It’s such a pity, that they don’t reveal his past being a „corrupt elite“ with „a taste of power and a hunger for eternal life“ like you mentioned before. It would have made the character and story more complex and maybe more understandable.
It's noticeable that something is missing there. There's a saying "if you erase someone's past you control their future". It just looks like they're sneakily trying to turn him into a good guy, when he's not.
Originally Posted by Zayir
Playing a good character was like: Astarion disapproves – reload – Astarion disapproves – reaload – Astarion … oh, approves! What? Why? OH! He is into sm? I am all yours, darling. Haha! No, joke aside. I love him being evil in cutscenes. One of my favourite was the confrontation with Ulma after the Ascension, where he was so arrogant and mean. Unfortunately with the latest Hotfix, I assume, they changed some of his facial expressions.. from looking self-confident and proud to disgusted and even worried. Such a shame to change this perfect scene… I know, just some microexpressions and perhaps others will not recognize it (?) but why do they have to change some of his facial expressions to disgusted, when he looked so good being proud and evil how it was before?
I stuck to my dialogues and choices, because he was approving a lot anyways. I had nearly maxed out approval by the end of act 1. I think I only changed two or three dialogue options with him when I wasn't sure what to pick and because I liked the flow of the conversation better and the extra approval was just a small bonus. His voice actor when playing BG3 reloads himself when he disapproves too, so no need to feel bad about it.
I checked the game and compared it to the scene from patch 3 and you're right! Damn it, why did they have to change it? They also cut the time the camera focused on him, and it stays on Ulma more now while he talks, what the hell. The previous iteration was much better!
Him being evil and aggressive in scenes is awesome, I love how he manhandled Petras and stayed silent just to see what he'd do. The way he screams at Cazador 'Wake up!' is so good. He reminds me of Fenris from DA2 with this stuff, and I also let him give into his bloodlust all he wanted.
Originally Posted by Zayir
Originally Posted by Ametris
What I find surprising is that he doesn't go after Tav when they've broken up with him after being turned into his spawn and before the ending. Maybe it's his wounded ego or maybe he's just waiting for the right moment.
You mean, to reuunite after a breakup? It’s just not in the game to reunite with anyone, is it? Of course it would make sense in some romances to have this option. If it’s true, that Astarion is able to control you, when you lose your tadpole, it’s interesting, that he is not doing so after a breakup and the epilogue. He is not into revenge on you. He still asks to be partners in crimes, he likes and misses Tav.
Yes, I mean him getting Tav back. I was expecting some yandere action. He's very determined and threatening when he says 'You're mine!' when Tav wants to break up in the epilogue but if they do it earlier he's weirdly chill about it. I thought he'd want to remind them about their eternal commitment. I guess it was too much work to put that in the game, because then they would have had to allow a reunion opportunity for other companions.
Originally Posted by Marielle
Originally Posted by Ametris
The revenge on Cazador was immensely satisfying for both Astarion and me as well. The way it played out was also interesting and gruesomely intimate, because Tav and Astarion are literally in each other's heads and can see and feel everything the other does. It's not only him, but also Tav slicing Cazador up. His 'There... Perfect!' just sounds so damn awesome when he proudly admires his handiwork.
Indeed!!! That line just gave me goosebumps.... I can't remember another scene that impressed me as much as the Ascension scene of Astarion.
Astarion's ascension is hands down my favourite scene in the game.
Originally Posted by Marielle
I opened my consciousness to him in the second act (although the embrace scene looks much more beautiful and touching, it's a pity that it's impossible to combine these two variants, "opening your consciousness" seems to me a more serious action, which allows you to show the depth of your feelings).
I did the mind merge too, felt more appropriate and more intimate in that situation. The best scenario is connecting through the tadpole and then hugging, but alas...
Originally Posted by Marielle
By the way, the Ascended Astarion didn't care about the audience - it makes me laugh a lot how the companions in the background (especially amused by Carlach's facial expressions ) periodically crooked their faces when hearing his charming compliments to Tav.
He doesn't like to talk about feelings but he sure does love to show off. He sounds so smug when he tells Tav that everyone in camp must know about their night together because of how loud Tav was. xD
Originally Posted by Marielle
In general, there are few opportunities to express love with the unascended Astarion, so much so that it feels as if the lines were written by a machine. Or it's done that way on purpose.
At least Tav can actually say 'I love you' to him. With Ascendant we can only call him 'my love' in the new epilogue.
Originally Posted by Marielle
Originally Posted by Anska
He now embodies the rules of vampiric existence without regret and finalised his plan from act 1 to make sure Tav never turns from him. If Tav never rebels, Tav will never know. If the collar fits, it doesn't shave. It's a great dark ending - just a bit too real for me to enjoy as a fictional romance.
Oh, I really like this ending. I don't know what to rebel against - happiness and the possibility of being with the person I love forever? I don't see a collar, but a "guarantee." And when Astarion tells Tav "not to worry, she will always belong to him," I hear something like, "Don't be afraid. I will never betray you, I will never abandon you. I will always be with you." Just in an " Astarion style" kind of way.
To me it's both of these things. There is a hidden banter between him and Lae'zel when he says 'I need someone I can trust, and now I know they'll never betray me'.
Originally Posted by Marielle
By the way, in the list of visitors who are not allowed in Theobald Torm's tavern there is mentioned an elf with a cheeky grin who called the innkeeper "pig-horn" (I don't remember the exact quote). Could this have been Astarion? It seems to coincide in time, and Astarion went to taverns (his trouble happened in a tavern where he was attacked by the Gurts).
Interesting, totally forgot about it.
Originally Posted by Marielle
At the same time, Astarion gives such a huge return, such a strong affection in response to your feelings that if his relationship is "unhealthy" - it discredits all notions of "healthy relationships". I would call this relationship more of an "abnormal" relationship if you consider the norm to be not something good, but something most common and habitual. Like if a legendary artifact of divine power suddenly appeared in the shop of a blacksmith who sells well forged +1 swords - that sword would be "abnormal" for that shop.
It certainly goes beyond any traditional and common relationships!
The way he screams at Cazador 'Wake up!' is so good. He reminds me of Fenris from DA2 with this stuff, and I also let him give into his bloodlust all he wanted.
