I liked everything in general, but it's a little disappointing that we don't have any kiss. Still, Astarion does not treat us the way Cazador treated him, and if you are "on the same wave" then everything is fine. If you want "freedom" then you can play out the drama. But this is more the dynamics of a golden cage than a tool slave. He really wants you to live your best life and is apparently extremely obsessed with you (I love when he says he's watching). I didn't notice any special options for Durge. Also moment about "you completed me" and "power was nothing without you" 10/10 Since I have to go through the final fight to do this, it will take me time to watch the ending of mad Durge and Squid... =___=
This actually made me want to finish my Ascended Fanfic that was all about the golden cage. Wow...Im actually really amazed by this ending. I like it more than the spawn one...didnt expect that!
I've seen a clip of an ascended kiss where he grabs Tav by the throat before kissing them. Not sure if it was datamined and something that larian is planning for future updates or if it was just fan made?
@@kassjazzy This is a special kiss for Karlach when he can kiss her for the first time. This is spawn Astarion x) I don't know if they will change it or not.
Give them time to add more kissing and intimate stuff in general. Supposedly they're adding or thinking of adding a lot more touching to the game. Animation = much time and probably many bugs xD
His idle animations are the best lol I'm obsessed with how he inspected the wine chalice, the bottle, and then threw the chalice away in favor of the bottle
I love that Astarion confidently declares himself the most powerful person in the world, having likely met both Vlaakith and Elminster, and then showing up to a party with two gods. Buddy. I'm happy for you. But you are NOT the biggest kid in the Sandpit.
@@nyloth In fairness, he absolutely is still EXTREMELY scary and he is right when he says 'I can do whatever I want' in 99.99% of cases. If we assume one level = 1 CR, then he's CR 24-26, which is Devil Archduke powerful. The problem is that Elminster is a comfortable CR 39, and the most powerful creature we know of (Daurgathoth, the creeping doom) is CR 50.
@@daheck5961 Is Kronos from the Forgotten Realms? I have not heard of him in the DnD sense. Then again I suppose that 'from x setting' is kind of a hypothetical when it comes to that power level.
@@lozm4835 I think it is but I’m not to sure. I saw it off of an MrRhexx video where he had talked about the DnD variation of Kronos being strong enough to pretty much solo all the gods in the forgotten realms. And that the only reason he hadn’t is because the rest of the gods trapped him in an illusion where he thought he was fighting them non stop. Only problem was that Kronos kept on killing the illusions with disturbing ease, and there is fear amongst the gods that WHEN he breaks free everything will end. MrRhexx also referenced the hecatonchires in that video as well
When he said "Hello again beautiful" I snapped my camera over to see who he was talking to.... (My Tav is the jealous type..LOL) and he was looking in his mirror at his reflection... I LMAOed..LOL
Thank you for uploading so quick after patch release. :) Looking forward to picking the game back up in a couple of weeks.. I'll wait and see what hotmesses unfold first before I get all immersed and tilted at breaks again.
@@tracey5324 ofc he has a point... Heck even Jergal agrees if you answer his first question with "Only life that matters is my own". ALL of the party members would be dead or worse w/o Tav (and emperor).
I know a lot of people play their Tav's like free spirits, hiring and firing companions and love interests, running in all directions and never being tied down. For them this sucks, but then again why in the hells did they consent to a lifelong bond with an immortal in the first place?? For those that have no intention of leaving- or like the idea of being able to unleash their vampire husband on someone for making them cry - Astarion is a great find. I personally find it comforting that his love is a guaranteed constant in my Tav’s life. Judging by the voiceover at the party start and Astarions own voice lines- you came running into wherever he was hanging out with an invitation, gave him the eyes and he folded like a wet paper towel. He doesn't even want to be here. Also a further thought on why this scene is actually interesting- cazador's writings said that when he tried to seek out his old friends his master brutally murdered them in front of him to teach Cazador that he had no right to his old life. Clearly none of Cazador's spawns were allowed to find their families/friends either, but Astarion keeps telling you to go have fun with everyone. For those that thought up their own Tav backstories, you can imagine she's had a couple of girl's nights with her old buddies while he waits patiently for the call to get you from the bar.
Agreed. Nothing wrong with being an eternally hot trophy wife. I imagine he indulges tavs silly little hobbies and acquiesces to whatever nonsense outings tav wants
Ok now I have an image in my head of Tav coming home from a wild night with the girls and Astarion just goes, “Darling, how many did you have? Ugh you just got sick on my expensive new rugs. Fine I’ll hold your hair back.”
What I like about this is it feeds into the Vampire Bride theory. Astarion made Tav into a Bride instead of a regular spawn. If Tav was a run of the mill spawn, Astarion could order her to be quiet and not speak of freedom.
Does it though? It seems like he is perhaps expecting you to change your mind or something over time. I think he’d still prefer you to want this rather than him forcing you, but he is keeping you from leaving him. He wants you to love him. Also isn’t a vampire bride just a less painful way to create a spawn?(which it seems like he give a less painful transformation, unless he was lying about it feeling like pleasurable) When I read about it that’s what it seemed like. I could be wrong, but then why would he try to make you think he can compel you? Isn’t that still an issue if he makes you think you have no control?Making a vampire bride seems to be dangerous such that only a vampire with good control can do it. I’ll give it benefit of the doubt that perhaps he could perform that ritual because although he is a new vampire, he is a vampire ascendant so he might just be able to instinctively know how to do it(remember he was changed in a different way into a spaw by the story he described) and without risking making Tav mad. However again I didn’t see anything about them not being able to compel them. I could be wrong though, it’s just what I read about it. Either way though, it’s a bit silly for Tav to make this decision to be his spawn just to regret it later. Like it’s the ultimate commitment. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an interesting theory, but I’m just not sure it’s the actual thing that’s happening here.
@@seliamila1005Got’cha. Then what, is he just pretending to have control over Tav then? Trying to break up with him and him not letting you go, or the freedom dialogue options here…I just don’t really see how that fits unless he convinced Tav he could control them. He’s also a completely new type of Vampire so who’s knows if the any of the same rules apply to him. For all we know Tav is also a unique vampiric creature not seen before. Sorry, not trying to burst anyone’s bubble here. I definitely see where people are coming from here, but it’s a mixed bag for me to see that there is conflicting evidence for and against this theory so I am not fully onboard this theory personally.
@@theredeft5319 yeah he's bluffing with controlling Tav, also notice how astarion desperately try to make Tav/Durge feel happy? "I will make sure that you will have the best life even if you dont appreciate it" If a bride or a groom is unhappy then their creator will feel unhappy as well
Wholesomeness is what happens. He immediately accepts hugs and asks us to bless the others with our presence when he doesn’t want to go over to the rest of the party.
Honestly Imo it was quite sad... He didnt enjoy the party like Ascended, and his first quip wont say what he says cause of spoilers, but to me it sounds like hes not truly happy.
Hmm interesting. So even if you are unhappy with being his spawn he still gives you luxuries. Perhaps he thinks you’ll change your mind over time or something. They have eternity after all. At least he doesn’t treat you the way Cazador did, but he basically gives you a luxurious cell. He even still let you come meet up with your friends. Kinda reminds me of Bowser from Mario. He’ll put you in a gilded cage. He is definitely got that Vampire obsession going on. Well at least if you were down for him having this power over you it seems like it might be fun. Honestly though if you choose to become his spawn you knew what you were signing up for so you better be ready to simp for eternity.
Definition of "Flourishing" : "To flourish is to find fulfillment in our lives, accomplishing meaningful and worthwhile tasks, and connecting with others at a deeper level-in essence, living the “good life”" I agree with the obsession and simp part. I will never understand those who loath AA but ascend him and romance him and agree to be his partner "for eternity" then shit all over the fact they are in fact "his for eternity". It's like hating cabbage and eating every single day for every meal then complaining about how much you hate cabbage..LOL Perhaps they just LOVE being miserable.....
I mean to be fair I think AA wouldn’t give a shit if it comes to physical pleasure but romantic emotions are his no no, so I’m pretty sure he’d be ok with messing around with other people as long as there is no feelings since he’s one of the characters that is down for polygamy
@@loompi2450lol he is actually strongly not polygamous. He has troubles even sleeping with one Tav, let alone with someone else. Dude has dissociation episode while they have shmexs with others (eleven prostitutes), so no, he is literally as monogamous as a man can get.
Honestly, I think both Ascendant fans and un-Ascendant fans are pretty happy with the new epilogue. So why can't you guys just enjoy your own "good" ending and restrain yourself from going around and telling other people what they enjoy is bad? "We spawn lovers got hugs!" "Yeah but vampire lord can turn into a bat." Really strikes me as some serious debate, well done. That said, I love both endings. I just love Astarion as a good character. Hope you guys can calm down and settle for that. 😅
THIS so much true. I'ts kinda crazy to me that people are hostile to each other over pixels. Some people are actually giving more repect to someone who isn't real than eachother its wild. And as much people love blaming each side, no it's not just spawn fans or just ascendant fans, I'm seeing plenty of disrespect on each side. Can we please breathe and take a minute before we start spewing abuse at eachother :( We all have a mutual love for a character too can't we just love the writing/performance with all the shades of grey on both routes?
I just want my video game to be a video game, not a trauma breakdown. I don't WANT to deep dive the psychology of pixels. I just want to enjoy my GAME. Anybody want the soapbox? I'm done with it now. Lol.
"I will be watching, I am always watching" why does that sound sexy, chilling, a threat like if he were to see someone try to flirt, or grab, pull, touch you or something he didn't like he would be there out of the shadows to strick them down, end their life with out a seconds thought.
@@atomisaurus4071 Look at the date of the video. They used to have the same kiss. I posted the video almost immediately after the patch and only added the kiss because it was new, for the two versions of Astarion. They later changed the kisses again and there are rumors that they (larian) will change things again.
"I am always watching." That gave me chills and not the good kind. Sounded like a threat. "So called friends." Wow that is some abusive talk right there.
Vampires are usually obsessed with those they care about. But they probably don't care about everyone else. Please note that based on the description, he went to this party for us, indulging our desires, and not the other way around.
He is great for ruthlessly ambitious Tavs 😊 Perfect power couple set to rule the world. With this new epilogue I wonder how many reactionary dialogs is hidden there. In my last save I saw it as Tav in romance with Minthara, who rulling BG from shadows. Astarion in this scenario is a spawn traveling the world, so they didn't see each other for six months. I wonder if lord Astarion have difrent dialog, since he also trying secretly rule BG. Are they allies or foes? Working together, or trying to poison each other during fancy parties? And what about Wyll, if he takes over his dad's post? Is he aware of this shenanigans? Keeping them in check or making deals with new devils? So many possibilities!
My ruthlessly powerful Tav specifically DIDN'T ascend him because then HE'D be more powerful than HER. Instead, she left him as a spawn and became the Absolute herself and together, they rule the world together but HIM by HER side teehee. Too bad there is no epilogue for that version.....
We have eternity to chit chat 😂. Also i would have liked to tell Astarion that we shall be leading lectures 😅. Edit: the vampire bride theory makes so much sense. He calls Tav his dark consort. Being that you can still leave him. Means he cannot compel you to stay. And the need for you to be comfortable.
Probably wouldn't pay you any mind. From observation alone, his dialogue throughout this entire interaction is about being together as Master and "consort", which is his fancy way of referring Tav who he sees as his Spawn. Every line, it's something to do with power, with overruling, with being the most powerful, blahblahblah, just him seeing himself as the most powerful and capable. So you'd probably just get told off about missing out on experiencing life as a "powerful consort at his side" being almighty and powerful this, powerful that, then he'd probably go on a rant about how great things are for him while insulting you for keeping your distance. But that's just based on observation, with how often he talked about power, to the point my ears were ringing every time he said the word. Pay attention to these lines in specific: Astarion: "Still, it is good to see them. And good for them to see us, side by side, /flourishing/. Tav, having doubts: "Is that what we're doing? 'Flourishing'?" Astarion, laughs as if though Tav is a hopeless idiot: "Of course, my darling. Look at us! (Goes into reminding Tav what "they" have) We share a palace (symbol of status), share power (only it's clear that he holds more power over Tav, but by letting Tav believe it's shared, there's little room for doubt), live eternal in each other's arms (mocking Tav's obvious need to stay at his side). What more could anyone want?" Tav, realizing he's missing something: "Freedom?" Astarion, quickly irate and not pleased that Tav isn't going along with his approach on the topic of discussion: "Gods, not this again. (Implying that it's been discussed before and he's annoyed with the mere idea of Tav having true freedom) I give you wealth, power (there's that damned word again), pleasure (going back to Act1 Astarion)- every decadence that can be afforded to a person? (To Ascended Astarion, material wealth, power, and status is more important than granting a spawn their freedom) But you'd rather- what- sleep in the dirt again? (There's no room for even THINKING that Tav can have their freedom while with Astarion. It's clear cut- he won't bother keeping Tav around unless they're bound to him, otherwise, Tav is of no use or interest. They're better off out in the wilds- not the city, not even the lower cities, but the dirt, which they traveled frequently during their adventures). You are my consort (his cute engaging tact diverting from Tav's true nature in this regard- his Spawn), and I will see you living the very best life. Even if you don't appreciate it. (a manipulative way of saying "and I'll make sure you stay alongside me as I mold your life to my liking, whether you like it or not"). So yeah, if you refused to become his Spawn after he Ascends? Like I said, he'd just go on and on, endlessly bragging about his obtained power, while you? You're better off "sleeping in the dirt". Sure he'll reminisce about the past, but won't truly feel it, instead trying to charm you as he did in Act 1 to most likely make you regret leaving him. Someone with that much power would obviously get bored. Him pressing all the right buttons to rise Tav up would momentarily entertain him no doubt. I'm sure the epilogue for this version exists though, so I'm just analyzing his conversation here, while he's still with Tav. Some of the things he says here definitely reminded me of what Cazador tells Tav if you interrupt the ritual while Astarion is still at camp.
@@mischalecterTVmy goodness, you are so full of yourself and hatred for Ascended that its almost funny. You should state in your little essay here that it is YOUR opinion and enterpretation. If going by some of your statements then every queen/king consort in present is nothing but a slave to the spouse😂. I start to really feel for the queen consort Camilla now and we should pity future queen consort Kate when her husband ascends to the throne of England... You should at least try to hide your apparent disgust for the Ascended if you want to be taking seriously. But, please, do carry on...
@@mischalecterTV if its Durge the redeemed version ofc Astarion is not overpowering them like a dumb nobody like you said. Redeemed Durge is choosen of Jergal and strong willed enough to defy quasi god with his blood on their vein so Ascended vampire charm wouldnt work like on normal person
Do people who romance ascended Astarion actually trust him? I get the feeling watching this (and other ascended Astarion scenes) if Tav and Astarion didn’t see eye to eye on something big that Astarion would compel Tav to get his way… Or do people know that and that is part of why they like the romance, they like the idea of being in his control forever? Or is there sometime I am missing? Based on my character’s backstory and personality i gave him, I am happy I did not ascend him. I like the idea of my Tav and him setting off on another adventure trying to find a way for Astarion to be in the sun again and my Tav having complete freedom.
Why do you trust Spawn? He can betray you like any other character. He can even threaten you, which will set off all 7,000 spawns. Because they obey him, not you. What about AA... Apparently, everything was fine for them during these 6 months. Taking over the city is a great plan for my Durge, and this is just the beginning. Besides, we have God Gale as our friend, who indulges our ambitions. Why do you think our character is under control? There hasn't been a single scene where Astarion has controlled us yet. I have a theory, but I will only be able to confirm it when Larian is done with patches. If the theory is confirmed, then Astarion has no control over us, he only pretends.
In my ending my Tav and Astarion don’t have anything to do with the spawn and Astarion doesn’t control them. They are in the under dark with Astarion’s “siblings”. At this point in their relationship my Tav has no reason not to trust Astarion but if something ever happened in the future where things were not working out for them, my Tav could walk away from the relationship and not be compelled to stay or controlled. Control was a bad word to use now that I think of it sorry! I don’t think the Tav in the AA ending is under control or being compelled by Astarion at the end of the game, but you are both immortal. What happens if at some point your Tav and Astarion don’t see eye to eye on something? Like some large life decision? I would be curious to know how ascended Astarion would reacts to that. Is he going to be a dink and compel or control you or be fair about it? Maybe we will never know and it will just be left up to headcanon. Also curious about your theory if you don’t mind explaining? If it is true it would make me much more likely to do a run with ascended Astarion, it is the potential that Astarion COULD compel you that makes me hesitant to trust him. Especially when he is so power hungry! Also agree with your pinned comment, just give us spawn and ascended Astarion simps an endgame kiss please! 😫
@@nyloth you can’t leave him… AT ALL. That doesn’t Happen with any other character or versions of him. It’s specific to this astarion BECAUSE he’s the only one that can. You wanting to leave him then him being just “nah” then all fading to black seems a pretty clear sings you don’t have any control over that decision.
