Dwarva Outta Hell

A Spoiler-rific Baldur's Gate 3 Journal

[aimoplaysbg3]

Welcome Notes

Heya! Welcome to Dwarva Outta Hell, my Baldur's Gate 3 gaming journal that serves as a containment zone for my playthrough notes. This place will contain heavy spoilers, so if you haven't played the game and would like to remain spoiler-free, then please visit again at a later time.

Seeing that the game has a Mature 17+ rating due to violence, gore, strong language & strong sexual situations, the subject matters covered in the journal entries will include them (or at the very least describe them). I will try to diligently tag with Content Warnings, but please exercise caution and reconsider browsing/following my updates if you are not comfortable with the listed mature content.

I will be playing two parallel playthroughs on my first go, which are

Ranger Dagmar - Anti-hero, morally grey

Barbarian Irona - Heroic, as altruistic as possible

because I want to see how different and diverging the choices for these two characters can get. But who knows how these characters would end up, given that success and failure with the dice can lead to paths far different than planned.

Updated August 6, 2023: So just a head's up that entries will be in non-chronological order; I will tag them according to Acts instead, which you can access from the sidebar.

So I hope you'll enjoy going on an adventure with me!

[aimoplaysbg3]

Hey, is it alright if I draw and upload some fanart of Dagmar? I love her <3

Oh, please do! I'd love to see renditions of her :D

[jestersastarions]

[aimoplaysbg3]

Hi! Was wondering if it would be ok if I made some 3D art of your Tav? 👉👈 I'll credit you of course! And tag you once it's finished! 😊

Oh, it's definitely very ok! And yes, please tag me when you're done, I'd love to see it :D Thank you for letting me know!

[aimoplaysbg3]

Astarion wears his camp clothes now in his Spawn Romance Denouement scene ;w;

It still kills me at how relaxed and natural his speech is compared to early game when he was cranking the charmer act on overdrive.

[aimoplaysbg3]

"I need some time, I think. Just to let it all sink in."

The last stretch of Astarion's personal quest, as seen in this compilation video where he confronted past victims and found himself at the crossroads choosing between freedom & power, was a lot and a half. I'd like to think that between leaving Cazador's palace and his personal quest's end, Astarion deserves a bit of time out for comfort and contemplation...to let it all sink in.

Seeing that there *is* a tub at the room we rent at the Elfsong Tavern...hurt/comfort hours it is ;w;

Thanks to my patrons for their support, making this pair of artworks possible ;w;

[aimoplaysbg3]

Aww, you look so cute when you’re angry!

Capped off my birthday yesterday by completing the House of Hope questline. It’s been fun, Raph dear, but dragging your corpse all the way back to camp despite being Heavily Encumbered was worth it huehuehue

[aimoplaysbg3]

(Comic, descriptions and video links contains spoilers for Act 1 and 2 of the Astarion Romance)

---

During Early Access, the Astarion Romance locked in during the Tiefling Celebration Party, so I was very surprised when it happened much earlier during my full release playthrough. Because of that, this scene played during the party...and while it was quite the spicy one (courtesy of actor Neil Newbon's voice-work and mocapped gestures for this sequence), there was a part of me that felt uneasy...like when you can feel something is off because he's trying way too hard to be convincing, but can't put your finger on it as to why?

Turns out there's a perfectly good explanation for that in Act 2! Stephen Rooney, his writer, really thought a hundred steps ahead.

Seeing as my Ranger girl has 16 Wisdom at this point, Insight checks are very much her thing. So I've decided to channel my discomfort as the viewer (voyeur, let's be real haha) into her inner monologue in discovering things are not as they seem with her new lover ;_;

(It all ends well for them though, so let's not feel too bad ;3)

And much thanks to my patrons for their support, making this comic possible <3 <3 <3

[aimoplaysbg3]

SO! Out of curiousity I decided to reload the Act 2 Astarion confession scene to see if there are changes post-Patch 1...and there's quite a bit OwO

A lot more Astarion emoting and close-ups, but with some of the Dagmar reactions that I liked edited out T_T Oh well, you win some you lose some!

Compare it to the original release scene in this post

[aimoplaysbg3]

Reaction to this BG3 voice actor round robin trend that’s happening on twitter…

Many spit-takes happened that day, both outside and inside the game 😂

[aimoplaysbg3]

Me: My dearest, darling cat...did you take a bite off my last chicken tender?

Cat:

---

Also, someone pointed out he is channeling Hugh Grant vibes and ever since that day I have not known peace 😂

[aimoplaysbg3]

Envy and ambition may be an intoxicating brew…

but a worrying combination to see from outside in. I'm foreseeing so many High DC checks in Dagmar's immediate near future to drag her theatre kid boyfriend away from crossing that event horizon ;A;

Oh hey, I reached Act 3 a couple of days ago!

And man, Neil Newbon's performance in this scene shows so much of Astarion's balled-up rage in that one outburst alone you can feel it in your bones.

[aimoplaysbg3]

Got the Act 2 Astarionmance scene...and it was perfect.

ISTG if Neil Newbon doesn't get all the awards for his Astarion performance, imma gonna have to throw hands. And all the chocolates and flowers for Stephen Rooney for writing Neil this fantastic sequence of cinematic feels.

