Love in Baldur’s Gate 3 is not unconditional – it needs to be nurtured, otherwise there are consequences. A player discovered while browsing the game’s dialogue files that one should not ignore a companion. Yet other players seem to celebrate exactly that.
Which companion is being talked about? It is the half-elf of the group, the cleric Shadowheart. A player pointed out on Reddit how Shadowheart talks to her romantic interest when her approval and corresponding respect are significantly low.
Each companion has different greetings which depend on their affection and approval of the player. However, hardly anyone has as many negative greetings as Shadowheart, which are explicitly tailored to a romantic partner.
Remarks like ‘Personality isn’t everything, I suppose’ are just the beginning. Yet many players seem to celebrate this kind of communication.
Here you see the trailer for Baldur’s Gate 3, in which Shadowheart sounds significantly more encouraging:
Nasty behavior causes excitement
How does such a dynamic with Shadowheart emerge? The diminishing love can happen when one does not show enough understanding towards her, is too curious too soon, or simply ignores her and rarely includes her in the active group.
Of course, one must have been in a relationship with Shadowheart for the scenario described here, which is not too difficult. It doesn’t require too high approval to obtain a romantic scene with Shadowheart already in the first act of the game. All the more tragic when a quick connection burns out just as quickly.
Some of the dialogues between Shadowheart and a player whose relationship is going down the drain are as follows:
- “Just because I visit you in your sleeping bag from time to time doesn’t mean you have to talk to me so much. Is it urgent?”
- “Personality isn’t everything, I suppose. Many relationships can be sustained solely through physical attraction.”
- “Do you know what I really love about you? When you play the strong, silent type. Let’s make it quick, okay?”
When one finally relents and decides to end the relationship, it does not immediately lead to a more respectful treatment:
What is the players’ reaction? While some players find the nasty remarks sad and can hardly understand how one could even voluntarily or accidentally reach such a point in a relationship, there are on the other hand enough people on Reddit who are excited.
- papercut-ninja says: “I love how the game showcases alternative scenarios of the (a bit glossed over for the article) ‘rage-driven intimacy’ and provides special greetings.”
- coltvahn says: “Stop. Stop. I can’t fall in love any more.”
Some compare this kind of low-approval romance with the rival romance in Dragon Age 2.
- Western_Secretary says: “I love the idea of low-approval romances. It’s like the rival romance in Dragon Age 2. More games should (glossed over again) include ‘rage-driven intimacy’.”
- wish_to_conquer_pain replies: “The rivalry friendship display was one of my favorite elements in any game. I wish more games would use a similar system, especially for romances.”
Is Shadowheart’s relationship doomed to fail? Even if Shadowheart leads an unhappy relationship in some playthroughs, the real life seems to be different. Her actress Jennifer English met her partner during the development of Baldur’s Gate 3. Together, they stream their journey through the game and have a close bond with their community: Player is immortalized in Baldur’s Gate 3 after her death – Shadowheart honors her with a special tribute
