Baldur’s Gate 3has a wonderfully crafted story with many carefully placed details. There are little secrets players can discover across all three acts, which add more depth and personality to the characters, especially when it comes to the companions. Choosing to play as certain characters or taking them along in your party can trigger exclusive dialogue options and scenes, and it’s much easier to miss the unique content tied to the companion characters who aren’t available as playable origins, such as Minsc and Jaheria.
Minsc is one of the most iconic figures from the entireBaldur’s Gateseries. Returning from previous installments,Minsc can be recruited as a companionin the third game, and he is beloved by fans and in-universe for his optimistic and kind-hearted nature. However,one tiny interaction hints at there being a lot more to Minsc than the surface-levelplayers can piece together inBG3.
Players Can Visit Naoise Nallinto To Learn A Character’s Deepest Desires
Minsc And The Origin Characters Have Unique Dialogue Options
In thethird Act ofBaldur’s Gate 3,players can meet Naoise Nallinto in the “Nymph’s Grotto” of Sharess' Caress.Here, they can go through a short dialogue sequence where they can reveal their deepest desire to her, as seen inAHappyGoth’s post on Reddit. If playing as a regular custom character, they can choose one of four words to describe the person they want to be—revered, contented, powerful, or rich.
With the exception of Lae’zel,if the player happens to be playing as, or is temporarily controlling, one of the origin characters, then a fifth option will become available.This option is unique to the character in question and appears to truly describe their deepest desire. For example, if you’re playing as Astarion, then he desires to be “safe,” while if you’re playing as Shadowheart, the fifth option will be “whole.”
It may be disappointing that Lae’zel doesn’t have her own dialogue option, but it’s likely because her desires fall under “revered” or “powerful.” When talking to the ornate mirror during Act One, Lae’zel can choose to see herself as a Kith’rak - which implies she wants to be known and respected.
The Dark Urge also has a unique option, which is “sane.” The non-origin characters, such as Jaheria and Halsin, don’t have their own option, but Minsc does. Though the interaction that follows is one of thefunniest moments inBaldur’s Gate 3,Minsc being the only non-origin companion to have a unique option could be a deliberate choiceto suggest that this dialogue is significant for him.
Minsc’s Desire Could Actually Link To His Time As The Stone Lord
The Thing Minsc Wants The Most Is To Be Himself
The one word Minsc uses to describe his ideal form is simply “Minsc.“This is hilarious for most players the first time they see this dialogue option, and it definitely throws Naoise through a loop. It’s easy to write this interaction off as one of Minsc’s silly antics, but from what fans see of Minsc in the game, as well as their backstory, it could actually hint at there being a sadder side of Minsc that he tries not to show.
I Never Realized Larian Had Trouble Humanizing This Baldur’s Gate 3 Character, But It Makes So Much Sense
Although Larian did some of its best character work with Baldur’s Gate 3, not all the game’s legacy party members were as easy to implement.
The fact that he just wants to be “Minsc” implies thathis identity is very dear to him, and he’s worried that it will be stripped away from him. We already see an example of this happening in the game, where he was manipulated by the Absolute’s Doppelgängers and left his old identity behind in favor of the “Stone Lord.” After being recruited, Minsc will open up to the player about how his time as the Stone Lord has affected his outlook on life—albeit for a short period of time.
This Interaction Has Ties To The Previous Baldur’s Gate Games
Minsc Has Lost His Memory Multiple Times
If you know anything about Minsc before the events ofBaldur’s Gate 3, his desire to simply be himself becomes much sadder. It makes complete sense that he would be worried about losing his sense of self becausebecoming the Stone Lord wasn’t the first time he lost himself.He suffered some form of unspecified head injury before meeting Boo - though it’s unclear if he was much different before then.
Baldur’s Gate 3: There’s A Good Reason Minsc Is A Ranger Instead Of A Barbarian - D&D Has The Answer
Minsc is a Ranger instead of a Barbarian in Baldur’s Gate 3. This isn’t a mistake, as Ranger was the original wildman of Dungeons & Dragons.
Though nothing remarkable about his heritage, it will become evident toBG3players thatMinsc has been around for much longer than the average human lifespan.Minsc is still alivedue to being petrified for over a century, though he does not know how or why this happened. Minsc carried on adventuring as if nothing had changed after the curse was lifted, but it would not be outlandish to suggest that knowing he had spent so much time as a statue could leave him to worry that he had lost a part of himself over those years.
Much later, Minsc lost all his memories and sense of self after being plunged into the River Styx duringDescent Into Avernus.It was only after he came face to face with Zariel that it occurred to him that his duty was to defeat evil. With all this in mind, it’s safe to say that the legendary hero’s mind has definitely been thrown around a lot. At the end of the day, he just wants to be trulyhimself—not the Stone Lord nor a wandering husk, yet fate consistently has other plans for Minsc inBaldur’s Gate 3.
Source:AHappyGoth/Reddit
Baldur’s Gate 3
Developed and published by Larian Studios, Baldur’s Gate 3 is an upcoming role-playing game set to release in August of 2023. Players will create a character to embark on a large-scale journey and can do so solo or cooperatively with a friend. Combat is a turn-based style this time around.
