(Act 1 spoiler!) - Any beneficial reason to side with the grove?

[Emjay]

Act 1 spoilers beware!





So I am currently playing a lolth-sworn drow oathbreaker (dark urge). I initially wanted to create a drow who played against the stereotype, but who also had these urges that kept pushing him back into that stereotype.

All was going well up to the point of the decision between minthara and the grove. My gripe here is I want minthara, because it feels like the obvious choice for my brooding little killing machine, but I just can't see how it's a good choice mechanically.

If I kill minthara, then I get the biggest reward, simply missing out on minthara. If I kill the grove, I lose out on Halsin whilst Karlach and Wyll outright betray me and leave. So the decision is basically 1 companion somewhere down the line in exchange for 3?

I can't help but feel like it's such a poor option. Is this indicative of what's to come? Am I just being shoehorned into being a "good boy" so that I can actually get content, otherwise I can have a shallow experience by being naughty?

I feel like Larian could have sweetened the deal here by letting you recruit Priestess Gut, Dror Razglin and Minthara on one side and Halsin, Karlach and Wyll on the other. I also feel like rather than just walking away, shouldn't the "good" companions be stepping in? As in attacking me? I mean, Wyll at least should be so averse to the slaughter that he should become hostile, right?

[Doomvora]

I think the main problem with choosing minthara over the grove is that you miss out on a lot of questlines which involve the tieflings AND the companions (not that big of a deal honestly but it sucks there's no replacement for the lost quests, like quests that are an antithesis to a "good guy").

I mean sure you can play without those quests and it's fine really, I just wish there were more "bad guy" specific questlines that you wouldn't be able to do if you sided with the grove.

[shogunsmurf]

You can start the raid without your help, and only miss out on Halsin that way. However you will still miss out on a considerable amount of quests.

[Captain Moodaq]

Originally posted by Emjay:

Act 1 spoilers beware!





So I am currently playing a lolth-sworn drow oathbreaker (dark urge). I initially wanted to create a drow who played against the stereotype, but who also had these urges that kept pushing him back into that stereotype.

All was going well up to the point of the decision between minthara and the grove. My gripe here is I want minthara, because it feels like the obvious choice for my brooding little killing machine, but I just can't see how it's a good choice mechanically.

If I kill minthara, then I get the biggest reward, simply missing out on minthara. If I kill the grove, I lose out on Halsin whilst Karlach and Wyll outright betray me and leave. So the decision is basically 1 companion somewhere down the line in exchange for 3?

I can't help but feel like it's such a poor option. Is this indicative of what's to come? Am I just being shoehorned into being a "good boy" so that I can actually get content, otherwise I can have a shallow experience by being naughty?

I feel like Larian could have sweetened the deal here by letting you recruit Priestess Gut, Dror Razglin and Minthara on one side and Halsin, Karlach and Wyll on the other. I also feel like rather than just walking away, shouldn't the "good" companions be stepping in? As in attacking me? I mean, Wyll at least should be so averse to the slaughter that he should become hostile, right?

Because by not siding with the grove you are breaking the game.
Since 99% of it are companion quests, and you lose 3 of them.
The companion on the other side though is not working or was never working if Larian lied about the state of her completion.
So side with the grove or second act will be a barebones, and wait definiton edition to see the other variant. But don't forget no matter you choose the game is linear and all the roads lead to one outcome.

[Emjay]

Originally posted by Doomvora:

I think the main problem with choosing minthara over the grove is that you miss out on a lot of questlines which involve the tieflings AND the companions (not that big of a deal honestly but it sucks there's no replacement for the lost quests, like quests that are an antithesis to a "good guy").

I mean sure you can play without those quests and it's fine really, I just wish there were more "bad guy" specific questlines that you wouldn't be able to do if you sided with the grove.

I guess this was also what I was trying to say. It feels somewhat like you choose to be the baddie but you don't really get to be one, or at least it's a severely watered down experience, which makes me feel like it shouldn't be an option in the first place.

I mean, if I'm aligning myself with the absolute cult, give me something more than a single battle with a hefty price. Give me priestess gut and dror razglin or some other companions with actual story that rivals karlach, wyll and halsin.

Whole thing has me feeling like stopping where I am and starting a new game as the good guy, because it feels like I'm only going to get a second hand experience this way.

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Emjay:

(Act 1 spoiler!) - Any beneficial reason to side with the grove?
Act 1 spoilers beware!





So I am currently playing a lolth-sworn drow oathbreaker (dark urge). I initially wanted to create a drow who played against the stereotype, but who also had these urges that kept pushing him back into that stereotype.

All was going well up to the point of the decision between minthara and the grove. My gripe here is I want minthara, because it feels like the obvious choice for my brooding little killing machine, but I just can't see how it's a good choice mechanically.

If I kill minthara, then I get the biggest reward, simply missing out on minthara. If I kill the grove, I lose out on Halsin whilst Karlach and Wyll outright betray me and leave. So the decision is basically 1 companion somewhere down the line in exchange for 3?

I can't help but feel like it's such a poor option. Is this indicative of what's to come? Am I just being shoehorned into being a "good boy" so that I can actually get content, otherwise I can have a shallow experience by being naughty?

