Summary
- The miscellaneous characters in Baldur's Gate 3 bring the game world to life through strong writing and memorable performances.
- Roah Moonglow stands out among the NPCs, breaking the pattern of standard dialogue and becoming an important character.
- Roah's appearance in Act 2 and involvement in a heist plot in Act 3 adds depth and surprises to the game's story.
Across the game’s three sprawling acts, the miscellaneous characters that fill up the world of Baldur's Gate 3 breathe life into what could have otherwise been standard RPG areas through a mix of strong writing and oftentimes memorable one-off performances. As is the case with many RPGs, the majority of NPCs don’t offer much beyond the surface, but Baldur’s Gate 3 features one character that has likely made players think twice about this judgment.
In an impressive display of handcrafted attention to detail, most of the minor NPCs that can be encountered throughout the first two acts of BG3 feature unique names and relatively distinct vocal performances. There are a multitude of merchants that players can engage with throughout their journey, but they are typically limited to some potentially quirky dialogue as they remain in one location permanently. The Zhentarim agent known as Roah Moonglow, however, breaks this pattern in a major way that is both drastic and natural all at once.
Baldur's Gate 3: Every Returning Character Explained
Baldur's Gate 3 is the most recent in a long list of Baldur's Gate titles, and some familiar faces have returned in this latest entry.
Roah Moonglow Appears to Be Another Unassuming Act 1 Trader
A Zhentarim Presence in the Goblin Camp is a Natural Fit
Initially encountered in the Shattered Sanctum among the Goblin forces of the Absolute, Roah Moonglow is a trader with some valuable gear for the early levels of Act 1. As a seemingly important member of the Zhentarim mercantile network of criminals, her presence among the remorseless killers and torturers of the Goblin Camp is likely to come as no surprise. She can even become just another casualty if the players decides to engage the camp in battle, but leaving her to live has a surprising impact further into the game.
Roah's Further Appearance in Moonrise Towers Hints at More
Once the player makes it all the way to Act 2’s central antagonistic location of Moonrise Towers, they may be shocked to see that Roah has managed to make it there too. Similarly found in the hub of the area’s most villainous forces, she maintains her place as a well-connected Zhentarim agent who can provide valuable goods to unsavory clientele. This is yet another area where she can fall victim to the player’s potential attack on the Absolute’s followers that occupy the space, but she will actually make it into the next act once again if she survives in the end.
Act 3's Payoff is Roah Moonglow's Heist of the Century
How the 'Aid the Underduke' Quest Uncovers Roah's Master Plan
Further into Jaheira’s ‘The High Harper’ quest players can end up also tracking ‘Aid the Underduke’, a quest that sees a tadpole-controlled Minsc robbing the Counting House of the city, leaving the player seeking a massive sum of gold that has been stolen from the vaults. Upon trailing Minsc to the sewers, it is revealed that he has been caught up in a plan with Roah and her Zhentarim involving destabilizing the local criminal organization known as the Guild. After rescuing or defeat Minsc and the cultists, Roah will attempt to take over the entire Guildhall, leaving the player with an unexpected choice.
BG3 Knows How to Handle Slow Burn Stories
While killing her and looting her body for 10000 gold may be the most logical choice for many players, there is a surprising level of depth to Roah’s ultimate encounter. She can be sided with against the Guild’s leader, Nine-Fingers Keene, instead, making her Zhentarim replace Act 3's Guildhall members who can help during the final battle as summonable allies. A back-up NPC by the name of Friol will take Roah’s place if she doesn’t live to see Act 3, but that route hardly offers the same level of payoff as seeing a simple Act 1 trader take center stage as the climax approaches.
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
- Engine
- Divinity 4.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full cross-platform play.
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.
THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCE
Choose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.
A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPIC
Forged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian's next-generation RPG engine.
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical Only
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 100+ Hours
- Metascore
- 96
