Baldur’s Gate 3 has plenty of companions for players to romance, and some of these romanceable companions are even open to inviting another party into their relationship, if the you play your cards right.

• How To Romance Multiple Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3
• All Polyamorous and Monogamous Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3
  • How to End a Relationship in Baldur’s Gate 3

How To Have a Poly Romance in Baldur’s Gate 3

Romancing multiple companions in Baldur’s Gate 3 isn’t much different from building a monogamous relationship. Of course, you’ll need to ensure that you’ve gained enough favorability with all your potential partners that they’re open to entering a relationship with you. This can be done by choosing the correct dialogue options during your one-on-one interactions with them, and making roleplaying decisions during the main story that they approve of.

Something that’s important to note, however, when exploring poly in Baldur’s Gate 3 is that some characters aren’t interested in sharing you with your companions – in fact, there are only a handful of characters that are truly open and willing to “open up the relationship”.

All Polyamorous and Monogamous Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3

The two companions that will be vehemently against having a polyamorous relationship are Wyll Ravengard and Gale Dekarios. If you attempt to romance other companions while committed to them, they’ll confront you and force you to choose between them.

Additionally, while the rest of the companions are more open to being in a polyamorous relationship, they aren’t willing to be in one with some of the other companions, even if you try to convince them. Alternatively, there are some companions who are “open to sharing” in Act 1 and early into Act 2, but as your relationship develops, they’ll want exclusivity.

Here are a handful of examples of potential outcomes for players trying to experience a poly romance in Baldur’s Gate 3:

• Shadowheart is open to being in a polyamorous relationship with you and someone else in Act 1 as long as it’s not Lae’zel. However, as your relationship with her deepens in Act 2, she’ll want to become exclusive.
• Astarion is open to a relationship with you, Halsin, and Minthara. He is also available, albeit somewhat reluctantly, to be in a relationship with you and Shadowheart until she decides she wants a monogamous relationship in Act 2.
• Karlach is open to being in a polyamorous relationship with you and someone else in Act 1 since she’s unable to be physical, but once her Infernal Engine is repaired by Dammon and the relationship deepens, she’ll request to be exclusive.
• Halsin and Minthara are both open to being in a polyamorous relationship with you if they get along with the other partner.

How To End a Relationship In Baldur’s Gate 3

If you went down the Polygamy route and have maybe changed your mind on the whole ordeal — there is a way to end one, or both, of the relationships. Players can end a relationship with another character by selecting the correct dialogue options during regular conversations, or in the middle of romance cutscenes.

For the former, when you are speaking with the character(s) you are romancing, an option will appear that says something along the lines of, “Let’s talk about us.” Once you select this, you will have the option to end it for good.

It’s important to note that players have reported that this dialogue option doesn’t always appear, meaning it may only become available if you’ have been in the relationship for a certain amount of time’ve achieved certain milestones in the relationship. Keep an eye out for these dialogue choices during romance cutscenes and when speaking with your romance partner.

Dungeons & Dragons is a game designed to create the illusion that you've entered another world. Epic fantasy novels heavily inspired the creators of D&D, and the tabletop role-playing game's connection to fantasy literature has only grown stronger with age.

Both the Player's Handbook and the Dungeon Masters Guide encourage players and DMs to hit their local library before they get to work designing their next character or crafting their party's next adventure. I've been playing D&D on both sides of the DM screen for years, and I can safely confirm that the ten standalone books and series listed below helped me create some of my favorite characters and campaigns.

10. The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

Some of the best D&D campaigns I've been in revolved around solving mind-bending mysteries with a magical twist. If your latest campaign is a noir-influenced fantasy whodunnit that's piqued your interest in the mystery genre, you should check out The Dresden Files.

Jim Butcher's long-running urban fantasy series follows the adventures of the titular sorcerous detective, who dedicates his eternally imperiled life to solving outlandish capers tied to Chicago's hidden magical underworld. If you're in the market for some exciting noir tales that happen to feature the odd vampire or demon, The Dresden Files is for you.

9. The Cthulhu Mythos by H.P. Lovecraft and August Derluth

Many of D&D's most iconic monsters, including the multi-eyed, beam-spewing Beholder, are beings from the Far Realm, a plane of pure cosmic chaos where the line between reality and illusion becomes illegible. I've been in more than a few D&D games where the Far Realm's innate insanity slithered its way into the mix, and this refreshing dose of existential dread wouldn't t have been possible without the Cthulu Mythos.

