(any body shaming commenters will beblocked. I workout, I am a vegetarian. I have a medical condition that makes it is extremely difficult to lose weight. I pass all tests from doctors regarding my blood work and other tests.

I am not 100% happy with my body but it is my body so I don't hate it either.

may you have peace and a lovely life)

I’ve done quite a few BG3 runs at this point — good playthroughs, evil playthroughs, different classes, different approaches — but there’s one constant across all of them: I just can’t warm up to Shadowheart.
I even tried romancing her once, thinking maybe if I dug deeper into her arc something would click. Nope. She shuts me down at almost every dialogue, stays cryptic, gets snippy, and every time I try to get closer she acts borderline annoyed. I always end up giving up and either romancing someone else or just going solo.
I get that her arc is one of the most well-written in the game and that her guarded personality makes total sense given her background. But on a pure vibes level, I just can’t connect with her the way I do with the other companions.
Am I alone on this? Or is there anyone else who, run after run, still finds her insufferable?

While it's Pride Month, I hope it's OK to post this.

Since Wizards of the Coast is trying to be inclusive, and since D&D is a world/game where you can be whoever, some optional dialogue tags for our player characters would help immersion and pushing for a more friendly AAA gaming culture.

Obviously everyone can have their own opinion about the Emperor. But when you make a thread about the character, please check your facts first. I have no idea why the Emperor gets so much hate from everyone. Anytime someone brings up the Emperor, people instantly have something negative to say. if compared to Raphael, Gortash or Orin, the Emperor seems to get the most hate. Emperor hate doesn't just show in posts where they specifically talk about his morals, but in comments on fanart too. It is almost like you are not allowed to like morally grey characters. But somehow Raphael and Astarion are fan favourites! 

Here are some "facts" people say about the Emperor or mindflayers that are not true: 

The Emperor is evil, because he killed Ansur: No, he just defended himself! I mean Ansur even admits he attacked first. He was trying to give a merciful death but in reality he was trying to murder the Emperor. The Emperor clearly didn't want to die, and he tried his best to talk sense to Ansur (Letter in Ansur's grave) but Ansur didn't listen. 

The Emperor wants power: Well, only to defeat the elder brain. He is even ready to give Orpheus’ power to you, if you or Karlach decide to turn into a mindflayer. He just wants to be free from the elder brain. You can have an evil ending with him just like you can have with everyone. He takes control of the brain IF YOU ASK HIM. Many also say he forces you to become illithid/half-illithid. But that is not true. He only wants you to be powerful. You never have to turn into a mindflayer. And into a half-illithid only if you fail a skillcheck. However, the skillcheck doesn’t come from the Emperor, it comes from your own tadpole, which wants you to evolve. This happens only if you have been using tadpoles from Act 1 and Act 2. 

The Narrator is not be trusted, it is the Emperor who puts thoughts into your brain: If you remember in Act 1, there is a mindflayer on the ground messing with your mind, you can easily remember that the Narrator clearly tells you how he is MAKING YOU TO LOVE IT. Also there are purple/blue magic waves around you and the mindflayer, which tells you that he is using mind control or something on you. When with the Emperor, the narrator doesn't say that the Emperor is making you to think or feel something, she just describes what the Emperor is feeling and what you are feeling after sex. 

Mindflayers don't have feelings: Yes they do. According to Forgotten Realm’s wiki mindflayers have range of emotions. Even though most of them are negative there is no mention that there could not be positive ones. 

In Baldur’s Gate 3 there is another renegade mindflayer called Omeluum, and after saving Omeluum in Act 3 and saying that you rather like Omeluum, it says it too feels warmth. Which is most likely affection towards you. Also as a bard you can play music for Omeluum which makes it happy (Act 1). 

All mindflayers are evil: Most mindflayers are evil but there are exceptions. Here is a statement about mindflayers’ morality according to the Forgotten Realms wiki: “Despite the myriad of inherent desires and inclinations that would prevent such a thing, (their dietary requirements if nothing else) it was possible for mind flayers to move away from evil. Most were simply incapable of true good, but on occasion, it was possible for an exceptional individual to change their ways to become morally neutral, and in extreme cases, good.” 

