How Old Is Everyone?

[Wes]

After finding out that Laezel is the youngest in the party so far,, it made me want to create this topic regarding the age of our companions.

Below were my original guesses, even if I was totally off about Laezel at the time. I also doubt any companion will be under the age of 18 for obvious reasons. 🔞

Gale & Wyll are 30+ years old.

Shadowheart & Astarion are around 23 to 28 in human years.

I thought Laezel was the oldest,, who still dreamed of being the highest ranked soldier? 👩‍✈️ 🎖️ But she's barely old enough to get a drink in my country,, if she lived in most parts of the USA.

So that must mean Karlach is probably the same age,, or even younger than Laezel? If it's later revealed that she's 18,, imma call B.S from whoever wrote her character lol.

What are your guesses based on appearance,, personality,, etc.

[Gaius]

Gale used to be an Archmage, so I'd guess centuries old.

Astarion is a vampire spawn, so he doesn't really age - so we have no real clue.

Lae'zel acts as if she's a teenager anxious to prove she's a real warrior... so whatever age Gith are induced into military service.

Wyll is famous, but the game doesn't state how old are his exploits, so 30-40 ish I guess.

Shadowheart has a more specific time frame, at least if you believe the idea that she is Ketheric Thorm's lost daughter . In this case, she'd actually be 20-30. Alternativelly, she coukd always use disguise self all the time and be any race, sex or age.

[God Queen 158]

I'd say Lae is like age equivalent of a college grad - or trying to graduate githyanki college. 21ish.

Shadowheart and Wyll seem to be in their mid-20s. Gale could be mid-30s.

Astarion's age equivalent I see closer to Gale's because hes a magistrate and the games he plays seems more in the know than if he were younger and a novice at charm.

[wtiger27]

Originally posted by Gaius:

Gale used to be an Archmage, so I'd guess centuries old.

Astarion is a vampire spawn, so he doesn't really age - so we have no real clue.

Lae'zel acts as if she's a teenager anxious to prove she's a real warrior... so whatever age Gith are induced into military service.

Wyll is famous, but the game doesn't state how old are his exploits, so 30-40 ish I guess.

Shadowheart has a more specific time frame, at least if you believe the idea that she is Ketheric Thorm's lost daughter . In this case, she'd actually be 20-30. Alternativelly, she coukd always use disguise self all the time and be any race, sex or age.

This sounds the most logical.

[Yojo0o]

I don't think it necessarily follows that an archmage MUST be centuries old. A skilled human or individual with a human's lifespan can still achieve that title within their lifetime, and being a powerful mage doesn't itself extend one's life.

Lae'zel is reasonably young as a Gith, though it's worth noting that life in the Astral Plane will involve time moving weirdly or pausing altogether. She could be twenty years old, but born centuries ago by Faerun time.

[Clovis Sangrail]

Speaking as a geezer -- We need more geezers. Why des everyone have to look like 20-somethings.

This includes player character. No matter which head you choose, they all look like ♥♥♥♥♥♥ millennials. I can make my characters bald or half bald or give them long flowing locks, but their faces are still so young, I just want to punch them.

I don't give a crap about half-elves or other half-types. but BG3 discriminates against geezers. (Although to discriminate, you have to acknowledge its existence, which BG3 does not.)

GLM -- Geezer Lives Matter.

[Gaius]

Originally posted by Clovis Sangrail:

Speaking as a geezer -- We need more geezers. Why des everyone have to look like 20-somethings.

This includes player character. No matter which head you choose, they all look like ♥♥♥♥♥♥ millennials. I can make my characters bald or half bald or give them long flowing locks, but their faces are still so young, I just want to punch them.

I don't give a crap about half-elves or other half-types. but BG3 discriminates against geezers. (Although to discriminate, you have to acknowledge its existence, which BG3 does not.)

GLM -- Geezer Lives Matter.

Franly I do prefer - by a large margin - casters who look old and experienced. There's a reason Gandalf and Saruman were not played by teenagers. Unfortunately customization for cool, old looking humans (and humanoids in general) if often not a priority in videogames.

[Moon Goose]

Originally posted by Yojo0o:

Lae'zel is reasonably young as a Gith, though it's worth noting that life in the Astral Plane will involve time moving weirdly or pausing altogether. She could be twenty years old, but born centuries ago by Faerun time.

Lae'zel is not centuries old. While it's true that time doesn't flow on the Astral Plane, any time you do spend on the Astral Plane will have to be paid back when you get back to normal time. Meaning that if Lae'zel was centuries old she would age centuries in a matter of minutes after stepping onto the Material Plane. Exactly this happens to a Githyanki in Neverwinter Nights 2 in fact. That's also the reason why Githyanki keep outposts on other planes, they couldn't breed a new generations on the Astral.