@@Violana If the partners have different views, then this is bad in any case. But yes, you're right, it's more dangerous with Ascended Astarion. Just because he's very strong. Literally very much. But even Cazador was able to kill his master so... about the theory th-cam.com/users/shortsI4CfTJj64JE I would like to make a more detailed version, but I think I will wait until the game is released completely and definitively.
Guys it's only toxic when Tav does not want it, when she/he wants something else. If is ok for both sides and they are happy, it's not toxic. Very simple😅😊
It’s ok if you lean into Tav‘s more violent aspect. I‘m playing redemption durge rn, and am seriously considering her falling for this (it’s an OC of mine that’s always been very morally ambiguous, so she fits perfectly). She’s his special „bloodthirsty friend“ and thinks ascension sounds tempting already. My evil durge won‘t be stupid enough to let the Chosen of Bhaal get turned into a vampire lord‘s spawn/plaything. That AA is just going to have to suck it up. 😁
evil astarion is still astarion lolim doing a kind of grey area run maybe neutral evil? letting a bunch of vampire spawn loose on the world probably is ultimately the worse idea and i want astarion to be able to walk in the sun without that tadpole
You can destroy the 7k spawn without doing the ritual. If you want to avoid having to discuss ascension with Astarion, simply kill one of the other 7 during the fight. The ritual just isn’t possible without all 7 spawn (or 6 + Cazador) as they work as a focus for the spell.
that's the part that shocked me most. both me and my character would be thinking. Aren't there too many traumatic memories here ? are you sure about this ? she'd be both confused and concerned , she genuinely cares and could care less about his power level so long as he feels safe and secure in himself.
So, you chose the "travel around the world option" and the epilogue still describes you partying in refurbished Cazador's palace? That's disappointing to be honest. Thank you for sharing, looking forward your future uploads!
"I might be the most powerful person in the world." Lord have mercy the hubris - dude you're powerful - you are NOT the most powerful person in the world. 😂😂😂
Омг, У ВАС ГЕЙЛ СМОГ ДОБЫТЬ КОРОНУ И СТАЛ БОГОМ?? Очень бы хотелось посмотреть диалог с ним 🙏 Новый лорд-костюм Астариона прекрасен, как и его обращение в летучую мышку ☺️☺️☺️
I hate morality busy bodies in games, people who complain about this stuff want nothing but perfect adventures ruin creativity and compelling character writing. If Gale becoming a God is ok after the stupid stuff he did Astarion being a Ascended Vampire after centuries of nothing but torment is perfectly ok too.
i see Astarian and Gale as two completely opposite parallels of one another. which is why my Tav is with ascendant who had everything to lose in not going through with it , while i'm *hoping* her close friend Gale doesn't go through with the crown at the end as i've been trying to talk him down , Gale has everything to lose in taking godhood as he becomes another apathetic god amongst the pantheon when he is fine as he is and a good man once he gets humbled a little / his pompous attitude is toned down. Polar opposites of a similar power hungry narrative. Astarian would be living scared in the shadows as spawn never truly feeling safe and feeling weak , plus if you aren't an elf you have a short life and will leave him all alone. ( my Tav is a half high elf like shadowheart )
There’s nothing wrong with the writers including an Ascended Astarion in the game and of course it makes it interesting, but if a person does that and doesn’t notice the obvious, OBVIOUS implication that Astarion has just repeated the cycle of trauma and become Cazador, that person is either immature or living in delusion
I made a post on reddit, and this is what I wrote. You really inspired me Nyloth. I wouldn't have taken the time otherwise. I've played two playthroughs so far. One where I didn't ascend Astarion, and one where I did. I loved both experiences, and see the good with the struggles in both. Because there are struggles in both, but that doesn't mean everything ends there in black and white. I don't care how the game thinks trauma recovery works, the writers are still human, as am I. I might be totally wrong about all of this, but relationships, love, emotions, trauma don't all get processed the same way, sometimes things turn out for the worse, the better or somewhere in between. There's so many experiences people have all around the world, everyone has their interpretations of what a healthy relationship looks like, what a healthy way to deal with trauma looks like, some will completely dismiss or rebuke some interpretations and that's okay, I'm not beyond criticism and it's none of my business, whatever works for others works. If I happened to write a relationship in a video game, I wouldn't be beyond my human judgement, we're fallible and we have biases, I'll likely be writing with at least some modicum of personal bias even if I take inspiration from other people's experiences. This is going to be a pretty long read, like, over 2000 words kind of read. But if you don't like ascending Astarion and you don't wanna hear about it period, then I just want to leave a disclaimer here that I'll be talking in favor of it. It has a lot to do with my personal journey and experiences in life, so while I really, really loved both endings, I couldn't help but enjoy the ascended more purely due to how I personally related to it. Okay. Let's get into it. To when I first met Astarion. (some self reflection but I relate it to him in the end). Man I really didn't like him.. at first. Then I did, kind of like him. In the beginning he reminded me of someone. And as I got to know him more I realized that someone was actually me and not who I initially thought it was. Then it made a lot of sense right away. Why I found him so annoying. At times I kind of hated him. Realizing this, I thought about myself more, the parts I didn't like anyways. And then the parts that I did. I grew to love him in time. I really get where he comes from with a lot of things. I looked at him, and I started to see so much of myself there. There, right there standing in front of me, not a caricature but a real person. And when I found myself staring into what felt like the abyss itself, despair, it would dawn on me just how difficult it is to look at yourself, perceive yourself. When I saw him I would see too much. Or at least so much that I couldn't decide whether I was feeling a kindred warmth, a content sadness, disgust, love, sometimes it pained me dearly. But how could I look at these parts, these parts in him, and love them, love him so much, when I didn't look toward those parts I had with the same tenderness. How could I love him, when I didn't love myself. Those words never meant anything to me before. The phrase didn't have any meaning in my heart. And now it does. Then when I would look at him, I still felt all of those things, but with less disgust, less hatred, less pain, less.. sadness. Now, I would feel.. worry, the warmth, the comfort of home, the feeling of safety, love. And then I liked myself a little more. I was much kinder to myself than I ever have before. It made me realize I'm not so bad. Not just a thought but a great comfort. And then, I realized that no matter what, I wasn't going to leave his side. A lot of people feel this way about themselves until they're shown otherwise with support. I believe Astarion, isn't any different. It's a video game, and it's a character, but it went beyond that when both but especially the latter affected me how they did. Which.. is why this is my interpretation of things when ascending him, the next line I'll say is gonna sound like "what the fuck" but if someone does hear me out then thank you, I appreciate it. I personally think all relationships are 'predatory'. (Maybe I could use a different word? Yeah okay, definitely a different word LOL) And I don't think or see that as inherently something negative, some are more and some are less but all relationships have a give and take. 1/4
And I really like this one. Because this one requires a lot of trust and patience on your side, and someone who really needs both before being able to give just as much back. I sympathize with Astarion, especially in the ascension route. He follows eerily in the steps of his abuser, but not quite. He doesn't truly compel you. You're able to have conversations of disapproval about his actions and the relationship even after everything with the absolute is over, some dialogue choices even lead to him saying something like 'This again?' as he sighs lol. He lets you disagree and speak your mind often. I'm surprised he would let Tav/Durge have so much agency at all if he supposedly turns them into a spawn. It still makes me wonder why, and I think despite his fears and despite not wanting to lose you, he still wants you to express yourself and love him and willingly, if he didn't care enough about that then I'm sure he would just enthrall you. And on some level he wants to be better than Cazador, he's expressed that he is, so if he were to compel you that probably wouldn't bode so well on his conscience. I read about the bride theory here recently and.. In the rules it says they bride/groom can't be compelled. But they are still bound to one another, like a magical marriage contract. Both parties have to agree to let go for the bond to break. This means that if the roles were reversed and Astarion wanted to break up with Tav/Durge, then he can't do it without Tav/Durge's permission and Astarion can't kill them without harming himself. They both have to be willing to "sign the papers". It makes a lot of sense if he's just lying to you so you're afraid of the possibility of getting enthralled/compelled without him actually having the power to do that to you. So like what I thought initially, he wants you to express yourself and and love him willingly, he wants to better than Cazador, everyone and everything in his life have been taken away from him or left so the fear of that really comes through here, etc, etc.. whether he decides to share this information with you one day is another thing. This is manipulative, but if he does care about you this comes off to me as a 'test' of sorts. I call it 'shit testing' which isn't healthy but it's something people with a lot of low, warped self esteem and trust and abandonment issues typically do. So, while toxic, this explains why Astarion is so evasive about whether he can actually compel you or not. He might simply be lying to buy himself time to feel out the situation. It's like he's chasing you away. Then, if you run, it only confirms his thoughts about you. Doesn’t he say something like "You've finally shown your true colors at last" like he's saying, "Gotcha! I knew you never loved me!" It's certainly toxic, I know I've behaved that way before with friends and lovers and had to work on not doing crap like that. It's totally a self-fulfilling prophecy situation. I believe that both ascendant and unascendant Astarion still have problems when his personal quest ends. They're just on different journeys to recovery. Things just aren't as simple as black and white. And they certainly aren't here no matter how much easier it would be to believe so and call anyone who thinks otherwise deluded, lol. When I found out about this it made me kind of sad and it gripped at my heart. So I have a feeling my character would work toward ways to reassure him/let him feel like he can trust her more before bringing it up, and if he never does then she will. I think the bride thing might be a way for him to protect Tav/Durge from himself, while still ensuring they’ll stay with him. He doesn't trust himself entirely clearly, and I sympathize with that. It's not so easy to accept that maybe you are reliable and worthy of trust without someone showing you that first. Link to the bride theory with more details. www.reddit.com/r/BaldursGate3/comments/17qonm3/an_oddly_specific_thing_about_ascendant_astarion/ Anyways.. going back to the cycle of abuse topic, I was a lot like that when given the opportunity to finally not feel utterly helpless. I took it. I hated myself for it, the guilt and shame. But I'm glad the person I cared most about never left my side through it all, I'll spend my life making up to them for the hurt. Astarion has forever to figure himself and everything he's went through out and what he wants in the future from here. Yes, he's still afraid. Of losing you. Of others. Of losing agency. So he overcompensates with control. When it comes to you, I think he genuinely does love you, but it's taken on the form of possession because he's still insecure. When he feels like he finally has complete agency, he sees ascension as the fix to everything. When the reality is.. it isn't. And all he really wants, is to feel safe. 2/4
I think he can have that in both endings, I think whether he chooses to ascend or not, both are ways to cope with the trauma he's gone through. Both will have their struggles if he is to heal, though one more greatly than the other (ascension) as the copium is more easily accessible to him. It'll be easier to distract himself with his newfound power trip from becoming more intimate with his feelings of fear and distrust with everyone and the world. Easier to shy away from healing. But I believe in him. He's defensive and prickly now that he has his 'fix', expecting if not desperately begging for it to fix everything, if it won't, if he has all this power and he is still afraid, if he still loses you, what was the point? He actually alludes to the last thing in the epilogue, he says something along the lines of all his power would amount to being pointless without you at his side - that you complete him. It's complicated. But this is my interpretation of the events and because of that I didn't want to leave his side, still don't. Now is when I felt he was at his most sensitive and most troubled, I couldn't leave him like that. If you are more understanding towards him after ascension, he still gets defensive but he doesn't lash out at you. And I don't mean bending over backwards for him, you don't need to say whatever you think he wants to hear. I chose the dialogue options which aligned with what I did want to actually say to him "I hope you learned something from this" to me choosing something about power and sex that I can't quite remember, and then I chose "I wanted you to feel safe" after he asked me why I was fine with letting him do the ritual. He was defensive, and upset about the conversation. After I picked the last option he disapproved. But then, I was given four more options, one of them being me telling him that I still want to work things out together, I did, so I chose that and he approved. In that moment, IMO he responds very genuinely and it's telling. In his words, in his voice, his eyes. There are more moments like this, moments of care, residing by the fear and insecurity. And when I came across them I couldn't for a moment think that someone who can display and feel those things lost their soul in any way. Which is something many people say about him but.. I feel like that's a cop out to make things easier in a black and white sense. A lot of people don't like ascending Astarion because it's not all clear sweetness and vulnerability from the beginning, so acting like he just lost his soul to Mephistopheles rather than this just being part of who he is as a person if he chooses to take power after 200 years of abuse and terror is more simple. For many people, if they take offense to that.. well, lol. It's easier for many people to believe "No, that's not him! he's not there anymore. He's so mean and arrogant now." And I just lol at the idea because this is just another way victims of abuse can act when they actually feel like they have the power to. It's not that he suddenly doesn't have a soul. It's that there's a lot he bites his tongue on when he doesn't feel like he could get away with it before ascending. You can say that he turns evil (aligned) therefore he's incapable of love. And while you can say he turns evil, I don't agree with the entire statement, it's incorrect. Evil aligned people are more than capable of having real emotions, the only difference is the reasoning/morality behind it. And again, regarding him losing his soul, there's no proof that he did. Cazador was the one who actually made the deal with Mephistopheles, so if anyone's soul was on the line.. And we know how devils are with their deals, they'll deliver but there might just be a catch 22. The catch 22 likely being that any of his spawn could carve the same rituals into his back and become the vampire ascendant. Another one that I keep hearing is that Vampires in D&D canonically don't have souls. Ok, maybe in the rule book, but in BG3? For the ritual, you need 7007 souls to sacrifice. And what were they? Vampires. Even Cazador (a True Vampire) was sacrificed and his soul counted. And if we were going by the book, that means Spawn Astarion would also not have a soul, so what's the point? Depending on how you treat him after he ascends, his line delivery the morning after will actually be different. If you react negatively, he actually sounds scarier and grandiose, which is unfortunately what most people come across. When you're more understanding and accepting, he actually sounds much more mellow and gentle. From my understanding he's just afraid you will reject him the way he is now. And while he still has insecurities and he's still afraid, he really did get a boost of confidence, he does have more power now in a sense, but most importantly now he feels like he has much more agency. When you react negatively or outright push him away.. he might just feel what you're really rejecting is an Astarion with agency. 3/4
The ways he reacts to your rejection, and the way he reacts to you wanting to end things makes complete sense, a lot of people say things to hurt their companion if they themselves are hurt, scared, and want to deflect from their own feelings. It's so clear to me that it's purely reactionary and he wants to avoid feeling the pain of such loss. Despite everything, he's proven to me with actions and words that.. He's still still him. And not beyond a better outcome if he ascends for himself and Tav/Durge. Not at all. And it is not just up to you. It is mostly up to him to find those vulnerable parts of himself and come face to face with them again. In time, having someone there with him who is understanding and patient through it all will likely help him find his way toward that road more, I was given that. I can't help but sympathize with him. On an off note after only a few months, he seems to have mellowed out a lot more than I expected in the epilogue. He still says possessive things to you, but on a lesser scale. He admits that he can't keep you all to himself and encourages you to go mingle with the others. Based off of my own personal experiences, and, well, everything written above, I'm hopeful. And his development only makes me more so. Lol at him asking you to come right back to him if they drop any tea. ☕ This was long, but I guess I thought a lot about it, and I wanted to share my opinions. Whatever choices you guys made while playing the game, I hope you enjoyed yourselves. Cause I really did, man. Also I really want to thank some users on their theories and takes on Astarion, and his character in general. I took some paragraphs, ideas and wording sometimes directly from another person because I completely agreed with them word for word, and felt I couldn't say it better. When I talked about the bride theory for example. I first heard of it from a youtuber going by 'Nyloth' and then from the user 'VampireDuckling8' who made a post going into more detail on it. Wording from the users 'Yharmeru' and 'RochR0k' was also input, specifically their replies to the bride post link I shared. And there's a one more post made by the user 'lt9093' along with the replies in it from 'Yharmeru' I took inspiration from to write mine. Here is 'lt9093''s post. www.reddit.com/r/BaldursGate3/comments/16je2n1/thoughts_on_ascended_astarion/ And the bride one again, for ease of access. www.reddit.com/r/BaldursGate3/comments/17qonm3/an_oddly_specific_thing_about_ascendant_astarion/ tl;dr The healing process will be a struggle and not a fairytale, as I think it is in both routes - ascension and spawn, but one more so. Ascension will have some slightly bigger copium to get past before being more consistently vulnerable and yet, I'm hopeful. One of the many reasons I say this is because I sympathize with the feeling of complete helplessness, powerlessness of control for years. Then getting an opportunity to regain it, feeling wracked with guilt after choosing the way I went about it, not realizing I still felt scared and powerless until someone close to me helped me to. 4/4
@@Arisvanhees The bride theory is very appropriate, but those are the old rules. However, it's obvious that the method of transformation is different from the standard one. As for "vampire souls", nowhere in DnD does it say they don't have a soul. That's up DM to decide. Plus, Larian themselves stated in an interview that Ascended Astarion is still the same Astarion, just with his worse qualities. There was no mention of losing or selling his soul. But have no doubt that haters will continue to say that he "has no soul". I have provided enough arguments for the opposite position. Many people say that Ascended Astarion "isn't evil", I don't think so. He is evil. But that in no way prevents him from having feelings and treasuring someone close to him. Perhaps treasure them even more than if someone "kind" and "respectful of boundaries" did. Ascended Astarion love has no boundaries. That makes this relationship unhealthy, but it's still a relationship. Saying that a character can't love just because of their worldview is silly and has no solid evidence other than personal opinion. A lot of people don't even know that Astarion has always been brash and arrogant. I remember them writing to the mirror video "gosh ascended astarion has become such a narcissist". It's like they never went near the mirror before ascension. He's always been like that, they just prefer not to see it. Their entire playthrough went towards "fixing him". All I can tell you is: enjoy the game and the character as you see fit. Fandom is useless to talk to, and some Astarion fans are literally insane. I don't recommend changing their minds because any evidence will be challenged by their purely personal views. They once called me an abuser because I gave him Hag eye. That says it all. Anyway, thanks for your detailed comment.
