I am quite happy with being
a main character, I am perfectly fine with being part of a group. I am curious how my choices will affect the story, but my character does not always need to take center stage.
For me, an essential factor for a good role playing experience is the possibility to interact with NPCs/companions, in order to flesh out my character through my actions and dialogue choices.
As much as I liked Skyrim, it did not feel like a role playing game to me. Yes, I was definitely
the main character, but it felt a bit boring. There were not enough interactions with NPCs where I could really
play my character. My Dragonborn felt a bit like a blank slate.
Of course, everyone has different and very personal expectations of what makes a good RPG.
Up until now, Baldurs Gate 3 lives up to my expectations, and I am looking forward to the game's full release.
Gandrel is still in the same spot near the hags house. If you didn't recruit Astarion, but have met him, you can rat him out to Gandrel. If you killed Astarion, you can tell Gandrel that and he will comment, that Astarion is hard to kill and probably not dead.
I just had a new outcome of the scene with Gandrel: I talked to him, with Astarion in my group, but kept the conversation rather short (I asked what he was hunting, what he would do if he would find this Astarion, and wished him good luck). Aside from his usual remark, Astarion kept calm, I noticed there was also no disapproval. I am really astonished how many options and outcomes there are for just
one scene.
