MAJOR WARNING: For Ceramorphosis

[GrandMajora]

This is a warning to any player is who thinking of going full squiddy and gaining all the power that it has to offer.

While it is possible to become an illithid, you should know ahead of time that THIS CAN RUIN YOUR BUILD!

Once you transform into a full blown mindflayer, your ability scores will be altered to suit your new form.

Before my transformation, my rogue assassin had 20 Dexterity.

After my transformation, his dexterity plummeted down to 12...

In fact, these are my character's ability scores after completing the transformation:

13 Strength
12 Dexterity
14 Constitution
20 Intelligence
18 Wisdom
18 Charisma

As you can see, becoming a full mind flayer is only a good idea, if you're planning to go for a dedicated spell caster. Because the martial classes are gonna get screwed over hard!

[Schizm]

That's good to know.

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by Schizm:

That's good to know.

Small comfort that a lot of my illithid powers got upgraded to superior versions. But still, a rogue with only 12 dexterity is effectively garbage...

[ChompyRiley]

Yo hol' up mate, you can actually become a full mindflayer? Do you, what, lose your companions or whatever? Or do they transform too?

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by ChompyRiley:

Yo hol' up mate, you can actually become a full mindflayer? Do you, what, lose your companions or whatever? Or do they transform too?

No, there is a plot specific reason for why you might choose to become an illithid, and your party members understand the necessity of it.

You don't have to go through with it, but it will make things more convenient for you if you do.

Also, I loved the cutscene that played out shortly after that bit. My character came floating through the doors like he was Frieza himself.

[ChompyRiley]

Originally posted by GrandMajora:

Originally posted by ChompyRiley:

Yo hol' up mate, you can actually become a full mindflayer? Do you, what, lose your companions or whatever? Or do they transform too?

No, there is a plot specific reason for why you might choose to become an illithid, and your party members understand the necessity of it.

You don't have to go through with it, but it will make things more convenient for you if you do.

Also, I loved the cutscene that played out shortly after that bit. My character came floating through the doors like he was Frieza himself.

So we don't spoil anyone, can you DM me why you might choose to become an illithid and your companions understand your decision? I haven't gotten past Act 1 due to my terminal case of Alt-Itis but now I'm voraciously curious.

[ChompyRiley]

Also how do you retain your mind/soul? The flayer parasite is supposed to be a complete and total replacement of the original.

[Dao of Yakitori]

Originally posted by ChompyRiley:

Also how do you retain your mind/soul? The flayer parasite is supposed to be a complete and total replacement of the original.

Yes, you get a special nether parasite that doesn't replace your personality and just makes you stronger. I think it's the only one of its kind and required a lot of effort to make

[saliddry]

hahahha i have 6 of the worms in jars i thought it will be an trap realy using them ... seems like me feeling is right

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by ChompyRiley:

So we don't spoil anyone, can you DM me why you might choose to become an illithid and your companions understand your decision? I haven't gotten past Act 1 due to my terminal case of Alt-Itis but now I'm voraciously curious.

Alright, you wanted the reason, so here it is. It's because if you want to successfully dominate the final boss of the game and enslave their mind, you must be capable of thinking like a mind flayer. So long as you retain your current form, this is impossible; so you have the option of completing the ceramorphosis in order to give yourself the power to seize control... if you feel like going that route.

[ChompyRiley]

Originally posted by GrandMajora:

Originally posted by ChompyRiley:

So we don't spoil anyone, can you DM me why you might choose to become an illithid and your companions understand your decision? I haven't gotten past Act 1 due to my terminal case of Alt-Itis but now I'm voraciously curious.

Alright, you wanted the reason, so here it is. It's because if you want to successfully dominate the final boss of the game and enslave their mind, you must be capable of thinking like a mind flayer. So long as you retain your current form, this is impossible; so you have the option of completing the ceramorphosis in order to give yourself the power to seize control... if you feel like going that route.

Okay but what about a gnome flayer? Are you still like tall and lean or can you be smolbean

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by ChompyRiley:

Okay but what about a gnome flayer? Are you still like tall and lean or can you be smolbean

Not sure. I was playing as Astarion.

But in regards to the actual lore, some races such as Dwarves, Halflings and Gnomes are supposed to be immune to ceramorphosis. It's because of their immunity that the Duergar were created from enslaved dwarves when they were subjected to mind flayer experiments.

[Metallicus]

Have you tried a respec since you ‘turned’?

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by Metallicus:

Have you tried a respec since you ‘turned’?

Nope, doesn't seem like that was possible as Withers didn't give me dialogue options for resurrection, respec, or hirelings. I couldn't even go back to camp to swap out party members, meaning I was stuck with whoever I brought with me for the elder brain confrontation for the rest of the game.

My party was Astarion, Minthara, Gale and Lae'zel. Shadowheart remained at camp, meaning that I had no healer... and I didn't find out until it was too late that SHE HAD ALL MY REVIVIFY SCROLLS!

So I had to get through the final section of the game with no dedicated healer, and with no way to revive anyone in the events they happened to die.

Still won though...

[joshgold]

How much is too much? how many powers can i safely take?

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by joshgold:

How much is too much? how many powers can i safely take?

You can take as many as you want. I had every section of Astarion's brain except for 1 piece infected with tadpoles.

Going full Illithid is a main plot specific event. You'll get the option after progressing far enough into the story.