Shadowcursed lands are walking on my last nerve (Act 2 spoilers)

[MGB | Screaming Internally]

Either I've missed some crucial information, or I'm a giant dumbdumb, or this is one of the worst designed segments I've ever experienced in a game.

The confusion started before I even got to the place. The game seemed very clear that I shouldn't go into the Shadowcursed lands without carrying a moonlantern. And so, I spend hours trying to find a moonlantern, with no direction and with no success. Eventually, after becoming painfully aware of how short life is and I have better ♥♥♥♥ to do, I gave up and googled it. Turns out, you can't find a moonlantern anywhere outside of the Shadowcursed lands. Perfect, thanks. And I was supposed to know that how?

I get there, and eventually stumble upon a mean-looking group, whose leader (a weird elf-spider-thing?) is carrying a moonlantern. But since I'm already in pretty rough shape after previous fights (which in this region, with the constant ambushes, all seem specifically designed to hurt you as much as possible before it's even your turn to do anything) and since I as a rogue have the option to hide in the shadows, I'm thinking "I should probably just stay hidden, I'll probably get another chance to get a moonlantern. After all, this option is a skill check, so the game is indirectly telling me that this is the best thing to do if I can pull it off."
Well, I pull it off, and the group goes off its merry way. Phew.

Now, about an hour or so later, after getting acquainted with the nice people at the Inn, every single quest is leading me towards the Moonrise Towers. But every path to that part of the map is blocked off by these walls of (what I assume is) a more powerful version of the shadow curse that Isobel's blessing can't protect us from. I've tried going through it anyway, but die every single time because the curse simply does too much damage. I've also tried finding some other way into the Towers, but after exploring the entire region (what is avaliable to me anyway), that doesn't seem to exist.

So at this point, getting a moonlantern seem to be the only thing I can do to make progress in the game at all. But... how? The group from before seems to have evaporated or something (even though the quest marker is still pointing me to where I first encountered them), and the game is giving me absolutely nothing to go on apart from that.

After running around aimlessly for what felt like the entire development period of this game, I once again gave up and googled a solution.
All I can find is: Get the moonlantern from the spider dude. Otherwise, you can only find a moonlantern inside the Moonrise Towers.

...

Inside the Moonrise Towers.
I have to find a lantern inside the Moonrise Towers.
The place I can't get to.
Because I don't have a moonlantern.
But it's where I need to go.
To find a moonlantern.

I haven't slept for like 20 hours, so maybe that plays a part in the confusion, but what in Shadowheart's left emo nipple am I meant to do here?

Did I ♥♥♥♥ up? Since I didn't ambush the group with the spider mutant from hell who could probably kill me in two hits, I've created some kind of fail state? If that's possible, why is hiding from them even a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ option to begin with? Is there another solution that is so obvious that the game doesn't even feel the need to point it out?

I need help. Step-by-step instructions, preferably. I really, really want to like this game but it's making it extremely difficult right now.

[Nelartux]

The game telling you you'd need a moonlantern before going in it but never actually giving you on is a big oversight from the devs, not gonna lie.

As for the protection from shadows, first thing you'll learn upon entering the place is that there is a safe place, so going there should have been your first stop.

Then there are 3 ways to get a protection :

Getting Isobel's buff by making sure she is safe.
The Dreidr guy you mentionned.
Getting into Moonrise, which you can actually enter without a moonlantern, but you'll need to be crafty and sneaky.

[NOD Flamer]

this sounds more or less like a skill issue.

if you go to the inn you get a "blessing" by isobel, so you can travel the cursed lands. if you have high enough charisma yo ucan let the spider dude give you the lantern and he commits seppuku.

The thing that i found frustrating is that you get the option to go through the mountain or the underway, in order to get to moonrise tower (According to Halsin).
But there's no real option here. You have to go through the underdark to the cursedlands, and the mountain pass is not even filled with the shadow curse as he stated.
just some miscommunication of the writer here.

But yeah you just entere the most boring and worse part of the entire game. Just rush it to moonrise tower, get the free lantern and you're good to go.

[Sir_Baldur]

If you have a save from when you just enter the Shadowlands, reload that. I know it sucks to go back, but this might make you less frustrated.

Step 1: Equip regular torches
Step 2: Have a cleric in your party - Shadowheart with spiritual guardians makes EVERY fight in the area cakewalk.
Step 3: When you encounter the Harpers - SAVE them.
Step 4: Go to Inn.
Step 5: Talk to everyone.
Step 6: Save Isobel
Step 7: Once Isobel is saves - go to your camp, talk to Halsin.
Step 8: Talk to group of Harpers that wants to "ambush" at the front gate
Step 9: Defeat the Dredr guy - you can trick him into tossing his lantern away.
Step 10: Finish what Halsin wants you to do.
Step 11: Explore the rest of the map
Step 12: Moonrise.

