The fact you mention his emotions twisting after he ascends is canon to how vampires work in dnd. For example, love becomes obsession to a vampire, explicitly stated in thr 5th edition monster manual, so him becoming possessive to an unhealthy degree when ascended makes sense
Also, Drow are a highly matriarchal people. Astarion saying "No" was unheard of because he is a male. That is the reason behind Araj telling you, "Make him do it."
Astarion has one of the best scenes in the game out of ANY of the companions and honestly it really helps me sympathise with him. Its when you kick him in the nuts and he leaves the party forever, relatable reaction.
Durge x Astarion is my otp and I will die on that hill. On a good playthrough -Not only is it a compelling romance about two monsters overcoming their horrible sires and coming out better people. But Durge is quite literally his saviour, his dark messiah as it were. They save him initially from Cazador by setting the whole plot in motion, then save him again by keeping him close, save him from falling on old habits and then finally at the end, can save him from making the last mistake that could render him just another monster. Astarion also saves the Durge, keeping them close and supporting them as they resist their urges, knowing how hard it is to keep the monster within at bay. And together they come out free, happy little gremlins that have shaken the shackles of their creul masters. If thats not compelling, I dunno what is.
His character's alignment can also be interpreted as chaotic neutral. He doesn't really take sides or live by a principle, he's motivated by his own survival and entertainment. But true vampires in DnD are by default evil aligned.
My favorite astarion interaction is when you tell him that maybe he just needs a friend instead of a lover. It's so sincere and loving. He's my best friend forever.
I cannot believe this video has so few likes and views, I mean, OK it contains spoilers and people who have not played the game fully at least once may not wish to go for it, but what a good introduction and analysis of the character! Thank you for the good work ♪
It’s understandable that some people have a thing for a dom/sub relationship, but that’s a kink, we don’t kink shame around here but that’s where the line is drawn. the kink should stay a kink, and should stay in the bedroom, not outside in your everyday life. Astarion wants to be possessive of you 24/7 and that’s straight up abuse. Abuse is not to be romanticized
The other scene was triggered like you said till patch 4. After that Larian changed it. Now you have to let him make the deal with Raphael, kill Yurgir and long rest after that.
I am convinced that the game i downloaded doesnt want me to romance Astarion at all. Im just not having good luck with him on any playthrough. My druid couldnt gain enough approval from him to forward and trigger the next romance scene after the first one and then basically broke up with her. So she tried romacing Gale after that and...he wasnt having it either. She finally got Halsin and was basically disheartened when he was okay with polygamy. I'm just sittingnback in my chair laughing at the sadness of it all. Then on my monk play through i got to Cazador's dungeon and - thank god i saved just before the conversation - i failed 3 times. The first time Astarion got consumed because i didnt know about the 3 turn time limit to get him down, then the 2nd try i failed the persuasion and had to allow Astarion to ascend but I killed Cazador in the middle, which royally pissed Astarion off (mind you, approval was exceptional regardless) and he attacked me, so i ended up killing him. 3rd try i accidentally knocked him off the platform and killed him during battle. Cazador resurrected him and threw him back into rhe eitual and at the end of that round Astarion got consumed. I rage quit and reloaded the save where i had to be forced to kill him and completed the game like that. I'll eventually reload and see if i can change anything but if i fail again im giving up on Astarion and im just going to kill him on the Durge playthrough because I'm petty like that.
I went with generally good Durge dating (and staying with) an ascendant Astarion, and I am starting to wonder if I have unhealthy ideas about relationships. I really need to read up on attachment styles.
Also, based on online discussions, after being turned by ascendant Astarion, your character is not a vampire spawn, but instead a vampire bride (note how Astarion turned you, that is not the normal way to create a vampire spawn). The "relationship" or connection or ties or whatever cannot end without both of you agreeing to it, but you cannot be compelled. It looks like Astarion was gaslighting (still not great) and avoiding the "compel" question because he couldn't compel you. You are still a lesser vampire relative to him, but neither of you can really work against the other's interests. Now I want to check out what happens if I go good Durge but accept Bhaal's gift. Apparently you turn into some violent monster if you accept Bhaal's gift but do a good ending, but if you are truly Astarion's spawn, he should have control over you. Food for thought.
Only time I could push Astarion to becoming Ascendant was in my evil Durge game. Side note: both outcomes of the Cazador fight counted as breaking my Oath of Ancients paladin oath. Unless there's a way to keep all the spawn locked up indefinitely, which I would be very surprised if that didn't break it, but I wasn't about to be that huge of a hypocrite in my good playthrough :P
I did it in order to get the footage I needed for this video, and damn I hated it xD Oh, interesting! And yeah I think if you decide to keep them alive but locked up they'll just stay there forever. The choice regarding the spawn is such an interesting one because on the one hand I feel like they all deserve a chance, but on the other it's definitely going to cause some chaos and end up in other innocent people getting hurt or killed. Such a tough choice, but I love it
The fact you mention his emotions twisting after he ascends is canon to how vampires work in dnd. For example, love becomes obsession to a vampire, explicitly stated in thr 5th edition monster manual, so him becoming possessive to an unhealthy degree when ascended makes sense
Also, Drow are a highly matriarchal people. Astarion saying "No" was unheard of because he is a male. That is the reason behind Araj telling you, "Make him do it."