@@nyloth Yeah, you're completely right about people getting defensive purely over others having a different perspective to theirs even if it doesn't outwardly disagree with theirs. "Their entire playthrough went towards 'fixing him'." It's funny because these same people will say ascended fans are all 'I can fix him!!' But there are people like that on both sides clearly. You speak clearly, passionately but still reasonably and you don't come across people like that often. For whatever it's worth I really respect you and appreciate that you took the time to respond to me. Happy new year Nyloth.
Ascended astarion is the traditional vampire fantasy for the old school people who can't help but to pine for being abused, spawn is for those who are sick of drama and love good mental health
These comments have me worried, I was horrified by the "negative" option(very happy about the story telling though, Astarion is a interesting villain). Some people are very naive about abusive relationships. I hope they get to stay that way.
Well, because this is a fictional character and no one is discussing a real relationship here. For example, I really love yandere genre, almost all loving couples in this genre look like this. x)
I'm so glad all those ascended fanfics that Astarion abuses Tav physically are not canon. He's still bad, tho. Manipulative as usual but he won't be THAT abusive like in the fanfics
We're seeing Astarion at his prime as an Ascended vampire. Lore wise, Vampires don't have the capacity to genuinely love. In order for him to become Ascended, he had to give away his soul. Two and two? This is him now, relishing in his freedom and seemingly limitless power. Once he gets bored enough? Who knows what he'll become. He obviously sees wealth and status to be more important than granting Tav their freedom. He's obviously starting to show signs of mania due to the shift in balance, now that he's standing, not just where Cazador once stood, but high above his former Master. There's a line that reminded me of Cazador, where he implies that by granting Tav their freedom, Tav would be out sleeping in the dirt. If you interrupt the ritual while Astarion is at camp, Cazador goes on a rant about how useless and incapable Astarion is without him, how he has nothing. Ever hear the term "dirt poor"? It's the same thing. Clearly we're starting to see a shift in him. He may not be abusive now, but he will be. Ascended Astarion is, as the writers have made clear, a case of "the abused has become the abuser". People fascinated with him in this state are people who honestly think they'd tolerate centuries of being treated like a puppet. This isn't BDSM, this isn't a healthy relationship. Tav is now the interesting little handkerchief nearly tucked in his breast pocket, and Tav's none the wiser about the power imbalance, until they are. I haven't read the fics you're talking about, since they would be very triggering. But I will say that it's very much noted in his dialogue that he is on the starting steps of showing that he is becoming his abuser, and after he gets everything he wants and becomes bored with power, who knows how wretched he'll be.
@@mischalecterTV that’s your take on it and you’re fully entitled to it, however, the majority of people here don’t share your opinion. Or at least they’re happy with the choice they’ve made. You said that AA is triggering for you so I don’t understand why you’re here… personally, I can’t stand spawn ending anymore so I don’t go to those vids.
Спасибо за видео! А вы планируете записать варианты диалога, если ткнуть в конце другие варианты или попробовать с различным завершением квеста Дуржа? Или бросить Астариона в конце (ну, попытаться :D), или отказаться от вампиризма и порвать с ним. Я по концовке с Дуржем и Спавном протыкала все варианты, включая обычное расставание, и обнаружила, что диалог с ним меняется не только от того, что игрок ему предложит в конце, но и даже если сначала накинуть ему идею ( например "Хочу помочь тебе снова ходить под солнцем") и потом бросить. Если накинуть ему идею навестить отродий в Подземье и потом бросить, то диалог с ним кардинально изменится. Иииии теперь мне страшно интересно увидеть все варианты, которые возможны с Вознесенным, включая состояние Дуржа.
For me this just proved the point that he really cares about us, in his own obsession way ofc but we really are not just a spawn like he was. also with info i found about our "last night" " The Bride Ceremony is something done by a vampire when they wish to transform someone into a vampire. The ceremony bypasses the Vampire Spawn stage and converts them to a full vampire allowing them free will but maintaining a link between both parties. To complete a Bride Ceremony, a vampire must drink from their victim three times. The final drink must drain the victim almost completely and then the victim must then drink the vampire blood. Drink from the vampire can be extremely addicting so the vampire must maintain control over the victim's drinking to prevent them from drinking too much. If the victim drinks too much or too little then the victim will die in excruciating pain and suffering. " that scene and talk after that just showing all that points + after 6 months he is treating you as his wife (idk i see it like that :D ) thank you for this vid, as i see my new gameplay will start today)
He does, more like a pet really. If you try to leave him, you can’t and you are his forever l. He ever wants to lock you in a basement and keep him all to himself. Don’t even treat a dog like that LOL
@@ChriTOopER-ti3buAgain that's only if the player chooses those options. If you play a character that is actually willing to commit to an eternal relationship with him, then they are probably very happy.
Так тихо, тихо, тихо! 4:34 - 4:55 У меня от этих слов открылась челюсть и с грохотом свалилась на пол! Щеки горят! А от последних слов I am always WATCHING - да еще и c бударажащей угрозой - я чуть не упала в обморок!!! Да, да! Он идеален :D Как же на хватало этой перчинки)) пошла дальше смотреть. Простите: аааааааааааааааааааа! Добавлено: You complete me! - О май гад! В десятый раз падаю в обморок XD Ой, ой! Какими скрытными "угрозами" закидывается))))) страшно!! Спавн фаны налетят сейчас со своим "ну воот, видели, видели? А мы вам говорили!!" Только дело в том, что мне наплевать! Таким должен быть истинный Лорд Вампиров и меня нисколько не смущает его образ! Да - пугает, да - будоражит, но не СМУЩАЕТ! Спасибо ларианам за вознесенного! Прекрасный опыт!! Я довольна!
да мне тоже все это понравилось! правда мне расстроило что предыдущие варианты ответа вообще никак не влияют на вступление, по крайней мере попытка расстаться точно. а вот у спавна будет немного разное развитие событий из-за расставания.
@@nyloth а как попытка расстаться может повлиять на то, что сейчас между ними происходит! Он жн отчетливо дал понять, что никуда нас не отпустит, видимо, пришлось поприручать))) Но он очень хорошо постарался)) Короче я в восторге!
@@nyloth нет, нет, спустя столько времени и в ссоре? Cо способностями улюлюкивать и нЭжно "манипулировать", ноу ноу ноу xD Считаю, концовка правильная и продуманная! 👌Точно ничего не забыли!
Немного вынесло с летучей мышки, спасибо за видео 🦇❤️ Рада что не стали нагнетать в наших ответах ему кринжа,меня немного нервируют варианты ответов после ритуала,а здесь уже что-то приличное имеется,без лишних попыток выставить нас horny или начать ему хамить
Скорее всего Лариан прочитали жалобы фанатов Ascendant и прислушались к ним. Потому что до эпилога он реально вел себя как мистер зло, что прям веяло каким то байасом будто наказывая игроков за то что они взяли один из выборов которые можно было брать 🥴 Тут реально его пыл решили немого поубавить. Или как вариант он просто ведет себя умереннее потому что он начинает свыкаться со своей силой, в отличии от того как было до эпилога.
@@Deadpan_Snarker вся эта тема с арбузерами интересная конечно,но на кой чёрт она злым персонажам допустим и в целом - никогда не пойму,слава Баалу,нас услышали
@@Deadpan_Snarkerя того же мнения придерживаюсь. Поначалу у парня шкалило ЧСВ. Вот теперь видно, что подуспокоился. Со временем и шпионить за гг перестанет. Потому что почему? Потому что гг никуда не собирается сбегать! 😊
Larian сделали невозможное - мне, любителю Астариона-спавна, больше зашёл эпилог Вознесенного. Балы, политические интриги, расшитый летучими мышами (это мыши же?) камзол у Аси - ну красота же. У спавна как-то все...пресно что ли. А, ну и вопрос про свободу после 6 месяцев со дня обращения в спавна... Я как увидела его, сразу подумала "Что, опять? Только не снова", и тут Астарион сказал ровно ту же фразу)) боже, если бы не это обязательное условие в превращение спавна, я бы может и выбирала бы эту концовку на злых прохождениях, но увы daddy Астарион - не для меня
у спавна просто милая романтика, у вознесенного типа "сильная пара злодеев" + одержимость. превращение можно пропустить, если не спать после ритуала и до финала, тогда будет концовка смертного х)
Очень понимаю. Я как человек, который в своём текущем (и пока что первом) прохождении выбрал спавна, но при этом очень люблю смотреть видео с его вознесённой версией. Мне так нравится видеть ЛЮБОЙ контент с этим персонажем, он так потрясающе написан и прекрасен во всех своих ипостасях.
Меня переполняют эмоции... Как же прекрасно, что Лариан не пошли на встречу у спавн-фанатов: мало того, что они добавили новые анимации вознесенному, так ещё и новый раскошный кофтан). А то, что он умеет превращаться в летучаую мышь - смотрится просто завораживающе)). Но что для меня наиболее важно, что все предсказания любителей спавна не сбылись. Хотя предрекаю их массу криков по поводу "я смотрю, всегда смотрю", но лично меня это устраивает. Интересно, что Аст не захотел общаться с нашими компаньонами, причём я видела, что за спавна тоже. Астарион, говорящий о власти, вечности в объятия друг друга, что может быть лучше...❤ Только его намёк на то, что все (видимо напарники и спавн фанаты) не ожидали, что они будут вместе, рука об руку. Спасибо за видео, что поделились)))).
I definitely give Kudos to Neil for the performance here. That he can sound both charming and threatening at the same time is no easy feat. I am also pleasantly surprised they went the route they did. You are his favorite doll in a gilded cage, not just a tool now, and that he is still flattering and manipulating your feelings to keep you loyal instead of just compelling you.
Это гораздо более счастливая концовка чем я себе представляла. На самом деле это даже заставило меня задуматься что ГГ в обеих концовках помогает Астариону стать лучше. Возможно именно любовь к ней помогает ему не скатиться до уровня Казадора. Надо бы посмотреть как он себя ведет в эпилоге без романа.
Я его видела и там он тоже себя ведёт довольно неплохо - говорит что ему не интересно самому быть на троне а больше быть "puppet master", что от путешествует по миру наслаждаясь всем что есть, что он скучал по своим друзьям потому что с властью приходит одиночество. Вообще шикарные концовки при романе и дружбе. Не знаю что видят такого хорошего в Спавне - там буквально говорится что они с Астарионом живут в какой то крепости в подземелье, там опасно и они сторонятся всех но по крайней мере это "дом" - абсолютно не сравнится с Вознесенным. Я не собираюсь откатывать ему в полной свободе только потому что "мне не нравится как он себя ведёт".
@@user-pq6py8mt5b it’s an interesting point. Releasing 7000 spawn could be dangerous and I’ve seen some ‘good’ routes where they choose to kill them for the greater good.
@@Deadpan_Snarkerзабавно что только в такой концовке он говорит что скучал по друзьям. Во всех остальных похоже что он всех игнорирует и вообще непонятно зачем пришел на вечеринку. Стесняется наверно...
@@user-pq6py8mt5bif 7000 people are needed to save spawn astarion, I know you will sacrifice them, let's admit it none of us care about those 7000 people
HEY! I'd love to use a small segment of the ascendant romance for an ALL EPILOGUES video - could I use yours and link it back to your video AND channel?
I rejected the vampire bite in my game and I LOVE the platonic version of ascendant Astarion in his epilogue. But this just makes me glad I didn't do it. My Tav would have hated this lmao
Okay so I have watched quite a few of these Epilogue videos and noticed one thing NO ONE is mentioning... All the hints at DLC! Further adventures together!.
@@angryvaultguy Anyway, they didn't say anything, so yes... Maybe you're right. But they've never had such success before, maybe they'll change their plans.
@@ZaimGamePlayI don't see how its better - they literally live in the Underdark in some fortresses, spooked and wary of everyone. You just force him not only back in the shadows, but apparently still make him feel haunted. Again, he seems content in both endings, and you can choose whatever you want, but I am not going to deny him his freedom and happiness because "I want to hug him" or "I don't like how he acts as Ascendant". I personally just don't get it.
@@hanasong6781Yeah, just choose whichever you want. Personally, AA isn't my taste because he's even more Edward Cullen-levels of red flags, but hey, it's a game. As for the spawns, I mean, it's only been six months, but from what he tells on a friendship route, they're doing better than whatever state they were in when they were imprisoned. On the route where he gets to be leader of the spawns, he says that he cares for them, but he's also not exactly heroic. He mentions that since the Underdark has lots of violent creatures and people, it's been pretty much plenty of food for them while he makes sure nobody attacks innocents and the like, judging from a background line he says that if anyone attacks a gnome again, somebody's getting impaled (which is pretty new development to his prior racism towards gnomes). For the Gur spawn children, Ulma sends you a letter about them. It's rather sweet and hopeful on the spared route despite the pain.
Кажется, тех, кто создает видео с вознесенным Астарионом, нужно еще отдельно благодарить за то, что они терпят всех этих высокоморальных судей и психиатров в коммах. Кто-то просто не может оставить нас в покое, для фанатов "нетоксичного и здорового" Астариона они сами токсичны еще как 🙄Они еще не видели те самые визуальные новеллы с яндере, запирающими в реальных клетках героинь хех "Токсично, нездорово", ну мы в курсе, но в этом и суть подобных игр, что ты можешь играть так, как хочется, и если эти люди видят Тав как бедную рабыню в этих отношениях, то я знаю, что моя ТС будет рада богатству, власти и любимому рядом, потому что это все, чего ее кровавая душонка хочет (последняя моя гг даже не пришла бы на вечеринку хд). А еще после "я всегда наблюдаю" я представляю в голове картину, как Аст в облике летучей мыши садится на плечо гг :з 🖤
@@nyloth СПАСИБО! Спасибо что создаёте для всех нас это безопасное пространство, где можно обсудить преимущества злого пути с Вознесением. Спасибо что держите оборону от потоков агрессии спавн-фанов. Могу только представить, сколько токсичных комментариев вам приходится видеть и удалять.. Спасибо, что не сдаётесь!❤
АХАХАХАХАЗАХАХА. Знаете, я, кажется, грешна, ведь я тот самый психиатр-морализатор. Но вроде держу себя в руках. Ну, надеюсь. Мне очень весело наблюдать за разборками двух сторон, это прямо настоящее мясо. Сама, честно, пока не ответила на вопрос, что именно делается с персонажем, что будет "лучше", что будет "разумнее" и что будет "правильнее". Это к тому, что отличного персонажа написали. Я давно таких холиваров не видела
@@StarMasterUA да тут и неважно, что правильнее, это не линейная игра, ее суть в возможности разного отыгрыша. Например, можно убить тифлингов в роще, что явно не "правильно", но почему бы и нет, если это подходит персонажу и открывает какие-то новые возможности? Тоже самое со спутниками и их личными квестами. Люди не имеют права указывать другим на то, что правильно в их прохождении, что нет, потому что для каждого свой канон будет, но популярность Астариона привела людей, которые ну очень сильно любят делать это и переносить свои личные травмы на вампира (!) в фэнтези (!) мире. Я была нейтральна изначально, но теперь такие учителя вызывают только раздражение, особенно когда они приходят туда, где их явно никто не ждет, и пытаются продвигать свою правду, будто мы тут необразованные детишки и ничего не понимаем, а они сейчас все по полочкам разложат. Игры с решениями просто не для них, потому что стоит им увидеть, что кто-то выбирает иное и наслаждается, у них подгорает, ведь как так-то, так нельзя. Причем даже если сказать им "да мы понимаем, что токсично, отстаньте", они не успокаиваются. Я играла во многое, но такого пздца еще не видела
Потому что другие не имеют право смотреть на ваши интимные моменты 😤 Он и так в люди вывел Тав, заставил себя поделиться. Ещё и таким он делиться не планирует.
