The Heart of the Absolute | Baldur's Gate 3 [Part 40]

[@gagethompson5299]

You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this very episode

[@AlmostYearly]

Yup.

[@Igoorboy]

i'm with you

[@fenharel2137]

next one is gonna be even better I guess lol

[@aqualitymeme9476]

Successfully persuading Ketheric in both encounters skips his last human phase in the pits. He simply jumped straight into the pit to let Myrkul take over.

[@mithikz7608]

While I love that we made the check on the first try, I do think it's more clear what happens with the whole encounter when the check is failed.

[@hekatebleble4800]

I can't overstate how hyped I'd be to watch you do another full evil/Dark Urge playthrough.

[@mclouj]

Mapo aggressively spinning the character portraits when they don't give up the juicy dialogue immediately is now an integral part of this series.

[@AlexanderPerez-zi5nn]

Hold shift while clicking to move to prevent your character from interacting with doors or any objects. You'll walk through the door without interacting with it. Thumbs this up so mapo can see, itll save him a lot of headache in act 3

[@TheGameVerse]

"There was no danger happening" uh...he literally saw one of Tiamats head appearing lol. She was being summoned, she's a god of evil dragons and would literally have destroyed the entire continent.

[@grapeape325]

Played through the game twice, and never used Divine intervention. I'm still saving it apparently.

[@zo_voyce]

🤝

[@thatguycaz]

Classic gamer move

[@flrn_999]

Me with all of my potions, elixirs, and scrolls

[@sloporion]

I only use it in the place with the Hammer in act 3, and only on my second playthrough, since I didn't know the person that had it didn't stay in my party after we left there (trying to be as non-spoilery as possible)

[@EffableLemming]

@@sloporion I did that, too, in my first run. Reloaded :D And never used it again. I keep forgetting about it lol

[@IsilionNELE]

Mapocolops this episode: :O :O :O :O :O :O :O

[@nezfromhki]

The reveal of the Apostle is one of my favorite scenes in the whole game. The monologue, the music, the design. It's all so fucking epic.

[@Kronos_88]

The end of Act 2 is just the GOAT honestly. After all this I was like "this truly is something special". The Apostle entrance and fight actually had me shed a tear from how great it was done with the music, the build-up, the visuals.

[@hafor2846]

I love how primal Aylin is. Her being so violent, active and well, horny truely make her feel divine. She's above mortal moderation. It's a really fun take about divinity. Selune is a goddess of good things, but she isn't just a gentle priestess and her rage makes entire fortresses quake.

[@Lathlaer]

2:26:30 No, killing Aylin with the Spear would've killed her permanently. All the previous candidates for Justiciars killed Aylin the "regular way" without the spear so she could be reborn. That was when Ketheric was a champion of Shar. The reason Shar wanted Shadowheart to kill Aylin permanently is because well, she IS the embodiment of hated Selune for one and two, Ketheric became a servant of Myrkul so stopping him and ridding him of the immortality was in Shar's current interest. This is also why, even though it was Ketheric and Balthazar who trapped Aylin in the Shadowfell in the soul cage, they needed you to enter it again to retrieve her - to put it simply, Ketheric lost his "visiting privileges" when he turned to Myrkul.

[@operatic4794]

Great job with the Apostle fight. It's tough, especially with Aylin not caring about the Bone Chill aura (and her fifty thousand misses), but you did really well. Also, completely agree on the importance of evil/antagonistic/simply diverse dialogue choices, for full roleplaying freedom; rpg's without them always feel somewhat declawed, and sterile, like there's a layer you're just simply missing out on. I find that feeling is usually reflected in other areas, too.

[@destroyerofnirn3537]

Perfect description of Veilguard

[@nickrubin7312]

She is immortal after all ;)

[@SirCharles12357]

The writing in the game!!!! That last scene of Kethric dying . . . he's on fire and says, "Isobel" as he falls dead. Takes my breath away! What a great villian story!!!