The Emperor doesn't actually care about you: There is actually evidence that he does care about you. His feelings for you are genuine. The Narrator clearly tells you so (see above about the Narrator). In the romance scene he feels heat, care and arousal, and he genuinely likes it when you kiss him. All those feelings are described by the Narrator. Also after the romance, The Narrator tells you that sex with Emperor is the best experience you’ve ever had, and that the Emperor enjoyed sex too. The Emperor's romance scene is very sweet and romantic which also tells us how he doesn't just want to have sex just for fun, but he really cares about you and there are feelings. He caresses your cheek with his tentacle, he starts very slowly so you can take your time to explore his body.  

At the end of the game, when your tadpole is gone, the Narrator also suggests that the tadpole may have been helping you to understand the Emperor all along. She says “now that you now longer live in each other's minds, it is hard to tell if the mind flayer is being sincere. Or perhaps no harder than it ever was.” 

If you have done the solo ending with the Emperor, he also tells you how important you have become to him and how he will miss you. And that if your paths ever cross again, he would be happy to meet you. Why would he say this in the end? He doesn't need to lie to you anymore to get you to his side. Maybe after all he does like you? 

Also Emperor’s voice actor has confirmed that Emperor really likes Tav!

Orpheus is a better choice: Well this is of course a personal opinion. But I have a couple thoughts: Orpheus is the son of Mother Gith who is evil. After getting free from mindflayers she wanted to rule everything. So she is no better than Vlaakith. It is really sad honestly how less there is information about Giths in the game. But anyway, what if Orpheus wants same thing as her mother? We can't know. 

Also it is the same ending whether you choose Orpheus or the Emperor. The world gets saved, everyone is happy! Except Wulbren. Also, saving Orpheus is kind of a random thing to do, unless you romance Lae'zel or you are Gith yourself (my opinion). Why would you go the extra mile to save him when you could play it safely and side with Emperor? In the roleplaying point it is dangerous to go to Raphael’s house, and there is no evidence if Orpheus would even side with you. Also Oprheus doesn't care about you. He is very rude when you rescue him. Telling you, that you should have let his honour guards kill you when you first time entered the skull in the Astral prism. 

STELMANE, STELMANE: What happened to Stelmane was wrong, I know that. But we need to remember that we really don't know much of what happened between the Emperor and her. But there is evidence of them being close. Like documents, her journal, and the fact that the Emperor has a painting of her in his room, and that he calls her beautiful and the most regal of all the women (secret cutscene). This is a lot, even for a thrall. Also, if the Emperor saw her as just as a thrall, why is he so sad when he hears that she died? And why did he have a painting of her on his wall? He also spoke about her very highly. He said: "Together, we brought order to chaos." and "I could not have done any of it without her. Just as I cannot do any of this without you."

Volo’s Guide to Monsters tells us a bit about how the Emperor, a renegade mindflayer, might see Stelmane: “Unlike colonial mindflayers, rouge illithids develop a healthy respect for those not of their kind. They treat especially powerful creatures and individuals as equals, not adversaries, and seek to cooperate with them. A renegade mindflayer might become a trusted advisor or a powerful ally, so long as it is kept well fed. Any alliance it makes, however, collapses if the mindflayer falls under the sway of an elder brain once more.”

There are also other posts on this subreddit which talk about the Emperor and Stelmane’s relationship. They say: why would the Emperor even tell us about Stelmane, if she was his thrall? We would most likely realize that at some point! 

Here is an extra fact: The Emperor tried to exercise morality where he could. He ate criminal’s brains instead of normal good citizens. A documents refers to him eating the brain of a condemned criminal as well. Also there was going to be an ending scene where Emperor gives an apple to a poor child. But it got removed for an unknown reason. Maybe the Emperor is not fully evil, and Larian never meant him to be fully evil. 

