#this is by no means a 'ascended or spawn version is better than' discussion

[masterskywalkers]

So I'm reading that new Larian interview for BG3, which has really popped up at a great time for me research-wise, and I see this for Ascended Astarion:

"So with Astarion, his evil ending is actually him…much of what he does is out of fear. And as a player, you can say to him, "You're right to be afraid." And that sends him to a really horrible place, and that I think is really powerful."

Now I've been doing a lot of research into vampires and vampire spawn in literature & D&D mechanics lately - partly for fic ideas, partly because this fandom frustrates me to no end sometimes with some of the things I read and I kind of want to do a breakdown on my own view and interpretation on the character - and this quote is very much something I agree with.

From Act 1 Astarion acts mainly upon fear and survival. He is not a good person, and he will do anything to survive. He literally uses any weapons or tools he has to build a net of safety within the group or with Tav, regardless of whether his methods are healthy for him or not. He knows no other way, because for the past two hundred years at least, he has known nothing but cruelty.

Even as you move further and further into the game, Astarion doesn't stop being afraid. As a Bhaalspawn who romances him but fails to kill Isobel, Sceleritas will comment that 'he is so afraid, so very afraid of everything, but you. The one thing he should fear the most'. In Act 3 after the other spawn attack the party, if a romanced Tav argues with him about the Ascension ritual, there's a response where Astarion will say 'I'm doing this for both of us, you know? To keep us both safe'.

Astarion is fueled by fear, and he believes that power is a way to ensure he won't ever have to fear anything again. That he won't have to be weak anymore (he sees himself as weak, ignoring the utter strength he has to even be able to survive the amount of torture and abuse he's lived through for so many years). During the decision of whether to allow him to Ascend or not, it takes an intervention from the person he trusts the most to even attempt to talk him down - and even that option is a journey of dice rolls and making the correct choices.

Astarion follows in the footsteps of the playstyle and the behaviors of the player character. He values his freedom and independence, but he doesn't know how to live without fear because, as far as he remembers, fear has been his entire existence. Even if you don't let him ascend, when you ask him how he feels about freedom he says it's both terrifying and exhilarating - it's a new kind of fear for him, the fear of a vast future open for him, one that isn't ruled beneath the hand of someone who controlled him.

In either ending - bad or good - Astarion gains and loses something. In a good ending, he gains freedom and the chance to start anew - to a limit, as he looses the ability to walk in the sun. In a bad ending, he gains security, safety and power - but loses himself in the process:

"Whether or not a vampire retains any memories from its former life, its emotional attachments wither as once-pure feelings become twisted by undeath. Love turns into hungry obsession, while friendship becomes bitter jealousy. In place of emotion, vampires pursue physical symbols of what they crave, so that a vampire seeking love might fixate on a young beauty. A child might become an object of fascination for a vampire obsessed with youth and potential. Others surround themselves with art, books, or sinister items such as torture devices or trophies from creatures they have killed." - Players Handbook, 5e

^ This is something that really interests me, because how much of that extends to the Vampire Ascendent is up to the player. I have my own thoughts for what this means for a romanced Astarion - and maybe I'll write something about that at some point, or post my thoughts in more detail later if anyone is interested - but the fact that the Vampire Ascendent is different from a normal vampire due to it being born from a deal made with a devil, I think, gives enough creative leeway for writers and players to play around with how they interpret to fit with their own playstyle.

Astarion, throughout the game, is at the very beginning of a long journey of being a survivor of abuse and trauma. I don't think he's really able to process or work on recovery until Cazador is dead - he is the looming threat for Astarion, after all, the shadow that is always there. Because even if they defeat the Netherbrain but don't defeat Cazador, Astarion is still at huge risk of becoming his toy again - but how he chooses to work through that and learn to handle his fear, depends on the person he becomes throughout the journey. And the player character is a huge influence to this - for better or for worse.

[superautoreviews]

Ford KA 2019 Argentina Dimensions, Interior, Price

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Ford KA 2019 Argentina Dimensions, Interior, Price

Ford KA 2019 Argentina Dimensions, Interior, Price – Under the skin area, it was a not even close to a sophisticated component of devices, however, for quite often it had been greater than adequate, even when the engine sensed very long in the teeth from the first day. Regardless of this, it was entertaining to drive and fulfilling to obtain. It spawned a ‘warm’ Ford KA 2019 version along with the smooth-top Streetka, way too.

