Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 - tips, tricks & helpful information

[Spectacle]

Bros, I finally have time to start playing BG3 this weekend. Would I lose out on a lot of content if I ignore the companions and go with a fully custom party? The companions all sound pretty cringey, but I'm worried that the game will feel empty without them. Are they closely tied into the main plot, or can I skip them?

 

[S.H.O.D.A.N.]

I engaged with most companion quests and, subjectively, only Froggy's plot line feels truly connected to the narrative, such as it is.

Mechanically, you still go to the same places and meet the same NPCs. A couple quests might be missing that extra resolution option. You might lose out on an item or buff a couple times. Some XP from not getting inspired as often (but maybe custom companions can get that as well?).

 

[volklore]

Lost Xp doesn't really matter much anyways, you're gonna cap early into act3 no matter what.
Game is designed for you to be able to lose a bunch of the companions early on similar to DoS2 so feel free to kill them/dismiss them.

 

[Grunker]

Bros, I finally have time to start playing BG3 this weekend. Would I lose out on a lot of content if I ignore the companions and go with a fully custom party? The companions all sound pretty cringey, but I'm worried that the game will feel empty without them. Are they closely tied into the main plot, or can I skip them?

If you don't like the companions don't use them

 

[HumanMaleFighter]

Bros, I finally have time to start playing BG3 this weekend. Would I lose out on a lot of content if I ignore the companions and go with a fully custom party? The companions all sound pretty cringey, but I'm worried that the game will feel empty without them. Are they closely tied into the main plot, or can I skip them?

You can absolutely get rid of all of them, and ignore Gale. You won't miss too much.

And it's perfectly sensible to kill Astarion (in self defense!) the minute you encounter him. Give Karlach to the fake Tyr guys. Etc. The game gives you very good reasons to ditch your companions.

 

[Desiderius]

If you don’t like them.

This isn’t a matter of liking them, it’s a matter of following the memes and not even playing them in the first place.

Somebody has some tadpoles in their heads, that’s for sure.

 

[notpl]

The gay vampire is the best companion in the game and it isn't close. Mommy Jaheira is surprisingly decent as well, it's a shame we get her 80% of the way through the game.

 

[Barbarian]

The gay vampire is the best companion in the game and it isn't close. Mommy Jaheira is surprisingly decent as well, it's a shame we get her 80% of the way through the game.

I remember being annoyed at the fag and planning to kill him first chance before actually first launching the game. The trailers and memes didn't do him justice, he is actually a decently written character with an engaging enough questline. Surprising that in the end the supposedly most overtly gay character is the least cringe.

He is the classic Oscar Wilde hedonistic and flamboyant faggot btw. Nothing like the zoomer stereotypes we have all learned to hate. You can even pretend he is not necessarily GAE, just effeminate and dandy.

 

[Barbarian]

Bros, I finally have time to start playing BG3 this weekend. Would I lose out on a lot of content if I ignore the companions and go with a fully custom party? The companions all sound pretty cringey, but I'm worried that the game will feel empty without them. Are they closely tied into the main plot, or can I skip them?

You miss content but frankly it is mostly quite shitty. I had Wyll and Karlach along and was cringing with every single interactions of theirs.

On my definitive playthrough(due to begin tomorrow on PS5 release) I plan to take Shadowcute, Froggy and Astarion along and that is it. Maybe Gale. Then Jaheira and Minsc.

Completely ignoring Karlach, Wyll, Halsin and all other degenerates for the sake of not rage quitting the game.

 

[volklore]

Base companions grew on me. Frog is actually a well written companion imo mostly because she isn't overwritten: she's nothing special, just some random gith warrior caught in the events by being at the wrong place at the wrong time with a decent if predictable arc.
Astarion is surprisingly fun to have around despite the fact he was designed as a tumblr bait.
Shadowheart is okay, just that her whole ''sigh .. selune amirite'' doesn't really work because of all the evil shar shit you come across in the game prior to her quest.
Gale' schtick is kinda okay too : he's your basic neutral-good wizard whose main quirk is obsessive curiosity and lust for power, I just wish they didn't write him as a super-chad goddess fucker nerfed back to level 1.
Jaheira and Minsc are surprisingly good (especially Jaheira), obviously written by somebody who played and liked the original BGs. You just get them too late in the game sadly.
The obvious tacked on additions are absolute garbage tier (Wyll, Karlach, Halsin).

 

[Desiderius]

Bros, I finally have time to start playing BG3 this weekend. Would I lose out on a lot of content if I ignore the companions and go with a fully custom party? The companions all sound pretty cringey, but I'm worried that the game will feel empty without them. Are they closely tied into the main plot, or can I skip them?

You miss content but frankly it is mostly quite shitty. I had Wyll and Karlach along and was cringing with every single interactions of theirs.

On my definitive playthrough(due to begin tomorrow on PS5 release) I plan to take Shadowcute, Froggy and Astarion along and that is it. Maybe Gale. Then Jaheira and Minsc.

Completely ignoring Karlach, Wyll, Halsin and all other degenerates for the sake of not rage quitting the game.

Halsin is hard to stomach. If you understand that your protagonist is a default female it explains why the men are trying to get in your pants but it doesn't make it suck less. It's easy enough to avoid on Gale (although it's the reason he's a blowhard) and I haven't seen it yet on Wyll (just see him for the white dork he is and it's not that cringe, white dorks make the world function). Karlach is overactive puppy. Shadowheart isn't fat and ugly or a demented cannibal. Astarion's a wry wounded flamer and 5E Thief has interesting mechanics.

