Larian Studios chipped away at Baldur’s Gate 3 for years, eventually going into early access in 2020. Naturally, many of the game’s characters evolve significantly from their early access counterpart. Appearing alongside the game’s cast at a special Q&A panel, voice actor Dave Jones notes how he brought Halsin to life, and the changes the character underwent before the game’s full release.
At EGX 2023, cast member from Baldur’s Gate 3 gather to discuss the game’s development, now-iconic moments, and even some surprising inspirations. Attended by The Loadout’s Aaron Down, Halsin actor Dave Jones describes the creative process for fleshing out the character: “I tend to get most of my character from the lines themselves rather than the brief [from Larian Studios].” Like his fellow Baldur’s Gate 3 voice actors, Jones’ initial perception of Halsin might not be what fans expect.
“I thought, ‘is he going to be [speaking in] a lot deeper registry?” Jones clarifies. With mountains of content to explore, the length of Baldur’s Gate 3 means that Jones can experiment with Halsin along the way. “The character evolved from the first act anyway, because when we went into early access, the character took off from there. [In] the original brief [from Larian], he was just a buff guy,” Jones adds on his participation in one of the best RPG games of 2023.
Jones expresses that “there’s no real good or bad side to him. He loves nature, he loves order, he loves most things, but if there’s bad stuff out there he’s not afraid to tear the fucker apart.” Auditioning for the part during the beginning of 2020, wearing a tee sporting The Goonies, Jones reveals that the “original audition name [for Halsin] was Galfin.”
Halsin as we know them is a character worth getting on your side. Dedicated to bringing justice across the long, his stance on preserving nature and the world around him is incredibly important to him. He might be stern, but he’s lovable, really.
When it comes to navigating all the best Baldur’s Gate 3 companions, Halsin might be left out in favor of characters like Astarion or Shadowheart. Sure, having Shadowheart on your side is especially useful, as her presence as a High Half-Elf Cleric makes her an amazing support and healer for your party. We’d even recommend Cleric as one of the best Baldur’s Gate 3 class choices, but that depends on if you prefer playing in a support role.
However, Halsin’s focus on magic casting is just as enticing. Players may want to consider Circle of Spore or Circle of the Land as his subclass. Despite his hulking size, he actually isn’t that strong strength wise, but his access to some of the best Baldur’s Gate 3 spells is worth considering.