Astarion Really Hates All of My Choices at the Circus - Act 3 Romance [ Release Version BG3 ]

[@jenni5104]

I didn't get Orin in this scene and I picked all the 'fun' answers that he actually seemed to approve of. He's rather secretive and doesn't like to open up about himself, so I felt like he'd be upset with me if I divulged his inner most secrets to some random chick. Thankfully, I went with that hunch otherwise it would've broken my heart when he then feels betrayed. Edit: Just to add, he already knows how well you know him, so I think he approves when you give the false, funny answers (gore, revenge, nail/fear him) because he knows you're protecting him from being made vulnerable in front of a stranger. I believe he went a along with the game in the first place just because he loves you and wants to make you happy even though he thinks it's all a bit silly. I think he's also happy to be named as the one you love in public.

[@Dragoness19]

Agreed

[@elishajones1286]

@@Dragoness19 I found that if his approval is 100, you don't get notifications for things he approves of.

[@SusanChan]

perfectly summarized c:

[@Dragoness19]

@elishajones1286 I like that you can get max approval and still make choices that he doesn't necessarily agree with, cuz I typically like to play chaotic good

[@dmsviola1]

I also think it's cool how you basically fail if you choose the answers like "look at that smile," because not knowing him at all is worse than knowing him too well.

[@queengalaxia1339]

I actually thought this scene was brilliant once I saw all the reactions. His entire facade is how he protects himself, and you're the only one he's been vulnerable enough with to see what's behind it, and because someone else is there, he needs you to protect him by maintaining that facade in front of that stranger. Hence, why the "freedom" answer he says "You're not wrong, but do we need to tell every stranger we meet our business?". It's not that the answer is incorrect, it's just that you're the only one in the world he wants to know those things about him and I love him all the more for it!

[@jooheonshoneybal]

My exact thoughts, thank you!!!

[@ByakuyaPriss]

I thought that way too when I reached this part. He knows that you know him well already. After all, he opened up with you and talked about his deepest fears and desires. I believe the thing here is showing that you know him enough to not talk about those things in front of others. I believe he sees the fact of you talking about his stuff where others can hear it as a form of betrayal. You see that also when you two talk about his scars, right after your liason at night. You can offer to talk about it with your other party members because there are people who can read infernal there, and he says that he prefers to keep it between you two. He could have gone the easy way and talked with Karlach, maybe. But he actually thinks it is best to go after Raphael, just so other people won't see or know about his vulnerabilities.

[@MarieCurtis92]

In Astarion's defense, I too would be horrified to have my personal business/feelings dragged out in public, but then again I'm just a very private person. I haven't seen anyone do this scene with Lae'zel yet, but I'd assume she might also like Tav to be a little more discreet.

[@DragonflameWolfpaw]

My partner did this with Lae'Zel and she prefers brutal honesty in all things. She is proud of who she is and having a stranger know those parts of herself doesn't seem to bother her at all.

[@ivylilybasket]

Yeah it's kinda like inviting your date for the first time to meet your mom and your mom pulls some baby pictures of you when you vomited all over yourself. Thanks for the honesty, mom.

[@TheRockhound119]

No. Lae'zel definitely does not prefer one to be discreet. She prefers brutal honesty.

[@t-vo6443]

This reminds me of some advice on Astarion I saw years back "Be respectful of his feelings, but don't try to make him feel."

[@thelasthunt3r]

I kinda get why he desaproves the more truthful answers. Sure, they may be more accurate, but as he said there's no need to dwell in that deep revelations in front of a stranger It took him a lot to open up to Tav and he's still putting up walls when it comes to other people

[@giordanabarros3358]

Yea I kinda felt special about that like he trusts only me 🥰

[@melissaherrera4065]

Yeah, and being honest who would like all their vulnerabilities out in the open with a complete stranger? He has the right to be upset.

[@giordanabarros3358]

I don't think that the approval answers were lies, they are just a bit less true than the other options, I love how he is always joking trying to hide the pain inside and I like playing his games and joking around w him like we have our own language just love it

[@Max-rr6jl]

Yeah its like just supporting him and his feelings, you are showing him you really do care for him, when you tell the truth he is uncomfy, wich no matter how true the answers are you shouldn’t be saying your partners deepest traumas on some random circus

[@jyntonic]

Fascinating finding out how differently we all read BG3 characters! For me, I got this scene with Orin which depends on several factors including how many times she's popped up before (she can be a guard, journalist, and blacksmith too). I had the sense that Astarion and Tav have a relationship built on boundaries and given how hard it was for him to open up to Tav I didn't think he'd appreciate the options that reveal his deepest truths publicly. AND the fact that it's Orin in this case actually made it feel really great because it was more like Astarion and Tav played her and wasted her time by not allowing her anywhere near the heart of their relationship. That was my playthrough :)

[@sharlayanarchon]

If I may - I can certainly feel your chagrin at having a less than candid moment with Astarion, but I think you hit it on the head when you said that he wouldn’t like such candour in front of a perfect stranger. By saying what he WANTS to hear, you not only prove that you know him, it’s a little private wink between you two, like a laugh at the sappy druid behind her back. Please don’t be discouraged, darling! You gave the right responses both times. In Astarion’s mind, this just wasn’t the moment for candour!

