I finally watched the whole lecture scene. Yes, this video really makes a strong impression, even Tav seems kind of vile in this video, she evokes a certain disgust. Astarion is really painful to look at. Really, I don't think this scene can teach anyone anything, much less how to behave in a relationship. I agree with what I wrote above Zayir on this subject. I will add from myself that even the very first line that leads to this scenario: "I was hoping that as a reward for my support you'd throw yourself to me" - it's so much for...ahem...roleplaying a strange character who, if shot in the head, won't hurt their brain, that I don't think any significant percentage of players choose it for the main walkthrough, especially when immersing themselves in the game and roleplaying a character as similar to themselves as possible. I'm not even talking about the subsequent lines. This scene, as I see it, is mostly used by those players who want to watch maximum content and choose all possible options to get to know the game and character from all sides. Well, or to post a rare scene on their youtube channel. Yes, that scene is strong, and such players of course get strong impressions and can appreciate the full spectrum of the character, but they are not learning, they are watching, they are not roleplaying, they are exploring the world and the character.
It certainly makes an impression though... I now don't know how I'm going to play with Astarion in Act 1, the seduction scene of Act 1 used to be one of my favorite scenes, and now I'm starting to imagine how he's going to feel in that scene, it's extremely hard to get rid of that metagame. Also that suffering face of his at the moment when he proposes sex at the camp. I haven't checked to see if they removed that facial expression of his, or if it's still there. There's no way to react to it, no way to ask what's wrong with him. The romance will not begin unless there is a sex scene. Tav can't confess her love to Astarion and propose an asexual relationship. Yes and bullshit because that would be a metagame at this point. But if they made that suffering face, why didn't they give us a chance to talk to him, why can't I start a romance with him without sex, swear to protect him, or somehow else resolve this situation to start a relationship with him without making him feel bad? I, of course, always suggest that he bite myself in this scene and he definitely enjoys it, but does the pleasure of biting really make things better?
Or is his suffering primarily due to the fact that Tav didn't hear him and his words didn't matter and that's why he felt miserable, and it wasn't that bad before? He says he didn't feel anything before.... I already felt guilty about him even after a good Act 2 scene, though that quickly went away because of the elation of him confiding in me, his new romantic lines, the kiss, and the fact that he smiled for the first time really smiled and opened his eyes wide (I consider this detail in Astarion's facial expressions one of the best moments in the game for me). But now I fear this guilt will haunt me as I make my way through the first chapter. Why is there really no option for a romance without sex in the game? I don't want to be sexually objectifying and using the person I love. And for all that, having done such a scene with Astarion, they still decided to cram in the line, "I want your body". To make the player feel like crap for choosing that, or what?
Yeah, even with the sadistic kisses out of the way, I have to " wanna be a vampire"" a priori. I've done everything for this... I've dreamed my whole life, jumped out of my pants just to be a vampire. And of course, that's the first thing I'm gonna tell my beloved so he'll think that's the only reason I helped him. An evil player does everything for power. Maybe someone plays that way, why not, only they have to want it themselves, not the script has to force them kick them into "officially approved evil roleplay".