The very first-era Ford Ka attained many things in various places in the 12 many years it stayed available for sale, which includes numerous design and best automobile honors all through European countries. However, certainly, its greatest accomplishment was getting to over 1.4 million homes, over 500,000 of which were actually in the UK.

We Europeans cherished that unique New Edge Ka, correct until the very previous a single rolled from the creation series in 2008. So you could say that its successor is beneath unprecedented tension to be successful.

Ford’s means to fix the nearby to-extremely hard-to-resolve formula of how to earn money away from a high-high quality, and appealing city vehicle ended up being to be a part of up with Fiat and divided the improvement fees. It explains why below its skin area the brand new Ka gives 80 percent from the components with all the Fiat 500.

There is no stop of available trim choices to fit each style; and also the much more typical Business, Type, Zetec, Zetec Grayscale Editions and Titanium types, along with a single petrol engine within the model of the 1.2-litre device distributed to the Fiat 500.

However, this 2nd generation Ka by no means stood a lot possibility of replicating its predecessor as well as match up the beguiling 500, and as a result, Ford has processed this a few front door supermini, from the form of the greater general, five various-door Ka.

Ford KA 2019 Design Review

Ford KA 2019 Price

Ford KA 2019 Dimensions

Ford KA 2019 Argentina

The first Ford KA 2019 introduced Ford’s New Edge design style; this 2nd technology adheres to Ford’s current Kinetic Design ideology. The basic front grille aperture as well as long, and also squinting headlights are aimed to offer the brand new Ford Ka just like Manga character, seemingly.

The top-achieving front door vanity mirror attaches slashes into first side three-quarter awareness, even though the A-pillars themselves are not particularly extensive.

There was an eleventh-60 minute design change with the Tychy factory in Poland to maintain the line of rear wing and entrance fluent at its higher edge. The form and placement of the tailgate handle recommendations that relating to the first Ka.

The fuel filler gives out the Ka’s Fiat origins. Other Ford products get the cover integrated into the flap, while the Ka has a standard cap that needs the true secret to release.

The Ka, in reality, started lifestyle being a Fiat Panda, as do the 500 itself, and the joints enterprise started out in a matter of 2005 when Fiat and Ford joined to create two vehicles – 500 and Ka – from the Panda’s pre-existing program.

Fiat offered the standard bodyshell for your undertaking plus the motors, gearboxes, chassis and revocation systems. Ford then retuned and restyled the vehicle in their detail to make the brand new Ka. So even though the Ka’s 1.2-litre, the single-cam petroleum engine might appear just like the Fiat 500’s in writing, empowering around similar 67bhp and also 75lb ft, the simple truth is it seems rather various in the Ford.

However, the greatest distinction undoubtedly is the rear end suspensions, exactly where Ford has fitted a 30 percentage firmer contra–roll nightclub and changed just about everything that goes to present the Ka the right type of dynamic persona. Though it continues to shares the 500’s standard geometry of MacPherson struts and coil springs in front with a torsion Ray (also that new contra–roll club) at the back.

2016, Ford Ka has left the quirkiness the authentic Ford KA 2019 and this second generation made an effort to continue right behind, using the proper purpose of this new 5-front door supermini aiming for practicality, efficiency, and affordability within the attempting to muscle the Volkswagen Up and Hyundai i10 taken care of.

Ford KA 2019 Interior

Ford KA 2019 Interior

You can find three original design styles that may be specified within the Ford KA 2019, each of that may be as a stand alone designed to some customer’s likes and desires. The opportunity difference of color, clip and choice combos is so vast that no person at Ford has a calculator highly efficient sample to work out the particular variety.

Just before you could choose from five fundamental clip levels: Studio, Type, Zetec, Zetec White and Black Editions and Titanium, each showing in ascending order of price and specification.

The entrance stage Studio room types are sparse affairs, as must be anticipated, but do feature anti-fasten braking systems, a vacation Computer, USB 2. 0 online connectivity plus a 12V strength socket, although updating for the Studio Ka brings air conditioner, electronic top Microsoft Windows, physically changeable driver’s seat, and body coloured takes care of and mirror real estate as regular.

The middle of the variety Zetec types gain 16in alloy tires, warmed wing wall mirrors, entrance fog lamps and Ford’s Quickclear windscreen, while the Grayscale Editions have black color alloys, grayscale seating toned and interior design.

