Talk:Astarion

MTG Cards advertising and canonicity?

As per the current editing discussion: What can we consider canon? An advertisement for the cards is currently being used as a source for Astarion's status as a noble (the ad referring to him as a Noble High Elf), but I find it very unlikely devs were consulted for it and the description sounds like fairly average marketing lingo formulated through a google search on the character (the canonicity of the cards themselves are debatable- they've depicted Astarion biting Gale, which is unlikely to be pleasant for him as depicted, and Wyll and Astarion in an intimate relationship, amongst other inconsistencies that I doubt we'd want on the wiki) We know the og batch of cards was made during EA but I can't say that for the newer ones, considering some of them depict some (albeit modified) versions of possible events ingame. 84.122.126.28 21:16, 8 January 2025 (CET)

Thank you for creating the discussion!

To quote Astarions VA on the subject:

"he was a magistrate, he's a High Elf, he's of noble class" - YouTube Interview

If we look into how he was described ingame during EA with the background "Noble", and how he is described now, a High Elf Magistrate - which is basically a "Judge" - I'd say that assuming that he is a noble isnt far fetched.

As the cards themselves, they have been endorsed by Larian & BG3 MTG card packs are included in the collectors edition for bg3.

My words arent gospel, discussions about this topic are encouraged!

~Valk Valk (talk) 08:07, 9 January 2025 (CET)

Thanks for the thoughtful reply!

During the "editing discussion" (not sure what to call it) I also brought up that it was his background during EA, however it no longer is and much of the EA content is not canon anymore, even if him being a noble doesn't contradict anything and is not in any way a huge leap, so I'm not sure what to do with that (it is also included clunkily into the article so I might overhaul that new section altogether once I get my pc back even if we decide it is best to include that info)

I can't discuss that they're backed by Larian, but that they've been consulted over this or worded it carefully is where I am skeptical (and what to make of new "BG3" canon in a post-BG3 WOTC world is something I wonder what to do with altogether). Like I've said it does conjure some problems, regarding the Gale and Wyll cards, where I can't confidently say what counts or not.

As for Neil, I also find the subject touchy because in the past there have been a few instances of him getting info about Astarion wrong based on people's fan content. I admit there's some personal bias there in that in regards to lore canon I prioritise what the writers have to say (and in all honesty I fully expect Rooney to confirm he was a noble, because as we pointed out it's the most logical conclusion, but we don't have that statement, I believe) 31.4.198.250 12:30, 9 January 2025 (CET)