There is an NPC request in Baldur's Gate 3 that sounds awfully enticing, but one detail throws it into question. One of the draws of Baldur's Gate 3 is the amount of freedom that it gives players. Considering that the game is based on Dungeons & Dragons, it's only natural that player choice would be a high priority. This setup applies to NPC interactions as well as exploration. The player's decisions end up shaping the majority of the game in various ways. However, sometimes a choice that seems good on the surface is more complicated once given further thought.
The choices players make in Baldur's Gate 3 start at character creation and never let up throughout the game. Whether the player creates their own character, uses an origin character, or plays as The Dark Urge, the story is sculpted by their decisions from the start. Of course, some choices are incredibly obvious. For example, almost every origin party member is optional, although what needs to be done to recruit them is clear. Not to mention, passing on any of them is ill-advised due to their utility and personal stories. From there, how Baldur's Gate 3 plays out depends heavily on the player.
Baldur's Gate 3 Makes the Decision to Take a Permanent Stat Boost Surprisingly Difficult
Araj Oblodra Offers A Valuable Item For a Seemingly Negligible Price
In Act 2, players meet Araj Oblodra in Baldur's Gate 3. She's an alchemist who's fascinated by blood, and will request blood samples from the player's party. However, a second request that she has is to be bitten by Astarion, the party's resident vampire. In exchange for doing so, Araj will give the player a Potion of Everlasting Vigor, a unique item that will permanently increase the user's Strength by 2. The reward is high, especially for characters that rely on Strength like a Berserker Barbarian. The only cost is to have Astarion bite Araj, but the decision isn't as easy as it seems.
Astarion Will Refuse Araj's Offer Despite the Reward
Like any other party member, the player's relationship with Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3 is dependent on their actions. In the case of Araj's request, Astarion is very uncomfortable and will lose affinity with the protagonist if ordered to bite Araj. Conversely, he'll be appreciative if the player respects his desire to pass on the opportunity. Considering how Cazador treated Astarion like a tool rather than a person, it makes sense that Astarion would be offended by the protagonist also ignoring his autonomy. While Araj's request may seem innocuous to the player, for Astarion, it's a much more personal matter to handle.
Refusing Araj's offer will actually let players raise Astarion's approval twice, since they can deny a second time.
Baldur's Gate 3 Makes Players Care about Their Party Members' Approval
A drop in approval can feel like a greater penalty than it sounds. Since the party members in Baldur's Gate 3 are so likable in general, and the player learns so much about them, it can feel especially disappointing to let them down. Even though Araj dangles an incredible reward, having to disrespect Astarion to get it can be a hard sell. This is doubly true if the player plans on romancing Astarion, since they will have to regain some of that lost trust. The Potion of Everlasting Vigor is still a fantastic reward, but more than a few players will pass on it.
Araj's offer sounds like a steal, but Baldur's Gate 3 gives players good reason to refuse. While some builds in Baldur's Gate 3 would benefit from the Potion of Everlasting Vigor, it's by no means required. If anything, it's a credit to the writers that insulting a party member feels like a high price for an admittedly valuable reward. Ultimately, it's up to the player whether the Potion is worth it, but Baldur's Gate 3 does a good job of making Astarion's approval a high price to pay.
Baldur's Gate 3
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Divinity 4.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full cross-platform play.
- Cross Save
- Full cross-platform progression.
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical Only
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 100+ Hours
- X|S Optimized
- yes
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 Players
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
