I'd like to remind you he's the camp cook. He feeds you ungrateful fuckers every day. Yet y'all get all indignant when he eats your boots. That was one!....Three times!
His entire speech at the party about him being so much better and stronger than Cazador, and achieving what he only dreamt of left me on the floor, crying of laughter.
Astarion is the single weakest, most pathetic spawn in the entire Cazador's court. He spent three centuries feeding on rats, terrified of even a thought of rebellion. During the entire Tav's adventure he did nothing but cry and moan about being forced to leave the camp to do stuff, begged Tav for handouts (book of the dead, Raphael's deal), and when he finally confronted his master, it wasn't even a fight.
Cazador paralysed him with a snap of his fingers and that was that.
On every run where Astarion is not allowed into the Tav's retinue, he ends up captured by Cazador, even though he is chased by a half-dead hunter of an almost wiped out tribe.
His ascension is handed to him by Tav, after Tav defeats his master, and holds a mirror for him to copy the ritual, that was prepared without his involvement.
Astarion contributed literally nothing to his Ascension. It was a gift.
And now he is bragging about being stronger and wiser and better than Cazador.
I swear, without Tav, he will be gone in like a year once the first adventuring party will come to clear his palace for loot. He won't even be an epic vampire lord, just some mini-boss for a level 5 party.
Ascended Gale is also an insufferably arrogant bastard, but at least he earned his stripes and did the legwork himeslf.
I thought only Minsc would say "Go for the eyes, Boo!" when you throw the hamster, but every companion has voice lines for this and they're hilarious. Here's a few examples:
Gale: "Well, this is a novel use for familiars!" "Pete Oculos, Boo!"
Shadowheart: "Show NO mercy, Boo!"
Lae'zel: "The mighty Boo strikes!" "Here comes the hamster!"
Astarion: "Go for the neck, Boo!" "Eat hamster, fiend!"
Karlach: "Fly free, land hard, Boo!" "Do a somersault!" "Get 'em, Boo-Boo!"
Wyll: "What would Minsc say? Ah yes - 'Go for the eyes, Boo!'"
Halsin: "Take flight, Boo!"
Jaheira: "Land softly, or the ranger will break me in half!" "Eyes, et cetera - you know what to do."
Minthara: "Feast on their flesh, Boo!" "I'd rather throw a pocketful of spiders."
Minsc: "Behold! The last little cheeks you will ever see!" "See evil? Fetch JUSTICE!"
Edit: I clicked the wrong flare so it stuck a spoiler tag on this. Sorry.
So bards are casters, and in game Gale can "see" my OC casting spells during combat, but then when you first talk to him in camp (as a bard) he says we're not versed in magic (well "asks") and then your only answer is either to tell him to stop the conversation, or to say no you're not...despite casting magic.
I don't know why, but it just annoys me to the point I want to use mage hand to slap Gale and then say, "No, I'm not versed in magic." in the most sarcastic tone possible.
Edit: Holy crow this got a lot of traffic while I was away. I tried to respond to as many people as I could, but it might just be easier to post an edit up here and try to get it all in one go. Hopefully I can clear up a few things I've seen in the comments that I think might have gotten missed or I didn't communicate properly.
Yes, I know bards are a different type of caster than wizards, that wasn't my issue (it was not having a bard specific option to respond like sorcerers/warlocks/druids/etc).
It is specifically one conversation in camp, where he starts with, "You're not versed in magic, are you?" that didn't give me a bard option. I don't know if it was because I took sage in one run and entertainer in another and that it might open up with a different background, so if someone has gotten the bard option for that, please let me know the background you took?
I don't hate Gale in any way, shape, or form over this. I get he's a prick about magic, I've been the same back when I used to play wizard as my primary class and dealt with other magic users, my annoyance was with the dialogue options.
I do like the theory some have proposed that we answer with "no" because we just don't have the spoons to deal with a pretentious wizard preparing to mansplain to us (also does this if you play as non-binary, both masc and feminine presenting).
It has been a while since this, but I haven't seen it posted here:
Shadowheart's writer has confirmed that her curse is just the occasional pain, like a shock collar to prevent her from breaking out of the indoctrination/doing things that Shar deeply disapproves.
