r/BG3 • u/geek_metalhead • 2d ago

500 hours into the game and I just discovered that there is a shortcut to Karlach directly from the Grove lol

Post image
2.6k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

127 comments sorted by

583

u/captainrussia21 2d ago edited 2d ago

Yes I saw her on my 1st playthrough right from that ledge above Zevlor, but could not figure out how to get there (had no idea about feather fall, etc… 1st playthrough, as I said).

But I did get to the guy who was killed by owlbear (and the 2 cultists of absolute near his body) from that very area/ledge where you can see Karlach.

197

u/geek_metalhead 2d ago

Yes, you took the path where the pinpoint below is. If you jump from the upper platform, where there is a chest, you can reach her.

Damn, all this time going around the Blighted Village and Risen Road, when the love of my life was just a jump away

110

u/MedianXLNoob 2d ago edited 2d ago

Blighted Village and Risen Road? I never went that way to pick her up. Above the Owlbear cave is a path across the river. Its 2 jumps over.

123

u/Rowey07 2d ago

But by Jergal that river is appalling to cross when you have Gale Astarion and Wyll, those 8 STR paper mache twinks have no jump distance

96

u/MemoMagician 2d ago

24

u/Rustmyer 2d ago

Isn't Gale from water deep?

15

u/MemoMagician 1d ago

Unfortunately, this background only gives a proficiency in swimming, not jumping. 😔 /j

Gale is too busy thinking about ✨️ the Weave ✨️ to succeed a Swim check across the river anyway. /lh

7

u/Pure_Sun_8539 2d ago

Nice 🤣

20

u/CoasterCanada 2d ago

I don't know how many times I've been playing and after like 2 hours realize, where the f*** is shadowheart. She's at that damn stone in the river. Or she's hanging around a cliff at the adamantine forge. Gale too. The game should do a better job of mitigating this.

6

u/MistakeLopsided8366 1d ago

Now try with a necro/summoner party... 6 skeleton archers, dryads, elementals who don't even HAVE a jump (gotta manually teleport them until you get lvl6 myrmidions who can fly) plus one or two weak ass companions like SH or Astarion... I'd say at least 20% of my 190hour first playthrough was just managing my ridiculous 30+ unit party around the map...

13

u/Infamous-Lab-8136 2d ago

Of all the things this game gets amazingly right the one thing I feel like it gets stunningly wrong with little attention in post-launch support is party management overall.

I can't believe I need a mod to avoid going to everyone individually to manage my party. Especially considering the size of some camp layouts. At a bare minimum let me talk to Withers and add/remove everyone there if they won't just give me a menu to do it.

I feel like there should also be an option to make everyone's attributes match the active character's to avoid the jump issue, along with the option to make only the active character activate traps.

28

u/alex61821 2d ago

I love when everyone jumps back when you try to get the stuck ones.

10

u/MedianXLNoob 2d ago

Just split the ones who wont jump with you.

13

u/alex61821 2d ago

Yeah it's just annoying though.

10

u/OldLove8431 2d ago

XD omg yes this... Astarion every time.... Like sir, you CAN cross rivers now

4

u/CarelessFeedback9579 2d ago

Right? I’m constantly getting party members stuck at that spot. Even the good jumpers!

3

u/sxrynity 2d ago

Oh my god TELL ME ABOUT IT. I left them there after like 5 minutes of trying to get them over because to and back required me to manually do it myself.

2

u/MedianXLNoob 2d ago

Wait, do you mean about jumping the entire way or to the island in the middle?

5

u/Rowey07 2d ago

The island, both jumps cause major pathing issues for companions and summons with low strength

2

u/MedianXLNoob 2d ago

Noticed it more in the past but i just did it again and Wyll, Astarion, Bae'zel and Shadowheart did it just fine. Maybe they just kinda bug out sometimes. There are sadly a few noticeable bugs.

1

u/jailtheorange1 1d ago

You do t have 200+ STR pots from the old woman at that point?

3

u/Sparkly_Crow_1789 1d ago

Nevermind the hill giant strength potions, does no one use the potions of glorious vaulting???

-2

u/Onewarmguy 2d ago

Wyll's one of my regulars. Improve his strength next time you get the chance during a level up.

8

u/Rowey07 2d ago

Yeah I’m not wasting a feat on making his jump slightly further

3

u/yanagitennen 2d ago

Another option is to respec at Withers/via a mod and change the stat spread?

