MeinMMO author Dariusz Müller is currently playing Baldur’s Gate 3, but his character has taken a completely different path than originally planned.
Everyone knows the clichés and prejudices that exist against politicians – they are dishonest and power-hungry, always looking out for their own gain. They deceive, manipulate and try to convince people of their goals. At the same time, promises are made that are never kept. And yes, somehow I managed to unintentionally become just such a person in Baldur’s Gate 3.
My journey to becoming a politician started with simple dialogues. At first, I chose the options my followers wanted to hear. Then I promised the tieflings of the Emerald Grove that I would help them. I told the druids that I was on their side and made the goblins believe I was supporting them in their attack on the Emerald Grove.
But then I kept putting off individual parties and made them wait, instead pursuing things that served my own advantage. Every group trusted me, thinking I was fighting for them – but I left them all hanging.
I accumulated wealth piece by piece, ingratiated myself with the different factions, formed partnerships and took a long rest. Before I knew it, situations escalated and my inaction triggered fights, costing lives – while I enjoyably drank wine with Shadowheart and Astarion in the camp.
Dishonest but not evil, power-hungry but not powerful
I should mention that I didn’t play with a Dark Urge and didn’t kill for no reason. Rather, I was inactive for so long that all parties destroyed each other. I just had to eliminate the remaining fighters and collect the treasures.
My Drow was not inherently evil, just an extreme egoist who was very focused on himself and his own advantage. Always pretending that I was not reliable. Everyone should continue to believe that I help. I lied, profited at the cost of the deceased, was selfish and power-hungry.
At some point, I only used the options in dialogues that allowed me to deceive my counterpart or convince them of my actions – and it worked very well. Soon I entered places where I was not supposed to be, because I told the guard a fairy tale. I also stole everything of value. I took from everyone and gave it… to myself.
Occasionally someone had to look at the lilies from below when I could no longer talk myself out of trouble with cunning words. That simply couldn’t be avoided. But when it came to that, of course, no witnesses were left behind.
I triggered a war because I didn’t want to fight
But how did it come to the point where I only deceived, lied and cheated and even ruined quests for myself by doing nothing for too long? Well, accidentally.
I wanted to avoid as many fights as possible in Baldur’s Gate 3 because I don’t like the turn-based system. It’s not fun for me and at times it bores me. So I talked my way out of situations with “Deceive” or “Persuade” if in doubt.
Nevertheless, I wanted loot – better weapons, gold and fancy armor – but I was too stingy to pay, occasionally got caught stealing and had to talk my way out again.
Moreover, I wanted to explore everything and first talk to everyone, but even while exploring I had to lie from time to time to be allowed to enter certain areas. Additionally, I had to rest regularly after exploring to regenerate health points. I could not avoid every fight and took way too much damage since I had no clue about DnD.
However, resting always took a long time and quests progressed while I did nothing. My inaction ultimately led to conflicts and deaths. Nevertheless, I of course did not miss the chance to profit from the fate of the deceased and loot every corpse.
I promised people what they wanted to hear and then did nothing until it was too late.
If I am not evil enough for you, MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus describes what it’s like to play Dark Urge:
Baldur’s Gate 3: I wanted to be really evil, but the game rubs it in my face
