The Dream Guardian is an interesting figure inBaldur’s Gate 3, and at first plays a mysterious but vital role in the lives of the party as they seek to stop the Absolute. However, as the game progresses, this character changes and is at the center of one of the best twists I’ve seen in a long time, completely altering their context within the narrative. But what many playing the epic RPG might have missed is just how Larian Studios pulled off this fantastic surprise.
[Warning: This article containsspoilers for Baldur’s Gate 3.]
In addition to the maincompanions inBaldur’s Gate 3, there are plenty of other characters that play crucial parts throughout the main plot. From friendly tieflings and strange myconids to abrasive deep gnomes and lazy hollyphants,there are hundreds of people for the party to meet that will shape the outcome of their mission for better or worse. But whatever choices are made throughoutBG3’s three acts, there is always one character who will be a background member of the team, although their true identity can make their real motivations a matter of debate.
The Dream Guardian Uses Our Own Expectations Against Us
The Guardian Character Creator Links Them To The Player
Immediately after the cinematic introduction,Baldur’s Gate 3introduces the character creation screen, allowing any of the Origin characters to be chosen or a custom Tav to be created. However, before the game can continue, the voice states, “You need a guardian,” and a secondaryguardian character creatorappears,where the Dream Guardian can be crafted with almost the same level of customization as Tav. And it is this screen that allows Larian to execute the best twist by using our own gaming knowledge against us.
How The Dream Guardian Links To The Plot
How They Function Mechanically & Within The Plot
The Dream Guardian at first is a strange figure that acts as the party’s protector from inside a mysterious artifact known as the Astral Prism. From here, they help the party, shielding them from the effects of ceremorphosis, and providing guidance on what to do next. As their name suggests,the Guardian will appear during long rests in the dreams of the player characterand will offer insight into the Absolute’s plans while explaining that their goals align with that of the party.
However, things are not as they seem, with the first indication coming when the party meets Vlaakith inBG3, as the githyanki lith queen orders the death of the being in the Astral Prism. But it isn’t until the beginning of Act 3, as the party nears the titular Baldur’s Gate, that the Dream Guardian’s identity becomes clear in dramatic fashion. Here, as the party answers their protector’s call for help against githyanki attackers,the Guardian is revealed to be a powerful illithid known only as the Emperor.
There is a fan theory that the mind flayer in the opening cut scene is the Emperor and that he is the one who infects the character with a tadpole and was in command of the nautiloid.
From here, the party can learn more about their unusual guardian angel and decide whether to trust them. What I love about this twist is that each playthrough will have a different take on the reveal, with each player character forming their own opinions and making different decisions when confronted with the choice betweenfreeing Orpheus or siding with the Emperor. According to statistics released by Larian,only 58% of players chose to betray the Emperor, showing that this was not an easy decision and that many still felt a connection to the cunning mind flayer.
How Baldur’s Gate 3 Pulled Off The Perfect Twist
Using Game Mechanics To Subvert Player Expectations
How this connection was formed relates to why I think the Emperor’s reveal was such an ingenious twist. It all comes down to game mechanics. Having the player design the Guardian during their own character creationplays on our own knowledge of game mechanics to subconsciously make the player trust this character automatically. By doing this, the Dream Guardian is immediately linked to the player. After all, we’ve just made this character so logically, they must be important to us.
The Dream Guardian played a very different role in early access and was named Daisy. TheDaisy Dream Guardianwas the manifestation of the character’s tadpole, granting illithid powers when they were embraced and attempting to seduce the player.
This link is further emphasized by the language used by the Dream Guardian whenever they appear. It is always “us,” “we,” “our;” our goals, we have to do this, we were just like you once, etc. They align themselves with the player again,further ensuring that they are seen as an extension of our own character. As players, we are then naturally more inclined to trust this character that we created, so when the reveal comes at the start of Act 3, the twist is perfect.
This connection meanswe’re still more inclined to stick with the Emperor despite his obvious manipulation. I’ll confess that during my first playthrough ofBaldur’s Gate 3, I fully trusted the Emperor, going so far as to ignore all the evidence that he might not have had my best interests at heart. And all that evidence is there, with Duke Stelmane’s condition, Ansur’s fate, and if you rudely reject the Emperor’s romantic advances, all providing proof of the illithid’s true intentions. With this information, the Dream Guardian facade fully melts away, completing the twist wonderfully.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Developed and published by Larian Studios, Baldur’s Gate 3 is an upcoming role-playing game set to release in August of 2023. Players will create a character to embark on a large-scale journey and can do so solo or cooperatively with a friend. Combat is a turn-based style this time around.
