Tips For Using Astarion

[GrandMajora]

Tip #1: Replace his armor asap - The starting armor that Asatarion begins the game with provides disadvantage on STEALTH rolls. Which is quite unusual, seeing as how Astarion is a Rogue. As soon as you obtain a set of Leather Armor, you should swap out his beginning outfit for it, as this does not impose the stealth penalty.

Tip #2: Let Priestess Gut brand him - I usually make it a point of getting at least one person in the party branded by Priestess Gut before I try to kill her, and that person is usually Astarion, if not my main character.

The reason for this, is because getting the brand allows you to use the Gloves of Power without suffering the negative drawbacks of doing so. When worn, these gloves cause you to inflict BANE on your target when hitting them with your weapon. If you don't carry the brand, however, this also inflicts BANE upon the wearer.

[Harukage]

Tips for using Astarion. Make him a thief, get him light crossbow and a stack of posion bottles. Initiate combat with ranged poisoned sneak atack. Then go to stealth, sneak atack and restealth like crazy. Spend free bonus action on a turn you start already stealthed to drink a speed potion, or get someone off-balance with a rapier, or whatever. Easy top damage rogue.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Agree on the armor, also because it's fugly.

I typically never get branded, not because it isn't good, but I just don't like making deals with goblins or cults.

Also, everything Harukage said too, except that I typically give him Joltshooter. Astarion (or any Rogue) can easily solo most of the content in the game. I will use him to soften up all battles before they start, to scout ahead, and to pick off tough opponents with high health pools using sneak attack. Astarion is an excellent skirmisher, but he'd be better if he were a Wood Elf.

[buttawise]

I usually just shoot him before he joins because he's a vampire in the sunlight. Quite unnatural.

[Elessara]

Originally posted by byron_furmando:

I usually just shoot him before he joins because he's a vampire in the sunlight. Quite unnatural.

Well that's metagaming. =p
At that point you have no reason to suspect he's a vampire. I mean, if you shoot him on sight, how do you know anything about him other than "elf"? *gasp* That's it! You're just racist against elves, admit it!

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by byron_furmando:

I usually just shoot him before he joins because he's a vampire in the sunlight. Quite unnatural.

He's a vampire SPAWN, not a proper vampire.

There's a difference.

Said difference being that he has practically all the same weaknesses of being a vampire, but none of the benefits.

Or at least, that's how it works normally. But with the tadpole, it seems like he has neither the benefits, nor the drawbacks... aside from a need to drink blood.

[Elessara]

Originally posted by GrandMajora:

Originally posted by byron_furmando:

I usually just shoot him before he joins because he's a vampire in the sunlight. Quite unnatural.

He's a vampire SPAWN, not a proper vampire.

There's a difference.

Said difference being that he has practically all the same weaknesses of being a vampire, but none of the benefits.

Or at least, that's how it works normally. But with the tadpole, it seems like he has neither the benefits, nor the drawbacks... aside from a need to drink blood.

Running water still hurts him. Or it did the last time I did an actual playthrough (rather than just testing a few things) which was before patch 7, I think. Also, he has no reflection - which could be a drawback if you're in a room with lots of mirrors and you're trying to hide what you are.

[Kryldost]

Give him spark boots, bow and headgear. With the double dash makes him terrifying af! In one of my playthrough he got mindcontrolled in grymforge and completely destroyed me single-handedly. I also give him a rapier and dueling feat.

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by Elessara:

Running water still hurts him. Or it did the last time I did an actual playthrough (rather than just testing a few things) which was before patch 7, I think.

It no longer does. They patched it out for some reason. I assume to avoid giving out any unintentional spoilers, like when you try to get him to come with you to the owlbear cave, and he starts randomly dying in ankle deep water.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by GrandMajora:

Originally posted by Elessara:

Running water still hurts him. Or it did the last time I did an actual playthrough (rather than just testing a few things) which was before patch 7, I think.

It no longer does. They patched it out for some reason. I assume to avoid giving out any unintentional spoilers, like when you try to get him to come with you to the owlbear cave, and he starts randomly dying in ankle deep water.

It would be funny if, instead of restoring hp, eating garlic as part of your long rest actually caused Astarion damage instead - but didn't tell the player why.

[Harukage]

Honestly. Ranged Thief is so ungodly good currently, that i will probably play it myself on release. But multuclassed with ranger Hunter.

[Ronin Gamer]

Originally posted by GrandMajora:

Tip #1: Replace his armor asap - The starting armor that Asatarion begins the game with provides disadvantage on STEALTH rolls. Which is quite unusual, seeing as how Astarion is a Rogue. As soon as you obtain a set of Leather Armor, you should swap out his beginning outfit for it, as this does not impose the stealth penalty.

Tip #2: Let Priestess Gut brand him - I usually make it a point of getting at least one person in the party branded by Priestess Gut before I try to kill her, and that person is usually Astarion, if not my main character.

The reason for this, is because getting the brand allows you to use the Gloves of Power without suffering the negative drawbacks of doing so. When worn, these gloves cause you to inflict BANE on your target when hitting them with your weapon. If you don't carry the brand, however, this also inflicts BANE upon the wearer.

You do realize his starting outfit is something you'd wear if you were trying to blend in at a social gathering, not garments meant to keep you from being seen right?

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by Ronin Gamer:

You do realize his starting outfit is something you'd wear if you were trying to blend in at a social gathering, not garments meant to keep you from being seen right?

Yes, I'm aware they're meant to look fancy and represent his noble background. Doesn't change the fact they actively hinder his skills as a rogue, though.

[Ronin Gamer]

Originally posted by GrandMajora:

Originally posted by Ronin Gamer:

You do realize his starting outfit is something you'd wear if you were trying to blend in at a social gathering, not garments meant to keep you from being seen right?

Yes, I'm aware they're meant to look fancy and represent his noble background. Doesn't change the fact they actively hinder his skills as a rogue, though.

......you LITERALLY get standard leather armor BEFORE you meet him. Just swap the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ armor. Problem solved. This isn't an issue in anyway.

[Harukage]

You can get a disenchanted drow armor at Wauken's Rest, if you worry that much about stealth.

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by Ronin Gamer:

......you LITERALLY get standard leather armor BEFORE you meet him. Just swap the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ armor. Problem solved. This isn't an issue in anyway.

You seem confused, because swapping his standard armor is exactly what I told people to do.