Whether you took the alternative route to Bakbattahl or flashed your fancy permit, getting there opens up so many more side quests in Dragon’s Dogma 2. Short Sighted Ambition, for example, starts out innocently enough, only to spiral into complete madness. Like many side quests, such as Tensions on the High Road, Short Sighted Ambition does have multiple endings. While it may seem like a straightforward decision to help Isaac or his family, it’s anything but easy.
How to Do the Short Sighted Ambition Quest in DD2
At the start of Short Sighted Ambition in DD2, Isaac has you foraging for fruit, but then it takes a much darker path. Looking back, Isaac may have been grooming you for a cult. At any rate, the quest unfolds like so:
- Locate and return a Ripened Quince
- Obtain the book On the Transference of Souls 2
- Help or sabotage Isaac’s ritual
Getting the Ripened Quince is rather easy; you may have come across some on your way to Bakbattahl. If not, step outside the city, into the wilderness, and look for a small bush with yellow fruit hanging from it.
Grab a couple quinces as backup. To ripen it, find a bench or inn and rest until it’s ripened. After you hand it over to Isaac, wait a couple days and he’ll have a second request: finding the book On the Transference of Souls 2.
Before you’re off to your next adventure, Isaac’s wife and daughter want you to reconsider. Rather than hand Isaac the book he wants, you can sabotage his ritual instead.
Should You Help Isaac in Short Sighted Ambition or Deceive Him?
Choosing to help Isaac or not really depends on your vocation and, to some extent, the progress you’ve made in Checkpoint Rest Town. I’ll elaborate!
If you decide to help Isaac complete the ritual, you’ll find the book in Checkpoint Rest Town at Ibrahim’s Scrap Store. In return, you’ll get the Ring of Disfavor as a quest reward. It’s a pretty solid ring if you or your Pawn are a Fighter or Warrior as it’ll increase the odds enemies attack you. If you want that kind of aggro, or you’re a spellcaster who wants to keep the heat off you, then help Isaac.
It’s important to note that helping Isaac will prevent you from using Ibrahim’s store and his services; in fact, it can brick quests such as Hunt for the Jadeite Orb. You can buy out his store beforehand, but that requires a large bank account. Losing his forgery services isn’t that big of a deal; there’s another forger in Vernworth.
On the other hand, sabotaging his ritual nets you the Celestial Paen, which is an equally useful spell that reduces damage taken, increases stamina regeneration, and everyone within the area of effect moves quicker. It’s a great support spell to have, so if that sounds great, sabotage Isaac’s ritual.
So, who do you choose? Honestly, it doesn’t matter. The Ring of Disfavor is also found in a chest in the Highland Cavern, and Celestial Paen can be picked up during the Spellbound side quest. If you choose to sabotage Isaac, make a forgery of On the Transference of Souls 2 and give him the fake.
