Ok I have a few things I want to say, suggest, kick up about, regarding Astarian, with a side helping of a no less important Karlach.
1. I have no idea how the writers even thought Astarion was a suitable contender for polyamory. A huge part of his arc is him trying to escape forced and ultra compulsory sexual slavery and trauma. He's mentally scarred by it, he finds it difficult, if not impossible for most of the game, to say 'no' out of fear of losing the one person that has stood by him. His entire flamboyant character was conceived by Cazador to make him more suitable for what Cazador wanted him to do. You have to work to gain his trust, getting him into bed once is easy, after that if theres no relationship you can forget it.
I've seen the scenes on utube (yes I was curious on my third playthrough), he doesn't really take part, the game says that if you look into his eyes he's 'a million realms away' or 'there's no joy in his eyes', he performs because he knows how to but mentally distances himself from it - its too close to what he spent 200 years being forced to do.
He's doing what he thinks you want him to, turning YOU into his abuser.
Yes I know how to avoid those scenes, I've had several playthroughs and I am a long time gamer and can read a scene reasonably well.
But why on earth would any writer think he's a good candidate for this? It's mind boggling, tone deaf and ultra distasteful - really.
2. The we come to what Larian considers the ending (no one else does of course because it isn't remotely an ending). An unascended Astarion, who has been alongside you since the very beginning of Act 1, who has had one of the most interesting character arcs of any character in any game I have ever played, who has fought alongside our friends, and who because of this massive redemption arc is now viewed very favourably by the group.
Now - in the last 3 minutes of the game he is treated to a completely uneccessary tasteless quip from a member of the group whilst he is burning alive. Someone presumably thought it was funny?
It isn't. They need a sense of humour check, it's not remotely funny.
This man has spent 200 years as a victim of slavery and abuse, he does not need to be treated as the butt of a puerile joke.
3. Unascended Astarion and Karlach are the only two romanceable characters that have no chance whatsoever of having a truly happy ending (No Avernus is not a happy ending - it's only marginally less abysmal than dropping dead on the dock)
Yes you have to make certain choices, some more difficult than others to get the other companions happy endings but they actually exist.
There are no choices for 'Good' Astarion and Karlach.
I suspect it was tick the boxes thing 2 sad, 2 neutrals, 2 happy, 'Yeah guys that'll work'.
It actually makes me never want to finish Act 3 ever again.
BG2 has cures for vampirism, DnD5e has cures and we have Mystra in the game who gives Gale his soul back if he gives her the crown on one route so in THIS game you have someone being given their soul back.
But you can't sort out a new heart for Karlach (when the tech exists just down the road)
Or a soul for Astarion?
Jaheira have amnesia? Withers go on a three month holiday to find that mural or something? we just did his dirty work sorting out the dead 3, he owes us one.
Get rid of the tasteless joke Larian. Just don't bother at all, it's evening after all I'm sure the tadpole effect could last 3 more minutes.
Sort out some better endings, preferably ones that involve a party as in Act 1.
And if you can't for some inane 'gotta tick the sad box' reason give Karlach and Astarion a happier resolution - then at least make them very very much more up beat and hopeful.
We just saved the world and we can't save two of our people just sucks.
Last edited by Bethra; 05/10/23 12:24 PM.