[@ohhello937]

You can't expect him to be "fixed" just because Tav is dating him now. He's only real with you because it's you. He's not suddenly comfortable with dishing out his personal info to strangers just because he's in a relationship. Telling a stranger that he's never been happy seems kind of cruel whether true or not. No one would like their partner to tell a stranger that. The quiz makes sense? He's likely agreed to it because Tav asked and he's never been with anyone to take a love quiz especially someone proud to publicly claim him.

[@isasanaphim7388]

If you pick the “being a slave” as his deepest fear you get a really interesting answer. He seems a bit miffed at first but there’s no disapproval. The dryad then tells him that people who truly love you will say the truth, and even though it’s hard to hear, to basically stop avoiding the truth. And he meets you in the middle saying you were right every time as well. It’s very deep and meaningful feeling.

[@chaos9059]

When Zethino asks "what does Astarion desire more than anything". If you choose the answer "me". Astarion says " I wouldn't mind some gory revenge, but that was an adorable answer ". This answer gives you two approval points . If you pick "revenge " as the answer. It's only worth one point.

[@TF2CrunchyFrog]

3:34 Oh my, Astarion's facial expression while the dryad is going on and on about exposing his _deepest fear..._ Yeah he hates this already. He looks like he's contemplating ripping out her throat to make her stop talking. Yikes.

[@lalukeify]

In my version he disapproved of all my answers but still met me in the middle. He was annoyed that I aired his secrets but then said he’d have learn be more mysterious next time. It made up for the disapproval for me and I like it better than the playful way the “silly” answers. It felt a little more raw and natural.

[@katarinakremberg1319]

He doesn't like being exposed in front of an absolute stranger, but if you choose only those options that he approves of in the end he says it's all just a joke for you and leaves. If you chhose only disapproval options, he is pissed, but in the end comes closer and admits you know him way too well. I think it's one of the situations where we as players just have to endure and put up with a couple of disapprovals, after all it is natural to disagree with your partner at times.

[@Dreadwolf3]

So there is a way to get this scene without Orin getting in the middle of it, but it requires doing this bit a little bit later. However! You can still get him to disapprove of choices and still get him to meet you in the middle. His disapproval is simply you calling his issue into the light. On my romance of him that I was doing for a friend who wanted to see where it would go, I chose the Elbow deep in gore first. Simply fishing for that quick compliment before showing the real issues. There after I chose Freedom and Feeling like a Slave. And even though he disapproves of both of those actions, he still met me in the middle.

[@Mmogurl]

Very interesting.. I guess he just really doesn't like it when you pick that never been happy option X_X

[@lisdraconis2212]

From what i saw and how i read him. Astraion does not like being exposed and put on the spot when he is not expecting it. You can say the right thing, but that means saying it out loud and he is not a big fan of that. He actually likes the funny joke responses more which don't make this whole thing too serious.

[@Dreadwolf3]

@Mmogurl My personal theory on why he gets upset about that is because of the act 2 confession scene. I'm not entirely sure on it, but because of just how genuine he is, he does seem genuinely happy in that moment to confess his feelings and how his plans crumbled before his eyes.

[@fylimar]

It is random in the game in what npcs Orin changes - it's different for everyone and I think, it can be everyone in that village.

[@melissaherrera4065]

I got the same issue the first time. You have two ways of doing this which is telling the truth or telling what he wants to hear. You can't mix the two or it fails. If you say what he wants to hear he approves but if you say the truth he will be pissed off but will meet you in the middle and tell you that you know him a little too well.

[@94sHippie]

That was what I got the first time too. It almost made the twist after feel even more threatening because now you know you know Astarion really well, but so does someone that you would rather didn't know your secrets.

[@elishajones1286]

The first time I went through it, I chose: Gore, Freedom, and not being a slave...because I thought the same way as you did and he got extremely mad on the last one about telling people about his business, in fact he was practically sneering by that time we hit that question and I lost approval...but we still met on the log. The answers he is fine with are actually true, but not the full truth. I will say, that my husband is actually the same way about other people knowing things about him or us, he really doesn't approve of people knowing about things if he doesn't fully trust or know them, so I think it is something similar. So it is seeing it in a way that can be perceived as giving up to a stranger a weakness you have, and Astarion has only just come to trust you and he doesn't trust others *Spoiler* - - - - - Act 3 you can get a phrase that pretty much states just that sort of idea...he sees everyone in the world as mean, hateful, and power hungry and only you are different than everyone else and truly care about him.

[@BloodyMarryPL]

The most important thing about Astarion in this scene is that he knows that you know his fears, his desires etc. but he doesn't want you to expose him to stranger. He doesn't want to show his vunerabilities, he told about them to you because he trust you and by exposing him you betray this trust. :) He aproves options that are false like that his biggest fear is breaking a nail.

