The playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3 – Honor Mode, offers trials and tribulations, even for the most seasoned players. One of the most noteworthy features is permadeath, necessitating strategic foresight before every encounter. One misstep, one moment of unpreparedness could mean the abrupt end of your journey.
As anticipated, most of the challenges posed during this playthrough are the various boss fights, especially the formidable Cazador. Yet it’s not just these epic battles that have the power to dispel the magic of your Honor Mode run.
Beyond the specter of these formidable foes, it’s the lesser, less noticeable things that can bring your journey to an unceremonious halt. From software errors, betrayals from your own squad, to even an accidentally chosen dialogue option each of these have proven catastrophic.
However, the greatest enemy lurking in the shadows for Honor Mode enthusiasts is not what one would typically expect. It doesn’t spit fire, it doesn’t wield weapons, and it certainly doesn’t partake in combat. It’s the elevators, more specifically, those found in the treacherous gauntlet of Shar.
These elevators are unique in their operation, as they tend to move diagonally rather than the common up or down. Seemingly harmless at first, they have proven to be pitfall of demise for many players. An unexpected glitch in their operation throws entire parties into pits of certain death if they stand on them in a way not compatible with the game dynamics.
No bone-chilling creature or fiery boss fight can compare with the dread inspired by such elevators. Players have reported one such incident where a minor misstep almost cost them their whole party.
The player recounts, 'I had just finished the Gauntlet of Shar, was proceeding towards the elevator leading back to the waypoint, where upon reaching, I discovered, to my shock, only Astarion had been lifted by the elevator.'
'The rest of my party were on the lower floor, and when Astarion decided to take the elevator down again, he inadvertently crushed his own party members.'
'Undeterred, I pressed on, only for history to repeat itself. Again, everyone except Astarion fell through the elevator. This time, Tav and Karlach had fallen onto a ledge, succeeding in their saves but still unconscious and unreachable.'
'Without any way to revive them, or end their rapidly impending demises, their fate—and by extension my Honor Mode run—looked bleak.'
It is an unexpected surprise that elevators, a seemingly simple game element, could pose such a threat and potentially ruin a player’s Honor Mode run. This tells us that impactful events and experiences can sometimes come from the most unassuming of places or things. In this case, the humble elevator stands mightier than the fiercest enemy or toughest scenario in Honor Mode.
So, while navigating the perils of the Baldur’s Gate 3 in Honor Mode, it's not the just fierce enemies or complex puzzles that players should be wary of. They should also be prepared for the unexpected dangers that may, sometimes, come in the form of seemingly innocuous inanimate objects.
They must tread carefully, making sure to approach every encounter and game element thoughtfully. A reminder that not only in video games, but also in life, the biggest threats are not always the loudest or the most visible, but can sometimes be the quiet, inconspicuous elements in our path.
This makes such games even more exciting, as they remain unpredictable and require a broad range of skills to navigate successfully. One doesn't have to just fight and galvanize their way through difficult battles, but they additionally have to think strategically and navigate intelligently, taking into account all facets of the complex world they’re immersed in.
So the next time you find yourself in the gauntlet of Shar, think twice before you ride that elevator. After all, in the world of Baldur’s Gate 3 in Honor Mode no enemy is too small and no threat is insignificant.