Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Suggestions & Feedback Astarion romance improvements

I really enjoyed this theme. No character in all the games I've played has ever before evoked such strong and deep emotions in me as Astarion. Improving and deepening his romantic line are the changes that would please me as a player the most. Dear Larian, if you release a DLC about Astarion, adding more content with him and expanding his romantic line, it would be a dream come true for me (and I think for many other Astarion fans)!

Ametris, you've done a marvelous job of pointing out all the points in Astarion's romance plot that need changing, and your suggestions for improvements would make his story more logical, complete, and even more beautiful! I agree with everything you've said, I can only add a few more of my thoughts on the matter.


I would really like to be able to honestly and openly declare my love for Astarion to those companions who try to flirt with my Tav. A line along the lines of, "You're wonderful, but I've already fallen in love with someone else..." would be appropriate if you had a romantic relationship with any companion, right now the game has no lines for monogamous players at all. Besides, such a response would be more human, sincere and friendly towards the rejected companion as well. I don't want to bring the situation to the point of "choosing between the two", and I have to cut off all their attempts to get close rather abruptly, which from the outside looks like this particular companion is just something bad and unattractive to Tav, which causes well-deserved disapproval on his part. In the first chapter I had to "make up the plot" for myself, imagining that Astarion wants to hide the relationship (by the way, if it was true and there was some dialog with him on this topic, it could also justify the lack of lines), otherwise it's simply impossible to explain to myself the fact why Tav can't tell anyone about it. Incidentally, while in the case of choosing between the two Astarion is happy when they choose him, in the case of Tav being 100% faithful and them trying their best to avoid any situation that could be in any way similar to cheating, Astarion doesn't notice it and doesn't react in any way at all.

Scene with Oblodra. I'd really like to be able to communicate with her more aggressively and, ideally, "teach her manners" and through intimidation make her apologize to Astarion for speaking to him in such a tone. In the game there are enough opportunities to humiliate or intimidate other NPS, and in some places completely undeserved and there is no desire to use such opportunities, and it is here, where one would really like to do it, Tav should be polite. It would be great to explain to her how wrong she was in thinking Astarion was someone's slave, by giving her a 'painful hold' (through a check of strength or athleticism for a warrior), through intimidation, or by offering to 'come out and talk', for example: "Yes, we're all under the shadow of the Absolute here, but if you want to dance on the edge between life and death, I can arrange that for you. Just come out with me in the shadows, one on one..." She could have called security after that, and Tav would have had to justify themselves using their persuasion skills. She could also complain to Zarell, and Tav would have to further explain themselves to Zarell, which would also be interesting. Also, it would have been nice to be able to talk to Astarion about her tainted blood already after this scene was over. In my playthrough I was too outraged by her behavior and didn't even think to ask Astarion why it was that he didn't want to bite her, plus the question makes it sound like Tav is fine with Astarion for the sake of some potion to fulfill the demands of a character who talks to him so insultingly. But after Tav has already supported Astarion, saying something like "You were right to refuse her, although purely from a pragmatic point of view, drinking someone's blood once more..." would be appropriate, and Astarion could then explain the real reason for his refusal. Otherwise, the player who supported Astarion "no questions asked" is completely prevented from getting that information in the game.


Yes, my God, I would love to be able to hug Astarion more often, especially since the animations for that are already there. Right now it can only be done in the confession scene in Act 2, even though the "Open Mind" option seems like a more serious and sincere confession option to me and I choose it in this scene. If one could both open consciousness to Astarion and hug him - it would make the scene really better. And, of course, the plot makes me want to hug Astarion very often - during painful parts of his storyline, and just as a show of affection as an additional romantic interaction.

It would also be great if Tav had the ability to occasionally give out small reactions in response to Astarion's lines and comments, such as laughing at his jokes, nodding and smiling at him.


Oh, and in case Tav isn't going to bring Astarion's pain out into the open and supports him by stating that "Astarion isn't afraid of anyone, it's everyone who's afraid of him" (the dryad then gives the relationship a lower rating), they and Astarion could have had a more candid conversation between the two of them on the subject afterward.

