Wanted to start a chat about PATCH 7 changes to Companion reactions to Tav's night with Mizora, my comments are about changes to Astarion's reaction, however I am also eager to know do other companions have new reactions? Is Halsin now the only romanced companion that will tolerate Tav's dance with Mizora?
I have been watching Patch 7 videos on Youtube, eager to see the changes (happy to be spoiled) and I came across a reveal of Spawn Astarion's new reaction if your Tav has a one night stand with Mizora.
CORRECTION: I'm told below that Spawn Astarion never had a reaction before Patch 7. In my playthrough months ago I did get a cut scene where Spawn Astarion comes in on Tav and Mizora, Mizora leaves and then it jumped to where we were in the game before long rest and Wyll gave me a lecture and Astarion said nothing. I guessed my game had glitched but I'm told that this is because Spawn Astarion didn't have a reaction cut scene in place. I had seen the Ascended reaction on youtube and guessed it was the reaction I missed. So to be clear, Patch 7 includes new content not changed content for Spawn Astarion. My thoughts on that reaction below given this new information are unchanged and I still have the same questions regarding other companions if there are new reactions for them too?
I just wanted to share with you all that I don't like the changes, to me the original reaction rang true to Astarion's character and made a lot of sense for a Vampire who's morality is naturally different ( but that just could just be how I see vampires ). I know my opinion on this change is likely to be in the minority, a lot of romancers want to feel rewarded for being loyal and don't have a polyamory romance with Halsin etc... and can be a little judge-y dare I say, towards others who do romance Halsin as well.
I personally don't feel the need to put human limited lifetime morals onto a vampire existence. Astarion (all things going well), will outlive their Tav who will eventually grow old and become rather boring (unless your Tav ascends him and agrees to become his Consort).
To my mind Astarion's original reaction was so him, he teases Tav about it and wants the juicy details, he is not threatened or bothered as he is confident of their relationship and Tav's commitment. Sex isn't confused with Love.
When I did my Spawn playthrough I chose not to sleep with the Drow twins because it clearly made him uncomfortable. I interpreted his discomfort though not to be about Tav wanting sex with the Twins but more to do with the fact that he didn't want sex, period, as he is healing from 100s years of using sex (not by choice), to serve someone else, his feelings be dammed, so taking a break from sex was him reclaiming himself, reclaiming his body. Not a judgment on Tav's commitment to their relationship or putting his current feelings about sex onto Tav.
When you stand up for him with Araj, he confesses his original intentions were to manipulate Tav through sex, and that he now has feelings for Tav and is now free to choose, free to say no.
My point is that in my playthrough, Tav never felt judged by Astarion for wanting to experience life, afterall Astarion has had 100s of lovers, and will live long after Tav is dead. My Tav had a polyamory relationship with Haslin, a one night stand with Mizora and a sexy encounter with Harleep and finishes the game, hand in hand with Spawn Astarion, on a mission to find him a way for him to be in the Sun again.
If anyone out there can hear my plea and can publish a mod that will give me the original Spawn dialogue and reaction to the night with Mizora, I'll be very grateful, and I am pretty sure I won't be the only Spawn Astarion romancer out there that will appreciate you.
I enjoy both Spawn and Ascended storylines, I think Astarion is a lot of fun either path and if you want to show your loyalty and devotion to him by turning down all other offers you can easily do that, for me, this is fantasy, and my vampire wants Tav to enjoy what life has to offer as long as they are loyal. And trust me, they will never stray too far, they would never dream of doing that
Please be kind in your comments if you disagree. I'd be interested to know if Shadowheart still tolerates the indescretion with Mizora too?
