Is it really "progress" to be "still alive"?

[Mike Garrison]

Isn't "progress" something that is new? Being "still alive" seems more like just treading water.

[seeker1]

Ah, that makes sense. The thread is a reaction to the occasional banters that Tav makes about "still alive, so that's progress".

I guess that is Tav musing to themselves that given how many various factions and enemies are out there trying to kill him, that they are still alive to continue their quest can be considered a form of progress. (I agree only very minimally, though.)

[MadConsular]

progress is neither good nor bad. So yeah. We are all progressing all the time. Is tav progressing in their mission? I think tav is reffering to not being mind controlled by the tadpol. In which tav is supposed to be mind controlled within a day or two, so yea, surviving longer than expected is a positive development in their condition

[Zeel Ara]

Originally posted by Levianne:

The connection is that your character is sometimes saying this "still me, despite everything" when you click on a mirror and "still breathing, despite everything", when you select them. Maybe even "still alive, at least that's progress", at some point, but not sure about that one. But the two actual quotes can still be interpreted as being alive being seen as progress.

Well, good thing they don't call it progress then. But grats on inventing a problem so you have something to complain about.

[jonnin]

sometimes progress is enabling a path forward, like in science, disproving something thought to be true, opening the way for new ideas. Surviving is progress toward your goal, as dying or transforming would be failing. If you are alive, untransformed, and doing stuff, its a form of progress. Progress is a low bar... if you spend 5 min a day on something, its progress, even if it takes the rest of your life to get it half done.

[EricHVela]

"Still alive. So, that's progress."

According to the game set in a fictional world where the person is supposed to be eaten alive by a worm from the inside out within 7 days (very oversimplified description), yes. It is progress.

What others consider as progress is up to them as this thread shows different opinions on progressing.

[TyranntX]

Better question, WHAT THE HELL DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH BG3?!?

[seeker1]

... well, at first, I was wondering the same thing, but I can be thick about these things. Tav doesn't say very much at the protagonist but he does have occasionally banters or utterances and this is one of them. He sometimes will utter out loud, "Still alive, so that's progress."

Funnily enough, it's the title of an EARLIER steam thread from 2023.
https://steamcommunity.com/app/1086940/discussions/0/3874840228864733999/

[seeker1]

Now, if you want to see some really creepy lines, you need to listen to the things an unrepentant Durge sometimes utters.

https://www.reddit.com/r/BaldursGate3/comments/16ki3mk/dark_urge_voice_lines/

[snipped]

All is ash and meat.

Intestines throb. Blood whispers.

Pave my path with corpses! Build my castle with bones!

They are dying for me! ALL OF THEM! (combat only?)

One down. Millions live. (combat end)

Kill, kill, kill again! (combat?)

[end]

[TyranntX]

Originally posted by seeker1:

... well, at first, I was wondering the same thing, but I can be thick about these things. Tav doesn't say very much at the protagonist but he does have occasionally banters or utterances and this is one of them. He sometimes will utter out loud, "Still alive, so that's progress."

Funnily enough, it's the title of an EARLIER steam thread from 2023.
https://steamcommunity.com/app/1086940/discussions/0/3874840228864733999/

♥♥♥♥ post, got it.

[Levianne]

Originally posted by Moffle:

Originally posted by Levianne:

The connection is that your character is sometimes saying this "still me, despite everything" when you click on a mirror and "still breathing, despite everything", when you select them. Maybe even "still alive, at least that's progress", at some point, but not sure about that one. But the two actual quotes can still be interpreted as being alive being seen as progress.

Well, good thing they don't call it progress then. But grats on inventing a problem so you have something to complain about.

Where exactly am I complaining? Someone asked how was OP's topic connected to BG3 and I was explaining according to how I understood it. If you see me complaining, then maybe you need to get your eyes checked in. Not everyone is complaining these days. Or is it illegal to try to explain things, or give opinion on things to someone?
So congratulations on your reading comprehension.

[Dimlhugion]

Oft you may have heard it told,
that all that glitters is not gold,
for gilded tombs do worms enfold.

Or, if you're fond of GRRM, Valar Morghulis.

Thing is though, there's a difference between resignation and determination that's easy to miss if you're privileged enough to never have been so thoroughly and desperately tested, as those who have had near-death experiences. To someone waking up every single day staring death in the face, coming to grips with our mortal coil means more than "eh, I guess I'm treading water."

Being alive IS progress. To doubt that is to live in luxury. Consider yourself fortunate.

[quothz]

The Tav is encouraging themselves as they push on. They aren't submitting a formal philosophical proposal for peer review. Besides, "Still alive, so that's the status quo," doesn't have the same ring to it.

[Romnia]

I mean, Tav does have "the wee one" stuck up in their head that's ready to (in theory) cook them into a mind flayer anytime, so not dying to that I would consider progress indeed if not at least an upside in that type of situation.

[Chaosolous]

Not if you're supposed to be dying. Like, maybe, from a worm in your head.