Do you choose to become a god in ToB?

[jester]

I must admit that due to the lack of excitement I have never finished Throne of Boredome more than twice, but always chose to ascend. Those who never made it there, choose what you would have done.

comments?

Edit: Dang, I cannot fix the copy thing that went wrong with the poll questions. Sorry.

[Echon]

I am not sure how many times I have completed ToB but as far as I can recall I have always decided to become a god. I was romancing Viconia the first time I did it and I was torn between staying with her and ascending. She urged me to embrace godhood, however, so I did. I regretted it afterwards when I read her epilogue.

-Echon

[Alarielle]

I usually stay mortal.  Kelsey cries otherwise ;_;

[melora]

i have never decided to become a god, but i planned to in the game i am currently playing.  i also plan to cheat on kelsey this time . i had to create a new character specifically for this game, because i felt too guilty !

[Ghreyfain]

Never actually finished ToB, so I couldn't say.  I would probably stay mortal, though.

[glain]

I've finished ToB twice, once romancing Kelsey and the other romancing Anomen. Each time I decided to choose love over power and not ascend. I must be an old softy, huh?

[elfheart]

My PC's always chose mortality, but I've loaded final saves to try godhood, just to see NPC's reactions and how the epilogues change.

[jcompton]

On my one legit playthrough of TOB I stayed mortal, but as it was the Jaheira romance, I got pretty ripped off anyway.

[Caedwyr]

The whole God=lost forever thing always bugs me.  I mean, the NPCs tend to be extremely powerful at the end of ToB, and there is the whole planescape setting.  Its not like they couldn't go pay a visit on the new god in his/her new planar home.  Also, I'm pretty sure that there have been a few romances between gods and mortals before.  Elminster & Mystra or the Greek Gods, though the Greek Gods do tend more towards rape...

[jester]

Seduction ! 

For those who should read this and not know ( I might have been the only one. ). The epilogues can be DLed from www.sorcerers.net. Be spoiled.

[hlidskialf]

I played through twice. I ascended the first time and I was romancing Jaheria. I was so pissed that you couldn't ascend and take your lady-love with you I rewrote the epilogue. (Seriously, you'd think that a god would at least be able to get a date 'eh?)

[Caedwyr]

Ok, maybe they split their encounters 50-50 rape-seduction.  Either way, they don't have a problem getting a date.

[Da_venom]

depends on character i play not when good or evil

doesn't make a goddamn difference

ussualy spellcasters choose godhood and fighter take mortaly to battle till death and be forgotten in time ^^

[jcompton]

The whole God=lost forever thing always bugs me.  I mean, the NPCs tend to be extremely powerful at the end of ToB, and there is the whole planescape setting.  Its not like they couldn't go pay a visit on the new god in his/her new planar home.  Also, I'm pretty sure that there have been a few romances between gods and mortals before.  Elminster & Mystra or the Greek Gods, though the Greek Gods do tend more towards rape...

*** Mod spoiler alert.




But then there's no real sense of loss, which I think is important if you're going to have any sort of _choice_ involved. The Edwin Romance makes ascending entirely a positive outcome: things work out better for the PC and for Edwin as a direct result.

As distressing as the Viconia situation was to many players, it puts a very fine point on that choice, especially for players who KNOW the outcomes: Ascend and lose your lady love knowing that at least she will be spared from her "indiscretion," or stay and watch her die?

[mcruz]

Always choose mortality, choosing godhood just seems more unsatisfying overall and i simply refuse to sacrifice the romance. 

[Caedwyr]

But then there's no real sense of loss, which I think is important if you're going to have any sort of _choice_ involved. The Edwin Romance makes ascending entirely a positive outcome: things work out better for the PC and for Edwin as a direct result.

As distressing as the Viconia situation was to many players, it puts a very fine point on that choice, especially for players who KNOW the outcomes: Ascend and lose your lady love knowing that at least she will be spared from her "indiscretion," or stay and watch her die?

The issue I have with this, is it is always the exact same pattern.  Ascending=death of relationship.  There is no character who has an exception to this (except the aforementioned mod character), and this removes any doubt as to which choice to make for the relationship type player.