H.P. Lovecraft's tales about a pantheon of incomprehensible extraterrestrial gods lurking in the shadows of the universe pioneered the cosmic horror genre, and D&D players are looking to add a bit of eldritch spice to their latest character or campaign will find plenty of inspiration in them. Be warned: Lovecraft was, to put it bluntly, racist, and his uncensored work will make most readers uncomfortable.

8. The Lord of the Rings by J.R. Tolkien

It would be heresy not to put The Lord of the Rings on this list. J.R.R. Tolkien's famous literary cycle was D&D's biggest inspiration, to the point where there were legal disputes surrounding the early usage of terms like orc, elf, dwarf, and dragon.

Some D&D fans might be surprised to see The Lord of the Rings ranked so low. I'd still recommend Tolkien's iconic trilogy to any D&D player who hasn't read them, especially if they started playing a campaign set within the Forgotten Realms. However, D&D grew out of Middle Earth's shadow long ago, and saying that Lord of the Rings is "the" series for D&D fans feels a bit regressive, especially since many modern D&D settings go out of their way to buck the tropes Tolkien established.

7. Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson

One of the best parts of a D&D campaign is building the world where the story will play out, especially if the group's DM is willing to let the other players in on the world-building process. If you and anyone else at your table are kicking around the idea of starting a new campaign set at a much later or earlier point in your world's history, Malazan Book of the Fallen will give you some great ideas.

The Malazan series is a masterclass in fantasy world-building that follows the rise of the titular empire over millennia. With a cast consisting of immortal mages and dynasties with lineages stretching back centuries, Malazan is perfect for players and DMs who want to explore how the passage of time can change a character, a civilization, or even a world's innate magic.

6. Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Any experienced D&D can attest that the Rogue is one of the funniest classes to play. Plenty of fantasy novels star nimble-fingered sneaks who prefer to creep through the shadows while the warriors and the mages hog the spotlight, but few will feel more familiar to D&D players than Mistborn.

Brandon Sanderson's seminal fantasy series unfolds in the world of Scadriel, where ash never stops falling from the sky, an oppressive empire rules most of the world, and the only hope of defeating the fallen hero of prophecy lies in a young thief named Vin. Vin is essentially an Arcane Trickster Rogue, and her quest to overthrow the Final Empire with magic and subterfuge is full of fun twists on established fantasy tropes that will leave D&D fans in awe.

5. The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolf

One of D&D's most "peculiar" settings is Dark Sun, a grim realm where magic is inherently toxic and a gang of vicious Sorcerer Kings rule everything under the red, dying sun. Due to some problematic elements of its world-building, Dark Sun has not received an official setting book for a while, but anyone who enjoys it will find a suitable substitute in The Book of the New Sun series.

Set on a far-future version of Earth where society has regressed to feudalism, The Book of the New Sun is a haunting parable that follows a disgraced torturer's transformation into a messianic figure who holds the key to the world's future. Visions of the future and mysterious magics abound in this series, and anyone who's experienced the world of Dark Sun will feel right at home reading this.

4. A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin

I'm one of those D&D players who love to lose themselves in their character, and I'll always prefer a campaign that gives me the complex challenge of navigating interpersonal relationships over ones that focus on dungeon-crawling or combat. If you're also one of those players, I can't think of a fantasy series you'll like more than A Song of Ice and Fire.

George R.R. Martin's iconic world runs on dynastic politics, not magic or prophecies, and its dedication to subverting and reimagining established fantasy tropes means that none of the characters you come to care about are safe. Any fan of D&D and other character-driven TTRPGs will love A Song of Ice and Fire.

3. Wings of Fire by Tui. T Sutherland

If the title didn't tip you off, dragons are an important part of D&D, and there are a wide variety of them across the game's many supplements and setting books. Some of my favorite (and most traumatic) D&D memories are tied to dragons, and the only fantasy book that comes close to challenging D&D's draconic diversity is Tui T. Sutherland's Wings of Fire series.

The world of Wings of Fire has a dragon for almost every element, and players who've run a Dragonblood Sorcerer will feel more than a little validated reading the series.

2. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks

One of the DMs in my local D&D group has weaponized the art of the "mid-campaign twist." Every game he runs shifts pitch at the halfway mark, re-contextualizing everything we've done up until that point in shocking and exciting ways. Terry Brooks Shannara series does something very similar, and D&D fans who know what it's like to watch the world you've adventured through turn upside down will feel a bit of nostalgia reading it.

