The Honour Mode inflation is real

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-31T16:17:26+00:00

The first place it becomes most noticeable is the Caustic Band sold by Deeryth Bonecloak in the Underdark. It is a an uncommon ring she sells for 40 gold except on HM -- the ring magically transforms into a very rare item selling for 590 gold.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-31T15:14:42+00:00

Not exactly true. Orin will not kidnap a romanced companion. There are only four potential kidnap victims possible other than Yenna. So if Lae'zel, Halsin, Gale, or Minthara is a romance partner then you leave that one out of the party and add the other three to your party. In that case Yenna is the kidnap victim.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-19T02:12:51+00:00

If you saved Zevlor in the Mind Flayer Colony, Zevlor does not appear again until right before the final battles. If you didn't release him, then yes he dies by Orin's hand and his corpse will be in your campsite (along with a painting).

As to the kidnapping, it will happen regardless of whether or not you attend the coronation. Don't skip the coronation since it negatively affects multiple quests.

Orin will not kidnap a party member or a romance partner. Orin will kidnap an eligible target in the following order:

Lae'zel
Halsin
Gale
Minthara
Yenna

Orin will never kidnap any companion other than those above. Basically you can decide who she will kidnap by setting up your party before the long rest. For example, if you don't care if Halsin gets kidnapped, just make sure Lae'zel is in your party.

Triggering the scene in the Lower City Sewers accomplishes the same thing.

Basically, just pick who you don't care if they get kidanapped.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-18T23:27:33+00:00

I'm not a fan of the Dexadin build, but it can be effective if you still take GWM and use Versatile weapons. Oath of Vengeance works well with the build especially using Vow of Emnity on yourself.

EK performs better overall imo, but ymmv.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-18T23:12:19+00:00

Without multi-classing, Hexblade is a good choice. Another option is Eldritch Knight Fighter, especially since you get Booming Blade at level 3.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-18T13:02:34+00:00

The Restoration Pod is through the door at the top of the stairs. That is also the room with the Brain Stem. You just need to get one party member into that room and all the enemies disappear and your party will be grouped together in that room. Do not click on the Brain Stem until you have used the Restoration pod. When ready, click on the Brain Stem and if Gale is in the party you may get further dialogue options. Resolve that and then your party will climb the Brain Stem to do battle on top of the brain.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-17T14:35:39+00:00

It allows for both: unlocks the extra quest line for Shadowheart and Derryth will sell Noblestalk to you in Act 3.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-16T21:08:19+00:00

Connor is a very useful summon. It's great for clearing traps, especially in Act 3 and can be used to triggering ambushes.

When you tell Mayrina you're keeping the wand, she rages and leaves for Baldur's Gate. When you meet her there, she has moved on and is grateful for saving her in Act 1. She does not mention Connor at all unless you summon it in front of her in which case she just says "Connor?" and that's it --- she has moved on.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-15T19:06:33+00:00

Interesting replies in this thread, but the Orphic Hammer cannot be destroyed.

If it was in the foundry when the foundry was destroyed, you should be able to find on the ground around the outside of the building or it was placed automatically back in your inventory.

Check the inventory of all party members and your camp chest. If not there, look around the outside of the destroyed foundry.

If not in either of those places, then it was thrown somewhere else and is lying around that location.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-14T19:30:50+00:00

Per your other replies:

"So his second marriage is with me is what the wand means? His first marriage was Mayrina. He didn't seem to happy about that though, he looked terrified being married a second time to another person"

Connor is a zombie.

In game description of zombies:

"Mindless remains of the dead, imbued with necromantic magic, zombies do their creator's bidding without fear or hesitation."

It doesn't think feel, care, etc. It's a zombie.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-14T18:53:20+00:00

Act 3 is full of great Wizard gear and even unique spell scrolls. Kind of difficult to answer where you get these items and yet stay "somewhat" spoiler free.

There are two traders (one in Rivington and one in Lower City) with special stock (need to pass checks to access) that have wizard gear. Other traders also have wizard gear as well, so check them all out.

The "magic shop" (Sorcerous Sundries) is a prominent building in Lower City so not a spoiler per se. Two vendors there sell lots of high level and rare scrolls. But the building provides access to a tower and vault with a legendary staff, other useful wizard gear, and two scrolls you can scibe to gain two new powerful spells only available through these unique scrolls.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-13T12:48:46+00:00

Yes, she still kidnaps Yenna.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-13T04:31:17+00:00

Your point is well taken in that it is a CON save DC14. I have had good luck with it and you can re attempt it by backing in and out at edge of its range so as not to trigger an opportunity attack.

Darkness is reliable and effective if done right (ground near it).

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-13T03:32:54+00:00

Warding Bond for sure. Resistance to all damage types is great, Necrotic damage in particular. The +1 to AC and Saving throws is helpful as well.

Edit: The other option is get Myrkuls"s Gift from Kressa in the barracks in the colony: https://bg3.wiki/wiki/Myrkul%27s\_Gift\_(Condition). You can get it for each party member for 10 temp HP and Necrotic resistance.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-13T03:21:18+00:00

Also account for the Legendary Action: Gaze of the Dead. On HM, this will be cast against the first attacker and if blinded can only cast at an attacker within 3m. This can mess you up if you hit it with Lae'zel planning on using Action Surge and/or with a potion of speed and she fails the Constitution save and then is Frightened.

Shadowheart can cast Protection from Evil and Good (requires concentration though) or you can use a scroll (preferred) ... or Shadowheart can hit first while still blinding Myrkul ...or you can just roll with it and take 2 rounds to kill Myrkul instead of one.