[@astrea4020]

I wish this encounter would’ve had him be more open and honest but I try to think of it more like him being uncomfortable with the fact a stranger is asking us these deeply personal questions. I know Astarion absolutely despises being vulnerable, especially in front of other people because it brings back the trauma of being with Cazador. His romance is one where I think he really only trusts you with his deepest fears and to me that’s realistic of someone who has gone through abuse having a “safe” person that they rely on for emotional support. In many ways he’s using Tav as a gateway to being comfortable around others and during the course of the game he makes progress but isn’t ever comfortable with things being aired out.

[@Regina316]

Yeah, I feel like he is barely just beginning to heal, you are the only person he trusts and airing the secrets he barely made himself share with you to an utter stranger just feels like a betrayal.

[@jooheonshoneybal]

This! 👌🏻 well said.

[@hasturprynne]

Girl, you did bad in the encounter because you don’t know him very well and the game is calling you out, it’s not because he’s reverting back to old ways. Kinda 4th wall breaking! 😝 You’re at the circus, not a therapy session. Being dramatic and fun and keeping the personal stuff out of the conversation makes sense, especially with Astarion! That being said, this scene is one of my favorite examples of the right answer giving disapproval (if you say he’s afraid if being a slave) and if Orin doesn’t ruin the last bit of the Dryad dialogue he gives you the CUTEST look that’ll just melt your heart! 💚

[@Call-me-Creeds]

He does do the cute look in the end! ❤❤❤

[@ch3ls3ab0t6]

I played this scene multiple times with the options he liked and the ones he didn't. He met me in the middle every time. I didn't even know it was possible to have him walk away. That's so sad. 😭

[@jjoeblow6057]

It is very obvious to me. “How could I refuse?” He says in the beginning. He thinks he HAS to. ❤

[@tinydarkjewel]

I think you showed him how well you know him by not exposing him in front of "a stranger". He wouldn't want that, so in that case, the "wrong" answers would be the correct ones. Makes perfect sense, really. 😊

[@drachenkatara9479]

Exactly. it makes sense to me. especially since he had already spoken openly about his wishes and fears at that point. he knows that you know and trust you not to tell strangers about it. So now is the time to wink at each other and joke about it.

[@gigglecake406]

I think it's important to note that the dryad is at the circus which is supposed to be all about fun and games. So, it shouldn't be taken too seriously from the get-go. Astarion probably sees it this way as well and likely sees the MC wanting to do this with him as part of the fun, and he's certainly not one to spoil fun. Because likely, he enjoys it when you're happy. So, he goes along with it. I think there might be some read between the lines thing going on with Astarion when this scene ends. "You were right every time. I almost wish you hadn't been, but you do know me." Like he's acknowledging his love confession to you here, I think. Where he talks about how you were a complication he didn't see coming, etc. And he's reassuring you that you DO know him and would know that he wouldn't like his personal business exposed in front of someone else.

[@clairejackson7841]

I take how he acts in this as him putting on a show because he feels uncomfortable with another person there. He may be able to be real with you when your on your own like in the confession scene, but I dont think he's ready for that with other people yet. Especially strangers.

[@drachenkatara9479]

I wouldn't be "ready" either. I mean, who wants to hear their deepest fears revealed when someone stranger is listening? This is simply not the time for it. he doesn't have to get ready for it. Such things shouldn't be told to everyone.

[@rrin8231]

Idk if anyone else tried this but after the latest patch I went back to Zethino and now, even when you select the true answers - the ones he dislikes, i.e. 'Freedom' & 'Not wanting to be a slave' - he will still disapprove of the answers but the test will come out positive and he won't leave, Zethino's commentary is different as well (edit to clarify because I'm insane, so before the patch I went with "elbows deep in gore" -> "freedom" -> "no mo slave" -> he got upset and left, zethino ends by saying she expected to find something strong like an oak or whatever the line was but instead found something fragile, after the patch my choices remained the same "elbows deep in gore" -> "freedom" -> "no mo slave" -> he got upset but didn't leave, we met in the middle, he said the line about me knowing him really well even though he wished I didn't, Zethino now said our bond is impenetrable and generally encouraged/was positive about me saying the truth as opposed to before when, if Astarion got upset, she seemed to pull back after him and be like 'well we've only touched the surface so there's still time to remedy this lmao')

[@lisdraconis2212]

Don't feel too bummed over it. Astarion is a huge piece of work. Even a blind person can see it. I think he just values intimiacy more and the secrets you both share. He does not want anyone to interfere with that. And yeah when my personal secrets are threatened to be exposed I will lie. None of other peoples business what certain aspects of my life look like. You can of course still exposes him. He will not like that, but it is the truth or you can take this more lightly and just make this a funny thing to do and one hour later you both laugh about it. However I was a bit surprised you took the option that he was not happy. I think he is happier than ever before when you think about his past.