It's better than its predecessors and what Gheymergate tried to impose but still dragged down by centering the female, which seems to be the last thing they're struggling to let go. Overall plot I'll have a better take once I finish the game. Act 1 you encounter a variety of alternatives to tadpoles (tradlife?) that all suck in familiar ways. Auntie Ethel (radfem), Druids (treehuggers, with anti-human option), Volo (pomo frauds), Raphael (financebros), along with Ultima VII/Far Cry caricature of tradlife (True Souls).

 

[Grauken]

Act 1 you encounter a variety of alternatives to tadpoles (tradlife?) that all suck in familiar ways. Auntie Ethel (radfem), Druids (treehuggers, with anti-human option), Volo (pomo frauds), Raphael (financebros), along with Ultima VII/Far Cry caricature of tradlife (True Souls).

 

[Anthedon]

Bros, I finally have time to start playing BG3 this weekend. Would I lose out on a lot of content if I ignore the companions and go with a fully custom party? The companions all sound pretty cringey, but I'm worried that the game will feel empty without them. Are they closely tied into the main plot, or can I skip them?

You miss content but frankly it is mostly quite shitty. I had Wyll and Karlach along and was cringing with every single interactions of theirs.

On my definitive playthrough(due to begin tomorrow on PS5 release) I plan to take Shadowcute, Froggy and Astarion along and that is it. Maybe Gale. Then Jaheira and Minsc.

Completely ignoring Karlach, Wyll, Halsin and all other degenerates for the sake of not rage quitting the game.

Auntie Ethel (radfem), Druids (treehuggers, with anti-human option), Volo (pomo frauds), Raphael (financebros), along with Ultima VII/Far Cry caricature of tradlife (True Souls).

Can you explain what makes Auntie Ethel radfem and Raphael a finance bro (besides being a literal devil)?

 

[sebas]

You guys are praising Astarion and so now I gotta reload. I stabbed that motherfucker when he tried to get close to my neck.

 

[Xelocix]

Who wants to take a nice big whiff?

 

[madrigal]

you can steal your planar allies weapons.

No you can't. The weapons come from an in game encounter and the weapons can be looted from the corpses.

 

[S.H.O.D.A.N.]

No you can't. The weapons come from an in game encounter and the weapons can be looted from the corpses.

You can. The method was explained on the previous page.

 

[whydoibother]

You guys are praising Astarion and so now I gotta reload. I stabbed that motherfucker when he tried to get close to my neck.

Playing as a girl and romancing Astarion, and both of you ascending so you two can rule the world together at the end, would probably be the best "evil" ending. Maybe as as the Dark Urge, for maximum edgy stabby. You can have Shar Shart be your wine auntie friend.

Edit: this would be an even better pairing, when mods permit it

 

[madrigal]

No you can't. The weapons come from an in game encounter and the weapons can be looted from the corpses.

You can. The method was explained on the previous page.

My bad, thought it was referring to cursed encounter.

 

[Yosharian]

And it's perfectly sensible to kill Astarion (in self defense!) the minute you encounter him

No don't kill him then. Keep him alive until you get the STR potion, then kill him

 

[Desiderius]

Bros, I finally have time to start playing BG3 this weekend. Would I lose out on a lot of content if I ignore the companions and go with a fully custom party? The companions all sound pretty cringey, but I'm worried that the game will feel empty without them. Are they closely tied into the main plot, or can I skip them?

You miss content but frankly it is mostly quite shitty. I had Wyll and Karlach along and was cringing with every single interactions of theirs.

On my definitive playthrough(due to begin tomorrow on PS5 release) I plan to take Shadowcute, Froggy and Astarion along and that is it. Maybe Gale. Then Jaheira and Minsc.

Completely ignoring Karlach, Wyll, Halsin and all other degenerates for the sake of not rage quitting the game.

Auntie Ethel (radfem), Druids (treehuggers, with anti-human option), Volo (pomo frauds), Raphael (financebros), along with Ultima VII/Far Cry caricature of tradlife (True Souls).

Can you explain what makes Auntie Ethel radfem and Raphael a finance bro (besides being a literal devil)?

Bitter vindictiveness behind an ostensibly caring exterior. All the marks of refinement money can buy but lacking in the substance.

BTW Urchin background gets an Inspiration from chowing down at the feast he offers.

 

[Yosharian]

Is Wyll really that bad?

 

[Barbarian]

Is Wyll really that bad?

PROVOKE THE BLADE
AND SUFFER ITS STING

 

[whydoibother]

Is Wyll really that bad?

The personality is just goody goodman goodguy. Which is dull.
At least with Minsc, its played as a joke. Wyll is Minsc minus the joke.

He should've had more bitterness about him. More "ends justify the means". More "yeah its bad, but im doing it for good reasons".

 

[Desiderius]

Is Wyll really that bad?

The personality is just goody goodman goodguy. Which is dull.
At least with Minsc, its played as a joke. Wyll is Minsc minus the joke.

He should've had more bitterness about him. More "ends justify the means". More "yeah its bad, but im doing it for good reasons".

He literally says that about *the pact he made with the Devil*.

For fuck sake let go of the abuse and come into the light.