Спасибо за видео! У меня после 5 патча все равно какой-то баг, и в лагере можно разыграть диалоги со всеми спутниками кроме Минтары (ее вообще там нет) и Астариона! 😤
If you pick positive answers to him, he gives you positive response so AA can be pretty happy if you are happy with the situation. Though AA needs to check himself acting like he was a leader of the rag tag group of weirdos with you, boy you were the side kick like everyone else
This is a normal ending if your character is satisfied with everything and you choose the option "I'm glad to share this with you" and so on. I do not know why you are clinging to only one answer.
I didn’t say anything about it not being a normal ending, or about any one part of dialogue, so I’m not sure why you think I’m clinging to anything. AA is objectively the more evil aligned ending and spawn is the more good. It’s not a bad or wrong ending, that’s just how morality in DnD works. I’ve played through both ways and I like them for different reasons.
Did anyone play as githyanki with ascended Astarion romance ? Curious if he let tav go of tav want to battle Vlaakith so it would be confirmed that he can‘t order tav. Also what will he say if they Meer in the epilouge ?
I didn't do this, BUT I assume it would play out the same as what happened to me: I romanced and Ascended Astarion and let him turn me, (I was trying REALLY hard to get karlach to go to the hells) - Karlach was either going to go boom or I could go to the hells with her.. so I went with her, ( just to see what would happen) - AA treated me like we weren't a couple, like I never romanced him. So I assume it would be the same for gith flying away on a dragon with Lae;zel.
This epilogue actually made me reinforce my love for Ascendant. If anything, it showed me how bloody complex the writing is, and those that bash Ascendant simply don't see these amazing nuances in writing. To them, it looks like "abuse" but I see it as a very unorthodox type of relationship that not everyone can like or see the appeal of. To those that see no shades of grey, this Astarion can indeed seem as abusive Cazador 2.0, but the fact that he says he missed others, that he wishes to give MC the best life shows that its not as simple as that. You can try to make an argument that "he manipulates here" but I can make the same argument that he puts on an OK mask as Spawn because he actually regrets not doing the ritual - both those are just *interpretations and opinions* which you can agree with or not. While he is possessive as Ascendant, you can understand WHY because he wants to look after you - because he loves MC *and* because they are a vampire now, who is also a target of monster hunters. His possessive born both out of love and personal reasons. While you turn him lawful evil, evil characters are still *capable* of feelings and emotions - it's just that their emotions are not as gentle and "vulnerable" as with good-aligned people. If this is the type of dynamics you love (and I do) then there is nothing to be ashamed about having a preference that has nothing to do with others. Romance your pixelated man however you want. P.S. Astarion's outfit here is absolutely gorgeous.
@@praserdanser5407And? Why exactly they should be apart? It's clear he cares for Tav and wants Tav by his side forever if you decide to take the path to be a vampire why would you want to be alone. He says power is nothing without Tav and that Tav completes him, what more do you want from him? Lick your boots and say yes you can leave me don't worry
Sadly some people know or only understand 'vanilla' relationships and will never see it as anything but abuse even if both parties are happy with the arrangement.
@@praserdanser5407 where do you see any similarities in this video? The insight is something else, he thinks you're degrading yourself to be with him because he's not worthy, because as he says it himself he's an "elven prostitute". That conversation post break up is him acting, he's very theatrical if you could comprehend that I'd be impressed though
Спасибо большое за видео! ☺️ (Было бы вообще замечательно, если бы вы загрузили ещё версию с русскими сабами 👉🏻👈🏻) (Upd. Только что поняла, что перевода-то ещё и нет хдд Обратила внимание, что имя в сабах на русском, а реплики на англ) Посмотрела ещё концовку со спавном... Спавн-концовка: "с голыми жопами, во тьме, без власти и силы... Но с милым же рай и в шалаше, да? Да?.." Бедный Астарион изо всех сил пытается смириться и сломать себя под супер-концовочку, избранную для него спавн-фанами ("жить в тенях - проклятье, но если примешь то, что тебе суждено жить в тенях и тени - часть тебя, то уже не баг, а фича ☝🏻" 🥲🥲) Так и вижу у него моську Гарольда, скрывающего боль, когда он говорит это 🤣🤣 "Хорошая мина при плохой игре". Asc-концовка - лучшее, что может быть с Астарионом, никто меня не переубедит 😌
Перевод наверное есть, просто я сейчас играю на английским из-за кривого русского перевода. Сверяю так сказать. Однажды может быть загружу на русском, чтобы как раз проверить как перевели.
part of me wanted to cause i had him be a monk and that damage buff goes crazy, but he seems much happier unascended to me. perhaps next playthru@@nyloth
@@PenguinsAreColdish I don't care about buff, for me it's a matter of his personality. but everyone plays as they want. my team doesn't need a kind "hero" who only kills "bad people"
well there's not exactly a team anymore and i feel like his personality changes drastically with ascended too? not really in a great way either, i didn't romance him so it's not as bad but still@@nyloth
@@PenguinsAreColdish his personality also changes if you abandon the ritual, only in the other direction. Well, actually a team... because we have to defeat the brain. He'll tell you that himself.
HOW DID YOU GET YOUR OLD SAVE FILES WORKING?! I can't load any of them TvT the game just does nothing... i have to start another new campaign and its super frustrating...
LOL their relationship looks fine 6months later wow imagine? 😅 from the haters crowd you'd have thought this would have been Asc!Astarion dragging Tav in forcefully and being a dbag
That response about freedom and always watching you like Edward Cullen though... yikes. That dismissiveness too. AA seems to be a mix of Act 1 and magistrate Astarion on steroids. It's aight people enjoy playing this route more, tho. People can play however they want. Personally, not my taste. He's got even more obvious red flags now.
In fact, Spawn reminds me more of Cullen... And Ascended looks more like Dracula, just because he has something dark in him, and not "I eat animals for her". So yea...
@@nyloth I mean, Astarion can still feed on humans, either way- just on those that he feels deserves it like bandits and the like. When he was in Cazador's control, it was because he never lets him drink from intelligent and sapient beings like humans. Even during the story where the game takes place, he still has his own standards, not because "he eats animals for her".
@@oceanicGrimalkin As far as I know, spawn says that he no longer feeds on humans. Apart from you, of course... "Eating only scum" is also a kind of restriction. I haven't actually seen the video where he says he feeds on them, just kills them. Ascended Astarion has no limitations, and the whole plot of the spawn "I changed for you" literally. If you leave him at the end, he will be unhappy and say, "after all that I have done !for you! and all these sacrifices." His whole route is more romantic, which, it seems to me, close to the atmosphere of twilight.
@@nyloth Only if you disagree with him and not allowing him to feed on "scum", though. Otherwise, you can agree with him and use his Bite skill on enemies. He's pretty much chaotic neutral at best on a Spawn route.
It is eerie how the difference between the good and bad Astarian is like night and day. One is an equal. The other is an abusive partner you can never escape.
Yes. But under certain circumstances, you can also remain mortal. Though I don't think that's explained in the epilogue yet. If you ignore scene after ritual, then at the end, in dialogue before epilogue, you can refuse to become a vampire. In epilogue, you will not have "bite" skill. So in theory, Tav should remain a mortal.
And now all the "Ascended Astarion be evil" people are going to descend on us again and start saying that Tav is being abused because he's always watching. I swear these people get all their psychology information from facebook. It wouldn't bug me so much if they weren't so loud about it and they don't usually read or listen to all of the cutscenes so they don't even get the lore or understand any of what's going on (enraged run-on sentence). So then you end up with stupid stuff about Tav being ten feet away from Star and choosing to burn in the sun. Uh huh, as if that would be allowed. Aside from my ranting! I'm having some mod conflicts so I can't play yet. Thank you for putting this up
Well, to be fair, Astarion is lawful-evil as Ascendant, so saying he is "evil" is not too far off. But the issue is that an evil character can *still* care for people and love them, and just because someone is evil-aligned that doesn't make them a complete monster. See Minthara, for instance - a lawful evil character, but the best girl in the squad (in my humble opinion) and is extremely loyal to her allies. Same with Lae'zel who is also more lawful-evil. Hell, lawful evil characters are defined by both ambition and loyalty to allies that matter. You making Astarion Ascendant is simply a matter of preference - he still loves MC in both those routes, and those that want to tell you otherwise are welcome to bug off and play their game however they want; Not to come in and dictate how you should play and see things.
@@Deadpan_Snarker Vampire Lords in DnD are Lawful Evil. Ascendant Vampires are new and don't technically have a classification as of yet. I do agree that he's lawful evil at the end but what people don't get (the armchair psychologists) is that there's a GIANT difference between DnD evil and human-equivalence evil. Astarion was always scheming and always exhibited that sociopathic defensive behaviour. Sociopathy fits perfectly with DnD's definition of evil because it's basically doing what you can to better yourself without regards to how others feel. Astarion is scared to death of everything. First he's scared of losing his new bodily autonomy (American women can relate amirite >.
@@Ectava I didn't like it, he hated everything, couldn't enjoy the food, or wine (nothing for him to drink) and has 0 desire to talk or even look at the others. Plus his "bitter" line came off as his old sarcastic deflection. Poor guy is miserable as spawn imo. It made me quite sad, I am glad that Ascended Astarion was done justice at the party.
Уф, как эпилог с Вознесенным отлично попадает в хедканоны ❤ а можно ли укусить его Тавом теперь, когда нет личинки и Тав полностью в его власти? Или там сработает как агрессия и Тав выкинут с пати?..
@@nyloth это скорее интересный факт, что Тав всё-таки может это сделать. Про основную игру любят говорить, что АА можно укусить потому, что личинка не давала ему полного контроля над отродьем!Тавом, а иначе он никогда бы никогда не позволил этого сделать. В эпилоге же личинки уже нет, полный контроль есть, но и укусить можно. Скорее всего это, конечно, простой недосмотр со стороны разрабов, но всё равно 😈
@@Herugaa я думаю это просто лень. баф от укуса подписан как "астарион счастлив". никто в группе кроме Карлах даже не замечает, что мы теперь вампир. так что вот не знаю.
@@nyloth Тав получает баф от того, что АА счастлив, что его укусили. Это даже ещё лучше 🤣🤣 Не, если без шуток, то отродье!Тав в целом та ещё халтура, конечно. И на самом деле лично меня даже больше прельщает вариант оставить его отродьем при АА, чем становление полноценным вампиром с последующим переломом характера до неадекватного маньяка (хотя у меня по истории Соблазн, и он тоже тот ещё неадекват). Но возможность кусаться, пусть и подаренная нам ленью или недосмотром разрабов, всё равно милая Х)
"forget I said anything " "already done" i want to bite his stupid spoiled prince face idk im so angry BUT this is so ascended!Astarion coded.............................................................
![All Party Banter If You're Romancing Astarion [Fixed in Patch 7] | Baldur's Gate III](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ers9ph_1LuM/mqdefault.jpg)
I liked everything in general, but it's a little disappointing that we don't have any kiss. Still, Astarion does not treat us the way Cazador treated him, and if you are "on the same wave" then everything is fine. If you want "freedom" then you can play out the drama. But this is more the dynamics of a golden cage than a tool slave.
He really wants you to live your best life and is apparently extremely obsessed with you (I love when he says he's watching). I didn't notice any special options for Durge.
Also moment about "you completed me" and "power was nothing without you" 10/10
Since I have to go through the final fight to do this, it will take me time to watch the ending of mad Durge and Squid... =___=
This actually made me want to finish my Ascended Fanfic that was all about the golden cage. Wow...Im actually really amazed by this ending. I like it more than the spawn one...didnt expect that!
@simashoker7968 ascended fanfic you say?👀 Yes please🙏😂
I've seen a clip of an ascended kiss where he grabs Tav by the throat before kissing them. Not sure if it was datamined and something that larian is planning for future updates or if it was just fan made?
@@kassjazzy This is a special kiss for Karlach when he can kiss her for the first time. This is spawn Astarion x) I don't know if they will change it or not.
Give them time to add more kissing and intimate stuff in general. Supposedly they're adding or thinking of adding a lot more touching to the game. Animation = much time and probably many bugs xD
I love how Ascended Astarion is bratty in comparrison to Spawn Asta. He's supposed to be a lord, but he acted like spoiled princess.
That's the point I love it too :з
He is a spoiled little bratty princess isn’t he? That’s why we love him ❤❤
I mean he kinda always was...and it got heightened!
"Ascended Astarion is still a very toxic relationship" yeah I get it but HE JUST TURNED INTO A FUCKING BAT BRO, BEST THING IVE EVER SEEN
He is a cute lil bat XD so adorable
Why did the song Toxic Love from Ferngully just pop into my head 😂
@@coloraddiction Oh God the nostalgia! Now, I have to make a Warlock/Druid with Fey powers to romance him next playthrough.😂
His idle animations are the best lol I'm obsessed with how he inspected the wine chalice, the bottle, and then threw the chalice away in favor of the bottle
Same, I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw that 😂
Haha in some ways he hasn't changed since the post-grove fight party.
Not sure if ascended version does this too, but I saw spawn Astarion play 5 finger fillet at the table lol.
@@theredeft5319 He also pockets a bottle of wine.
I love that Astarion confidently declares himself the most powerful person in the world, having likely met both Vlaakith and Elminster, and then showing up to a party with two gods. Buddy. I'm happy for you. But you are NOT the biggest kid in the Sandpit.
It's true. I read in the script that my vampire husband is envy of God Gale. But he wants to think he is very scary and strong :3
@@nyloth In fairness, he absolutely is still EXTREMELY scary and he is right when he says 'I can do whatever I want' in 99.99% of cases. If we assume one level = 1 CR, then he's CR 24-26, which is Devil Archduke powerful. The problem is that Elminster is a comfortable CR 39, and the most powerful creature we know of (Daurgathoth, the creeping doom) is CR 50.
@@lozm4835I think Kronos is CR 50 as well
@@daheck5961 Is Kronos from the Forgotten Realms? I have not heard of him in the DnD sense. Then again I suppose that 'from x setting' is kind of a hypothetical when it comes to that power level.
@@lozm4835 I think it is but I’m not to sure. I saw it off of an MrRhexx video where he had talked about the DnD variation of Kronos being strong enough to pretty much solo all the gods in the forgotten realms. And that the only reason he hadn’t is because the rest of the gods trapped him in an illusion where he thought he was fighting them non stop. Only problem was that Kronos kept on killing the illusions with disturbing ease, and there is fear amongst the gods that WHEN he breaks free everything will end. MrRhexx also referenced the hecatonchires in that video as well
Astarion: I'm amazed if you even survived this long.
In the meantime Astarion in battle: *Critical miss*
Poor widdle glass cannon. 😂
He's looking in a mirror and says he'll never get tired of seei g that face. Asyarion got his reflection back confirmed!!!!
When he said "Hello again beautiful" I snapped my camera over to see who he was talking to.... (My Tav is the jealous type..LOL) and he was looking in his mirror at his reflection... I LMAOed..LOL
That or he's taken to carrying around self portraits
@@alexandercross9081 He's literally using a mirror, the same one he uses in act 1.
Astarion looking himself into the mirror: "I will never get tired of seeing that face."
Me: "Same! I'll never tired of watching you!"
His idle animations and that little bat form is killing me
I died today.... I "ended the party" and Astarion was a bat holding a wine goblet for the whole withers bit...LMAOROTFL.
Now THERE‘S a good ending if I‘ve ever seen one!
He looks SO GOOD in this outfit OMG. I need some super high quality/cinematic pics of him in it now
Now that we have a 6 months update, time for the 1 year, 2 decade, 1 century, etc. update. 😂
"I am always watching."
goddamn-
So he’s a possessive sugar daddy lol I’ll have to make a character that would fit the consort role
I recommend violent redemption Durge. Resist every urge, but lean into the violence and dissociation. I quite enjoy it.
Thank you Nyloth for this decadent meal it will feed me for the next few weeks
Thank you for uploading so quick after patch release. :) Looking forward to picking the game back up in a couple of weeks.. I'll wait and see what hotmesses unfold first before I get all immersed and tilted at breaks again.
HE'S SO INCREDULOUS THAT THEY DIDNT ALL IMPLODE THE MOMENT YOU TOOK YOUR EYES OFF THEM PLEASE 😂
Well after what we saw in the one-shot he might have a point...
@@tracey5324 ofc he has a point... Heck even Jergal agrees if you answer his first question with "Only life that matters is my own". ALL of the party members would be dead or worse w/o Tav (and emperor).
@@tracey5324eh, it's more like Neil is a very experienced player compared to the others 😅
Neill ended the final fight‘s first turn right next to the other murder-vampire in the room. „Experienced“. Classic DND. 😂
Aw little bat astarion would have went with a white bat model but still cute.