[@glg1390]

Has anyone informed Mapo that four bards with different instruments form a whole quartet and this is properly reflected in the sound of the songs?

[@ems7448]

"Gnome Solas" omg I'm absolutely rolling right now.

[@Sellinglobs]

I'm so glad mapo reacted the same way as me to the awesome lines that J.K Simmons delivers perfectly: "A bright flash of clarity, before the snuffing out" "I will kill you now, and then I will raise you as my servant" So cold

[@zo_voyce]

LMAO wyll: "Behold! A most noisy cuck." Wyll finally got a genuine laugh out of me 😆

[@SaltedFishero]

Nearly 3 hours again? I'm so happy you're enjoying one of my fav games! Can't wait to see how you react to the cutscenes here! Thanks for the episode

[@TheGameVerse]

Wow, I had no idea if you succeeded that check it skipped the first half of the fight!? Thats awesome

[@jemaselite8076]

I think its only possible if you explore enough and find all the journals discussing Ketherics past, this game really rewards exploration and I love it

[@marcgw496]

It was a nice surprise for my first honor mode run, and just might have been the difference between surviving and not surviving the fight. Granted my run got ended by a certain snobby vampire later on.

[@tanna_k]

It's basically hard mode for this fight. It's a easier to free Nightsong and get rid of the mindflayer with Ketheric

[@lr-]

The "cleansed" moment with the ironhand gnomes was hilarious. They really have no sense of subtlety.

[@PackZTerrible]

The myrkul intro goes so hard Unbelievable what larian actually acomplished with this game

[@AwsomeSauceBigJ]

Lol i like how in the beginning of the fight he was like "I dont care how much of a ranged person you are! Get in that God of deaths face!"

[@siricat3231]

This, THIS is one the best freaking cutscenes of the game. I LOVE Myrkul's entrance so so much, that monologue is AMAZING

[@chika4275]

This game is crazy! the story changes based on which companions you have in your group! Every companion reacts differently to the conflict.

[@gustavgustav2670]

God i love Dame Aylin and Isobel.

[@russety]

The little applause soundbite on the powercut sent me 😂

[@dntm123]

Orin is voiced by Maggie Robertson, Lady Dimitrescu from Resident Evil 8: Village.

[@nickrubin7312]

I'm surprised he recognized Jason Isaacs immediately (in hingsight perfect actor for Gortash)

[@didihols1500]

Aylin has no filter... I love it.

[@smol_seli]

the whole ketheric/myrkul scene was amazing!! so crazy and his speech is truly epic

[@Grandy_UiD]

Damn, what an episode. Off to Baldur's Gate we go. Get ready for another 100 hours.

[@QuayNemSorr]

Its crazy the amount of content they put in to Baldurs gate. City as well as game

[@tanna_k]

I know exactly how the imaginary DM of this game felt like when their BBEG got chain stunned by a monk

[@QuayNemSorr]

Stun is over powered and I will die on that hill. Even though its funny

[@A_Sad_Panda]

I was so hoping you would have brought Karlach and Gale during this fight scene. I think Wyll, Karlach, and Gale are the best companions to bring on this mission because they all get some interesting dialog during it. However, this is something you only really find out after playing your first playthrough (in regard to Gale & Karlach anyways) not before so it makes sense you didn't know. I was romancing Gale and the dialog you get with him is so intense, I love that man! Too bad he's just a bunch of pixels LMAO. T_T

[@tea_time_t]

If Isobel had gotten kidnapped, everyone else in the Inn would be dead. So be glad you didn't let that happen!

[@choleeron]

FYI, Us is able to drink potions out of your inventory if need arises. So enjoyable content from you, big thanks. ❤

[@ItApproaches]

Wyll wasn't groomed, he's just a nice guy who puts others above his own life. Evil or demons will always target those cause it's free real estate. Nice guys are always stepped on and screwed.