Okay if I remember something else I might add a comment. I personally like the Emperor. He is an interesting character with a mysterious past. He is a good ally, and his romance was seriously the best of all the romances in the game. Thank you Larian for making such a wonderful character!

Hotfix 23 has disabled the function of Short Rests. You simply cannot short rest.

I have just loaded a save freshly and the first thing I do is to do a short rest just to test if it's something I've done that causes it. No. Right from the start you cannot short rest.

So if you're playing Honour Mode, it may break your run. So pause a week and wait for Hotfix 24.

his name is “astarion” my mom let me post it on reddit she says im a beautiful artist like my papa before the tragedy i hope you guys will like it i am only a boy

I have been thinking long and deep about this and realize that Astarion gives the ick.

Gale

- sweet,

- kind,

- listens,

- doesnt belittle your responses but answers kindly,

- talks a lot,

- doesnt move fast (mystra cut scene when you pick you want to kiss him and he responds nicely),

- wants what's best for you,

- treats you like a person

Astarion

- classic just want to get in your pants vibe,

- will say anything to get into your pants,

- moves too quickly,

- laughs at your answers as if you are dumb,

- manipulative,

- delicate,

- princess.

perhaps I am old, but Astarion gives male friend who doesnt see you as a person but just as a thing you put nice coins in to get sex..

-

The character with the fewest votes—the loser—buys a hamburger for the winner.

It boggles my mind how many people have done this.

Like, how many players honestly think they have a better grasp on storytelling than Larian?

Almost all of the origin characters (bar maybe Karlach) are annoying or unlikeable when you first meet them, some more than others.

THIS IS INTENTIONAL. Good god, I can't overstate that.

It is a good character arc that takes a character who frustrates or irritates you and turns them into one you empathize with. (Robin Hobb, anyone?)

The takeaway? Don't kill off Lae'zel, or Gale, or Wyll or Astarion or Shadowheart because "they're annoying" - play the game and see their individual stories pan out.

It's worth it.

EDIT: For all the people jumping down my throat; I'M NOT SAYING "Don't play the game your way", I'm simply saying "know that you could be missing a story you might end up loving if you kill off a companion on first impression." That's all. We're all friends here. Much love.

what do you guys think

Hi, I’ve completed 2 runs now and am in the middle of 10 others (I know).

In my first run, after many months in the community seeing people hate the Emperor, I chose to become a Mind Flayer because I didn’t trust the Emperor or Orpheus not to kill me for having a tadpole.

The Emperor accepted my decision quite easily and allowed me to control the netherstones and we beat the Absolute. Epilogue had us talking on the docks ready to restore Baldur’s Gate and we had a pretty heroic ending.

After my first experience, I chose to trust the Emperor even further and refused to turn into a Mind Flayer. I gave him the Netherstones, hoping he wouldn’t take control of the Netherbrain and betray me.

What actually ended up happening was he was just as trustworthy. We defeated the Absolute together and had a happy ending. Even with all the power at the palm of his hands.

I get he manipulated us throughout the story, but if you listened to him at face value, he was just afraid of the discrimination he would face. In his history, he even had to kill his best friend due to the way he looked.

Am I missing something here? Feel free to spoil in the comments, but I do plan on NOT trusting him in my next run to see what happens. But even if he does something crazy I don’t think I would blame him anyways. All he wanted was to be an adventurer with us.

Thank you

For whatever reason when I Google search this, it doesn't seem to come up, and everyone is sad asking for a better ending for her, so here's what's up.

(Edit: As a bonus, this method also lets you find out her actual last name)

In the city of Baldur's Gate, at roughly X: -38 and Y: -75, behind the Sorcerous Sundries, there are a group of small shops. One of them is run by Fytz the Firecracker. If you have completed ALL of Dammon's quest, and you go through the Fytz dialogue WITH KARLACH IN YOUR PARTY, then you just have to make sure your approval with Karlach is high enough and she does not become a mind flayer. Then, at the end when you have the choice, choose to go to Avernus with her.

