowing that the characters had distractions and choices in the shape of other priorities, attractions, insecurites and duties that they chose to forsake in the end because of their commitment to each other. And a tragic break-up or bittersweet what could have been, could be so much more compelling and emotional than just getting the trophy that stands around in camp and waits for me to ask them for a kiss.

It's a solid take in general. But her sudden distraction and lust towards another happens only after you commit to each other. Her romance route is emotional, complex and challenging as it is.

I wouldn't necessarily have the same impression. She's got an eye out for Karlach and seems to be testing the waters around Wyll a bit, and as someone else mentioned, there is no denying the hate-fucking energy she has around Lae'zel. I think she's just a bit horny in general, but to be clear, those are entirely personal takes, feel free to disagree.

Now we are getting a bit stuck in circles and I think we just have different views and tolerance towards how accepting we are of a partner expressing attraction towards other people, and it's ok to disagree on this. I am probably not going to convince you to be chill about it and you are not going to convince me that it is some form of emotional affair or cheating. I respect your feelings about it and I think you need to allow yourself to enjoy the game in your own way. There is no right, or intended way to play the game or interpret the characters and story in your own game. Let Halsin die in the goblin camp, ignore the shadow curse or give him to Orin. Who cares if other people make memes or call you petty or insecure or whatever over it. There is no approval system for random people on the internet within the game, so it doesn't matter what they think of your decisions.

I think I'll have to agree to disagree as well. While I can understand that things that might happen in game can influence your view on a character as a whole, even though they did not happen in your game, I confess I am way more lenient towards the characters I do like than towards those I don't. So when Wyll annoys me with his constant jabs towards Astarion, it's all good once he donated some blood to our vampire in the Shadowcursed Land or "volunteered" to uncover that ambush everyone failed to spot. I mean you can't talk it out with them but you can give your own little "disapproves" XD

These would be morally challenging options for me and I am already ashamed of my feelings as it is. I always play a 'good' route and try to save everyone. And even then, as creepy and inappropriate Halsin's advances are, it was Shadowheart's reaction to them that shattered my trust in her character.


I certainly can, I just wish my disapproves would have any impact.

I want to say that I completely understand you as a player and as a human being, and I think such a change of Shadowheart's character for the sake of introducing polyamory into the game is completely unjustified. The fact that Shadowheart initially behaves like a character who prefers monogamy, is not going to participate in any “love triangles” in Act 1, and then suddenly makes such a sudden “U-turn”, it doesn't look like some “revealing a secret” or “new facet of the character”, it looks like the character was just taken and abruptly changed, without thinking about the logic and sequence of writing, or about the feelings of the players, who play in the game with immersion and are strongly emotionally attached to their LI. Why her specifically and not Lae'zel or Karlach? I think the most obvious reason is that Shadowheart is the most popular female companion for romance in the game, so polyamory was added that way. With Astarion, it's a similar situation, the only difference being that he clearly doesn't want it, and in his case Tav forces him into this affair by taking advantage of his affection. This “bear story” in general does not look good overall, in my opinion.

I think a mod that fixes this situation and makes the story better is a great solution. “It's not the way it was intended” - well, to be honest, the development of the game was pretty chaotic, a lot of things in EA were conceived much better than implemented (or changed) later. Even more so with Shadowheart's character, this behavior of hers with Halsin does look unnatural and forced. I myself play exclusively with mods that fix the flaws in the romance. Although the lack of the ability to play in co-op is certainly a problem, it's hard to advise anything here.

In Halsin's case, even roleplay for a monogamous player is not taken into account, there is no way to even refuse him properly, not only to disapprove, but even to politely explain what he is wrong about trying to invade someone other's couple. The option of saying you have a pair sounds like you're “fine with the offer”, which is completely inconsistent with what the player might be thinking about it. To the only appropriate option for refusal, a simple “No”, Halsin will get upset and say “Why did you ask me about love then?”, even if you had previously specifically ignored the possibility of asking him about his former lovers, just so you wouldn't have to talk to him about something like that. This just further illustrates how deliberate and unrealistic it's done, so I don't think it's real Shadowheart's behavior, it's not in keeping with her character, it's just that the developers decided to implement the polyamory theme in the game this way.

To circle back to the original intent of this thread and your original question, which I think was how you can enjoy Shadowheart again: From those last pages, what you write sounds like her "lustful thoughts" are a total dealbreaker for you, no matter if you hear them or not. Which is fine. (For a mate of mine Astarion's gaslighting is a total dealbreaker, for example.) So, personally I see a couple of options: Romance someone else. Choose Shadowheart as your Avatar to romance someone else. (As you mentioned earlier on.) Or create a player character (or pick one of the Origins) who is different from you in at least this aspect, that they are not bothered by what Shadowheart might feel but instead put greater importance on her actions. If you feel very emotionally invested in the game through your Avatar, the last solution might also help to put a little emotional distance between you and the events.

Just what comes to my mind, of course, other might have more helpful solutions.

