Originally Posted by LiryFire
Larian, I know Astarion doesn't think highly of gurs and gnomes. I don't have to watch Astarion wrinkle his nose like one of the Malfoy family to realize that. That's enough. Seriously. I just love seeing his Lord smile, mocking at someone, and calm, soft too. Will I see them somewhere else, somewhere new? Just bring it back. The third change is too drastic. Especially since there's literally laughter in there.
I still think that if there's a villainous cartoonishness in Astarion in the "evil way", but he still has enough emotion, including really funny, even gentle emotion to be complex and endearing.

Please Larian, the person in charge of the animations is too fond of the "Evil Has a Bad Sense of Humor" trope.
Put the animations in the hands of someone who likes the "Affably Evil" trope, which Astarion tbh and "Even Evil Has Loved Ones".

Well said! This 3 examples/changes were only in 1 sentence of this cutscene. There were a lot more. Cartoonish, that�s the right word! I always called it �creepy�, when he behaves/looks odd, instead of acting evil. They shouldn�t make Astarion look so ridiculous cartoonish! The scene right after the Ascension and the scene after turning/or not turning Tav into a spawn are creepy/cartoonish enough in some of his facial expressions. No need to change facials expressions later in other scenes to make him look more ridiculous, otherwise, I assume, less player will play this route, when Astarion becomes rather insane than evil. Hard to describe it, but there are worlds in between some of his scenes after Ascension. Some are great (e.g. romance scene, post-fight Epilogue, new Epilogue), some are really cartoonish (mentioned above). And I guess he has the most ridiculous break-up scene (�kick in the balls�) - for making fun of Astarion aka �the evil�, isn�t that already enough caricature and ridiculousness?)

Originally Posted by Ametris
Wow, the comparison is really something. He does look like he ate lemons, lol. I think this deserves its own thread, these changes are nonsensical. First they censored his ascended romance scene, then brought back the steamiest part but still kept the whole body shot removed. They also modified his animation in the epilogue post-final battle and you cannot see his face as much anymore when he does his fantastic evil laugh - the camera jumps to Tav instead. Then they also altered him in act 1 romance scene during goblin party to make him look scared and worried. In patch 5 they also changed his behaviour when you're about to go with him spend the night together for the first time and he doesn't look as seductive anymore. What's the goal here?
Yes, they are changing more and more on Astarion, and some things are getting worse. Changing facials expressions / microexpressions afterwards can also change a whole atmosphere, such things must be done very, very carefully.

Yep, patch 5: �Made cinematic tweaks to restore sections of Astarion's Act III Ascendant sex scene.� Everyone happily flew in to see their old romance scene back or being better, and then � censored even more. Hahaha. Someone is making fun of it, I am almost sure. Luckily, I have edited my own Version now.

If someone (maybe a native speaker) wants to make a summary of all these negative changes in an own thread, they can feel free to use my stuff also, or I can add it there.

Originally Posted by Ametris
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.
Oh yes! I wish he could be like that, too, in some scenes. In the romance scene, after saying �no� to his demand of kneeling down, it would have been greater and more realistic to be forced down by him. THAT would show he IS evil and dominant. But instead he breaks up. But! The reason seems to be very simple: They don�t want to force the player into something! They do NOT want to show this type of cruelness. It would be too hard stuff. And also instead of letting Astarion be evil in his actions, someone decided to make him only say some mean things. ['In the Epilogue scene, when you cannot break up and he says: "You're mine!'" and "there is no backing out now" with that incredible mean laugher, that's really nice! At least here we can sense his evil side!]


Originally Posted by Marielle
Thank you so much for this wonderful selection! He is so handsome in the photo on the left, it's just something to copy and save, thank you!
His earlier facial expression is great and fits the situation perfectly. The mimicry with the "lemons" is not much different from other, less significant scenes where Astarion shows disgust (such as in the background when talking to the hag - from the last I remember). Option 2 is an outrage in general! Is he ashamed of being an Ascended Vampire?! Does it upset him?
Just one word - WHY?

P.S. Can I ask you, where did such a beautiful armor for Astarion come from? Is it a mod or is it somewhere in the game?
Thank you! I am glad you like my Astarion as well grin Yes, it�s a mod, it�s from the basket full of equipment from nexusmods. I love that outfit on him, even if there is a bit clipping with the shoulder/neck thing in his cloak slot. This mod contains a lot of armour and worked out for me well.
Oh, if you liked my Astarion, Advertising for my YT is coming per pm, maybe you�re interested in.

Last edited by Zayir; 13/01/24 12:10 PM.
"I would, thank God, watch the universe perish without shedding a tear."