Fans of Astarion Should Explore Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

Baldur’s Gate 3 draws inspiration from the rich tapestry of Dungeons and Dragons, weaving its characters and narrative intricately with the established lore of the Sword Coast. This connection has sparked a fresh wave of interest in role-playing, with many players venturing into the realm of D&D for the first time since the game’s release.

If you’re an Astarion enthusiast seeking to create a similar character with comparable motivations or a striking villainous streak, your first instinct might be to design a vampire spawn. However, a more fitting alternative can be found in Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft. This sourcebook opens up new avenues for character creation, offering options that echo Astarion’s internal battles. The dhampir lineage introduced here resonates more closely with Astarion than the standard vampire spawn, making it an ideal choice for players wanting to mirror his story.

In Dungeons and Dragons, playable vampire spawns exist mainly as monstrous entities, which might not seamlessly translate into player characters without some imaginative modifications or "homebrewing." For those wishing to emulate Astarion’s journey, Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft presents a more suitable substitute under a different guise. This guide focuses on horror themes, providing lineages—distinct from races as they can layer atop a base race. Among the new lineages in Ravenloft is the dhampir, a character option bearing close ties to the experiences of vampire spawn but tailored for a player character.

Dhampirs, unlike traditional vampire spawn, aren’t classified as monsters within the game. They retain certain thematic similarities to Astarion: created by vampire lords, driven by an urge to consume fluids like blood, and equipped with powerful abilities. Overindulgence in their thirst can transform them into dangerous predators, a nod to their innate ferocity.

Key traits offered by dhampirs include:

• Spider Climb
• Vampiric Bite

The Vampiric Bite is particularly notable, using the dhampir’s Constitution modifier for damage instead of Strength. Additionally, when biting non-Undead or non-Construct creatures, dhampirs regain Hit Points, mirroring Astarion’s own Vampiric Bite move.

Exploring Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft extends beyond character creation, delving into characters and monsters that harmonize with Astarion’s narrative. This guide enriches the campaign setting with the Domains of Dread, horror-laden realms ruled by Darklords, reminiscent of the iconic Curse of Strahd campaign. DMs are equipped with comprehensive tools for crafting campaigns that are richly thematic and well-suited for Astarion aficionados, while players are encouraged to devise their unique stories.

Leveraging the resources from Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft, players aren’t confined to the Ravenloft setting. They can craft entirely fresh worlds or immerse their campaigns within the atmospheric city of Baldur’s Gate to echo Astarion’s saga. The beauty of Dungeons and Dragons lies in its endless possibilities, where storytelling is bound only by the player’s creativity. Van Richten’s Guide offers a treasure trove of tools to bring these imaginative tales to life.