5

u/Infamous-Lab-8136 2d ago

The problem is I shouldn't have to change someone's STR when it's a stat he'll never use just to walk around the map without inconvenience. Jump distance could have just been based on the higher of STR/DEX and fixed the whole issue since I can't think of too many people who would dump both. It's not like it makes the game better to have to find the one pixel you can highlight to make some jumps as an 8 STR character or have party members get stuck somewhere during exploration.

3

u/campbellm 2d ago

That's actually the only way I've ever gone; I didn't know about the other one(s) mentioned XD

2

u/genderantagonist 2d ago

thats the route i always take!

1

u/Hot_Bel_Pepper 2d ago

I also found that one recently myself.

1

u/CoverCommercial3576 2d ago

this is how i did it the first time.

1

u/UnjustBaton1156 1d ago

That's the way I pick her up too! Will try OP's route next run

1

u/SCSimmons 7h ago

Wait what? I knew about the OPs shortcut, but this one is news to me.

I've only played Act I about ninety times, though.

1

u/MedianXLNoob 7h ago

Lol i knew there could be another way because of how close Karlach seems to be to the Grove on the map but i didnt see any easy path inside the Grove so i never bothered to look further, tho i did get some chest in that area at some point. To get Karlach i always went that route since the first time i did it because it seems super straight forward with no fights or 1 somewhat easy fight.

2

u/taooverpi 1d ago

Feather fall in love with the hottest of the hottest.

1

u/BigCityRedditor 2h ago

You had to use Featherfall? You can reach Karlach by going over the river just a little east of the owlbeae cave with two jumps

7

u/Forsyth420 2d ago

Interestingly, you can make the jump with no slow falll. It’ll hurt a lot but isn’t lethal.

4

u/Ok-Tax1618 2d ago

Yep. As long as you have more than 24 hp you can make the jump and survive it.

3

u/schkmenebene 1d ago

This is EXACTLY what I did as well.

Instead of hiding and sneaking up when starting fights as I do now on my Tactician run, I jumped down there and started the fight with everyone prone, lol.

214

u/DeathCab4Cutie 2d ago

You can follow the red, sure, but if you don’t have featherfall, you can follow the blue and jump across the stream just above the owlbear cave.

130

u/A_Balrog_Is_Come 2d ago

And pick up Scratch on the way

52

u/LOUsername97 2d ago

You can also pick up Scratch AFTER you get Karlach though if you go the red way. I always do it because I feel like Karlach would appreciate the early interaction with the goodest boy.

12

u/SnarkyRogue Rogue 2d ago

Doesn't everyone start with that pack in camp with potions (including feather fall) or did I get some sort of preorder/early access bonus?

5

u/DeathCab4Cutie 2d ago

Probably, but I always take the blue path anyway. Like someone else said though, you miss out on Karlach meeting scratch

7

u/campbellm 2d ago

I got some ugly helmet that allows Disguise Self and fancy dinner clothes, but no potions.

4

u/FoxMeats69 Wizard 1d ago

there's definitely potions my guy and it's from the digital deluxe upgrade. The potions are in the Bewildering Adventurer's Pack w/ a bunch food

5

u/StupendusDeliris 2d ago

You can also head south on red line at the center point and jump to the dead guy and his siblings

4

u/formatomi 1d ago

You dont even need featherfall, busted kneecaps heal overnight and you need frequent long rest in act 1 for the scenes anyway

3

u/Crunchy-Leaf 2d ago

There’s a potion of fly pretty early in the game I always use that

3

u/Licensed-Grapefruit 1d ago

Or you can be like me and not waste a spell slot and jump anyway then heal anyone who goes down. Laezel will always survive the fall.

2

u/ARC_Trooper_Echo 1d ago

Is that not the intended way? It’s how I do it every time.

3

u/DeathCab4Cutie 1d ago

Most people don’t see the jumpable stones in the stream for their first one or two play throughs

2

u/AlfalfaCurious545 1h ago

This is what I always do, never taken the actual road there in like a dozen playthroughs

71

u/SpiritFingersKitty 2d ago

Who needs feather fall? Just play half orc and jump! You will get raised to 1hp lol

17

u/AlacarLeoricar 2d ago

Relentless Endurance/Orcish Furyis is awesome

67

u/mavi_ftf 2d ago

if you think about it, so many things and ppl are so close to each other. like Arabella and her parents in act 2. like, They Were Right THERE!!!1!!111

19

u/lonely_nipple 2d ago

Yeah! They totally should have heard her, the lazy bums! 😆

9

u/notyourancestor 2d ago

I read the last sentence with Astarion’s voice in my head lol

1

u/mavi_ftf 1d ago

awesome. that was my intention xD

38

u/whyreadthis2035 2d ago

And you get to meet Lakrissa l, which adds some really cute content.

