An Iconic Baldur’s Gate 3 Companion Gets Done Dirty In Act 3

The companions of Baldur’s Gate 3 have managed to impress players and critics alike with their intriguing backstories and nuanced personalities. However, as time goes on, the differences in companion content are becoming more apparent, with some key companions getting left behind as the game progresses. One important character, in particular, ends up with very little to do in the late game of BG3, in stark contrast to the earlier stages of the game.

[Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Baldur’s Gate 3.]

Companions play important roles in BG3, offering quests via conversation with them as more of their personal stories unfold. Despite the large number of companions available to recruit, all are well-written and wonderfully unique characters, each with their own motivations, which makes them feel very realistic. However, that doesn’t mean that they are all used to their full potential, with one key BG3 companion feeling like a spare part once Act 3 is reached.

Halsin Is Let Down In Act 3

The Arch-Druid Halsin is an integral character during the early parts of BG3, playing an important role in the storylines for Acts 1 and 2. However by the time of Act 3 and the end stages of Baldur’s Gate 3, Halsin seems to have very little to contribute to the plot. In contrast with other companions, Halsin’s personal quest simply stops in Act 2, leaving him to fade into the background as the rest of the story continues around him.

Halsin Is A Crucial Part Of Early BG3

Halsin’s involvement in the main plot of Baldur’s Gate 3 starts early in Act 1 as the party reaches the Druid Grove and speaks to several characters there. It is here that it’s revealed that Halsin has been imprisoned by the goblins serving the Absolute, and the quest to rescue him begins. Although Halsin’s rescue usually occurs towards the end of Act 1 his presence is still felt throughout the first act of BG3 as other characters will comment repeatedly about him to emphasis his importance.

By the time the party enters the Shadow-Cursed Lands of Act 2, Halsin will have joined the camp. When spoken to, he will explain his history with this area and tell the story of Thaniel, the nature spirit of the land who Halsin hopes to rescue. This is Halsin’s personal quest and must be completed to gain him as a full companion and also lift the Shadow Curse that plagues these lands. Halsin’s personal quest, just like his introduction, is tied perfectly to the main plot, further reinforcing his importance as a character.

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Act 2 of Baldur’s Gate 3 sends the party to the Shadow-Cursed Lands: a region shrouded in darkness that’s filled with secrets and quests to complete.

However, once Act 2 concludes, so does any significant content for Halsin. While every other companion has part of their personal story continuing and concluding in Act 3, Halsin’s ends with Thaniel’s rescue and the end of the Shadow Curse. This is a massive let-down for such a key character, and there is so much more that could have been done with Halsin in late BG3.

Once Act 3 of BG3 begins, Halsin seems to fade into the background. He will, of course, make comments on occasion if he is in the main party and react to key events such as Shadowheart’s parents or Astarion and Cazador, but beyond this, Halsin has little to do. It could potentially be because he was only added as a companion much later in development, so most of his Act 1 and 2 plot was already in place, but when it comes to Act 3, Halsin is definitely missing out.

How Halsin’s Personal Quest Could Have Continued

Halsin’s lack of Act 3 quests is disappointing but understandable to a certain extent. As a druid, it is difficult to tie such a nature-focused character to a large urban environment in a believable way. Halsin himself will comment on his dislike for the city when spoken to, however it is his own comments that offer a way to integrate a third act questline for him.

When speaking with Halsin in Act 3, he will comment on how disgusted he is with the treatment of the refugees and the downtrodden in general. This will motivate him to return to Reithwin and help rebuild the town and, in turn, aid the refugees and orphans. Halsin will talk about this if romanced after the final battle with the Netherbrain. However, this drive seems to come out of nowhere, as at no point in Act 3 is Halsin shown to be aiding any of the needy he says he will be helping.

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This would have been the perfect Act 3 questline for Halsin, building on what is already known about his personality and the comments he has made. The classic saying is “Show, don’t tell,” but that isn’t what developers Larian Studios did with Halsin in Act 3. Players are simply informed about his plans at the end of the game rather than seeing them form and even playing a part in setting them up.

Yenna Could Serve As An Act 3 Motivation For Halsin

Halsin’s Act 3 questline could have shown him attempting to make connections with merchants and refugees or even introducing an Emerald Enclave contact for him. It would also have made a lot of sense to intertwine Halsin’s story with Yenna’s; the young orphan met at the beginning of Act 3. Halsin will comment on his sympathy for Yenna and others like her, but having him directly intervene would have been much more impactful.

One of the problems with Yenna’s presence and her potential kidnapping or death at the hands of Orin is that there isn’t enough material in BG3 to make players care about her. Having her linked with Halsin and his mission to gather orphans to keep them safe would make the party directly responsible for her well-being rather than her just showing up at camp. Then, if Yenna is taken by Orin or killed, the impact would be more significant. Likewise, if Halsin becomes Orin’s victim, it could have had a knock-on effect on his contacts and quest.

For a character who had such a significant presence in the first two acts of BG3, not offering some extension of Halsin’s personal quest or storyline feels like a huge missed opportunity. For such a fan favorite, to the point that he was promoted to full companion, it seems odd that Halsin’s interaction with the plot ends so abruptly. However given Larian’s dedication to upgating and patching Baldur’s Gate 3 there may still be a chance for him to get the continuation he deserves.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Released

August 31, 2023

Developer(s)

Larian Studios

ESRB

M

Publisher(s)

Larian Studios