Still bittersweet... I went through most of the game like that... and then went back 15h and reloaded that same scene to tell him I actually care for him... and not be friendzoned any more 😁
I know I feel this is a good choice for him. I feel at his core he does need love, but one that doesn't include sexual expectations and I think platonic love is exactly what he needs. Being part of this adventuring party where he realizes he is cared for more than what he can do is important. Hell even what he can do being appreciated and celebrated I think he needs. Honestly I think he needs friends more than a romantic partner right now. Maybe later down the road, but now he needs platonic love.
Yeah I figured he'd appreciate this option and honestly if this were real life it would've made more sense to reply with it because of his trauma but I still wanted to romance him 😂
OMG Same! And I romanced him and got dumped in the middle of the night... so friend is a good balance... and now I can romance the infamous Shadowheart 😁😁
I do agree that for _this_ confession choosing a friendship makes more sense. But given the context of the alternate version of where he outright tells you he fell for you, I do think he is generally absolutely capable of romance but also doesn't _fully_ understand what it means/entails yet either. At that point Tav should be well aware of the trauma he experienced and be sensible about what they're getting into if they feel the same way about him. Truly loving someone goes well beyond physical attraction. Of course being in a relationship is a larger responsibility than friendship by its very nature, though _both_ can offer an equal amount of understanding and support.
@@lavishlyvice So true! I saw what happens if Tav chooses the first option instead of the second (the friends) , Astarion still takes out his hand and says that "Whatever this is, is nice" but at this point I think , understanding him better and being his friend means more to him. We shall see after the lower city. I'm not there yet. Just finished act 2 last night.
@@resonatinglo Astarion is equally open to both friendship and romance, thus both of them are valid options and neither one means more or less than the other to him. This specific choice (romance or friends) is about how _you_ feel about him as well. Everyone processes trauma differently. Astarion processes it no matter if you are friends with him or in a relationship, because both offer an equal amount of the support he needs and finally give him the freedom to decide what he wants. Without giving out spoilers; once you are at the end of his quest while romancing him, all of this becomes evident.
For those who want to stay romantic but give him time away from sex, the game outright provides an option to let him wait as long as needs before he's read for such things again. Still sucks that there's fewer friend options for those who want it, but at least you can let the boy process _that_ much, which is just as good imo.
Yes! I didn't realize it at the time so I played most of act 3 with him being my friend... then someone in the comments told me about a grave sex scene so I saved and went back 15 hours of gameplay to play it again as his lover not only a friend... and now I love him even more! The best character! 🖤😇
Man idk what I did to my playthrough But asta hated me ... And I kinda got his approval up near the end of act 1 But he had already sort of rejected me after the grove... but I don't even know what I picked I accidently just pressed space and he was basically like but not you imagine? Haha Xd so then I got his affection up and I got some of the usual romantic interactions to get his affection up I'm act 2 I met the drow lady Told him he could say no Yada Yada Got this interaction but it was different He just thanked me for teaching him he can say no Then told me about not enjoying sex and all that stuff None of the options for me led to anything romantic ... lol so I was like dang I'm freaking friend zoned aren't I.. Get to act 3 enter the brothel meet the twins ask to be with both of them They pick asta Asta goes " well our leader here hasn't slept with me yet an error im eager to correct" me : I'm sorry astarion let's correct that Him: oh so eager you're delicious we have the 4some goes well... he tells me I have no right to look at him like that I tell him he is the one that always wants to eat me It ends.. we just go about our day Me: ah.. was that supposed to happen?
wait you CAN?? that's such good news, because I honestly thought I'd be locked out of that entirely, and felt so scummy going with the other lines to stay in the relationship ;_;
@@amateur1314 when you pick “I care about you” instead of “maybe you need a friend, not a lover” (which friendzones you) the game gives you additional very nice options to continue the relationship in a romantic way without forcing sex on him. you can choose tadpole link/hug/we can be together without sleeping together for as long as you need/what do you want to do? - ALL of these result in staying together without sex even though the options don't explicitly mention that. you don’t need to be afraid you’re doing sth wrong. he’ll appreciate all of these choices
The “but you didn’t. And I’m grateful” is literally like the best voice capture I’ve ever heard it’s so perfect because he sounds SURPRISED that he’s grateful but also GENUINELY grateful. Neil understands his character so well❤️ edit NEIL WON BEST ACTOR AT TGA. deserved
Oh maaannnn! Neil is going such an amazing job voicing this complex and loved elf... it was very wholesome to hear him with the "I’m grateful" continue the game like that as well! Thank you!
That is certainly a favorite of mine, but my all time favorite is when he says the like “because my screams sounded sweetest” you can literally hear the lump in his throat.
my first instinct was that he'd be offended by that but when you take into account what he was going through for so long it makes sense. i love how nuanced this since with the romance option he cannot properly name what their relationship is yet.
I know right. But also it's kinda no surprise that he doesn't care about romance... and I can also understand why he needs a friend... can you imagine not having friends for 200 years...
@@resonatinglo I can understand why he doesn't care.. or more like he doesn't know how to do romance properly. as he was forced into being intimate to lure people to Cazador he pretty much shut himself off when he was doing it and when he refused, he was punished. there is one specific dialogue where he explains he refused to bring back a sweet innocent boy and as a result spent a year basically in solitary confinement. it was both psychological and s*xual manipulation and abuse 😢
@@resonatinglo seriously same. Larian went so deep with his story and character overall it's truly heart-breaking. Both friendship and continuing the romance are very sweet with him when you don't do the ritual. I love this man 💔
I managed to make it to where he's still romanced but my character didn't force him into anything else sexual, so they're still romantic but best friends; in other words, the closest to Asexual like myself in-game that I could get. Because to me, he'd fit in an Asexual relationship just fine since personality and simply BEING together seems more important to him; exactly the same way it is for my husband and I of 16 years.
That is am awesome comment! Thank you for sharing! I have a few more videos coming, some of them are quite deep and break my heart, but the latest one is the most loving and wholesome of them... it's at the end of the ascension story, but I wanted to show it first. I am yet to explore any of the Lower city now as Astarion's partner! 🖤
This comment right here. Personally, I feel like when you suggest a friendship rather than romantic relationship, there's a wave of relief in response to the fear of just being an object again that completely catches him off guard. As someone who took a long time to figure out my own asexuality, that scene hit in a similar way. Just the realisation. It's sad that choosing this option locks you out of the romance in game. Would have been nice to not have it be two separate things. At that point, he really does not want to be seen in a sexual way by anyone. I thank Stephen so much for writing him this way. Where, as soon as he opens up and finally lets you see beyond the mask, you realise that the hypersexual way he comes across is ingrained by trauma, and it is thus handled respectfully with a lot of insight. I know that he still agrees and even initiates at the very end of his questline (if romanced), but you can also choose not to, which I was really thankful for.
Wow, this is somehow... more powerful then the romance. Goddamn, if he were to talk to me like that after saying 'let's be friends' I would just facepalm me. Saying a thing like 'Yeah you know what, nevermind I'm in love with you'
It is very powerful indeed... to be someone's only friend... after 200 years you would imagine that that person will have a lot of friends... but sadly no
THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL!!!! This is why I love Astarion and his entire route, and I truly believe that we need to be his friend above all things - even in the romance route, you know. He needs someone who sees him for who he is, a shoulder to cry on, someone who will care, exactly like he says by the end of his romance route. A true bond.
Very nicely said! Thank you for that comment! I agree entirely and I think he "won my heart" with this one when he said I am his only friend and he appreciates it a lot... How can I not finish his quest and make him what he is suppose to become... It's what friends do after all. Help each other...
they will probably change the ending. This happened with Divinity 2 apparently. but I also don't know if they will make an act 4, any extra content would be great
@@imogenenyx3690 Gods yes! The fact that his 'run away' scene is kind of... Ugh it feels like it's trying to be comedic and it falls VERY flat. I've put off doing the final quest for WEEKS because I want to be able to do SOMETHING! I mean come on!!! We've got casters in the party! Where's a smoke or steam or darkness spell when we need it! Hells, let me throw a cloak over him! It's just so cruel to let him run away burning and not do anything 😭
I agree , although part of me wants still to keep going with the romance... but non the less we are friends now and I can't change it! It's better or him!
I understand why you would feel that way, but I personally disagree about it being the “true” option given the character development he gets when you romance him. Awkward or not, people who have been through traumatic events and are still working through their trauma are still worth loving, and you can help them process their trauma by loving them genuinely, and showing them that they’re more than the object/victim they were made to be. The same applies to Astarion, and the conclusion he comes to when you reach the “Good” end romance path with him proves that. He learns self-worth, and how to set boundaries, all of that, and is able to love and feel loved with Tav by his side as both his lover and companion/friend. It doesn’t have to be one or the other, tbh. Idk, It just feels weird to give up on the idea of romance with him just because he has a traumatic past when you can still reach a happy and healthy conclusion with him as his lover.
@@pathetic2399THANK YOU. i see this take from people all the time and while I think people mean well, it's actually kind of... well, damaging to say that Astarion is too traumatized to be allowed to be in love. It's a VERY common mindset amongst people who have been sexually abused/assaulted to feel broken or "ruined" and unlovable because of it. Astarion expresses this fear if you break up with him before facing Cazador; he confesses he knew it'd end at some point, that he knows he has little to offer as a partner besides complications. He's shocked if you choose him in a love triangle. Astarion doesn't think he's lovable, he doesn't think he's enough without sex. Romancing him while keeping things chaste for however long he needs it is such a powerful gesture because of this. You're telling him he is more than his body and worthy of love despite what happened to him and that is SO IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO KNOW!!!! While the lines here ARE sweet, it really rubs me the wrong way to be totally down for persuing him romantically, even knowing he was a slave, even knowing his worldview is so cynical, that he has a clear trauma-based obsession with attaining power......... until you find out he has sexual trauma too. Then you step back and say "whoa, lets just be friends"? I don't know, I would prefer to just pursue friendship from the start instead of starting a romance and pivoting when he confides in you, possibly confirming to him that he's locked out of romantic love for being "too broken". Traumatized people deserve to have a partner like anyone else and I have to wonder about how it makes real victims feel when they see people insisting that a character they identify with shouldn't be in a relationship because of his trauma. I have already seen at least one say it makes them uncomfortable because it confirms the fears they have about themselves.
@@pathetic2399 This exactly! as much as I love the friend route, romancing Astarion and being one of the first people who truly for him in a romantic sense feels so powerful to me; Tav being one of the first people to not sexualise him
I love this option because you become friends when Astarion needs one until he is ready for a lover, which is after his quest. It's much more nuanced than having to be one or the other. I feel, irl, for long life partners, you have to be both, friend or/and lover with your significant other. Life throws so many hands at you, you can't fit a single role for your partner all the time to help them through everything and vice versa. Sometimes you're friends, sometimes lovers, sometimes (healthy) rivals, sometimes advisors, and so on and so forth. That's how you help each other grow.
I love this comment. I didn't know that you can still continue the romance if he stays friends with you. Do you have to not ascend him and then he takes you to the special place in the city night? Is that where it starts after you finish the quest? I didn't have the heart to just be his friend... I played a lot of act 2 and a bit of act 3 with him as my friend and I thought that nothing will happen, so I reloaded to this scene and chose the first option where you still stay in a relationship, but he says he actually feels something for the first time.
@@resonatinglo I'm pretty sure you're still in romance with him even if you choose that option. Even if you don't choose the friends option Astarion isn't comfortable being sexual until he's gained closure post-Cazador. So, nothing sexy happens after this confession for most of the game until the end of his quest, but you can come across a couple or so sexual encounters with others and Astarion gets worried and insecure that you might leave him and accepts you being poly bc you've not had sex in a long time. It really felt like he's not okay with poly relationships but doesn't want to lose you bc he can't provide you with something since he asks you everytime something like, "I hope it's not bc we've not had sex in a while..." with those stupid puppy eyes sad face ajshkzkqjanaau
Awww, that means a lot to me! Thank you! I try to show both sides, the meaningful and the funny and sexy stuff. But Astarion's relationship is nice and complex and is worth showing to the people that won't get there. 🖤
True! By now we should know that the game gives you pretty much all the options you can think of and there's always a right option for everyone's taste. 😊
what interests me is that for the romance options, like the hug, he looks uncomfortable "just a bit of discomfort for a moment then its over" comes to mind. Whereas with this option, you allow him to make the first move (taking Tav's hand) and I think that's very powerful. Also I noticed that the 'Asterion Approves' sign came up for this option, and not for the others, which I think is facinating on a character level.