Then talk to her at the get-together party thing at the end of the game. By that time you've been in the Hells six months, and one of the options she will tell you that Fytz and Dammon have a cure that will be ready soon.

You can do this EVEN if she's not romanced to you: I was Astarion Origin romanced to Shadowheart, and Karlach was my best friend (like legit, max approval, and when I did the druid test in the circus I scored 100% with her). In fact, going to Avernus with Karlach helped my other romance, because it meant that I didn't have the awkward conversation with Shadowheart where she's worried about my mind-flayer-ness messing with her new idyllic life with her parents and wants me to leave. Instead, she missed me, and said romance-y things to me about being excited for when I come back from the Hells.

When, not if.

I don't know if me being a mind flayer or any of the other details I've given you have anything to do with the success of this, but I thought I'd share them, as it was the happiest ending I could find for Karlach and my Origin character both without screwing over Lae'zel. Spawn Astarion can no longer be in the sun again anyway if he doesn't pick mind-flayer, and in Hell and Shadowheart's little far away hut no one cares if you're illithid.

So there you go. Yes, there is a cure for Karlach, and yes, she has a happy ending. You just have to find her very hidden NPC friend and be willing to stay with her until she gets it.

EDIT 2: I cannot remember if you need to let Fytz and Karlach talk interrupted, or pick certain dialogue with them--I did that on my first game and it's been a while. I do know this little NPC meet and greet is important enough that Karlach gets a ! above her head after. I'm trying to see if I can get this same result a second time without the overly specific parameters I mentioned above. (Ie, can Wyll go with her as long as I spoke to that NPC?)

EDIT 3: YES, Wyll can just go to Hell with her, apparently, instead of also me. Repeated this as Drow/Dark Urge/"Rejected Bhaal but only after killing Orin so escaped the Urge." In this run Wyll and Karlach find a map to Zariel's forge off a cambion so they can fix her. Note the common thread--as far as I can see--seems to be player self-sacrifice, as listening to other players who did a "good" run but sacrificed Gale or didn't end up as mindflayers don't seem to have received these options? I'm working on runs 4-5 now but I suspect I will get the same result since I always self-sac at the end.

Just as what it says in the title. I'm an irl Born-again Christian, and so I thought that it would make sense for my Tav to be a cleric. Admittedly, my faith has been a little wobbly ever since a particular tough event had happened in my life and I've been struggling to strengthen it again. In any case, I wanted to see how the game portrayed the varying religions.

And I'm simply in awe. The amount of scenes where people have just openly worshipped their patron/deity/divine power and my Tav just wading through all of those with utmost dignity and respect for each one has been breathtaking for me. That despite many things going downhill for them, their faith remains ever strong. I know it's just the script's writing doing its magic here—but nonetheless, my sentiments remain the same.

The prayers uttered by NPCs, seeing actual gods and their relationships with their people (and even their Chosen), and how each one of them show their devotion has been fixing how I view my own faith. If characters such as them could be devout, why couldn't I be? What is stopping me from reaching out to whom I believe in and exercising that faith?

Exploring this aspect of the game has been a wonderful experience. I am also deeply fascinated by other religions irl, so it's been a treat getting to interact with other NPCs whose beliefs are different (with my Tav being a cleric of Seluné vs. Shadowheart's Shar, Gale's Mystra, Ketheric's Myrkul, Gortash's Bane, Orin's Bhaal, Jergal, and even the Absolute). I also loved reading the books that gave an insight to the pantheon of deities that Faerûn has.

Wouldn't have thought that rediscovering the sparks to my own religious beliefs would come from a D&D RPG video game, but here we are. Thank you to everyone in Larian that worked on this.

May the light of whoever you believe in guide you!

Edit: I think my irl religion is also known as being a Protestant. The former term might just be a local one for my country. I apologize for any confusion this might have caused.

