As a side note, him becoming a hero feels strange and unrealistic to me. Too soon, too extreme. Also seems like he's trying to become another Wyll.
In the unromanced ending? No, I didn't get that impression at all. He just started to understand basic Pen & Paper morality: If it's a "bad guy" you may stab it and even get a reward for the deed.
Yes, of course he's doing it to get something out of it, but the way he talks about it - saying he didn't drink blood, that it's nice to inspire hope for a change sounds funny to me. Compare that to the tiefling camp celebration where he says he hates the feeling of being a hero and getting a pat on the shoulder.
Originally Posted by Anska
While this is specific to one potential partner, a similar life should be possible with any Tav. That you can only test a relationship with a proper, settled lifestyle also sounds very narrow minded and does not account for many of the challenges of a settled life also being present simply by sharing a life with someone, maybe especially when you cannot really escape each other's company in certain moments.
We don't see that in Tav ending though. It's not the only way to test the relationship, but it's certainly a proper test when all you've done is travelling together. It's a lifestyle which is seen as the norm. Tav and Astarion in the spawn path are living like they are on holidays, sightseeing and relaxing with no responsibilities. Life is great when you're on holidays, but that's not a real measure of how a relationship will work in the end.
Originally Posted by Anska
Originally Posted by Ametris
The caged spawn had a different life than him and his siblings. He believes they're far too gone to salvage anything there, (...)
That sounds like an excuse he made up to console himself - and most likely to support the player in their decision, so they don't feel bad.
Of course it's an excuse but a very valid one. Ultimately it's what all of them decide together. No one sees Astarion's brethren as a problem, only the ravenous spawn.
Originally Posted by Anska
Sunlight isn't a problem, direct sunlight is. Petras is fine before Astarion shoves him into the window, on the dock only the skin exposed to the sun is burning up. Sex on the beach under the smouldering midday sun might be out of the question but a nice north-facing room with big windows should be fine, even a cloudy day should be fine, an umbrella or a cloak with good coverage should do the trick. The same with running water, burns like acid, but when don't you search a bridge to cross a river? Rivers in general can be dangerous in and of themselves. Human Tav is vulnerable while they sleep, elves don't have that problem. Days are generally longer than the amount of sleep one needs (nights can be too), so completely shifting the sleep cycle is also an exaggeration. I'll take Gale's word for it, living with an undead "takes some getting used to" but that's it. In this particular setting I think that Astarion not being able to taste Gale's cooking or that Gale loves art and poetry, while Astarion hates both due to Cazador are much bigger hurdles to overcome. But at least they are both into fibre crafts now ...
In the cut epilogue Withers said that Astarion was sleeping together with Tav during the day. Either way, completely changed cycle or not it's still not healthy to have an irregular sleeping pattern. It's still an annoyance and they'll always have to deal with restrictions, not being able to live as free as they'd prefer. My point was that it is a codependent dynamic and it is, no matter how well they can adjust.
Originally Posted by Anska
Yes, some people furnish their whole lives around their allergies, other just find a way to deal with them and live on. Astarion strikes me very much as the latter type.
It's more than an allergy. With an allergy you only need to avoid certain types of food, or feel inconvenience when you have hay fever during certain months. Allergies can also be treated, while his condition is permanent. He is literally restricted from going to places and interacting with the outside world in certain ways.
Originally Posted by Anska
It's also ridiculous to imply that just because they (as a couple whoever the romance partner is) will forever have nobody but each other. Maybe at the end of the story but not even that is necessarily true - in endings with Gale, Shart and Wyll you can instantly end up with a family and possibly a social circle.
I never implied that, I'm only comparing what we see at the end of the game in both paths.
Originally Posted by Anska
How you deal with your fear makes the difference. Do you horde weapons and meet every possible precaution so you are powerful enough to face down every possible threat? I'd call this a fearful mindset and that is what I see in AA and vampires in general. Or do you keep a level of general safety and are confident enough in yourself, your ability to deal with stuff, and your social network that you don't need to horde all that power? I mean, yes, Astarion had to run from the docks, but it didn't kill him. He got himself out of the situation and eventually also gets himself out of the mindset that his problems make him something lesser. That is fear conquered, it is no longer a blocker for him.
He merely gets one superweapon that he's able to keep with him at all times that makes him feel safe and fearless. He's totally fine with not enslaving the brain, which would could be seen as hoarding. Again, Astarion is a vampire, which makes him a walking target, and an outcast in the society. He needs the means to defend himself.
Originally Posted by Zayir
A poll (125.556 votes) on youtube says 80 % of the players choose Astarion’s good route and 20 % of the players choose his evil route. And I am sure of this 20 % also some primarily choose the ascended route to avoid the „dock scene“. If Astarion gets a cure.. and/or the good route becomes better… the 80 % will increase.
Interesting statistics. Either way, I'm all for the good route becoming better, as long as they don't mess with the evil path in the process.