Indeed you are right. Astarion Approves comes up, because he honestly prefers the friend option. But many of our hearts want to hug him or have him as a "partner" and don't choose the friends option...🌹 I's just good that we have it there for the less thirsty people , who actually wanna help him 🤪
I really wanted to see all of the options, so if you choose the first one (I care about you or something), and then you ask him what he wants you to do OR tell him that you don’t need to sleep together… you also get his approval and the hand touch instead of the hug. Both options trigger the “I don’t know what we’re doing but this is nice” thingie ❤
i don't think he's discomforted but more surprised that such simple thing would be offered to him. Just a hug because you care for him and i think thats super wholesome!
you get approval for all of the options (show him your mind, hug, friends, ase relationship) it just pops up a little later for some of them, because action itself is longer
Oh my heart as well! Thank you for this comment! I accidentally did the "break up" with him scene first and then had to try and fix it... my heart died and then it sings again now🔥😊
I think you can be something in the middle if you chose the first option ... but I will never know, cuz I am way past that now... It kinda break my heart, but I will have to live with my choice!
I really believe that lovers should be friends for each other first of all. I'm playing at the end of act 1 now, and when I get to that point, I still want to be more than friends with him. Yes, I agree that at this stage he needs a friend more than a lover, but I think we can be that too. And when he is ready and if he wants, we will be something more. I'm not even talking about sex right now, but about a certain one.. platonic love, hell, I could really give up sex forever for him. All I want to do is just hug him, maybe kiss him, tell him how much I want him to be happy, how much I want to see it and that I will do everything I can for it.
@@rin590 Aww, I wish you find someone like that someday. I relate to you. I don't really care about sex also, so might as well have a nice good looking friend who is yours for life and who gets you and wants to be with you for you not for the sex with you. 🌹🖤
BUT if you go the friend route and then do the love test in Act 3, Astarion is slightly shocked and the proud AF to do if with you. Like I think even as friends he still romantically loves Tav…he just knows he’s a mess rn
This is so genuine and it makes my heart happy to think there is a universe where he just finds out he can have friends who support him through anything and he doesn’t have to complicate anything with physical intimacy. It’s like you can literally see the healing and I’m all here for it. He’s learning to trust again ❤
It is a deep and wholesome scene... knowing where the conversation might go if you choose differently... this is the best option for him if you really really want him to be ok! 🖤
I did thought about choosing the friend option, but I thought, as my Tav (as The Dark Urge, I wanted my girl to have a backstory as well), but I also want more, I love him but it doesn't have to be sexual, to be there for each other, just help him and let him be his own person, let him learn to be free and whenever he is ready, at his own pace, do whatever lovers do, there is no need to rush it. And honestly Astarion as been such a, how could I say it, a lesson for me as well, it's been eye opening in how I delt/still do with some of my trauma of being a means to an end among other things that will be left unsaid. What a beautifully written character, it has been such a journey, I fucking love this game
Gods, when I read this it's like I am writing it! Thank you so much! I feel the same way, I love the game, love Astarion so so much! I had a lot of realisations for my own life and my own relationship... my own sexual orientation and drive... I just can't stop playing it! I feel safe there, understood and when I am with Astarion it's just a different experience to anything from real life! Yes, we can be friends without pressuring others to do what they don't want to do or are not ready to do it yet! We can hold our mouth shut and try not to dictate other people's life as we know what's best for them... no one knows what's best for the other... only you know what's best for you! Ahhh... Writing this makes me teary a bit... I'm gonna stop here... there are a lot of feels around the game, character and his song... Thank you! 🔥🖤🌹
To be honest any healthy romantic relationship is based on friendship, I don't see how they are mutually exclusive. So, romancing him after this conversation as long as you don't pressure him to have sex with you is not morally wrong either.
True, but for that you have the option "We can be together for as long as you need to without having sex" , in that case you keep the romantic relationship and promise him not to pressure him. In the video's case , you kinda break up and he is just another member of the party without nothing extra...🌹
I ended up doing this. The more I see of this guy’s romance, the less I want to romance him. There’s just too much baggage for me to say he should be in a relationship. He needs to figure out what he wants and maybe take a couple of decades to recover before getting romantically involved with anyone. Unfortunately, by this point in the game I had locked myself out of other romance options. So I guess my Tav will be a “forever alone” type, since I won’t be doing any more playthroughs. 😊
Aww, I'm sad to hear it. I think I will keep making some playthroughs during the year to come... this game feels very close to DoS2 and I have played a lot of playthroughs there, so I know I will have a lot in this one too. As for Astarion, I agree... and he says it himself earlier that he kinda doesn't care about the sex/feelings/romance part of it, but mostly needs and friend and a back up in certain situations...
Gods damn it, my Tav wants SO BADLY to be Astarion's friend. No interest in romancing him, but I wish there were more dialogue options for that. Or maybe there are, and my approval with Astarion is just not high enough because my Tav loves being heroic.
Oh, I;m sorry about your Tav. My Tav was at max approval when I stated the conversations for romance and then after the romance it just became friendship... I'm sure it matter where you are in the approval bar
What act are you in? Until Act 2 Astarion doesn't actually like you even if you start the romance in Act 1. He is just manipulating you until that point. I was being heroic without reward and getting his disapproval left and right. But was sticking up for him, as part of the team when needed. The night of the party, my approval was at mild, but he still propositioned me and off we went down the romance route but of course it's all fake until Act 2 and at that point my approval was only at high. If you just want friendship, it's probably at the same point in Act 2 that he will start actually liking you and opening up to you, hero or not, as long as you are supporting him when needed.
@@paulinemillard8156 This video is in the Adamantine Forge in the Underdark... I think still counted as Act 1, but at the very end... so basically , you are right 😁🖤
One line always breaks me with what he says "I just didn't know how to say no." when you consider he's been commanded to seduce anything with a pulse, you get a really clear picture that he's put up with some degenerate shit just to lure them back for someone else's benefit.
I'm sorry, this is off-topic, but your Tav looks amazing. Just had to say it. 👀 If you have a backstory for them and wouldn't mind sharing, I'm burning to know. More on-topic. It breaks my heart how he says 'I can't think of a single one'. So broken and beautiful... I've seen almost all of his scenes and still click on the just to relive those moments and that raw feeling in the voice acting... the expressions. It's beautifully crafted and when I look at him and I look at these scenes, I don't see a character in a video game, I see a real person, just trying to feel genuinely understood and cared for... And I love how we all come together on these videos and just appreciate both the art and the craftsmanship that brings this character to life and how we relate to him or how we feel for him. It's just such a beautiful thing.
Truly amazing comment! I agree with you that It's very satisfying to share the experience in those videos with someone else and all that come to comment here and give their opinion and how it unlocks those deep feelings deep within us... Those scenes with Astarion made me cry... made me realise stuff about myself and made my look over real life a bit different. The game and it's characters are next level and the actors add so much to it all! P.S. As for my Tav, this is my Dark Urge "evil" playthrough. As I see her , her name is Fjäll , which in Swedish (where I live) means mountain. So she is a barbarian with a bear heart and hits like a mountain. She gives no SH**s and just wants to get rid of the tadpole and also understands who she was before and why she has this Urge to kill everything she sees... I kept having a relationship with Astarion for this playthrough because he also very much likes killing and enjoys blood and is also so broken as the Dark Urge... being a Drow adds a layer to my brokenness as well and it's just so fulfilling when I play this playthrough. Thank you for your comment and for asking me about my Tav. Ask more , I am happy to oblige! 😊🖤
Thank you!🖤 It's also my fav conversation, can't wait to get to it in every playthrough ... I also have it recorded... all of it, in case someone asks for a specific line or something , and I can post it as a vid. Thank you for the Tav compliment! I like my girls simple, but aesthetically beautiful ... and I love this hair... most of my Tavs are with it in different colours... and myself, in real life, very often as well! 😁😊
I first discovered niel newbon in dbh and I instantly fell in love with his voice acting and just how genuinely of a good person he is. I swear without realising it I always fall in love with a character he’s VA
Neil is an incredible human being indeed and his voice is indeed very soft and creamy and easily liked ... but Astarion's play is just outrageous amazing 🗡🍷🖤
I think there's really no romance with him. If you try to "push" romance, he cuts you deep and it hurts... (I've been there), so Friends is the best way to even keep any relationship with him, but he also deserves it , so it's a win win in any case 😊
@@resonatinglo I don't see how you saw there is no romance with him, or that it's pushed or painful. It's a bit on the patient and slow side after this confession, with intimacy limited to cuddling and kisses until a certain point in the story where he becomes ready for something further again. It's not so black and white. Give the proper romance a chance sometime, it's the most rewarding story I've gone through in a long while.
@@saltherisms Yeah, the whole "I love you, I love this, I want it all" line when he finally comes to terms with his past and lets it go. And the jokingly "It's nothing special, Of course, you're only the first person I've ever truly cared about" line when you ask him about the relationship thereafter, really cemented in my mind that the romance route was the correct one. He really just needed someone to love him for who and what he was to be able to grow past all his trauma.
i know this stops his romance with him, but i think this is the most platonically romantic & touching scene you could have with astarion. he really does need a friend.
I think , if maybe this is a second or third campaign that you are doing , definitely go for the Friend option, it is very fulfilling and he still trusts you completely and with his life and will still have all the comments for being so close to you... so if you have seen all the romance scenes and stuff, YES, it is the most touching and the best thing you can do for him... is to let him go...
"Until you." - I just love Neil Newbons delivery. The salvation and longing in his voice.. My lonely ace-heart still hopes to find someone to wake those feelings in myself, too. Dum spiro, spero! ♥
I wish I can forget it and re-play that scene for the first time again... that "Until you" hit so hard the first time... Hugs from another ace-heart over here...🖤
Every time I watch this video I cry when he says he's never had a single friend. 200 and more years and this sweet, but broken man has never had a single friend. Until we came along by chance. This scene is the sole reason I am buying the game. Just to give this man the friend he deserves!
Yes thank you! And know... and Oh it feels so so much deeper and hurts so much more when you actually play it... you spend 100-200+ hours with this sweet man... and then he tells you , you are his only friend... I cry too every time those kind of scenes come up... I found a new one last night. Will be uploaded soon as the "most sincere Astarion scene EVER! " I cried ALL NIGHT! I recorded it and re-watched it 5 times... Soon...
It is for sure. The problem is that by choosing this, you are ending the romance and there are no more dialogs between Tav and Astarion... I made that mistake on my first playthough...😇
I did it just the first time I started falling in love with him... then I reloaded to here and chose the other option so we can continue as partners... 🙈
Does that lock you out of the possibility to end up with him romantically? To be fair, being friends is very important for long term romantic relationship
It's the other way around. This can only happen if you have already romanced him and he trusts you and he is at max relationship status with you. This happened 3-4 longrest-s after the sex scene... but it also kinda frees you from being his romance and makes you available for the other characters and their romance options.
@@resonatinglo I got the friendship choice but I wasn't at max approval at all with him, Astarion does not approve of my heroics. do you mean this particular response to wanting to be friends?
from my own playthrough, it locks you out of any future romance with him, to my knowledge. this is more of a soft way to break things up from a narrative point of view. i hope this helps 😊
The beauty of a game is that you can be many different things and often different from your real life. I've done a hundred playthroughs probably and I try to do different things every time 🤷♀
Yep and he trust you 100% and has max approval. I think if you actually ask him, he would choose that option over any of the others... not that we can...
what approval were you on and what did he say? because from what i've seen, even in act one he was understanding you didn't want to continue the relationship and said he'll remember you.
Maybe the approval matters (I was at max with him) and also it happened after we had the actual romance scene... I think it matters because he now trusts you and just wants to be friends. I'm sorry it didn't happen to you. 😔
i bought this game early in the Early Access release, mostly because I saw gifs of him and wanted to know what was his deal. and then i waited almost 3 years for a full release and couldn't wait to finally do a full romance run with Astarion! and then i got to this scene. befriending him felt like the best option. i wasn't even sad that i ended the romance path early. he needs me as a friend, not as a lover, and i think that's just as - if not more - valuable. god i love this game.
I agree... I usually don't go for the drow as well, or at least I go after we have had "the conversation" ... but the idea was to get all the possible scenes in a video 🖤
@@resonatinglo My thought is more "god, how could he have been deprived of such basic emotional needs for so long?" Makes me want to give the guy a big hug. I can definitely empathize with that yearning to belong, to have support without cost. It's far too rare, and rarer still to have it recognized for how important it truly is.
@@packgrog I hear you! Yep... maybe that's why they have added the hug there! It is truly amazing the stories and options they gave us! One of a kind of a game!
He didn't want to be friends BTW. Friends is just the next best thing, but it's not what he wanted. He barely knows anything but one thing he knew he wanted was something more serious with you. Astarion craves love, which you'll see when he kills Cazador and stays a spawn and is unromanced.
I never felt like I had a realistic friendship story in the game until this moment. It's such a good scene AND he briefly refers back to the time you were together later in the story so I feel like it's exceptionally cannon. I'm also sure he wasn't a fan he was in a triangle with me and Gale so....
I just finished the game and romanced him, only went through the first scene to unlock the romance. You can still be his lover without him having to worry about sexual connection at all and it's still very healing for him. Love my dumb cleric lady and her vampire boy. Side note: your Tav looks almost exactly like mine. Make her a wood elf with facial markings, freckles, red hair, and different earrings... they're the same person haha.