[@nickrubin7312]

the whole situation was a clear manipulation to get his soul and pact him as warlock, he was young and naive

[@Theorak]

Mapo: Ey Ketheric, redemption? Aylin: TF? Stomp Stomp Stomp.

[@baileybyrd2116]

Oh my god. I’ve already played the game but this episode got me AGAIN!! Ketheric is amazing as a character such strong emotions and conflicts!! Amazing VA as well!

[@abracadaverous]

I love the devastatingly epic music that plays at Moonrise after the Ketheric fight.

[@lyraa]

The first time I played this game and got the avatar of Myrkul cutscenes, the graphics glitched and things didn't load in properly, and all I could see was the barebones earth landscape normally hidden underneath all the rest of the environment. so the whole time this horrifying voice was booming while my character floated in space and stared at a featureless brown earth platform 💀 had to find the cutscene on yt afterwards. definitely glad how much they've fixed since then haha. Congrats on beating Ketheric!

[@RisqueBisquet]

you KNOW, i know it's not everyone's cuppa tea, but a night of fun with halsin is, at the very least, pretty funny. just... y'know. think about it.

[@elissa-fae]

The epic epicness of this part of the game always amazes me. Perfection. Couldn´t wait for you to arrive here. Also I like that you have Dark Souls tshirt while fighting Apostle of Myrkul, very much reminiscent of DS type of boss. :D

[@tanna_k]

12:26 There is actually a glitch that allows you to trasport npcs vast distances using improvised melee weapon. If you fast travel while your character is carrying an npc, they go with you

[@acfan1988]

Next episode is gonna a GOOD ONE Mapo’s head will explode lmao

[@entertheunknown3554]

I propose naming the Cambion Clive

[@nickrubin7312]

This is clearly Steve, from the rapier, Clive is summoned by spell

[@dalmaskadeadtrash3592]

Myrkul's design is so wild- almost looks like a final fantasy chaos summon

[@The_Nightsong]

Your reactions to these last three episodes have been so satisfying; from the Nightsong to Myrkul!! 🤩🤩🤩 PS. Cutting words must be my favorite thing in battle 😝

[@loofy530]

Oh no, elder brains indeed are literally just big brains. They used to be mindflayers, but they've grown a little too large for a body.

[@baileybyrd2116]

Also, “solas Gnome” killed me 🤣🤣

[@adammckay521]

I’ve been waiting for this showdown!! I’m so excited !!!

[@dsilvermane0]

That Myrkul fight was dope! Well done man!

[@Ochenka]

"gnome solas" the indignation on solas' behalf i'm feeling right now lmao

[@johcee]

really enjoying your playthrough so far!!!

[@nickrubin7312]

Myrkul monologue slaps so hard, almost poetic with how it flows. People say that he is one of the hardest for HM, given his legendary actions (all bosses and plenty of mini-bosses have those in HM), at least from what I've read, but personally I've found him more on the flavor side, mid-tier boss in terms of difficulty, top-tier flavor and presentation. For vicious mockery/cunning words, I believe there are 97 lines. And yes, since you can multiclass anyone as bard, or be a bard yourself with different voices, each actor would record those lines. Same with spells for different classes. The funniest thing is different barbarian roars for different origin characters. Gale barbarian roar is perfectly pathetic xD On the subj on voiced protagonist it depends on really, both work for different types of RPGs. Lots of people who were new to this type of game or genre in general (BG3 brought new people to RPGs in general, while being a cRPG - custom character, not voiced protagonist) felt disconnected from the character, felt the idea of protagonist speaking with "who players make them sound in their mind" weird. Personally, I think if it is established a character in the lore/world, or at least a very specific person in a very specific story that DM/storyteller wants you to experience, then it is better as a voiced protagonist. Like Shepard or Hawke, or Geralt to the lesser extent, they are all characters that the player paints and picks flavor to spoken lines. They are still partially the characters storyteller written them to be, thus someone like Shepard can't go full murderhobo nonsense and side with Reapers to burn the world, and it is good that he doesn't, works better for the story. But, if we are going full custom, with worked out backstory by the player, morality that player wants to RP and so on, especially if it is based on tabletop system, it is better to have silent protagonist, and the game then must present as many dialogue options as possible to facilitate any type of RP.