I know a lot of people play their Tav's like free spirits, hiring and firing companions and love interests, running in all directions and never being tied down.
For them this sucks, but then again why in the hells did they consent to a lifelong bond with an immortal in the first place??
For those that have no intention of leaving- or like the idea of being able to unleash their vampire husband on someone for making them cry - Astarion is a great find. I personally find it comforting that his love is a guaranteed constant in my Tav’s life.
Judging by the voiceover at the party start and Astarions own voice lines- you came running into wherever he was hanging out with an invitation, gave him the eyes and he folded like a wet paper towel. He doesn't even want to be here.
Also a further thought on why this scene is actually interesting- cazador's writings said that when he tried to seek out his old friends his master brutally murdered them in front of him to teach Cazador that he had no right to his old life. Clearly none of Cazador's spawns were allowed to find their families/friends either, but Astarion keeps telling you to go have fun with everyone.
For those that thought up their own Tav backstories, you can imagine she's had a couple of girl's nights with her old buddies while he waits patiently for the call to get you from the bar.
YEAH! Also cazador wont allow anyone to drink his blood but Astarion allowed Tav to do it
Totally agree! ❤
Agreed. Nothing wrong with being an eternally hot trophy wife. I imagine he indulges tavs silly little hobbies and acquiesces to whatever nonsense outings tav wants
Ok now I have an image in my head of Tav coming home from a wild night with the girls and Astarion just goes, “Darling, how many did you have? Ugh you just got sick on my expensive new rugs. Fine I’ll hold your hair back.”
@@alexandralockton5671 Tav can’t ever leave he literally compels you as Cazador did.
“I’ll be watching, I am always watching” made my skin crawl 😰
Bless you for posting for us still at work
What I like about this is it feeds into the Vampire Bride theory. Astarion made Tav into a Bride instead of a regular spawn. If Tav was a run of the mill spawn, Astarion could order her to be quiet and not speak of freedom.
Does it though? It seems like he is perhaps expecting you to change your mind or something over time. I think he’d still prefer you to want this rather than him forcing you, but he is keeping you from leaving him. He wants you to love him.
Also isn’t a vampire bride just a less painful way to create a spawn?(which it seems like he give a less painful transformation, unless he was lying about it feeling like pleasurable) When I read about it that’s what it seemed like. I could be wrong, but then why would he try to make you think he can compel you? Isn’t that still an issue if he makes you think you have no control?Making a vampire bride seems to be dangerous such that only a vampire with good control can do it. I’ll give it benefit of the doubt that perhaps he could perform that ritual because although he is a new vampire, he is a vampire ascendant so he might just be able to instinctively know how to do it(remember he was changed in a different way into a spaw by the story he described) and without risking making Tav mad. However again I didn’t see anything about them not being able to compel them. I could be wrong though, it’s just what I read about it. Either way though, it’s a bit silly for Tav to make this decision to be his spawn just to regret it later. Like it’s the ultimate commitment. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an interesting theory, but I’m just not sure it’s the actual thing that’s happening here.
@@theredeft5319i think he says that because even if he cant mentally controll us, he is stronger anyway to controll us
@theredeft5319 bride cannot be compelled and they share mental link with their spouse, they are not regular spawn
@@seliamila1005Got’cha. Then what, is he just pretending to have control over Tav then? Trying to break up with him and him not letting you go, or the freedom dialogue options here…I just don’t really see how that fits unless he convinced Tav he could control them. He’s also a completely new type of Vampire so who’s knows if the any of the same rules apply to him. For all we know Tav is also a unique vampiric creature not seen before. Sorry, not trying to burst anyone’s bubble here. I definitely see where people are coming from here, but it’s a mixed bag for me to see that there is conflicting evidence for and against this theory so I am not fully onboard this theory personally.
@@theredeft5319 yeah he's bluffing with controlling Tav, also notice how astarion desperately try to make Tav/Durge feel happy? "I will make sure that you will have the best life even if you dont appreciate it" If a bride or a groom is unhappy then their creator will feel unhappy as well
Thank you for posting this! ❤
I love this game even more with this update ❤
Now I'm excited to see what happens with spawn astarion
Wholesomeness is what happens. He immediately accepts hugs and asks us to bless the others with our presence when he doesn’t want to go over to the rest of the party.
Honestly Imo it was quite sad... He didnt enjoy the party like Ascended, and his first quip wont say what he says cause of spoilers, but to me it sounds like hes not truly happy.
@@FranWest.completely wrong
Hmm interesting. So even if you are unhappy with being his spawn he still gives you luxuries. Perhaps he thinks you’ll change your mind over time or something. They have eternity after all. At least he doesn’t treat you the way Cazador did, but he basically gives you a luxurious cell. He even still let you come meet up with your friends. Kinda reminds me of Bowser from Mario. He’ll put you in a gilded cage. He is definitely got that Vampire obsession going on. Well at least if you were down for him having this power over you it seems like it might be fun. Honestly though if you choose to become his spawn you knew what you were signing up for so you better be ready to simp for eternity.
Definition of "Flourishing" :
"To flourish is to find fulfillment in our lives, accomplishing meaningful and worthwhile tasks, and connecting with others at a deeper level-in essence, living the “good life”"
I agree with the obsession and simp part. I will never understand those who loath AA but ascend him and romance him and agree to be his partner "for eternity" then shit all over the fact they are in fact "his for eternity". It's like hating cabbage and eating every single day for every meal then complaining about how much you hate cabbage..LOL Perhaps they just LOVE being miserable.....
I mean to be fair I think AA wouldn’t give a shit if it comes to physical pleasure but romantic emotions are his no no, so I’m pretty sure he’d be ok with messing around with other people as long as there is no feelings since he’s one of the characters that is down for polygamy
@@loompi2450lol he is actually strongly not polygamous. He has troubles even sleeping with one Tav, let alone with someone else. Dude has dissociation episode while they have shmexs with others (eleven prostitutes), so no, he is literally as monogamous as a man can get.
Honestly, I think both Ascendant fans and un-Ascendant fans are pretty happy with the new epilogue. So why can't you guys just enjoy your own "good" ending and restrain yourself from going around and telling other people what they enjoy is bad? "We spawn lovers got hugs!" "Yeah but vampire lord can turn into a bat." Really strikes me as some serious debate, well done. That said, I love both endings. I just love Astarion as a good character. Hope you guys can calm down and settle for that. 😅
Tbh it's the spawn that I see insulting ascendant fans first then the ascendant reacted out of annoyance
THIS so much true. I'ts kinda crazy to me that people are hostile to each other over pixels. Some people are actually giving more repect to someone who isn't real than eachother its wild.
And as much people love blaming each side, no it's not just spawn fans or just ascendant fans, I'm seeing plenty of disrespect on each side.
Can we please breathe and take a minute before we start spewing abuse at eachother :( We all have a mutual love for a character too can't we just love the writing/performance with all the shades of grey on both routes?
I just want my video game to be a video game, not a trauma breakdown. I don't WANT to deep dive the psychology of pixels. I just want to enjoy my GAME.
Anybody want the soapbox? I'm done with it now. Lol.
I mean, its undoubtedly an evil ending. You can like it if you want, but that’s objectively true
@@davidson6738 I still don’t see why that’s a problem for most people tbh, I love the evil power couple dynamic
Tav looks so fucking destroyed at 8:40. It's heartbreaking.
"I will be watching, I am always watching" why does that sound sexy, chilling, a threat like if he were to see someone try to flirt, or grab, pull, touch you or something he didn't like he would be there out of the shadows to strick them down, end their life with out a seconds thought.
Its so warming that you put adorable spawnstarion kiss at the end ❤️
this is AA kiss xD I don't play with spawn
@@nyloth huh?? Isnt that a kiss Animation from Spawn astarion?
@@atomisaurus4071 Look at the date of the video. They used to have the same kiss. I posted the video almost immediately after the patch and only added the kiss because it was new, for the two versions of Astarion. They later changed the kisses again and there are rumors that they (larian) will change things again.
"I am always watching." That gave me chills and not the good kind. Sounded like a threat. "So called friends." Wow that is some abusive talk right there.
shhhh.... is romantic....or something like that.....maybe?
bro we get it you hate this ending, dont watch it, you dont see ascended fans being annoying in spawn videos right? Get a hobby
Vampires are usually obsessed with those they care about. But they probably don't care about everyone else. Please note that based on the description, he went to this party for us, indulging our desires, and not the other way around.
@@nyloth I 100% agree, but I also got the impression that Astarion was just upset that he couldn't play host with the most instead of Withers..lol
Never forget that everyone except Halsin and Minthara were always mean to spawn Astarion. He remembers, and Tav is the spawn now.
He is great for ruthlessly ambitious Tavs 😊 Perfect power couple set to rule the world.
With this new epilogue I wonder how many reactionary dialogs is hidden there. In my last save I saw it as Tav in romance with Minthara, who rulling BG from shadows. Astarion in this scenario is a spawn traveling the world, so they didn't see each other for six months. I wonder if lord Astarion have difrent dialog, since he also trying secretly rule BG. Are they allies or foes? Working together, or trying to poison each other during fancy parties? And what about Wyll, if he takes over his dad's post? Is he aware of this shenanigans? Keeping them in check or making deals with new devils? So many possibilities!
plus with God Gale around, imagine ascended astarion romanced God Gale (with Astarion origin) bro turned into a vampire GOD
@@seliamila1005is it possible? I thought Astarion can't drink Gale's blood because of the netherise taint. 🤔
@@tj3603 i think if Astarion is the protagonist, he can romance Gale without have to turn Gale
My ruthlessly powerful Tav specifically DIDN'T ascend him because then HE'D be more powerful than HER. Instead, she left him as a spawn and became the Absolute herself and together, they rule the world together but HIM by HER side teehee. Too bad there is no epilogue for that version.....
Ascended astarion triggers me so hard 😂 sometimes he says something and I get this weird feeling in the pit of my stomach
We have eternity to chit chat 😂. Also i would have liked to tell Astarion that we shall be leading lectures 😅.
Edit: the vampire bride theory makes so much sense. He calls Tav his dark consort. Being that you can still leave him. Means he cannot compel you to stay. And the need for you to be comfortable.
I do wonder what his reaction to you would be if you didn't become his spawn.
Probably wouldn't pay you any mind. From observation alone, his dialogue throughout this entire interaction is about being together as Master and "consort", which is his fancy way of referring Tav who he sees as his Spawn. Every line, it's something to do with power, with overruling, with being the most powerful, blahblahblah, just him seeing himself as the most powerful and capable.
So you'd probably just get told off about missing out on experiencing life as a "powerful consort at his side" being almighty and powerful this, powerful that, then he'd probably go on a rant about how great things are for him while insulting you for keeping your distance.
But that's just based on observation, with how often he talked about power, to the point my ears were ringing every time he said the word.
Pay attention to these lines in specific:
Astarion: "Still, it is good to see them. And good for them to see us, side by side, /flourishing/.
Tav, having doubts: "Is that what we're doing? 'Flourishing'?"
Astarion, laughs as if though Tav is a hopeless idiot: "Of course, my darling. Look at us! (Goes into reminding Tav what "they" have) We share a palace (symbol of status), share power (only it's clear that he holds more power over Tav, but by letting Tav believe it's shared, there's little room for doubt), live eternal in each other's arms (mocking Tav's obvious need to stay at his side). What more could anyone want?"
Tav, realizing he's missing something: "Freedom?"
Astarion, quickly irate and not pleased that Tav isn't going along with his approach on the topic of discussion: "Gods, not this again. (Implying that it's been discussed before and he's annoyed with the mere idea of Tav having true freedom) I give you wealth, power (there's that damned word again), pleasure (going back to Act1 Astarion)- every decadence that can be afforded to a person? (To Ascended Astarion, material wealth, power, and status is more important than granting a spawn their freedom) But you'd rather- what- sleep in the dirt again? (There's no room for even THINKING that Tav can have their freedom while with Astarion. It's clear cut- he won't bother keeping Tav around unless they're bound to him, otherwise, Tav is of no use or interest. They're better off out in the wilds- not the city, not even the lower cities, but the dirt, which they traveled frequently during their adventures). You are my consort (his cute engaging tact diverting from Tav's true nature in this regard- his Spawn), and I will see you living the very best life. Even if you don't appreciate it. (a manipulative way of saying "and I'll make sure you stay alongside me as I mold your life to my liking, whether you like it or not").
So yeah, if you refused to become his Spawn after he Ascends? Like I said, he'd just go on and on, endlessly bragging about his obtained power, while you? You're better off "sleeping in the dirt". Sure he'll reminisce about the past, but won't truly feel it, instead trying to charm you as he did in Act 1 to most likely make you regret leaving him. Someone with that much power would obviously get bored. Him pressing all the right buttons to rise Tav up would momentarily entertain him no doubt.
I'm sure the epilogue for this version exists though, so I'm just analyzing his conversation here, while he's still with Tav. Some of the things he says here definitely reminded me of what Cazador tells Tav if you interrupt the ritual while Astarion is still at camp.
@@mischalecterTVmy goodness, you are so full of yourself and hatred for Ascended that its almost funny. You should state in your little essay here that it is YOUR opinion and enterpretation.
If going by some of your statements then every queen/king consort in present is nothing but a slave to the spouse😂. I start to really feel for the queen consort Camilla now and we should pity future queen consort Kate when her husband ascends to the throne of England...
You should at least try to hide your apparent disgust for the Ascended if you want to be taking seriously. But, please, do carry on...
He admits he is lonely…
@@mischalecterTV if its Durge the redeemed version ofc Astarion is not overpowering them like a dumb nobody like you said. Redeemed Durge is choosen of Jergal and strong willed enough to defy quasi god with his blood on their vein so Ascended vampire charm wouldnt work like on normal person
Ascended Astarion sounds a lot like Critical Role’s Delilah Briarwood ngl💀🤣
Do people who romance ascended Astarion actually trust him? I get the feeling watching this (and other ascended Astarion scenes) if Tav and Astarion didn’t see eye to eye on something big that Astarion would compel Tav to get his way… Or do people know that and that is part of why they like the romance, they like the idea of being in his control forever? Or is there sometime I am missing?
Based on my character’s backstory and personality i gave him, I am happy I did not ascend him. I like the idea of my Tav and him setting off on another adventure trying to find a way for Astarion to be in the sun again and my Tav having complete freedom.
Why do you trust Spawn? He can betray you like any other character. He can even threaten you, which will set off all 7,000 spawns. Because they obey him, not you.
What about AA... Apparently, everything was fine for them during these 6 months. Taking over the city is a great plan for my Durge, and this is just the beginning. Besides, we have God Gale as our friend, who indulges our ambitions.
Why do you think our character is under control? There hasn't been a single scene where Astarion has controlled us yet. I have a theory, but I will only be able to confirm it when Larian is done with patches. If the theory is confirmed, then Astarion has no control over us, he only pretends.
In my ending my Tav and Astarion don’t have anything to do with the spawn and Astarion doesn’t control them. They are in the under dark with Astarion’s “siblings”. At this point in their relationship my Tav has no reason not to trust Astarion but if something ever happened in the future where things were not working out for them, my Tav could walk away from the relationship and not be compelled to stay or controlled.
Control was a bad word to use now that I think of it sorry! I don’t think the Tav in the AA ending is under control or being compelled by Astarion at the end of the game, but you are both immortal. What happens if at some point your Tav and Astarion don’t see eye to eye on something? Like some large life decision? I would be curious to know how ascended Astarion would reacts to that. Is he going to be a dink and compel or control you or be fair about it? Maybe we will never know and it will just be left up to headcanon.
Also curious about your theory if you don’t mind explaining? If it is true it would make me much more likely to do a run with ascended Astarion, it is the potential that Astarion COULD compel you that makes me hesitant to trust him. Especially when he is so power hungry!
Also agree with your pinned comment, just give us spawn and ascended Astarion simps an endgame kiss please! 😫
@@nyloth you can’t leave him… AT ALL. That doesn’t Happen with any other character or versions of him. It’s specific to this astarion BECAUSE he’s the only one that can. You wanting to leave him then him being just “nah” then all fading to black seems a pretty clear sings you don’t have any control over that decision.
@@ChriTOopER-ti3bu literally remain mortal and leave. x)
@@Violana If the partners have different views, then this is bad in any case. But yes, you're right, it's more dangerous with Ascended Astarion. Just because he's very strong. Literally very much. But even Cazador was able to kill his master so...
about the theory th-cam.com/users/shortsI4CfTJj64JE
I would like to make a more detailed version, but I think I will wait until the game is released completely and definitively.
i was saying awh until the freedom one.. yikes. still love him lol
Tbh if someone says I will give you the best life you want forcefully it's difficult to loath them entirely. But you can still leave Khalark or Lazeal
I love his outfit. I wish that was accessible before.
