Tadpole free run?

[fambaa]

So in early access I noticed that the barbarian had an option to open Shadowhearts chamber on the ship by ripping the lid off and I did not have to use the Illithid device.
Im almost through Act 2 now and have never used any ilithid dialog option.
I think my character was a bit sick in the camp once but that was it.
I don't have access to any power or skilltree.
So I am wondering if someone else finished the game like that.
WITHOUT having access to the ilithid skilltree.

If there is no achievement for that I am gonna be very disappointed.
I also recruited Minthara with knocking her out and then freeing the grove and going to Moonrise and saving her. As soon as I took her into my group I got the achievement for getting the tadpole powers sadly since she already has that.

I really hope that didn't screw up my run. I reloaded the game after that, so technically my game is still tadpole power free.

I doubt many people have done this. I even skipped Omelum and his potion, I even have the recipe to make more artificial tadpoles.

I really do hope there is an achievement for not unlocking the tadpole skilltree.

[Teskal]

No there is no achievement for not unlocking the tadpole skilltree.

You can see all the achievments on steam. Under locked achievements -> Global A. -> click on the hidden ones.

[Rez Elwin]

I want point out that while you might not activate the tadpole, when you meet other bearers it activates on it's own. I also made it to act two pretty much ignoring my brain roomie. I might have used it once on a companion. No actual powers though.

[Geralt]

My first run was tadpole free. Definitely no achievement.

Now I'm going to eat them like Skittles.

[fambaa]

Damn ok, I just browsed through it. I guess there is no point in holding off on the biggest decision you can make in game.
NGL this taints my view on the game. Every other choice has a consequence but this one doesn't.

Huge oversight imo.

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by fambaa:

Damn ok, I just browsed through it. I guess there is no point in holding off on the biggest decision you can make in game.
NGL this taints my view on the game. Every other choice has a consequence but this one doesn't.

Huge oversight imo.

You have consequences based on role play perspective. If you need achievements to feel and notice that, then maybe you want to rethink your point of views on life.

If you cannot make yourself happy, no one can.

[Chroniver]

My run was tadpole free as it didn't fit the ethics of my paladin.

But there is no real downside to using them.

When I do a durge run I'll be gobbling them up.

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Chroniver:

My run was tadpole free as it didn't fit the ethics of my paladin.

But there is no real downside to using them.

When I do a durge run I'll be gobbling them up.

The downside is everything is dead too quick if you just need to get enemies down to 27 HP or so.

[KRON]

Originally posted by アンジェル:

Originally posted by Chroniver:

My run was tadpole free as it didn't fit the ethics of my paladin.

But there is no real downside to using them.

When I do a durge run I'll be gobbling them up.

The downside is everything is dead too quick if you just need to get enemies down to 27 HP or so.

That effect can be toggled off, btw.

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by KRON:

Originally posted by アンジェル:

The downside is everything is dead too quick if you just need to get enemies down to 27 HP or so.

That effect can be toggled off, btw.

Indeed. Makes the game hardly harder.

[KRON]

Originally posted by アンジェル:

Originally posted by KRON:

That effect can be toggled off, btw.

Indeed. Makes the game hardly harder.

Yeah.

I think choosing to use the tadpole power and going partial-ilithid should have more consequences than just a creepy face(which, ironically, gives you a buff in persuasion due to Ilithid Expertise being unlocked with it). The only consequence so far are a couple of disapproving lines from companions and from a couple of NPCs..

[ahsanford]

Originally posted by fambaa:

If there is no achievement for that I am gonna be very disappointed.

I really do hope there is an achievement for not unlocking the tadpole skilltree.

Implying you'll be grumpy at a game because you didn't get a beep-boop with a little validation placard that 'you did great in a unique way' for an achievement you absolutely could have googled in advance is a very peculiar way to judge a game.

I have a different bar for being disappointed in BG3: did I or did I not have a fun, memorable experience?

Enjoy your tadpole-free run -- I did the same for my first playthrough. It was great. Have fun!

- A

[Annie Other]

As my character actively resists/avoids everything that tries to control him, I don't use Illithid Powers either, with very few exceptions, like when my character must assume that someone's life is at stake (like freeing Shadowheart on the Nautiloid).
I am aware that there is no reward for this, my reward is the roleplaying experience itself.

[SoundsOfNight]

It's stupid there are no repercussions at all for using the tadpole up to transformation, ESP bc the game says there is lol

[EricHVela]

Made it to the engame on a few runs without consuming/communing with any tadpoles.

The game still mentions using them to some small degree regardless. (As a few have mentioned, that's likely because the tadpoles will activate on their own in specific circumstances.)

[AokiYakumo]

Originally posted by fambaa:

So in early access I noticed that the barbarian had an option to open Shadowhearts chamber on the ship by ripping the lid off and I did not have to use the Illithid device.
Im almost through Act 2 now and have never used any ilithid dialog option.
I think my character was a bit sick in the camp once but that was it.
I don't have access to any power or skilltree.
So I am wondering if someone else finished the game like that.
WITHOUT having access to the ilithid skilltree.

If there is no achievement for that I am gonna be very disappointed.
I also recruited Minthara with knocking her out and then freeing the grove and going to Moonrise and saving her. As soon as I took her into my group I got the achievement for getting the tadpole powers sadly since she already has that.

I really hope that didn't screw up my run. I reloaded the game after that, so technically my game is still tadpole power free.

I doubt many people have done this. I even skipped Omelum and his potion, I even have the recipe to make more artificial tadpoles.

I really do hope there is an achievement for not unlocking the tadpole skilltree.

The only thing tadpole free does for you, iirc, is let you auto-pass the WIS save when Empy tries to get you to use the Tier 3 Tadpole. Other than that it really doesn't matter much.