The Githyanki capital however is located on the Astral Plane, but for the most part the only permanent residents are the undead servants of the lich queen Vlaakith. Primarily because Vlaakith kills any Githyanki that becomes too powerful and raises them as undead under her control to prevent anyone from ever challenging her rule. This is a secret is suspect will play into Lae'zel's storyline. Will she remain loyal when she finds out?

[Yojo0o]

Originally posted by Moon Goose:

Originally posted by Yojo0o:

Lae'zel is reasonably young as a Gith, though it's worth noting that life in the Astral Plane will involve time moving weirdly or pausing altogether. She could be twenty years old, but born centuries ago by Faerun time.

Lae'zel is not centuries old. While it's true that time doesn't flow on the Astral Plane, any time you do spend on the Astral Plane will have to be paid back when you get back to normal time. Meaning that if Lae'zel was centuries old she would age centuries in a matter of minutes after stepping onto the Material Plane. Exactly this happens to a Githyanki in Neverwinter Nights 2 in fact. That's also the reason why Githyanki keep outposts on other planes, they couldn't breed a new generations on the Astral.

The Githyanki capital however is located on the Astral Plane, but for the most part the only permanent residents are the undead servants of the lich queen Vlaakith. Primarily because Vlaakith kills any Githyanki that becomes too powerful and raises them as undead under her control to prevent anyone from ever challenging her rule. This is a secret is suspect will play into Lae'zel's storyline. Will she remain loyal when she finds out?

I thought it was the opposite? The Githyanki outposts allow for their kids to grow up naturally, but I haven't read that there's a "catch up" process in doing so. The Astral Drifter background in 5e conveys an extra 20d6 years of age that isn't reflected on the character's appearance due to time spent in the Astral Sea.

Given how long Githyanki and Githzerai spend in the Astral Sea without any sort of otherwise extended lifespan, a "catch up" system would dust the majority of them if they ever stepped foot in the Prime Material Plane or similar.

[God Queen 158]

If you talk to Lae'zel after one of the tadpole dreams she will tell you she has yet to go to Tu'narath - and has not yet passed her rite of passage, which is to collect a mindflayer head. She also says this to Gale in ambient dialogue.

She most likely was snapped up from her creche which is in the material plane and has aged normally. She most likely has not step foot in the astral.

Edit: Correction, she does describe besieging a neogi spelljammer, so she's probably participated in drills and raids. But not enough to make her centuries old - maturity for gith is supposed to be around 18 like humans.

[Moon Goose]

Originally posted by Yojo0o:

I thought it was the opposite? The Githyanki outposts allow for their kids to grow up naturally, but I haven't read that there's a "catch up" process in doing so. The Astral Drifter background in 5e conveys an extra 20d6 years of age that isn't reflected on the character's appearance due to time spent in the Astral Sea.

Given how long Githyanki and Githzerai spend in the Astral Sea without any sort of otherwise extended lifespan, a "catch up" system would dust the majority of them if they ever stepped foot in the Prime Material Plane or similar.

That Astral Drifter background is poorly thought out and conflicts with established lore, theoretically you could be over 120 years old and still a first level character.

There is indeed a catch-up, read about the Astral Plane on the Forgotten Realms wiki. https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Astral_Plane

Originally posted by Forgotten Realms Wiki:

Timeless: the effects of time were suspended until the traveler exited the Astral Plane, whereupon the effects retroactively occurred.

And again as seen in Neverwinter Nights 2, spending extended amounts of time on the Astral Plane does eventually become a problem which eventually forces Githyanki who spend too much time there to remain permanently because of the accumulated time they have to pay back.

Incidentally, the Githzerai do not live on the Astral Plane, they live in the chaotic plane of Limbo where only their incredible discipline born from the teachings of Zerthimon allow them to survive.

[wtiger27]

Originally posted by Clovis Sangrail:

Speaking as a geezer -- We need more geezers. Why des everyone have to look like 20-somethings.

This includes player character. No matter which head you choose, they all look like ♥♥♥♥♥♥ millennials. I can make my characters bald or half bald or give them long flowing locks, but their faces are still so young, I just want to punch them.

I don't give a crap about half-elves or other half-types. but BG3 discriminates against geezers. (Although to discriminate, you have to acknowledge its existence, which BG3 does not.)

GLM -- Geezer Lives Matter.

Good point. That is why they need to add scars, wrinkles and aging to the char creation. Every custom model, seems to have lived a life of leisure and never experienced any rough fighting. Or lived a life as a model for makeup.

[Yojo0o]

Originally posted by Moon Goose:

Originally posted by Yojo0o:

I thought it was the opposite? The Githyanki outposts allow for their kids to grow up naturally, but I haven't read that there's a "catch up" process in doing so. The Astral Drifter background in 5e conveys an extra 20d6 years of age that isn't reflected on the character's appearance due to time spent in the Astral Sea.

