One of the highlights of Baldur’s Gate 3 was the return of past characters from the franchise. To the delight of old fans of the series, Minsc and Jaheira can join the player’s party. While their additions certainly round out Baldur’s Gate 3’s story, their place in the narrative is a hindrance that Baldur’s Gate 4 should avoid at all costs.
To those not in the know, Jaheira and Minsc were characters first introduced in the original Baldur’s Gate game. Both characters also returned to the franchise in Baldur’s Gate II: Shadow of Amn. Minsc and his hamster familiar Boo have remained fan favorites, while Baldur’s Gate 3 establishes Jaheira’s in-game reputation, which largely follows her real-world reputation for badassery. While it is certainly good to see them again, their late addition to the story left much to be desired, and seeing an even more popular character like Astarion have their screentime minimized in Baldur’s Gate 4 would surely be a disappointment. As such, BG4‘s returning allies should make their presence known early.
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Minsc and Jaheira Arrive Fashionably Late
As non-Origin Companions, these new versions of Minsc and Jaheira are at a disadvantage when it comes to building bonds with players. Though Baldur’s Gate 3 certainly saw its share of returning players, the title was also the introduction to the franchise for a whole new generation of gamers. Therefore, a significant proportion of Baldur’s Gate 3’s player base may not have paid much attention to Jaheira and Minsc during their first play-through.
To avoid this scenario, Baldur’s Gate 3 could have introduced Jaheira and Minsc earlier in the game. Jaheira and Minsc both don’t meet the player until Act 2 and Act 3 respectively. While interacting with Jaheira is basically required for players that want to follow a Good-aligned playthrough, players can easily miss Minsc in the notorious hubbub of quests Act 3 holds. The late appearances of Jaheira and Minsc also don’t encourage prioritization from players. With so much time spent getting to know the game’s Origin Companions, these once-fan favorites are cast to the side.
In fact, Halsin and Minthara showcase what Jaheira and Minsc could have been. While Minthara’s journey to being a Companion was rough, gamers who wanted to play an Evil-aligned run had reason to seek her out. The same can be said of Halsin, who players are asked to save if they interact with the Emerald Grove. While the route to adding Halsin and Minthara is longer than the Origin Companions, Baldur’s Gate 3 still makes an effort to establish them in Act 1 prior to their addition. These characters are notably also romanceable, unlike Minsc and Jaheira, which could explain why they were given priority over the returning non-Origin Companions.
Romanceable or not, Baldur’s Gate 4 should not take the same approach if its developer decides to embrace returning characters. While it’s clear that the approach for returning characters must be different, deciding which characters will return to Baldur’s Gate 4 is a bit more hazy.
Which Companions Could Return in Baldur’s Gate 4?
Considering the leap in time the Baldur’s Gate franchise took when heading into its third installment, Baldur’s Gate 4 could once again take a century-long leap. Petrifying Minsc again seems like an unlikely option, and Jaheira could be killed off if necessary. Therefore, Minsc, Jaheira, and other Companions from early Baldur’s Gate titles seem less likely than Companions from Baldur’s Gate 3.
With this small pool of Companions to choose from, it’s much easier to determine which Companions could return in Baldur’s Gate 4. The most obvious, and fan favorite, answer is the roguish Astarion. As a high elf, Astarion’s immortality was already guaranteed, but his vampirism only affirms that he could live long enough to join Baldur’s Gate 4. Only one of the four major endings for Astarion sees him technically dead, that being his turn as a zombie in Act 1. Therefore, he remains a likely returning candidate for Baldur’s Gate 4.
Lae’zel is another option, as the Githyanki can live for over a century. Despite living in the Astral Plane for an indeterminate amount of time, Lae’zel is about twenty human years old. Githyanki do not age in the Astral Plane, which can technically extend their life spans by years. It would be a welcome surprise to see Lae’zel in the next Baldur’s Gate title, and hopefully a few other returning Companions as well.
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.
THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCE
Choose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.
A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPIC
Forged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
- Released
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August 3, 2023
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence