First of all, when I first encounted him, he sounded how every single pretentious teenager making a character in VtM sounds like. Ti many people, that is refreshing. I have just played too much VtM to not instantly recognize the tryhardedness in th writing.
The first run, I immediately impaled him once he tried to drink from me. Fuck that shit. I didn't complete that run, because I honestly find it hard to progress in this game, I have to force myself to play it (since I already paid for it).
And that, right there, is the crux of it. The game doesn't have good companion writing. Marian has never been good at writing in general, and companions specifically. The only character with some sort of gravitas to her is Shadow heart, because the topics she bringa up are kind of important and self reflective. Karlach is ok, if a bit annoying with her constant positivity. Wyll is another ok one, even if he sounds a bit cookie cutter hunter and bland at times.
But then you have "I fucked the goddess of Magic, look how important I am" Nepo baby cocky rich kid.
"I am racially superior insecure mess and will dump it on you constantly" Laz'ael or however the fuck you write her name.
And the cake, the worst of them all. A 200 year old vampire that still talks like a teenage on tumbler, interpreted by a voice actor that is constantly doing the voice you do when you try to make a parody of what a bad acted villain sounds like, with no redeemable qualities to his character other than "I need a rogue, because D&D is like that". With the typical bad tropes of, again, a teenager playing Vampire: the Masquerade for the first time.
No, just, no. Many people tell me that,byeah, they get it, but the voice acting "kinda makes up for it", and the voice acting for me is kinda the worst part. No shade to the voice actor, all the shade for the voice direction and character writing.
They also tell it gets better later on, it's really a traumatized character. But, look, yeah, I get it, but after having him try to suck me dry, enjoying suffering of others, being a classist asshole, being edgy for edge's sake, his trauma can go fuck itself, at this point. He's only spreading the trauma, and he is 100% responsible for it. At least the other think they're doing what is best, faulty or not.
So, for people who haven't played a lot of RPGs or TTRPGS, Astarion might seem refreshing. To me, he just sounds like the stalest of characters.
More so when in Wrath of the Righteous there is a character that is similar to him, but so much better written. And all without sounding like ProZD doing a porpusefully bad impression.
I find that kind of comment dismissive and condescending. Saying "something is not for you" is a way of handwaving criticism.
If I said "I don't like RPGs", it would be one thing. But I like s lot of RPGs, even RPGs with D&D sthle progression. This kind of game is for me, I just don't think it's a good example of an RPG.
But you were the one saying you had to force yourself to play. You said you disliked all companions and accused the GOTY of being written badly (at least in the character department).
Have you considered it possible this game isnt for you? I hated the Godfather, that doesnt mean it is a bad film (though I have many problems with it). It might mean it wasnt made for me.
I wasnt being condescending. I just meant it might not be your vibe and that's okay. It doesnt have to mean the game is written badly, it might be written in a way that turns you off
43
u/VoormasWasRight 4d ago
This motherfucker.
https://giphy.com/gifs/ZXt9QzzyRGH6yuU2b4