How come the game doesn't chastise us for making this choice?
Oh my sweet lord.
There are people who believe *this* is a better ending for Astarion than ascension. Which is fine, that's their right. Just don't be judging us for not being cool with this in our games.
No, it's not fine. When sadism wears the garb of “goodness” it's not fine. Games should not offer such “goodness”. Such “goodness” will always have a consumer, but given that developers want to teach “moral lessons”, they should at least make it so that their morals don't please such consumers. Or don't penalize players for “evil choices” if you want to give such opportunities for “good”.
I read the comments on the video. For example: «Only tolerable version of Astarion». Just one person, without even insulting it, politely pointed out the quest line and the character's trauma. Immediately they were attacked, including with arguments: «people pay for this game like around 60 dollars and can do whatever the hell they want there. Why the hell there is such a big amount of moral police in this fandom».
The calm and joyful existence of such people online shows not only the tolerance and respect of other players that everyone can go through the game the way they want, but also clearly demonstrates the goals and character of those who attack AA fans (I don't mean UA fans, I mean only the bullers who attack), blaming them for being cruel, for causing Astarion to have a bad ending, losing his soul, etc. They are not “emotional players” who take the fate of a game character to heart. They are trying to bully real people. An emotional person might start arguing with a sadistic hater, it's wrong, it's unnecessary, it's better not to touch it (well you're not going to tell every *** you meet that they're an ***, why would you need that?), but it would be an understandable, explainable emotional human reaction. And pouncing on someone who has your “favorite character” in the game who is perfectly fine, loved, adored and satisfied is no longer a “game reaction”, it's an excuse for classic bullying. No one organizes raids on those who enjoy the descriptions of Astarion being skinned alive and bullied over his corpse. Because a sadist is not a victim for a buller, they won't be of any use, at best a clever troll can achieve aggression and get some “food” in the form of incoherent foul language with spelling mistakes, nothing more. The victim must be emotionally vulnerable, then the bullying will succeed. Just, if someone tries to shame you for your in-game choices, remember which ending for Astarion they think is better than Ascension. It's important to know what the aggressor is, it will help reduce emotional vulnerability.
Incidentally, Astarion, who is declared “evil” and can be treated that way, is also a victim of violence, a person with perhaps somewhat unconventional behavior that might annoy someone. He has a vulnerability. Predators always smell blood. Torturing such an “evil character” is much more “tasty” than some standard tough and unyielding “villain”. Thank you for such “rich gaming opportunities for everyone”, dear developers!
Originally Posted by Zayir
An explanation could be: Because Astarion is seen as evil, so him being out of the way is a good thing (at least for the world). That's why the game doesn't chastise the player. It's the right thing to get rid of evilness. And that, in turn, is the ultimate proof that Astarion is an evil creature.
I have never seen such disgusting and vile “good” and a better advertisement for “evil”. After all, “evil” is what opposes such “good”. Mephistopheles smiles off-screen. I understand Will and his naive deal with Mizora. I can imagine if, in Tav's shoes, Mephistopheles had offered me a contract that I would bring him the heads of only such “good heroes”... The devil lies in the details.
