MP1st is here to bring a guide explaining what role Affinity has in Starfield regarding the main story mission, “A High Price to Pay.”
As a warning, this post contains significant spoilers in Starfield (thus, the title not being specific.) I don’t recommend reading this post unless you’ve beaten the campaign or reached a particular part in the story (you’ll know) and are wondering what other options you have.
Again, this is a major spoiler. It’s your last chance to turn back. Still with us, huh? Alright, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Starfield – High Price to Pay – How Affinity Plays a Role
Upon completing “No Sudden Moves,” players will be given a new main quest dubbed “A High Price to Pay.” This quest will see you return to the Lodge, where our mysterious space foes suddenly attack The Eye, where some of your companions are currently. Here, players must decide to Stay and defend The Lodge from the incoming attack or go to The Eye to rescue those attacked.
Regardless of which one you decide on, one companion will die, either one in The Lodge or one on The Eye.
While it seems that whoever the game decides to live and who dies does at first appear random, this is where “affinity” in Starfield comes into play. For those unfamiliar with affinity, it’s essentially the level of relation you have with a companion, otherwise known as companion levels. Having learned from a friend that they were given a different option for who they could save, I decided to test around and alter the in-game values of each of my companions’ affinity and discovered that whichever two had the highest would be chosen as the companions you have to decide between.
Other factors could potentially be at play here, but as far as we know from tinkering with affinity values, it seems to be the significant contributor.
So if there’s a companion you don’t want to die, make sure you build that affinity up with someone you’d rather see go. It’s a bit dark, but we all have our favorites. You might as well do everything you can to make sure they make it out alive.
Starfield is available to play in early access for premium owners, while standard owners can start their journey into the stars this Wednesday, September 6. If you haven’t already, read our Starfield review to discover why this is one space adventure you don’t want to miss out on.
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