Patch 6 Ascended Astarion depicting DV + taking away player agency!

[Nibonette]

Edit

[Maj. Grumpy]

Take your meds. It's better for you and your loved ones to take your meds as prescribed.

[EricHVela]

Originally posted by Nibonette:

DA/SA victims

Victims of specifically dual action firearms? Is that really a thing?

OP is not going to find sympathy or support from the BG3 playerbase. This is something to take up with IRL therapy, not a video game.

[Levianne]

Originally posted by Nibonette:

...

There are always consequences. Did you know, that Astarion can drink you dry even before ascension? Yes, he can kill the Tav and while the game doesn't end with the "death" of the main character, someone in your party has to resurrect you, so yes, you die, at least there is that option and the next dialogue with Astarion can even reflect on that. The game doesn't act like it never happened, if you go that route. Most games would obviously avoid acknowledging the main character's death and just ignore it. BG3 takes it into account.
My point here is, if your topic talks about ascended Astarion, then you have the option to not go through with it. There's always options. Just like avoiding him sucking you dry the first time you allow him to feed on you. Options, that's the magic word. Crying about Larian breaking your heart for such a silly reason, well, I find it odd.

[Nibonette]

You click on "I'd like a kiss" with this companion, and suddenly you're transported into what feels like a totally out-of-place portion of someone's fanfiction where your character hates being in the relationship and is violently mistreated. All 3 of those new kisses are like that. And TBF, even fanfiction would have at least added a trigger warning first.
There are DA/SA victims (and others) affected by this in the game without even a warning and that's not right. This has been brought up to Larian more than once and no response, just getting ignored for months and months.

[Levianne]

There is a warning right at the very first launch of the game, that points you towards the menu, where you find an option to enable or disable "sensitive content". If you're that sensitive, then just turn it off. A full sex scene with Astarion is ok, but a "wilder" (more violent) kiss isn't? Again, options.

[alanc9]

Originally posted by Levianne:

Originally posted by Nibonette:

...

There are always consequences. Did you know, that Astarion can drink you dry even before ascension? Yes, he can kill the Tav and while the game doesn't end with the "death" of the main character, someone in your party has to resurrect you, so yes, you die, at least there is that option and the next dialogue with Astarion can even reflect on that.

Happened on my first run, before I learned to always keep a couple of Inspirations banked. I was actually expecting a game over when I crit failed the last chance.

[alanc9]

Originally posted by Nibonette:

You click on "I'd like a kiss" with this companion, and suddenly you're transported into what feels like a totally out-of-place portion of someone's fanfiction where your character hates being in the relationship and is violently mistreated. All 3 of those new kisses are like that. And TBF, even fanfiction would have at least added a trigger warning first.
There are DA/SA victims (and others) affected by this in the game without even a warning and that's not right. This has been brought up to Larian more than once and no response, just getting ignored for months and months.

OK, now my grade is an 8. You have to applaud when someone really commits to a bit

[Levianne]

Originally posted by alanc9:

Happened on my first run, before I learned to always keep a couple of Inspirations banked. I was actually expecting a game over when I crit failed the last chance.

I've made that choice deliberately, being curious what would happen, also expecting a game over, that didn't come. XD Same with that Mindflayer earlier, feeling compassion, giving in, sacrificing my life for it, my MC dead and a battle with a renewed squiddie bastard. XD
I just love this game.

[EricHVela]

Because I don't like that camp scene, I orchestrated Astarion to admit to what he is before that scene ever happens. (It won't happen once he's admitted to being what he obviously is.)

When he admits it while adventuring, I only wish there was an option to respond to him with, "Yeah. We know. We didn't realize you were even trying to hide it. It couldn't've been more obvious. Given how bad you are at hiding it, have you ever managed to bite a person?"

[seeker1]

You helped a person ascend to the level of ultimate abuser, and are shocked he starts behaving in abusive ways?

[Nibonette]

The romance w/Astarion was fine for like 7 months before Patch 6, when those harmful kisses were added, which take away the enjoyment rather than adding to it. One of the few additions to this game that actually made it worse not better. It was made worse for those who play that particular romance and enjoyed it (before Patch 6).

Now our Tav/Durge is making a laughably horrified face out of the blue, like they don't want the kiss, and are being forced, making it non-consensual and ridiculous. All the other parts of the romance are NOT like that. It makes no sense because either your character enjoys being in a dark romance (so you wouldn't make those horrified and sad faces) or you're an evil and strong character yourself who wouldn't make those victim faces either. Why would your character make that same shock-horror face again and again each time they ask for a kiss? Everyone gets amnesia every time?

Those kisses/facial animations of the Tav/Durge are completely out of place. All they do is hurt those who actually do play that romance route and enjoyed it before Patch 6 kisses were added.
You shouldn't have to break up with the character or reload to avoid this mistreatment. You should be able to enjoy whatever romance you choose (which you could this whole time, before patch 6 kisses).

So I can't help but feel like they're using this one romance (and only this one) to be preachy and force a narrative on this that wasn't there before. If this wasn't Larian's intention, then I'd love to know. Then they can treat this like a mistake and fix it, or they can double down on it. I just have to hope that they're not trying to teach some kind of righteous lesson to grown adults who just wanted to enjoy this romance. Just let us enjoy it, good lord.
I may have been harsh on Larian here but it's so frustrating.

The people on this forum explain this whole issue better:
https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=943758&page=1

[alanc9]

This is starting to look like genuine mental illness.

Also, that link doesn't work.

[atelier amli]

I can't read all this what's the topic about

[Levianne]

Originally posted by alanc9:

Also, that link doesn't work.

The link works, I guess, it sends you to Larian's offiicial(?) forum, but you have to be signed in, if you're a guest (like myself), it gives an error about page not found.

[Popsicles]

Snowflakes are the worst.