Bastian Appreciation Thread

VesuviaBennet22 · July 2022

ectoplasmicninja wrote: »

I wasn't a big fan of him in the beginning, but he grew on me. I do love his tattoos and I want to know the story behind them so badly. I feel like they hint at a whole other side to him that sadly remains woefully unexplored. His questline was good if lacking in detail, and I like his backstory and would like to see it more fleshed out. Let's have dinner with your sister! Let's go present you to High King Emeric and have you earn some cool accolades by us doing dangerous things together at his command thereby demonstrating that treason doesn't run in the blood! Let's go run the Silvelles out of business and get your mother's jewelry back!

He gets a bad rap for being some sort of wilting flower goody two-shoes, but he really isn't. He loves fighting, and often enters combat shouting, "For glory!" He doesn't shy away from violence at all. He approves of you killing bandits, after all.

And you know what, I don't hate that he disapproves of theft and murder - so does any reasonable person! You don't walk around in the real world breaking into people's houses, swiping items from store owners, and stabbing randoms in the back, right?

...right?

He told me I didn't value life when I got into one too many brawls with wildlife while picking herbs. He'll also startle you when you're just harvesting, and all of a sudden he screams WE'RE UNDER ATTACK or however that goes. I nearly spit my coffee out the other morning and it was just a skeever xD

Kisakee · July 2022

Treselegant wrote: »

He never complains about being locked up in the basement while I'm out with the girls.

He's a very good human sacrifice to the torture machines in my event houses.

This is a positivity thread. These are not positive.

It is, there's nobody else that would fit that perfect. I'm not going to let you tell me why i like someone. 😡

spartaxoxo · July 2022

Another thing I like about Bastian is he looks nice in various outfits that I don't personally prefer to wear on my ladies. He looks good in the shirtless outfits because of his sick tats.

Treselegant · July 2022

t is, there's nobody else that would fit that perfect. I'm not going to let you tell me why i like someone. 😡

Hilarious, I'm sure, thanks for sharing I guess

SilverBride · July 2022

It's eye opening to hear the good things others like about Bastian.

Kirawolfe · July 2022

I love Bastian as a companion for all of the reasons above (okay, maybe not the lactose intolerance).

I love that he doesn't like it when I steal or accidentally attack people I thought were bad guys but weren't. I like a character who cares about right and wrong, speaks his mind, and occasionally asks if I'm hurt after a fight. Sure, I still steal, but I basically tell him to go look at that thing over there, quickly yoink, then call him back.

He's basically ESO Superman, just without the flying, super strength, laser vision, etc etc etc.

He's made it possible for me to go through a lot of dungeons on my own, and I've really appreciated that.

And man, those tatts. I *need* the story behind them...

Ilsabet · July 2022

Bastian cares a lot about doing the right thing and actually believes in the whole hero persona, and his idealism is refreshing when it's so easy to be jaded and just kind of go through the motions of getting crap done. He actually has quite a positive attitude about most things despite his reputation for being a disapproving fuddy-duddy. He's supportive and loyal and someone you know will have your back (as long as you haven't actively pissed him off). He seems quite even-tempered, but there's a lot of passion under the surface (presumably that he's been conditioned to keep bottled up so he wouldn't "act out"). It's enjoyable to see some of that come out in his zest for combat, and he obviously feels very strongly about protecting his friends. (Not that I've put any thought into the subject, but I feel like as a romantic partner he'd be just the right combination of passionate and respectful.) His completely unironic dad puns and philosophizing are often facepalm-worthy, but he means well and some of what he says is quite thoughtful. I find him good to look at, and I like his voice and appreciate that they didn't go for a more standard macho-sounding tone.

Overall he's a good wingman and foil for my very tired, slightly sticky-fingered Vestige. It's easy to imagine that once they get past some initial wariness and settle into a comfortable dynamic, he's someone she can rely on and just talk to in a way that she can't with most people. (And they sort of mostly come to terms with the whole thievery thing, so even that isn't a dealkiller.)

Marronsuisse · July 2022

spartaxoxo wrote: »

I love his corny dad jokes. And I like he checks in to make sure you're okay sometimes after a battle.

I love it when he checks in after a fight.

"Are you hurt?"

Fischblut · July 2022

I never imagined I would actually use him after getting all his achievements. I like his body art, and I like his battle cries

They sound rather bloodthirstly (and not as lame as Mirri's, in my opinion), which doesn't fit Bastian's personality and pleases my evil character

He is allowed to rent some of my favourite mounts (this is actually the main reason to use companion for me):

Recently he got a cool dog, so that they look gangsta together

Bastian looks rather lost in a bush though:

On this picture, Bastian looks rather confused and not gangsta:

If he would be okay with dark side of my character, I might summon him permanently.
He understands the beauty of the dark side...

...but loses rapport when he actually sees dark side in action:

I don't have High Isle, so I can't compare him to new companions. I would love to try Ember as companion.

anadandy · July 2022

After we kicked some WB ass and he yelled "That"s how we do things in Daggerfall!" - yup, I'm a Bastian fan.

