I always ended up with Astarion lol, now the writers made sure to make me see him in another light weird as that sounds for a video game character but honestly we do get attached to these characters and that's the whole point I think, we get invested.
Some people in the fandom as well.
It doesn't scare me if he's shown in a different light. Approval in the path of evil is handled. But if so cheap, thoughtless and deciding for the player doing b&w, yeah scary.
I don't fear Astarion's evil, that's literally what Tav can say after the ritual and Astarion respects and appreciates that, he likes that Tav isn't afraid. Tav trusts him. Most are offended by Tav's face. (even more who decided that making Tav's face like that was a good idea). Is this a dictation or a role play? Tav doesn't get kidnapped - that's the only time the victim-virtuous scared dynamic works. My Tav agrees several times and is not afraid. That's kind of the reason why I'm choosing Astarion.
Cheap in terms of story - fact that these things are not revealed so that the player can neatly understand and accept them in Astarion's character before the ritual. And people who choose "My Treasure" "Ask for anything you want and it will be yours" is a different dynamic, than pokes a (terrified) Tav face. And such an audience needs soft kisses too, very VERY much so. It's obsession-love, hyper-caring, protective. Unless the treasure says "I trust you, do as wild as you want, I want it" - If that's the case, of course.
Those to whom this is: - not into AA, (fun AU, f8) - love dynamics victim-virtuous, understandably, but this is the lame line about it below. - the animation of the kiss itself is good - all of Tav's animation is not or never like AA at all.
Why the moral-face-Tav - look how bad, it's going to be bad is knocking on my door in Act 3 in the Ascended Finale when the romance with Astarion matches the color of his eyes from the beginning. However, the tenderness and understanding between the "kindred evil spirit" is shown.
Perhaps someone at Larian likes to: "The Great Trickster Plan is successful ", power and good Tav are mine. *big Astarion laugh* Golden Cage. It's a fun story, I'll admit. But no! That man, when good Tav bares their weapons to protect the girl from the snake in Act 1 - he says "Let's have fun", "We can kill them all" - virtue Tav won't give everything to Astarion for so many reasons. Such a one for a romance with Lord Astarion just bursts like a bubble. I don't know what chance the evil Tav won't realize that this man won't play by any moral rules, anywhere. The law will be: Astarion. Not to mention Astarion would sulk 24\7 and try to please Tav to make her happy with him, not to push her while she's on her knees with a sad face, lol. Astarion's brain isn't that smooth. This is literally a vampire prince who will throw a tantrum and slam the door when Tav wants freedom and doesn't like new dresses and jewelry. "If she doesn't eat with me, then she doesn't eat at all!" But the distinction: the asshole won't let go anyway. Not a fairy tale prince, vampire.
Why is Tav's face like Angst Tav and Astarion's behavior like with Tav, who is as wild as him and wants him as much as he does… It's a mistake.
Angst Tav is most illogical line that is literally made to explore the darkest side of the novel. Such a Tav will not come up for a kiss, and if does, with angst Tav - Astarion will be careful. He wants Tav to enjoy the hedonistic, decadence life with him, to have fun. But Tav already agreed, understood, and chose vice and evil, Lord Astarion, for so many reasons - that's why it's angst illogical for most AA target audience.
Angst Tav line makes almost no sense, I hope it's clear why, but the most scandalous and screaming.
The narrative line of a vicious evil couple obsessed with care, love for each other and have fun is the most logical for the romance. What a good dark romance with an evil man is I know.
Facts, we have three BG3s: 1 – EA, 2 – Release, 3 - After all the patches.
Whether BG3 will be able to write a proper Dark Romance with Ascended Astarion with a uniquely evil man in the game - so that it's good, nice (just evil) and enjoyable rather than u a ate heart pill - is an open question.
