You should know that the choices you make in Baldur’s Gate 3 have a deep impact on your entire campaign. One choice that can have a massive impact is to decide whether to recruit or rescue specific characters you encounter in your journey. There is one such character Barcus Wroot who’s a gnome with a knack for getting into tight spots but could be effective for your story.
This quirky guy first pops up in the Blighted Village, where you’ll find him in a rather precarious situation—stuck on a windmill, of all places. Helping Barcus can have some surprising and rewarding outcomes later in the game. So, thinking about how to add this intriguing gnome to your list of allies? This guide walks you through everything you need to know about recruiting or rescuing Barcus Wroot in Baldur’s Gate 3.
First Encounter with Barcus Wroot in BG3
Amidst the chaos and ruins in Blighted Village, you might spot a curious sight—a gnome spinning uncontrollably on a windmill, and that’s Barcus Wroot. You will find him in the western part of the village but he’s not having the time of his life.
As you get closer, you’ll notice a bunch of goblins are gathered around, making bets on how long he’ll last up there. If you ask me, the situation is completely against this gnome. However, you’ve got some choices to make there. You could fight the goblins there to free him, or you could use your silver tongue to convince these goblins with dialogue options to find their fun at any other place.
During my playthrough, I decided to go the diplomatic route. Managed to convince the little troublemakers that there were better ways to entertain themselves. It’s all about reading the room—or, in this case, the pack of goblins.
How to Rescue Barcus Wroot in Baldur’s Gate 3
After getting rid of the goblins, it’s time to get Barcus off that spinning nightmare of a windmill. Once you’ve put the brakes on the windmill, you can finally approach Barcus and help him down. Now, expect a little sass—this NPC isn’t someone to shower you with thanks. Honestly, he’s a bit skeptical about your intentions, probably wondering if you will toss him back up for another round.
But after a quick chat with you, he realizes you’re not one of the bad guys and decides to walk away. He will leave this place but don’t worry, this isn’t the last you’ll see of him. If you want to meet Barcus Wroot again, he pops back into your life when you least expect it. He will need your help once more, and this next part is important if you want him to accompany you on your journey ahead. So, on to Act 2 and another dicey situation for our gnome friend.
Second Encounter and the Act of Saving Him Again
In Act 2, Barcus Wroot makes another entrance into your storyline. This time, you’ll stumble upon him at Gyrmforge, and is he in another pickle. Barcus and some of his gnome friends are caught by the Absolute Cultists and are working on freeing their leaders.
Barcus is in the cave-in situation, and you with your party members need to get those rocks out of the way to save him. Once you’ve done that, you might expect a big, hearty “thank you” from our gnome friend. Spoiler alert: Barcus is still the same skeptical guy you met back at the windmill, but he’ll at least acknowledge you’re there to hurt him.
Convincing Barcus Wroot to Join Your Camp
After you free him from the cave-in at Gyrmforge, you’ll get the chance to chat and use the Persuation check to invite him to your camp. If you’ve got a character with high charisma, now’s the time to bring them out. Initially, Barcus will be like, “Eh, thanks but no thanks.” But don’t give up! That’s what the persuasion roll is for. Nail it, and you’ll have yourself a new camp companion.
If you manage to convince him, he won’t become a party member actually, but he will hang out at your camp and even tag along as you head to the big leagues in Baldur’s Gate 3. And possibly, you’ll want him there for what comes next.
Why You Should Recruit Barcus Wroot in BG3?
Having Barcus around can spice things up in the endgame. Sure, he might not be slinging spells or wielding a sword alongside you, but he has the diplomatic knack that can be useful. When you finally make it to Baldur’s Gate, you’ll be entangled in some pretty complex politics, especially when it comes to the Ironhands and their leader, Wulbren, versus Gortash and the Steel Watch. Tensions are high, and things can get messy there but with Barcus at your side, he’s got a thing or two to say about this whole conflict.
With his nuanced understanding of politics, Barcus can be your ace in the hole. He’ll step up and use his diplomatic skills to try and defuse the situation between the Ironhands and Gortash. And his actions can lead to one of the good Baldur’s Gate 3 endings. Seriously, having this gnome around can turn your good ending into a great one.
Moreover, we have also covered other BG3 guides such as can you save Karlach in BG3, Dark Urge best class in Baldur’s Gate 3, or should you kill Anders or Karlachk the Devil in BG3? You can also visit our guides hub to check out all the latest information about the games.
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