[@dmsviola1]

For me I think it's more that he has this shadow over him. His fear and being in survival instinct for so long kind of gets in the way of "true" happiness. To overshare a little, when I was depressed there were days that were easier than others. There were even days when I could laugh or have a bit of fun, but I was never really "happy" as a general statement.

[@nesarakomire5044]

You don't need him to approve everything you say. That is how a relationship workes too. I wanted to be honest with everything and I was. In the end he seemed happy with what I said. 1 ellbow deep in gore 2 Freedom 3 To be a slave he wasn't approving my second and third answer but he liked that i know him so well.

[@fave525]

i was pretty bummed about that bit too. though i'm pretty sure he disapproved because it was the truth he told us in private and didn't want us to out his issues like that, not because they were lies. i rerolled this bit to get all the approval, but the answers just felt wrong :

[@Zandalorscat]

I don't think we should think of these things in terms of right and wrong based on approval results, do whatever fits your Tav. I totally understand Astarion not being okay with you sharing his deepest feelings with a stranger and could kind of guess that would go poorly. And he's right, turns out you shared his secrets with Orin! Some of the options are a matter of perspective where it actually makes sense to argue with Astarion about it based on your views on your future. Freedom and revenge are both true. Revenge is a lot easier to define and sounds more powerful. There's nothing wrong with pursuing revenge, but answering freedom has a more long-term perspective and goes better with trying to make Astarion realize ascension is a bad idea. As far as I know, you can pick whatever you want here and still get the results you want later but it's an opportunity to be consistent in what approach you advice.

[@pinkporcupineknits]

I feel like he was true to himself and you were being true to him. Up to this point, the walls you’re breaking down are intimate between Tav and Astarion. I’m a private person myself. If someone went and blabbed things I’d shared with them in confidence, it would really upset me. And I don’t have a world to save or a tadpole in my brain!

[@SUPERSONICGIRLIFY]

Airing out his dirty laundry to some rando in not the play. You are essentially his comfort person. Be coy while protecting him or go with full truths. Him not being fully happy is wrong. He is happy WITH US.

[@justvisiting1796]

I think what this is meant to convey is that to know him well is to willingly not expose him

[@Xoxo.TheAuthor]

Its okay i failed pretty bad on my first round of this scene lol. I totally had to re-load my save to fix it! I really liked the line about a group of weirdos, Neil is so talented! Thank you for another spectacular video! ❤

[@AllisonFischer]

My Grandma was Japanese (she’s passed, the passed tense throws people) but I saw this as the Asian way of saving face (especially in front of strangers). Like, we sort of have a public face and a private face? We all wear a few masks. But I don’t look at it as lying (also, I think because culturally we all know about it? But I’m Japanese American so it does freak out other people, they don’t really understand) they are all versions of yourself, but, for example, one might be lighter and easier for polite interactions.

[@Regina316]

I actually really admire that. I think most people have at least one thing that they really don't want just anyone to know about them... but many people seem to pretend that they don't. Which feels kind of silly to me, because what's wrong about sharing some things with only your closest? So I think it's a wise thing to do, to admit the fact and not pry into other people's secrets.

[@LunarCrystal07]

I also chose the "true" answers without realizing that the number one *unspoken* truth was that Astarion prefers his past to be private.

[@saltherisms]

I'm not bothered by him getting angry at you choosing truthful answers. I wouldn't want my dirty laundry aired to some random dryad at a circus either, especially when I've only ever entrusted them to one other person in the world. He is very defensive and VERY private, and considers it a breach of trust. So yeah, I'm happy to pick the answers he'll find funny instead. He doesn't need to face his demons out in public like that.

[@msbroomstick1]

Considering Orin could just be right around the corner, I think Astarion is right being secretive in this instance. There's being vulnerable and open to your spouse, and there's just being dumb. You couldn't have known though, framing wasn't clear about it. don't feel bad about it. However I think you were genuinely wrong when you said he hasn't been happy in a while, even cruel. Cazador probably hammered in a lot to his spawns that they need to obey him. If you don't recruit Astarion he would be mad at you for abandoning his child. Saying Astarion isn't happy now is probably implying something Cazador wanted Astarion to believe and in his twisted way Cazador genuinely believed, that he could only be happy with his "loving family", serving his "loving father". Astarion has his issues and doubts , but he is definitely much happier now having real friends and a lover, truly trying his best.

[@yas_lana]

Tbh, in a way when you give the silly answers gore, revenge, nail, it really shows that you DO know him. Not b/c the answers are the truest (lets face it, they are true, just not the deep down true). But you understand his mind, that he is not the big sharing type, esp in front of people. And Idk just calling someone out on them never been happy almost seems a bit mean to me. We dont have to rub it in his face that he had a horrible life. Also, Ive come to the believe that Astarion rarely really lies. He hides his trues behind a "ha, look at me telling you something really silly, and we both know I am totally not serious" while actually being totally serious. In the end words are, in a way, his only armor. He hid behind jokes and teasing for so long b/c he had nothing else. I will not take his only armor away from him.