The product range-topping Titanium cut equips the Ford KA 2019 with luxuries including environment control, leather chairs, a panoramic sunroof and rear vehicle parking detectors.

If this all sounds significantly classy on paper, except if you go the entire hog and look deep to the options catalog, the Ford KA 2019 interior, though anatomically seem and pretty well made, is experiencing becoming a contact every day.

The chairs are no better than so-so inside the assist they feature and sense interestingly tight beneath your backside, even though the plastic-type used to tone a lot of the top of the dash is in the low-cost instead of unusually cheerful assortment. Only the flash of coloring programming in the heart unit itself plus a brace of great-searching, duly related tools help lift the climate higher than the regular.

Having said that, the stereo system functioning remains unforgivably fiddly; it is much too an easy task to thumb the danger caution option to choose Stereo Dunton.

On the flip side, for this type of small vehicle, the level of room on offer from the Ka is sincerely outstanding. Head space is superb, there’s adequate lower-leg area front and back to press some grown ups aboard, and in many cases, the boot is big sufficient to swallow a fair slug of baggage.

Ford KA 2019 Engine Performance

Ford KA 2019 Engine

Ford put in a lot of time and energy returning the 1.2-litre, 8-device engine in the Ford KA 2019 to deliver a merge and magnificence of performance it was pleased with.

Not because the engine does a poor work inside the 500, simply a many a single from that needed by the Light Blue Oval. The result is a quantifiable modified experience, but regardless of whether it is any further appealing than what you obtain within the Fiat is an additional subject. However, the Ford KA 2019 believes perkier and ordinary speedier compared to Fiat and has a nicer, slicker gearchange.

The Ka’s problem is it creates a surprising quantity of noises inside of the cabin with anything more than some hundred revs dialed into the motor unit. That typically properly oiled, virtually over-refined feel that’s so plentiful generally in most other Fords merely isn’t there in the new Ka, possibly.

Nevertheless, it is a decently active performer inside the initially some equipment, although fifth (leading) can feel a feeling very extended to the 1.2-litre engine to manage. Absolutely nothing to 60mph requires an aggressive 13.6sec, and in 4th products, it will go from 50-70mph within 13.0sec, a fun time to get a city car.

In essence, the slightly more expensive and eliminated TDCi variation was far quieter and much better performer in real life, and that is the edition you need to choose. Whenever you can manage it, and you will travel enough kilometers to cancel out the better acquire expenses with its increased overall economy.

The standard, Fiat-sourced towards 74bhp 1.3-litre type of diesel is identical one particular you could buy inside a Panda, 500 – or Vauxhall Corsa. Meaning that GM and Ford are discussing a similar engine. As in other programs, this diesel system has to be used terribly. It has to be revved, so performance is still associated with some noise. It only does when tugging 2500pm or far better, but it also runs out of puff at 4500rpm.

Ford KA 2019 Release Date And Price

If you are looking for a compact and efficient runabout, the Ford KA 2019 constitutes a case by itself. In 1.2 Style cut it is affordable to ensure, relatively clean and, in your encounter, will seldom deliver under 40mpg and in some cases over 50mpg. Also, the diesel engine provides a reasonable economic system and lower running costs in the properly-costed bundle.

The difficulty is, most of its competition score on these counts also – also, with regards to the most efficient from the class, some other folks.

The Fiat 500 along with VW Up, for example, give a dash of amazing styling and a lot of system for any related price, although other city automobiles, notably the Hyundai i10, Fiat Panda and Kia Picanto, supply significantly better value with a combination of affordable prices, high build, low-cost running fees and plentiful devices. As 5-doors, they are more useful, too.

For all of us, the Ford Ka 2019 has misplaced a number of the elegance of the unique; the particular no-nonsense mechanicals, with huge sense of style and lower, reduced working expenses mean the existing product remains desired about the utilized marketplace nowadays.

The same cannot be explained by the newest model, and employed (and industry in) prices represent that. The only upside for first time Ka purchasers is that there is the place to haggle at dealers – exclusive discounts of at least ten pct on checklist costs are standard, and we would advocate would-be consumers use on-line agent internet sites to ascertain the latest rates well before wondering a car dealership to complement them.

The Ford KA 2019 is making positive strides to remedy the malaise which will caused the next gen of Ka is quite aiming to duplicate the initial is concentrating on usefulness and price.