At the onset, the Shannara books feel like a near-complete rip-off of Tolkien, with elves, young naive warriors, and magical MacGuffins designed to kill evil overlords. However, as the books progress, shocking secrets about the world of Shannara are unmasked, and readers are left to grapple with the knowledge that this world might not be as fantastical as it appeared at first glance.

1. Discworld by Terry Pratchett

What is D&D, if not the perfect blend of fantasy? The game gives you all the tools you'd ever need to slot every fantastical creature and form of magic into your campaign setting; the only limits that exist are those in your imagination. For this reason, I believe that no fantasy book embodies the spirit of D & D more than Discworld.

The flat realm of Discworld is a wonderous patchwork woven together with elements pulled from almost every mythology, religion, and folklore tradition in the world. Wizards, demons, gods, and Death himself exist harmoniously as part of a magical ecosystem where nothing feels out of place. As funny as it is profound, Discworld is the perfect fantasy series for D&D fans.

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FromSoftware has revealed one of the new foes players will meet in Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. While it's currently unknown if this character is a boss or a regular enemy, fans are already hard at work trying to figure out what or who they may be.

The latest in what fans know to be a very long line of unsettling Elden Ring enemies was revealed to us in a post on FromSoftware's official Elden Ring X/Twitter account. The enemy, partially obscured by a cloak of ominous shadows, leaves quite the first impression. With its lifeless grey skin, wicked twin crescent blades, and cracked golden mask, this enemy looks like it stepped straight out of a nightmare just to cut you to ribbons.

Within minutes of this absolute nightmare's grand unveiling, the Elden Ring fandom came together to speculate over what, or who, it could be. Elden Ring loves to hide hints about its character's origins and alignment within their designs, and players were quick to form theories about this masked ghoul.

New Elden Ring enemy may be an omen of things to come in Shadow of the Erdtree

One of the most popular theories is that this enemy is related to the Omens, bloated, axe-wielding giants who pop up in several areas of the Lands Between. In addition to their massive size, Omens are known for the gigantic horns sprouting from their heads, which look very similar to the ones featured in the new enemy's rent mask. Coincidences don't happen often in Elden Ring's visual design, so this new opponent is likely connected to the Omens somehow.

Fans were also quick to notice another interesting detail: this new enemy is female, or at the very least, has feminine features. X user SweetPeachGames noted in this post that the enemy's feet were distinctly feminine, with smaller toes and a curved instep.

Other users noticed that the creature casts a distinctly uterine silhouette. Motherhood, blood ties, and birth are significant themes in Elden Ring, so I’d feel safe betting that this was an intentional decision by the designers.

Visions of dancer pic.twitter.com/Mm7Dup4LBd

— Syrobe (@SyrobeNA) May 17, 2024

Another unsettling detail about this creature is that it's much taller than it initially appears. By brightening the image, players discovered that the enemy has a hunched back, which means it will likely raise itself to its full height when players encounter it. This revelation drew X user Syrobe to compare the new enemy and Dark Souls III's Dancer of the Boreal Valley.

Elden Ring Shadows of the Erdtree is coming out on June 21, 2024, for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

The post Elden Ring’s new enemy is becoming players’ new obsession appeared first on Destructoid.

With the release of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, the long-running film franchise now has ten films. Throughout its semicentennial lifespan, the series has undergone several drastic evolutions, going from meditative science-fiction epics to corny blockbusters and back again multiple times.

No two Planet of the Apes films are alike; needless to say, some are better than others. Here are our rankings of all the Planet of the Apes series films, from worst to best.

10. Planet of the Apes (2001)

After an almost forty-year hiatus, 2001’s Planet of the Apes set out to bring the series back into the spotlight. With acclaimed director Tim Burton at the helm, everyone assumed Planet of the Apes would put the series back on the map.

It did, but not in the way Planet of the Apes fans had hoped it would. While Rick Baker's prosthetic effects are undeniably impressive, the film's decision to trade the original's thoughtful social commentary for easily digestible man vs. ape action left the film feeling shallow. Coupled with a wooden cast of human leads and a muddled plot ending in a frustratingly confusing "plot twist," it's easy to see why Burton's take sent the series into another extended hibernation.

9. Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)

The final film in the original Planet of the Apes saga, Battle for the Planet of the Apes chronicles Caesar's attempt to preserve the fragile peace between the apes and humans who survived nuclear armageddon. Unfortunately, a militant gorilla general and a league of anti-ape humans soon rise to challenge Caesar's ideals.

Battle for the Planet of the Apes benefits from an enticing premise and a strong performance by lead actor Roddy McDowell. However, the film's exceptionally shotty costume design and limp climax prevent it from being the epic, cathartic finale it could have been.

8. Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)

Despite being a direct sequel to the original Planet of the Apes, Beneath the Planet of the Apes is anything but a by-the-books continuation. Turning the camera away from the apes and introducing a tribe of telepathic, subterranean humans, Beneath the Planet of the Apes is the strangest and most controversial film in the series.

While some viewers applaud Beneath the Planet of the Apes' willingness to defy audience expectations, others are critical of the film's surreal atmosphere and surprisingly bleak tone.

7. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)

The darkest film in the series, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes shoves the series' underlying themes of oppression and revolution to the forefront. Set in a post-plague United States where apes are slaves, the film follows the time-traveling chimpanzee Cornelius and Zira's son Milo's transforming from a meek circus ape to a violent revolutionary.

Wearing its political undertones on its sleeves, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes is a gritty, angry film that thoroughly explores humanity's capacity for violence. While the version that made its way to theaters toned things down by changing its brutal ending, the film remains a haunting meditation on the horrors of slavery and the consequences of violent uprisings.

6. Planet of the Apes (1968)

The film that started it all, the original Planet of the Apes is a film that everyone knows about, if only through pop-culture osmosis. Following the trials and triumphs of an astronaut stranded in a world where apes rule, the film is as iconic as it is for a reason.

With a compelling premise, powerhouse lead, and an intriguing story that ends in one of the most iconic twists of all time, Planet of the Apes is one of the most influential science-fiction movies ever made.

5. Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)

Despite Beneath the Planet Apes's best efforts, Escape from the Planet of the Apes found a new way to keep the original franchise going: time travel. In an attempt to escape the impending demise of their world, chimpanzee scientists Cornelius and Zira travel back in time to the then-present year of 1971, with their presence creating a self-fulfilling time-loop that will change the future of humans and apes forever.

Sporting a well-written script and powerful performances from its costumed leads, Escape from the Planet of the Apes weaves an emotional story about empathy, parenthood, and racial unrest that's as relevant today as it was over fifty years ago.

4. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)

The newest film in the series, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, picks up where Matt Reeves' Planet of the Apes trilogy left off, with the civilization of apes led by Casaer firmly established as the dominant species on the planet. The film follows Noa, a young chimpanzee who must journey across the post-apocalyptic United States to rescue his tribe from the mad dictator Proximus Caesar, leading him toward a fateful encounter with a young human named Mae.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has many great things going for it, including top-tier special effects and an excellent cast of characters with fun and exciting relationships. While the film does more sequel-baiting than I would have liked, it's still a fun, heartfelt experience that stands on its own as a solid series relaunch.

3. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

The first entry in Matt Reeve's three-part revival, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, is an excellent start to the franchise's most recent chapter. The film follows Caesar, a chimpanzee taken into the home of the kind researcher who rescues him from an inhumane laboratory. From there, Caesar experiences humanity's capacity for unconditional love and unflinching cruelty, transforming into the leader who helps other rapidly evolving apes find freedom.

Rise of the Planet of the Ape is everything movie-goers look for in a reboot. With an intelligent script that stays true to the series' themes, some well-shot action, and a compelling new protagonist, Rise of the Planet of the Apes is the triumphant return to form that fans of the series had spent decades waiting for.

2. War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

War for the Planet of the Apes brings Matt Reeves' trilogy to a brutal, beautiful, and bittersweet end. After a ruthless militia declares war on Caesar's tribe, he and his people embark on an epic journey that forces the increasingly-messianic ruler to question what kind of future he's built for his family and whether his pacifistic approach to human-ape relations will bring prosperity or ruin.

War for the Planet of the Apes lives up to its title in every way imaginable, with the filmmakers drawing clear inspiration from war movies like Apocalypse Now and The Bridge on the River Kwai. With another well-written screenplay that analyzes the cyclical nature of violence and the renewing power of hope, War for the Planet of the Apes is an epic conclusion to an already fantastic trilogy.

1. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is one of those rare middle chapters of a trilogy that surpasses the films that came before and after it. Ten years after the simian flu outbreak, Caesar and his tribe are approached by a group of humans who want to ally with them, sparking tension between him and his second in command, Koba.

To put it bluntly, Dawn of the Planet of the Ape is everything you’d want out of a Planet of the Apes movie: gorgeous special effects, excellent cinematography, and compelling conflict that makes it hard to tell at times who’s in the right and who’s in the wrong. Whether you're in the mood for some top-tier action or up for an emotional tour de force, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is for you.

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