Guys it's only toxic when Tav does not want it, when she/he wants something else. If is ok for both sides and they are happy, it's not toxic. Very simple😅😊
It’s ok if you lean into Tav‘s more violent aspect. I‘m playing redemption durge rn, and am seriously considering her falling for this (it’s an OC of mine that’s always been very morally ambiguous, so she fits perfectly). She’s his special „bloodthirsty friend“ and thinks ascension sounds tempting already.
My evil durge won‘t be stupid enough to let the Chosen of Bhaal get turned into a vampire lord‘s spawn/plaything. That AA is just going to have to suck it up. 😁
evil astarion is still astarion lolim doing a kind of grey area run maybe neutral evil? letting a bunch of vampire spawn loose on the world probably is ultimately the worse idea and i want astarion to be able to walk in the sun without that tadpole
You can destroy the 7k spawn without doing the ritual. If you want to avoid having to discuss ascension with Astarion, simply kill one of the other 7 during the fight. The ritual just isn’t possible without all 7 spawn (or 6 + Cazador) as they work as a focus for the spell.
he lives in Caz's palace? then he'll definitely be wearing his clothes soon....
that's the part that shocked me most. both me and my character would be thinking. Aren't there too many traumatic memories here ? are you sure about this ? she'd be both confused and concerned , she genuinely cares and could care less about his power level so long as he feels safe and secure in himself.
@@ladylunara5 Ну, он искренне считал это место своим домом... К тому же он сделал там ремонт и всё поменял)))
So, you chose the "travel around the world option" and the epilogue still describes you partying in refurbished Cazador's palace? That's disappointing to be honest. Thank you for sharing, looking forward your future uploads!
I know
I saw someone that posted a Durge playthrough with a monologue that talked about them going on a series of adventures, so that is likely just a bug.
@@tracey5324 I think the "series of adventures" part is just with spawn, or perhaps it is a bug.
7:33 welp. He’s gone Yandere mode.
"I might be the most powerful person in the world." Lord have mercy the hubris - dude you're powerful - you are NOT the most powerful person in the world. 😂😂😂
Aw-w-w so edgy and yet chill at the same time, yandere Vampire Lord Astarion
Bratty vampire lord!!! ❤️ 😍
Thanks had to watch this video, as I lost another playthrough due to error 544 on ps5.
Омг, У ВАС ГЕЙЛ СМОГ ДОБЫТЬ КОРОНУ И СТАЛ БОГОМ?? Очень бы хотелось посмотреть диалог с ним 🙏
Новый лорд-костюм Астариона прекрасен, как и его обращение в летучую мышку ☺️☺️☺️
7:27 that growl holy shit
ascended astarion keeps causing me -10 emotional dmg :(
I hate morality busy bodies in games, people who complain about this stuff want nothing but perfect adventures ruin creativity and compelling character writing.
If Gale becoming a God is ok after the stupid stuff he did Astarion being a Ascended Vampire after centuries of nothing but torment is perfectly ok too.
i see Astarian and Gale as two completely opposite parallels of one another. which is why my Tav is with ascendant who had everything to lose in not going through with it , while i'm *hoping* her close friend Gale doesn't go through with the crown at the end as i've been trying to talk him down , Gale has everything to lose in taking godhood as he becomes another apathetic god amongst the pantheon when he is fine as he is and a good man once he gets humbled a little / his pompous attitude is toned down. Polar opposites of a similar power hungry narrative. Astarian would be living scared in the shadows as spawn never truly feeling safe and feeling weak , plus if you aren't an elf you have a short life and will leave him all alone. ( my Tav is a half high elf like shadowheart )
There’s nothing wrong with the writers including an Ascended Astarion in the game and of course it makes it interesting, but if a person does that and doesn’t notice the obvious, OBVIOUS implication that Astarion has just repeated the cycle of trauma and become Cazador, that person is either immature or living in delusion
I love it❤❤❤❤ gods i love this man 😭😭😭😭😭😭🖤
He has nice outfit
I made a post on reddit, and this is what I wrote. You really inspired me Nyloth. I wouldn't have taken the time otherwise.
I've played two playthroughs so far. One where I didn't ascend Astarion, and one where I did. I loved both experiences, and see the good with the struggles in both. Because there are struggles in both, but that doesn't mean everything ends there in black and white. I don't care how the game thinks trauma recovery works, the writers are still human, as am I. I might be totally wrong about all of this, but relationships, love, emotions, trauma don't all get processed the same way, sometimes things turn out for the worse, the better or somewhere in between.
There's so many experiences people have all around the world, everyone has their interpretations of what a healthy relationship looks like, what a healthy way to deal with trauma looks like, some will completely dismiss or rebuke some interpretations and that's okay, I'm not beyond criticism and it's none of my business, whatever works for others works.
If I happened to write a relationship in a video game, I wouldn't be beyond my human judgement, we're fallible and we have biases, I'll likely be writing with at least some modicum of personal bias even if I take inspiration from other people's experiences.
This is going to be a pretty long read, like, over 2000 words kind of read. But if you don't like ascending Astarion and you don't wanna hear about it period, then I just want to leave a disclaimer here that I'll be talking in favor of it. It has a lot to do with my personal journey and experiences in life, so while I really, really loved both endings, I couldn't help but enjoy the ascended more purely due to how I personally related to it.
Okay. Let's get into it. To when I first met Astarion. (some self reflection but I relate it to him in the end).
Man I really didn't like him.. at first. Then I did, kind of like him. In the beginning he reminded me of someone. And as I got to know him more I realized that someone was actually me and not who I initially thought it was. Then it made a lot of sense right away. Why I found him so annoying. At times I kind of hated him.
Realizing this, I thought about myself more, the parts I didn't like anyways. And then the parts that I did. I grew to love him in time. I really get where he comes from with a lot of things. I looked at him, and I started to see so much of myself there.
There, right there standing in front of me, not a caricature but a real person. And when I found myself staring into what felt like the abyss itself, despair, it would dawn on me just how difficult it is to look at yourself, perceive yourself. When I saw him I would see too much. Or at least so much that I couldn't decide whether I was feeling a kindred warmth, a content sadness, disgust, love, sometimes it pained me dearly. But how could I look at these parts, these parts in him, and love them, love him so much, when I didn't look toward those parts I had with the same tenderness.
How could I love him, when I didn't love myself. Those words never meant anything to me before. The phrase didn't have any meaning in my heart. And now it does. Then when I would look at him, I still felt all of those things, but with less disgust, less hatred, less pain, less.. sadness. Now, I would feel.. worry, the warmth, the comfort of home, the feeling of safety, love.
And then I liked myself a little more. I was much kinder to myself than I ever have before. It made me realize I'm not so bad. Not just a thought but a great comfort. And then, I realized that no matter what, I wasn't going to leave his side. A lot of people feel this way about themselves until they're shown otherwise with support. I believe Astarion, isn't any different.
It's a video game, and it's a character, but it went beyond that when both but especially the latter affected me how they did.
Which.. is why this is my interpretation of things when ascending him, the next line I'll say is gonna sound like "what the fuck" but if someone does hear me out then thank you, I appreciate it.
I personally think all relationships are 'predatory'. (Maybe I could use a different word? Yeah okay, definitely a different word LOL) And I don't think or see that as inherently something negative, some are more and some are less but all relationships have a give and take.
1/4
And I really like this one. Because this one requires a lot of trust and patience on your side, and someone who really needs both before being able to give just as much back.
I sympathize with Astarion, especially in the ascension route. He follows eerily in the steps of his abuser, but not quite. He doesn't truly compel you. You're able to have conversations of disapproval about his actions and the relationship even after everything with the absolute is over, some dialogue choices even lead to him saying something like 'This again?' as he sighs lol. He lets you disagree and speak your mind often. I'm surprised he would let Tav/Durge have so much agency at all if he supposedly turns them into a spawn. It still makes me wonder why, and I think despite his fears and despite not wanting to lose you, he still wants you to express yourself and love him and willingly, if he didn't care enough about that then I'm sure he would just enthrall you. And on some level he wants to be better than Cazador, he's expressed that he is, so if he were to compel you that probably wouldn't bode so well on his conscience.
I read about the bride theory here recently and..
In the rules it says they bride/groom can't be compelled. But they are still bound to one another, like a magical marriage contract. Both parties have to agree to let go for the bond to break. This means that if the roles were reversed and Astarion wanted to break up with Tav/Durge, then he can't do it without Tav/Durge's permission and Astarion can't kill them without harming himself. They both have to be willing to "sign the papers".
It makes a lot of sense if he's just lying to you so you're afraid of the possibility of getting enthralled/compelled without him actually having the power to do that to you. So like what I thought initially, he wants you to express yourself and and love him willingly, he wants to better than Cazador, everyone and everything in his life have been taken away from him or left so the fear of that really comes through here, etc, etc.. whether he decides to share this information with you one day is another thing. This is manipulative, but if he does care about you this comes off to me as a 'test' of sorts. I call it 'shit testing' which isn't healthy but it's something people with a lot of low, warped self esteem and trust and abandonment issues typically do. So, while toxic, this explains why Astarion is so evasive about whether he can actually compel you or not. He might simply be lying to buy himself time to feel out the situation.
It's like he's chasing you away. Then, if you run, it only confirms his thoughts about you. Doesn’t he say something like "You've finally shown your true colors at last" like he's saying, "Gotcha! I knew you never loved me!"
It's certainly toxic, I know I've behaved that way before with friends and lovers and had to work on not doing crap like that. It's totally a self-fulfilling prophecy situation.
I believe that both ascendant and unascendant Astarion still have problems when his personal quest ends. They're just on different journeys to recovery. Things just aren't as simple as black and white. And they certainly aren't here no matter how much easier it would be to believe so and call anyone who thinks otherwise deluded, lol.
When I found out about this it made me kind of sad and it gripped at my heart. So I have a feeling my character would work toward ways to reassure him/let him feel like he can trust her more before bringing it up, and if he never does then she will. I think the bride thing might be a way for him to protect Tav/Durge from himself, while still ensuring they’ll stay with him. He doesn't trust himself entirely clearly, and I sympathize with that. It's not so easy to accept that maybe you are reliable and worthy of trust without someone showing you that first.
Link to the bride theory with more details.
www.reddit.com/r/BaldursGate3/comments/17qonm3/an_oddly_specific_thing_about_ascendant_astarion/
Anyways.. going back to the cycle of abuse topic, I was a lot like that when given the opportunity to finally not feel utterly helpless. I took it. I hated myself for it, the guilt and shame. But I'm glad the person I cared most about never left my side through it all, I'll spend my life making up to them for the hurt. Astarion has forever to figure himself and everything he's went through out and what he wants in the future from here.
Yes, he's still afraid. Of losing you. Of others. Of losing agency. So he overcompensates with control. When it comes to you, I think he genuinely does love you, but it's taken on the form of possession because he's still insecure. When he feels like he finally has complete agency, he sees ascension as the fix to everything. When the reality is.. it isn't. And all he really wants, is to feel safe.
2/4
I think he can have that in both endings, I think whether he chooses to ascend or not, both are ways to cope with the trauma he's gone through. Both will have their struggles if he is to heal, though one more greatly than the other (ascension) as the copium is more easily accessible to him. It'll be easier to distract himself with his newfound power trip from becoming more intimate with his feelings of fear and distrust with everyone and the world. Easier to shy away from healing.
But I believe in him. He's defensive and prickly now that he has his 'fix', expecting if not desperately begging for it to fix everything, if it won't, if he has all this power and he is still afraid, if he still loses you, what was the point? He actually alludes to the last thing in the epilogue, he says something along the lines of all his power would amount to being pointless without you at his side - that you complete him.
It's complicated. But this is my interpretation of the events and because of that I didn't want to leave his side, still don't.
Now is when I felt he was at his most sensitive and most troubled, I couldn't leave him like that.
If you are more understanding towards him after ascension, he still gets defensive but he doesn't lash out at you. And I don't mean bending over backwards for him, you don't need to say whatever you think he wants to hear.
I chose the dialogue options which aligned with what I did want to actually say to him "I hope you learned something from this" to me choosing something about power and sex that I can't quite remember, and then I chose "I wanted you to feel safe" after he asked me why I was fine with letting him do the ritual. He was defensive, and upset about the conversation. After I picked the last option he disapproved.
But then, I was given four more options, one of them being me telling him that I still want to work things out together, I did, so I chose that and he approved. In that moment, IMO he responds very genuinely and it's telling. In his words, in his voice, his eyes.
There are more moments like this, moments of care, residing by the fear and insecurity. And when I came across them I couldn't for a moment think that someone who can display and feel those things lost their soul in any way.
Which is something many people say about him but.. I feel like that's a cop out to make things easier in a black and white sense. A lot of people don't like ascending Astarion because it's not all clear sweetness and vulnerability from the beginning, so acting like he just lost his soul to Mephistopheles rather than this just being part of who he is as a person if he chooses to take power after 200 years of abuse and terror is more simple. For many people, if they take offense to that.. well, lol.
It's easier for many people to believe "No, that's not him! he's not there anymore. He's so mean and arrogant now." And I just lol at the idea because this is just another way victims of abuse can act when they actually feel like they have the power to. It's not that he suddenly doesn't have a soul. It's that there's a lot he bites his tongue on when he doesn't feel like he could get away with it before ascending.
You can say that he turns evil (aligned) therefore he's incapable of love. And while you can say he turns evil, I don't agree with the entire statement, it's incorrect. Evil aligned people are more than capable of having real emotions, the only difference is the reasoning/morality behind it. And again, regarding him losing his soul, there's no proof that he did. Cazador was the one who actually made the deal with Mephistopheles, so if anyone's soul was on the line.. And we know how devils are with their deals, they'll deliver but there might just be a catch 22. The catch 22 likely being that any of his spawn could carve the same rituals into his back and become the vampire ascendant.
Another one that I keep hearing is that Vampires in D&D canonically don't have souls. Ok, maybe in the rule book, but in BG3? For the ritual, you need 7007 souls to sacrifice. And what were they? Vampires. Even Cazador (a True Vampire) was sacrificed and his soul counted. And if we were going by the book, that means Spawn Astarion would also not have a soul, so what's the point?
Depending on how you treat him after he ascends, his line delivery the morning after will actually be different. If you react negatively, he actually sounds scarier and grandiose, which is unfortunately what most people come across. When you're more understanding and accepting, he actually sounds much more mellow and gentle.
From my understanding he's just afraid you will reject him the way he is now. And while he still has insecurities and he's still afraid, he really did get a boost of confidence, he does have more power now in a sense, but most importantly now he feels like he has much more agency. When you react negatively or outright push him away.. he might just feel what you're really rejecting is an Astarion with agency.
3/4
The ways he reacts to your rejection, and the way he reacts to you wanting to end things makes complete sense, a lot of people say things to hurt their companion if they themselves are hurt, scared, and want to deflect from their own feelings. It's so clear to me that it's purely reactionary and he wants to avoid feeling the pain of such loss.
Despite everything, he's proven to me with actions and words that.. He's still still him. And not beyond a better outcome if he ascends for himself and Tav/Durge. Not at all. And it is not just up to you. It is mostly up to him to find those vulnerable parts of himself and come face to face with them again. In time, having someone there with him who is understanding and patient through it all will likely help him find his way toward that road more, I was given that. I can't help but sympathize with him.
On an off note after only a few months, he seems to have mellowed out a lot more than I expected in the epilogue. He still says possessive things to you, but on a lesser scale. He admits that he can't keep you all to himself and encourages you to go mingle with the others. Based off of my own personal experiences, and, well, everything written above, I'm hopeful. And his development only makes me more so. Lol at him asking you to come right back to him if they drop any tea. ☕
This was long, but I guess I thought a lot about it, and I wanted to share my opinions. Whatever choices you guys made while playing the game, I hope you enjoyed yourselves. Cause I really did, man.
Also I really want to thank some users on their theories and takes on Astarion, and his character in general. I took some paragraphs, ideas and wording sometimes directly from another person because I completely agreed with them word for word, and felt I couldn't say it better. When I talked about the bride theory for example. I first heard of it from a youtuber going by 'Nyloth' and then from the user 'VampireDuckling8' who made a post going into more detail on it. Wording from the users 'Yharmeru' and 'RochR0k' was also input, specifically their replies to the bride post link I shared. And there's a one more post made by the user 'lt9093' along with the replies in it from 'Yharmeru' I took inspiration from to write mine.
Here is 'lt9093''s post. www.reddit.com/r/BaldursGate3/comments/16je2n1/thoughts_on_ascended_astarion/
And the bride one again, for ease of access. www.reddit.com/r/BaldursGate3/comments/17qonm3/an_oddly_specific_thing_about_ascendant_astarion/
tl;dr
The healing process will be a struggle and not a fairytale, as I think it is in both routes - ascension and spawn, but one more so. Ascension will have some slightly bigger copium to get past before being more consistently vulnerable and yet, I'm hopeful. One of the many reasons I say this is because I sympathize with the feeling of complete helplessness, powerlessness of control for years. Then getting an opportunity to regain it, feeling wracked with guilt after choosing the way I went about it, not realizing I still felt scared and powerless until someone close to me helped me to.
