What are the consequences of letting the Absolute take over in Baldur's Gate 3?
Letting the Absolute take over in Baldur's Gate 3 is a significant story choice that can drastically alter the game's narrative and ending. The Absolute is a powerful entity tied to the Mind Flayers, and allowing it to dominate the world leads to a dark and oppressive outcome. This choice is not made in a single moment but is the culmination of several decisions throughout the game. Here is a detailed explanation of how this path unfolds, the mechanics involved, and the consequences of such a choice.
To let the Absolute take over, you must align yourself with the forces of the Mind Flayers and their allies. This begins early in the game when you encounter the Mind Flayer tadpole in your head. Instead of resisting its influence, you can choose to embrace it. This involves using the tadpole's powers, which grant you unique abilities but also increase your connection to the Absolute. As you progress, you will encounter key characters like the Dream Visitor, who will tempt you to further embrace the tadpole's power. By consistently choosing dialogue options that favor the tadpole and the Absolute, you will strengthen your bond with the entity.
One of the critical moments in this path occurs in Act 2 when you reach the Moonrise Towers. Here, you will meet Ketheric Thorm, a servant of the Absolute. Instead of opposing him, you can choose to ally with him and the cult of the Absolute. This decision will lead you deeper into the Absolute's influence and set the stage for the final act. In Act 3, you will face the ultimate choice: either resist the Absolute and fight against it or fully submit to its will. To let the Absolute take over, you must choose to submit, which involves siding with the Mind Flayers and their allies in the final battle.
The mechanics of this choice are tied to your dialogue options and story decisions. Each time you use the tadpole's powers or make choices that align with the Absolute, you will gain more of its influence. This is represented by the Illithid Powers menu, where you can unlock new abilities as you progress. However, these powers come at a cost, as they increase your connection to the Absolute and make it harder to resist its control. In the final act, your choices will determine whether you can break free from the Absolute's influence or succumb to it entirely.
One important tip is to carefully consider the consequences of each decision. While embracing the tadpole's powers can give you an edge in combat, it also locks you into a path that leads to the Absolute's domination. If you want to explore other endings, you should avoid using the tadpole's powers and resist its influence whenever possible. Additionally, your companions will react to your choices, and some may leave or turn against you if you fully embrace the Absolute. This can impact your party composition and make certain battles more challenging.
A common mistake is not realizing how early the game sets you on this path. The choices you make in Act 1, such as using the tadpole's powers or siding with the goblins, can have long-term consequences. It is easy to underestimate the impact of these early decisions, but they play a significant role in shaping the story. Another mistake is not considering the moral implications of your choices. Letting the Absolute take over leads to a dark and oppressive ending, where freedom and individuality are sacrificed for power and control. This may not align with the values of your character or the companions you have grown attached to.
Advanced techniques involve optimizing your character build to take full advantage of the Illithid Powers. For example, a character with high Wisdom and Charisma can better resist the tadpole's influence, allowing you to use its powers without fully succumbing to the Absolute. However, if you are committed to letting the Absolute take over, you can focus on abilities that enhance your connection to the tadpole, such as the Illithid Expertise feat, which increases your proficiency with Illithid Powers.
In terms of D&D rules, the tadpole's influence can be seen as a form of corruption or possession. The game uses mechanics similar to the Dominate Person or Geas spells, where an external force takes control of your character's actions. The more you use the tadpole's powers, the harder it becomes to resist its control, reflecting the increasing difficulty of saving throws against such effects in D&D.
Specific examples of this path include siding with the goblins in Act 1, which aligns you with the Absolute's forces early on. In Act 2, choosing to spare Ketheric Thorm and join his cause further solidifies your allegiance to the Absolute. Finally, in Act 3, the decision to submit to the Absolute in the final battle is the culmination of all these choices. Each step along this path has significant consequences, not only for the story but also for your companions and the world of Baldur's Gate.
