Beast of Winter: Ydwin?

[DocCovington]

Blind me - I totally missed that Ydwin was a recommended companion for the Beast of Winter DLC, and now I finished said content without her.

My question is: Did I miss out on a lot by not taking her with me? Should I replay the content with her in my party? Or was it rather insignificant, small stuff she added to Beast of Winter that doesn't have much of an impact?

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

You can find some stuff about that in the Wiki:
--> https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Ydwin

[kaymarciy]

It's not much, but there were some dialogues around boss fights. Comparing her immortality with Neryscirlas and such. Maybe some lines around the Auroch? Definitely less than other companions got and definetely less than I'd like. I would advise you to replay it only in the case if you weren't bored out of your mind by this very boring (combat-wise) DLC.

[psychotron666]

All the sidekick stuff (fassina for forgotten sanctum dlc and konatanten for seeker slayer survivor) it's nothing major, just more background story about those sidekicks that wasn't included in the base game, some banter they do during the quests.

Also all the (easily missable) side quests in the beast of winter include Eder, xoti, rekke and vatnir as recommended companions too. If you took any of those with you during those quests (freeing waidwen and the inquisitor woman and the Ruler of ukaizo), the amount of banter they do in those quests is about the amount ydwin does for the dlc.

[Du-Vu]

Be a little fair, it's more than that. It's still not a huge amount, but it's relevant to the quest and gives you different options when talking to Vatnir and Rymrgand. She and Vatnir get their own dialogue trees and tell you things about Glamfellen culture and Rymrgand's mythology you won't hear otherwise. The other companions and sidekicks just get the occasional quip here and there, the same as they'd get anywhere in the game.

Having all the DLCs also gives Ydwin and Fassina their own dialogue trees at some point, which apart from lacking any kind of romance are about as in-depth as any of the main companions, and Konstanten gets a shorter one as well. They're just not as integrated into the main game.

[DocCovington]

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

You can find some stuff about that in the Wiki:
--> https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Ydwin

I've read that before posting here, but it doesn't answer all my questions about the details of what she will say when you take her with you and what consequences it might have for her character in particular but also for the whole of the game or the BoW campaign.

Originally posted by psychotron666:

Also all the (easily missable) side quests

Side quests focused on those companions?

Originally posted by psychotron666:

in the beast of winter include Eder, xoti, rekke and vatnir as recommended companions too. If you took any of those with you during those quests (freeing waidwen and the inquisitor woman and the Ruler of ukaizo), the amount of banter they do in those quests is about the amount ydwin does for the dlc.

I regretted not taking Edér and Xoti with me, for the Eothas part alone (!), but I didn't feel like starting all over.

The biggest issue is that you can't take everyone of interest with you if you want a sensible party constellation. I did have Rekke with me, who deciphered some runes, and that new god-like, Vatnir (whome I dumped at the end of the DLC, because I don't appreciate lying cowards ;) ).

I'd would have loved to hear what Edér and Xoti would have had to say had they faced their god. But the Wiki doesn't provide any information on that, either. :(

So, it's just some banter Ydwin would have provided? Nothing that progresses her character development or my relationship with her as my travel companion?

Originally posted by kaymarciy:

I would advise you to replay it only in the case if you weren't bored out of your mind by this very boring (combat-wise) DLC.

Bored out of my mind? I loved the Beast of Winter campaign!

Originally posted by Du-Vu:

Be a little fair, it's more than that. It's still not a huge amount, but it's relevant to the quest and gives you different options when talking to Vatnir and Rymrgand. She and Vatnir get their own dialogue trees and tell you things about Glamfellen culture and Rymrgand's mythology you won't hear otherwise.

Aww, darn. So I will have to replay a day's worth of gaming just to get to hear every detail...

Originally posted by Du-Vu:

Having all the DLCs also gives Ydwin and Fassina their own dialogue trees at some point, which apart from lacking any kind of romance are about as in-depth as any of the main companions

Oh. *sigh* I wish the game had less companions. It is so complicated to keep up with everyone.

[Du-Vu]

It's interesting, but you don't *have* to do it if it's going to be a chore. You could just save it for a different playthrough or something. The whole game's meant to be replayable, you're not really expected to see everything in one run.

[psychotron666]

The sidekicks don't partake in the relation system that the 8 companions do. There is virtually no relation with ydwin, Konatanten, rekke and vatnir etc. They wont grow to love you or leave you if they're pissed like the companions.
The things you'll see the sidekicks say just builds upon their character and their story, and give you more background into them or their culture.

So what you miss out on is just that, background lore. It's not essential to see, it just gives more flavour to the quests they are associated with

[Du-Vu]

Yeah, that's pretty much what I meant by them not having romance. Should've said influence. But honestly the influence system in this game felt a bit shallow, compared to other games Obsidian's done. Ydwin in particular is interesting enough without it.

[DocCovington]

Originally posted by Du-Vu:

It's interesting, but you don't *have* to do it if it's going to be a chore.

Well, it certainly is a shame I have to redo everything, but it's not really a chore per se as I majorly enjoyed the DLC. :)

Thank you all for your helpful replies!

[DocCovington]

Addendum: So, this time around, I have decided to dump Vatnir from the start by exposing him as the charlatan he is. Since I already know what little useless banter he has to provide to the campaign, I didn't see any valid reason to take him with me.

I am certain having Rekke, Edér, Xoti and Ydwin with me is going to prove a lot more interesting. Or is Ydwin's banter partially dependend on Vatnir's presence in the group?

[Du-Vu]

He and Ydwin do have some additional banter together, but I don't know that you'd really miss a ton by not having them both. Up to you, really. If you don't want him, don't take him.

You said you already took Rekke last time? Tekehu has some additional banter in the ancient Huana section, Aloth has some with the Engwithan inquisitor, iirc. But you can always go back to the inn in town and switch them out if you want, too.

[psychotron666]

Also just to add, you'll likely get more insight into Eder and xoti with their god when they actually meet eothas at the end of the second act (that is if you take them with you to ashen maw), and if you take them to the final encounter with eothas.
When you meet waidwen in the white void, you're only kind of looking at a snapshot of past eothas as well as eothas and waidwen's mixed personality, and not the true eothas we meet in the main quest

[DocCovington]

Well, I already finished my second run, and I am glad I redid it all. The comments and insight were interesting for most part. I don't think I will redo it a third time for Tekehu etc, that would be too much. ;)

Thanks again, folks. :)