4/4
@@Arisvanhees The bride theory is very appropriate, but those are the old rules. However, it's obvious that the method of transformation is different from the standard one. As for "vampire souls", nowhere in DnD does it say they don't have a soul. That's up DM to decide. Plus, Larian themselves stated in an interview that Ascended Astarion is still the same Astarion, just with his worse qualities. There was no mention of losing or selling his soul. But have no doubt that haters will continue to say that he "has no soul". I have provided enough arguments for the opposite position.
Many people say that Ascended Astarion "isn't evil", I don't think so. He is evil. But that in no way prevents him from having feelings and treasuring someone close to him. Perhaps treasure them even more than if someone "kind" and "respectful of boundaries" did. Ascended Astarion love has no boundaries. That makes this relationship unhealthy, but it's still a relationship. Saying that a character can't love just because of their worldview is silly and has no solid evidence other than personal opinion.
A lot of people don't even know that Astarion has always been brash and arrogant. I remember them writing to the mirror video "gosh ascended astarion has become such a narcissist". It's like they never went near the mirror before ascension. He's always been like that, they just prefer not to see it. Their entire playthrough went towards "fixing him".
All I can tell you is: enjoy the game and the character as you see fit. Fandom is useless to talk to, and some Astarion fans are literally insane. I don't recommend changing their minds because any evidence will be challenged by their purely personal views. They once called me an abuser because I gave him Hag eye. That says it all. Anyway, thanks for your detailed comment.
@@nyloth Yeah, you're completely right about people getting defensive purely over others having a different perspective to theirs even if it doesn't outwardly disagree with theirs.
"Their entire playthrough went towards 'fixing him'."
It's funny because these same people will say ascended fans are all 'I can fix him!!' But there are people like that on both sides clearly.
You speak clearly, passionately but still reasonably and you don't come across people like that often. For whatever it's worth I really respect you and appreciate that you took the time to respond to me. Happy new year Nyloth.
Ascended astarion is the traditional vampire fantasy for the old school people who can't help but to pine for being abused, spawn is for those who are sick of drama and love good mental health
These comments have me worried, I was horrified by the "negative" option(very happy about the story telling though, Astarion is a interesting villain). Some people are very naive about abusive relationships. I hope they get to stay that way.
Well, because this is a fictional character and no one is discussing a real relationship here. For example, I really love yandere genre, almost all loving couples in this genre look like this. x)
i'm always watching... wazowski
I'm so glad all those ascended fanfics that Astarion abuses Tav physically are not canon. He's still bad, tho. Manipulative as usual but he won't be THAT abusive like in the fanfics
Yes, I’m already dancing with new AA stories and they’re finally canon! I’m so excited, Larian really did justice to AA fans
We're seeing Astarion at his prime as an Ascended vampire. Lore wise, Vampires don't have the capacity to genuinely love.
In order for him to become Ascended, he had to give away his soul.
Two and two? This is him now, relishing in his freedom and seemingly limitless power. Once he gets bored enough? Who knows what he'll become. He obviously sees wealth and status to be more important than granting Tav their freedom. He's obviously starting to show signs of mania due to the shift in balance, now that he's standing, not just where Cazador once stood, but high above his former Master.
There's a line that reminded me of Cazador, where he implies that by granting Tav their freedom, Tav would be out sleeping in the dirt. If you interrupt the ritual while Astarion is at camp, Cazador goes on a rant about how useless and incapable Astarion is without him, how he has nothing. Ever hear the term "dirt poor"? It's the same thing.
Clearly we're starting to see a shift in him. He may not be abusive now, but he will be.
Ascended Astarion is, as the writers have made clear, a case of "the abused has become the abuser". People fascinated with him in this state are people who honestly think they'd tolerate centuries of being treated like a puppet. This isn't BDSM, this isn't a healthy relationship.
Tav is now the interesting little handkerchief nearly tucked in his breast pocket, and Tav's none the wiser about the power imbalance, until they are.
I haven't read the fics you're talking about, since they would be very triggering. But I will say that it's very much noted in his dialogue that he is on the starting steps of showing that he is becoming his abuser, and after he gets everything he wants and becomes bored with power, who knows how wretched he'll be.
@@mischalecterTV that’s your take on it and you’re fully entitled to it, however, the majority of people here don’t share your opinion. Or at least they’re happy with the choice they’ve made.
You said that AA is triggering for you so I don’t understand why you’re here… personally, I can’t stand spawn ending anymore so I don’t go to those vids.
@@mischalecterTVif you are triggered, why are you here
@@seliamila1005 I'm not triggered by AA, I avoid the fanfics trying to make it out to be some steamy sex dungeon fic, which I do avoid.
Спасибо за видео! А вы планируете записать варианты диалога, если ткнуть в конце другие варианты или попробовать с различным завершением квеста Дуржа? Или бросить Астариона в конце (ну, попытаться :D), или отказаться от вампиризма и порвать с ним.
Я по концовке с Дуржем и Спавном протыкала все варианты, включая обычное расставание, и обнаружила, что диалог с ним меняется не только от того, что игрок ему предложит в конце, но и даже если сначала накинуть ему идею ( например "Хочу помочь тебе снова ходить под солнцем") и потом бросить. Если накинуть ему идею навестить отродий в Подземье и потом бросить, то диалог с ним кардинально изменится. Иииии теперь мне страшно интересно увидеть все варианты, которые возможны с Вознесенным, включая состояние Дуржа.
Я пока что пробовала только диалог с расставанием, при этом у Вознесенного ничего не меняется. Потыкаю.
@@nylothЭто прекрасно, спасибо за потрясающие видео! ❤
Тоже так интересны все возможные варианты с ним )))
For me this just proved the point that he really cares about us, in his own obsession way ofc but we really are not just a spawn like he was. also with info i found about our "last night"
" The Bride Ceremony is something done by a vampire when they wish to transform someone into a vampire. The ceremony bypasses the Vampire Spawn stage and converts them to a full vampire allowing them free will but maintaining a link between both parties. To complete a Bride Ceremony, a vampire must drink from their victim three times. The final drink must drain the victim almost completely and then the victim must then drink the vampire blood. Drink from the vampire can be extremely addicting so the vampire must maintain control over the victim's drinking to prevent them from drinking too much. If the victim drinks too much or too little then the victim will die in excruciating pain and suffering. "
that scene and talk after that just showing all that points + after 6 months he is treating you as his wife (idk i see it like that :D )
thank you for this vid, as i see my new gameplay will start today)
He does, more like a pet really. If you try to leave him, you can’t and you are his forever l. He ever wants to lock you in a basement and keep him all to himself. Don’t even treat a dog like that LOL
@@ChriTOopER-ti3buAgain that's only if the player chooses those options.
If you play a character that is actually willing to commit to an eternal relationship with him, then they are probably very happy.
Так тихо, тихо, тихо! 4:34 - 4:55 У меня от этих слов открылась челюсть и с грохотом свалилась на пол! Щеки горят! А от последних слов I am always WATCHING - да еще и c бударажащей угрозой - я чуть не упала в обморок!!! Да, да! Он идеален :D Как же на хватало этой перчинки)) пошла дальше смотреть. Простите: аааааааааааааааааааа!
Добавлено: You complete me! - О май гад! В десятый раз падаю в обморок XD
Ой, ой! Какими скрытными "угрозами" закидывается))))) страшно!!
Спавн фаны налетят сейчас со своим "ну воот, видели, видели? А мы вам говорили!!" Только дело в том, что мне наплевать! Таким должен быть истинный Лорд Вампиров и меня нисколько не смущает его образ! Да - пугает, да - будоражит, но не СМУЩАЕТ! Спасибо ларианам за вознесенного! Прекрасный опыт!! Я довольна!
да мне тоже все это понравилось! правда мне расстроило что предыдущие варианты ответа вообще никак не влияют на вступление, по крайней мере попытка расстаться точно. а вот у спавна будет немного разное развитие событий из-за расставания.
@@nyloth а как попытка расстаться может повлиять на то, что сейчас между ними происходит! Он жн отчетливо дал понять, что никуда нас не отпустит, видимо, пришлось поприручать))) Но он очень хорошо постарался)) Короче я в восторге!
@@Nirraart ну вообще я думала они будут в ссоре или типа того. Конфликт же. Надо конечно смертную концовку проверять.
@@nyloth нет, нет, спустя столько времени и в ссоре? Cо способностями улюлюкивать и нЭжно "манипулировать", ноу ноу ноу xD Считаю, концовка правильная и продуманная! 👌Точно ничего не забыли!
Немного вынесло с летучей мышки, спасибо за видео 🦇❤️
Рада что не стали нагнетать в наших ответах ему кринжа,меня немного нервируют варианты ответов после ритуала,а здесь уже что-то приличное имеется,без лишних попыток выставить нас horny или начать ему хамить
я с вами согласна!
@@Nirraart 🤗❤️
Скорее всего Лариан прочитали жалобы фанатов Ascendant и прислушались к ним. Потому что до эпилога он реально вел себя как мистер зло, что прям веяло каким то байасом будто наказывая игроков за то что они взяли один из выборов которые можно было брать 🥴
Тут реально его пыл решили немого поубавить. Или как вариант он просто ведет себя умереннее потому что он начинает свыкаться со своей силой, в отличии от того как было до эпилога.
@@Deadpan_Snarker вся эта тема с арбузерами интересная конечно,но на кой чёрт она злым персонажам допустим и в целом - никогда не пойму,слава Баалу,нас услышали
@@Deadpan_Snarkerя того же мнения придерживаюсь. Поначалу у парня шкалило ЧСВ. Вот теперь видно, что подуспокоился. Со временем и шпионить за гг перестанет. Потому что почему? Потому что гг никуда не собирается сбегать! 😊
Larian сделали невозможное - мне, любителю Астариона-спавна, больше зашёл эпилог Вознесенного. Балы, политические интриги, расшитый летучими мышами (это мыши же?) камзол у Аси - ну красота же. У спавна как-то все...пресно что ли. А, ну и вопрос про свободу после 6 месяцев со дня обращения в спавна... Я как увидела его, сразу подумала "Что, опять? Только не снова", и тут Астарион сказал ровно ту же фразу)) боже, если бы не это обязательное условие в превращение спавна, я бы может и выбирала бы эту концовку на злых прохождениях, но увы daddy Астарион - не для меня
у спавна просто милая романтика, у вознесенного типа "сильная пара злодеев" + одержимость. превращение можно пропустить, если не спать после ритуала и до финала, тогда будет концовка смертного х)
Очень понимаю. Я как человек, который в своём текущем (и пока что первом) прохождении выбрал спавна, но при этом очень люблю смотреть видео с его вознесённой версией. Мне так нравится видеть ЛЮБОЙ контент с этим персонажем, он так потрясающе написан и прекрасен во всех своих ипостасях.
Меня переполняют эмоции...
Как же прекрасно, что Лариан не пошли на встречу у спавн-фанатов: мало того, что они добавили новые анимации вознесенному, так ещё и новый раскошный кофтан).
А то, что он умеет превращаться в летучаую мышь - смотрится просто завораживающе)).
Но что для меня наиболее важно, что все предсказания любителей спавна не сбылись.
Хотя предрекаю их массу криков по поводу "я смотрю, всегда смотрю", но лично меня это устраивает.
Интересно, что Аст не захотел общаться с нашими компаньонами, причём я видела, что за спавна тоже.
Астарион, говорящий о власти, вечности в объятия друг друга, что может быть лучше...❤
Только его намёк на то, что все (видимо напарники и спавн фанаты) не ожидали, что они будут вместе, рука об руку.
Спасибо за видео, что поделились)))).
Вознесенный Астарион ведет себя высокомерно, ему нельзя давать власть.
@@juliaturbo5820 не давайте, а мы дадим
@@Nirraart бл, это как из прикола "Девочки выбирают вознесенного Астариона, а женщины заботливое отродье" ахах
I definitely give Kudos to Neil for the performance here. That he can sound both charming and threatening at the same time is no easy feat.
I am also pleasantly surprised they went the route they did. You are his favorite doll in a gilded cage, not just a tool now, and that he is still flattering and manipulating your feelings to keep you loyal instead of just compelling you.
@@Nirraartда, и власть дадим и просто дадим 😂😂😂
Это гораздо более счастливая концовка чем я себе представляла. На самом деле это даже заставило меня задуматься что ГГ в обеих концовках помогает Астариону стать лучше. Возможно именно любовь к ней помогает ему не скатиться до уровня Казадора. Надо бы посмотреть как он себя ведет в эпилоге без романа.
Я его видела и там он тоже себя ведёт довольно неплохо - говорит что ему не интересно самому быть на троне а больше быть "puppet master", что от путешествует по миру наслаждаясь всем что есть, что он скучал по своим друзьям потому что с властью приходит одиночество.
Вообще шикарные концовки при романе и дружбе. Не знаю что видят такого хорошего в Спавне - там буквально говорится что они с Астарионом живут в какой то крепости в подземелье, там опасно и они сторонятся всех но по крайней мере это "дом" - абсолютно не сравнится с Вознесенным. Я не собираюсь откатывать ему в полной свободе только потому что "мне не нравится как он себя ведёт".
@@Deadpan_SnarkerDamning over 7000 souls to eternal torment in Avernus, though... It's funny how people don't bring that part up much!
@@user-pq6py8mt5b it’s an interesting point. Releasing 7000 spawn could be dangerous and I’ve seen some ‘good’ routes where they choose to kill them for the greater good.
@@Deadpan_Snarkerзабавно что только в такой концовке он говорит что скучал по друзьям. Во всех остальных похоже что он всех игнорирует и вообще непонятно зачем пришел на вечеринку. Стесняется наверно...
@@user-pq6py8mt5bif 7000 people are needed to save spawn astarion, I know you will sacrifice them, let's admit it none of us care about those 7000 people
HEY! I'd love to use a small segment of the ascendant romance for an ALL EPILOGUES video - could I use yours and link it back to your video AND channel?
you can use it c:
I am screaming! ❤❤❤
Cant wait to finish my evil run to get this hehe
oh man, I hope you have a strong stomach if you plan on going evil durge... I just watch a vid and wow....
Doki Doki Bard Club.
…. I could never do this. All SA conversations are so heartwarming and satisfying to watch. He becomes the best version of him self imo🤩
Nah i love unascended astarion but him ascended I wouldnt mind being his consort and ruling the world with him together. Maybe im just a big sub 😂
I rejected the vampire bite in my game and I LOVE the platonic version of ascendant Astarion in his epilogue. But this just makes me glad I didn't do it. My Tav would have hated this lmao
Okay so I have watched quite a few of these Epilogue videos and noticed one thing NO ONE is mentioning... All the hints at DLC! Further adventures together!.
I hope that they will tell something on TGA
Oh DLC? What is the hint?
@@seliamila1005Withers says something like “you may yet be called upon again” or something.
Larian doesn't typically do dlcs, perhaps it's a 4th wall break from withers for players that will play the next game made by larian
@@angryvaultguy Anyway, they didn't say anything, so yes... Maybe you're right. But they've never had such success before, maybe they'll change their plans.
Aw no hug scenes with Ascended Astarion?
Yeah he's still full of himself when ascended 😢, I think best if he stays spawn
@@ZaimGamePlaybased on how he treats Tav, there should be hug scenes for A. Astarion because my Tav would hug him regardless if he’s being a prick.
@@ZaimGamePlayI don't see how its better - they literally live in the Underdark in some fortresses, spooked and wary of everyone. You just force him not only back in the shadows, but apparently still make him feel haunted.
Again, he seems content in both endings, and you can choose whatever you want, but I am not going to deny him his freedom and happiness because "I want to hug him" or "I don't like how he acts as Ascendant". I personally just don't get it.
@@ZaimGamePlay I like them both but he does seem happier as spawn in the new epilogue. Just my opinion ^^
@@hanasong6781Yeah, just choose whichever you want. Personally, AA isn't my taste because he's even more Edward Cullen-levels of red flags, but hey, it's a game.
As for the spawns, I mean, it's only been six months, but from what he tells on a friendship route, they're doing better than whatever state they were in when they were imprisoned. On the route where he gets to be leader of the spawns, he says that he cares for them, but he's also not exactly heroic. He mentions that since the Underdark has lots of violent creatures and people, it's been pretty much plenty of food for them while he makes sure nobody attacks innocents and the like, judging from a background line he says that if anyone attacks a gnome again, somebody's getting impaled (which is pretty new development to his prior racism towards gnomes). For the Gur spawn children, Ulma sends you a letter about them. It's rather sweet and hopeful on the spared route despite the pain.