DreamyLu · July 2022

I use Bastian only. He is my hero. Thanks to him I do delves and public dungeons, what I would never do otherwise as I'm a solo player of a passable level. A lot of the PvE content I touch became possible thanks for him. I specifically like that he never dies and massively contribute to killing enemies.

I have Mirri too, but I never felt at ease with her so I never use her. Bastian is the one and only for me.

warabi · July 2022

ectoplasmicninja wrote: »

I wasn't a big fan of him in the beginning, but he grew on me. I do love his tattoos and I want to know the story behind them so badly. I feel like they hint at a whole other side to him that sadly remains woefully unexplored. His questline was good if lacking in detail, and I like his backstory and would like to see it more fleshed out. Let's have dinner with your sister! Let's go present you to High King Emeric and have you earn some cool accolades by us doing dangerous things together at his command thereby demonstrating that treason doesn't run in the blood! Let's go run the Silvelles out of business and get your mother's jewelry back!

He gets a bad rap for being some sort of wilting flower goody two-shoes, but he really isn't. He loves fighting, and often enters combat shouting, "For glory!" He doesn't shy away from violence at all. He approves of you killing bandits, after all.

And you know what, I don't hate that he disapproves of theft and murder - so does any reasonable person! You don't walk around in the real world breaking into people's houses, swiping items from store owners, and stabbing randoms in the back, right?

...right?

I agree 100% with everything you said. I love Bastian and I think he's everything people should strive to be. He's kind, loyal, very honorable, and has a good sense of humor. I just find it odd so many people hate him because he's basically a really good guy. I guess in their minds being good or nice = weak, which isn't true nor is Bastian like that.

SydneyGrey · July 2022

He's a redhead.
That's literally the only thing I like about him.

Treselegant · July 2022

He's a redhead.
That's literally the only thing I like about him.

I have to ask - then why contribute? If you don't like a character why seek out a positivity thread for that character? No rudeness intended, I just don't understand.

Androrix · July 2022

What I like most about Bastion is that he is not my companion.

*reads thread, realizes Treselegant may not be happy with flip response, quickly thinks of a better one*

Seems like a nice fellow. Also like the fact he is a redhead, and have noticed that he tanks very well when someone brings him along to a boss fight allowing me to flit about the battleground without fear of being stomped.

Treselegant · July 2022

reads thread, realizes Treselegant may not be happy with flip response, quickly thinks of a better one

lol

I just do not understand why anyone would waste time on things they have no interest in.

MissHeartseekerx · July 2022

I love him so much! He loves books (I write novels IRL), he hates cheese (me too...), and is a really nice friend to have. I dressed mine in Scorianite and Meridian and he looks great - I love all of his tattoos that I can see super well with the Scorianite chest!

I tried to use other companions, but I don't like them nearly half as much. Bastian is the only one I have unlocked as a houseguest, and I loved his story. Echoing what others said about how there's more we should be able to explore (like, what IS up with those tattoos...?), but overall he's great and a good healer to have whilst my squishy DD is out trying to solo stuff. I quite like Ember too, but I have Bastian and Jakarn fighting over the cake in my house, and I don't think Ember or Mirri would fit in much

Carcamongus · July 2022

Damn, this thread is making me want to dust off good ol' Bastian, tweak his outfit and go kill some stuff. Or re-kill, if it's undead.

Elvenheart · July 2022

This is a great thread! I have to say that I really like all the companions, and my reasons for liking Bastian have been well discussed by others. I’ve tried to think of something that someone hasn’t said, but really everyone’s covered reasons for liking Bastian very well. 🤠

TheImperfect · July 2022

Love Bastion, very good company. Only annoying thing he says is, 'are you stuck or choosing to remain still' or something like that.

katanagirl1 · July 2022

TheImperfect wrote: »

Love Bastion, very good company. Only annoying thing he says is, 'are you stuck or choosing to remain still' or something like that.

Lol, whenever he says that I think he’s just trying to be a smartass.

BretonMage · July 2022

Thank you for this thread. So lovely to see some positivity amidst everything that's going on right now.

I don't think I can add too much more to what everyone else has said. He's calm, he's kind, and he genuinely cares about people and cares about you. He's an idealist who cares as much about people as he does about the ideals he values. I'm grateful that we have a companion that like to lean on.

RaddlemanNumber7 · July 2022

It looks to me like Bastian had a somewhat confused, multiphase development. It has given him a depth of character that I truly appreciate.

On the surface is the priggish Breton Imperial who is the red-headed stepchild of the Silvelles.

Just below that surface is a young man who experimented with Akaviri Dragon Magic in some sort of cryptic cult. It left him with that scary full-body tattoo, and with the mental and spiritual price he is still paying for guzzling so much of that exotic magic.

Then deeper down there's at least one more revealing surprise hidden in Bastian's dialogue and dialogue sequence (but I'll let him keep that secret).

Taken together with the way his comments are so often completely detached from reality, it all makes him a very convincing denizen of the Shivering Isles for narrative/RP, and a very entertaining victim minion for my evil genius Necro (the Pinky to his Brain).

Bastian is indeed unique among Companions.