How the hell do you romance Astarion?

[GrandMajora]

I can't figure out how to get in this guy's good graces. I know that he's evil, clearly, as he seems to take pleasure in us inflicting pain and suffering upon other people. But beyond that, I can't tell what will earn his approval and what will tick him off.

I thought that trying to get him to open up his feelings and allow himself to be more sensitive towards me was the way to go. But that seems to actually make him angrier. From what I've been able to figure out, he seems to want me to lie directly to his face. Appealing to his already over inflated sense of ego and vanity.

Which you would think he'd have reservations about, since I highly doubt his mastered told him outright he was going to be mercilessly abusive towards him when he offered to turn the guy.

[Berlin]

I don't think there is anything special to do, as long as he doesn't hate you. He always throws himself at me at the party. I don't even try. Have you killed all the Druids and Tieflings?

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by Berlin:

Have you killed all the Druids and Tieflings?

Several times, but it doesn't seem to please him enough. He keeps rejecting me, and telling me that he has standards.

I don't know how to keep him happy enough to not get turned down.

[Corridian]

1- Only Gale is more deserving of death
2- See 1 above
3- Wyll is useless, and also probably deserving of death.
4- Astarion is a trope, useless, and only marginally less deserving of death than 1 above.
Wait till you can romance the druid if you fancy guys.
5- See 1 above

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by Corridian:

1- Only Gale is more deserving of death
2- See 1 above
3- Wyll is useless, and also probably deserving of death.
4- Astarion is a trope, useless, and only marginally less deserving of death than 1 above.
Wait till you can romance the druid if you fancy guys.
5- See 1 above

Gale deserves death, because he will eat my precious artifacts regardless if I give him permission or not.

But when it comes to Astarion, it's not about trying to get my character to romance a guy. It's about trying to get my character to romance a vampire.

Out of all the Origin characters presented to us in the game so far, Astarion's story is the one that I am most interested in exploring. I'm curious to see if he will eventually get the chance to become a full vampire, and if so, can he finally turn people? Like, say... other members of the party?

[Corridian]

Originally posted by GrandMajora:

Originally posted by Corridian:

1- Only Gale is more deserving of death
2- See 1 above
3- Wyll is useless, and also probably deserving of death.
4- Astarion is a trope, useless, and only marginally less deserving of death than 1 above.
Wait till you can romance the druid if you fancy guys.
5- See 1 above

Gale deserves death, because he will eat my precious artifacts regardless if I give him permission or not.

But when it comes to Astarion, it's not about trying to get my character to romance a guy. It's about trying to get my character to romance a vampire.

Out of all the Origin characters presented to us in the game so far, Astarion's story is the one that I am most interested in exploring. I'm curious to see if he will eventually get the chance to become a full vampire, and if so, can he finally turn people? Like, say... other members of the party?

Fair enough, I like vampires as well. Astarion though is a f'king joke and a trope, and insulting to vampires.
Peace

[GrandMajora]

Alright, I think I've found a video that breaks it down for people like me, who are having trouble figuring it out.

https://youtu.be/vHfoV23bczM

[hungerStrike]

I dunno, but I definitely slept with him :)

[Ellorien]

I usually prefer to play as a male (drow). But since Astarion is the only companion done well in terms of voice acting and facial animations plus his back story is the only one that slightly interests me, his romance is the only one worth pursuing and that’s the main reason I now make female characters (Lolrh-sworn drow, that goes without saying).

From the RP point of view, romancing a vampire elf is the only semi-acceptable option for my drow, although I wish we could recruit that handsome what’s-his-name drow wizard (?) in the Underdark.

[Ronin Gamer]

Well he's evil, so just do selfish evil stuff and he'll likely like that and you. Also anything that gives him a chance at more power.