[@noctoi]

I've seen this in a few vids, I get the feeling that he kind of knew there was something janky with the dryad and was glad you didn't reveal his deepest feelings, but deep down he wanted to hear your real answers. If this was what the writers had in mind though, it wasn't very clear. It felt like he was viewing it as a "yes dear, we can go see that fortune teller you love so much" while knowing they're a grifter. He certainly doesn't trust them enough to be airing private thoughts in front of them, and is relieved when you understand that.

[@scully4life]

I actually picked a combination of approval and disapproval answers (don't remember which ones) and he still met me in front of the waterfall but his ending line was different. He said something like "You know me better than I thought. I'll have to try to be more mysterious..." with a cute little smile. I liked that outcome a lot better than just "getting all the answers right" as he put it in the other passing outcome. The disapproval must have been negated because his approval meter actually went up after this encounter.

[@phoenixastra4429]

He liked all my answers. He said I know him very well, and was very happy the whole time. He wants revenge, not just freedom btw. He likes being elbow deep in gore. He likes the sight of blood. He's a vampire. I find a lot of people misunderstanding astarion a lot despite being fans of them. He does want freedom, but he also doesn't like appearing weak. Revenge has inclusion with his freedom and what he truly desires, his anger his fear fixed by revenge entirely. We weren't lying through the whole thing. It's an opinion, but I disagree. The right answers made sense.

[@wh0rrendous]

I did this at first and I slowly started to realize he's an INSANELY private person the more I answered the questions. I'm not sure which question it was and which answer I picked, but he started straight up screaming at MC at one point. "REALLY?!! I mean yes, but REALLY?!" I was like oh, he's insanely insecure and private. His whole "hahahaha darling," demeanor is a giant farce. Dude is a soft baby under everything 🥹

[@oOVanillaMelOo]

I feel like truly knowing him is knowing how he wouldn’t want you to tell the truth in front of a stranger and telling funny half-truths instead. But I did feel a little pinch in my stomach when the dryad said our bond was weak 😭 I wished we’d get a little dialogue or something afterwords of him telling us he appreciated what we did (a bit like with Araj but not necessarily as intense). Edit: I had the version without Orin at the end and the dryad tells you out you did for real. I tried all the real right answers at first and the dryad said our bond was strong and Astarion was actually smiling at me, but he did disapprove all the choices. I tried saying the funny light answers after and I think I got just one wrong and he left but approved of all the choices anyway. The dryad said our bond was like a small branch, easily breakable of something like that…. My little heart died… 😭

[@ArcaneAzaleas]

I loved doing this with halsin. And the one with out Orin is a lot better. But I think you have to encounter her in different places before going to the circus so you just have the dryad.

[@yaararus1807]

I personally didn't view the approval answers as lying per say. For me it was more like 'we both don't trust strangers (especially now) so lets have fun with this, plus, I know that you know the real answers'

[@evil2otaku636]

“I don’t think he’s ever been happy” 😂😂😂😂😂 he was so offended

[@sugarsenshi9352]

So I started playing BG3 thinking I'd love the game. I do. But it's really just turned into me ADHD hyper focusing on Astarion and I think I love him more than I do the game as a whole. 😂 I've been playing with his dialogues fairly genuine as to what Tav may say without prior research and retries. Exceptions for when I thought something was meant to be funny and it wasn't etc. I feel like a lot of Tavs dialogue can be misleading and did reset the couple times I ran into that. So when it came to this scene I was surprised I couldn't figure out what he wanted off the hop because he seemed so eager to participate. I thought he wanted to see if I knew him. Eventually I realized he already knows I know him and I think he just wanted to show off. He wanted to show off his new shiny happy relationship to the druid without actually letting some stranger know how troubled he is. Suddenly the entire interaction made a whole lot more sense. I caved and reset this specific dialogue anyway because I felt so bad. Haha how does a fictional character effect me this much?! As a side note, I just finished the fight with cazador last night, and I've gotta say it felt flat and underwhelming??? But I so far have managed to get good boy Astarion and considering the first half of the game I didn't realize how obsessed I'd end up with Astarion, I feel lucky I got to this point as it is. Ha!

[@IIIGioGioStarIII]

I think that going with the joke answers it’s seen more as both you and Astarion are not taking the whole thing seriously. Like at this point, both of you know that there is a very deep connection between each other and know that love is involved. But you both are just doing this for shits and giggles. Like how some couples read and joke about their horoscopes.