Given how long Githyanki and Githzerai spend in the Astral Sea without any sort of otherwise extended lifespan, a "catch up" system would dust the majority of them if they ever stepped foot in the Prime Material Plane or similar.

That Astral Drifter background is poorly thought out and conflicts with established lore, theoretically you could be over 120 years old and still a first level character.

There is indeed a catch-up, read about the Astral Plane on the Forgotten Realms wiki. https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Astral_Plane

Originally posted by Forgotten Realms Wiki:

Timeless: the effects of time were suspended until the traveler exited the Astral Plane, whereupon the effects retroactively occurred.

And again as seen in Neverwinter Nights 2, spending extended amounts of time on the Astral Plane does eventually become a problem which eventually forces Githyanki who spend too much time there to remain permanently because of the accumulated time they have to pay back.

Incidentally, the Githzerai do not live on the Astral Plane, they live in the chaotic plane of Limbo where only their incredible discipline born from the teachings of Zerthimon allow them to survive.

Fair enough, appreciate you taking the time to explain all this to me!

[GrandMajora]

I would say it's reasonable to assume that Astarion is somewhere in the ballpark of 300 years old at least.

1 - It takes roughly 100 years for an elf to finally be recognized as a mature adult within their society.

2 - I believe Astarion reveals that he became a vampire spawn 200 years ago.

So unless his master found him before he went through whatever passes for elvish manhood rites, he should be about 3 centuries old.

[Wes]

Originally posted by God Queen 158:

I'd say Lae is like age equivalent of a college grad - or trying to graduate githyanki college. 21ish.

Just so you know,, her official age is around 21 and 22? I guess her creator couldn't decide,, so she's somewhere in the middle instead lol.

Originally posted by God Queen 158:

Wyll seem to be in their mid-20s.

The official artwork from both Wotc & Larian don't make Wyll look like someone in their mid twenties.

Maybe its the scars & skin color that's deceiving me. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2963916675

Originally posted by Clovis Sangrail:

Speaking as a geezer -- We need more geezers. Why does everyone have to look like 20-somethings. This includes player character.

You should make a topic about it,, just like how I made one for the female equivalent of a geezer. https://steamcommunity.com/app/1086940/discussions/0/3552805589765950892

Who knows maybe Larian will notice,, & make sure we both get what we want. 👵🥰👴

Originally posted by Gaius:

Wyll is famous, but the game doesn't state how old are his exploits, so 30-40 ish I guess.

He definitely still looks 30 ish to me,, or even possibly 40 already.

Originally posted by Gaius:

Unfortunately customization for cool, old looking humans (and humanoids in general) if often not a priority in videogames.

Over 20% of old people in America play video games,, & it's only growing even higher as future generations of "geezers" grow up with that sort of entertainment.

So my guess is that after it hits 50% in most parts of the world,, that's when will start seeing companies try to show representation for them? Or else that's a missed opportunity,, where they are sitting on a goldmine without realizing it. 💰🧓

Originally posted by Clovis Sangrail:

GLM -- Geezer Lives Matter.

https://youtu.be/EjgHCIwh9-U

[Tempest]

I'd agree that Asterion is somewhere north of 300, possibly closer to 400 given he was already an adult and respected, wealthy and/or connected enough to be a Magistrate before he was turned, which was 200 years ago.

I've got Gale at around 35-40. He's clearly learned, and while he may have been a prodigy, he's got something of a 'been there, seen that' vibe.

Wyll is late 20s. Based on his stated backstory, I'm guessing he wasn't shipped off to the Flaming Fists the moment he turned 18, so probably closer to 20 there. Then he flailed around in that organization for a two to three years being a hindrance until the day of the cyclops saw (ha) him find his true calling. Then he'd have to have been going out and finding acts of daring and heroism around Baldur's Gate and the surroundings for long enough that his name was known well enough for the trusted right hand of the Grand Duke to know it from memory. Call it five years or so. So, what, 28-ish? Sounds right.

Shadowheart is a hard call. She's got that half-elf thing going for her, which could mean she's somewhat older than she looks. But there's something about the way she discusses Shar that, honestly, has the feel of naivete to me. Or maybe that's she's trying just a little too hard. That could be explained by her pre-mission constraint, however, so, again, hard to say. If I go by my feelings on her behavior, I'd say 23 to 25-ish. If we go with the whole half-elf thing, she could be 40 and you couldn't tell.

Lae'zel has late teen/early 20 written all over her. Not only does she walk around with a palpable "You're not my dad, and I'm better than you" attitude that oozes a lack of maturity, but the Githyanki knight literally calls her a child. I didn't get the feeling that was just a casual insult, but rather a direct calling out of the differences in their experience to put her in her place. Which worked exactly as well as it does on human teenagers, so not at all.

"That's just my opinion, though, no need to go spreading it around."