[@Ghost-Mom]

Myrkul dialogue reminds me of reject verses from the 'This is Halloween' song.

[@tarvisantabusta]

I'm honestly a bit surprised that they didn't give the Apostle of Myrkyl stun immunity and/or advantage on Con saves on Tactician mode, at least. When, for example, the player can spam stunning strikes with a full pool of Ki points, it's going to work at some point and the fight becomes a Sunday drive. Of course it helps if you don't have to use resources on the first fight at all. But yeah, even without that, the set-up makes you anticipate a much more difficult fight that what it actually is.

[@EricNelson-o4y]

The conversation about eye removal with you and Will was hilarious 😂

[@EricNelson-o4y]

Also, you didn't fight Ketheric Thorm since you passed the check and shadow moon lantern grants a summon. Never got that blessing myself good job. Now I wonder if destroying the Necronomicon would have granted a blessing and if that blessing is better than forbidden knowledge 🤔

[@AyaWetts]

Its funny how many people don't realize a restoration pod gives back abilities and spell slots almost exactly same as a long rest

[@LLlap]

It's actually a lot better than long rest as you keep your buffs and summons.

[@AyaWetts]

@@LLlap you don't get short rests back, and a lot of items don't reset... so its got pluses and minuses.

[@karolswieboda1781]

I don't think you need short rests restored in an area with restoration pod in it...

[@annina134]

This epic battle against Ketheric was to me very hard. I was an idiot for a while and tried to hit Ketheric without freeing the Dame first.. 😅😅 This game is just so great. And Mapo's reactions to things, his thoughts and everything is just so much fun to listen to and watch him play. 😊🤘

[@QuayNemSorr]

I just want to declare once more: Stun is over powered!

[@ladnil]

Poor Isobel, still bruised from many episodes ago, never took a long rest to heal herself, had to keep the bubble up.

[@ErinHaHaHA]

I've never not brought Gale to the Heart of the Absolute, so I don't actually know how to progress his quest without him seeing it! Maybe it happens naturally later?

[@cealens]

remember everyone has tadpoles except for our resident druids so they can simply show memories to one another of what happened if they weren’t there!

[@jemaselite8076]

I'm the opposite, played through twice and never took him along lol, I might do next playthrough

[@nickrubin7312]

just for lulz to see what happens, if you ever do another run, bring Gale and let him blow up, save before that ofc ;)

[@dalmaskadeadtrash3592]

this is so hype wow

[@CascataAriana]

AUGH I’m so sad you didn’t get Jaheira’s response to Myrkul. It’s so good.

[@RisqueBisquet]

so FYI the "gather your allies" quest is basically a counter of the BIG game quests that will ultimately matter later on.

[@kossowankenobi]

The first time I ended the game was because I brought Gale to the Absolute. Act II is just such a great story and vibe. I did a whole playhru as a Light cleric of Selune because of it.

[@nickrubin7312]

the option with premature finale with Gale is hilarious

[@mkonin14]

Yeah I’ve played this game like 5 times through and I never knew that the persuasion check with Ketheric completely skips the first half of the fight lol

[@AgonizingDemise]

My Shadowheart killed Dame Aylin, so that was a little different XD

[@CraigNull]

