As for the ruination dialogue - it takes him 3 days to calm down before he can even speak to you. No one else takes the breakup as bad as he does. I think he's saying what would hurt Tav the most. He had all this time to prepare his speech. As his VA stated, and what is noticeable in the game he drops the theatrics after ascending. Yet, in this one and only scene he actually goes back to them. Notice his body language, how he moves. He even bows down mocking his old behaviour saying how he's discarded his former self. He's extremely hurt and wants you to feel bad for abandoning him. I don't believe his threats because of it. It's just a case of sour grapes as I've seen someone nicely put it.
Yes, this is is typical behavior for someone who has been hurt but is too proud to admit it. I always interpreted his lines as him trying to get back up on the high horse. "Yeah, it was really better for you that we broke up, I would have just been horrible to you" But at the same time, as the survivor he is, he understands that you are better as a powerful ally than a powerful enemy, so he wants to get back on your good side.
Originally Posted by Ametris
Originally Posted by Veranis
They are trying to hammer home their point about abusive Astarion with a sledge hammer now and it just feels cheap. Like they don't trust in their own storytelling anymore.
Honestly, I'm tired of it. How about they let people roleplay however they want. If someone wants to roleplay this as an abusive relationship there are ways to do that. If someone wants to have a power couple dynamic it is also possible to do it. They keep contradicting themselves all the time with the narrative, it's clear someone from Larian hates Astarion and wants to push the abuser theme down people's throats. It all feels like it's written by at least two people who keep clashing and can't decide what he should be like. I want to roleplay a power couple dynamic, my Tav loves dark Astarion and knew what she was getting herself into. It was her choice. I don't want them to railroad my decisions.
It's funny, really, they hate him, yet they keep giving him new content, while the spawn path has less things in it, now they even gave him the promotional smirk and allowed you to rule the world with him. They're basicly showing ascension is his canon path with these decisions.
At this point I don't really know what their plan is anymore. As you say, on the one hand they are giving the demeaning kisses on the other "now you can rule the world with him" (where Tav obviously is in charge). It's very confusing.
Originally Posted by Ametris
I can't stand Tav's scared facial expressions. My Tav would not behave like this!
Agree, this is my biggest gripe. At least make the expressions neutral so we can decide for our own characters.
Originally Posted by Ametris
Originally Posted by Veranis
And talking about the lip bite - why is Tav suddenly pouting about that? They could have been offering their neck to him every evening, but suddenly a little bite is making them all resentful?
Exactly, what is even funnier is that Tav is already a vampire then. I'd expect them to enjoy it and actually lick their lips after it while giving Astarion a lustful look.
Ha, ha, yes, it's all very baffling. I think they just overshot the mark by a margin.