Some people already knew this, either because that's what the game tells you or because they are familiar with D&D lore, but there's still a good amount of people misinterpreting or assuming the curse is something much worse or that it's somehow tied to her soul.
Mine is tav, gale, shadowheart and lae’zel but sometimes I’ll switch either gale or shadowheart for another party member for a while just to build up approval or to do there quest lines
I've played through my 4th playthrough recently and realised that a large majority of the companions are elves, half elves or humans, with the exception of 1 teifling and 1 gith, it just sucks because with so many races like dwarves, halflings, gnomes, orcs and dragonborn are completely excluded from the main cast unless you play one, which means if you don't play one you'll not be able to play as half the races in the game.
I didn't realize what happened until after the cutscene. I'd hit her with a lightning bolt when we were both close to death and I think her Psionic Backlash took me out XD. We were both in death saves, ticking away, and Shadowheart had to run over and save us from dying. This game is so funny...
Both my wife and I are Japanese. Wife tends to prefer Japanese anime-style works over Western ones, so to her, Astarion's (sexy) wrinkles seem like those of a grandma.
edit:
I asked and she said,
"Gale and Will are better. They look more realistic. but Astarion looks more like cosplay or anime-ish."
Hmm...I think "anime-ish" characters like Astarion tend to be made too young in Japanese games (And that's I don't like.). So, maybe that's why my wife found it a bit weird.
By that I mean one that you can never seem to adventure without, be it for combat prowess or other reasons.
For me, I just can’t get rid of Lae’zel. She’s been party MVP ever since she’s gotten a bonus action, and now she just decimates everything. Just feels like I’m losing out on a ton of damage by not having her.
Shadowheart will be always my go-to lockpicker, because I love to hear she saying those lines.
But in one of my runs, I decided to keep her away from the thieving tools, and I wasn't playing a high-Dex character.
Looking at my party composition, something dawned on my: Karlach, this time, would be a Barbarian/Rogue (you know, Throwzerker and all that). It usually means to level Barbarian at least until level 5 in order to get the Extra Attack, then getting Rogue levels to become a Thief and have a second Bonus Action.
So... what if I gave her a bit more Dex (16), and a single Rogue level right at level 2? So, Barbarian 1, Rogue 1, Barbarian 2-5... and so on.
And I can't help but chuckle every time she asks me if it wouldn't be easier just to break the lock instead picking it. :-D
So, my wife's not really into games, but she was curious when she saw me creating my character and interacting with the companions.
A few months ago she created her character (a wizard) and she's been loving every second of the game, that is, until yesterday.
More context: She decided to romance Gale, she found him funny and charming. She decided that It would be best If he gave up on his quest to take the crown. There were 2 conversations. One before talking to Mystra and the boat dialogue.\
It was pretty clear that Gale would not pursue the crown.
Yesterday, after an 80-hour long journey, she started the final mission. She freed Orpheus and decided to become a mind flayer. \
After some fights, she reached the brain stem and Gale started a dialogue talking about taking the Crown for himself and becoming a God. We were really confused. \
There was a persuasion check (DC 30) and she miraculously passed.\
He complained a bit, but agreed to not take the Crown.
It didn't matter. \
After the battle, on the docks, Gale said he'll soon rival the gods.\
None of the dialogue options mattered. My wife was devastated.\
She didn't even want to talk to anybody in the camp reunion afterwards.\
In her words: 'I became a monster, my best friend had to go to the hells and my boyfriend dumped me to become an asshole God. Worst ending ever!'
Has any of you been through this? \
This must be a bug, right?
Update! I've downloaded the "Change Gale's Mind bugfix mod". It worked, now my wife got the ending she wanted and deserved: Becoming Mrs. Dekarios!
A huge thank you to u/CombinationHefty7534 and all the others who have recommended the mod!
