How to Stop the Presses in Baldurs Gate 3

Navigating the bustling streets of the Lower City in Baldur's Gate 3 presents players with unique systemic challenges that extend beyond standard tactical combat. One of the most notable time-sensitive side quests involves safeguarding your reputation against a smear campaign orchestrated by the Baldur's Mouth Gazette. Successfully resolving this public relations crisis requires a blend of careful exploration, stealth coordination, and quick problem-solving before the next morning's delivery arrives.

Initiating the Quest at Baldur's Mouth

The quest officially begins when you speak with Estra Stir near the Basilisk Gate or encounter the chief editor, Ettvard Needle, inside the local newspaper headquarters. Needle reveals that Lord Gortash has ordered a highly damaging article to be published about your party in tomorrow's edition. Once this conversation concludes, a hidden timer starts, forcing you to resolve the issue before taking a long rest at your camp.

Failing to intervene before the next day will result in a city-wide reputation penalty that turns local guards hostile immediately upon spotting you. Therefore, it is highly recommended to delay your camp resting cycles until you have fully dealt with the printing press. Taking immediate action ensures your exploration remains unimpeded by continuous civilian panic and sudden urban skirmishes.

Infiltrating the Printing Press Basement

To alter the upcoming headline, your primary objective is to gain access to the restricted basement area where the mechanical press operates. The building is heavily guarded by both human security personnel and steel watchers who monitor entry points strictly. Many players utilize advanced invisibility potions or greater invisibility spells to bypass the front doors without triggering combat.

Alternatively, sneaking up to the roof allows you to descend through an open elevator shaft to minimize direct line-of-sight exposure. Activating turn-based mode during your infiltration helps you calculate guard patrol paths and execute swift movements flawlessly. Once inside the lower levels, maintaining a quiet profile is essential to prevent reinforcements from locking down the operational chambers.

Finding a Positive Story to Swap

Reaching the printing press itself is only half the battle, as you cannot simply destroy the machine to achieve the desired outcome. You must locate an alternative, positive news template to manually insert into the typesetting mechanism. Several viable articles are hidden throughout the basement shelves and nearby storage containers.

One of the most popular replacement articles is located inside a wicker basket situated at the back of the room near the printing machinery. This specific template highlights a heartwarming local story that will completely replace the negative smear campaign. Gathering this item before interacting with the main press ensures you can complete the mechanical swap instantly during your window of opportunity.

Altering the Press and Reaping Rewards

With the positive article template in your inventory, approach the large enchanted printing press hidden deep within the facility. The machine possesses a unique magical awareness and will converse with you regarding the pending publication lines. You must choose the dialogue option to clear the old layout and insert your newly found positive story plate.

After successfully updating the press configuration, you can safely extract your party from the building using identical stealth methods. When you eventually take a long rest, the next morning's paper will feature the pleasant news rather than the intended slander. This successful resolution preserves your public standing and even grants distinct discounts with various merchants across the Lower City region.