Кажется, тех, кто создает видео с вознесенным Астарионом, нужно еще отдельно благодарить за то, что они терпят всех этих высокоморальных судей и психиатров в коммах. Кто-то просто не может оставить нас в покое, для фанатов "нетоксичного и здорового" Астариона они сами токсичны еще как 🙄Они еще не видели те самые визуальные новеллы с яндере, запирающими в реальных клетках героинь хех
"Токсично, нездорово", ну мы в курсе, но в этом и суть подобных игр, что ты можешь играть так, как хочется, и если эти люди видят Тав как бедную рабыню в этих отношениях, то я знаю, что моя ТС будет рада богатству, власти и любимому рядом, потому что это все, чего ее кровавая душонка хочет (последняя моя гг даже не пришла бы на вечеринку хд). А еще после "я всегда наблюдаю" я представляю в голове картину, как Аст в облике летучей мыши садится на плечо гг :з
🖤
аввв с мышкой это мило :3 у него в размерах кстати написано "крошечный".
@@nyloth СПАСИБО!
Спасибо что создаёте для всех нас это безопасное пространство, где можно обсудить преимущества злого пути с Вознесением. Спасибо что держите оборону от потоков агрессии спавн-фанов.
Могу только представить, сколько токсичных комментариев вам приходится видеть и удалять..
Спасибо, что не сдаётесь!❤
АХАХАХАХАЗАХАХА. Знаете, я, кажется, грешна, ведь я тот самый психиатр-морализатор. Но вроде держу себя в руках. Ну, надеюсь. Мне очень весело наблюдать за разборками двух сторон, это прямо настоящее мясо. Сама, честно, пока не ответила на вопрос, что именно делается с персонажем, что будет "лучше", что будет "разумнее" и что будет "правильнее".
Это к тому, что отличного персонажа написали. Я давно таких холиваров не видела
@@StarMasterUA на самом деле лучше бы их не было и каждый бы наслаждался своей игрой. Но увы...
@@StarMasterUA да тут и неважно, что правильнее, это не линейная игра, ее суть в возможности разного отыгрыша. Например, можно убить тифлингов в роще, что явно не "правильно", но почему бы и нет, если это подходит персонажу и открывает какие-то новые возможности? Тоже самое со спутниками и их личными квестами. Люди не имеют права указывать другим на то, что правильно в их прохождении, что нет, потому что для каждого свой канон будет, но популярность Астариона привела людей, которые ну очень сильно любят делать это и переносить свои личные травмы на вампира (!) в фэнтези (!) мире. Я была нейтральна изначально, но теперь такие учителя вызывают только раздражение, особенно когда они приходят туда, где их явно никто не ждет, и пытаются продвигать свою правду, будто мы тут необразованные детишки и ничего не понимаем, а они сейчас все по полочкам разложат. Игры с решениями просто не для них, потому что стоит им увидеть, что кто-то выбирает иное и наслаждается, у них подгорает, ведь как так-то, так нельзя. Причем даже если сказать им "да мы понимаем, что токсично, отстаньте", они не успокаиваются. Я играла во многое, но такого пздца еще не видела
И да, почему Лорда нельзя обнять?.. :с
мне кажется у него просто не такая "нежная" романтика, они больше властная пара, чем "романтическая".
Потому что другие не имеют право смотреть на ваши интимные моменты 😤 Он и так в люди вывел Тав, заставил себя поделиться. Ещё и таким он делиться не планирует.
Спасибо за видео! У меня после 5 патча все равно какой-то баг, и в лагере можно разыграть диалоги со всеми спутниками кроме Минтары (ее вообще там нет) и Астариона! 😤
If you pick positive answers to him, he gives you positive response so AA can be pretty happy if you are happy with the situation. Though AA needs to check himself acting like he was a leader of the rag tag group of weirdos with you, boy you were the side kick like everyone else
Sweeet that long ass dl was worth it lool😂❤
Also omg gale do become a god!!!
печаль, что не с русскими сабами 🥲 но все равно спасибо
Man the epilogue really drives home that AA isn’t the “happy/good” option…still my fav toxic boy though
This is a normal ending if your character is satisfied with everything and you choose the option "I'm glad to share this with you" and so on. I do not know why you are clinging to only one answer.
I didn’t say anything about it not being a normal ending, or about any one part of dialogue, so I’m not sure why you think I’m clinging to anything. AA is objectively the more evil aligned ending and spawn is the more good. It’s not a bad or wrong ending, that’s just how morality in DnD works. I’ve played through both ways and I like them for different reasons.
@@sarahhenry3262 Oh, then I'm sorry, when you said "isn’t happy" I thought you meant "bad." although I don't consider "evil" endings to be "bad".
9:18 LOLLLLLLL
ЧТО ЭТО ЗА ОДЕЖДА С ЛЕТУЧИМИ МЫШКАМИ?!?! Откуда? Это есть где то в игре или специально для эпилога?
Это специальная его личная одежда для эпилога.
Did anyone play as githyanki with ascended Astarion romance ? Curious if he let tav go of tav want to battle Vlaakith so it would be confirmed that he can‘t order tav.
Also what will he say if they Meer in the epilouge ?
I didn't do this, BUT I assume it would play out the same as what happened to me: I romanced and Ascended Astarion and let him turn me, (I was trying REALLY hard to get karlach to go to the hells) - Karlach was either going to go boom or I could go to the hells with her.. so I went with her, ( just to see what would happen) - AA treated me like we weren't a couple, like I never romanced him. So I assume it would be the same for gith flying away on a dragon with Lae;zel.
@@FranWest. oh sounds like a bug or larian haven‘t specific dialouge for our cases 😕
This epilogue actually made me reinforce my love for Ascendant.
If anything, it showed me how bloody complex the writing is, and those that bash Ascendant simply don't see these amazing nuances in writing. To them, it looks like "abuse" but I see it as a very unorthodox type of relationship that not everyone can like or see the appeal of.
To those that see no shades of grey, this Astarion can indeed seem as abusive Cazador 2.0, but the fact that he says he missed others, that he wishes to give MC the best life shows that its not as simple as that. You can try to make an argument that "he manipulates here" but I can make the same argument that he puts on an OK mask as Spawn because he actually regrets not doing the ritual - both those are just *interpretations and opinions* which you can agree with or not.
While he is possessive as Ascendant, you can understand WHY because he wants to look after you - because he loves MC *and* because they are a vampire now, who is also a target of monster hunters. His possessive born both out of love and personal reasons.
While you turn him lawful evil, evil characters are still *capable* of feelings and emotions - it's just that their emotions are not as gentle and "vulnerable" as with good-aligned people.
If this is the type of dynamics you love (and I do) then there is nothing to be ashamed about having a preference that has nothing to do with others.
Romance your pixelated man however you want.
P.S. Astarion's outfit here is absolutely gorgeous.
@@praserdanser5407And? Why exactly they should be apart? It's clear he cares for Tav and wants Tav by his side forever if you decide to take the path to be a vampire why would you want to be alone.
He says power is nothing without Tav and that Tav completes him, what more do you want from him? Lick your boots and say yes you can leave me don't worry
100%
Sadly some people know or only understand 'vanilla' relationships and will never see it as anything but abuse even if both parties are happy with the arrangement.
@@praserdanser5407 where do you see any similarities in this video? The insight is something else, he thinks you're degrading yourself to be with him because he's not worthy, because as he says it himself he's an "elven prostitute".
That conversation post break up is him acting, he's very theatrical if you could comprehend that I'd be impressed though
@@praserdanser5407so what that difference applies for spawn as well, Tav is the stronger one in that relationship
Спасибо большое за видео! ☺️
(Было бы вообще замечательно, если бы вы загрузили ещё версию с русскими сабами 👉🏻👈🏻)
(Upd. Только что поняла, что перевода-то ещё и нет хдд Обратила внимание, что имя в сабах на русском, а реплики на англ)
Посмотрела ещё концовку со спавном...
Спавн-концовка: "с голыми жопами, во тьме, без власти и силы... Но с милым же рай и в шалаше, да? Да?.." Бедный Астарион изо всех сил пытается смириться и сломать себя под супер-концовочку, избранную для него спавн-фанами ("жить в тенях - проклятье, но если примешь то, что тебе суждено жить в тенях и тени - часть тебя, то уже не баг, а фича ☝🏻" 🥲🥲) Так и вижу у него моську Гарольда, скрывающего боль, когда он говорит это 🤣🤣 "Хорошая мина при плохой игре".
Asc-концовка - лучшее, что может быть с Астарионом, никто меня не переубедит 😌
Перевод наверное есть, просто я сейчас играю на английским из-за кривого русского перевода. Сверяю так сказать. Однажды может быть загружу на русском, чтобы как раз проверить как перевели.
Aww, me too. I have played for 250 hours now and ascended him every freaking time, even if i didnt romance him.
Ascended astarion has the best ending for me and this just cements the deal, Larian really pulled out the stops for ascended fans! ❤
Yes! Fully Agree!
@@Nirraartwe are eating good with this update
i’m very happy i did not ascend him lol
and Im very happy I ascend him lol
part of me wanted to cause i had him be a monk and that damage buff goes crazy, but he seems much happier unascended to me. perhaps next playthru@@nyloth
@@PenguinsAreColdish I don't care about buff, for me it's a matter of his personality. but everyone plays as they want. my team doesn't need a kind "hero" who only kills "bad people"
well there's not exactly a team anymore
and i feel like his personality changes drastically with ascended too? not really in a great way either, i didn't romance him so it's not as bad but still@@nyloth
@@PenguinsAreColdish his personality also changes if you abandon the ritual, only in the other direction.
Well, actually a team... because we have to defeat the brain. He'll tell you that himself.
HOW DID YOU GET YOUR OLD SAVE FILES WORKING?! I can't load any of them TvT the game just does nothing... i have to start another new campaign and its super frustrating...
Vanila save and no mods.
@@nyloth oof... well, then i probably have no choice but to start over TvT
I cant live without the CC and outfit mods TvT
Mody muszą być spójne mam kilkanascie modów i wszystko działa@@Sacred_Korok69
LOL their relationship looks fine 6months later wow imagine? 😅 from the haters crowd you'd have thought this would have been Asc!Astarion dragging Tav in forcefully and being a dbag
Heck even the "let me role play as a spawn who wants freedom" options aren't too rough
That response about freedom and always watching you like Edward Cullen though... yikes. That dismissiveness too. AA seems to be a mix of Act 1 and magistrate Astarion on steroids. It's aight people enjoy playing this route more, tho. People can play however they want. Personally, not my taste. He's got even more obvious red flags now.
In fact, Spawn reminds me more of Cullen... And Ascended looks more like Dracula, just because he has something dark in him, and not "I eat animals for her". So yea...
@@nyloth I mean, Astarion can still feed on humans, either way- just on those that he feels deserves it like bandits and the like. When he was in Cazador's control, it was because he never lets him drink from intelligent and sapient beings like humans. Even during the story where the game takes place, he still has his own standards, not because "he eats animals for her".
@@oceanicGrimalkin As far as I know, spawn says that he no longer feeds on humans. Apart from you, of course... "Eating only scum" is also a kind of restriction. I haven't actually seen the video where he says he feeds on them, just kills them.
Ascended Astarion has no limitations, and the whole plot of the spawn "I changed for you" literally. If you leave him at the end, he will be unhappy and say, "after all that I have done !for you! and all these sacrifices."
His whole route is more romantic, which, it seems to me, close to the atmosphere of twilight.
@@nyloth Only if you disagree with him and not allowing him to feed on "scum", though. Otherwise, you can agree with him and use his Bite skill on enemies. He's pretty much chaotic neutral at best on a Spawn route.
@@oceanicGrimalkin oh, so it does have an effect, I wonder.
It is eerie how the difference between the good and bad Astarian is like night and day. One is an equal. The other is an abusive partner you can never escape.
So the character is still a spawn, not a true vampire?
Yes. But under certain circumstances, you can also remain mortal. Though I don't think that's explained in the epilogue yet. If you ignore scene after ritual, then at the end, in dialogue before epilogue, you can refuse to become a vampire. In epilogue, you will not have "bite" skill. So in theory, Tav should remain a mortal.
And now all the "Ascended Astarion be evil" people are going to descend on us again and start saying that Tav is being abused because he's always watching. I swear these people get all their psychology information from facebook.
It wouldn't bug me so much if they weren't so loud about it and they don't usually read or listen to all of the cutscenes so they don't even get the lore or understand any of what's going on (enraged run-on sentence). So then you end up with stupid stuff about Tav being ten feet away from Star and choosing to burn in the sun. Uh huh, as if that would be allowed.
Aside from my ranting! I'm having some mod conflicts so I can't play yet. Thank you for putting this up
Well, to be fair, Astarion is lawful-evil as Ascendant, so saying he is "evil" is not too far off. But the issue is that an evil character can *still* care for people and love them, and just because someone is evil-aligned that doesn't make them a complete monster. See Minthara, for instance - a lawful evil character, but the best girl in the squad (in my humble opinion) and is extremely loyal to her allies. Same with Lae'zel who is also more lawful-evil. Hell, lawful evil characters are defined by both ambition and loyalty to allies that matter.
You making Astarion Ascendant is simply a matter of preference - he still loves MC in both those routes, and those that want to tell you otherwise are welcome to bug off and play their game however they want; Not to come in and dictate how you should play and see things.
@@Deadpan_Snarker Vampire Lords in DnD are Lawful Evil. Ascendant Vampires are new and don't technically have a classification as of yet.
I do agree that he's lawful evil at the end but what people don't get (the armchair psychologists) is that there's a GIANT difference between DnD evil and human-equivalence evil.
Astarion was always scheming and always exhibited that sociopathic defensive behaviour. Sociopathy fits perfectly with DnD's definition of evil because it's basically doing what you can to better yourself without regards to how others feel.
Astarion is scared to death of everything. First he's scared of losing his new bodily autonomy (American women can relate amirite >.
@@Deadpan_Snarker I do love Spawn Astarion's epilogue hug though. So cuddly!
@@Ectava I didn't like it, he hated everything, couldn't enjoy the food, or wine (nothing for him to drink) and has 0 desire to talk or even look at the others. Plus his "bitter" line came off as his old sarcastic deflection. Poor guy is miserable as spawn imo. It made me quite sad, I am glad that Ascended Astarion was done justice at the party.
The game directly tells us he turns tav into a spawn lmao, this is not a debate
Why is Lae'zel glowin purple?
astral projection i can only assume she took Orpheus's place and is fighting against vlakith
Уф, как эпилог с Вознесенным отлично попадает в хедканоны ❤ а можно ли укусить его Тавом теперь, когда нет личинки и Тав полностью в его власти? Или там сработает как агрессия и Тав выкинут с пати?..
можно укусить но это ничего не дает
@@nyloth это скорее интересный факт, что Тав всё-таки может это сделать. Про основную игру любят говорить, что АА можно укусить потому, что личинка не давала ему полного контроля над отродьем!Тавом, а иначе он никогда бы никогда не позволил этого сделать. В эпилоге же личинки уже нет, полный контроль есть, но и укусить можно. Скорее всего это, конечно, простой недосмотр со стороны разрабов, но всё равно 😈
@@Herugaa я думаю это просто лень. баф от укуса подписан как "астарион счастлив". никто в группе кроме Карлах даже не замечает, что мы теперь вампир. так что вот не знаю.
@@nyloth Тав получает баф от того, что АА счастлив, что его укусили. Это даже ещё лучше 🤣🤣
Не, если без шуток, то отродье!Тав в целом та ещё халтура, конечно. И на самом деле лично меня даже больше прельщает вариант оставить его отродьем при АА, чем становление полноценным вампиром с последующим переломом характера до неадекватного маньяка (хотя у меня по истории Соблазн, и он тоже тот ещё неадекват). Но возможность кусаться, пусть и подаренная нам ленью или недосмотром разрабов, всё равно милая Х)
"forget I said anything "
"already done"
i want to bite his stupid spoiled prince face idk im so angry BUT this is so ascended!Astarion coded.............................................................
It's good that I can literally bite him in the game. :3
Можно вас, пожалуйста, попросить записать диалог с Минтарой? А то пока ни у кого не видела ее в пати, а мне ещё долго до компа добираться 😭
Да я могу, но она у меня не в романе. с:
@@nylothмне как раз интересно, что без романа скажет)
how do you get to the epilogue party as durge? you can’t become bhaal’s chosen right?
Reject Bhaal.
@@nyloth will ascended astarion be resentful if you reject him? (bhaal)
@@WandaMsMentalStatus no, he'll be glad.
Whaaaaaaaaaat omgomgomg
Would you mind uploading the epilogue when you break up with him please? 👉👈
th-cam.com/video/ORlfKh58elQ/w-d-xo.html