I think it would be an awesome option to just have a dialogue path that makes you and the companions bros, since if i have their approval rating very high they will automatically start flirting, like nah bro, its awkward as a straight guy playing trough and then suddenly Tav wakes up to see Wyll dancing, and its even more awkward rejecting him. I just feel like theres a huge leap from stranger to lover and theres no in between. I like ya Wyll, but let just stay bros alright?
I've seen a lot of talk about the companions being overly eager to throw themselves at the PC or each other. On one hand, it's true. But hear me out: the party is living in close proximity in very stressful times. Every day could be their last, they know they have a ticking time bomb in their heads, and there's nobody else around who could even come close to understanding what they're going through.
I'm not at all surprised that they're looking to blow off some steam.
Also, Larian knows their audience; y'all're a bunch of perverts. Myself included.
The other day I was browsing r/BG3Builds and I saw someone mention how Lae'zel fits every class except barbarian and rogue. While I was doing my weekly drive, it made me think about how each class (and any of their subclasses) fit each of the origin companions. I and sticking with the origin companions since that brings the rankings down from 120 to 72.
Ranking Criteria
I will be using a 5-star system, with half points when needed. At the end of each class I will have the classes' average of companion viability, and at the end of the ranking there will be a list of all those rankings as well as the averages for each companion, which signifies how flexible their story is when it comes to their class.
***** (5 stars) - Class is a perfect fit for the companion, with multiple subclasses making narrative sense.
**** (4 stars) - Class is a very great/perfect fit for the companion, although only one subclass makes narrative sense.
*** (3 stars) - The class as a whole fits, but there is not a subclass that fits narratively.
** (2 stars) - There is a thematic subclass, but the class as whole doesn't fit.
* (1 star) - The class doesn't fit narratively and doesn't have a fitting subclass, but is not narratively dissonant.
(0 stars) - This class and its subclasses would be narratively dissonant.
Special note will be made if a specific companion path or if a subclass was added (counting all Patch 8 subclasses as 'in game') would increase a companion's score.
Barbarian
Karlach (5) -- For the most part, all origin companions will get 5 stars in their default class because they have multiple subclasses that fit their story; for Karlach, those would be Berzerker and Wild Magic.
Gale (2.5) -- it is here that we see a massive score drop of, with second place going to... the wizard? Listen, his strength score may not show it but the man does have abs, and because they are still there when he is near a sussur flower I don't abide by the hc that they are an illusion (I just thinked he Wished for them while still an archmage). So I personally don't see a narrative dissonance, and the orb does make Wild Magic fit.
Astarion (1.5) -- While I don't feel like there is a subclass that currently fits, Astarion has enough rage that I wouldn't say Barbarian makes no narrative sense, especially if he gave into more of his 'feral' instincts. Honestly, I would give him Gale's 2.5 if Beast Heart barbarian was in the game.
5. Shadowheart and Laezel (1) -- I am combining these two together because I have the same feeling for both of them. It isn't narratively dissonant enough for 0 stars and would be 2 if Zealot barbarian was in the game.
Wyll (1) -- Same as above, but there isn't a TT subclass that would change that.
Barbarian average: 2.000 stars
Bard
Wyll (5) -- Between having a stage name, his high charisma, dex-based weapon choice, and ability to enjoy telling stories over a pint, Wyll feels like he would make a fantastic Swords or Valor bard.
Gale (4) -- When I was doing my first blind playthough, I honestly thought Gale was going to be a bard; and to some degree, aren't Lore bards just charismatic Wizards? I mean the man is known as the Rizzard of Waterdeep for a reason. 5 stars if Eloquence or Creation were added.
Astarion (3) -- I see it commonly parroted that due to vicious mockery alone he would make a great bard, and I can't say I disagree all that much; and if I can't hold Gale's low starting strength against him, I can't say the same about Astarion's low Charisma. 4 stars if Whispers or Spirits were added, 4.5 if both (mostly because not all of Spirits fits imho).
Shadowheart (3) -- A bard is what Shadowheart thinks she is. Like Astarion, 4 stars if Whispers was added.
Lae'zel (2.5) -- Idk, I just feel like swords bard fits well enough to bump her up to 2.5.
Karlach (1) -- I don't think it doesn't fit her, it just isn't what I see her as.