Nice. My other DU is a wood elf with freckles and red hair and a face scar. I have vids of her if you look for the DU vids and some more are coming soon. I love that face. I can't just not make her this beautiful ! 🤷♀😊🌹
thanks for the upload 😭 ive been stressing cuz i was thrown off of his romance in act 1 after i'd soft-committed and going into act 2 i was dreading having to turn him down. now i know there's a sweet platonic scene if i talk to the drow lady instead of a total disaster waiting for me!
for some Tav's (role-playis) staying his friend here is even more powerful and makes you feel better and a player. Good luck with the campaign, go and smash that brain
I didn't know it would end the romance 😭😭 the dialogue felt so ... right, i would have never thought that it would be a breakup trigger. Just now i finished his companion quest and i was so confused to why there is no cutscene after killing cazador, im so sad 😭😭😭 i wish there was a way to get back to him and offer romance again
I knooowww... but you can always reload and do it, it's just in act 2 and then in act 3 you can do other stuff you haven't done the firs time OR get straight to Cazador and have the most amazing romance scene after the fight :D
I didn’t want that option when romancing him but I feel like this is the best when you want anybody else….even the oddest option, if you can lol. This is really sweet.❤
I chose this on my first attempt at romancing him, because he made it feel like he really really needs this friend and doesn't much care for actual love and sex... so I was just like - Then you need a friend. And then I saw a freaking spoler video with the grave scene and was like "Whaaattt" did I miss that... reloaded the save up to act 2 and hugged the boy and told him i care about him and can't stop doing it in every campaign ever since ...😇😅
i auto friendzoned myseld with this dialogue, thinking i would be able to reromance him once evrything was ok in his life.... in act 3... got me killing everyone in baldur's gate.
I friend-zoned him on my first campaign also not knowing that I can't romance him further... sad... but I wanted the best for him... which is that... he needs a friend not a lover
I didn't get this dialogue after telling her he's his own person and to leave him alone and I don't know why. I was actively romancing him and had very good approval from him too. :(
At this point I believe that the dialog system is so complex that you might not get the same reactions if you do a few playthroughs and choose slightly different options. I'm sorry, but it's also nice that you can watch it here. 🖤
I felt like that as well on my second campaign, to just tell him that he needs a friend and leave it at that. He is happy and still trusts us with his life , we just know it's the best for him! 🗡🍷🌹
Sadly this happens after infiltrating Moonrise tower first. Unfortunately too late to start romancing anyone else instead. For several companions, that’s a key moment in the romance and plotline
True! I was so sad the first time I did this. I got to here and I chose that option and I was like , not that Astarion is my friend I can start romancing Shadowheart... and I finished the game alone... cuz all other romance options are locked... It's sad...
@@resonatinglo Yeah, unless you wait till act 3 when Halsin offers himself :D But among the origin companions i tried all the male ones so far. Everyone of them has a a special moment after the relationship has developed this far: - Astarion with the hug scene - Wyll with the special Dance - Gale with the magical date No idea if the females are still an option. But i do know you can at least farm approval with Halsin and in act 3 he’ll propose a polyamorous relationship. No idea what he does if you’re single, though
@@MoonsongReverb Oh for the girls, you can go with Karlach if you like because her relationship starts when you reach Last Light Inn and Damon fixes her, so if you know this, you can go to Moonrise first, do the drow and Astarion, finish the Astarion segment with being his Friend and then go give Damon some metal to fix Karlach and continue with her. You need to have High or more approval of her to be able to kiss her there in the spot which basically starts the romance if you have told her she is cool from the start, which doesn't interfere with Astarion's romance at all. The other girl Lae'zel also is in very much an open relationship with you, or more like "no relationship" just shagging. So currently on my Dark Urge playthough I am full on with romance with Astarion but when Lae'zel offered a night together, he had no interaction what so ever and when we woke up, he had no interaction again and she is happy. So the 2 girls I know are doable after Astarion's pivot scene
@@resonatinglo Oh yes, i already had Lae’zel trying bed my character but declined because she was settled on Astarion already ^^ Karlach can also start early. Last play through I fixed her early and she woke me up at night all of a sudden. Very funny :D but i still find her ending not so satisfying. I wish we could stay with her without going to Avernus or having her become a Mindflayer But I may consider it once i try the just friends option with Astarion. So far i had him once but my Bardlock kept him till the end. She found him too cute in his unascended version :D
For me this scene felt more right then the other confesion i said i cared for him and hugged him The care to me meant i cared about his feelings not wanting to make him do anythind he dosent want to
That's the best choices to do... IT is made that it continues the romance, which is nice, but in generally just a hug can be between friends of course... I guess the "I care for you" part means I love you and want to be with you 🤔😊
@@resonatinglo I have partnerd him as I wanted from the start but I chose the I care as a way of letting him know I won't force him to do anything and he is free
@@katielulu you probably know that the "I care about you" still locks you in the romance with him. Only the "You need a friend , not a lover" breaks the relationship, but lets him know what you care enough but not to force him to play in the romance with Tav... It's tricky... cuz our hears want one... but our minds say another... That's why I have 6 different campaigns with him trying and choosing different paths, so I can satisfy every line and rout that he has with Tav
I was kind of in the fence. Both options could benefit him, both can stress him out. It would have been nice to check in with him further... Because I just kept thinking, what if he still wants to be a couple, and now it's like, he got ditched for saying he's got intimacy issues.
For a life long term partner, sure, I can agree with you. But I think they mean it for the few weeks that all are together... It's very very short term 😅
@@resonatinglo I said struggle , there not many, it used to be soo bad aswell it was yes. And fuck you ew never. Now its getting better but there's still some normal rejections that are hidden behind having to do at least one thing with the companion which is weird I'm hoping that's just a bug Gales got fixed because so many people complained , I am hoping my next attempt all companions have very normal sorry but no responses without the heartbroken looks
I want an ending where you complete Act 2 and he comes up and says "I needed a friend, but I also want you as more than a friend. I want us," and you can pick up the romance if you would like. I didn't enjoy the factor of being used, but I wish for something where we come to terms with each of the other's deeds and Astarion trusts you more after. 😊 It's a monumental movement of his own and can be the second decision he makes in the game to move past the trauma of forced romance. It would be his decision to continue. I felt like I was forcing a relationship because he says, "I did this because I came to need you and then I grew attached," or something like that. I felt like I was psychologically scarring him into a dependent relationship which forced him to feel trapped. 😢 I want him to be my friend and my lover. We can build through it in Act 2, when we help him with his scars, if we don't, he loses trust in us and decides he doesn't want a relationship with someone who won't support him. Which becomes another bedrock of him moving forward in his trauma. I felt as if I was forcing him to be my lover where he liked the actual idea of a friend more. He still doesn't choose sex for a while as he is moving past trauma of denying himself self-respect and your character can help him through by saying, "I care about you, not about sex with you," or "Our little rumps were fun, but not needed," or "I still want to have sex with you," and a couple of other special class and species options with it. Like a LLolth drow can be like "You are mine, I get to choose whether we have sex or not!" and an acolyte lifestyle can be, "I have abstained for years, my love does not come with copulation." This can be a fun little thing to change the ending. If you Ascend him and force him, and then choose to not let him bite you, he will force your decisions and drain you in sleep, not killing you, but changing you anyways. Then he comes back at the end, Your Tav laying in the bed and you wake up with your lover dead and him laying there, like, "Hello my sweet," and the narrator is like *You feel drawn to love him no matter your emotions for your past lover as you both leave to your forced future in chains.* If you don't ascend him and force him, he still remains grateful or however the decision was made, and chooses his words and actions more carefully. Like if he's angry and distrustful and forced, "I should of chose to end it when you did. I couldn't stomach you like them in the past any longer!" Or, good ending, "I want to be with you, however you'll have me, but I want to have... us."
I agree. We should have the options to continue/ pick up any romance from later than act 1-2. Maybe we were his friend and then defeated Cazador for him and helped him be a better person... why not be able to start the romance there, might as well as we will have much higher approval there as well. I agree with you so much!
@@resonatinglo I know. I feel like I'm backing him in a corner when I say "I care about you." I want it to be his decision, and his decision can be: "Let's start over, I'm Astarion and a vampire spawn of Cazador, and I have fallen for your mischievous little self." And he tries to pick up the manipulation if you chose the bad ending with all the wrong things. Or, "I'm Astarion. I'm a vampire spawn who has fallen for one of my friends. Their kind, caring, naive, stubborn, and strong, (this changes to troubled by their own mind, scarred, and trauma's of their own, but they were selfless as they chose to care for mine and others (if good durge) problems.)They were more caring for me more than anyone has ever been. However, in my fear, I manipulated them wrongly, in my own haste for a safe place. They told me that I need a friend when they figured out my schemes, and I liked the idea as I never had a friend. But watching as they helped me, cared for me, and watched me with longing with the same eyes I gave them, I, then, knew I had fallen for them. And them... they wanted to let me choose what I wanted for the first time. And all I could think was and I just wanted whatever they would offer me. Be it friendship or something more. And now, I-I want it to be us... I love you." I'm a bit of a dreaming romantic, but my heart and guilt would be absolved and fulfilled by this. You would know your ending before it even happens and it actually becomes a bad ending as he treats you like an object in which he forces you to obey him, the consequences of your actions.
@@katelynnhueston7825 Listen, many times I remind this to the people here in my comments. This is a single player game and guild has no place in it. First NO ONE will know what you do in your own game, you can do whatever you like without feeling guilty or being judged. Second, you can always see the result and then reload. Often when I was playing actively, I would play rolling with one decision and if I really didn't feel it, I would reload up to that conversation and choose differently and roll with that. It is NOT a time wasted or anything like that, because you are still playing this amazing game and having fun. I have seen all possible endings, all possible dark urges and all possible Astarion variations mostly with reloading back to act 2 if I have to, even to act 1 first romance scene by the tree if I want to see something different. It's amazing.
@@resonatinglo I know. I'm not trying to shame people. I don't have the backbone to go through a bad dark urge playthrough. You can blame Halsin... I see that sweet honey loving bear and I turn into a puddle of sweet pudding. Good thing you can still recruit the beautiful hard hearted but sweet Drow!
@@katelynnhueston7825 But why is Halsin stopping you from being Dark Urge. You can be an amazing good helping Dark urge with no problem at all. And Astarion will love it as well and give you the unique dialog only for resist durge that few get naturally
It’s so weird to see my PC’s face and hairstyle used on another person’s character. 😅 Different colors, scars, jewelry, makeup, etc., but still the same base look. Odd how they didn’t include the ability to change the facial features like most RPGs do.
I ofc chose this option because it's the healthiest for him... But oh boy was I ever salty about it 😂 it took forever to build up approval with him, and with how sexualized he his by the fandom it took me so off guard that this was the reality 🤦🏻♀️
I'm curious if anyone can answer, is there anyway we don't have to romance him right at the beginning, but still get character development with him? I don't really want to do that first intimate scene, but it seems required.
His story progresses no matter if you romance him or not. As long as you have him in your party, you will see most of his story. Of course as with all the characters if you romance them, there are more scenes and dialogs. But you dont have to! Also you can get his approval but refuse the sex! I'm sure that he will apreciate it and you will see some new dialogs and scenes. But the overall vampire story is there, no matter what 😇🖤
Yeah, I did my first playthrough not romancing him, and you still get a lot of the cool scenes. Like you still get a version of this scene after Araj, but instead of focusing on what Tav did for him, he's being more introspective and thinking about why he didn't just do it, which was almost more interesting than the romance scene. Honestly a big Friendstarion fan.
Yes, It breaks my heart but I think it's better for him! (If I have to roleplay it) The morning after this scene, Shadowheart came to me and said she want's to move things with her further) , So I think the other companions know and hear "somehow" what is happening in their camp... In any case, if you get there, let me know what happens if you choose the first option and stay in the relationship 🖤
See, this is what I'm aiming for - for my tav to be Astarion's friend, not his lover. I'm really hoping this scene can be obtained without having to sleep with him, first.
It can not unfortunately... You need to fall in his web of manipulation and "tactical lies" so he can realise that you are actually a normal good person with good intentions about him and not the "next victim" for him... So you need to let him take you to the forest first so you can get this scene🌲🔥🌲🧛♂️🖤
@@resonatinglo whelp - my tav will forever be denied this hug because I can't bring myself to have her be with anyone on an intimate level other than Gale, and she isn't about to hurt the wizard just to befriend a vampire - which sucks (no pun intended).
