Hogwarts Legacy: Does Siding with Ominis or Sebastian Actually Matter?
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The short answer is: not really, at least not in the grand scheme of the Hogwarts Legacy story. Your choices throughout the Sebastian Sallow questline do have consequences, primarily affecting whether or not you learn the Unforgivable Curses, and impacting your relationship with certain characters. However, they don’t alter the main storyline’s ending or significantly change the overall world state.
Diving Deeper: The Illusion of Choice
Hogwarts Legacy, while offering a seemingly expansive world and numerous dialogue options, often falls into the trap of providing the illusion of choice. When it comes to the Sebastian Sallow questline, this is particularly evident. Let’s break down the key decisions and their actual impact.
The Relic Decision
During the “In The Shadow Of Time” quest, you’re faced with the decision of whether to let Sebastian take the relic. The game explicitly tells us that it doesn’t matter in the slightest. The outcome remains the same regardless of your choice, a missed opportunity to add real weight to your decision-making.
Siding with Ominis or Sebastian in Dialogue
Throughout the questline, you’ll have numerous opportunities to side with either Ominis Gaunt or Sebastian. For example, during “In the Shadow of Time,” you can choose to support Sebastian’s desire to learn Imperio. This might lead to you casting the spell on Ominis. Or, you can express your reservations and potentially learn the spell in a different way.
Again, the long-term consequences are minimal. Choosing to cast Imperio on Ominis doesn’t fundamentally alter your relationship with him, nor does it impact future events outside of that immediate scene.
Telling Ominis About Sebastian’s Actions
You’ll also face choices about whether to inform Ominis about Sebastian’s darker actions. While telling Ominis the truth might seem like the “right” thing to do from a moral perspective, it doesn’t significantly alter the narrative trajectory. Ominis will react according to his character, expressing concern and disapproval, but the core events of the questline will still unfold.
Turning Sebastian In
This is perhaps the most impactful decision, but even here, the consequences are limited. Turning Sebastian in leads to his expulsion and potential trial. Ominis will express conflicted feelings. The main drawback is not being able to learn Avada Kedavra through Sebastian if you haven’t already, though there may be other ways through DLC.
If you choose not to turn Sebastian in, you keep the option open to learn the Unforgivable Curses, including Avada Kedavra, provided you choose the appropriate dialogue options. This allows you to explore the darker aspects of magic and potentially build a character with a more ambiguous moral compass.
Friendship Choices: Natty or Sebastian?
Even the choice of who accompanies you to Hogsmeade has little impact. Whether you choose Natty or Sebastian, the outcome of the trip remains essentially the same, only affecting the specific conversations you have during the visit.
The Importance of Player Agency (or Lack Thereof)
The fact that so many choices have minimal impact highlights a key area where Hogwarts Legacy falls short: player agency. While the game presents a vast and visually stunning world, it often restricts the player’s ability to truly shape the narrative. This can be frustrating for players who expect their decisions to have meaningful consequences.
However, the Games Learning Society emphasizes that even in games with limited direct impact, choices can still be valuable. The act of choosing, even if the outcome is predetermined, can lead to reflection on moral dilemmas and exploration of different character archetypes.
FAQs: Navigating the Sebastian Sallow Questline
1. Can I learn Avada Kedavra if I turn Sebastian in?
No, generally not through Sebastian. Turning Sebastian in usually prevents you from learning Avada Kedavra through his quest line. However, if you have the Deluxe Edition or Dark Arts Pack DLC, you may be able to learn it in the Dark Arts Battle Arena.
2. Does telling Sebastian the truth matter?
No, telling Sebastian the truth or not does not significantly affect Hogwarts Legacy’s story or your friendship with him.
3. Should I let Sebastian take the relic?
It doesn’t matter; the outcome is the same regardless of your choice.
4. What happens if I don’t side with Ominis?
There are no significant long-term consequences for not siding with Ominis.
5. Is it better to betray Sebastian?
It depends on your goals. If you want to learn the Unforgivable Curses, you should not betray Sebastian.
6. Can you mess up Sebastian’s questline?
You can’t significantly alter Sebastian’s questline. Certain key events will occur no matter what choices you make.
7. Is there a way to save Sebastian in Hogwarts Legacy?
No, there’s no way to completely prevent Sebastian’s fate. You can only choose whether to turn him in or not. Irrespective of your choice, Anne’s condition remains the same.
8. What happens if I curse Sebastian?
There is no major difference between taking Crucio or casting it on Sebastian.
9. Should I choose Sebastian or Natty for Hogsmeade?
The choice is inconsequential to the overall story, only impacting the conversations you have during the trip.
10. Can you trust Natty or Sebastian?
It doesn’t make much difference which character you choose to trust.
11. How does Ominis react to turning Sebastian in?
Ominis expresses conflicted feelings and sadness about Sebastian’s expulsion and upcoming trial.
12. Can I use Avada Kedavra on students?
In the standard version of Hogwarts Legacy, you cannot directly harm students with Avada Kedavra or any other spell. There may be ways via mods or outside content.
13. How can I get Avada Kedavra if I say no to Sebastian initially?
You must complete the Sebastian Sallow relationship sidequests up to “In the Shadow of the Relic.”
14. Is Sebastian evil in Hogwarts Legacy?
Sebastian is a complex character driven by good intentions but who makes questionable choices that lead him down a dark path.
15. Can I still learn Avada Kedavra after saying no to it?
Yes. If you decline the spells initially, you can still learn Avada Kedavra later in his questline if you continue to support Sebastian.
Conclusion: Enjoy the Journey, Not Just the Destination
While the lack of meaningful choice in Hogwarts Legacy might disappoint some players, it’s important to remember that the game offers a rich and immersive experience. The world is beautifully crafted, the characters are engaging, and the combat is satisfying.
Rather than focusing solely on the end result, try to appreciate the journey itself. Explore the castle, learn new spells, and engage with the characters, even if your choices don’t drastically alter the narrative. The opportunity to immerse yourself in the Wizarding World and experience the life of a Hogwarts student is a reward in itself. As highlighted by GamesLearningSociety.org, games can still provide valuable learning experiences even when the player agency is limited. The Sebastian Sallow questline, despite its limitations, offers a compelling exploration of morality, friendship, and the allure of dark magic, making it a worthwhile experience regardless of your final decisions.