Our Characters Becoming Mindflayers... is it possible?

[We're not getting out...]

So, as we know, the conundrum shared by the protagonist (you) and the companions / iconic characters is that they have all been implanted with an illithid tadpole. Eventually, if left unchecked, this tadpole will eat away at the host's brain, until it is completed devoured, where the tadpole takes its place and merges with this host's body, becoming a Mindflayer (or flayer-kin depending on the hosts species)

Also, according to the 5E Monster Manual (5E being what BG3 is based on), when a Mindflayer feeds, it is an extremely euphoric experience, as it absorbs victim's memories, personality and fears. I assume that this is also the same for illithid tadpoles to some extent. However, what intrigues me the most is the absorption and consumption of the individual.

A Mindflayer first comes into the existence when the illithid tadpole fully devours its hosts brain, and thus merges with the host's body. It can be assumed that the tadpole, much like how the adults feed, absorbs the memories and personalities, as well as other traits of the host.

The BG3 devs have said they want us to experience the evil side of the story. So, I am curious... will our protagonist / main character be able to become a Mindflayer? With how Mindflayer feeding works, I imagine the majority of our character can still be present even past the Ceremorphosis process. If the tadpole absorbs our personality and memories, I imagine its akin to a brain transplant, or switching bodies. The majority of Mindflayers are indoctrinated by the Elder Brain shortly after this process.

I imagine our newly transformed Mindflayer characters will retain memories from both their past lives, as well as the tadpole's memories of swimming in the Elder Brain tank and being within the host's bodies.

I truly believe this would be a monumental moment in BG history, similar to your protagonist in BG2 becoming the Lord of Murder. Can you believe the story implications? How different a turn the story would take? What would your companions do, would they try to kill you, would they join you, or could you hinder them from saving themselves, thus having them transform into Mindflayers and joining your party, akin to a Mindflayer Inquisition (a group of Mindflayers similar to that of an adventuring party).

I'm sure the BG3 Devs have the whole story plotted out, however, I truly believe this would be an insane character progression option and probably one of the most satisfying evil routes (or good, if you somehow manage to break free from the Elder Brain's psionic will) in a (c)RPG game ever conceived.

Thoughts?

Edit 1: I just recently watched the gameplay livestream, and I noticed that our main character can use their tadpole to read the thoughts of other characters. So, this tadpole actually affects us, it isn't just some artificial problem that gets solved later. I find it very interesting... I wonder, if this does point to a playable Mindflayer character. So excited!

[Bajkę]

I was thinking the same thing but I didn't want to make a post about it. The first thing I will try in EA is take several long rests and turn myself into a mind flayer XD

[Bastila Shan]

It would be pretty dumb of them to have no consequences if you don’t remove it somehow.

I’d imagine at a certain point in the story if you have failed to remove the mind flayer you will die and the game will be over.

Now yes you could make a deal with the devil to remove it or find some other way which is the fun of playing the story.

[Syrae]

Първоначално публикувано от Hoboslayer:

It would be pretty dumb of them to have no consequences if you don’t remove it somehow.

I’d imagine at a certain point in the story if you have failed to remove the mind flayer you will die and the game will be over.

Now yes you could make a deal with the devil to remove it or find some other way which is the fun of playing the story.

No I agree with the TS. If this is an option..... omg im drooling already.

That would be like two diferent games in one? Is it even possible to get this much content into the game?

[Bastila Shan]

Mind flayer doesn’t leave the persons mind intact, it gets taken over by the parasite so I don’t think we’ll have playable mind flayers.

[TheRandomGuy]

According to the official D&D website, when a Mind Flayer puts a "tadpole" in someone, they have about a week before the parasite takes over completely. When that happens, the tadpole eats the host brain. This usually results in the person being erased completely, the tadpole changing their body into a Mind Flayer completely, and maybe retaining mannerisms of the host, but the personality of the host is 100% gone.