[@lasmirandadennsiewillja9435]

I take it like this: He trusts the player with a very vulnerable side of him that he himself struggles to come to terms with. And then, the player turns around and airs all those very heavy things for cheap points in a carnival game. So he doesn't approve of the answers themselves but that the player doesn't betray his trust. It also leaves him in control of his personal story. It's serious to him and he wouldn't use it as a gimmick and he sure doesn't approve of someone he just learned to trust taking that control away from him. And for what, really? To hear a generic "Oh, you really like each other." By knowing that he wouldn't approve of his story being used like this, it shows that the player knows, likes, and respects him and therefore doesn't need the "You won at love!" verdict from a game. Ironically, earning it based on dishonest answers means the player actually earned it. Think of similar games like this that sometimes happen on TV, when couples are asked to answer questions about each other. Maybe the honest answer to "How does your spouse spend the perfect Mother's Day with their mom?" would be "pissing on her grave because she clapped her hands and giggled when spouse's stepparent beat him up every Sunday" and it would show that you know your spouse and their family history. Or maybe all that wouldn't be the audience's business so you answer "Roses, chocolates, and dinner at an Italian restaurant." It would be a lie but given the circumstances most likely what the spouse would prefer to happen and they'd rather lose that point than win it with the truth. I think this is pretty much what happens in this scene.

[@lizzydiamond95]

During this scene if you say what is actually right and not what you think he wants you to say he still meets you in the middle and is good. He won't approve of your choices but he still joins you in the middle and improves your bond with him.

[@Catskill_Cryptid]

I answered all three questions honestly and he was annoyed but met me in the middle of the log and said he was surprised how well i knew him, then we got the speech from the dryad about us being a young seed

[@LadyElvan]

See, I don't think they're lies. He IS interested in Revenge; he's looking to take revenge on Cazador (by taking all the power). He DOES like being deep in blood (he enjoys killing and he's good at it). They might not be the answers you were wanting to give but they ARE correct!

[@Jlupine2]

I actually picked all the truthful answers, and he still met me in the middle. I picked “being a slave to someone” option as the last option and he got mad that I was telling the truth. But after, he meets me in the middle and comments about how well I know know him and he smiles at me. I liked how the scene panned out.

[@robjohnson3095]

So I haven't played it out and tested it, this is speculation based on the Devs having said that for some relationships, you have to disagree, have a fight with, your pixel significant other in order to advance their relationship. Thus, I SUSPECT the choices you are making choose whether you like the evilish version of Astarion or are seeking to redeem Astarion, and I suspect your first choices that made him upset are important for putting him on the redemption path, while the superficial ones are for the evil Astarion.

[@gigglecake406]

Also, I wanted to say I really like your videos with Astarion. It's so funny. On my first play (which I didn't finish and ended up deleting and starting over), I didn't like Astarion much because of the whole HE THREATENED ME WITH A KNIFE thing. LOL But then, I started seeing different scenes with him on youtube, and I'm like... "I gotta romance him now." LOLOLOLOLOL

[@VChong1991]

Astarian loves causing chaos onto others...as long as the chaos is not onto him 😂

[@SaltedFishero]

Wish you had taken the Dark urgue you get a lot of cute Astarion content in it. I also did a normal playthrough with him as romance and I think dark urgue adds some more bittersweet content for his romance. Also I guess Astarion is fine with being honest and vulnerable with you but not really with random strangers? He might say all these things to you in confidence but doesn't trust others enough to show his weakness

[@Mmogurl]

My next game is gonna be dark urge! :D

[@meelane]

I feel like the ‘good’ answers focus more on his interests while the ones he didn’t like focused a lot on his trauma. Maybe he’s trying to point out that he’s more then just trauma

[@DeletedCalibrations]

As long as you don't tell him he's never been happy it goes over fine. TBH I don't think that's a nice thing to say to anyone, Even if someone has a morose moment and they say something like that about themselves it is usually not true.

[@coldwetn0se172]

^This. Entirely this. If I said this to my husband/sister/best friend/or a stranger (or this was ever said to me), it would go down VERY poorly.

[@cynabonabelle]

They mustve patched it because the answers you chose at the end all gave me approval from him

[@FluffyTailedPrince]

If you pick 'Me' as the desire, he laughs and calls it cute. Also approval.

[@PinkMarshmallows]

🤣🤣 I don't know how MANY times I had to reload to get the questions right. I quick saved at every question.

[@KittyScythe]

He wanted you to lie, because he doesn't want his emotions all out there.

[@yunios862]

I picked much the same options, except at the end I said his greatest fear was being slave to another and got the good outcome

[@DecScape]

I haven't been able to do this without getting Orin, even after running into her a few times. If you pick certain ones , he does say yes but doesn't want that known to everyone kind of answer. However, the nail one does have context to it. I don't always trigger the scene it's related to but he does talk about what Cazador did to him as a punishment. Plus, if you have try to dig with out a shovel he mentions soemthing about nails. I can't remember exactly.

[@KeiZiahKnight]

I was worried that on the last choice I chose 3 and he disapproved of it but after seeing that he says that he wished we hadn't known so well vs how he was impressed that I know him so well and how he'll try to be more mysterious I think mixing up the choices is the best, my choices were 1. Gore 2, Me 3. Slave

[@Alwaysttango]

I picked the same except for the last one, "forever a slave", he disapproved as well but didn't walk out on me.