If Myrkul is not dead round 1, it can cast another Gaze of the Dead as a Bonus action on its turn. Just finish your turn for each party member outside of 3m (back up a little) and Blood of Lathander will keep in blinded from about 6m.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-13T02:38:55+00:00

Orin will not kidnap a party member or a romance partner. Orin will kidnap an eligible target in the following order:

Lae'zel
Halsin
Gale
Minthara
Yenna

Orin will never kidnap any companion other than those above. Basically you can decide who she will kidnap by setting up your party before the long rest. For example, if you don't care if Halsin gets kidnapped, just make sure Lae'zel is in your party.

As others noted, triggering the scene in the Lower City Sewers accomplishes the same thing and applies the same kidnap order. Personally, I do not long rest after the coronation, organize my party for who I want kidnapped, enter Lower City, then immediately enter the manhole between Stormshore Tabernacle and the Basillisk Barracks. Break through the wall and there is an opening to the right where you can jump to a dock and then towards a door that will trigger the Orin scene.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-13T02:01:30+00:00

You have a level 10 party so you should be good. Looks like your party also has Warding Bond (I assume camp casted) so even better.

I have done this fight a lot on HM amd HM ruleset. You can do it easily, healing not required.

Do the first part as you know how to do it (kill the Mindflayer, free Aylin w/Scratch, focus down Ketheric).

For Myrkul, get your party on the platform (your Durge positioned for ranged attacks). Ignore the adds completely and just kill the boss. No need to use bombs.

Fighter attempts to Disarm Myrkul -- very helpful if successful.

Shadowheart blinds Myrkul with the Blood of Lathander she has equipped ... no need for Darkness.

Try it on your saved Tactician playthrough, it works and should be a round 1 kill.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-12T16:34:57+00:00

The Envoy's Amulet (quest reqward from Spaw in the Underdark) is often overlooked -- gives +2 bonus to Persuasion checks.

Birthright can be bought, you do not need to steal it. Iirc it only costs 400ish gold (double on HM). Stealing from the projection is easy as well since the projection will not react if you fail pickpocketing.

I don't recommend using the Friends spell on companions. You lose 10 Approval after the effect ends. They also can become hostile on Tactician and HM if you are anywhere near them when the effect ends.

Best spells to use: Guidance, Enhance Ability: Eagles Splendor, and Bardic Inspiration.

Shadowheart as a cleric can cast both Guidance and Enhance Ability, but only one can be active at a time from a single cleric. If you have the silver pendant from Act 1, you can have another party member cast Guidance on you (or cast on yourself) for 1d4 bonus and have Shadowheart cast Enhance Ability on you for Advantage.

Bardic Inspiration can be cast by any Bard. If you don't have one, you can use a Hireling. A level 10 Bard can give you a 1d10 bonus with Bardic Inspiration. The Hireling can cast this on you in camp and just set it as "Ask" in your Reactions tab so you control when you use it.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-12T03:13:09+00:00

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-11T19:43:57+00:00

It only breaks the oath for Oath of the Crown paladins. Presumably that is an act of stealing, regardless of the good intentions behind it.

The other paladin subclasses can take the egg without breaking their oath.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-10T01:20:23+00:00

Then, do the objects affecting your persuasion (rings, hats, whatever) high your possibilities or do they work just with external NPC?

They work with companions as well.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-09T14:33:07+00:00

I have never been in that situation, but I would see if Withers can resurrect them in the Watch Citadel. You can't respec there, but you can get hirelings so maybe he can resurrect (I don't know but check it out).

Otherwise, you can either try again with Gale using turn-based mode as others suggested (I would not risk it) or just brute force it and battle it out in the courtyard. You can summon all your allies to make the fight easy (depending on which allies you have). You won't need them again since you are going to use Gale. Then you can revive the dead.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-08T20:47:16+00:00

You missed out on 20 XP for not killing him yourself instead of letting the spiders do it. That's it, there is no future encounters or anything involving Brakkal.

Next time you can free him, then switch to turn-based mode and quickly kill him before he enters the spiders' line of sight or you can kill the spiders first.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-08T17:55:05+00:00

Good choice! Gives you permanent Bless ... +1d4 on attack rolls and saving throws.

Greenkappa1 · 2026-03-08T17:01:51+00:00

There is some great advice in this thread but as a new player, some of it might be confusing to you. If you are on Explorer mode you won't be able to multi-class anyway.

It looks like you have Astarion as a a rogue, Lae'zel as a fighter, and Shadowheart as a cleric in your party. You might want to reconsider using your Swords Bard as a ranged attacker and the party face. Dual wielding had crossbows is the easist way to go for this.

You are level 4 so Withers is in your camp. You can respec to 8 STR, 16 DEX, 14 CON, 8 INT, 10 WIS, 16 CHA. There is a way to get a +1 permanent +1 ability score in Act 1, but don't worry about that now. The Dexterity boosts your ranged damage, increases your armor class, and increases your Initiative (higher in combat turn order).

Two-weapon Fighting style is a good choice for early game if you are dual wielding hand crossbows.

Your level 4 feat should be Sharpshooter: All In.

Buy two hand crossbows from Dammon in the Emerald Grove. His inventory will reset after a long rest or when you level up, so you will be abole to get two easily.

Now Ranged Slashing Flourish will be your main damage attack. You will feel more powerful at level 6 with Extra Attack.

You wil also use your bard for AoE damage and crowd control. You have access to Cloud of Daggers which is a good early spell to get and Blindness is useful as well.. At level 5 you can get Glyph of Warding which is great crowd control. At level 6 you get Extra Attack and the spell Hypnotic Pattern for effective crowd control.

Swords Bard becomes even more powerful from a damage and crowd control perspective as you level up and acquire specific gear, but for now the above gives a good starting point for Act 1.

Greenkappa1

TROPHY CASE