Baldur’s Gate 3 Player’s Honor Mode Run Ends Due to Overzealous Romance Choices

Shortly after its official launch, Baldur’s Gate 3 introduced Honour Mode, a challenging variant designed for seasoned players. This mode limits you to a single save file, which can help curb the temptation to save-scum through dice rolls and dialogue options. However, it can be a real bummer when a dialogue choice unexpectedly ends your run.

One player learned this the hard way. As highlighted in a community post, they shared their experience on the game’s subreddit about how a flirtation with a character led to their demise. After investing 60 hours into their playthrough, with only Raphael and The Elder Brain (the final boss) left to confront, they were lured by Harleep, Raphael’s incubus consort in the House of Hope. That temptation proved fatal.

In essence, Harleep offers valuable information in exchange for a more intimate encounter with your character or a companion. Alternatively, you can choose to fight them and later use Speak with Dead to obtain the same info. During the encounter, players are faced with two choices: surrender just their body to Harleep or offer their heart and soul—literally. Opting for the latter results in permanent death for your character.

“I am THROWING UP,” the Reddit post exclaimed. “GUESS WHO JUST LEARNED HARLEEP CAN KILL YOU BY FUCKING YOUR BRAINS OUT??? THIS FELLA.”

Larian Studios has also shared another round of player data, and it’s quite impressive.

It’s unfortunate for this player. All they wanted was a little fun at the end of the game, but instead, they met an untimely end. Commenters on the post noted that Honour Mode isn’t the best time to experiment with choices if you aim to finish unscathed, as you never know which random decisions might lead to a fatal outcome. “Crazy to experiment with a new dialogue in an honour mode run if you’re going for the gold dice,” one commenter pointed out. “We all have to learn the ‘never try something new’ in honour mode lesson somehow,” another added. At least they weren’t alone; one commenter shared, “I did the exact same thing 2 weeks ago! Was gutted.”

Even if a run in Honour Mode fails, players can salvage it by converting it into Custom Campaigns, allowing them to revert to their save-scumming, honourless ways if they choose.

Let this serve as a cautionary tale for newcomers attempting an Honour Mode run for the first time. Avoid experimentation if you’re after that Golden Dice reward, and maybe think twice before getting cozy with the sex demon who wants your soul.

Being good doesn’t always pay.