I have played Baldur's Gate 3 more times than I can count. Really, I've lost count. Some runs have made it all the way to the end, while others have fizzled out in Act 1. But, hundreds of hours later, Baldur's Gate 3 keeps pulling me back in due to the huge variety of choices you can make in the game.
After 500 hours, there are still some outcomes and paths I've never seen. Some of these are because I haven't discovered them yet, or haven't played a certain class or race to unlock the needed dialogue. Others are simply because I cannot bring myself to do anything else. Here are the choices that, hundreds of hours later, I am still making in every run-through of Baldur's Gate 3.
Keeping Scratch Away From His Cruel Ex-Owner
Early in Act 1 of Baldur's Gate 3, I beeline to where I know the adorable dog Scratch waits beside the corpse of his former master. I can't imagine playing the game without this kind and loyal dog at my side, bringing joy to camp and sniffing out treasure in the overworld. In Rivington, a town visited in Act 3, I have the choice to return Scratch to the kennelmaster, Angry Mar'hyah — but I never, never do. She is cruel and abusive to the dogs in her "care," and I'm never letting her get her hands on my Scratch.
Adopting The Baby Owlbear Cub
Another bit of content I am unable to bring myself to avoid is adopting the baby owlbear cub who can be found in Act 1. This does, unfortunately, mean that I have to kill the cub's parents each run, but, like in the case of Scratch, I can't imagine camp without this fluffy little menace running around. Even my darkest of Dark Urge characters have a soft spot for the owlbear cub, and make sure to give him a good home.
Refusing Araj Oblodra
Encountered in Moonrise Towers in Act 2, drow merchant Araj Oblodra will provide the party a powerful bonus if they fulfill her dream: being bitten by a vampire. However, the vampire in question very much does not want to bite her. She treats him like property and insists that you, the player, can decide for him as his "owner."
No potion is worth subjecting Astarion to once again being treated like a "thing" owned by another. Even if I'm not romancing him (although, let's be real, I usually am), I refuse Araj every play-through. I like to tell her no while proudly sporting the Bloodless status, just to rub it in further that if you ask nicely and respect his consent and boundaries, Astarion will gladly chow down.
Trying To Get The Everburn Blade
I actually didn't learn that you could get the Everburn Blade from the foe Commader Zhaik on the Nautiloid until my third play-through of Baldur's Gate 3, because I had been avoiding looking up anything on the Internet due to fear of spoilers. Now that I know how this powerful sword can trivialize some early-game fights, I always go for it. I have Shadowheart use "Command: Drop" until the Commander drops his sword. I am slightly ashamed to admit it, but there are a few times I've restarted a run because I didn't get the Everburn Blade in time.
Pursuing Optional Humorous Dialogue
The following are all optional bits of dialogue that are not required to progress in Baldur's Gate 3, but I deliberately seek them out each time I play the game because I enjoy the humorous moments and character bonding they represent.
- High-fiving Gale's hand before pulling him out of the portal when recruiting him.
- Eating the poisoned spider meat in the Gauntlet of Shar, even though a later patch made it potentially cause illness.
- Barging in on the ogre and bugbear having a romantic moment in the Abandoned Village's barn.
- Waving to Queen Vlaakith when she asks me to bow.
Baldur's Gate 3
-
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
- Genre(s)
- RPG