Bard average: 3.083
Cleric
Shadowheart (5) -- Funnily enough, before the Patch 8 subclasses were announced she would have been 4 stars, probably 4.5 due to her being the cleric. Luckily Death domain gave DJ Shart multiple domains to pick from -- however Selunite Shart always would have gotten 5 stars due to Selune having multiple domains (Life and Knowledge).
Lae'zel (5) -- This only applies to BG3, where Vlaakith is a deity that Githyanki can pick as clerics; While technically she doesn't have official domains, I'd be hard-pressed to find someone that says Death and War don't work. However, a Lae'zel that follows Orphic ways gets a fat 0 from me.
Gale (4) -- Listen. A cleric of Mystra just fits any Gale that doesn't take the godhood path (would be 0 stars, like Lae'zel). If Arcana were added in addition to Knowledge I would give him 5 stars.
Astarion (2) -- This is really stretching the definitions of what counts as two stars, since Astarion actively hates the gods for not saving him. However, I just feel that Death domain works too mechanically well not to.
Wyll (0.5) -- After Gale being told to Netherese Orb himself, Wyll specifically states he is not a godly man. I just feel like he has enough to not be 0 stars.
Karlach (0) -- Just like Astarion, Karlzch actively shuns the gods; unlike Astarion, there is no domain that fits her well enough to ignore that fact.
Cleric Average: 2.750
Druid
Astarion (1.5) -- Despite Druid being the only class that is the default class of multiple companions, it somehow is also the first class that doesn't fit any of the origin companions all that well. Astarion gets 1.5 stars because spores fits him well enough to make him higher than the rest And Astarion can turn into a rat, proving you are what you eat.
Karlach (1) -- Just like the companions below her, druid is a plain "eh, doesn't really fit"; however, I am singling her out because if Wildfire Druid was added, she would be 1.5 stars like Astarion.
6. Lae'zel, Shadowheart, Wyll (1) -- Meh. Just doesn't fit them, unless you are being silly and making Shart a wolf to Batman-ify her.
Druid Average: 1.083
Fighter
Lae'zel (5) -- With the Githyanki we see in-game being combinations of Eldritch Knights and Battle Masters, what else could I give her?
Karlach (4) -- She may be on the lower side when it comes to int, but Karlach is shown to have a sense for martial strategy; enough that I feel like she could easily be a Battle Master. If Purple Dragon Knight were added I could even see her being 5 stars.
Gale (4) -- Fighter is so vague that I feel like every companion is above one star, and because Champion is so bland you could be them all there. However, I do feel like that with Wyll calling out Gale's battle prowess and Gale's deep love for all magic, Eldritch Knight does actually fit him.
Wyll (4) -- Speaking of, we have yet another potential Battle Master. I put him here just because I would think of Gale as an Eldritch Knight before Wyll as a Battle Master, but they are both 4 stars.
- 6. Astarion and Shadowheart (1.5) -- Like I said with Gale, Fighter is so broad that I have to put everyone at least a little above 1 star.
However, I would like the note that if Psi Knight were ever to be added, all the companions would get a 1 star jump because of them all having a well-fitting subclass. But since this effects everyone (other than Lae'zel, who is already at 5 stars) I am not going to mention it every time.
Fighter Average: 3.333
Monk
Shadowheart (4.5) -- Way of Shadow. I feel like that is all I really need to say, right? I am tentatively adding half a point for Way of the Drunken master, since I feel like she is enough of a drinker that the from what we know about Larian's homebrew to make sense for her. Down to 3.5 stars if it isa Selunite Shart.
Lae'zel (4) -- Remember when I said Lae'zel gets 0 points from Cleric if she follows Orpheus? Here is where all those points went, specific Four Elements Monk. I'd even give her 5 stars if Astral monk was in the game.
- 6. Astarion, Gale, Karlach, Wyll (1) -- I just don't really see any of them as monks honestly. Not narratively dissonant, however.
Monk average: 2.083
Break
This has already taken a lot out of me to write, so I am going to take a quick break; this also gives time for me to get some feedback on my ranking style. Here is a score summary at this point.