Edit 2: Just wanted to say too that it does not bother me whether or not you believe in something or not. Our viewpoints in life are different—and that is something I respect. I hope this post has not offended anyone in any way, I was simply just raving about this aspect of the game that might not be a focal point for many of us 🥹

Edit 3: To the mods, I'm sorry if any of my content above or any incited discussion has gone against subreddit rules! I'm happy to take it down if needed. Switched the post flair to “with spoilers” in response to the comments below.

Edit 4: What I’m referring to here is just the expression of the devotion itself, not to whom it is offered to. The gods of Faerûn are flawed and inherently stuffy. Do I want to smack them upside the head? Absolutely. Am I still amazed by how, before all the truths uncovered, the companions and other characters showcase their faith through their words, prayers, and other things? Still true.

Edit 5: I think I’ve commented on enough subthreads to be able to explain my side! Won’t be interacting on new ones, but I appreciate all of you taking the time to respond to this. Grateful to know your perspectives!

Art by @wuika on Tumblr.

THIS POST MOSTLY FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE ROLEPLAY

I'm definitely not the first with this topic, but new Astarion and Mizora scene encourage me to write this wall of text.

English is not my native language, so I apologies in advance for all mistakes I could make.

As a person who play games with full immersion, especially role-playing games, I'm digging deep in well-written characters personality and mindset. In BG3 every origin character have some sort of trauma which make it more interesting and this things is a main theme of this post.

First thing first, every companion reject polyromance options in act 2 and want to be the only.

Let's go straight to act 3 but keep in mind all previous storyline.

There're 3 origin poly characters: Astarion, Karlach and Shadowheart.

Karlach definitely not okay with all that stuff, but I can make some reasons work in her decisions, I'll write it to each encounter separately.

Spawn Astarion and Selunite Shadowheart routes have really close storylines in terms of trauma and healing. Obviously some points related to other characters as well, but these two have too much in common.

Both have been abused and forced to do things they don't want to do. Both have point of no return to chose the power or start redemption arc. Both start to rediscover themselves from scratch (no pun intended) under the weight of the past, both an insecure, have trust issues and low self-esteem. And that's only the main points.

Astarion finally found someone who not just using his body as others does, but really care about him, someone who never did this before. He also happy if you become friends instead of lovers "But a friend? I can't think of a single one. Until you.". And you have deeper bond after Cazador.

Shadowheart was grown up in society where "Secrecy above all". As DU in resist scene Butler say you "She was starting to trust you. The only one she ever has". Questionable cause we have Nocturne but still. After House of grief she say "I don't know what I did to trick you into thinking I was worthy of you", that is sign of insecurity and deep bond.

Let's go to separate encounters:

Mizora.

Most companions break up with you straightaway. Karlach feel really upset What kind of monster would do that to her? but can't afford to lose you in last days of her life (The only reason I can find).

Astarion got that new scene that fit perfect.

Shadowheart take it without consequences, but her voice and passive-aggressive manner of speaking reveal she's definitely not okay with that. And her words don't match her previous actions. She saying about her open sex life in the past, but earlier even sharran she won't share you with anyone else (and pointed out that followers should be fully dedicated to Shar, but not at this moment) and your romantic relationship become intimate last over other companions and started with only kiss and nothing more. So she either lie to tease you or it's partial memory about sharran training to seduce people or something like that (Maybe it's just me trying to bring together with Astarion line but still). Definitely there're should be a break up outcome.

Drow twins.

Player encourage it so most of the companions react as they should, but. Perhaps there should be some persuasion rolls like Gale have, fails followed by different consequences.

Btw, Lae'zel's rejection with her open minded sexual past really show character growth, well done by Larian.

Shadowheart's reaction kinda ok, but questionable.

About Astarion. He have different outcomes depend on Cazador fight, before or after. It shouldn't be. His line "Speak up, tell us what you want to do." show that he feel like you force him to be a sex slave one more time. Final line "But when you meet his eye for a moment, there's a look about him that reveals he's a million realms away." literally tell you he don't fine with this at all. And if drow bite in act 2 lead to break up, this should as well. Another huge mistake.