[@zilazilazila]

Though I received two disapprovals from him, I ended up choosing them. Zethino said our bond was impenetrable, and we were true soul mates. While I understand everyone's perspective of respecting his privacy and not opening up to a stranger... Zethino already knows. I think this test is a precursor to what happens with Cazardor. It's a warning. You could "yes man" him and tell him what he wants to hear, but it's so important to challenge him.

[@saribeepo.o5111]

This has nothing to do with being a 'yes man', it's about being a unified front. Vulnerability is between a couple, and Astarion's situation makes it where this is not something you be shared. It's a sideshow at a circus, not couples therapy, and neither of them knew what it was going to entail upfront to spare him by avoiding it.

[@aviendha1154]

I can’t help but wonder how different this could play out later into the Astarion romance. When he actually trusts you and has made the choice to be better with you.

[@Desdemonaii]

As a fellow Astarion expert, if you pick "elbow deep in gore" then "freedom" then "forever feeling like a slave to someone else", it is considered you got them all correct. Those are what I consider honest answers. Astarion disapproves of showing his vulnerability in front of others, its not that they're wrong. "Most things fear him" isn't exactly correct; the goal of the exercise wasn't to pick what answers he approves of, but what answers are true. Edit: answering the 3 I mentioned results in the same "good" scene

[@viicait]

I agree completely! I didn't like that we had to lie again. In addition, the scene seemed very personal and did not look like something "in plain sight". Perhaps I just misunderstood the intention of the developers about this scene: to know what Astarion wants to hear is to some extent also to know him well. I thought it was a great opportunity to show that telling the truth is not scary... Besides, I did it after his personal quest... After the scene in the cemetery! Astarion showed us his most vulnerable side, and then boom- he's mad at me for telling the truth. It knocked me out of the immersion so much that it's very hard to come back. I think they need to fix this part... Either to make it more obvious what this scene is, or to figure out how the "kind" Astarion reacts to how well we actually know him.

[@alexastorm97]

Mind you this is also all pre ascension quest too, so he will not gonna be 100% serious and honest. I just like that you can't just go with obvious answers, makes you actually think.

[@blissfulbhajan]

Oh my scene was quite different. I still had to pick "elbow deep in gore" but even all the dryad replies were different. And she wasn't Orin either! This game is so varied

[@sophiacousland3452]

Makes sense as to why he’s closed off from everyone but Tav and doesn’t like the idea of being emotionally vulnerable to anyone else. But I’m happy to see Astarion change over time, even if he does regress occasionally.

[@Kibatsume1]

Strikes me as a character who hides behind jokes and doesn't want just anybody knowing his business. This game mirrors real life in alot of ways if are a private person you would not everyone knowing your business you are not exactly going to be happy with the person you confided in telling the world..

[@aliliving7774]

Knowing him must mean, to him anyways, that you know when to not be an open book? Je might want to change and be honest with you only? Real stupid answers, i agree 🤣

[@82evene]

Actually choosing freedom and slave is also correct. He doesn't like it, but its true so you get him to admit you know him. I feel you though, I am very conflicted to either go superficial or gain his wrath

[@geekylovecharm9824]

You can also get disapproval and be fully honest and that ending line makes much more sense bc i answered elbow deep in gore bc that's genuinely honest then i chose freedom then not being a slave to anyone bc those are the complete honest truths and that line said with slight anger of i almost wish you hadn't been just fit better then using the lesser truths

[@peppermint1349]

Oh later on (not gonna spoil) But I think this will make more sense once you get to deal with Cazador. He will reveal how he is and a lot of stuff will be revealed a lot about his past even more. I do have to say that there was one scene I was a bit dissapointed by myself.. with him.. mainly on this one line he says.

[@karleenschroyer7371]

When making my TAV I did multi classing. I chose fighter/rogue that way I could still get the mischievous answer options. I also always imagined my character wouldn’t be as trusting considering her background is a criminal. To me this scene with the funnier responses made way more sense. Both Astarion and my TAV are smartasses so it only seemed fitting.

[@Blndi3]

I’m surprised that this scene had no depth for you. Maybe it’s just because you had the Orin double but my scene was a bit different. I started with what Astarion wanted to hear but got real at the end with the fears. He still got mad but then Z gave him some advice about having to face his fears to heal at which point his face kind of dropped and I still got that “good ending” to the scene. I felt really good about it even though I technically lost a bit of approval

[@cuteandfluffypikachu3405]

I chose the gore the revenge and the slave answers and they had a positive out come if you reload a save then try again 😊😊😊

[@JelenedraKTulsa]

In my game, it was the dyrad, not Orin. Her questions were similar but worded differently. It is fairly obvious your druid was Orin in retrospect, but wild that is was potentially another Orin encounter.

[@Selene_Moon98]

I think his approval is legit. He is a private person and saying stuff about him out loud in front of a stranger is kinda shitty.

[@CptQuinnElle]

What happens if you answer “me” to what he most desires?

