Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Story & Character Discussion Problems with Halsin's character, advances, LI and general character interactions, etc.

I have to say that I've enjoyed reading everyone's posts (almost everyone's) for the last page or so. It just goes to show that people haven't only attached themselves to these characters but that they also care about the writing and how it comes across. (Something that I am interested in.)

Same with Astarion and how he's written, regardless of what the dev notes or their intentions were (which in my not so humble opinion, those pertaining to Halisn, were added after the original story of these character were finished or close to being finished, thus the huge discrepancy with them. As if he was latched on in the end.) Shadowheart suffers the same affliction.

Or I would say that this whole game suffers from Larians need to add a sexual spin to everything even if it may come to the detriment of the story.

Both Astarion and Shadowheart in their romances are portrayed as broken people haunted by their past, conflicted by the things they must to do survive/appease their deity and their feelings for the MC. But by the end of it they are both established as fully committed and in love, avoiding anything that could compromise their connection/relationship to the MC.
And yet the developers thought it would be for the best to add Halsin/Mizora to their stories and romances ignoring what the game and its story have trained the player to expect up to that point.

I've written extensively about the disconnect between Shadowhearts story/romance and the scenes containing both Mizora and Haslin so I wont get too much into it and others were kind enough to add that for Astarion.

But it is baffling and an eyesore to see a character that from the first private conversation with the MC shows interest and insecurity in how much she is attracted to them, being possessive of the MC and the connection that she has formed with them to the point that she would reject any attempt at opening the relationship stating that she's not interested next to explaining why it wont work, even initiating the break up conversation if the mc were to pursue someone else at the same time.

(Hell, even in party banter she rejects playful proposals :

Shadowheart: Do vampires actually usually drink blood out of goblets like in the storybooks? Doesn't seem very fresh.
Astarion: Straight from the neck is preferred, but goblets are used in mortal company. They save on awkwardness.
Astarion: We could share a drink some night, if you're curious. A nice red wine in your goblet, of course.
Shadowheart: Very kind of you, but I'm saving my best bottle for someone already.

And there's more in the party banter and in her normal conversations.)

To a character that as soon as she finishes expressing her love and wish to spend the rest of her life with the MC to immediately flirting with Haslin and admitting that she's been fantasizing of sleeping with him during her relationship with the MC. You'd think she would brush off Haslin with a sarcastic or a rude remark (based on her personality and story the game has shown the player up to that point) but she is more than inviting to the point of forgetting that she's in a relationship.

To go back to the whole idea of Larian and its writers (especially John) putting a sexual spin on everything. Something that was brought to my attention by another players has to be Shadowhearts training and years under the Sharan cult and her reaction to certain thing in her finale.

It is well known that she was kidnaped as a child and forced to undergo years of abuse and torture (even being forced to torture her parents), that she constantly had her mind wiped since the brainwashing wouldn't stick because of her rejection of the Sharan ways. But John and the game are telling the player that Shadowheart is appalled by the things that were done to here but the sexual aspect were pleasant?

You are telling me that a character that was abused and magically had her memories wiped was okay with people that she didn't like or outright hated (Nocturne being her only friend) using her for their sexual pleasure. I'm sorry but I'm confused. You wrote a character that says all of these atrocities that were done to me were bad but the rape, totally fine.

You could've written a character that wasn't an amnesiac abused by her goddess that was sexually open/all about sharing and no one would bat an eye (think Isabella from DA2. Which by the way is funny because Isabella becomes committed by the end whereas Shadowheart, a character that is adamant in only wanting the MC or only being kinky with the MC suddenly starts flirting with Halsin out of nowhere.) but you didn't do that.

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As for the tweet that John made in regards to Halsin being his self insert that both @Netav and @AutisticHaslin brought up. I have to say that Netav misinterpreted Johns intention with that tweet, the tweet wasn't an admittance but a dig at his critics seeing how John has a hard time accepting criticism and surrounds himself with certain type of people that cater to him and he caters to them.

But regardless of his intention with the tweet there is enough of evidence within the game to show Johns disregard for the story, the lore and the player/players choice for his own wishes. (Halsin looking the way he does, which isn't lore friendly. Sharan cults whole portrayal, being turned into a sex cult that to has orgies and accepts cucks to quote that one book in the game. There's more on his twitter in regards to the cult but I'll just write one thing, paraphrasing 'they don't have personal rooms and sleep in dormitories because its easier to start orgies that way'. And of course the Shadowhearts sudden lust for Halsin mid her confession of love for the MC)

Every writer puts a bit of themselves in their writing but unfortunately for the player, John overindulged which lead to people speculating the whole self insert thing.

*** PARAGRAPH REMOVED BY MODERATOR FOR PERSONAL ATTACK ON FELLOW FORUM MEMBER ***


And that is why I don't think anything will change. Some players and even users on this forum have brought up that nothing will get fixed because of Johns pride but I would go further and say that nothing will change because he is more interested in catering to these kinds of people. (only interacting with them on Twiter while ignoring any kind of criticism) Here's to being proven wrong in the future.

And finally I would like to say that no matter my disagreement with certain fans or the choices that developers/writers have made I do not hold any ill will/hate or have I ever sent any threats/harassment towards them and I never will. (I don't even have Twitter or use any other social platform) I hope that everyone shares this sentiment, my post has only been an observation of certain things that have happened within this game and its fanbase.

edit. Seems the RedQueen made a post about this wile I was writing this post. I will keep the post up but will refrain from continuing this discussion any further.