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In Baldur’s Gate 3, the enigmatic wizard Elminster opts for a unique approach by sending a simulacrum to visit Gale rather than making a personal appearance. Known for his immense wizardry in Ed Greenwood’s novels and prior involvement in the original Baldur’s Gate game, where he observed and guided the player character, Elminster’s role in Baldur’s Gate 3 predominantly revolves around Gale’s storyline. He significantly influences events and interactions related to the scholarly character, to the extent that Elminster disregards players who fail to recruit or lose Gale.
Notably, among the companions in Baldur’s Gate 3, Gale presents an unconventional way to potentially “conclude” the campaign an Act earlier, contingent upon specific conditions, notably involving his involvement in the confrontation with Ketheric Thorm in Act 2. While primarily serving as a messenger for Mystra, Elminster also plants the idea of utilizing Gale’s orb to dismantle the Heart of the Absolute. However, this outcome may not align with the desired ending for the inhabitants of the Sword Coast.
Interestingly, Elminster’s appearance in Baldur’s Gate 3 is technically a depiction of a construct, not a genuine presence. Discerning players who inspect Elminster during the campaign will find him categorized as a construct rather than a humanoid. This distinction aligns with the 7th Level spell in Dungeons & Dragons known as Simulacrum, which allows a wizard to create an illusory duplicate of a creature or humanoid within a certain range. The illusory copy is explicitly defined as a construct, accurately reflecting the nature of the Elminster encountered near the entrance to the Shadow-Cursed Lands.
This revelation doesn’t detract from the significance of the message Elminster imparts to Gale. Nevertheless, it amusingly portrays the characteristic behavior of a Level 20 Wizard to convey his message through a Simulacrum. The variety of possible endings for Gale in Baldur’s Gate 3 depends on the player’s influence throughout the campaign, underscoring the diverse outcomes achievable.
Despite Elminster’s Simulacrum appearing in only two scenes, many fans consider it among the game’s stronger cameos. The Epilogue introduced in Patch 5 seemingly concludes the base game’s narrative while hinting at potential future adventures with the same cast, possibly including another fleeting appearance by Elminster—perhaps once again through his Simulacrum.