[SilverTraces]

From my understanding of the character, Astarion is driven by a need of self-preservation and the wish to preserve his personal freedom. As his survival is tied to the MCs, being somewhat selfish and prioritizing your (group’s) needs usually nets you approval, as does directly protecting Astarion (e.g. by killing the hunter). Similarly, things that make him personally more powerful also earn approval (e.g. acknowledging the tadpole’s power/agreeing to use it, letting Astarion drink blood).

If you actually manage to get him to open up to your character (e.g. about his Illithid dream) that usually does earn you approval in my experience, even if he sounds dismissive/sarcastic - but these approval gains are often hidden behind dice rolls, and if you fail he disapproves.

Other than that there are lots of smaller moments where you can gain approval from him, generally by playing along with him (e.g. in the conversation, when he asks how you would like to be killed should you start turning, when you have the opportunity to interrupt the ogre and the bugbear during their “personal time“,...).

[Ellorien]

The thing is quite a few cutscenes and conversations that could potentially earn his approval are hidden because you have people in your party overriding these events with their own BS.

For example, after the latest patch you are unable to trigger “how do you wish to die” scene if you recruited ANYONE else. The nightmare scene (after the third illiphid dream IIRC) won’t play if Shadowheart is in your camp. Gotta kill her first before going to bed. If you have her or Wyl in your party during the barn thing, their comments will override Astarion’s.

I do not hire anyone except Astarion until talking to the tiefling chief (approval — “I have my own problems”), visiting the prison (approval if not interfered and then responded with “I don’t care…”) and talking to Ethel (approval — tell her about your tadpole problem). By that time I get three cutscenes in the camp with him. (Keep in mind that you will miss the scenes with Gale).

Which highlights another problem with the game design — you are forced to spam long rest in order to trigger cutscenes and interact with your party.

[Ronin Gamer]

Originally posted by Ellorien:

The thing is quite a few cutscenes and conversations that could potentially earn his approval are hidden because you have people in your party overriding these events with their own BS.

For example, after the latest patch you are unable to trigger “how do you wish to die” scene if you recruited ANYONE else. The nightmare scene (after the third illiphid dream IIRC) won’t play if Shadowheart is in your camp. Gotta kill her first before going to bed. If you have her or Wyl in your party during the barn thing, their comments will override Astarion’s.

I do not hire anyone except Astarion until talking to the tiefling chief (approval — “I have my own problems”), visiting the prison (approval if not interfered and then responded with “I don’t care…”) and talking to Ethel (approval — tell her about your tadpole problem). By that time I get three cutscenes in the camp with him. (Keep in mind that you will miss the scenes with Gale).

Which highlights another problem with the game design — you are forced to spam long rest in order to trigger cutscenes and interact with your party.

I've gotten the how do you wish to die convo, stuff just doesn't always flow the same way because it depends how fast you are moving through the content, how many long rests you are taking, what things have you triggered from your progression through the main map and how many different events could that trigger.

You need to keep that in mind. I've gotten Raphael shortly after I leave the druid grove to go after Halsin, and I've also gotten it after I've done a number of things on the map and made it to the goblin camp and am inside. ♥♥♥♥ sometimes plays out differently depending on if you are speed running the map/events or taking your time.

[Ellorien]

Yeah, I know. There is a certain order. For example, after what i described, you must go recruit Lae'zel, talk to Zorru and immediately have another long rest. That would trigger the stargazing scene. Then go and find the dead boar and go sleep again (ARRRGH!!!!!!) to trigger the bite scene. Visit the halfling healer -- Raphael scene. I strongly recommend not to recruit Wyl and use your "new abilities" on him because you will get the sickness scene too soon and it will override something else.

It is a mess, frankly, and requires quite a lot of meta knowledge. I dislike how they designed party interaction and locked it behind stupid long rest mechanic. By the way, you can choose "partial rest" without using any food supplies if you just want to experience the scene.

[JuicyPaul The Man of 409+ STDS]

Be evil, Perform crime

[NoCTuRNa]

so sick of all the idiots saying you have to be evil to romance astarion. it's utter & complete bs. i've romanced him for 900 hrs so far without ever doing an evil playthrough