This mod replaces Astarion's unnatural (in my opinion) looking facial animation with one of his others. He has a few expressions labeled "happy" and the "smile" animation that this mod replaces was added after early access. 

The other characters also have this animation file but the expression isn't used as often on them as it is Astarion. So it's not an animation unique to Astarion but this mod only replaces it on his model. It will still appear on other characters. 

There are two replacement options. Version A or Version B. You can only use one. Check the screenshots for comparison. I've labeled them "after (Version A)" and "after (Version B)" so you can compare. I prefer version A, but if you want a bigger smile there is version B.

This mod should be compatible with mods that replace Astarion's head model like the one that restores his fangs from early access, because this doesn't edit or replace the head model. It only replaces the animation/expression. 

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Installation:
Download either Version A or Version B depending on your preference. Drop the "Public" folder into your Baldurs Gate 3/Data directory. So directly inside of the Data folder.

If you are having trouble finding the Data folder in your Baldur's Gate 3 directory, it typically looks something like this:

C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\Baldurs Gate 3\Data

Or this:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Baldurs Gate 3\Data

Depending on whether you purchased the game through Steam or GOG Galaxy

Place the "Public" folder inside of the rar file you downloaded directly into the "Data" folder.  

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F. A. Q: 

1. How does this mod differ from the "Astarion's De-Grinchifier" or "Astarion Early Access Head Replacer" mods?

Both of those mods change his head model. They make the "grinch" expression appear less strange, but the animation is still used. They also affect the look of all his facial expressions to a degree. The "De-Grinchifier" mod (as I understand it) sets Astarion's head model to use Medium animation detail instead of High, and that softens all of his expressions. The "Early Access Head Replacer" swaps out his head model with the one used in Early Access, so all of his animations will look a bit different because it's a different head.

This mod does not change his head model and does not alter the way his "grinch" expression looks. It replaces that expression with another and gets rid of the strange animation entirely. And it only affects that animation. It is compatible with mods that change his head model like the mod that restores his original fangs from Early Access. And you should be able to use it with the De-Grinch mod or the EA head replacer if you like what those mods do beyond altering the look of the weird smile animation, but would like that animation gone entirely.

2. His cheekbones look higher in some of the screenshots, is this mod using his early access head? 

No, it's not using the early access head. His cheekbones appear higher in the screenshots for Version B of the mod because he is smiling in them. 

3. Shouldn't this go inside of the "Generated" folder?

No, the Public folder from this mod goes directly into the Data folder. If you've installed other loose file mods you may have a "Data\Generated\Public" directory but that is not the correct file path for this mod. It's "Data\Public"

There are several folders with the same names when you extract the game files and they have different file paths. "Data\Public" is the correct path for this mod.

4. Can't you just accept that he's ugly? 

Twitter has found this mod and to all the haters saying I can't accept Astarion as he is: you're right.  If I turned over in the morning and saw him staring at me with grinch face I would ask for a divorce. I'm just like cazador fr. This is not a safe space for your little star pookie bear. It's not him it's me I have standards.

Also I'm sorry to tell you that I did not "take away all his expression" or "reduce his smile lines." The two replacement expressions I chose are animations that he uses frequently. They are his own animation files. Version A is one of his most used facial animations and if you didn't clock this you are a fake fan. The people saying I "objectify him for his looks" and was "dropped on my head as an adult" are right though. 

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2.0 UPDATE:

I've had some nasty things said about me for creating this mod. There are people genuinely upset about it and I don't think I'm beating the "weird, pathetic, weak loser" allegations at this point.

As an apology to the Astarion lovers who want to embrace his dizzy muppet leer I'm uploading an optional file that replaces all of his facial animations with his "grinch" animation. That's right. All grinchstarion all the time. My eyes have been opened about this expression being a true representation of his character. I didn't know the animation was actually meant to convey "trauma he needs to work through as he learns to smile again." I think that is very deep and beautiful and it brings a tear to my eye. 

At this point all of the other characters having the same animation file makes me uncomfortable bc it's like they're taking away from something that was meant to represent Astarion specifically. It's a little sickening. I'm truly sorry for "taking away from his ptsd healing journey" with this mod. People may forgive me but I know god never will.

(Please do not take the above description seriously. It's a joke bc I find some of the serious responses I've gotten deeply hilarious and I'd like to thank them for inspiring me to do this. I hope it brings anyone who downloads it as much joy as making it brought me.)

Anyway, here is a video example of what you can expect with the file installed in your game. 



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Thank you to FluffySpider for sharing how to swap out character facial expressions.