Summary
Featuring a diverse array of fantasy races and roles alike from throughout Faerun and beyond,Baldur’s Gate 3is capable of feeling like a living world in ways that few RPGs have achieved. As players navigate the faction-based disputes that are inherent to the Forgotten Realms setting, the consequences of evenBaldur’s Gate 3’s side quests can have greater moral implications than most gamers are accustomed to.
Among the larger struggle between the druids and goblins of Act 1 are also several smaller conundrums that present themselves to those curious enough to explore. Players are able to engage in the torturing and murder of innocent victims, for example, and goblin orTieflingchildren will likely be caught in the crossfire no matter what choice is made in the end. One situation adjacent to these, however, presents itself with a level of nuance that makes the “right choice” even harder to grasp.
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The Dilemma of Lump the Enlightened
BG3’s Blighted Village is filled with secretsleft behind by its previous inhabitants, but the NPCs there now are some of the most crass and reckless of all. Past the malicious, drunken goblins that have taken over the village, there is a set of ogres led by one known as Lump the Enlightened, an NPC that defies convention. While ogres are typically dim-witted monsters of brutish strength, Lump has risen above this limitation through a greater level of intelligence that he uses to articulate the murderous, carnivorous desires of his kind with eloquence like no other.
If he is convinced by the player, Lump will offer his services to aid in battle through the Lump’s War Horn summoning item. Appearing with two other ogres at the blow of the horn similarly toRanger animal companions, the three are powerful allies to have in a fight. This doesn’t come for free, however, as Lump and friends expect to be compensated for their work in gold, or more preferably, the tasty meat of their foes. He has even been known to turn on the player’s party if these needs aren’t met, showcasing the trickiness of allying oneself with psychotic creatures for an advantage in battle.
The Morality of Acquiring BG3’s Warped Headband of Intellect
It may not be apparent to everyone who encounters him, but the truth about Lump is that his intelligence has been artificially enhanced by an item known as theWarped Headband of Intellect. Automatically raising the wearer’s Intelligence to 17, this is potentially one of the best items in the entire game. The only problem is that the headband is implied to be inside of Lump’s stomach, and the only way to obtain it is through his death. Calling into question the inherent malicious nature of creatures like ogres, players will need to choose whether to strip this newfound level of sentience from a being who has only just begun to experience it.
The best choice in terms of gameplay is certainly to let the ogres assist before ultimately slaying them, but even those committing to more of a good alignment are entering dubious territory by allowing the consumption of the flesh of fallen enemies. Lump may still be obsessed with killing and eating even with his expanded mind, but there’s no telling what conclusions he could have eventually come to had his life not been cut short. Whether he attacks the player or the player takes him out for his magical headband, the situation surrounding Lump the Enlightened is just one instance ofBaldur’s Gate 3’s nuanced storytellingunder the surface.
Baldur’s Gate 3is available now on PC, Mac, and PS5. An Xbox Series X/S port is expected to launch in late 2023.
