What happens if I let Astarion refuse ascension in Baldur's Gate 3?
In Baldur's Gate 3, Astarion is a complex companion with a deeply personal questline that revolves around his vampiric nature and his desire for power. One of the key moments in his story is the choice to ascend or refuse ascension during his personal quest, "The Pale Elf." This decision has significant consequences for Astarion's character, your relationship with him, and the overall story. Letting Astarion refuse ascension is a morally complex choice that requires careful consideration and specific actions during his questline.
To let Astarion refuse ascension, you must guide him toward rejecting the ritual that would grant him immense power but at a great cost. This choice is tied to his personal growth and your influence over him through dialogue and approval. The mechanics of this choice are deeply rooted in the approval system, which tracks how Astarion feels about your decisions and actions throughout the game. If you consistently make choices that align with his values and encourage him to embrace his humanity, you can steer him away from the darker path of ascension.
The first step in achieving this outcome is to build a strong relationship with Astarion. This involves gaining his approval by making decisions that he favors, such as being pragmatic, self-serving, or supportive of his vampiric nature in certain contexts. However, as his quest progresses, you will need to shift your approach to encourage him to reject the darker aspects of his past. This means choosing dialogue options that emphasize empathy, redemption, and self-control rather than power and vengeance.
During the "The Pale Elf" quest, you will confront Cazador, Astarion's former master, in a climactic battle. After defeating Cazador, Astarion will have the opportunity to complete a ritual that would grant him immense power by sacrificing thousands of souls. To let him refuse ascension, you must persuade him to abandon the ritual. This requires passing a persuasion check, which is influenced by your relationship with him and your previous dialogue choices. If your approval with Astarion is high and you have consistently encouraged him to reject his darker impulses, the persuasion check will be easier to pass.
One important tip is to avoid making decisions that reinforce Astarion's desire for power or vengeance. For example, if you encourage him to embrace his vampiric nature or make choices that prioritize personal gain over morality, he may be more inclined to pursue ascension. Instead, focus on dialogue options that highlight the value of his humanity and the importance of breaking free from his past. This will make it easier to persuade him to reject the ritual when the time comes.
A common mistake is failing to build a strong enough relationship with Astarion before reaching this critical moment. If your approval with him is too low, he may be less receptive to your influence, making it harder to persuade him to refuse ascension. To avoid this, make sure to engage with him regularly, support him in his personal quests, and choose dialogue options that align with his values while also steering him toward redemption.
Advanced techniques involve leveraging the game's approval system to maximize your influence over Astarion. This includes completing his personal quests, making choices that he approves of, and avoiding actions that alienate him. Additionally, you can use your character's charisma and persuasion skills to improve your chances of success during the critical persuasion check. If your character has high charisma or proficiency in persuasion, this will make it easier to convince Astarion to reject ascension.
From a D&D rules perspective, the persuasion check is a key mechanic in this scenario. In Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, persuasion is a charisma-based skill used to influence others through diplomacy, tact, or social grace. The difficulty of the check is determined by the Dungeon Master (or, in this case, the game's mechanics) based on the situation and the relationship between the characters. In Baldur's Gate 3, your relationship with Astarion and your previous dialogue choices will influence the difficulty of the persuasion check, making it easier or harder to convince him to refuse ascension.
In specific examples, if you have consistently supported Astarion's desire for freedom and encouraged him to reject his darker impulses, the persuasion check will be easier to pass. For instance, if you have previously told him that he is more than just a vampire and that he has the potential to be a better person, he will be more likely to listen to your advice during the ritual. On the other hand, if you have encouraged his darker tendencies or made choices that prioritize power over morality, he may be more resistant to your influence.
Ultimately, letting Astarion refuse ascension is a rewarding choice that allows him to grow as a character and break free from his past. It requires careful attention to his approval, thoughtful dialogue choices, and a strong relationship built on trust and empathy. By guiding him toward redemption, you can help him find a new path and strengthen your bond with him, leading to a more fulfilling and meaningful story outcome.
To let Astarion refuse ascension, you must guide him toward rejecting the ritual that would grant him immense power but at a great cost. This choice is tied to his personal growth and your influence over him through dialogue and approval. The mechanics of this choice are deeply rooted in the approval system, which tracks how Astarion feels about your decisions and actions throughout the game. If you consistently make choices that align with his values and encourage him to embrace his humanity, you can steer him away from the darker path of ascension.
The first step in achieving this outcome is to build a strong relationship with Astarion. This involves gaining his approval by making decisions that he favors, such as being pragmatic, self-serving, or supportive of his vampiric nature in certain contexts. However, as his quest progresses, you will need to shift your approach to encourage him to reject the darker aspects of his past. This means choosing dialogue options that emphasize empathy, redemption, and self-control rather than power and vengeance.
During the "The Pale Elf" quest, you will confront Cazador, Astarion's former master, in a climactic battle. After defeating Cazador, Astarion will have the opportunity to complete a ritual that would grant him immense power by sacrificing thousands of souls. To let him refuse ascension, you must persuade him to abandon the ritual. This requires passing a persuasion check, which is influenced by your relationship with him and your previous dialogue choices. If your approval with Astarion is high and you have consistently encouraged him to reject his darker impulses, the persuasion check will be easier to pass.
One important tip is to avoid making decisions that reinforce Astarion's desire for power or vengeance. For example, if you encourage him to embrace his vampiric nature or make choices that prioritize personal gain over morality, he may be more inclined to pursue ascension. Instead, focus on dialogue options that highlight the value of his humanity and the importance of breaking free from his past. This will make it easier to persuade him to reject the ritual when the time comes.
A common mistake is failing to build a strong enough relationship with Astarion before reaching this critical moment. If your approval with him is too low, he may be less receptive to your influence, making it harder to persuade him to refuse ascension. To avoid this, make sure to engage with him regularly, support him in his personal quests, and choose dialogue options that align with his values while also steering him toward redemption.
Advanced techniques involve leveraging the game's approval system to maximize your influence over Astarion. This includes completing his personal quests, making choices that he approves of, and avoiding actions that alienate him. Additionally, you can use your character's charisma and persuasion skills to improve your chances of success during the critical persuasion check. If your character has high charisma or proficiency in persuasion, this will make it easier to convince Astarion to reject ascension.
From a D&D rules perspective, the persuasion check is a key mechanic in this scenario. In Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, persuasion is a charisma-based skill used to influence others through diplomacy, tact, or social grace. The difficulty of the check is determined by the Dungeon Master (or, in this case, the game's mechanics) based on the situation and the relationship between the characters. In Baldur's Gate 3, your relationship with Astarion and your previous dialogue choices will influence the difficulty of the persuasion check, making it easier or harder to convince him to refuse ascension.
In specific examples, if you have consistently supported Astarion's desire for freedom and encouraged him to reject his darker impulses, the persuasion check will be easier to pass. For instance, if you have previously told him that he is more than just a vampire and that he has the potential to be a better person, he will be more likely to listen to your advice during the ritual. On the other hand, if you have encouraged his darker tendencies or made choices that prioritize power over morality, he may be more resistant to your influence.
Ultimately, letting Astarion refuse ascension is a rewarding choice that allows him to grow as a character and break free from his past. It requires careful attention to his approval, thoughtful dialogue choices, and a strong relationship built on trust and empathy. By guiding him toward redemption, you can help him find a new path and strengthen your bond with him, leading to a more fulfilling and meaningful story outcome.