Dialogue & Story Choices

Dialogue & Story Choices

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn is renowned for its rich narrative and the profound impact your decisions can have. Beyond combat prowess, your choices in dialogue and story quests shape your reputation, influence companions, unlock unique items, and even alter the game's ending. This section details critical junctures where your words and actions carry significant weight.

Reputation Management

Your reputation score (displayed on your character sheet) directly affects how NPCs react to you. High reputation can lead to lower shop prices and more favorable dialogue options, while low reputation can cause shopkeepers to refuse service and guards to become hostile. Certain companions also have alignment preferences; a good-aligned party member like Keldorn might leave if your reputation drops too low, while an evil-aligned one like Edwin might depart if it rises too high.

• Gaining Reputation:
  • Completing quests for good-aligned NPCs.
  • Donating money to temples (e.g., Temple of Helm in the Temple District).
  • Resolving conflicts peacefully.
• Losing Reputation:
  • Killing innocent NPCs.
  • Stealing from shops (if caught).
  • Making evil or aggressive dialogue choices.

Companion Influence & Personal Quests

Each companion has a unique personality, alignment, and often, a personal questline. Engaging with them through dialogue and making choices that align with their beliefs can deepen your relationship, unlock powerful abilities, or even lead to romance. Ignoring their concerns or acting contrary to their nature can cause them to leave your party permanently.

• Jaheira's Harpers: Early in the game, Jaheira will be contacted by the Harpers. Your choices regarding her involvement with them (e.g., confronting Baron Ployer in the Government District, dealing with Xzar's assassin in the Slums) directly impact her loyalty and can lead to powerful items like the Harper Pin.
• Minsc and Boo: Minsc's unwavering devotion to justice and his miniature giant space hamster, Boo, means he'll react strongly to evil acts. Support his "butt-kicking for goodness" mantra to keep him happy. His personal quest involves rescuing his witch, Dynaheir, though this is largely resolved in the first game.
• Viconia's Faith: As a Drow priestess, Viconia faces constant prejudice. Defending her from bigots (e.g., the Flaming Fist mercenaries in the Bridge District) and showing her kindness can lead to a compelling romance arc for a male protagonist.
• Korgan's Greed: Korgan, the chaotic evil dwarven fighter, is driven by wealth and battle. Agreeing to help him retrieve the Book of Kaza from the Crypts in the Graveyard District will solidify his loyalty.

Major Story Branch Points

Several key decisions throughout the main questline significantly alter the narrative and available content.

• The Shadow Thief vs. Bodhi: Upon escaping Irenicus's Dungeon, you'll be thrust into the conflict between the Shadow Thieves and Bodhi's vampire guild.
  • Siding with the Shadow Thieves: This is the more "heroic" path. You'll work with Aran Whitehand in the Shadow Thief Guildhall (Waukeen's Promenade) to undermine Bodhi. This path generally leads to a higher reputation and access to certain quests that may be unavailable otherwise.
  • Siding with Bodhi: This darker path involves accepting Bodhi's offer in the Graveyard District. You'll gain access to vampire abilities and unique items, but your reputation will plummet, and good-aligned companions will likely abandon you. This choice has profound implications for the latter half of the game.
• The Underdark Alliance: While in the Underdark, you'll encounter various factions. Your alliance choices here can affect the difficulty of subsequent encounters and the rewards you receive.
  • Drow: Aligning with the Drow of Ust Natha (e.g., completing tasks for Matron Mother Ardulace) can grant powerful Drow equipment, but often involves morally questionable acts.
  • Kuo-Toa/Mind Flayers: Depending on your approach, you can either fight or attempt to negotiate with these factions, though true alliances are rare and often temporary.
• Romance Options: For a male protagonist, Jaheira, Aerie, and Viconia offer deep romance storylines. For a female protagonist, Anomen is the primary option. These romances require consistent positive dialogue choices and often involve specific personal quests. Successfully completing a romance arc can provide significant stat bonuses or unique story content in the Throne of Bhaal expansion.

Class-Specific Strongholds

Upon reaching a certain point in the story (typically after Chapter 2), your main character's class will determine a unique stronghold questline. These quests offer significant rewards, including powerful items, gold, and a base of operations. Your choices within these quests can impact the stronghold's functionality and your standing within its associated faction.

• Fighter's Stronghold (De'Arnise Keep): Inheriting the keep requires you to clear it of trolls and goblins. Your decisions as the new lord, such as how you manage the peasants and deal with threats, will determine the keep's prosperity and your income.
• Mage's Stronghold (Planar Sphere): This flying fortress requires you to deal with its current occupants and reactivate its systems. Your choices regarding the sphere's power source and its previous owner can unlock powerful spells and items.
• Thief's Stronghold (Shadow Thief Guildhall): Ascending the ranks of the Shadow Thieves involves completing various heists and dealing with rival gangs. Your moral choices here can lead to different outcomes for the guild and your personal wealth.
• Cleric's Stronghold (Temple of Lathander/Helm/Talos): Depending on your deity, you'll be granted stewardship of a temple. Your decisions on how to manage the temple's affairs and deal with its congregation will affect your standing with your deity and the temple's resources.
• Paladin's Stronghold (Order of the Radiant Heart): Joining this holy order involves upholding their tenets of justice. Your choices in dealing with corruption and defending the innocent will determine your rank and access to powerful holy artifacts.