Baldur’s Gate 3 players argue Astarion is “irrelevant” to the plot

Baldur’s Gate 3 players are arguing that one of the community’s most-liked characters is “irrelevant” to the main plot of the game.

Part of Baldur’s Gate 3’s appeal is its wide cast of characters, all of whom have their own unique personalities and intertwining narratives that play off of one another.

As players near the end of the game, seeing these stories pay off and build with each other is a part of what makes the story so special.

However, some fans are arguing that one of the community’s favorite characters is the exception, providing little significance to the main plot, if any.

Baldur’s Gate 3 players argue that Astarion is insignificant to the story

Over on the Baldur’s Gate 3 subreddit, a post was made detailing a player’s thoughts on how Astarion really has no impact on the overall story.

“Astarion’s story is only ever focused on Cazador, who honestly feels like an afterthought,” the user explained. “Aside from the quick interaction with the hunter in act 1 Cazador has no presence until act 3, and in act 3, he has no bearing on the greater story.”

They detail how they never felt themselves drawn to Astarion as a character, and they have come to realize this this is the reason why.

Surprisingly, a number of other Baldurs’ Gate 3 players have come to agree with the sentiment, though many of them don’t view it as a bad thing:

“Everyone is irrelevant to the main plot, but everyone except Astarion is tied into the main plot. And that’s something I like.”

Another poster continues with: “I don’t need his story to be weaved into the plot like everything else (some of it actually felt a little bit shoe-horned in). Astarion’s just an unlucky man, who got lucky by getting picked up by the nautiloid.”

One fan even feels that Astarion as a character provides an almost-meta feel to the game: “He is the representation of all the snark, lewdness and sass that has taken place at D&D tables since the 70’s. Without him, the other characters would take themselves too seriously. Plot or no plot, he’s invaluable.”

Astarion’s sarcastic, biting personality is what drew so many players to him as soon as the game was released in Early Access, and having a player come out against him is sure to stir up some conversation.

Whether or not they feel that his character is important to the overall story, it doesn’t seem to have any impact on anyone’s enjoyment of Baldur’s Gate 3.