Source: Andrew Wincott, Larian Studios
In an exclusive interview with GosuGamers at gamescom asia 2024, Andrew Wincott delves into how he brought Raphael to life in Baldur's Gate 3.
People who have played Baldur’s Gate 3 know exactly who Raphael is. Enigmatic, alluring, cunning – he’s a devil you just can’t predict. Who could ever forget meeting him for the first time, and being both repelled and wooed by his hellish charm? We certainly don’t!
Raphael plays an important role in Baldur’s Gate 3’s overarching story, being one of the key characters who can vastly affect the ending of your run. As such, he presents himself to you on many occasions with the sole purpose of striking up a rather dangerous deal. After all, who is Raphael if not someone who revels in a bargain that ultimately serves only himself?
But what makes Raphael a truly unforgettable character is the voice that tickled your ears with talk of deals and contracts, a performance that voice actor Andrew Wincott played exceptionally well. So well, in fact, that it recently landed him a well-deserved win at the 2024 BAFTA Awards for Performer in a Supporting Role.
The devil in the details
Andrew Wincott has had a long and celebrated career in both theatre and voice acting, the prior being one of the main inspirations as to how he formulated his performance for Raphael.
Recounting his audition with Baldur's Gate 3 developer Larian Studios, Wincott shared that his direction for Raphael was heavily influenced by the fact that his audition materials included motion capture, allowing him to draw on his classical theatre experience.
“We were moving as well as speaking. And I think it probably stemmed from that,” Wincott explains. “So my way into Raphael was to find that sort of charm, the wit, that sort of effortless charm, really, easy charm, and also the irony, because he teases the other characters and the player so much.”
Wincott also gives a nod towards Adam Smith, the writing director for Baldur’s Gate 3, who provided him with terrific lines for Raphael which reminded him greatly of 17th century drama.
“I sort of put Raphael into that tradition, the 17th century Jacobean, malcontent character that you might find in drama of that period.”
Wincott also mentions Paradise Lost, the seminal work of celebrated poet John Milton, as one of his primary sources of inspiration. He further likens the character of the fallen angel Lucifer as a blueprint to his performance for Raphael.
However, it was the charming quality of Raphael that truly solidified Wincott’s performance. “It was through the charm,” he states, “and that was my way in. It just felt right to do that, because he wouldn't have to try too hard.”
Source: GosuGamers
Wincott further likens his performance of Raphael to being back on stage, thanks to the motion capture that was implemented during Baldur’s Gate 3’s development. During the first session of his recording, Wincott expresses this realisation when he was directed to angle himself in a specific way.
“So I’m playing sort of towards an audience, but I’m also directing it to another character.” Wincott muses, “so I’m in a three-dimensional space [...] inhabiting that, and moving within it.”
The direction he received during recording sessions helped Wincott formulate how Raphael would present himself during the times when players would encounter him in-game, highlighting the smoothness and elegance he felt was right for the character.
“Almost a feline quality to his movement, in some instances almost lizard-like, a saurian sort of quality,” Wincott added.
Wincott also explained that the directions given to him didn't fully dictate his choices in action. Instead, he highlights that it was only a matter of guidance, leading him to ultimately follow his instincts.
“My instinct was to play Raphael in the way I chose to play him, I was just encouraged to go with that.”
Due to this method of direction, Wincott expresses that the approach led to an enjoyable, collaborative, creative, and intuitive process where the writers would begin to write for him and his fellow voice actors. “It was a lot of fun,” Wincott remarked with a laugh.
Dancing with the devil
When it comes to Raphael as a character, Wincott believes that he is a devil that players would love to hate and hate to love. “He’s got these rather dark qualities to him,” he described, “but we can’t help but be seduced by him.”
Indeed, the interactions players may experience with Raphael plays out like a cat and mouse game, with Raphael positioning himself as the predator beguiling his prey to walk into his open maw. There’s a dangerous charm to Raphael that players can’t help but feel apprehensive and conversely charmed by.
In the game, Raphael treats his courting of the player's cooperation like a grand scheme where he would ultimately emerge as the victor. A method that could later on, lead to his undoing, depending on the player's choices throughout the game.
“That's what I like about him, his playfulness,” Wincott affirms. “Unpredictable is part of his character, which is both fascinating, alluring, but also disconcerting.“
To Wincott, there’s nothing to say when it comes to disliking Raphael. In fact, he jokes that there’s not enough of him in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Although Wincott elaborates that he definitely would not do a deal with Raphael. “Someone said to me, would you do a deal with him?” He recounted, “and I said, no, no, I wouldn't do a deal with him!”
But for the players, well, Raphael's voice actor requests they go ahead and dance with the devil.
“I always say to fans, have you done a deal with him? Please do a deal with him.”
Source: Larian Studios
Wincott explained his request further by highlighting the fantasy of Baldur’s Gate 3 being a game that could yield players new and varying experiences with each playthrough, no matter how many hundreds of hours they’ve spent in Faerun. To Wincott, there’s always something for players to look forward to depending on their choices upon encountering Raphael.
Wincott gleans his similarity with Raphael to his own playful character, but only with the right company. “I think that's the most accessible part of him,” he said, “and that I most identify [with], like that sense of play about him.”
With Andrew Wincott’s superb portrayal of Raphael, the devil becomes more than just another cunning villain you will need to defeat — he turns into a masterful character who tempts players into morally grey decisions to spice up the hero's journey. With his devilish charm, cunning, and unpredictability being a highlight of his characterisation, Raphael has cemented himself as one of the most memorable characters you encounter in Baldur’s Gate 3.
So, would you give an unpredictable devil all the power in the world in exchange for a cure? Or will you resist until the end? One thing is for certain: Raphael, much like Wincott’s performance, will leave a lasting, hellish impression.