Astarion has one of the best scenes in the game out of ANY of the companions and honestly it really helps me sympathise with him. Its when you kick him in the nuts and he leaves the party forever, relatable reaction.
Durge x Astarion is my otp and I will die on that hill.
On a good playthrough -Not only is it a compelling romance about two monsters overcoming their horrible sires and coming out better people. But Durge is quite literally his saviour, his dark messiah as it were.
They save him initially from Cazador by setting the whole plot in motion, then save him again by keeping him close, save him from falling on old habits and then finally at the end, can save him from making the last mistake that could render him just another monster.
Astarion also saves the Durge, keeping them close and supporting them as they resist their urges, knowing how hard it is to keep the monster within at bay.
And together they come out free, happy little gremlins that have shaken the shackles of their creul masters.
If thats not compelling, I dunno what is.
Astarion's not "chaotic evil," he's chaotic scared. lol Just needs hugs. T_T (and blood)
Exactly!
His character's alignment can also be interpreted as chaotic neutral. He doesn't really take sides or live by a principle, he's motivated by his own survival and entertainment.
But true vampires in DnD are by default evil aligned.
So taking inspiration for dating methods from ascended Astarion is a bad idea. Noted.
😂
After recent events, I will be single until I can find a combination between Astarion and Karlach ❤❤❤😂 1:52
And Astarion and Karlach romance is the cutest I've seen 😍
My favorite astarion interaction is when you tell him that maybe he just needs a friend instead of a lover. It's so sincere and loving. He's my best friend forever.
Yeah that's a really good one, too
I cannot believe this video has so few likes and views, I mean, OK it contains spoilers and people who have not played the game fully at least once may not wish to go for it, but what a good introduction and analysis of the character!
Thank you for the good work ♪
It’s understandable that some people have a thing for a dom/sub relationship, but that’s a kink, we don’t kink shame around here but that’s where the line is drawn. the kink should stay a kink, and should stay in the bedroom, not outside in your everyday life. Astarion wants to be possessive of you 24/7 and that’s straight up abuse. Abuse is not to be romanticized
The other scene was triggered like you said till patch 4. After that Larian changed it.
Now you have to let him make the deal with Raphael, kill Yurgir and long rest after that.
I liked this video, amazing channel
Thanks so much!
I am convinced that the game i downloaded doesnt want me to romance Astarion at all. Im just not having good luck with him on any playthrough. My druid couldnt gain enough approval from him to forward and trigger the next romance scene after the first one and then basically broke up with her. So she tried romacing Gale after that and...he wasnt having it either. She finally got Halsin and was basically disheartened when he was okay with polygamy. I'm just sittingnback in my chair laughing at the sadness of it all.
Then on my monk play through i got to Cazador's dungeon and - thank god i saved just before the conversation - i failed 3 times. The first time Astarion got consumed because i didnt know about the 3 turn time limit to get him down, then the 2nd try i failed the persuasion and had to allow Astarion to ascend but I killed Cazador in the middle, which royally pissed Astarion off (mind you, approval was exceptional regardless) and he attacked me, so i ended up killing him.
3rd try i accidentally knocked him off the platform and killed him during battle. Cazador resurrected him and threw him back into rhe eitual and at the end of that round Astarion got consumed.
I rage quit and reloaded the save where i had to be forced to kill him and completed the game like that. I'll eventually reload and see if i can change anything but if i fail again im giving up on Astarion and im just going to kill him on the Durge playthrough because I'm petty like that.
I went with generally good Durge dating (and staying with) an ascendant Astarion, and I am starting to wonder if I have unhealthy ideas about relationships. I really need to read up on attachment styles.
Also, based on online discussions, after being turned by ascendant Astarion, your character is not a vampire spawn, but instead a vampire bride (note how Astarion turned you, that is not the normal way to create a vampire spawn). The "relationship" or connection or ties or whatever cannot end without both of you agreeing to it, but you cannot be compelled. It looks like Astarion was gaslighting (still not great) and avoiding the "compel" question because he couldn't compel you. You are still a lesser vampire relative to him, but neither of you can really work against the other's interests.
Now I want to check out what happens if I go good Durge but accept Bhaal's gift. Apparently you turn into some violent monster if you accept Bhaal's gift but do a good ending, but if you are truly Astarion's spawn, he should have control over you. Food for thought.
Only time I could push Astarion to becoming Ascendant was in my evil Durge game.
Side note: both outcomes of the Cazador fight counted as breaking my Oath of Ancients paladin oath. Unless there's a way to keep all the spawn locked up indefinitely, which I would be very surprised if that didn't break it, but I wasn't about to be that huge of a hypocrite in my good playthrough :P
I did it in order to get the footage I needed for this video, and damn I hated it xD
Oh, interesting! And yeah I think if you decide to keep them alive but locked up they'll just stay there forever. The choice regarding the spawn is such an interesting one because on the one hand I feel like they all deserve a chance, but on the other it's definitely going to cause some chaos and end up in other innocent people getting hurt or killed. Such a tough choice, but I love it
Gale?
its just a game lol
Wdym with "just a game"?