I'm convinced that in a romance, happy faces are the main line.
I heard that the issue of "Tav's faces" is not new, after patch 6 I started paying more attention to my Tav's face. Where the character was angry or afraid.
Sometimes Tav is a bit distrustful - but that's all details. Sometimes I'd prefer a neutral face at certain points.
When Astarion first drinks Tav there face of horror and reluctance. I realize that vampire spawn don't inspire a sense of trust in Faerun. However, Tav agrees to it. So in my opinion it makes more sense to stay still, of course if the dice are rolled right.
Yeah, after patch 6 I started paying more attention to the nuances of Tav's facial expressions too. Especially in the second playthrough, because in the first playthrough I was largely absorbed in the story and I was more interested in watching Astarion's facial expressions, thanks to Neil's excellent performance, Astarion has a stunningly lively face that conveys many different expressions. And on the second playthrough, when the plot is already known, and some scenes have been played several times, you start to pay more attention to details. Although even on the first playthrough, I occasionally had a note of irritation with Tav because of her inappropriate facial expressions, which were too striking and took me out of the immersion. You made a very good point about one such scene - when Astarion drinks Tav for the first time. The way Tav looks at Astarion when he asks her for a bite, as if she's ready to pounce on him, and during the bite itself - my warrior would never make a face like she's being tormented, because of a pair of vampire fangs. I wanted to roleplay a strong and resilient character; I understand warrior roleplay as someone who can experience ardor in close combat, with a fairly high pain threshold, which makes sense, given that this character regularly gets hits harder than Astarion's bite, and under the influence of adrenaline in a fight, doesn't really care about it. I felt a genuine desire to help Astarion, and the way vampire spawns are treated on Faerûn only reinforces that desire. On the second playthrough it is even more noticeable. Perhaps this discrepancy can be avoided after patch 7, because in patch 7 they talked about the photo mode. If the photo mode allows you to change the camera angle - it will completely solve all the problems with the perception of Tav's facial expressions in dialog scenes, you can focus the camera on the companion, which will increase immersion and allow you to really imagine yourself in Tav's place, without "plot-designed" facial expressions, in those situations where it does not fit. But for kissing scenes, this method won't work (if it's even possible, for now it's just a dream of that possibility) - in those scenes I'd like to enjoy the moment and see my Tav's happy face.
You said it right about empathy. I would even say a person's sense of art. There are different systems of character work. Stanislavsky suggests making an image step by step and looking within. Chekhov suggests creating an image of a character and then improving it - "From the outside to the inside."
When we see an emotion we start to think why, to improve that image, "why could it be like that?".
Beyond the image, there's the context of the story. Also most of the answer lines that show the overall atmosphere of the story. Patch 6 turned that into runes.
Speaking of Stanislavsky, I would like to add, that his famous: "I don't believe it!" just echoes in my head in response to what Patch 6 did to the general atmosphere of the story. Stanislavsky demanded from the actors an inner transformation, after which they could "see" life through the eyes of the character. Playing immersive, we too see life in the game world through our characters' eyes, and when our character appears to be completely erased from the story, and abruptly replaced by what we saw, really only ruins remain. This doppelgänger is playing his role from a completely different, alien play, it's impossible to perceive.
Patch 5 did not cause much concern, there was a strange moment that all companions can be kissed, hugged. Astarion on the path of evil cannot be touched. Astarion on the path of good cannot be kissed. I can interpret this in a variety of ways.
Which won't mean much considering we can hug Minthara, Sharr SH too.
Fanservice that Astarion partially dodged.
But now I'm worried about adding other interactions, especially in a romance. Like a hug or something.
The desire to delve in and improve an image about distrust, sadness and fear when it doesn't fit the context of the story, especially in intimate things I certainly don't have.
Yes, this moment is perceived as an injustice to Astarion, and to the players. When it was done for others and not for you, even though everyone paid the same for the game. If anything, I don't believe that romantic scenes are paramount and kisses and hugs should be done with all other aspects of the game needing attention. I just think there should be fairness and equal treatment for all players and companions. If the kisses and hugs in the epilogue weren't done at all, for any of the companions, and instead gave attention to something else that requires it, then that would be the right approach if other aspects of the game really need improvement. But when everyone else is treated well and some category of players are left out, that's a fundamentally flawed approach to game development. I believe that romantic content should be made equally for all players, if there is an opportunity to kiss or hug a companion, then the same opportunity should be available for all LIs in the game. If there aren't enough resources or resources are needed for something else, then perhaps it's better not to do it at all than to save money on a particular fandom by deciding let's make everyone happy, they'll be delighted, but that category of players can be skipped and save money.
And this problem would be solved perfectly by adding the patch 5 kiss to Astarion's epilogue. I'm also a bit worried about adding other interactions, and absolutely don't want something that might reinforce the image of distrust, sadness, and fear (quit the game again, and wait for the modders to fix or remove it). And there's no reason to spend on a new scene when a wonderful and universally loved scene is already filmed, ready, and can just be put back into the game! About the hug - it would be great to repeat the final hug of Act 2 (when Astarion has already responded to the hug and pressed himself against Tav), of course, we need a slightly different start of the hug, when Astarion will behave confidently and will respond to the hug at once. There is already one touching and beautiful moment where the finale echoes the Act 2 confession scene - the moment when Astarion gives his hand to Tav, I loved it. A similar moment with a hug in the epilogue would be a great gift for fans. For me especially - I always choose to open my mind to Astarion, I find it a more serious and deeper version of a declaration of love, perfect for confessing to someone who lives by the principle of "trust no one". An open mind cannot lie, but it can show and convey the strength and depth of my feelings for Astarion better than words. But there are no hugs in the game at all, alas, it is possible to enter a separate save for the sake of it, purely "for yourself", but within the story Astarion cannot be hugged. I would like it very much to be added at least in the epilogue.
