Tech

Baldur’s Gate 3 – How To Recruit Minsc

Published

1 year ago

August 9, 2023

You’ll meet many companions early in your Baldur’s Gate 3 journey. The last one that can potentially join your squad is Minsc, a returning character from the previous games. However, there are a few things that are required before he happily buddies up with you. Our Baldur’s Gate 3 Minsc guide discusses how you can recruit him, as well as his hamster Boo, later in the game. Likewise, please be reminded that this article contains spoilers.

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How to Recruit Minsc in Baldur’s Gate 3

The Baldur’s Gate 3 Minsc recruitment method happens much later, specifically during the game’s third act. Here’s a quick summary of how we progressed in the campaign:

During Act 2, we made sure to recruit and keep Jaheira alive. Then, in Act 3, she gave us The High Harper companion quest.
As you advance, do the necessary objectives, such as encountering the Harper traitors and entering the Counting House Vault.
It’s revealed that Minsc has been “tadpoled,” and is a thrall of the Absolute. He, alongside a shapeshifting Jaheira, manage to escape to the sewers.

Minsc Location: Abandoned Cistern Puzzle in the Sewers

Later, you’ll have to explore the Lower City’s sewers while you’re looking for Orin the Red. Regardless of the passage that you took, you’ll want to head all the way to the west. The coordinates are: X = -203, Y = 867.

There, you’ll come across the Abandoned Cistern valve puzzle. The goal is to raise both the water and temperature to their optimal levels. Before you continue, make sure you have a backup save.

Time your clicks when interacting with the water and temperature valves to open the sluice gate.

In any case, here’s how we solved the Baldur’s Gate 3 Abandoned Cistern valve puzzle:

Select only one character and have them stand in front of the water valve. Click on it once. The level on the gauge will rise slowly, as you’ll see on the object’s name (i.e. it’s like a timed “buff” of sorts).
After roughly five seconds, move to the temperature gauge and click on it once. The temperature rises a bit faster.
Because of the right timing, both should hit their optimal levels at the same time, causing the sluice gate to open.
Note that if the water and temperature controls reach their maximum level, they’ll cause damage to your characters. Water will jet out of the pump, pushing away your character. Meanwhile, the temperature will cause an explosion in a small area.
There’s also a sluice valve to the left, which requires you to pass an Athletics check. We’ve tried this with a 20 STR companion, but it didn’t work.

Sewer Battle: How to Keep Minsc Alive

Before you attempt to recruit Minsc in Baldur’s Gate 3, you’ll have to battle him and his cohorts. Again, keep a backup save just in case. Here’s what you need to watch out for during the fight:

You must incapacitate Minsc by landing a non-lethral attack as your final blow. To do this, check the Passives tab in your action bar, and select Toggle Non-Lethal Attacks. This can only be done if you’re using a melee weapon or unarmed attacks.
Minsc must not be killed via normal attacks or spells. Otherwise, Jaheira will leave your party for good.
Minsc’s teammates include a Jaheira shapeshifter and several thugs. A couple are also perched on higher ledges.

Watch out for the enemies, and make sure you down Minsc with a non-lethal attack.

How to Restrict the Absolute’s Mind Control

After defeating all hostiles and dropping Minsc with a non-lethal attack, there will be a dialogue sequence. Jaheira wants to save him, but the Emperor Mindflayer thinks he’s too chaotic and would disrupt your plans. Choose the following replies if you want to recruit Minsc in Baldur’s Gate 3:

“Try to protect him. I must defy my urge.”
“He’s Jaheira’s friend. Do it.”
“I don’t think you want to find out,” or “It doesn’t matter–help him.”

Choosing the above responses will make the Emperor Mindflayer shield Minsc’s mind from the Absolute’s control. Shortly thereafter, Minsc will start bashing the cistern walls. Follow him and you’ll be introduced to his hamster, Boo. You can then have the two join your party permanently.

Minsc will look for Boo. The two will want to join your group.