25

u/therealchangomalo 2d ago

I always make the bet with her!

16

u/whyreadthis2035 2d ago

Then ask for the kiss, but rejoice in her relationship with Alfira.

14

u/The-Nimbus 2d ago

Lakrissa is my biggest sadness that they didn't make her romanceable.

8

u/Daywalker2000 1d ago

There was so much potential in that first reaction with her. So much personality. But damn she really takes a back seat after that. Could just be personal bias. I wanted more haha

20

u/Kman1986 2d ago

If you weren't around here at launch, you likely have missed a lot of secrets like this that we shared. My big contribution was finding out you can click on a shovel in your inventory and click on the ground and dig up that treasure chest your 4 miles couldn't perceive.

6

u/grumpus_ryche 2d ago

I've played enough that I remember where most of them are now so I'm only mildly annoyed about the survival check failure.

15

u/jdw62995 2d ago

Yea and every time I jump over the river one or two companions refuse and I have to manually jump them over

11

u/mwmwmwmwmmdw Enrique and Poppers 1d ago

they clearly dont want to go down down down by the river

9

u/Mautea 2d ago

They made it just far enough that you also can't kill her from there.

That's my normal path to the cultist siblings.

7

u/Bruisedeggs 2d ago

I use Misty step

6

u/puzzifer 2d ago

Bruh.......... Same. 500 hrs. I did not know.

5

u/Fit-Association4922 2d ago

I feel so cheated by my own dumbassery 💀

4

u/Ycr1998 Bard 2d ago

Yup. There's also one by jumping the river near where you find Scratch.

4

u/Sea_Bread_4445 2d ago

You dont even need featherfalling. Just jump off the cliff

3

u/ne_ex 2d ago

Ah so that's what that little black spot I never clear up on the map is

3

u/Hypno_Keats 2d ago

I was curious about something, so when I first got to the grove during the fight I sent one character off on his own to go get Kalach. (Wanted to know what would happen if you went to talk to him for the first time and she was already in your party)

The second you recruit her Wyll just vanishes from the fight it moderately amused me.

1

u/currantfairy 1d ago

What if you start conversation with Wyll and get Karlach in the meantime? Damn, I want to check it out now

1

u/Hypno_Keats 1d ago

I'll try that on my next playthrough

2

u/IntelligentRaisin393 2d ago

Fuckin EXCUSE ME? What?!

2

u/CurzedRocks33 2d ago

I figured this out last week too!! So much quicker!

2

u/grumpus_ryche 2d ago

I found this once after getting a feather fall scroll in the chest. I thought the scroll was put there for that purpose, not that it was RNGesus smiling upon me.

2

u/Rayyuga 2d ago

Oh wow yeah that makes sense, I remember the first time I played I was up there by the npc to see what she is up to and then never came back because I didn't find anything interesting. I'm definitely going to use this information on my next Playthrough to get her early and see what she has to say around the Grove.

2

u/Hugh-Manatee 2d ago

Yeah I always jump down there to get her early for maximum interactions, etc.

2

u/Rumspringa7 2d ago

This is actually the only way I’ve ever done it, stumbled on the edge on my first run, jumped down with like 2 hp left, and picked up our favorite girlie.

2

u/SpaceCowGoBrr 2d ago

Since I figured it out the first time my 3rd play through I haven’t done it differently since. The fall does about 20 damage without feather fall, so as soon as I’m level 2 or 3 depending on the class I just yeet myself off the cliff (if I don’t have gale with me and I’m being lazy) and teleport back to the grove with her lol

2

u/tricky_toy 1d ago

Yeah. If you recruit her before Wyll and go to camp, Wyll automatically shows up when long resting.

2

u/strange_burger 1d ago

There’s also a path past scratch where you can hop across a few rocks in the river

2

u/Ozzeedee 1d ago

I actually found this route on my first playthrough. Felt pretty proud of myself tbh lol

1

u/usernamescifi 2d ago

Yeah I'm trying to think of all the paths? You can take the long way through the blighted village (over the bridge). You can go past the owlbear cave and jump the little stream that runs underneath the bridge. Then yeah, that feather fall way.   I can't think if there's another more convoluted way? 

1

u/prplegurila 2d ago

Omg i had no ieda

1

u/Gold---Mole 2d ago

Lol I got there but didn't know you could use feather fall to reach her

1

u/whatstwomore 2d ago

Went this way my first playthrough. I still struggle to find her if I DON'T go this way...