The way Astarion's performative mask slips even as he tried to bring it up again at 1:11...and giving up altogether when he realizes he can't keep up the act anymore because he fell in love for real...auuughhhh ;w;

I mean, compare it with the scene I got earlier in Act 1 during the Tiefling party (Link to Youtube vid). It was a little unnerving for me to watch, if I'm honest, because even without the full context I could feel from his expressions and enunciation that he was saying all those sweet nothings through gritted teeth.

So when he finally comes clean on his own terms? The calm resignation and hopeful surprise in his voice?

*screams into the night sky*

I also love how the animators gave Dagmar very clear expressions/body language in response to his words, from bracing in anticipation at 1:08 to hurt at 1:25 to the surprise at 1:35 when he pretty much admitted his affection for her.

As for the hug scene itself, Larian are champions for making it work with shortstack races with adjusted camera angles and wider shots; I delight at the fact that we get to see his face while he was unsure of how to respond back. It feels like the scene was not a consolation prize for not playing a regular height humanoid, but one that was crafted with care for the player's experience.

Also, dorf hands are so big! The better to cuddle this little meow meow with, I say :)

[aimoplaysbg3]

(Comic under cut)

40+ hours into Dagmar's playthrough, and romance is already blooming on the battlefield...some expected and others out of the left field.

Astarion's romance scene appeared a lot earlier than expected in Act 1, when I was still ways away from the celebration party. Which is surprising, but I guess his approval was pretty decent at that point. Also, YAY THE HORNY BONK MINDFLAYER IS GONE!

Gale damned well ninjamanced Dagmar at the start of Act 2 after the first battle; It was so weird because I purposefully chose friendly responses in conversations running up to this...or so I thought. It is so easy to get approval with him, currently standing at an Exceptional 98 (higher than Astarion, lolsob)...nerd had to go shoot his shot with the cool girl, I guess :P So far he hasn't propositioned Dagmar further, so it might just be a case of flags misfiring?

Once I completed the Thaniel questline in Act 2 on a positive note, Daddy Halsin became a permanent party member and open season for flirty banter. And his adorableness does. not. disappoint. We eatin' good TwT

[aimoplaysbg3]

Took a break from Irona, and continued Dagmar’s playthrough which uhhhh lasted approximately 17 hours so far?

Was typing this earlier while I was out, so this entry will be a little scattered, but MAN you know a game has its hooks on you when I ended up playing my girl for hours on end just to see what happens next; I’ve already seen so many new scenes that give existing sequences in EA a lot more flavour. Take Wyll’s entrance during the Emerald Grove gate battle:

The fight actually pauses midway and cuts into this swashbuckling mf making his grand entrance oozing so much charm not unlike The Princess Bride’s Cary Elwes XD

Speaking of Wyll, he changed voice actors between EA and the current release version. Personally it didn’t take long at all for me to get used to Theo Solomon…he fits in very well in the role, so the transition didn’t feel jarring to me.

Also, I really like subclassing Wyll into Pact of the Blade, it makes him really versatile to switch between Melee (Hello, proficiency in rare enchanted Giant Axe!) and Ranged (EEEEEELDRITCH BLAST, PEW PEW) depending on my needs on the battlefield.

Back to my homegirl; I am enjoying how Light Armor are designed. Dagmar started with basic Ranger leather armor:

Then I upgraded her drip to Padded Armor +1. Wasn't too keen on the default turquoise, so one Muddy Red dye later it looks more slick and regal imo:

(I love that there's a Goblin Slayer-esque option while trying to cheer up the Tiefling kids at the grove.)

But I ended up fitting her into The Oak Father's Embrace (Dwarves have medium armor proficiency, woo! And also dyed in which shade I can't remember) so she can get that Radiant damage bonus against undead and beasts:

(She just had Astarion poison the drink at the Goblin Camp, hence her self-satisfied smirk here.)

I'm thinking that if I want to update this journal regularly, I will do so as non-linear as possible because on certain days I'd like to write about whatever impressions strike my fancy as I play. So just a head's up that entries will be in non-chronological order; I will tag them according to Acts instead, which you can access from the sidebar. I hope this works for you as the reader!

Now I'm off to continue this playthrough :D

[aimoplaysbg3]

Just met Gale!

They redid the whole encounter; It’s initially more dramatic with the portal emanating a sense of danger, from which you pull Gale out of with a skill check.

And when I say they reworked his intro, HOO BOY did they now! Gone is his slight condescending tone in EA; This Gale is sincerely friendly, expressive (I love how he talks with his hands and eyes), and very much has a disarming demeanor (which for wizards in crpgs, most definitely means trouble). He’s absolutely charming the heart/pants off Irona in no time 😂

[aimoplaysbg3]

So!

They shortened the Nautiloid section, which I personally feel has its plus and minuses, but overall it gets into the race to escape the ship faster compared to early access. The Cambion vs Mindflayer fight is tougher (or it might just be due to bad RNG on my part), but I had to do the fight 4 times…

…because no way in hell am I not gonna yoink that sweet flaming greatsword for my barbigirl XD