Feel like Thorm is doesn't even bother to convey any kind of conviction while trying to bluff that he'd doom all of Faerun for Myrkul. At all times his mind is elsewhere -- in the past, with his family -- all while he sleepwalks through his managerial obligations. He's not ideologically disposed towards the execution of this whole plan. Thorm's not as into it as Gortash or Orin. In explaining himself, says he's in debt to Myrkul for resurrecting his daughter and in exchange he was asked to be Myrkul's chosen in this plot. That's it, a cold transaction. No platitudes about the gloriousness of the plan he's involved in or even feigning he cares about. The implication about his own stake in the plan is clear as day. Recall Thorm's dog saying he's loyal to his master, not his master's master, so she doesn't care if you're here to defeat the Absolute. Loyalty seems narrowly tailored among this crowd. Thorm can fulfill the terms of his debt (as least as he relates them) without the plan succeeding. March the Absolute army to Baldur's Gate, what happens after that isn't his problem, right? So why, exactly, does he care about the prism? His own survival doesn't depend on the prism being found. If this was a Pentagon operation, they'd dismiss the outstanding issue of the prism as a small-probability point of failure. The Absolute zealots have slaughtered so many thus far. From their perspective, possessing the prism just means you're not answering to the Absolute and so just another foe to slay. I don't know if it's in the performance or VA direction or the storywriting but I'm not buying something about Thorm's goals in all this

[@luoing]

dragon age and bg3 back to back?? goat

[@Ragd0ll1337]

Orin’s VA also played Lady Dimitrescu

[@Zapdos7471]

I really wish they did have default multi classes for characters, like in Pillars of Eternity 2, where each character picks one of two classes or both. Shadowheart is a Cleric of Shar/Shadow Monk, you can’t change my mind.

[@KellyBunni]

I cannot wait for you to play BG1&2. also if you hurt the cinnamonroll that is Imoen I will riot

[@KGhaleon]

Ketheric: Watch me pull a Berserk

[@TalesByB]

villain fashion is peak

[@karolswieboda1781]

The final moments of act II are insane!

[@echobucket]

I agree with you on Wyl, I should definitely respec him as a bard... although the Mizora thing won't make any sense.....

[@nickrubin7312]

Keep 2 lvls of warlock for eltrich blast (number of beams depends on the overall lvl) and 2 invocations and to make sense with regard to Mizora pact, and then take Bard (Lore or Swords) and maybe some 3rd class like Fighter 2 lvls for medium/heavy armor and action surge. Works great and pretty much in character

[@Foxtrox7616]

Oh yeah I felt that with the divine intervention lol. When I was little, I always saved my energy sword in halo, till the end of the level

[@nax_tothemax]

GNOME SOLAS 😭

[@perg9632]

You saved yourself a good fight by passing the check so you didn't have to fight both forms of him . And being lvl 10 helped alot. Most people are 8 or 9 here.

[@dubiousdeliquite6641]

I had no idea you could skip the kethric fight and get straight to myrkul XD I always spread my party out and fight the minions then take him down and then he jumps in the pit

[@MasterSorez]

Woah I didnt even realize you could skip Ketheric's human fight down here if you persuade him!

[@divinitygaming8673]

Heh - Dame Aylin's character is really funny if you think about it; She exudes all those toxic, modern feminist traits: she's tall and muscular, talks and carries herself like a jock dude-bro, is hyper strong, is a lesbian (because of course she is)... but she still needs saving like a damsel in distress. Twice. Ironic. Lmao

[@Desdemonaii]

Glad we can all agree Wyll is a bard

[@bradleypeate3266]

no way that persuasion check 😯

[@sloporion]

32:36 yes, you would've fought him normally. And then had this fight after. You skipped an entire stage of the boss fight.

[@karolswieboda1781]

Yeah you would just fight Ketheric normally, but then he still falls into the pit and summons Myrkul. It's better that way since you don't have both Myrkul and full HP enemies around since you probably kill some of them during fight with Ketheric.