1

u/TeamFlameLeader 2d ago

Huh... ill have to try this on my 50th playthrough

1

u/Ill-Individual2105 2d ago

There is a what

1

u/NoxInSocks 2d ago

Yup! Just a lil hop, skip and a jump out of the grove!

1

u/ShotenDesu 2d ago

Wait you can just walk down there? I always take the super jump and just yeet myself from the ledge to her feet

1

u/DanceMaster117 2d ago

My last run, i didn't have feather fall, but I jumped anyway. Rolled up with 1 hp remaining

1

u/ConsciousTeach8284 2d ago

You can also jump across some stones in the river by scratch to get to her, skipping the village and gnolls. Tiny bit longer, but saves feather fall scroll or potion (for those without the spell)

1

u/GlassSpider21 2d ago

To think that Wyll is at most only a few hundred metres from Karlach when you meet him

1

u/whyreadthis2035 2d ago

I don’t want her romancible. My head canon for her happily ever after with Alfira is a highlight of the game.

1

u/Jops817 2d ago

You learned before SO many people in this thread including myself, thank you.

1

u/thuridovah 2d ago

the main reason I love this game! I have 400 hours in and every new playthrough I discover something new

1

u/Dhagar 2d ago

HOly crap I discovered this just yesterday on my Lae-zel honormode run. Also almost 500 hours of playing!

1

u/yanagitennen 2d ago

...1400 hours into multiple playthroughs, and I just learned this...

1

u/d_r_doorway 2d ago

Literally same. Saw this shortcut on YouTube after 4 playthrus and was shocked. Felt like an idiot.

1

u/Melodic_Pressure7944 2d ago

I usually take the route next to the Owlbear Cave

1

u/TCUdad 2d ago

feather fall is underrated all over the game.

1

u/JL9999jl 1d ago

If I don't feather fall yet, I just have one person jump and run past the paladins to the way point . Can collect the rest of the party at way point.

1

u/FoxMeats69 Wizard 1d ago

bro i got over 1500 hours on this game how am I still learning new shit ffs

1

u/Ebenizer_Splooge 1d ago

Actually the way I went my first playthrough as I explored the Grove waaaaay too thoroughly lol

1

u/YouAreADoghnut 1d ago

This is how I found her on my second playthrough because I could not for the life of me find the normal route lmao

1

u/grizzled083 1d ago

On my only play through, this was my first way out of the grove. I parkoured, and explored the map clockwise. Finding Karlach kinda late lol.

1

u/mu-115 1d ago

you can perform a similar jump from the blighted village almost directly into the goblin camp - look behind the windmill for the right spot

1

u/Gloomy-Inflation-403 1d ago

Been playing this game for 420 hours and I was just thinking yesterday how its a shame you can't get to Karlach sooner. You have answered the call because I did not know this either.

1

u/improperbehavior333 1d ago

I usually do the Owlbear, then up to scratch, and then jump over from scratch to get Karlach. But I do like this new information.

1

u/SnooSongs2744 Ranger 1d ago

Its not that far anyway.

1

u/natnatenathan 1d ago

Feather fall!?!? I just jumped and almost killed my party with the damage. Almost! Totally worth it. 

1

u/Robomerc 12h ago

Well I'll have to recruit her fast during my next playthrough.

1

u/AresKujo 5h ago

I accidentally found this spot after talking to Zelvor and Lakrissa (and giving her 10 gold coins lol), and I jumped down to see Edowin and the absolute kids, and then went over to Karlach.

1

u/ElLibroRojo 2d ago

this convinced me to start a new play through.
though i will probably just finish act 1 and stay at the entrance of act 2.

0

u/Substantial_Life4773 2d ago

Ain’t no one ever gotten to her that way lol

-5

u/josh35767 2d ago

I mean, it’s not really necessary though? Go toward the owl bear cave, climb up where scratch is, and hop across the river. Don’t need feather fall and takes only slightly longer.

5

u/Crunchy-Leaf 2d ago

That’s what shortcut means

-2

u/josh35767 2d ago

I understand, and I’m simply saying the shortcut isn’t very significant or that helpful. I was saying the route normal route is quick enough as is. You save maybe 30 seconds of walking in an individual playthrough? Unless you’re speed running, not sure I see the point.

2

u/JDL1981 2d ago

You get her early and don't have to go through some fights you may not be ready to do.

-1

u/josh35767 2d ago

Right, but my point is that you can get her equally as early with the path I mentioned without encountering any fights.