In conclusion, letting the Absolute take over is a complex and morally challenging path that requires careful consideration of your choices and their consequences. By understanding the mechanics, making strategic decisions, and optimizing your character build, you can navigate this path and experience one of the game's darker endings. However, it is important to weigh the benefits of power against the cost of losing your freedom and the trust of your companions.
To let the Absolute take over, you must align yourself with the forces of the Mind Flayers and their allies. This begins early in the game when you encounter the Mind Flayer tadpole in your head. Instead of resisting its influence, you can choose to embrace it. This involves using the tadpole's powers, which grant you unique abilities but also increase your connection to the Absolute. As you progress, you will encounter key characters like the Dream Visitor, who will tempt you to further embrace the tadpole's power. By consistently choosing dialogue options that favor the tadpole and the Absolute, you will strengthen your bond with the entity.
One of the critical moments in this path occurs in Act 2 when you reach the Moonrise Towers. Here, you will meet Ketheric Thorm, a servant of the Absolute. Instead of opposing him, you can choose to ally with him and the cult of the Absolute. This decision will lead you deeper into the Absolute's influence and set the stage for the final act. In Act 3, you will face the ultimate choice: either resist the Absolute and fight against it or fully submit to its will. To let the Absolute take over, you must choose to submit, which involves siding with the Mind Flayers and their allies in the final battle.
The mechanics of this choice are tied to your dialogue options and story decisions. Each time you use the tadpole's powers or make choices that align with the Absolute, you will gain more of its influence. This is represented by the Illithid Powers menu, where you can unlock new abilities as you progress. However, these powers come at a cost, as they increase your connection to the Absolute and make it harder to resist its control. In the final act, your choices will determine whether you can break free from the Absolute's influence or succumb to it entirely.
One important tip is to carefully consider the consequences of each decision. While embracing the tadpole's powers can give you an edge in combat, it also locks you into a path that leads to the Absolute's domination. If you want to explore other endings, you should avoid using the tadpole's powers and resist its influence whenever possible. Additionally, your companions will react to your choices, and some may leave or turn against you if you fully embrace the Absolute. This can impact your party composition and make certain battles more challenging.
A common mistake is not realizing how early the game sets you on this path. The choices you make in Act 1, such as using the tadpole's powers or siding with the goblins, can have long-term consequences. It is easy to underestimate the impact of these early decisions, but they play a significant role in shaping the story. Another mistake is not considering the moral implications of your choices. Letting the Absolute take over leads to a dark and oppressive ending, where freedom and individuality are sacrificed for power and control. This may not align with the values of your character or the companions you have grown attached to.
Advanced techniques involve optimizing your character build to take full advantage of the Illithid Powers. For example, a character with high Wisdom and Charisma can better resist the tadpole's influence, allowing you to use its powers without fully succumbing to the Absolute. However, if you are committed to letting the Absolute take over, you can focus on abilities that enhance your connection to the tadpole, such as the Illithid Expertise feat, which increases your proficiency with Illithid Powers.
In terms of D&D rules, the tadpole's influence can be seen as a form of corruption or possession. The game uses mechanics similar to the Dominate Person or Geas spells, where an external force takes control of your character's actions. The more you use the tadpole's powers, the harder it becomes to resist its control, reflecting the increasing difficulty of saving throws against such effects in D&D.
Specific examples of this path include siding with the goblins in Act 1, which aligns you with the Absolute's forces early on. In Act 2, choosing to spare Ketheric Thorm and join his cause further solidifies your allegiance to the Absolute. Finally, in Act 3, the decision to submit to the Absolute in the final battle is the culmination of all these choices. Each step along this path has significant consequences, not only for the story but also for your companions and the world of Baldur's Gate.
In conclusion, letting the Absolute take over is a complex and morally challenging path that requires careful consideration of your choices and their consequences. By understanding the mechanics, making strategic decisions, and optimizing your character build, you can navigate this path and experience one of the game's darker endings. However, it is important to weigh the benefits of power against the cost of losing your freedom and the trust of your companions.