Halsin's harassment. Again there are no appropriate lines for a monogamous player. The only line in which Tav can talk about his relationship with Astarion sounds like something Tav would be okay with despite it. I hate picking a line like that, having to turn him down without explanation and listen to his indignation at "Why did you ask me about love then?" (although I purposely did NOT ask him that so as not to provoke him, that's also a flaw). It would have been much more realistic if the Tavs could have been genuinely surprised by such a suggestion from Halsin, and in response to their surprise, Halsin would have talked about being in a polyamorous relationship. It would be interesting to discuss this topic later with Astarion, explaining their position to Halsin beforehand and refusing him, just to get Astarion's opinion on the matter.


When Tav rejects Halsin right away, Astarion doesn't react or say anything about it, although there could have been dialog in that case too, since Astarion noticed Halsin's feelings. In my game it looked as if Astarion didn't care about all other companions in terms of their possible encroachments on his beloved, he is not interested in it at all. Faithful Tav also deserves additional lines.


Also, it would have been great if Astarion had shown himself to be protective of Tav and responded aggressively to Harleep's "offer", and ideally picked a fight with him himself without waiting for Tav to do so. Astarion repeatedly says, "You belong only to me," and here, when the incubus wants to rape Tav, he just folds his arms across his chest and waits for Tav to refuse to undress herself. Sure, you'd think it'd be like he's just confident in Tav's power and their ability to stand up to Harlip on their own, but he could very well have shown character and just made his lover feel good by aggressively defending them.




Totally agree, that line would have suited the situation very well. Also, it would be great if Tav had the opportunity to just kiss Astarion in front of her - that would be beautiful.


In the conversation after Ascension, of course, I'd really like to add other lines for Tav. Right now, my Tav has to act like she's, shall we say, a somewhat sex-crazed character who's only thinking about getting Astarion into bed, simply because the other lines are completely inappropriate. How wonderful it would be to reply to Astarion when he offers a reward, something along the lines of, "You're free! You feel alive again! You've had your revenge and gotten everything you deserve, and no more larvae we need - all the joys of life are open to you, and they're yours. Can there be a greater reward for me than this?" Or Tav could simply say that they love Astarion and want to be by his side always, to share his new life with him, if of course he wants to do so himself. That would be much prettier, more serious, deeper and would fit the wagering better than the rather primitive in this situation, "I want your body". Just the body? Seriously? Saying that Tav did it for the sake of vampirism or starting to whine and lecture Astarion on "proper relationships" is, I'm sorry, just delusional. As for the kneeling scene, I also wonder why Tav can't react in any way after passing the insight check. Tav already opened their minds to Astarion in Act 2, they can do it, and now is the time to do it. Show Astarion how Tav sees him, how beautiful he really is (not just outwardly), that there's no way Tav can humiliate themselves by staying with him, because he's the best person for Tav in this world. And if it's so necessary to kneel, fine, let's do it, but at least let Astarion know that Tav doesn't "like to humiliate themselves" (especially if the whole game was a roleplay of a strong, proud and confident character who is ready to accept any challenges), that Tav does it only for Astarion and in any other situation, with any other person, Tav would rather die in an unequal battle than to humiliate themselves. It would also be beautiful if there was a chance to see tears in Tav's eyes at that moment. It's a pretty powerful scene on its own, and I realize it's important as a kind of act of trust in Astarion, as an opportunity to "give him everything", but it could have been made stronger and deeper.


Yes, absolutely. He always deserves it. It feels like the image of Tav, who loves and understands Astarion and helps him spread his wings and live life to the fullest, is deliberately forced to be more primitive (as in the dialog after the Ascension).


It's so bad that it might even be good, if it was done intentionally as a kind of irony and a subtly inserted hairpin in the direction of "goodness and self-sacrifice". And other games give players the opportunity to make "evil choices", but in my gaming experience no game before has ever given me enough motivation, only offering, "You can do this", but unable to answer the question, "Why would I want to do that?". Here, however, the game gives not only motivation, but also greatly increases my enjoyment of "evil choice" by watching a video of Astarion's "good ending." "7000 victims for a ritual? - Yeah, no problem!" "Kneeling? - Yes, I'll stand on my head, I'll stand on my ears, what a blessing it will never happen in my game..." But if the writers didn't plan to please the players who chose the "evil way", clearly showing them how right they were to make this choice, but wanted something else, then... Ahem... A lot has already been said about this ending, maybe they will fix it sooner or later.


Yes, that would be great and would add an extra happy and fun note to the finale!