@@madamefluffy4788 Hahaha! You have the absolute right to do so. Gale is amazing and his arc and romance also! Don't give it up... for a hug... If you ever want to explore the Astarion romance you can always make a new campaign with the idea of going for Astarion and take your time there
Love both paths (romance and friendship) so much. But honestly, if you're planning on going the friendship path, I'd advise people to trigger this version of the confession rather than the other. Why? To be fair, as important as it still is, this version feels more... situational than the post-Yurgir one. He dwells on and expresses his own feelings after the event with Araj, he seeks comfort from a person he trusts - but there's hardly any emphasis on his romantic feelings towards Tav/the PC. The post-Yurgir one is very romantic in its nature imo, so saying "let's just be friends instead", actually feels kind of... harsh. He's talking like his own feelings have been eating at him for quite a bit. He bears a lot of guilt, knowing that he's wronged this person that's been decent towards him and that he's also started to have real feelings for. He just decides that it's time to face the music, even though he's clearly scared of being hated by them after they get to hear his truth. First and foremost, Astarion wants feel safe and free, so he's motivated by building allyships and defeating Cazador. Afterwards, I'd actually say that he's motivated by love, in whatever form that comes. Of course he's never going to say no to friendship when it's offered, it's still love. I however think that Astarion is still a hopeless romantic at heart, and that part of him kind of surfaces in either paths. At the epilogue, if "friendzoned", I believe he has dialogue in which he admits he'd thought about how it would've been like if him and the PC were to still be involved. If on a pure friendship route, i believe he expresses that he would've liked to have shared his time with a partner of his own? He wants to be trusted and to trust back, to be loved and to love back. If it's not Tav that is his partner, then he'd probably still hold onto the idea to find another partner one day.
If I had the choice I would choose romance... but friendship is there because this is how it should work... people should have a choice and not be forced into anything even by games 🤷♀
@@resonatinglo Absolutely! Just like in any other context of the game. At the end of the day, play however you want, that's why it's an RPG I was kind of just giving my two cents on the matter also in the hopes that some others would agree/see what I mean. Astarion's a very nuanced character anyway, I'm not saying how I see him is set in stone. A lot of it is left to interpretation/headcanon as well But this is how I'd intrepet it and how I'd advise people who'd agree/have similar thoughts anyway
Uuuhhm, sure. Have fun with the first two games. They are a bit old at this point, but still nice. And for the record, this is Baldur's gate 3, not the Witcher 3... or I didn't understand the question and it was some sort of comparison between the Witcher Gerald and Astarion 🤪
@@resonatinglo I just mean because it has been 200 years, if he'd want to quit after dating Tav. Unless they have some dhampir in their future.. 👀 then he wouldn't feel so lonely.
Thank you! No, I play un-modded because I play a lot of multiplayer also with other people and I haven't used mods yet. It's one of the normal faces with one of the normal hairs , nothing unique, yet she looks neat and simple and beautiful... it's the eyes 😇
Ok so I was originally romancing Shart but slept with him once and I opted to tell him that he needs a friend rather than lover… did this mean I ended it with Astarion so I could keep romancing Shart?
Not sure how the other characters react to this narrative. I thought after saying "I will be a friend" , that I would be able to romance others, but the game doesn't allow it at this point if you are not deep into the relationship with the other person. Not sure honestly. I haven't done it yet. Only ever had one romanced partner.
The more I play it, the more I get it... and when you are 200-300 hours in , your mind is blown away, cuz you still find new things, new conversations, new hidden items... I am at 550+ hours and last night I found something new in the game... I'd never thought to do and I did it and I was amazed... So... Yes... expensive you say... 😋
@@resonatinglo 500 hours?! oh man, I gues it IS worth every penny 😂😅 i'm not even a dnd fan, never really wanted to try it, but although the game is very appealing the complexity of the story and gameplay is a bit scary lol. still, I think I would like to play it one day, at least for astarion who at this point is a very strong argument!
I wish you could still choose this option and end up romancing him later anyways, it feels manipulative in this moment to tell him you care, regardless of whether or not you actually do, because he just explained how he's had so much trauma with forced relationships, but it's obvious later in the game if you continue the romance that he does appreciate the relationship. I just wish there could be a second cutscene in act 3 or something where he's like "I know we said we're friends but I think I have real feelings for you" or something
How friendship would affect his epilogue? Have you tried it? I always romance both Astarion and Halsin. I'm a tad disappointed that although I've romanced both, the epilogue Halsin was starved for hugs and affection and there was no indication that my Tav spent time with him. I would prefer to have them both by my side.
I have never romanced Halsin and still he gave me a hug. As far as I know with Astarion. I have 4 endings so far, I have seen what is without a relationship (so just friends) but still high approval, cuz I think by the end of the game all your companions, at least if you keep them in the party, have high approval. So "just friends" spawn Astarion is same as my video from last week - "Breaking up with Astarion just before the party". Apparently it does not matter if you will say you are just friends in act 2 or at the end, the last dialog is the same. For the other 3 I have them as well in videos. Romanced Spawn and romanced Ascended and non-romanced ascended. The only thing that I am not sure what the dialog would be if you have no approval or keep it below 10... which for me is hard to do 😅
You have to sleep with him during Act 1 (i.e. at the party and/or before, if your Approval is high enough that he propositions you beforehand), and in Act 2, you have to interact with a female drow at Moonrise Towers called Araj Oblodra, who'll try to coerce Astarion into biting her. If you stand up for Astarion and tell him he doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to, this dialogue will trigger at next Long Rest.
@@resonatinglo yeah, act 2 begins when you enter shadow-cursed lands. you might even be able to trigger the scene if you travel back to an act 1 area to camp after act 2 starts, I've heard some ppl have done that
I like the friend option but I wanted to ask, do you get this confession if you don’t sleep with him at all? Can you turn him down for bone throwing but stand up for him with the Drow? I’m just imagining how that would throw him, he’s keeps getting turned down for what he believes is his only useful trait but they still stand up for him, why? Poor guy
I don't think that this conversation comes up if you don't romance him. I am trying it on my next campaign and will post vids of the differences, but the whole conversation is how he wanted to manipulate Tav so they can protect him and then fell in love with Tav... if you are not romanced, this conversation is impossible... I will try to play it and let you know!
I don't know. I should think you can't. But last night I got there again on my next playthrough and as I have seen most of the romance options already. I actually saved the game as him being my friend. So we shall see. I am planning to play like that now and see if there will be more opportunities for hugs 🌹
I mean as far as special dialogue and such. The friendship is the less fleshed out option in game compared to the romance. For example in Dragon Age: Origins there was a scene where Morrigan said you were like a sister to her and I loved it so much T_T
Yes!!! YES!!! Don't click if you are not sure... if you want to explore the romance and have different banter from him, keep it. If you want to be just his friend, then after this option he becomes like all the others, normal companion, normal lines, nothing special, he doesn't even remember what we have had!!! It kinda deletes the romance and he goes back to a default Astarion!
No, I played maybe 40-50 hours with him as a friend, which just makes him a "normal character" without any interesting interactions and then people started commenting on my videos that the romance is better and amazing and worth it , so then I went deep into it and now I have 200 hours of a playthrough with Astarion as a romance only , but reloading back to see all his sides
I don't have much experience, but honestly, it makes me feel so weird, the whole friend > lover thing, as if love doesn't require being very close friends. Do people just bang each other mindlessly? That's "lovers"? I want to think not
I think they mean it "lover" because technically they know eachother only a few days... max a week... how many long rests do we do in act 1... a few, so that's a few days... I don't think that such a deep deep love (feelings) can be formed, but you can be lover to someone and like them right ... maybe.. that;s how I understand it anyway
Most of the time when I've heard the word "lover" used to describe a person it's a somewhat euphemistic way to say, "sex partner." Maybe there are feelings involved, but there don't have to be. I agree that it's strange, though.
@@resonatinglo I agree that so little time is given in the game and the apocalypse is near, but since he says he would love a friend and takes our hand, I assume we're good friends by now and the further the better, so why not do this and the romantic thing simultaneously, imo
@@Luv2sing836 It's actually so heartbreaking when you think of the usual "lover" semantics and remember what he actually had going on and still refers to it like that. "I had thousands of lovers", - man, you were practically being raped and dissosiated from it most of the time
@@dearhandel True, true... I wanted to see literally everything related to him so I reloaded my save a few times back to here and continued the game in the other direction each time. Now I am playing as him so I can see those beautiful Pale pixels all the time 🌹
If you pick this option, NO. You can't romance him at all. He just becomes a regular camp member with exceptional approval of you! You need the first option! If you care about him!
Being friendzoned has never felt so sweet.
Still bittersweet...
I went through most of the game like that... and then went back 15h and reloaded that same scene to tell him I actually care for him... and not be friendzoned any more 😁
He feels teeny tiny bit disappointed but still appreciative enough to roll with it.
I know I feel this is a good choice for him. I feel at his core he does need love, but one that doesn't include sexual expectations and I think platonic love is exactly what he needs. Being part of this adventuring party where he realizes he is cared for more than what he can do is important. Hell even what he can do being appreciated and celebrated I think he needs.
Honestly I think he needs friends more than a romantic partner right now. Maybe later down the road, but now he needs platonic love.
Yeah I figured he'd appreciate this option and honestly if this were real life it would've made more sense to reply with it because of his trauma but I still wanted to romance him 😂
OMG Same! And I romanced him and got dumped in the middle of the night... so friend is a good balance... and now I can romance the infamous Shadowheart 😁😁
I do agree that for _this_ confession choosing a friendship makes more sense. But given the context of the alternate version of where he outright tells you he fell for you, I do think he is generally absolutely capable of romance but also doesn't _fully_ understand what it means/entails yet either. At that point Tav should be well aware of the trauma he experienced and be sensible about what they're getting into if they feel the same way about him. Truly loving someone goes well beyond physical attraction. Of course being in a relationship is a larger responsibility than friendship by its very nature, though _both_ can offer an equal amount of understanding and support.
@@lavishlyvice So true! I saw what happens if Tav chooses the first option instead of the second (the friends) , Astarion still takes out his hand and says that "Whatever this is, is nice" but at this point I think , understanding him better and being his friend means more to him. We shall see after the lower city. I'm not there yet. Just finished act 2 last night.
@@resonatinglo Astarion is equally open to both friendship and romance, thus both of them are valid options and neither one means more or less than the other to him. This specific choice (romance or friends) is about how _you_ feel about him as well. Everyone processes trauma differently. Astarion processes it no matter if you are friends with him or in a relationship, because both offer an equal amount of the support he needs and finally give him the freedom to decide what he wants. Without giving out spoilers; once you are at the end of his quest while romancing him, all of this becomes evident.
@@lavishlyvice True. I agree
Man, I wish we could be his friend AND hug him. He deserves both.
Yes. All! 🖤😊
We should all start a petition for Larian to let us do both!
Wait what's the hug option
For those who want to stay romantic but give him time away from sex, the game outright provides an option to let him wait as long as needs before he's read for such things again. Still sucks that there's fewer friend options for those who want it, but at least you can let the boy process _that_ much, which is just as good imo.
Yes! I didn't realize it at the time so I played most of act 3 with him being my friend... then someone in the comments told me about a grave sex scene so I saved and went back 15 hours of gameplay to play it again as his lover not only a friend... and now I love him even more! The best character! 🖤😇
Man idk what I did to my playthrough
But asta hated me ...
And I kinda got his approval up near the end of act 1
But he had already sort of rejected me after the grove... but I don't even know what I picked I accidently just pressed space and he was basically like but not you imagine? Haha
Xd so then I got his affection up and I got some of the usual romantic interactions to get his affection up
I'm act 2 I met the drow lady
Told him he could say no Yada Yada
Got this interaction but it was different
He just thanked me for teaching him he can say no
Then told me about not enjoying sex and all that stuff
None of the options for me led to anything romantic ... lol so I was like dang I'm freaking friend zoned aren't I..
Get to act 3 enter the brothel meet the twins ask to be with both of them
They pick asta
Asta goes " well our leader here hasn't slept with me yet an error im eager to correct" me : I'm sorry astarion let's correct that
Him: oh so eager you're delicious
we have the 4some goes well... he tells me I have no right to look at him like that I tell him he is the one that always wants to eat me
It ends.. we just go about our day
Me: ah.. was that supposed to happen?
In real life I would still take that as a friendship offer - someone willing to stick around with you and not have sex or have romance is a friend.
wait you CAN?? that's such good news, because I honestly thought I'd be locked out of that entirely, and felt so scummy going with the other lines to stay in the relationship ;_;
@@amateur1314 when you pick “I care about you” instead of “maybe you need a friend, not a lover” (which friendzones you) the game gives you additional very nice options to continue the relationship in a romantic way without forcing sex on him. you can choose tadpole link/hug/we can be together without sleeping together for as long as you need/what do you want to do? - ALL of these result in staying together without sex even though the options don't explicitly mention that. you don’t need to be afraid you’re doing sth wrong. he’ll appreciate all of these choices
The “but you didn’t. And I’m grateful” is literally like the best voice capture I’ve ever heard it’s so perfect because he sounds SURPRISED that he’s grateful but also GENUINELY grateful. Neil understands his character so well❤️
edit NEIL WON BEST ACTOR AT TGA. deserved
Oh maaannnn! Neil is going such an amazing job voicing this complex and loved elf... it was very wholesome to hear him with the "I’m grateful" continue the game like that as well!
