When faced with the choice to save the hostages in The Outer Worlds 2, your decision cuts deeper than it seems. Will compassion earn you allies-or cost you everything in a universe where loyalty has a price?
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Should you save the hostages in The Outer Worlds 2?
In The Outer Worlds 2, the decision to save the hostages is a pivotal choice that impacts the story and your standing with key factions. Saving them can earn you goodwill and unlock unique dialogue options, but it may also lead to unexpected consequences later in the game. Consider your playstyle and alliances carefully before making this moral decision.
If you haven’t decided whether to save the hostages, breathe easy; they won’t get crushed as long as you don’t enter Seer Wiley’s observatory or finish the orb puzzle, so you can ignore their screams for help while mulling it over.
Here’s what your choice may lead to:
- Save the hostages: You gain 3 reputation in the Order of Ascension faction. Later in the main quest, you can mention your heroic deed to convince an NPC of your good intentions, but there will be other ways to achieve the same goal. Unfortunately, saving the hostages means you’ll face more automech enemies (massive Protectorate Dragoons, to be exact) in the next main quest: “Fiends in High Places.”
- Don’t save the hostages: Your Order of Ascension reputation drops by -3 points, but there will be fewer automech enemies in “Fiends in High Places,” the next main quest.
- Kill the hostages: Your Order of Ascension reputation drops by -3 points. Instead of ignoring the hostages, you can also solve the orb puzzle as described below, but choose “activate keypunch cycle” to kill them yourself. If you do this, you will still face the automech enemies in “Fiends in High Places.”
So, should you save the hostages in The Outer Worlds 2? Although the Protectorate Dragoons are quite tough, they’re not impossible to defeat, especially if you’ve leveled your Hack skill, which increases damage against automechs. Pair that with an early game perk like “Manual Reset” to stun automech opponents, and they shouldn’t give you too much trouble.
In other words, the consequences of saving the hostages aren’t severe enough to warrant ignoring them. But if you do ignore them and are worried about loot, know that the inactive automech bodies will still be present during “Fiends in High Places,” ripe for the plucking.
How to save the hostages in The Outer Worlds 2
In The Outer Worlds 2, saving the hostages requires careful planning and strategic action. First, gather intelligence about their location and the captors’ strength. Equip your party with the best gear and skills suited for stealth or combat, depending on your preferred approach. Use dialogue options to gather information or negotiate when possible, but be ready for a fight. Successfully rescuing the hostages can impact your reputation and open up new questlines, so weigh the risks and rewards before making your move.
To save the hostages, you must solve the orb puzzle. Starting from the room with the two hostages behind the purple screen, head right, through the door that says: “Be a hero.”
See the library full of enemies to your left? Defeat them, head upstairs, and leave the library. You’ll see a large, colorful orb in front of you. The goal is to let this orb roll all the way down. First, step on the pressure plates, starting with the one next to the orb, then working your way to the left. Be sure to stand on each pressure plate until the orb has passed you by.
Next, drop down through the hole in the ground. Enter the square, and shoot the three targets blocking the orb:
Follow the red cables on the ground to find a lever and pull it.
Step on the left pressure plate and wait until the orb has passed to then move onto the right pressure plate.
That’s it! Walk down to the hostages, collect the keycard from the orb’s landing spot, and insert it in the machine in front of the purple screen.
Although you’ve already cleared the orb puzzle, you’ll be presented with two options:
- Disable auto-pneumatic keypunch: This will save the hostages.
- Activate keypunch cycle: This will kill the hostages.
If you pick one of these options, the choice is permanent. Remember, if you leave without using the keycard, speaking with Seer Wiley will serve as the point of no return instead (ignoring the hostages, leading to their deaths).
How to solve the Alexandra Monastery orb puzzle step by step
To solve the Alexandra Monastery orb puzzle in The Outer Worlds 2, follow these steps precisely and you’ll unlock the Auto-Pneumatic Keypunch Activation Keycard to save the hostages:
Step-by-Step Solution
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Enter the room with the hostages and turn right through the “Be a Hero” door, where you’ll spot the orb.
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Examine the floor and locate three pressure plates. Step on each plate in succession-the orb will start to roll forward after each step.
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Once the orb passes the three obstacles, drop down through the hole in the floor and look left to find the orb’s new position.youtube
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Shoot the three red targets you see to clear the path for the orb so it can move down again.
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After the orb halts, move back and interact with the nearby switch-flip it twice to keep the orb rolling.youtube
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When the ball stops again, step on the pressure plate next to it to bring it up. Then, move to the right plate and stand on it; this will make the orb drop down through the hole.
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Go to the orb’s new location and collect the Auto-Pneumatic Keypunch Activation Keycard from the orb.
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Return to the console by the hostages and use the keycard to access the controls. Choose “Disable auto-pneumatic keypunch” to rescue the hostages.
Follow each step and check for obstacles or enemies that may need to be dealt with as the orb moves along its path. These actions will successfully solve the puzzle and open the way to free the hostages.youtube
Show a concise step sequence to complete the orb puzzle
Here is a concise sequence for completing the Alexandra Monastery orb puzzle:
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Enter the orb puzzle room and locate the orb.
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Step on each pressure plate to move the orb forward after every step.
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Drop down once the orb has passed obstacles and find its new position.
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Shoot the three red targets to clear the orb’s path.
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Flip the nearby switch twice to keep the orb rolling.
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Step on pressure plates to move the orb onto the final platform.
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Collect the Activation Keycard from the orb’s final location.
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Use the keycard at the hostages’ terminal to disable the auto-pneumatic keypunch and save them.
Each step advances the orb toward the goal and concludes with freeing the hostages.
