Alright, so here’s the deal. I was deep into my Baldur’s Gate 3 run, you know, trying to sort out this tadpole problem in my noggin. Then comes the Emperor, this mind flayer dude who’s been squatting in the Astral Prism, offering me a “gift.” He called it evolution, a way to get even more power from these brain worms. My first thought? “Uh oh, this sounds sketchy.”
Mulling it Over
I really had to chew on this one. On one hand, more power? Yes, please. I’ve been gobbling up tadpoles like they’re going out of style anyway, so why not go all in? The thought of unlocking some crazy new Illithid abilities was mighty tempting, especially when you’re facing down some of the tough nuts in this game. I imagined zipping around the battlefield, frying minds left and right. Sounds cool, right?
But then, the other side of my brain kicked in. This is the Emperor we’re talking about. A mind flayer. Not exactly known for their selfless acts of kindness. What’s the catch? Was I gonna wake up with tentacles for a face? Lose myself completely? My companions were already giving me enough grief for the tadpoles I’d already used. I paced around a bit, clicked on a few things, trying to stall while I thought it through. It’s a classic devil’s bargain scenario, isn’t it? Power now, pay later. Probably with your soul, or what’s left of it.
Taking the Plunge
In the end, curiosity, and a little bit of “what the heck, it’s a game,” won out. I figured, I’m already this far down the rabbit hole, might as well see how deep it goes. I clicked the dialogue option to accept his offer. My Tav just stood there, ready for whatever mind-bending procedure was about to happen. My heart was kinda thumping, not gonna lie. It felt like a big moment, a real point of no return.
The Emperor gets to work, and boy, it’s a trip. The screen does its flashy thing, there are some weird noises, and my character is clearly not having a spa day. It’s intense. You see the tadpole doing its thing, and you just gotta hope you come out the other side in one piece, or at least, a more powerful piece.
The Aftermath and New Toys
When it was all over, I definitely felt… different. And yeah, there were some visual changes. My character got a bit more veiny, a bit more… Illithid-y. Not a full-blown squid, thankfully, but enough for people to notice. Some of my companions had things to say, mostly along the lines of “Are you sure about this?” or just giving me the stink-eye. Karlach was surprisingly chill, but then again, she’s got her own stuff going on.
But the powers! Oh man, the powers. Suddenly, I could fly! Well, levitate, Illithid-style. No more struggling with annoying terrain. Just whoosh, up I go. Combat became a whole new ball game. I got some pretty potent psychic blasts, stuff that could stun groups or just mess enemies up real good. It was a significant power boost, no doubt about it. It made some of the later fights a bit more manageable, or at least more fun, because I had new tricks up my sleeve.
- Flight: Super useful for getting around.
- New offensive spells: Definitely packed a punch.
- A slightly creepier look: But hey, fashion is pain, or power, or something.
So, Was It Worth It?
Looking back, I don’t regret letting the Emperor “evolve” me. It changed my playthrough in a big way, and honestly, it was pretty cool to experience those powers. Sure, there’s the whole “am I slowly turning into a monster?” angle, but that’s part of the fun in a game like BG3, making these morally grey choices. It added another layer to my character’s story. If you’re on the fence, I’d say consider what kind of story you want to tell. For me, embracing the Illithid powers, even with the risks, was a wild ride and made for some memorable moments. Just be prepared for some funny looks from your party members!