[zenebatos1]

...
HAve Shadowheart prepare the Daylight spell... or have Daylight scrolls.

Use Deception/Persuasion on the Drider( Drow/spider) or your Illithids powers to convince him that he should hand the lantern to you.

You can also have just Shadowheart go through the place iirc she is immune to the shadowblight cause she's a Cleric of Shar. and when you find a Waypoint have the party TP to where she is.

I believe there is a couple other options...

Its a Larian game, it tells you that you can do something.
It doesn't tell you what, you have to use that braincells of yours to find out and there's usually 5 different ways to go about it, up to you.

As the ancient Mantra said "GIT GUD"

[Shozou]

Literal definition of skill issue.

[Tomas Mac Mordain]

Originally posted by MGB | Screaming Internally:

Either I've missed some crucial information, or I'm a giant dumbdumb, or this is one of the worst designed segments I've ever experienced in a game.

The confusion started before I even got to the place. The game seemed very clear that I shouldn't go into the Shadowcursed lands without carrying a moonlantern. And so, I spend hours trying to find a moonlantern, with no direction and with no success. Eventually, after becoming painfully aware of how short life is and I have better ♥♥♥♥ to do, I gave up and googled it. Turns out, you can't find a moonlantern anywhere outside of the Shadowcursed lands. Perfect, thanks. And I was supposed to know that how?

I get there, and eventually stumble upon a mean-looking group, whose leader (a weird elf-spider-thing?) is carrying a moonlantern. But since I'm already in pretty rough shape after previous fights (which in this region, with the constant ambushes, all seem specifically designed to hurt you as much as possible before it's even your turn to do anything) and since I as a rogue have the option to hide in the shadows, I'm thinking "I should probably just stay hidden, I'll probably get another chance to get a moonlantern. After all, this option is a skill check, so the game is indirectly telling me that this is the best thing to do if I can pull it off."
Well, I pull it off, and the group goes off its merry way. Phew.

Now, about an hour or so later, after getting acquainted with the nice people at the Inn, every single quest is leading me towards the Moonrise Towers. But every path to that part of the map is blocked off by these walls of (what I assume is) a more powerful version of the shadow curse that Isobel's blessing can't protect us from. I've tried going through it anyway, but die every single time because the curse simply does too much damage. I've also tried finding some other way into the Towers, but after exploring the entire region (what is avaliable to me anyway), that doesn't seem to exist.

So at this point, getting a moonlantern seem to be the only thing I can do to make progress in the game at all. But... how? The group from before seems to have evaporated or something (even though the quest marker is still pointing me to where I first encountered them), and the game is giving me absolutely nothing to go on apart from that.

After running around aimlessly for what felt like the entire development period of this game, I once again gave up and googled a solution.
All I can find is: Get the moonlantern from the spider dude. Otherwise, you can only find a moonlantern inside the Moonrise Towers.

...

Inside the Moonrise Towers.
I have to find a lantern inside the Moonrise Towers.
The place I can't get to.
Because I don't have a moonlantern.
But it's where I need to go.
To find a moonlantern.

I haven't slept for like 20 hours, so maybe that plays a part in the confusion, but what in Shadowheart's left emo nipple am I meant to do here?

Did I ♥♥♥♥ up? Since I didn't ambush the group with the spider mutant from hell who could probably kill me in two hits, I've created some kind of fail state? If that's possible, why is hiding from them even a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ option to begin with? Is there another solution that is so obvious that the game doesn't even feel the need to point it out?

I need help. Step-by-step instructions, preferably. I really, really want to like this game but it's making it extremely difficult right now.

Oh boy this game will have some more stuff in store for you. Continuity errors, wrong cutscenes playing, you being able to say things you have no idea about... It's all in Act 2 - and it's not pretty...

My Act 2 casualties so far:
I've pissed off Astarion and I believe I broke his char quest for no fault of my own. This one is due to issues with 'side content' the gauntlet of shar.

I'm unable to heal the shadowlands at the end of act 2. Halsin insists we have to go to find Oliver (nvm who that is) to do the healing, while carrying Oliver's corpse in his inventory. I had killed Oliver like 10 mins into Act 2, because he's a murderous shadow luring people into their deaths who try to help him. No way am I going to re-do the entire act now.