[@KaisPeach_]

I feel like the most apt or perfect time for shart to use that once a time spell is in act 3

[@emperorxenu519]

I hope at some point Mapo thinks to switch Wyll over to sword bard. Sword bard + blade warlock is awesome

[@FuFightersStudio]

This is possibly the best written boss fight of all time. The very fact that you can persuade Kethric to not fight, only for him to realize that the god is watching and he cannot stand down peacefully - choosing death instead. But this is the god of death we are talking about so he brings him back and you get your boss fight. And the fuckin introdcution lol Dont beat yourself up over not bringing Gale - you couldnt have known which characters are more worth to bring than others. You did miss a big scene there including something that would have been kinda spicy if you decided to see it but hindsight is 20/20. I admit I was shocked he didnt yell at you tho. Never saw him not go down there. - Honestly its the one part of the game that is pretty weak. The companions you dont bring out really downscale on their story and a lot of emotion - my first run I wasnt a fan of Astarion so he missed some key moments and basically the first proper storybeat I got with him was in Baldur's Gate - I had no idea about the ritual or anything. Cause you managed to convince Kethric, you are allowed to skip the first stage of this fight making it somewhat easier (I guess that depends on your definition of easy since the dangerous mobs like the mind flayer are still alive). As for your question about who gives Shadowheart her powers, both the Narrator and Aylin implied its Selune. "Choose your weapons and the Moonmaiden will provide" - IE if you call for your powers Selune is quite happy to give them to you instead. And then the narration about how if Shadowheart really stopped to think about who the source of her power is now it would break her after you leave the Shadowfell. Its honestly crazy that Selune is willing to give Shadowheart powers without her even praying to Selune.

[@Ghost-Mom]

I mean it's a cool set piece but it's hardly original. Not that it matters as BG3 is easily one of my fav games of all time, but nearly the exact same set of circumstances can occur in the first Mass Effect game with Saren.

[@FuFightersStudio]

@ Oh I know but the difference is execution - in ME its quite flat, Saren basically pulls a gun and shoots himself, then you go to double tap it, only for the reaper to take control and fight you. But the cinematic part of things and the fight itself drag it down compared to this moment.

[@Kashkadavr_]

Really hope you will play Divinity Original Sin. At least Dos2, but first really fun too. I think you will love this games

[@ftg_vader8690]

I might have missed it- is he using any mods at all? I'm seeing some armor that i don't recall seeing in my playthrough

[@Mapocolops]

@@ftg_vader8690 all this armour is in the game, I do have some dye mods for cosmetic purposes

[@ftg_vader8690]

@Mapocolops nice ok thanks. Love the videos btw

[@LLlap]

Even with a broken refresher nearby you didn't bother with a single buff :)) Could have used some Aid at least.

[@Mapocolops]

but was it necessary to win

[@LLlap]

@Mapocolops No it wasn't. Most of what you do isn't necessary. The game is very easy. People beat it with a single character without stealing or barter in honor mode.

[@Mapocolops]

@@LLlap exactly 👍

[@Sellinglobs]

Bro listen to yourself, why did you make these two comments?​@LLlap

[@Shizuku.Tsukishima]

Here we goooo

[@faramirthegreat2245]

What's up with the 23 tadpoles? Why don't you use them?

[@Mapocolops]

Because I don’t want to

[@faramirthegreat2245]

@@Mapocolops hahaha nice I respect that.

[@chibiemo100]

Is this on Explorer?

[@Mapocolops]

No, it’s been on Tactician since episode 25. You can tell by the amount of health characters and enemies have.

[@Wotansfogal]

Don't worry Myrkul would have appeared either way

[@imeanwhatever]

Watching Mapo fight is so entertaining - it has also taken more years off my life than cigarettes.

[@Mapocolops]

At least I'm not hitting game overs my brother!

[@imeanwhatever]

@@Mapocolops 💪💪💪

[@bradleypeate3266]

i wish you healed isobel she still looks purple 😂

[@Northern_Silverbird]

1:38:22 LMAO

[@dariusgabor]

Black Mesa Blue shift

[@Sevarro]

lmao, gnome solas