I feel like Larian could have sweetened the deal here by letting you recruit Priestess Gut, Dror Razglin and Minthara on one side and Halsin, Karlach and Wyll on the other. I also feel like rather than just walking away, shouldn't the "good" companions be stepping in? As in attacking me? I mean, Wyll at least should be so averse to the slaughter that he should become hostile, right?

If you ask like that: no, no benefits

[Aria Athena]

Does a lolth drow durge with a tadpole in their brain really care whether the grove lives or dies? Just walk away and only lose Halsin.

[Queen Yuu The Reclusive]

Siding with the Grove gains you:
-Dammon as a trader
-Halsin, Wyll, and Karlach as companions
-An Act 1 and Act 2 Trader
-Karlach.
-Companion quests that lead to benefits down the line
-KARLACH.
What you lose:
-Minthara

Siding with the Goblins gains you:
-Minthara when you reach Moonrise Towers and pass skill checks
-Halsin, Wyll, and Karlach as companions
-Minor benefits
What you lose:
-Story moments
-A fairly large amount of good loot
-KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACH

I just got to Act 2 and 'helped' at the Inn on my Evil playthrough and feel like utter ♥♥♥♥ because of it.

I didn't even raze the Grove because of how lack-luster gaining Minthara is [And simply walking away and ignoring the matter just doesn't feel right. I rather get loot one way or the other.]

The benefits to siding with Minthara are just too small for a reasonable person to strive for.

[BigJ]

You can max your likeneds with the druid vendor and always sell to him at max price if for some reason you lack coin.

You get 3 companions to stay over 1, not having to deal with Gale leaving if you don't talk either. You get a decent glaive and access to sylvanus brew...whenever the bug is fixed.
You gain aproval from everyone in your party.

For gobbos you also get a trader with 50 less coins and Minthara, if you didn't kill the goblind at the party, Minthara is a great companion but you'll require 1 hireling till act 2.

[alexdoerofthings]

There’s a mod that gets you minthara. I haven’t used it, but it exists.

[Hyena]

Minthara is the only companion you need, ditch the nerds.

[Wendigo]

Originally posted by Emjay:

Act 1 spoilers beware!





So I am currently playing a lolth-sworn drow oathbreaker (dark urge). I initially wanted to create a drow who played against the stereotype, but who also had these urges that kept pushing him back into that stereotype.

All was going well up to the point of the decision between minthara and the grove. My gripe here is I want minthara, because it feels like the obvious choice for my brooding little killing machine, but I just can't see how it's a good choice mechanically.

If I kill minthara, then I get the biggest reward, simply missing out on minthara. If I kill the grove, I lose out on Halsin whilst Karlach and Wyll outright betray me and leave. So the decision is basically 1 companion somewhere down the line in exchange for 3?

I can't help but feel like it's such a poor option. Is this indicative of what's to come? Am I just being shoehorned into being a "good boy" so that I can actually get content, otherwise I can have a shallow experience by being naughty?

I feel like Larian could have sweetened the deal here by letting you recruit Priestess Gut, Dror Razglin and Minthara on one side and Halsin, Karlach and Wyll on the other. I also feel like rather than just walking away, shouldn't the "good" companions be stepping in? As in attacking me? I mean, Wyll at least should be so averse to the slaughter that he should become hostile, right?

Well for starters
The tiefling blacksmith
He plays a key role in some serious gear both in Act 2 and Act 3. Kill off the grove and Bye bye Blacksmith.

Then there is the Druid leader, who can clear out the curse in Act 2.
Other characters that play a big role later on, etc etc etc etc etc

[Emjay]

Originally posted by Aria Athena:

Does a lolth drow durge with a tadpole in their brain really care whether the grove lives or dies? Just walk away and only lose Halsin.

Might be a dumb question, but how do I just walk away?

I mean, currently they are primed to fight eachother, do I literally just move to the next area?

Of course, I'm guessing I don't get the party scene with the gobbos after, which makes me think I've not progressed?

[Aria Athena]

Originally posted by Emjay:

Originally posted by Aria Athena:

Does a lolth drow durge with a tadpole in their brain really care whether the grove lives or dies? Just walk away and only lose Halsin.

Might be a dumb question, but how do I just walk away?

I mean, currently they are primed to fight eachother, do I literally just move to the next area?

Of course, I'm guessing I don't get the party scene with the gobbos after, which makes me think I've not progressed?

Yeah, you just progress and it gets resolved on its own. There won't be a celebration, but it's a side quest anyway. I think the grove gets destroyed and you only lose Halsin that way.

[Emjay]

Originally posted by Aria Athena:

Originally posted by Emjay:

Might be a dumb question, but how do I just walk away?

I mean, currently they are primed to fight eachother, do I literally just move to the next area?

Of course, I'm guessing I don't get the party scene with the gobbos after, which makes me think I've not progressed?

Yeah, you just progress and it gets resolved on its own. There won't be a celebration, but it's a side quest anyway. I think the grove gets destroyed and you only lose Halsin that way.

Presumably I still get the option of having minthara at some point?

I feel like it's a bit of an odd option to go for either way, but it may be my only option...

[Martin]

Originally posted by Emjay:

Act 1 spoilers beware!

If you've won the game siding with the grove, then the world is your oyster, if you haven't you're wasting your own time, again, world is your oyster.. you do you. Personally, I never side with evil in games, I think it's part of my genetic makeup, I always try to do the right thing, irl or fantasy.

I'll never play the dark urge but that doesn't bother me.