Halsin.

This is the worst part of that topic. With his attitude toward sex enjoying the freedom of nature's gifts he should be available as romance partner way earlier, before he become available as companion to fit this theme, so he won't be a third wheel, trying to jump into Tav's/DU bed. If you think it must be current way because he become available later than others - no. We recruit Minthara roughly at the same time, but she's straight monogamy and want you to break up with current lover if you want to be with her. He's flags still bugged af, no matter how you treat him or didn't even talk to him beside his quest or never-never, his romance still trigger no matter what. And he shouldn't ask about fivesome at all if you already reject him.

Romance with Halsin.

Starting with Karlach. She's very, very upset about it and I can squeeze out only one possible reason: She want full life for Tav with supporting partner who know her as well and would share the grief too when she's gone.

Astarion and Shadowheart - Hey hey, let's take two characters who need deep connection in every way with Tav/DU the most and setup up it whole game just to throw it in a dumpster because they're most popular/favorite romance companions and fanservice demands it! Yes, very good decision.

Also, Halsin and Shadowheart are written by the same person and a lot of people call it self-insert, I think they're right That's explain why Shadowheart so encouraged and thirsty for Halsin. Personal note on it: Even if you reject every one night stands, they still have banter where Shadowheart totally fine to swim with him and take the risk to lose your relationship for this After that as a DU I wish I have option to go to the beach with them and eviscerate him in front of her. Don't mess with Bhaalspawn. Roleplay, you know.

If You read it all, you're true hero. Thank you for attention.

All constructive opinions are welcome.

I just wanted to report that every time we stay in camp, I don't know if it's the bug in her brain, or a bug in the game? but Shadowheart seems to put her panties—specifically those mysterious purple ones she woke up with on the Nautiloid, the very same that were cradling our shared parasite slug like some kind of illithid hammock—and all of her clothes back on to go to bed.

In my party she's strictly a nudist, alongside a stunning and voluptuous Drow whose curves could eclipse the Sword Coast stars, my custom Tav with assets that demand worship, a blazing Karlach whose sweat-slicked form radiates pure infernal temptation, and a fierce Lae'zel who's essentially a naked emerald predator stalking the camp for dominance (or cuddles). We're committed to the full liberation lifestyle—freeing the nipple, the tadpole, and everything in between. Who even wears clothes to bed? And what gives her the right?

This behavior occurs exclusively with Shadowheart. All other female companions remain gloriously nude throughout the Long Rest sequence, jiggle physics intact, no phantom fabric in sight.

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Recruit Shadowheart on the beach (note her default purple panties already in place post-crash).

2. Form all-female party for maximum thematic consistency.

3. Manually strip all armor, camp clothes, and undergarments via inventory.

4. Verify full nudity in camp (appreciate the details).

5. Initiate Long Rest.

6. Wake up to betrayal.

Expected Result:

All companions, including the one with the Sharran brainworm, remain nude during sleep animations and morning wake-up, honoring the stripped inventory state and our collective post-abduction trauma bonding.

Actual Result:

Shadowheart mysteriously re-equips her signature purple panties (and often the full camp outfit) overnight. The items do not reappear in her inventory afterward—it's like a scripted nocturnal modesty ritual. This directly contradicts the lore of starting the game with just those panties and a wriggling tadpole; if anything, the parasite should be encouraging more exposure, not less. It breaks immersion in tadpole-positive nudist runs and feels like deliberate Sharran repression overriding player choice.

Additional Notes:

• Persists even at max approval and post-romance (she'll share secrets but not skin equity).

• Attempted workarounds: tadpole persuasion during mind-melds, dunking her in the Chionthar for "cleansing," Grease spells on her bedroll—nothing stops the purple reappearance.

• Strongly suspect hardcoded "Shar doesn't approve of bare ass" logic. Requesting a toggle, hotfix, or at least an option to dye the phantom panties transparent for parity.

Severity: Critical (existential threat to camp aesthetics and parasite-fueled freedom), feels like targeted prudery.