Thank you!
That is certainly a favorite of mine, but my all time favorite is when he says the like “because my screams sounded sweetest” you can literally hear the lump in his throat.
my first instinct was that he'd be offended by that but when you take into account what he was going through for so long it makes sense. i love how nuanced this since with the romance option he cannot properly name what their relationship is yet.
I know right. But also it's kinda no surprise that he doesn't care about romance... and I can also understand why he needs a friend... can you imagine not having friends for 200 years...
@@resonatinglo I can understand why he doesn't care.. or more like he doesn't know how to do romance properly. as he was forced into being intimate to lure people to Cazador he pretty much shut himself off when he was doing it and when he refused, he was punished. there is one specific dialogue where he explains he refused to bring back a sweet innocent boy and as a result spent a year basically in solitary confinement. it was both psychological and s*xual manipulation and abuse 😢
@@asmalltalk 😔😔So true... and just to appreciate ... the scrips are just wow... I've never felt so deep emotions from a game...
@@resonatinglo seriously same. Larian went so deep with his story and character overall it's truly heart-breaking. Both friendship and continuing the romance are very sweet with him when you don't do the ritual. I love this man 💔
Tbh, we can be both friends and lovers 😌
I managed to make it to where he's still romanced but my character didn't force him into anything else sexual, so they're still romantic but best friends; in other words, the closest to Asexual like myself in-game that I could get. Because to me, he'd fit in an Asexual relationship just fine since personality and simply BEING together seems more important to him; exactly the same way it is for my husband and I of 16 years.
That is am awesome comment! Thank you for sharing! I have a few more videos coming, some of them are quite deep and break my heart, but the latest one is the most loving and wholesome of them... it's at the end of the ascension story, but I wanted to show it first. I am yet to explore any of the Lower city now as Astarion's partner! 🖤
Teach me your ways, o fellow acespec one! 🙏
This comment right here.
Personally, I feel like when you suggest a friendship rather than romantic relationship, there's a wave of relief in response to the fear of just being an object again that completely catches him off guard.
As someone who took a long time to figure out my own asexuality, that scene hit in a similar way. Just the realisation.
It's sad that choosing this option locks you out of the romance in game. Would have been nice to not have it be two separate things.
At that point, he really does not want to be seen in a sexual way by anyone. I thank Stephen so much for writing him this way. Where, as soon as he opens up and finally lets you see beyond the mask, you realise that the hypersexual way he comes across is ingrained by trauma, and it is thus handled respectfully with a lot of insight.
I know that he still agrees and even initiates at the very end of his questline (if romanced), but you can also choose not to, which I was really thankful for.
Yo is your profile picture from Pon and Zi? I miss that cute comic strip!
OMG THE FACT THAT THIS IS POSSIBLE!!!
Wow, this is somehow... more powerful then the romance. Goddamn, if he were to talk to me like that after saying 'let's be friends' I would just facepalm me. Saying a thing like 'Yeah you know what, nevermind I'm in love with you'
It is very powerful indeed... to be someone's only friend... after 200 years you would imagine that that person will have a lot of friends... but sadly no
so many things can be powerful than love and it's amazing what that can be!
@@seinquant Love comes in many forms, including platonic love/love for a friend.
Same💀 There’s no way I could handle a line like that platonically
THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL!!!! This is why I love Astarion and his entire route, and I truly believe that we need to be his friend above all things - even in the romance route, you know. He needs someone who sees him for who he is, a shoulder to cry on, someone who will care, exactly like he says by the end of his romance route. A true bond.
Very nicely said! Thank you for that comment! I agree entirely and I think he "won my heart" with this one when he said I am his only friend and he appreciates it a lot... How can I not finish his quest and make him what he is suppose to become... It's what friends do after all. Help each other...
Say it louder! I kinda want Larian to let us run after him when the sun starts burning him cause that scene was cold as fuck Q^Q
they will probably change the ending. This happened with Divinity 2 apparently. but I also don't know if they will make an act 4, any extra content would be great
@@imogenenyx3690 Gods yes! The fact that his 'run away' scene is kind of... Ugh it feels like it's trying to be comedic and it falls VERY flat. I've put off doing the final quest for WEEKS because I want to be able to do SOMETHING! I mean come on!!! We've got casters in the party! Where's a smoke or steam or darkness spell when we need it! Hells, let me throw a cloak over him! It's just so cruel to let him run away burning and not do anything 😭
this feels like the true option for me. because romancing him after what he's told me feels too awkward
I agree , although part of me wants still to keep going with the romance... but non the less we are friends now and I can't change it! It's better or him!
I understand why you would feel that way, but I personally disagree about it being the “true” option given the character development he gets when you romance him. Awkward or not, people who have been through traumatic events and are still working through their trauma are still worth loving, and you can help them process their trauma by loving them genuinely, and showing them that they’re more than the object/victim they were made to be. The same applies to Astarion, and the conclusion he comes to when you reach the “Good” end romance path with him proves that. He learns self-worth, and how to set boundaries, all of that, and is able to love and feel loved with Tav by his side as both his lover and companion/friend. It doesn’t have to be one or the other, tbh.
Idk, It just feels weird to give up on the idea of romance with him just because he has a traumatic past when you can still reach a happy and healthy conclusion with him as his lover.
@@pathetic2399THANK YOU. i see this take from people all the time and while I think people mean well, it's actually kind of... well, damaging to say that Astarion is too traumatized to be allowed to be in love. It's a VERY common mindset amongst people who have been sexually abused/assaulted to feel broken or "ruined" and unlovable because of it. Astarion expresses this fear if you break up with him before facing Cazador; he confesses he knew it'd end at some point, that he knows he has little to offer as a partner besides complications. He's shocked if you choose him in a love triangle. Astarion doesn't think he's lovable, he doesn't think he's enough without sex. Romancing him while keeping things chaste for however long he needs it is such a powerful gesture because of this. You're telling him he is more than his body and worthy of love despite what happened to him and that is SO IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO KNOW!!!!
While the lines here ARE sweet, it really rubs me the wrong way to be totally down for persuing him romantically, even knowing he was a slave, even knowing his worldview is so cynical, that he has a clear trauma-based obsession with attaining power......... until you find out he has sexual trauma too. Then you step back and say "whoa, lets just be friends"? I don't know, I would prefer to just pursue friendship from the start instead of starting a romance and pivoting when he confides in you, possibly confirming to him that he's locked out of romantic love for being "too broken". Traumatized people deserve to have a partner like anyone else and I have to wonder about how it makes real victims feel when they see people insisting that a character they identify with shouldn't be in a relationship because of his trauma. I have already seen at least one say it makes them uncomfortable because it confirms the fears they have about themselves.
@@pathetic2399 This exactly! as much as I love the friend route, romancing Astarion and being one of the first people who truly for him in a romantic sense feels so powerful to me; Tav being one of the first people to not sexualise him
I love this option because you become friends when Astarion needs one until he is ready for a lover, which is after his quest. It's much more nuanced than having to be one or the other.
I feel, irl, for long life partners, you have to be both, friend or/and lover with your significant other. Life throws so many hands at you, you can't fit a single role for your partner all the time to help them through everything and vice versa.
Sometimes you're friends, sometimes lovers, sometimes (healthy) rivals, sometimes advisors, and so on and so forth. That's how you help each other grow.
I love this comment. I didn't know that you can still continue the romance if he stays friends with you. Do you have to not ascend him and then he takes you to the special place in the city night? Is that where it starts after you finish the quest?
I didn't have the heart to just be his friend... I played a lot of act 2 and a bit of act 3 with him as my friend and I thought that nothing will happen, so I reloaded to this scene and chose the first option where you still stay in a relationship, but he says he actually feels something for the first time.
@@resonatinglo I'm pretty sure you're still in romance with him even if you choose that option. Even if you don't choose the friends option Astarion isn't comfortable being sexual until he's gained closure post-Cazador.
So, nothing sexy happens after this confession for most of the game until the end of his quest, but you can come across a couple or so sexual encounters with others and Astarion gets worried and insecure that you might leave him and accepts you being poly bc you've not had sex in a long time. It really felt like he's not okay with poly relationships but doesn't want to lose you bc he can't provide you with something since he asks you everytime something like, "I hope it's not bc we've not had sex in a while..." with those stupid puppy eyes sad face ajshkzkqjanaau
OH I really like this. What a touching and rewarding scene!
Oh my G, yes it was so so rewarding... it made me sad and happy at the same time...
I've seen a lot of shenanigans uploaded from this game, but this is the first video I've seen where it shows a wholesome side.
Awww, that means a lot to me! Thank you! I try to show both sides, the meaningful and the funny and sexy stuff. But Astarion's relationship is nice and complex and is worth showing to the people that won't get there. 🖤
As an Ace who was feeling conflicted about romancing Astarion, I squeed so hard when there was a 'just friends' option
True! By now we should know that the game gives you pretty much all the options you can think of and there's always a right option for everyone's taste. 😊
what interests me is that for the romance options, like the hug, he looks uncomfortable "just a bit of discomfort for a moment then its over" comes to mind. Whereas with this option, you allow him to make the first move (taking Tav's hand) and I think that's very powerful. Also I noticed that the 'Asterion Approves' sign came up for this option, and not for the others, which I think is facinating on a character level.
Indeed you are right. Astarion Approves comes up, because he honestly prefers the friend option. But many of our hearts want to hug him or have him as a "partner" and don't choose the friends option...🌹
I's just good that we have it there for the less thirsty people , who actually wanna help him 🤪
I really wanted to see all of the options, so if you choose the first one (I care about you or something), and then you ask him what he wants you to do OR tell him that you don’t need to sleep together… you also get his approval and the hand touch instead of the hug.
Both options trigger the “I don’t know what we’re doing but this is nice” thingie ❤
@@Risodair True
i don't think he's discomforted but more surprised that such simple thing would be offered to him. Just a hug because you care for him and i think thats super wholesome!
you get approval for all of the options (show him your mind, hug, friends, ase relationship) it just pops up a little later for some of them, because action itself is longer
That shows how precious Astarion is.
Indeed he is very much! 🖤
Ow, my heart. This is really sweet. Good for him, good for him.
Oh my heart as well! Thank you for this comment!
I accidentally did the "break up" with him scene first and then had to try and fix it... my heart died and then it sings again now🔥😊
But why can't I be his friend AND his lover???
I think you can be something in the middle if you chose the first option ... but I will never know, cuz I am way past that now... It kinda break my heart, but I will have to live with my choice!
you can, he also approves of the first option and you guys maintain a romance but just without any sex :)
I really believe that lovers should be friends for each other first of all. I'm playing at the end of act 1 now, and when I get to that point, I still want to be more than friends with him. Yes, I agree that at this stage he needs a friend more than a lover, but I think we can be that too. And when he is ready and if he wants, we will be something more. I'm not even talking about sex right now, but about a certain one.. platonic love, hell, I could really give up sex forever for him. All I want to do is just hug him, maybe kiss him, tell him how much I want him to be happy, how much I want to see it and that I will do everything I can for it.
@@rin590 Aww, I wish you find someone like that someday.
I relate to you. I don't really care about sex also, so might as well have a nice good looking friend who is yours for life and who gets you and wants to be with you for you not for the sex with you. 🌹🖤
@@resonatinglothank you❤
I just got this scene and I'm 100% ok with how it ended. That hand hold is just the sweetest thing.
It isss! Yes! I love this scene too so so much!
It also turns the tables for your whole game from this moment onwards 🌹
BUT if you go the friend route and then do the love test in Act 3, Astarion is slightly shocked and the proud AF to do if with you. Like I think even as friends he still romantically loves Tav…he just knows he’s a mess rn
Whaaattt... Thanks I will try that!
This is so genuine and it makes my heart happy to think there is a universe where he just finds out he can have friends who support him through anything and he doesn’t have to complicate anything with physical intimacy. It’s like you can literally see the healing and I’m all here for it. He’s learning to trust again ❤
It is a deep and wholesome scene... knowing where the conversation might go if you choose differently... this is the best option for him if you really really want him to be ok! 🖤
that faint but precious brightness in how he says "I would like that" at 2:35
Oh... just fills your heart with joy... helping a few pale pixels... but I feel it so so deep 😭
I did thought about choosing the friend option, but I thought, as my Tav (as The Dark Urge, I wanted my girl to have a backstory as well), but I also want more, I love him but it doesn't have to be sexual, to be there for each other, just help him and let him be his own person, let him learn to be free and whenever he is ready, at his own pace, do whatever lovers do, there is no need to rush it. And honestly Astarion as been such a, how could I say it, a lesson for me as well, it's been eye opening in how I delt/still do with some of my trauma of being a means to an end among other things that will be left unsaid. What a beautifully written character, it has been such a journey, I fucking love this game
Gods, when I read this it's like I am writing it! Thank you so much! I feel the same way, I love the game, love Astarion so so much! I had a lot of realisations for my own life and my own relationship... my own sexual orientation and drive... I just can't stop playing it! I feel safe there, understood and when I am with Astarion it's just a different experience to anything from real life!