HOWEVER

Mind Flayers fear something called "The Adversary" which is an individual for which the tadpole does NOT destroy them completely, but rather fully takes on the personality and memories of the host, effectively becoming a carbon copy of that individual. This means that individual keeps their personality, memories, etc. AND gets Mind Flayer powers with it.

I think that the story will probably revolve around that in some way, shape, or form.

[Eoftar]

If it is possible... yes, I'm gonna go with that. I always loved these tentacle-faced guys! :)

[Bastila Shan]

Well we’re not going to find out for at least a year until this comes out of ea and we get the other acts added on.

[Bajkę]

Първоначално публикувано от Hoboslayer:

Well we’re not going to find out for at least a year until this comes out of ea and we get the other acts added on.

Why wait for other acts? I believe it's just a timely thing. If you don't remove it before the time expires you turn into a mindflayer

[DaciValt]

Ofc all of it is just speculation but what if it was related to specific options related to actions you take related to the tadpole itself? So like another conversation option available to the PC's.

Could be a thing. I mean it is taking over your mind afterall and replacing it. So it's not your PC's thoughts that it's enacting and technically you shouldn't have a say on what happens after turning into one. You've lost control of yourself, not even yourself anymore.

So technically becoming a mindflayer could be a game over since you get no choice. Or the bad/evil ending.

Unless the do it like suggested above in the rare occurrence that said character retains a semblance of themselves and that is the evil path.

No matter what it is speculation.

[Eoftar]

It may be a mix of both. If you run out of time before a certain moment in story it will be a bad end, but after this moment it may become an option. Just like in some other RPG when your HP drops to 0 it is a Game Over, but when it is connected to story or some forks in it you may get a different outcome, a special cutscene or something like that. Witcher 3 for example, your HP drops to 0 in a regular fight - you die, your HP drops to zero in a fist fight or a story encounter and there is no Game Over, but a different story route.

We shall see. I'll name one of my first chars Clarota just in case xD

[Bastila Shan]

Първоначално публикувано от Powietrze ☁:

Първоначално публикувано от Hoboslayer:

Well we’re not going to find out for at least a year until this comes out of ea and we get the other acts added on.

Why wait for other acts? I believe it's just a timely thing. If you don't remove it before the time expires you turn into a mindflayer

I would despise that, I don’t want to speed run this, I want to take my time and enjoy it

[Boink]

Hmm. Well I can guess how the "remove NPCs the player hasn't chosen for chapter 2" is going to happen then.

Brains get wormy, tentacles spurt, time to kill off all the NPCs who ain't making brain safety zone.

[Soft Lockpick]

It's a video game in a setting with loosey goosey rules anyway. Someone could cast the plot armor spell on you and give you an extra month. You could be a rare case that keeps your mind instead of being taken over. You could find some way to stop it but it leaves you with all or some of the powers from the transformation.

Video games will almost always lean towards making you special. So assume something like that is coming because 80/20 odds it is. But guessing at the how in a setting that can just make up some new plot device whenever needed - be it magical plot artifact, high level something or other dude, new spell, randomly make up some new lore about the flayers, whatever - is just really unlikely to hit the bullseye even if we're reasonably certain one exists to hit.

[Bajkę]

Първоначално публикувано от Chairman Kaga:

It's a video game in a setting with loosey goosey rules anyway. Someone could cast the plot armor spell on you and give you an extra month. You could be a rare case that keeps your mind instead of being taken over. You could find some way to stop it but it leaves you with all or some of the powers from the transformation.

Video games will almost always lean towards making you special. So assume something like that is coming because 80/20 odds it is. But guessing at the how in a setting that can just make up some new plot device whenever needed - be it magical plot artifact, high level something or other dude, new spell, randomly make up some new lore about the flayers, whatever - is just really unlikely to hit the bullseye even if we're reasonably certain one exists to hit.

The lore in this game is 100% official and supervised by WoTC

[UnholyDentist]

This is more likely divided into smaller segments, milestones if you will. Certain criteria must be met at different stages through the cannon story events, is my bet. I doubt the game will just turn on you at 30 hours played and state "game over kkthxbye".