Thank you so much for understanding. Yes, exactly, I felt that way the entire time and her sudden change caught me off guard, to say the least. Whether it's botched or intended, it's just too cruel for my taste, I felt like my character was being led on. Perhaps I will indeed replay it with a mod and not perceive it as a mod per se, but as unofficial patch/fix and content restoration, thankfully I bought the game on PC. But as of now, I will just do a co-op with my friends, hard to refuse them, since I even bought BG3 to one of them as a birthday present.


These are genuinely great advices, thank you. I know that BG3 have a lot to offer than just one romance route, and in time I may gather the courage and explore the other options. This indeed will help me to distance myself from her character in that regard and on top of that I might not be irritated so much at yet another 'cuck' meme. But as of now, I am going through a bitter stage of resentment at Larian, I question my decision to buy all of their games. I can't help but think they have breached the player's trust and also gave a reason to gloat over those who chose her as their LI. I don't mind that game have a various traps, like, for example, Guardian is hillariously awesome, but from this I need a time to recover. And perhaps there is still hope, they tweaked something in Gale's reaction, didn't they?

Again, thank you all for your advices, understanding and not being hostile. In the end, if we found ourselves in the same forum, it means we have at least one interest in common.

I’m joining the conversation a bit late, and I see that the OP is no longer active, but I would still like to share my opinion if that’s okay.

First of all, I want to state that I didn’t come across the topic of open relationships and/or polyamory at all during my first playthrough, as it’s far from my interests. Because of this, I politely rejected anyone who tried to get close to my character. It was only after the first playthrough that I saw a video where Shadowheart eagerly and joyfully threw herself into “shared pleasures.”
I have to admit, I was initially quite shocked because it felt like a complete 180 compared to what I had experienced with her during our romance.

Despite my shock, I still think it’s a good thing that the developers gave us more options to shape our romantic relationships in the game based on our preferences, allowing everyone to find the path that suits them. In my opinion, the main issue is that this content, along with the aspect of Shadowheart’s personality, appears too late (in Act 3) and too abruptly. It’s this unexpectedness that catches some players off guard, especially those who are not fond of this direction. In other words, they might encounter it without being prepared.

However, I won’t deny that, at first, I thought I might choose a different romance next time, as I felt somewhat deceived. But then I thought a lot about the character and the game, and I came to the following conclusions.

No one should feel discouraged by the fact that Shadowheart might be open to certain things, as long as her partner is also willing and receptive to them. The very fact that many players only realize Shadowheart’s "openness" by watching videos and reading forums shows that the character is flexible, empathetic, and adjusts to her partner’s needs. I know many are worried that Shadowheart might bring this topic up on her own or secretly desire others. But! Let’s not forget that those who don’t have this need will practically never encounter this content in their game (apart from one banter, which can indeed be annoying after a certain romance scene). The main reason these things bother people is because they are aware of the possibility in the game. This awareness is what causes the discomfort, which I can understand, as it bothered me for quite a while too, even though I never experienced it in my own game.

However, I think the developers’ goal was primarily to make her a very flexible character who can adapt to the player’s needs (and I mean this in the most positive sense). The fact that there are numerous ways to pursue a relationship with her also shows this. I mean, even a "toxic" relationship can be formed with Shadowheart if the player has a low approval romance with her. In this case, Shadowheart doesn’t like the MC, and the relationship will be purely physical, something she openly admits.

These thoughts are mainly for those whose interest in romancing Shadowheart has faded due to the issues mentioned above. Personally, I found a new perspective that helped me a lot. In my opinion, everyone plays with a unique character. This character has a unique story and personality, and as a result, the relationship with Shadowheart is also unique. Let’s think of this as many alternative dimensions, where the relationship evolves depending on the player’s personality and preferences. If someone is interested only in a sexual relationship with Shadowheart, that will be their dynamic. If someone desires a more exclusive relationship with her, it will just be the two of them, and Shadowheart will be perfectly content with that because she can thrive in that dynamic as well. If someone wants an open relationship, then well... Shadowheart can also function in this dynamic because the MC is also like that, and that’s what they want. In real life there are people who can do either poly or mono relationships. It's not unusual to be flexible that way. Of course, not everyone is like this, there are many types of people. But I think Shadowheart is that kind of character, and she doesn’t do it because she submits; rather, it's because that’s her nature - she’s flexible.

In a nutshell, what I want to say is that the character is adaptable and considers her partner’s needs because she loves them, and their opinion matters to her. There’s nothing wrong with that, and just because someone has different needs and wants a different type of dynamic with Shadowheart, it should not ruin anyone's experience with her. I admit that there are some rushed, not properly developed dialogues in Act 3, but this is not the character’s fault, and it doesn’t lessen the value of the deep connection that can be formed with her.

I hope it's not a problem that I shared my thoughts. I know this topic has been discussed extensively, and not everyone will agree, but I hope my perspective might be helpful to others. I mean, it helped me a lot to think from a different angle.

After all this time they did nothing despite all the feedback. I think this is their point, she is just like that. She is not kind of person ppl think she is initially.

ime her view on sharing largely depends what colour her hair is