Early in Obsidian Entertainment's acclaimed RPG, players are tasked with resolving a major energy crisis in Emerald Vale during the quest Comes Now the Power. Your primary decision involves diverting electrical power from a central regulator to either the corporate-owned town of Edgewater or the breakaway botanical lab community. This pivotal choice sets the tone for your campaign and fundamentally reshapes the local political landscape.
Redirecting Power to Edgewater
Choosing to support Edgewater keeps the town powered, maintaining corporate control under Reed Tobson. However, this path completely cuts off the power supply to the botanical lab, forcing Adelaide McDevitt and her followers to face an uncertain future. Gamers looking for the latest updates on RPG mechanics often follow daily gaming news to optimize their story playthroughs.
If you choose Edgewater, you can convince Adelaide's deserters to return to the town to avoid starvation. Additionally, high social stats allow you to convince Reed to step down, appointing Adelaide as the new leader of Edgewater to achieve a more compassionate resolution.
Supporting the Botanical Lab Deserters
Diverting the power regulator to the botanical lab prioritizes Adelaide's self-sufficient community over Spacer's Choice interests. Doing so leaves Edgewater without power, prompting many of its residents to abandon the town or suffer under corporate neglect. This outcome permanently damages your reputation with the Spacer's Choice faction early in the game.
While this decision rewards Adelaide's green initiative, it leaves the town in ruin. Players who favor anti-corporate narrative paths usually find this route deeply satisfying despite its harsh consequences for Edgewater's workers.
Long-Term Consequences and Ending Slides
The decision made during Comes Now the Power impacts companion relationships, particularly Parvati, who voices strong moral concerns regarding the fate of both settlements. Taking the power regulator is required to launch your ship, the Unreliable, ensuring that a choice must eventually be made.
Your decision also reflects directly in the game's final epilogue slides, detailing how Emerald Vale adapts over time. Balancing immediate survival needs with moral ideals remains one of the finest examples of quest design in modern role-playing games.