Minsc as a Companion

Once Minsc is part of your team, he’ll be reset to level 1. However, he has enough XP to reach the level 12 cap. He’s also a Ranger by default, though you can always do a class respec if you prefer. Alternatively, you can take a look at our Ranger guide to see some viable build options. Any non-spellcaster type would work great since he has proficiencies in most armors and weapons by default.

This fella is quite silly, often relying on his hamster’s ideas. He also shares information about his past, notably when he fought alongside Jaheira and the Bhaalspawn (i.e. the player’s character from the previous game). Likewise, he has hilarious views about some of your other teammates.

Minsc is reset to level 1 when he joins up. Thankfully, he has enough XP to get maxed out up to level 12, and he’s proficient in most armor and weapon types, too.

Lastly, don’t forget that Minsc has been “tadpoled,” which means he can be persuaded to gain newfound Illithid Powers. Although he’ll reject the “basic” abilities, he’s okay with acquiring the high-tier options.

In any case, that’s how you recruit Minsc in Baldur’s Gate 3. It’s been a long and winding road, but you should have most companions with you at this stage.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is filled to the brim with activities and secrets. You’ll no doubt be part of an adventure that can take countless hours to complete. For other tips, you can visit our BG3 guides hub.

The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors.
GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.

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Tech

Ottawa orders TikTok’s Canadian arm to be dissolved

Published

5 days ago

November 6, 2024

Anne Joseph

The federal government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, but stopped short of ordering people to stay off the app.

Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the government’s “wind up” demand Wednesday, saying it is meant to address “risks” related to ByteDance Ltd.’s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.

“The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” he said in a statement.

The announcement added that the government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content.

However, it urged people to “adopt good cybersecurity practices and assess the possible risks of using social media platforms and applications, including how their information is likely to be protected, managed, used and shared by foreign actors, as well as to be aware of which country’s laws apply.”

Champagne’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking details about what evidence led to the government’s dissolution demand, how long ByteDance has to comply and why the app is not being banned.

A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the shutdown of its Canadian offices will mean the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs.

“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesperson said.

“The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”

The federal Liberals ordered a national security review of TikTok in September 2023, but it was not public knowledge until The Canadian Press reported in March that it was investigating the company.

At the time, it said the review was based on the expansion of a business, which it said constituted the establishment of a new Canadian entity. It declined to provide any further details about what expansion it was reviewing.

A government database showed a notification of new business from TikTok in June 2023. It said Network Sense Ventures Ltd. in Toronto and Vancouver would engage in “marketing, advertising, and content/creator development activities in relation to the use of the TikTok app in Canada.”

Even before the review, ByteDance and TikTok were lightning rod for privacy and safety concerns because Chinese national security laws compel organizations in the country to assist with intelligence gathering.

Such concerns led the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill in March designed to ban TikTok unless its China-based owner sells its stake in the business.

Champagne’s office has maintained Canada’s review was not related to the U.S. bill, which has yet to pass.

Canada’s review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate any foreign investment with potential to might harm national security.

While cabinet can make investors sell parts of the business or shares, Champagne has said the act doesn’t allow him to disclose details of the review.

Wednesday’s dissolution order was made in accordance with the act.

The federal government banned TikTok from its mobile devices in February 2023 following the launch of an investigation into the company by federal and provincial privacy commissioners.

— With files from Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.

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Health

Here is how to prepare your online accounts for when you die

Published

3 weeks ago

October 24, 2024

Anne Joseph

LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?

It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.

Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:

Apple

The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.

For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.

You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.

Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.

Google

Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.

When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.

You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.

There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.

Facebook and Instagram

Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.

When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.

The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.

You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.

TikTok

The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.

Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.

It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.

Passwords

Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?

Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.

But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.

___

Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.

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Tech

Google’s partnership with AI startup Anthropic faces a UK competition investigation

Published

3 weeks ago

October 24, 2024

Anne Joseph

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.

The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.

The CMA has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.

“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”

San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.

Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”

“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.

The U.K. regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral.

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