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There are hundreds of side activities and missions inRed Dead Redemption 2, and many of the optional stories are just as interesting as the main questline. A later-game mission called Idealism and Pragmatism for Beginners is one such side story, where Arthur can make some questionable decisions in the pursuit of “progress.”
Idealism and Pragmatism for Beginners takes place across three parts that take several in-game days to complete, and most are opportunities to build or lose Honor based on your decisions. You’ll learn about the quest’s various steps and outcomes here.
How to Begin The Idealism And Pragmatism For Beginners Mission
To start the Idealism and Pragmatism for Beginners mission,you first need tomake your way all the way to Chapter Fourof the main story quest whenyou and the gang are set upnear thesoutheastern city of Saint Denis.Even if you rush the story, that process is liable to take at least a few dozen hours.
Next,complete the Chapter Four mission ‘The Gilded Cage,‘where Arthur and some gang members attend a gala at the mayor’s mansion in town. Several in-game days after completing the main mission,head to any post officeandpick up the Invitationfrom Mayor Lemieux.
You’ll know there’s a letter for you because the Post Office icon on the map will be an open envelope rather than a closed one.
The letter will tell you to visit his mansion any night, sowait until after 9pmandhead over. Go around the back and approach the back door to trigger a cutscene explaining your first task: intimidating a local art expert to say a bunch of fake paintings are actually the real deal.
Follow Jean Marc, the mayor’s butler, to a cart out front, andfollow the marker down the road, turning right when Jean Marc says so.Shortly after,Professor Shiftacre will walk out from a pathto yourright.Jean Marc will point at him and ask that you follow at a close distance.
Stickat least fifteen feet behind the professorandfollow himuntil you’rein a small, secluded garden. There, you’ll need to confront him and “convince” him the paintings in question are, in fact, “real.”
How you convince the professor will depend on what kind of playthrough you’re doing. You can eitherbeat the man senseless,onlythreaten him with violence,or evengive him one small bruiseto get the point home.
Regardless of your choice,so long as you get Shiftacre to relent, which he’ll say aloud,your main task is done.Return to Jean Marc in the carriage andhe’ll give you $15.00 for your troubles, plus plenty of grumbling on his part.
How To Intimidate Hector Fellowes
Afterthree in-game days, another letter will arriveat the post office, the Second Invitation from Mayor Lemieux. Once collected,wait until nighttimeandreturn to the mayor’s mansion.
This time, you’ll be sent to “convince” a wealthy local man, Hector Fellowes, to fund a library the mayor wants to build. He’s taking a coach out of town, and you’ll need to catch up with him. Thecoach isheading northon themain road.
As you reach the destination marker on the map, you shouldsee the carriage rolling slowly away in the distance.
you’re able to eitherride along the carriage and jump to itorask the driver to stop.Either way, enter the stagecoach with Mr. Fellowes, and when prompted,intimidate him.
Arthur will hold the man by his tie out the coach’s door, andyou’ll need to let the tie slip just a little bitto threaten Fellowes with a very bad time.
You don’t want to let Fellowes die,so be quick about grabbing hold of his tie again.
After two short drops, he’ll give in and you’re able to leave the coach. The mayor will wish to see you again after dark.
How To Complete The Idealism And Pragmatism For Beginners Mission
When youreturn to the mayor’s mansion, you’ll find him rather than Jean Marc at the door. It seems the good butler is having second thoughts, and Limieux wants you to have a word with him.
You’ll find Jean Marc’s home a little ways south of the mayor’s residence. As with the Professor in the first part of the mission,approach Jean Marc and confront him. Arthur will knock him out, at which point the meat of this section starts.
You now need toget Jean Marc back to the mayorwithout being seen by the law, and while youcando it on a horse, it’s muchsafer and easier to do it on foot.
If you get the Wanted status because an officer sees you, the mission will fail.
Head across the road from Jean Marc’s house into the walled garden, then hang a right to take the exit at the northeast part of the garden. Make sure theroaming officerisfar enough awaythat he doesn’t hear you.
Once you make it back to the mayor’s residence, take Jean Marc around back and drop him in front of the mayor.Limieux will eventually tell you to kill Jean Marc, but will leave before the deed is done. You caneither kill himas requested orlet him escape.
TokillJean Marc,simply shoot himin the head.Holster your weaponfor the choice to let himlive.
Should You Kill Or Spare Jean-Marc?
There are two outcomes to Idealism and Pragmatism for Beginners, which you’ll learn about three days after deciding Jean Marc’s fate.
Between the two,killing Jean Marc has a much greater gameplay benefit, and there are plenty of ways to recover the lost honor following the mission, provided you do it soon after gaining access to the mission.
Keep in mind, this mission becomes available well into the endgame, so consider your choice carefully — you might want to weigh the moral implications against the tangible rewards.
