1. Tav's facial expressions and body language should be that of a joyous, passionate lover, not a mortified victim.
2. When we ask about the relationship, there should be two options:
a) Kiss me gently. b) Kiss me roughly.
Contrary to what's being asked in that survery I don't want it to be dependent on the choice made during the romance scene and to be locked into one thing. Sometimes my Tav may feel like doing it this way or another. The more options the better!
3. Astarion could first verbally ask Tav to kneel and they can say they'd rather move it to a more private place. That kiss would trigger the next time he's asked for one.
4. Give him a unique end of the world kiss. I'm looking at you, Gale!
5. I want to be able to kiss him in the epilogue after he says that power is nothing without my Tav.
Totally supportive!
The picture's great.
Originally Posted by LiryFire
It's an Evil Ending, as Astarion Author, Stephen Rooney said himself, even corrected from bad to evil.
An Evil Ending for an Evil Character is the way it should be. For him, it's his "good" ending. "Good" for him and for his lover Tav, who can also be or become an evil character. I'm also tormented by the question, has Stephen Rooney abandoned Astarion altogether? Why was a truly talented author not allowed to do the character fully and completely, without the interference of other people who just spoil everything?
Originally Posted by LiryFire
He can always be triggered by the word "freedom". A kiss for balance. And that's just one of the lines of play that should remain one of, not the main one. But kisses are written along the most logical line, they imply that the player has approached himself and wants a kiss. I think the slavery-spawn line wouldn't even come close to a kiss.
Yes, Tav always initiates the kisses themselves. The kind of "kisses" we are shown can only be initiated by the "master". Tav is terrified every time, waiting to be tortured. But they can go up for a new portion as much as they want, Astarion himself does not impose.
Originally Posted by LiryFire
Why is it even possible to be in a relationship with Astarion when he kills my Tav in Act 1, after failing the dice, and does immorality all the time.
My Tav let Astarion drink herself all the way down herself, without throwing a dice, just to give the vampire a proper meal and out of curiosity as to what would happen. In a world where it costs two hundred coins to be resurrected by a Withers, that's not murder, that's spending two hundred coins, which Astarion can then return by gracefully retrieving them from some lucky trunk. The bite is the beginnings of a relationship with Astarion. When Astarion proposes a night of love in Act I, he reveals that he has noticed that Tav likes him. When asked, "How did you realize that?" - "During the bite." If a relationship can begin this way, it must blossom in a decidedly different way, such "kissing" style master-intimidated hapless victim just can't be in it.
Originally Posted by Sereda2
A lot of fans seem to have decided that Tav having no autonomy is canon which would be fine, except that some seem determined to push this head-canon onto everyone else. If other people enjoy a character in a way that you don't, the sensible thing is to have a respectful discussion and move on if you can't agree. It's not cool to suggest somebody needs therapy in real life just because they don't agree with you.
Just keep in mind that many of them need therapy themselves. Network trolling is not what healthy and harmonious people do, who have nothing wrong with social fulfillment. They don't care so much about what to push, they care about the process.
Originally Posted by Sereda2
It seems only Astarion is getting this treatment (correct me if I am wrong), with some people treating A.Astarion and S. Astarion as if they are completely different people with completely different personalities. To me, that is clearly not the case, the same character traits are present in both, it's just the balance that gets altered.
Yeah, it's really funny. They really forget that it's the same person. Free, empowered, or weakened, who retains vulnerabilities and dependence on Tav. And if they like the sadistic Astarion who ascended and tortures the one who helped him do it, then what does the same sadistic person who was prevented from ascending have to do sooner or later? This could be a plot for a fairly violent thriller with a bloody and expressive denouement.
Originally Posted by Bethra
He's still going to be Astarion, the man I fell in love with, helped and supported him in his quest to obtain his freedom and who - in most dialogues even after ascension tells me his life isn't complete without me by his side. By his side - not scared to death of him because I had the temerity to ask for a kiss.
I find the new kiss animations for Ascended Astarion in patch 6 to be a fan service to sadism due to Tav/Durge's facial animations more than anything. They are disrespectful to players, taking away autonomy and role playing which should be left to the player not someone in Larian who apparently just doesn't understand RPG's.
This one! I'm with you! We love Astarion, and we will continue to love him! Astarion remains Astarion, and it doesn't matter whose unprofessionalism or malice tries to change that. It won't work! It doesn't work that way! The only thing that will get changed is the attitude of those who do this sadism, and the credibility of the studio management who approve and allow this into the game! Change whoever did these kisses to a professional screenwriter! Don't disgrace yourselves!
And in closing - - Hotfix #19 Now Live!
«Fixed a couple of kisses with Minthara and Lae'zel that weren't aligning properly».
«We want to continue making sure you’re getting the best possible experience, which is why we frequently patch the game»