[@SUPERSONICGIRLIFY]

He calls that answer adorable iirc

[@pul0y]

I had a feeling this wouldn't go down well with him (and i also wanted to farm approval with halsin) so i went with the hunky druid instead. It went much sweeter.

[@angelsinthewindow]

I think I actually get this sort of scene a little bit, though its sort of a kind of stupid counter phycology aspect in this. By choosing those sort of 'funny ha ha' answers in front of a random person, you are showing that you know him pretty well because of how he doesn't want others to know about him. You can tell this from when you get the actual right answers and he chews you out for telling everyone around them what his secrets are. It's like a couples therapy that the other person doesn't really want to be there for and yet goes anyway just cause his lover wants him to go. "Sure darling, whatever you want to do"... "Why did you have to tell her about my secret stash of pornos?" sort of thing if you want a kind of funny little example, lol.

[@sakurafaith6187]

I fucked up the way you did exactly the same and god i can relate about wanting to cry about it. But ill admit i redid the thing and only changed the last answer of him being feared, he met me in the middle but when she was revealing our relationship was built by lies i was sweating bullets, i been doing a loophole where im good and making these decisions while sending Astarion to camp to not get his dissapproval which infact is..being dishonest because im hiding who i am, i never realized the amount of times Astarion lied to me, i never got the starry sky scene or the extended romance on act2 where he confeses he was seducing me for security, all while my dumbass thought he was really into me, i noticed his discomfort from his laugh when i told him about Halsin and i ate that up, when he lied in act 1 about the Gur hunters story of him kidnapping children was a bullshit story madeup by cazador to get them riled up and discoverrd his lie until act 3 All this messed me up, because i realized i never knew him properly and i felt so awkwards, we just havent been honest but because we were afraid.. i still think about it.. I try to not do this loophole anymore because im convinced we are still strong but it messes me up.. i feel like im a fake person to him and so was he..

[@miyakoakita2529]

I got a different ending with the dryad. Not really spoilers- but I think if you already encountered Orin a few times and then go to the circus she does not take the place of the Dyad. So after picking the “correct” answers with astarion she says are bond is strong! ❤🎉 WHICH IT. FIGHT ME.

[@unfortunateadventurer1040]

I didn't get Orin. I think if you find her at least 2 times before it doest trigger. I also was honest with my answers but he met me in the middle and told me I knew him better than anyone. I get why that would make him upset because of the trauma and how hard it was so hard to be vulnerable with the OC.

[@seras1231]

When I did this with Astarion, I got all the good answers on the first time and I didn't feel like I was lying.... but then again I did end up with the bad ending lmao 🤣 I can see your point if you are trying for thr good ending though. 😊

[@tleam88]

is it just me or does Astarion's expression at 3:45 looks like he's trying to will Tav to not tell the stranger all of his secrets? Like "don't you even dare."

[@zarz860]

can you please tell which streaming gear you use i use obs and my Streams and vids come out very choppy :(

[@Mmogurl]

I'm using OBS currently.. and I have issues too but that's mostly cuz my internet sucks.

[@TF2CrunchyFrog]

May I ask, what is the name of that fancy embossed leather armour your Astarion is wearing at the start of the video, and where did you get it?

[@magicbacon790]

He like you being cheeky in this if your to honest and really see what like freedom and behind a slave forever he won’t like it but they are correct answers he’s still going through his development if you want the good ending he will tell you you were patient with him and this would be one of the examples you are

[@yudollia]

If i were him in this situation I would be uncomfy af . It can be too penetrative to reveal deeper ideologies to ppl outside the relationship

[@Aflacist]

Just curious, do you plan on doing a proper play through?

[@fylimar]

Oh, so she turned to Orin in your playthrough? Didn't happen to me (I had otehr npcs changing), but then, Orin changes different for everyone else. Still, the two romanceable companions, I thought would not fit with this test are Astarion and Lae'zel. I did the test with Shadowheart and that was really sweet.

[@Pi-is-Bi]

Not sure about Lae'zel but I think it's perfect for Astarion. It portraits him well, it doesn't matter if you get the right or wrong answers, they all show a unified aspect of Astarion

[@saracolax]

i actually got them all right without even thinking , i tried them a bunch cause i was curious xD first try i did gore, revenge and then slave one , does not like that one but he said i got everything right sooooo... tho i will say ye i feel like he was a little too playful with the aswers he liked , considering that at that point the romance should be pretty complex

[@melissaamato1139]

It's a too cold answer. You don't know him, enough, true. And OMG, why? This is what a Male Reactor had done, and loved his choice. I can't understand it either. What possess's anyone to take such a desprate action. And to make it worse When you're Camp is full of Dangers, that Starry will help you with. And later, even be one of the best Companion's, he might need a friend, at first over a lover. Which is hard for him to speak about. You really need to be there for him, and believe in him. Because trusting you, is not going to go over well. ✨🧝🏻‍♀️✨❤️‍🩹🛡️❤️‍🩹🗡️ ❤️‍🩹🗡️🗡️ 🩸