The comptetence level of quest writing is ... lacking. I'll take the Ls on these quests and perhaps in a year on a second playthrough these things will be fixed.... Maybe.

[Caje]

Originally posted by MGB | Screaming Internally:

Either I've missed some crucial information, or I'm a giant dumbdumb, or this is one of the worst designed segments I've ever experienced in a game.


I need help. Step-by-step instructions, preferably. I really, really want to like this game but it's making it extremely difficult right now.

I was told in the forge that i would have to bring a light source when we didnt have a lantern.

[['w']]

Shadowheart is immune
Rest Spellcaster with Torches or Rings with Light Spells

Not that hard.

Go back to the mountainpass or you miss a lot of content and more so a very important weapon which can ease it a lot, really a lot.

PS:
Step 9: Defeat the Dredr guy - you can trick him into tossing his lantern away.

this was my step3, ran into him, attacked without conversation, looted them and opened the lantern

[BurningFalcon]

I don't get it.
Next to the Last Light Inn, there is a house. It says it's so dark in there, even a torch won't help you.
Well, I used Shadowhearts "Daylight" on my character. They shine brighter than any light and it's magical.
What happens when I enter the house?
The character says "the torch won't last long" and it's immediately dark.
When I go out of the house, the spell is still active, it just doesn't work in the house.

Why don't I understand this? Because the spell literally says: "a sphere of sunlight that dispells ALL darkness around it"
Sure, could be magical darkness, and probably is, now the question is, why is it not included?

Let me cite further:
Darkvision: You can see in the dark (it doesn't say darkness)
Devil's Sight: You can see normally in darkness, both magical and non-magical

Devil's sight state both darknesses, yet, Daylight doesn't say non-magical darkness, which in my opinion means also magical darkness, otherwise it should be stated there.

I even have the darkness spell: "create a dark shroud that heavily obsucres and blinds creatures within. Creatures cannot makre range attacks into or out of it." - Heavily obsucring is linked to dark/darkness. Larian actually managed to implement the same bad wording some official rules have, by using many different word for the same meaning and the same words for different meanings...

Also, interestingly enough, even Shadowheart can't get into the house without the debuff

[MGB | Screaming Internally]

Originally posted by Nelartux:

... Getting into Moonrise, which you can actually enter without a moonlantern, but you'll need to be crafty and sneaky.

Interesting. I'm not particularly crafty, especially in this game, but knowing that there is another way in is encouraging.

Originally posted by SchizOrtho:

this sounds more or less like a skill issue

Very possible.

Originally posted by Sir_Baldur:

If you have a save from when you just enter the Shadowlands, reload that. I know it sucks to go back, but this might make you less frustrated.

Step 1: Equip regular torches
Step 2: Have a cleric in your party - Shadowheart with spiritual guardians makes EVERY fight in the area cakewalk.
Step 3: When you encounter the Harpers - SAVE them.
Step 4: Go to Inn.
Step 5: Talk to everyone.
Step 6: Save Isobel
Step 7: Once Isobel is saves - go to your camp, talk to Halsin.
Step 8: Talk to group of Harpers that wants to "ambush" at the front gate
Step 9: Defeat the Dredr guy - you can trick him into tossing his lantern away.
Step 10: Finish what Halsin wants you to do.
Step 11: Explore the rest of the map
Step 12: Moonrise.

Praise be, literal step-by-step instructions! Though, this makes is sound like defeating the Dredr is mandatory in order to get the Moonlantern, which again makes me wonder why there's an option to skip that fight entirely (one could argue the game even encourages that if you're a rogue).

Originally posted by Tomas Mac Mordain:

Oh boy this game will have some more stuff in store for you. Continuity errors, wrong cutscenes playing, you being able to say things you have no idea about...

I have actually experienced some characters talking about things we haven't experienced yet, my character apologizing for things they didn't even do and such things. Can get confusing and it's a real shame since the game is filled to the brim with potential.

Originally posted by |wilb|:

Go back to the mountainpass or you miss a lot of content and more so a very important weapon which can ease it a lot, really a lot.

See, this is one of my biggest gripes with BG3. The game gave me the impression that it was either or. I wouldn't have gone to the mountain pass because why would I when I've been told repeatedly by characters that it's a choice between that and the Underdark, and the quest to take that path goes away once I reach the Shadowcursed lands? How would I have known without accidentally finding out? It's like it's making it confusing on purpose.

[SoloQ]

So you didn't pay attention or read anything aside from "moon lantern" and you're upset at the game for it?
Misplaced anger.