Summary
- Astarion's Vampire Spawn Origin ending in Baldur's Gate 3 was originally envisioned as much more ominous than the one that ended up in the game.
- The scene was changed based on feedback from Astarion's actor, Neil Newbon.
Baldur's Gate 3 was originally planned to have a somewhat darker Vampire Spawn ending for Astarion as an Origin character, a senior Larian Studios official has revealed. But the developer ultimately decided against the idea, largely at the suggestion of the Baldur's Gate 3 Astarion actor.
Baldur's Gate 3 endgame spoilers ahead.
The hit 2023 RPG offers ten companions that players can recruit during the course of their adventures in Faerun. Seven of them can also be selected as Baldur's Gate 3 Origin characters, thus acting as the game's protagonist. Choosing an Origin character over a custom one removes the former from the pool of recruitable companions. An Origin character also doesn't talk, meaning players will miss out on their standard banter with the rest of the cast if they pick them. But there are still compelling reasons to do so, including the fact that each Origin character has unique ending cutscenes.
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Baldur's Gate 3 Changed Astarion's Vampire Spawn Origin Ending at Actor's Suggestion
One of those endings underwent some significant changes over the course of the game's development, according to Larian Studios Director of Animation Greg Lidstone. In a recent interview with TheGamer, Lidstone explained that the developer's first take on Astarion's Vampire Spawn Origin ending turned out much more menacing than the one that ended up in the game. The mo-cap recording session initially yielded a cutscene in which Astarion "turned and walked off like a predator" toward his prey after the light in the cave touched his hand, Lidstone recalled. Baldur's Gate 3 actor Neil Newbon protested this take, opining that it didn't feel consistent with the character he was portraying.
Newbon's main issue with this ominous conclusion to Astarion's story was that the character never really had an issue with being a vampire. Instead, his struggles largely stemmed from his lack of free will due to being a spawn. Choosing against Astarion becoming the Vampire Ascendant at the end of Baldur's Gate 3 should hence reflect that he is ultimately "okay with being a vampire," Newbon opined, as per Lidstone's recollection of the events.
Astarion's Vampire Spawn Origin Ending in Baldur's Gate 3 Required 3 Takes
Based on that feedback, the director decided to reshoot the scene. The second take on the Vampire Spawn Origin ending was the first one to include Astarion's little dance before approaching his prey after letting the light touch his hand. This version was subsequently deemed a bit too cheerful, so Lidstone opted to do a third take that achieved a balance between the two, retaining the dance but toning it down.
That third version is the one that ended up making the cut, with Lidstone labeling it as one of the game's "best scenes" and praising Newbon for his creative contributions to refining it. But even the original take on the Vampire Spawn cutscene was nowhere near as dark as Astarion's worst Baldur's Gate 3 ending, which is only obtainable by having him in the party as a companion instead of an Origin character.
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.
THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCE
Choose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.
A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPIC
Forged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian's next-generation RPG engine.
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical Only
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 100+ Hours
- Metascore
- 96
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 Players
