Astarion Makes Another Cameo Appearance in 2025 Monster Manual

Astarion, the beloved vampire spawn rogue in Baldur's Gate 3, makes another appearance in Dungeons & Dragons' new Monster Manual. A few months ago, we reported on Astarion making a surprise cameo appearance in the Player's Handbook and how the rogue popped up in the artwork. Now, the character makes a second cameo appearance of sorts in the 2025 Monster Manual. In the entry for Vampires, Astarion is featured in a flavor quote (pun unintended.) The quote reads "Darling, you are simply delicious...," and specifies Astarion as a Vampire Spawn.

While Baldur's Gate 3 references are relatively rare in the new Core Rulebooks, players can expect to see more references to the popular video game franchise in the upcoming Forgotten Realms Adventurer's Guide, which features an entire section on Baldur's Gate. During a press event last month, D&D rules designer Jeremy Crawford noted that the upcoming Forgotten Realms books would serve as the best bridge yet for Baldur's Gate 3 players looking for a familiar entry point into the D&D tabletop game.

Wizards of the Coast has leaned on the Baldur's Gate 3 cast to promote D&D in recent months, with multiple cast members making appearances at various D&D Live shows. The next show will take place at MagicCon in March and will feature four BG3 cast members (including Astarion's voice actor Neil Newbon) playing their characters in an adventure run by Aabria Iyengar.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

During a press event last month, D&D rules designer Jeremy Crawford noted that the upcoming Forgotten Realms books would serve as the best bridge yet for Baldur's Gate 3 players looking for a familiar entry point into the D&D tabletop game.

For the love of Bhaal, get this stuff in front of actual BG3 players who don't play tabletop. Hiding a reference in the Monster Manual or even putting out new Forgotten Realms books isn't going to magically make them aware that you're doing this.

Put a digital coupon on the BG3 launcher or something and heavily promote every tie between BG3 and tabletop D&D.

This is a once in a generation marketing opportunity and WotC just doesn't seem interested in capitalizing on it, despite Hasbro execs pursuing every other opportunity to monetize the brand. Converting BG3 players to tabletop players should have been a priority a long time before D&D-branded online gambling.

 

[wicked cool]

I wonder why certain actors are more interested in the live plays that others. Karlach and astarion are 1 and 2 but i
Wonder why the gale actor etc aren’t doing even 1/100 of those 2?
I disagree. If your playing Bg3 and are a d&d player you can just search for astarion etc

Not sure why the slot machines bothers people? I kind of like it. If I was to go to Vegas I’d play the d&d machine over say the other graphic 1

Doesn’t bother me that’s there’s game of thrones or Star Trek whiskey

These are legal products?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

If your playing Bg3 and are a d&d player you can just search for astarion etc

And if you're a BG3 player and not a D&D player, you won't know anything about it and won't buy the $50 books WotC wants to sell.

 

[Bae'zel]

I wonder why certain actors are more interested in the live plays that others. Karlach and astarion are 1 and 2 but i
Wonder why the gale actor etc aren’t doing even 1/100 of those 2?

It's really too bad about the Gale VA. He's hilarious. I loved watching him play D&D with the other actors.

 

[sevenbastard]

This is a once in a generation marketing opportunity and WotC just doesn't seem interested in capitalizing on it, despite Hasbro execs pursuing every other opportunity to monetize the brand. Converting BG3 players to tabletop players should have been a priority a long time before D&D-branded online gambling.

Yeah a BG3 starter box set would have been my priority if I was in charge of WOTC.

You got a base that already understands the basic of the rules try to convert them.

Also I've never played BG3 but I assume you could build an adventure adjacent to the video game that makes it feel like bonus content with some cool easter eggs and such.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Also I've never played BG3 but I assume you could build an adventure adjacent to the video game that makes it feel like bonus content with some cool easter eggs and such.

Very much so. The party brushes up against groups and situations that the player either sees the aftermath of or just hears about. Any one of those would be the good subject for a starter set adventure.

 

[talien]

For the love of Bhaal, get this stuff in front of actual BG3 players who don't play tabletop. Hiding a reference in the Monster Manual or even putting out new Forgotten Realms books isn't going to magically make them aware that you're doing this.

Put a digital coupon on the BG3 launcher or something and heavily promote every tie between BG3 and tabletop D&D.

This is a once in a generation marketing opportunity and WotC just doesn't seem interested in capitalizing on it, despite Hasbro execs pursuing every other opportunity to monetize the brand. Converting BG3 players to tabletop players should have been a priority a long time before D&D-branded online gambling.

Interesting datapoint: On Bluesky, the algorithm absolutely believes BG3, Baldurs Gate, and any variant thereof = Dungeons & Dragons, and therefore places all their posts in the D&D feed even when that person does not post anything to do with the tabletop version of the game.

Another interesting datapoint: May of my followers are "fans of D&D." Most of those have never played D&D, came to this fandom via BG3, want to play tabletop someday, but for a lot of reasons aren't sure how to get there.

To your point the marketing opportunity is simply: please, for the love of god, make a "like BG3? Here's how to play D&D online with friends!" guide. That's all they need. I'm doing my best to find them groups to play with but it's astonishing how many general fans of the CONCEPT of D&D there are. They are the future player and customer base, we just need to nudge them in the right direction!

 

[Dire Bare]

And if you're a BG3 player and not a D&D player, you won't know anything about it and won't buy the $50 books WotC wants to sell.

It's just an easter egg man, relax.

 

[Chaltab]

It's really too bad about the Gale VA. He's hilarious. I loved watching him play D&D with the other actors.

Maybe he's just busy or doesn't like D&D as much. Neil Newbon is a fan from days of yore and nerded out when Mark Hulmes used Drizzt. in a AP.