Yes, we can be friends without pressuring others to do what they don't want to do or are not ready to do it yet! We can hold our mouth shut and try not to dictate other people's life as we know what's best for them... no one knows what's best for the other... only you know what's best for you!
Ahhh... Writing this makes me teary a bit... I'm gonna stop here... there are a lot of feels around the game, character and his song...
Thank you! 🔥🖤🌹
To be honest any healthy romantic relationship is based on friendship, I don't see how they are mutually exclusive. So, romancing him after this conversation as long as you don't pressure him to have sex with you is not morally wrong either.
True, but for that you have the option "We can be together for as long as you need to without having sex" , in that case you keep the romantic relationship and promise him not to pressure him. In the video's case , you kinda break up and he is just another member of the party without nothing extra...🌹
I ended up doing this. The more I see of this guy’s romance, the less I want to romance him. There’s just too much baggage for me to say he should be in a relationship. He needs to figure out what he wants and maybe take a couple of decades to recover before getting romantically involved with anyone. Unfortunately, by this point in the game I had locked myself out of other romance options. So I guess my Tav will be a “forever alone” type, since I won’t be doing any more playthroughs. 😊
Aww, I'm sad to hear it. I think I will keep making some playthroughs during the year to come... this game feels very close to DoS2 and I have played a lot of playthroughs there, so I know I will have a lot in this one too.
As for Astarion, I agree... and he says it himself earlier that he kinda doesn't care about the sex/feelings/romance part of it, but mostly needs and friend and a back up in certain situations...
Gods damn it, my Tav wants SO BADLY to be Astarion's friend. No interest in romancing him, but I wish there were more dialogue options for that. Or maybe there are, and my approval with Astarion is just not high enough because my Tav loves being heroic.
Oh, I;m sorry about your Tav. My Tav was at max approval when I stated the conversations for romance and then after the romance it just became friendship...
I'm sure it matter where you are in the approval bar
What act are you in? Until Act 2 Astarion doesn't actually like you even if you start the romance in Act 1. He is just manipulating you until that point. I was being heroic without reward and getting his disapproval left and right. But was sticking up for him, as part of the team when needed. The night of the party, my approval was at mild, but he still propositioned me and off we went down the romance route but of course it's all fake until Act 2 and at that point my approval was only at high.
If you just want friendship, it's probably at the same point in Act 2 that he will start actually liking you and opening up to you, hero or not, as long as you are supporting him when needed.
@@paulinemillard8156 This video is in the Adamantine Forge in the Underdark... I think still counted as Act 1, but at the very end... so basically , you are right 😁🖤
One line always breaks me with what he says "I just didn't know how to say no." when you consider he's been commanded to seduce anything with a pulse, you get a really clear picture that he's put up with some degenerate shit just to lure them back for someone else's benefit.
Yes! Agree! Very well written character with a lot to learn from!
I hope some people learn from his mistake and don't do it in their real life... 🖤
I just wanna hug him so much 🥺
Somehow I missed the hug scene... i didn't know you can actually do it... wanna replay his story a thousand times... 😊🖤
I would do unspeakable things for a "May I hug you" option alongside the "may I kiss you" option 🥰
I'm sorry, this is off-topic, but your Tav looks amazing. Just had to say it. 👀
If you have a backstory for them and wouldn't mind sharing, I'm burning to know.
More on-topic. It breaks my heart how he says 'I can't think of a single one'. So broken and beautiful...
I've seen almost all of his scenes and still click on the just to relive those moments and that raw feeling in the voice acting... the expressions. It's beautifully crafted and when I look at him and I look at these scenes, I don't see a character in a video game, I see a real person, just trying to feel genuinely understood and cared for... And I love how we all come together on these videos and just appreciate both the art and the craftsmanship that brings this character to life and how we relate to him or how we feel for him. It's just such a beautiful thing.
Truly amazing comment! I agree with you that It's very satisfying to share the experience in those videos with someone else and all that come to comment here and give their opinion and how it unlocks those deep feelings deep within us... Those scenes with Astarion made me cry... made me realise stuff about myself and made my look over real life a bit different.
The game and it's characters are next level and the actors add so much to it all!
P.S. As for my Tav, this is my Dark Urge "evil" playthrough. As I see her , her name is Fjäll , which in Swedish (where I live) means mountain. So she is a barbarian with a bear heart and hits like a mountain. She gives no SH**s and just wants to get rid of the tadpole and also understands who she was before and why she has this Urge to kill everything she sees...
I kept having a relationship with Astarion for this playthrough because he also very much likes killing and enjoys blood and is also so broken as the Dark Urge... being a Drow adds a layer to my brokenness as well and it's just so fulfilling when I play this playthrough.
Thank you for your comment and for asking me about my Tav. Ask more , I am happy to oblige! 😊🖤
A good partner is not just someone to have sex with. They are also your best friend ;)
Even more to be your best friend than have sex... the friendship is much much more important!
@@resonatinglo Excatly ;)
THIS----- is probably my favorite conversation in the game
ty for posting 💖
PS: good lord your tav is snatched 💅
Thank you!🖤 It's also my fav conversation, can't wait to get to it in every playthrough ... I also have it recorded... all of it, in case someone asks for a specific line or something , and I can post it as a vid.
Thank you for the Tav compliment! I like my girls simple, but aesthetically beautiful ... and I love this hair... most of my Tavs are with it in different colours... and myself, in real life, very often as well! 😁😊
I first discovered niel newbon in dbh and I instantly fell in love with his voice acting and just how genuinely of a good person he is. I swear without realising it I always fall in love with a character he’s VA
Neil is an incredible human being indeed and his voice is indeed very soft and creamy and easily liked ... but Astarion's play is just outrageous amazing 🗡🍷🖤
I fucking love this.
😊
this is exactly why i'm really not into his romance. much prefer to be his friend
I think there's really no romance with him. If you try to "push" romance, he cuts you deep and it hurts... (I've been there), so Friends is the best way to even keep any relationship with him, but he also deserves it , so it's a win win in any case 😊
@@resonatinglo I don't see how you saw there is no romance with him, or that it's pushed or painful. It's a bit on the patient and slow side after this confession, with intimacy limited to cuddling and kisses until a certain point in the story where he becomes ready for something further again. It's not so black and white. Give the proper romance a chance sometime, it's the most rewarding story I've gone through in a long while.
@@saltherisms Aww, now I'm sad that I missed it... awww...
@@saltherisms Yeah, the whole "I love you, I love this, I want it all" line when he finally comes to terms with his past and lets it go. And the jokingly "It's nothing special, Of course, you're only the first person I've ever truly cared about" line when you ask him about the relationship thereafter, really cemented in my mind that the romance route was the correct one. He really just needed someone to love him for who and what he was to be able to grow past all his trauma.
@@paulinemillard8156exactly !! romance route is one of the most well written things i’ve seen
Probably the best thing for him tbh... he needs time to be with himself.
Right... I wish we all could be
i know this stops his romance with him, but i think this is the most platonically romantic & touching scene you could have with astarion. he really does need a friend.
I think , if maybe this is a second or third campaign that you are doing , definitely go for the Friend option, it is very fulfilling and he still trusts you completely and with his life and will still have all the comments for being so close to you... so if you have seen all the romance scenes and stuff, YES, it is the most touching and the best thing you can do for him... is to let him go...
"Until you." - I just love Neil Newbons delivery. The salvation and longing in his voice.. My lonely ace-heart still hopes to find someone to wake those feelings in myself, too. Dum spiro, spero! ♥
I wish I can forget it and re-play that scene for the first time again... that "Until you" hit so hard the first time...
Hugs from another ace-heart over here...🖤
Every time I watch this video I cry when he says he's never had a single friend. 200 and more years and this sweet, but broken man has never had a single friend. Until we came along by chance. This scene is the sole reason I am buying the game. Just to give this man the friend he deserves!
Yes thank you!
And know... and Oh it feels so so much deeper and hurts so much more when you actually play it... you spend 100-200+ hours with this sweet man... and then he tells you , you are his only friend... I cry too every time those kind of scenes come up...
I found a new one last night. Will be uploaded soon as the "most sincere Astarion scene EVER! " I cried ALL NIGHT! I recorded it and re-watched it 5 times...
Soon...
I actually feel this is the correct choice for him in the game
It is for sure.
The problem is that by choosing this, you are ending the romance and there are no more dialogs between Tav and Astarion... I made that mistake on my first playthough...😇
I have the biggest, fattest crush on Astarion but I'll always choose to be his friend and not lover.
I did it just the first time I started falling in love with him... then I reloaded to here and chose the other option so we can continue as partners... 🙈
Does that lock you out of the possibility to end up with him romantically? To be fair, being friends is very important for long term romantic relationship
It's the other way around. This can only happen if you have already romanced him and he trusts you and he is at max relationship status with you. This happened 3-4 longrest-s after the sex scene... but it also kinda frees you from being his romance and makes you available for the other characters and their romance options.
@@resonatinglo I understand that, but does the game treat it like breaking up with him or can you continue the romance in Act 3?
@@ChangesOfTomorrowyeah fr i wanna know too. can you initiate romance with him again after this sequence or is it just over
@@resonatinglo I got the friendship choice but I wasn't at max approval at all with him, Astarion does not approve of my heroics. do you mean this particular response to wanting to be friends?
from my own playthrough, it locks you out of any future romance with him, to my knowledge. this is more of a soft way to break things up from a narrative point of view. i hope this helps 😊
When romancing him I gave him a hug.
I would choose this in real life though
The beauty of a game is that you can be many different things and often different from your real life. I've done a hundred playthroughs probably and I try to do different things every time 🤷♀
Oh its deeply understanding of how he may feel. I love this awnser, its so true…
So gentle and nice, yes. Love it as well 🖤
astarion has taken over my life
Same 🌹🖤
My demisexual ass: wait wait, you can just *befriend* him? You don't have to bed him?!
Yep and he trust you 100% and has max approval. I think if you actually ask him, he would choose that option over any of the others... not that we can...
I will still romance him no matter what, cause I see my Tav as both. That's what a real relationship is about. Not lover OR friend. Both ❤❤
So true, so true! 🖤🖤
He just needs a friend and a hug. 😊
Exactly right! 😇🌹
On every campaign with him! 😊
man, when i said i wanted to be friends he got really angry >:(
what approval were you on and what did he say? because from what i've seen, even in act one he was understanding you didn't want to continue the relationship and said he'll remember you.
Maybe the approval matters (I was at max with him) and also it happened after we had the actual romance scene... I think it matters because he now trusts you and just wants to be friends.
I'm sorry it didn't happen to you. 😔
@@asmalltalk i was still in act one, shortly after i let him bite me
@@resonatinglo me too :( he and la'zel are prob my fav companions, and i still can't get his approval a little above half way
@@resonatinglo me too :( he and la'zel are prob my fav companions, and i still can't get his approval a little above half way
i bought this game early in the Early Access release, mostly because I saw gifs of him and wanted to know what was his deal. and then i waited almost 3 years for a full release and couldn't wait to finally do a full romance run with Astarion!
and then i got to this scene. befriending him felt like the best option. i wasn't even sad that i ended the romance path early. he needs me as a friend, not as a lover, and i think that's just as - if not more - valuable. god i love this game.
I agree! Love this game as well!
I hope that having early access didnt ruin the main game from spoilers, relationships point of view
That's sweet that he sounds genuinely happy to have a friend.
Right... and I can't imagine not having friends for 200 years... the loneliness.... 😔
I usually do the yurgir version of the scene, he's much more straightforward about his feelings. But this scene is great too
I agree... I usually don't go for the drow as well, or at least I go after we have had "the conversation" ... but the idea was to get all the possible scenes in a video 🖤
Wow, that hurts the heart. What a beautiful moment to include in the game.
Right... I agree... many of his scenes hurt the heart if you are going for a romance with him!
@@resonatinglo My thought is more "god, how could he have been deprived of such basic emotional needs for so long?" Makes me want to give the guy a big hug. I can definitely empathize with that yearning to belong, to have support without cost. It's far too rare, and rarer still to have it recognized for how important it truly is.
@@packgrog I hear you! Yep... maybe that's why they have added the hug there!
It is truly amazing the stories and options they gave us! One of a kind of a game!
He didn't want to be friends BTW. Friends is just the next best thing, but it's not what he wanted. He barely knows anything but one thing he knew he wanted was something more serious with you. Astarion craves love, which you'll see when he kills Cazador and stays a spawn and is unromanced.
hmm... probably. I honestly haven't done a max approval run that he is not romanced... maybe I should
I never felt like I had a realistic friendship story in the game until this moment. It's such a good scene AND he briefly refers back to the time you were together later in the story so I feel like it's exceptionally cannon. I'm also sure he wasn't a fan he was in a triangle with me and Gale so....
