Larian didn’t write Astarion’s best moment in Baldur’s Gate 3, it was all Neil Newbon 

Astarion voice actor Neil Newbon quickly became an icon for his role in Baldur’s Gate 3, bringing life to one of gaming’s best RPG characters. However, it turns out the actor’s best moment in the expansive role-playing game was completely ad-libbed.  

For those who have yet to play through BG3, be warned, this article will spoil one of the game’s most emotional scenes. 

Neil Newbon created Baldur’s Gate 3’s best moment

In Act 3 of Larian’s RPG, Astarion can come face to face with his long-time abuser, Cazador Szarr. The pale vampire is often suave and emotionally locked off, but his abuser manages to completely shatter his power and torment him even when he’s not present. 

Astarion and Cazador eventually come face to face, and it’s here where Astarion’s best moment takes place. After taking the life of his tormentor, the vampire loudly cries, screaming out his years of pain into an empty, blood-filled room. 

Revealed by Baldur’s Gate 3 director Thomas Mitchell, Astarion’s emotional outburst in the scene wasn’t scripted. Instead, Neil Newbon’s emotions took over, and he let loose with his feelings as the character finally got his closure. 

“This moment where Astarion cries was NOT scripted,” the director said. “Neil felt his heart go this way in the moment and that rawness was done in one take.

“I chose not to make him do it again as I wanted to make sure this lightning was captured in the proverbial bottle.”

My cue to remind you all that this moment where Ast. cries was NOT scripted.

Neil felt his heart go this way in the moment and that rawness was done in one take.

I chose not to make him do it again as I wanted to make sure this lightning was captured in the proverbial bottle. https://t.co/8xOYsTVFkJ

— Thomas Mitchells (@IAmTomMitchells) September 17, 2024

A game like no other 

Larian’s writers carefully crafted a tonne of emotional moments for the RPG, but it’s up to the game’s actors to really make them sing. For BG3, Neil Newbon took his moments and crafted them into something truly special, but he’s not the only one. 

While actor Jennifer English didn’t initially love her role as Shadowheart, she eventually made the character her own. So did every other actor in the RPG’s sizable cast. 

Due to the powerful writing and acting behind these memorable characters, some fans have even been given the strength to leave their real-world abusers. It’s not everyday a game can inspire someone to do that.