Regarding the Viconia epilogues, I'd have to say those are the ones I liked the best.  Especially with the additional epilogues, either flirt packs or Ascenscion, I can't remember which add a few more situations.  Mostly what I object to is the fact that I am frequently left asking "But why didn't CHARNAME/ npc do this?  It's the logical answer to their problems"


That said, it is easier to make it an obvious choice by making ascending=bad, staying=good.  Its also more boring.  I prefer things to be a bit murkier and somewhere in between.

[Joe]

I'd like to see a simple mod that changes the epilogues so that, if one chooses to ascend, he or she makes his or her companions Chosen.

[KIrving]

I chose love instead of ascending too! (another softie. )  Although I must admit that the whole becoming a god thing, seemed a boring outcome to me.

[Kam]

I'd like to second this. I usually, meaning twice, chose to ascend. Granted, I've only played through ToB three times, due to the lack of romances that are done for it, but leaving my love behind always bugged me.
If I'm good, it always seemed like a cop out to not take this great chance to do good on a universal scale. But, I sure as heck don't want to leave my beloved Viconia behind. That said, I wouldn't want to see bringing one's love with them just in the epilogue. Rather, I'd like to see it sort or spread throughout ToB, maybe in the form of dialogues with your romance, maybe chances to release some of your divine essence into the love interest. This would probably be represented by permanent xp or level loss. That way, it's not just a one time decision with no repercussions; it's something you have to really consider. And of course, then there's the risk of the signifigant other contracting some to the taint, and you helping them deal with it. Or not. That could be random, or influenced by something you do. Or, give the player the choice of making sure that the taint stays with them when they give up some of their power. Of course, if they choose to do it the noble way, then the Slayer may manifest on its own again since they've less essence to control it with. Just an idea.

[Eral]

No, I never become a god. Like Alarielle, I hate making Kelsey cry. And with Anomen, I have put in way too much effort to just jump ship. I demand a happy ending. Another softie, here.

[CoM_Solaufein]

I've always stayed with Aerie.

[Smoketest]

I always keep my feet on the ground, so to speak.

[jcompton]

That said, it is easier to make it an obvious choice by making ascending=bad, staying=good.  Its also more boring.  I prefer things to be a bit murkier and somewhere in between.

I don't think it has to be seen as bad _overall_ but I do think it is proper and generally Right from a storytelling perspective that it is the end of any sort of romantic entanglement.

It would be a bit like being chosen to lead the first manned mission to Pluto. A wonderful career opportunity and a leap ahead for mankind, yes, but not real good for your relationship with your girlfriend at home.

This, of course, is more than that, as you go on to some sort of higher level of existence and consciousness and personal power. It's not just <CHARNAME> in a shiny cape.

If you're saying you think the epilogues don't do a good job of portraying the potential upside of an ascended PC, I think that is in part by design (remember, the PC doesn't get an epilogue, just the NPCs) and part a consequence of it being so very, VERY difficult to properly dictate PC behavior in epilogue format... a problem only compounded by the ambiguous nature of what the ascension really MEANS and what the PC might choose to do with the power--or what the power might choose to do to <PRO_HIMHER>.

[Caedwyr]

I can see your point.  Actually, reviewing the epilogues I find it interesting to note, that Anomen grows up significantly and becomes a much better person in his non-romance/ascending epilogue, so not everything turns out completely bad.


However, I think one of the other problems I have with the epilogues, is the lack of preceeding debate between the PC and his/her loved one.  You don't really have much of a chance to talk things over prior to the big decision, and when it happens like that it feels too much like emotional blackmail.  I think with a bit more discussion (pro or against, at least you have some opinions) prior to the decision time, the final choice would feel a bit less like blackmail.

[jcompton]

However, I think one of the other problems I have with the epilogues, is the lack of preceeding debate between the PC and his/her loved one.  You don't really have much of a chance to talk things over prior to the big decision, and when it happens like that it feels too much like emotional blackmail.  I think with a bit more discussion (pro or against, at least you have some opinions) prior to the decision time, the final choice would feel a bit less like blackmail.

Well, with the BioNPCs, we know the major reason (GROOP), although I do think that in at least Jaheira's case, an economy of words went a long way. ("I trust you. Remember that." ... and yes, this will be one of the few times I say anything nice about Jaheira's writing in TOB.)

With Kelsey, where I had more luxury to explore the issue, Kelsey lays out his case for mortality to the PC, alternately optimistic and pessimistic about how well it's working, so as much as, yeah, Kelsey emotionally socks it to you if you leave, there's been an opportunity to discuss the matter ahead of time.