What happens if I let Astarion refuse to ascend 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 decision 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. If you choose to let Astarion refuse to ascend, it leads to a more morally positive outcome for him, but it requires careful navigation of dialogue and choices.
To achieve this outcome, you must first progress through Astarion's personal questline. This involves uncovering his past, learning about his connection to the vampire lord Cazador, and eventually confronting Cazador in Act 3. During the confrontation, Cazador will attempt to perform a ritual that will grant him immense power, and Astarion will have the opportunity to take Cazador's place in the ritual, ascending to become a full vampire lord. However, you can convince Astarion to refuse this path.
The mechanics involved in this decision are tied to dialogue choices and approval. Astarion's approval of your character plays a significant role in how receptive he is to your influence. If you have built a strong relationship with him, he will be more likely to listen to your advice. To maximize your chances of success, you should aim to have high approval with Astarion by making choices that align with his personality, such as being supportive of his freedom and autonomy, and showing a willingness to engage in morally ambiguous actions when necessary.
When you reach the confrontation with Cazador, you will need to defeat him in combat. This can be a challenging fight, as Cazador is a powerful vampire with several abilities that can hinder your party. It is important to prepare for this battle by ensuring your party is well-equipped and has access to abilities that can counter Cazador's strengths, such as radiant damage and spells that can restrain or disable him. Once Cazador is defeated, Astarion will have the opportunity to complete the ritual and ascend.
At this point, you will need to persuade Astarion to refuse the ritual. This requires a successful Persuasion check, which can be influenced by your character's Charisma and any bonuses you have to Persuasion. If you have high approval with Astarion, the difficulty of this check will be reduced. You will need to choose dialogue options that emphasize the negative consequences of ascending, such as the loss of his humanity and the potential harm it could cause to others. If you succeed in the Persuasion check, Astarion will refuse to ascend, and he will destroy the ritual, freeing the souls that were bound to it.
There are several important tips and considerations to keep in mind when attempting to achieve this outcome. First, it is crucial to build a strong relationship with Astarion throughout the game. This means making choices that he approves of and engaging in conversations that allow you to learn more about his past and motivations. Second, you should ensure that your character has a high Charisma score and proficiency in Persuasion, as this will make it easier to pass the necessary checks. Third, you should be prepared for a difficult battle with Cazador, as failing to defeat him will prevent you from reaching the critical decision point.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting to build a strong relationship with Astarion, which can make it more difficult to persuade him to refuse ascension. Additionally, failing to prepare adequately for the fight with Cazador can result in a party wipe, forcing you to reload and try again. It is also important to avoid making choices that align too closely with Astarion's darker tendencies, as this can make him more resistant to your influence when it comes time to make the decision.
Advanced techniques and optimizations include using spells and abilities that can control the battlefield during the fight with Cazador, such as Hold Person or Silence, which can prevent him from using his most dangerous abilities. Additionally, you can use items that grant bonuses to Persuasion or Charisma to increase your chances of success in the critical dialogue check.
In terms of related D&D rules and mechanics, the Persuasion check required to convince Astarion to refuse ascension is based on the standard rules for ability checks in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. The difficulty of the check is determined by the Dungeon Master (in this case, the game), and can be influenced by factors such as your relationship with Astarion and any relevant bonuses you have to Persuasion.
Specific examples and scenarios include situations where you might need to make difficult choices to gain Astarion's approval, such as siding with him in conflicts with other companions or supporting his desire for revenge against Cazador. These choices can have long-term consequences for your relationship with Astarion and your overall party dynamics, so it is important to consider them carefully.
In conclusion, letting Astarion refuse to ascend in Baldur's Gate 3 is a rewarding but challenging outcome that requires careful planning and preparation. By building a strong relationship with Astarion, preparing for the fight with Cazador, and making persuasive arguments, you can guide him toward a more positive path and strengthen your bond with him. This outcome not only benefits Astarion's character development but also adds depth to your overall story experience.
To achieve this outcome, you must first progress through Astarion's personal questline. This involves uncovering his past, learning about his connection to the vampire lord Cazador, and eventually confronting Cazador in Act 3. During the confrontation, Cazador will attempt to perform a ritual that will grant him immense power, and Astarion will have the opportunity to take Cazador's place in the ritual, ascending to become a full vampire lord. However, you can convince Astarion to refuse this path.
The mechanics involved in this decision are tied to dialogue choices and approval. Astarion's approval of your character plays a significant role in how receptive he is to your influence. If you have built a strong relationship with him, he will be more likely to listen to your advice. To maximize your chances of success, you should aim to have high approval with Astarion by making choices that align with his personality, such as being supportive of his freedom and autonomy, and showing a willingness to engage in morally ambiguous actions when necessary.
When you reach the confrontation with Cazador, you will need to defeat him in combat. This can be a challenging fight, as Cazador is a powerful vampire with several abilities that can hinder your party. It is important to prepare for this battle by ensuring your party is well-equipped and has access to abilities that can counter Cazador's strengths, such as radiant damage and spells that can restrain or disable him. Once Cazador is defeated, Astarion will have the opportunity to complete the ritual and ascend.
At this point, you will need to persuade Astarion to refuse the ritual. This requires a successful Persuasion check, which can be influenced by your character's Charisma and any bonuses you have to Persuasion. If you have high approval with Astarion, the difficulty of this check will be reduced. You will need to choose dialogue options that emphasize the negative consequences of ascending, such as the loss of his humanity and the potential harm it could cause to others. If you succeed in the Persuasion check, Astarion will refuse to ascend, and he will destroy the ritual, freeing the souls that were bound to it.
There are several important tips and considerations to keep in mind when attempting to achieve this outcome. First, it is crucial to build a strong relationship with Astarion throughout the game. This means making choices that he approves of and engaging in conversations that allow you to learn more about his past and motivations. Second, you should ensure that your character has a high Charisma score and proficiency in Persuasion, as this will make it easier to pass the necessary checks. Third, you should be prepared for a difficult battle with Cazador, as failing to defeat him will prevent you from reaching the critical decision point.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting to build a strong relationship with Astarion, which can make it more difficult to persuade him to refuse ascension. Additionally, failing to prepare adequately for the fight with Cazador can result in a party wipe, forcing you to reload and try again. It is also important to avoid making choices that align too closely with Astarion's darker tendencies, as this can make him more resistant to your influence when it comes time to make the decision.
Advanced techniques and optimizations include using spells and abilities that can control the battlefield during the fight with Cazador, such as Hold Person or Silence, which can prevent him from using his most dangerous abilities. Additionally, you can use items that grant bonuses to Persuasion or Charisma to increase your chances of success in the critical dialogue check.
In terms of related D&D rules and mechanics, the Persuasion check required to convince Astarion to refuse ascension is based on the standard rules for ability checks in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. The difficulty of the check is determined by the Dungeon Master (in this case, the game), and can be influenced by factors such as your relationship with Astarion and any relevant bonuses you have to Persuasion.
Specific examples and scenarios include situations where you might need to make difficult choices to gain Astarion's approval, such as siding with him in conflicts with other companions or supporting his desire for revenge against Cazador. These choices can have long-term consequences for your relationship with Astarion and your overall party dynamics, so it is important to consider them carefully.
In conclusion, letting Astarion refuse to ascend in Baldur's Gate 3 is a rewarding but challenging outcome that requires careful planning and preparation. By building a strong relationship with Astarion, preparing for the fight with Cazador, and making persuasive arguments, you can guide him toward a more positive path and strengthen your bond with him. This outcome not only benefits Astarion's character development but also adds depth to your overall story experience.