Oh yes, the friendship story is very nice and wholesome as well. Not sure if realistic is the right word, but it's good to be his friend for sure!
Well, the "realistic" part was my own experience with my own play through, but all the best!@@resonatinglo
I just finished the game and romanced him, only went through the first scene to unlock the romance. You can still be his lover without him having to worry about sexual connection at all and it's still very healing for him. Love my dumb cleric lady and her vampire boy.
Side note: your Tav looks almost exactly like mine. Make her a wood elf with facial markings, freckles, red hair, and different earrings... they're the same person haha.
Nice. My other DU is a wood elf with freckles and red hair and a face scar. I have vids of her if you look for the DU vids and some more are coming soon.
I love that face. I can't just not make her this beautiful ! 🤷♀😊🌹
thanks for the upload 😭 ive been stressing cuz i was thrown off of his romance in act 1 after i'd soft-committed and going into act 2 i was dreading having to turn him down. now i know there's a sweet platonic scene if i talk to the drow lady instead of a total disaster waiting for me!
for some Tav's (role-playis) staying his friend here is even more powerful and makes you feel better and a player.
Good luck with the campaign, go and smash that brain
I didn't know it would end the romance 😭😭 the dialogue felt so ... right, i would have never thought that it would be a breakup trigger. Just now i finished his companion quest and i was so confused to why there is no cutscene after killing cazador, im so sad 😭😭😭 i wish there was a way to get back to him and offer romance again
I knooowww... but you can always reload and do it, it's just in act 2 and then in act 3 you can do other stuff you haven't done the firs time OR get straight to Cazador and have the most amazing romance scene after the fight :D
I didn’t want that option when romancing him but I feel like this is the best when you want anybody else….even the oddest option, if you can lol. This is really sweet.❤
I chose this on my first attempt at romancing him, because he made it feel like he really really needs this friend and doesn't much care for actual love and sex... so I was just like - Then you need a friend. And then I saw a freaking spoler video with the grave scene and was like "Whaaattt" did I miss that... reloaded the save up to act 2 and hugged the boy and told him i care about him and can't stop doing it in every campaign ever since ...😇😅
i auto friendzoned myseld with this dialogue, thinking i would be able to reromance him once evrything was ok in his life.... in act 3... got me killing everyone in baldur's gate.
I friend-zoned him on my first campaign also not knowing that I can't romance him further... sad... but I wanted the best for him... which is that... he needs a friend not a lover
I didn't get this dialogue after telling her he's his own person and to leave him alone and I don't know why. I was actively romancing him and had very good approval from him too. :(
At this point I believe that the dialog system is so complex that you might not get the same reactions if you do a few playthroughs and choose slightly different options.
I'm sorry, but it's also nice that you can watch it here. 🖤
Good to know, thank you!@@resonatinglo
I’ve never related to a character so much in my life
... I am starting to relate as well....
While I love romancing him, irl, this would be the best option for him, honestly
Indeed it would... that's why I went with it in the beginning and missed a tons of content from him 😁. BUT It is the best for him...🖤
Aw man I forgot to bring him to the drow and missed out on this, this would have been a nice scene.
You can always reload, bring him, see the scene and then load back to where you are 🤷♀️😇
This makes me happy.
I'm glad . Thanks! 🌹
I used this option because I romanced him "accidentally" and I was very happy. And to be honest it felt like the right thing to do l.
I felt like that as well on my second campaign, to just tell him that he needs a friend and leave it at that. He is happy and still trusts us with his life , we just know it's the best for him! 🗡🍷🌹
Sadly this happens after infiltrating Moonrise tower first. Unfortunately too late to start romancing anyone else instead. For several companions, that’s a key moment in the romance and plotline
True! I was so sad the first time I did this. I got to here and I chose that option and I was like , not that Astarion is my friend I can start romancing Shadowheart... and I finished the game alone... cuz all other romance options are locked... It's sad...
@@resonatinglo Yeah, unless you wait till act 3 when Halsin offers himself :D
But among the origin companions i tried all the male ones so far. Everyone of them has a a special moment after the relationship has developed this far:
- Astarion with the hug scene
- Wyll with the special Dance
- Gale with the magical date
No idea if the females are still an option. But i do know you can at least farm approval with Halsin and in act 3 he’ll propose a polyamorous relationship. No idea what he does if you’re single, though
@@MoonsongReverb Oh for the girls, you can go with Karlach if you like because her relationship starts when you reach Last Light Inn and Damon fixes her, so if you know this, you can go to Moonrise first, do the drow and Astarion, finish the Astarion segment with being his Friend and then go give Damon some metal to fix Karlach and continue with her. You need to have High or more approval of her to be able to kiss her there in the spot which basically starts the romance if you have told her she is cool from the start, which doesn't interfere with Astarion's romance at all.
The other girl Lae'zel also is in very much an open relationship with you, or more like "no relationship" just shagging. So currently on my Dark Urge playthough I am full on with romance with Astarion but when Lae'zel offered a night together, he had no interaction what so ever and when we woke up, he had no interaction again and she is happy. So the 2 girls I know are doable after Astarion's pivot scene
@@resonatinglo Oh yes, i already had Lae’zel trying bed my character but declined because she was settled on Astarion already ^^
Karlach can also start early. Last play through I fixed her early and she woke me up at night all of a sudden. Very funny :D but i still find her ending not so satisfying. I wish we could stay with her without going to Avernus or having her become a Mindflayer
But I may consider it once i try the just friends option with Astarion. So far i had him once but my Bardlock kept him till the end. She found him too cute in his unascended version :D
For me this scene felt more right then the other confesion i said i cared for him and hugged him
The care to me meant i cared about his feelings not wanting to make him do anythind he dosent want to
That's the best choices to do... IT is made that it continues the romance, which is nice, but in generally just a hug can be between friends of course... I guess the "I care for you" part means I love you and want to be with you 🤔😊
@@resonatinglo I have partnerd him as I wanted from the start but I chose the I care as a way of letting him know I won't force him to do anything and he is free
@@katielulu you probably know that the "I care about you" still locks you in the romance with him. Only the "You need a friend , not a lover" breaks the relationship, but lets him know what you care enough but not to force him to play in the romance with Tav...
It's tricky... cuz our hears want one... but our minds say another...
That's why I have 6 different campaigns with him trying and choosing different paths, so I can satisfy every line and rout that he has with Tav
I was kind of in the fence. Both options could benefit him, both can stress him out. It would have been nice to check in with him further... Because I just kept thinking, what if he still wants to be a couple, and now it's like, he got ditched for saying he's got intimacy issues.
Why can't you be BOTH? Call me old-fashioned, but a lover should be a friend first. Otherwise, it is just sex, not love.
For a life long term partner, sure, I can agree with you. But I think they mean it for the few weeks that all are together... It's very very short term 😅
I may do this with my Halsin romance playthrough
yep, you can do it! It fits perfectly timing-wise
I didn't cry, i swear :')
Same... 😭
I don't cry on most of my vids about him... such a soft soul he is 🖤😔
Sharing a bed with astarion as a friend because if I don't everyone else thinks I want them and the game seems to struggle with normal no responses
Hmm... I would disagree with that. You can just say no and everyone is ok with that. Not sure why you can't find normal No responses 🤔
@@resonatinglo I said struggle , there not many, it used to be soo bad aswell it was yes. And fuck you ew never.
Now its getting better but there's still some normal rejections that are hidden behind having to do at least one thing with the companion which is weird I'm hoping that's just a bug Gales got fixed because so many people complained , I am hoping my next attempt all companions have very normal sorry but no responses without the heartbroken looks
I wanna give him the world- I know I should be his friend and just let him overcome his trauma but the romance option is too hard to not go with
Yep, so True! 😊
*Being a drow yourself* : "Wow Astarion, did you you just dropped the hard W on me? I think it's best if we stay friends..."
🙈
I want an ending where you complete Act 2 and he comes up and says "I needed a friend, but I also want you as more than a friend. I want us," and you can pick up the romance if you would like. I didn't enjoy the factor of being used, but I wish for something where we come to terms with each of the other's deeds and Astarion trusts you more after. 😊
It's a monumental movement of his own and can be the second decision he makes in the game to move past the trauma of forced romance. It would be his decision to continue. I felt like I was forcing a relationship because he says, "I did this because I came to need you and then I grew attached," or something like that.
I felt like I was psychologically scarring him into a dependent relationship which forced him to feel trapped. 😢
I want him to be my friend and my lover. We can build through it in Act 2, when we help him with his scars, if we don't, he loses trust in us and decides he doesn't want a relationship with someone who won't support him. Which becomes another bedrock of him moving forward in his trauma. I felt as if I was forcing him to be my lover where he liked the actual idea of a friend more.
He still doesn't choose sex for a while as he is moving past trauma of denying himself self-respect and your character can help him through by saying, "I care about you, not about sex with you," or "Our little rumps were fun, but not needed," or "I still want to have sex with you," and a couple of other special class and species options with it. Like a LLolth drow can be like "You are mine, I get to choose whether we have sex or not!" and an acolyte lifestyle can be, "I have abstained for years, my love does not come with copulation."
This can be a fun little thing to change the ending. If you Ascend him and force him, and then choose to not let him bite you, he will force your decisions and drain you in sleep, not killing you, but changing you anyways. Then he comes back at the end, Your Tav laying in the bed and you wake up with your lover dead and him laying there, like, "Hello my sweet," and the narrator is like *You feel drawn to love him no matter your emotions for your past lover as you both leave to your forced future in chains.*
If you don't ascend him and force him, he still remains grateful or however the decision was made, and chooses his words and actions more carefully. Like if he's angry and distrustful and forced, "I should of chose to end it when you did. I couldn't stomach you like them in the past any longer!"
Or, good ending, "I want to be with you, however you'll have me, but I want to have... us."
I agree. We should have the options to continue/ pick up any romance from later than act 1-2. Maybe we were his friend and then defeated Cazador for him and helped him be a better person... why not be able to start the romance there, might as well as we will have much higher approval there as well.
I agree with you so much!
@@resonatinglo I know. I feel like I'm backing him in a corner when I say "I care about you."
I want it to be his decision, and his decision can be: "Let's start over, I'm Astarion and a vampire spawn of Cazador, and I have fallen for your mischievous little self." And he tries to pick up the manipulation if you chose the bad ending with all the wrong things.
Or, "I'm Astarion. I'm a vampire spawn who has fallen for one of my friends. Their kind, caring, naive, stubborn, and strong, (this changes to troubled by their own mind, scarred, and trauma's of their own, but they were selfless as they chose to care for mine and others (if good durge) problems.)They were more caring for me more than anyone has ever been. However, in my fear, I manipulated them wrongly, in my own haste for a safe place. They told me that I need a friend when they figured out my schemes, and I liked the idea as I never had a friend. But watching as they helped me, cared for me, and watched me with longing with the same eyes I gave them, I, then, knew I had fallen for them. And them... they wanted to let me choose what I wanted for the first time. And all I could think was and I just wanted whatever they would offer me. Be it friendship or something more. And now, I-I want it to be us... I love you."
I'm a bit of a dreaming romantic, but my heart and guilt would be absolved and fulfilled by this. You would know your ending before it even happens and it actually becomes a bad ending as he treats you like an object in which he forces you to obey him, the consequences of your actions.
@@katelynnhueston7825 Listen, many times I remind this to the people here in my comments. This is a single player game and guild has no place in it. First NO ONE will know what you do in your own game, you can do whatever you like without feeling guilty or being judged. Second, you can always see the result and then reload.
Often when I was playing actively, I would play rolling with one decision and if I really didn't feel it, I would reload up to that conversation and choose differently and roll with that. It is NOT a time wasted or anything like that, because you are still playing this amazing game and having fun.
I have seen all possible endings, all possible dark urges and all possible Astarion variations mostly with reloading back to act 2 if I have to, even to act 1 first romance scene by the tree if I want to see something different. It's amazing.
@@resonatinglo I know. I'm not trying to shame people. I don't have the backbone to go through a bad dark urge playthrough. You can blame Halsin... I see that sweet honey loving bear and I turn into a puddle of sweet pudding. Good thing you can still recruit the beautiful hard hearted but sweet Drow!
@@katelynnhueston7825 But why is Halsin stopping you from being Dark Urge. You can be an amazing good helping Dark urge with no problem at all. And Astarion will love it as well and give you the unique dialog only for resist durge that few get naturally
Astarion wins award for sweetest friendzone ever, no contest 💯
One can say that... he admits he is falling for Tav and Tav friend-zones him... for his sake...
It’s so weird to see my PC’s face and hairstyle used on another person’s character. 😅 Different colors, scars, jewelry, makeup, etc., but still the same base look. Odd how they didn’t include the ability to change the facial features like most RPGs do.
I agree. I would like either more face options or at least to be able to change the features like lips, nose etc. 🌹
Can a romance still grow after this? Like whenever he's ready?
