Baldur’s Gate 3is a massive game with an immense web of storylines, dialogue options, and outcomes for players to discover. It could take18Baldur’s Gate 3playthroughsto see every possible character permutation, giving players a vast potential for replayability, and that might not even be enough. Such a large game also allows players to see multiple endings and outcomes for their favorite characters, and the same could be said for actors involved in the RPG’s development with the game’s branching narrative experience.
AlthoughBaldur’s Gate 3has a vast script, many fans may likely encounter their favorite or memorable lines spoken byBaldur’s Gate 3’s charming vampire Astarion, who has a certain flair and way with words. Game Rant recently interviewed Astarion actor Neil Newbon about what it was like to play the character with such a big script to work with.
RELATED:Baldur’s Gate 3’s Biggest Character Twist Explained
Astarion Actor Neil Newbon Discusses Baldur’s Gate 3’s Huge Script And Dialogue
Like other characters and companions, Astarion has a variety of pathways players might pursue. EveryBaldur’s Gate 3player gets their own version of Astarion, who could hide a heart of gold or be as cruel and manipulative as one might expect of a vampire. Several possible outcomes influence what happens in the story, alongside the result of player dice rolls in some cases. When asked what it was like working withBaldur’s Gate 3’s enormous script and various story permutations as an actor, compared to previous video game projects, Newbon spoke about the importance of flexibility and a “very different mindset.” As Newbon explained,
You have to come into it in a way that really expands on the idea of there being no set story. You have to focus and hone in on the character, so you know what the character is going to do, regardless of the given circumstances, and then be malleable enough as an actor to completely flip circumstances depending on what the director is telling you.
Branching narratives in gamingcan prove an enjoyable experience, and Newbon also described playing as Astarion as like acting in a multiverse or “multistarionverse,” as he put it. After all, no two versions of Astarion will be the exact same, which results from the various permutations in the story and his character. When portraying these permutations, Newbon spoke about how,
This is now a situation where I’m acting in this universe, this multiverse…this Multistarionverse where he’s done something different instead. Now, how would my character react, what are his wants, needs, and obstacles under these circumstances? It’s really a cool acting exercise because you are just constantly flipping around
He also praised how well Larian and PitStop worked together on the “incredibly huge spider web-like script,”
I think it’s a testament to everybody that works there, the cast, the crew, the developers, the writers, and all their passion for this to work in the first place.
Neil Newbon’s Favourite Voice Lines In Baldur’s Gate 3
Video game lines and dialogue can be impactful and memorable for players, whether aniconic video game catchphrase, victory quote, hilarious one-liner commentary, or beyond. When asking Newbon about his favorite lines for Astarion, one line he mentioned involved a moment when the player threatens someone but lets them go, as Astarion says something along the lines of, “You’re not going to eviscerate them? Pity, I was hoping for a show.” Newbon also agreed another great line is when Astarion says “I thought we had something special” when players leave him at the camp. Newbon also spoke about how he and the team came up with Astarion’s accent, which began as vague British RP which they added high inflection to.
Fans are also likely to find their favorite things or moments about Astarion through their playthroughs, and that’s the beauty of a game with so many different pathways of discovery. As Newbon described the storytelling, there is no canon story orchoice for Astarion inBaldur’s Gate 3.
I think the reason that I like the branching narrative, the ridiculous number of permutations, combinations, and story options so much is that there is no definitive canon story. It’s whatever you find that works for you and what you feel is the story.
Baldur’s Gate 3is available now on PC. A PS5 version releases on September 6.
MORE:Baldur’s Gate 3 Will Hopefully Start A New Era Of Split-screen Gaming