No. Here you friendzone him. The romance stays if you choose the other ones with giving him time or just caring for him
I never got this scene cause of that +2 strength modifier 😭
well you can get it and then go to the drow and get +2 anyway... if you want it, you can have best of both worlds
I ofc chose this option because it's the healthiest for him... But oh boy was I ever salty about it 😂 it took forever to build up approval with him, and with how sexualized he his by the fandom it took me so off guard that this was the reality 🤦🏻♀️
This was on my first campaign and I had no idea that I have to "romance" him, so I just chose the friend option and finished this campaign like that
I'm curious if anyone can answer, is there anyway we don't have to romance him right at the beginning, but still get character development with him? I don't really want to do that first intimate scene, but it seems required.
His story progresses no matter if you romance him or not. As long as you have him in your party, you will see most of his story.
Of course as with all the characters if you romance them, there are more scenes and dialogs. But you dont have to!
Also you can get his approval but refuse the sex! I'm sure that he will apreciate it and you will see some new dialogs and scenes.
But the overall vampire story is there, no matter what 😇🖤
Yeah, I did my first playthrough not romancing him, and you still get a lot of the cool scenes. Like you still get a version of this scene after Araj, but instead of focusing on what Tav did for him, he's being more introspective and thinking about why he didn't just do it, which was almost more interesting than the romance scene. Honestly a big Friendstarion fan.
so if you pick this option, that's it? He's just your mate afterwards?
Yes, It breaks my heart but I think it's better for him! (If I have to roleplay it)
The morning after this scene, Shadowheart came to me and said she want's to move things with her further) , So I think the other companions know and hear "somehow" what is happening in their camp...
In any case, if you get there, let me know what happens if you choose the first option and stay in the relationship 🖤
See, this is what I'm aiming for - for my tav to be Astarion's friend, not his lover.
I'm really hoping this scene can be obtained without having to sleep with him, first.
It can not unfortunately... You need to fall in his web of manipulation and "tactical lies" so he can realise that you are actually a normal good person with good intentions about him and not the "next victim" for him...
So you need to let him take you to the forest first so you can get this scene🌲🔥🌲🧛♂️🖤
@@resonatinglo whelp - my tav will forever be denied this hug because I can't bring myself to have her be with anyone on an intimate level other than Gale, and she isn't about to hurt the wizard just to befriend a vampire - which sucks (no pun intended).
@@madamefluffy4788 Hahaha! You have the absolute right to do so. Gale is amazing and his arc and romance also! Don't give it up... for a hug...
If you ever want to explore the Astarion romance you can always make a new campaign with the idea of going for Astarion and take your time there
My character didn't romance him but chose something like "it's sad to hear you talk about yourself like that" and got the option to comfort him.
@@gana511Unless it's been changed since, I'm pretty sure I replied with that response and never got the option to comfort/hug him.
Love both paths (romance and friendship) so much.
But honestly, if you're planning on going the friendship path, I'd advise people to trigger this version of the confession rather than the other. Why? To be fair, as important as it still is, this version feels more... situational than the post-Yurgir one.
He dwells on and expresses his own feelings after the event with Araj, he seeks comfort from a person he trusts - but there's hardly any emphasis on his romantic feelings towards Tav/the PC.
The post-Yurgir one is very romantic in its nature imo, so saying "let's just be friends instead", actually feels kind of... harsh.
He's talking like his own feelings have been eating at him for quite a bit. He bears a lot of guilt, knowing that he's wronged this person that's been decent towards him and that he's also started to have real feelings for. He just decides that it's time to face the music, even though he's clearly scared of being hated by them after they get to hear his truth.
First and foremost, Astarion wants feel safe and free, so he's motivated by building allyships and defeating Cazador. Afterwards, I'd actually say that he's motivated by love, in whatever form that comes. Of course he's never going to say no to friendship when it's offered, it's still love. I however think that Astarion is still a hopeless romantic at heart, and that part of him kind of surfaces in either paths.
At the epilogue, if "friendzoned", I believe he has dialogue in which he admits he'd thought about how it would've been like if him and the PC were to still be involved. If on a pure friendship route, i believe he expresses that he would've liked to have shared his time with a partner of his own? He wants to be trusted and to trust back, to be loved and to love back.
If it's not Tav that is his partner, then he'd probably still hold onto the idea to find another partner one day.
If I had the choice I would choose romance... but friendship is there because this is how it should work... people should have a choice and not be forced into anything even by games 🤷♀
@@resonatinglo Absolutely! Just like in any other context of the game. At the end of the day, play however you want, that's why it's an RPG
I was kind of just giving my two cents on the matter also in the hopes that some others would agree/see what I mean.
Astarion's a very nuanced character anyway, I'm not saying how I see him is set in stone. A lot of it is left to interpretation/headcanon as well
But this is how I'd intrepet it and how I'd advise people who'd agree/have similar thoughts anyway
im assuming this is the witcher? once im done with the first two games ill defo be his friend this is very sweet
Uuuhhm, sure. Have fun with the first two games. They are a bit old at this point, but still nice.
And for the record, this is Baldur's gate 3, not the Witcher 3... or I didn't understand the question and it was some sort of comparison between the Witcher Gerald and Astarion 🤪
right i assumed cos of the curser it looks just the same as in the witcher oopies lol still knowing me ill probs play this game too
@@resonatinglo
I wonder what would happen if romanced Tav died, after hearing him say he's had a parade of lovers.
200 years is a long long long time , don't forget that... Our Tav is merely probably less than 50? 80 if an elf...
@@resonatinglo I just mean because it has been 200 years, if he'd want to quit after dating Tav. Unless they have some dhampir in their future.. 👀
then he wouldn't feel so lonely.
Do you use a mod for your character? Theyre so.. beautiful
Thank you! No, I play un-modded because I play a lot of multiplayer also with other people and I haven't used mods yet. It's one of the normal faces with one of the normal hairs , nothing unique, yet she looks neat and simple and beautiful... it's the eyes 😇
I love to torment him. I dont know why but he reminds me of my bf. Hes cheeky mostly like him. And i torture Astarion mostly in game for that xD
Cherish those moments. Sounds so sweet. 🖤
@@resonatinglo I do and thanks. He doesnt like him but even he says stop torturing him, hes had enough xD
@@ladyselin35 aww 🖤🔥🌹
So if you choose this option it's the end of romance with Astarion? Just friends, that's it?
Yep, it ends the romance and he is just like the rest of the companions but with a higher approval.
@@resonatinglo I see, thanks.
Ok so I was originally romancing Shart but slept with him once and I opted to tell him that he needs a friend rather than lover… did this mean I ended it with Astarion so I could keep romancing Shart?
Not sure how the other characters react to this narrative. I thought after saying "I will be a friend" , that I would be able to romance others, but the game doesn't allow it at this point if you are not deep into the relationship with the other person. Not sure honestly. I haven't done it yet. Only ever had one romanced partner.
why is BG3 so expensive ToT, didnt understand the fuss about him a first but now I get it
The more I play it, the more I get it... and when you are 200-300 hours in , your mind is blown away, cuz you still find new things, new conversations, new hidden items... I am at 550+ hours and last night I found something new in the game... I'd never thought to do and I did it and I was amazed... So... Yes... expensive you say... 😋
@@resonatinglo 500 hours?! oh man, I gues it IS worth every penny 😂😅 i'm not even a dnd fan, never really wanted to try it, but although the game is very appealing the complexity of the story and gameplay is a bit scary lol.
still, I think I would like to play it one day, at least for astarion who at this point is a very strong argument!
@@heavenm0nst3r Haha, I agree !
I wish you could still choose this option and end up romancing him later anyways, it feels manipulative in this moment to tell him you care, regardless of whether or not you actually do, because he just explained how he's had so much trauma with forced relationships, but it's obvious later in the game if you continue the romance that he does appreciate the relationship. I just wish there could be a second cutscene in act 3 or something where he's like "I know we said we're friends but I think I have real feelings for you" or something
aww, that would be lovely indeed... but in another life...
How friendship would affect his epilogue? Have you tried it?
I always romance both Astarion and Halsin. I'm a tad disappointed that although I've romanced both, the epilogue Halsin was starved for hugs and affection and there was no indication that my Tav spent time with him. I would prefer to have them both by my side.
I have never romanced Halsin and still he gave me a hug. As far as I know with Astarion. I have 4 endings so far, I have seen what is without a relationship (so just friends) but still high approval, cuz I think by the end of the game all your companions, at least if you keep them in the party, have high approval.
So "just friends" spawn Astarion is same as my video from last week - "Breaking up with Astarion just before the party".
Apparently it does not matter if you will say you are just friends in act 2 or at the end, the last dialog is the same.
For the other 3 I have them as well in videos. Romanced Spawn and romanced Ascended and non-romanced ascended.
The only thing that I am not sure what the dialog would be if you have no approval or keep it below 10... which for me is hard to do 😅
Wow. How did you get to this dialogue?
No idea 😄 it's all normal progression for me.. first time dealing with Astarion 😁
You have to sleep with him during Act 1 (i.e. at the party and/or before, if your Approval is high enough that he propositions you beforehand), and in Act 2, you have to interact with a female drow at Moonrise Towers called Araj Oblodra, who'll try to coerce Astarion into biting her. If you stand up for Astarion and tell him he doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to, this dialogue will trigger at next Long Rest.
@@Stibbian I got his approval very late in the Underdark at the end of the Grimforge... I guess that's still counted as act 1...
@@resonatinglo yeah, act 2 begins when you enter shadow-cursed lands. you might even be able to trigger the scene if you travel back to an act 1 area to camp after act 2 starts, I've heard some ppl have done that
@@Stibbian Right... act 1 is so long and kinda divided by 3 that I always get confused 😇😊
I like the friend option but I wanted to ask, do you get this confession if you don’t sleep with him at all? Can you turn him down for bone throwing but stand up for him with the Drow?
I’m just imagining how that would throw him, he’s keeps getting turned down for what he believes is his only useful trait but they still stand up for him, why? Poor guy
I don't think that this conversation comes up if you don't romance him. I am trying it on my next campaign and will post vids of the differences, but the whole conversation is how he wanted to manipulate Tav so they can protect him and then fell in love with Tav... if you are not romanced, this conversation is impossible... I will try to play it and let you know!
Can you still romance him after i called him my friend?
I don't know. I should think you can't. But last night I got there again on my next playthrough and as I have seen most of the romance options already. I actually saved the game as him being my friend. So we shall see. I am planning to play like that now and see if there will be more opportunities for hugs 🌹
Sad that the friendships in the game are undeveloped compared to the romances :(
Yep, true... but also... besides them calling you their best friend and killing people for you... what else do you expect from your friends?
I mean as far as special dialogue and such. The friendship is the less fleshed out option in game compared to the romance. For example in Dragon Age: Origins there was a scene where Morrigan said you were like a sister to her and I loved it so much T_T
After you enter friend zone with Astarion, are you stuck there?
Yes!!! YES!!! Don't click if you are not sure... if you want to explore the romance and have different banter from him, keep it. If you want to be just his friend, then after this option he becomes like all the others, normal companion, normal lines, nothing special, he doesn't even remember what we have had!!! It kinda deletes the romance and he goes back to a default Astarion!
wait if you choose this option he wont be a romance option anymore?
No, I played maybe 40-50 hours with him as a friend, which just makes him a "normal character" without any interesting interactions and then people started commenting on my videos that the romance is better and amazing and worth it , so then I went deep into it and now I have 200 hours of a playthrough with Astarion as a romance only , but reloading back to see all his sides
I don't have much experience, but honestly, it makes me feel so weird, the whole friend > lover thing, as if love doesn't require being very close friends. Do people just bang each other mindlessly? That's "lovers"? I want to think not
I think they mean it "lover" because technically they know eachother only a few days... max a week... how many long rests do we do in act 1... a few, so that's a few days... I don't think that such a deep deep love (feelings) can be formed, but you can be lover to someone and like them right ... maybe.. that;s how I understand it anyway
Most of the time when I've heard the word "lover" used to describe a person it's a somewhat euphemistic way to say, "sex partner." Maybe there are feelings involved, but there don't have to be. I agree that it's strange, though.
@@resonatinglo I agree that so little time is given in the game and the apocalypse is near, but since he says he would love a friend and takes our hand, I assume we're good friends by now and the further the better, so why not do this and the romantic thing simultaneously, imo
@@Luv2sing836 It's actually so heartbreaking when you think of the usual "lover" semantics and remember what he actually had going on and still refers to it like that. "I had thousands of lovers", - man, you were practically being raped and dissosiated from it most of the time
@@dearhandel True, true... I wanted to see literally everything related to him so I reloaded my save a few times back to here and continued the game in the other direction each time.
Now I am playing as him so I can see those beautiful Pale pixels all the time 🌹
Can you still romance him after saying to be his friend?
If you pick this option, NO. You can't romance him at all. He just becomes a regular camp member with exceptional approval of you! You need the first option! If you care about him!