Relationship/Romance Thread IV

[Sacred_Path]

I can see it now:

 

Project Eternity: ego-stroking fail-proof dating sim

 

 

fix'd

[SophosTheWise]

I can see it now:

 

Project Eternity: ego-stroking fail-proof dating sim

 

 

fix'd

 

Love-Doll-USB-Fleshlight included?

[LadyCrimson]

I personally can like the companion tragi-romance or vengence-romance background stories that may lead to a sub-quest. But player-character stuff should, imo, remain oblique/subtle, at most. Slight hints of attraction/banter from other NPC's perhaps, but nothing really resolved/brought out in the open. Leave it to the player's imagination etc.

 

In terms of non-romantic relationships, having companions who at least feel to be a bit more than "follow the leader because I'm programmed that way" automatons is always nice. That falls more under the idea of npc's having more of their own opinions and/or leaving the party if you aren't following some code or method of action that they approve of, tho, and I think there's been a few threads on that here and there as well.

[Sacred_Path]

Love-Doll-USB-Fleshlight included?

 

and you haven't seen the collector's edition yet.

 

Btw I thought the Avellone comment referred to "mouths are dirty", a brilliant piece of rhetoric that settles it all

[BasaltineBadger]

Other-mance? All I know is, cow farmers do it in the dairy air...

 

 

 

 

Geddit?

 

I think they meant stuff like hatemances, where you try to get some character to hate you, just like making Marburg hate you enough allowed you to kill him in Rome.

[SophosTheWise]

Love-Doll-USB-Fleshlight included?

 

and you haven't seen the collector's edition yet.

 

Btw I thought the Avellone comment referred to "mouths are dirty", a brilliant piece of rhetoric that settles it all

 

Nice, I'm a backer for the Retail Collector's Edition. Long nights of fun will be had then.

[Sacred_Path]

Love-Doll-USB-Fleshlight included?

 

and you haven't seen the collector's edition yet.

 

Btw I thought the Avellone comment referred to "mouths are dirty", a brilliant piece of rhetoric that settles it all

 

Nice, I'm a backer for the Retail Collector's Edition. Long nights of fun will be had then.

 

Be sure to make a Let's Play video

[SophosTheWise]

Love-Doll-USB-Fleshlight included?

 

and you haven't seen the collector's edition yet.

 

Btw I thought the Avellone comment referred to "mouths are dirty", a brilliant piece of rhetoric that settles it all

 

Nice, I'm a backer for the Retail Collector's Edition. Long nights of fun will be had then.

 

Be sure to make a Let's Play video

 

SophosTheWise: Let's Play Project Eternity: Quest for Porn - now live on YouPorn.

[anubite]

I tried modding BG2 multiple times. I tried all the crappy romance mods, which I was looking forward to at the time, since I wanted to have some different options for another playthrough.

 

I made the mistake of installing Saerlith and having her join my party. Wasting my time leveling her.

 

I think Saerlith should be studied. Classic example of horrible writing and design.

[AGX-17]

Just leave that can of worms to Bioware.

Did Bioware do this to its fanbase, or do video game romances attract these sorts of people?

 

http://www.something...cial-forums.php

Edited November 11, 2012 by AGX-17

[Osvir]

Just leave that can of worms to Bioware.

Did Bioware do this to its fanbase, or do video game romances attract these sorts of people?

 

http://www.something...cial-forums.php

 

Oh gosh... I had no idea... now I understand... I shall go meditate...

 

~Namaste xD

Edited November 11, 2012 by Osvir

[BetrayTheWorld]

I've seen a lot of issues where threads like this turned out poorly, so I likely won't be a regular poster in the thread, but I'll weigh in on the topic at least once.

 

I am of the opinion that romance options should be included in the game. Since this is supposed to be created with mature themes, and sex is a significant part of romantic relationships between adults, sex should probably be a part of that(visual or otherwise). I'd recommend a toggle-able option to turn off any racy scenes, for those who'd rather not have them.

 

That being said, there should be no mechanical benefits to pursuing a romance with someone in the game. This allows the no-romance people to simply not pursue it, and lose nothing except the RP that they say they don't enjoy anyhow. On the other hand, it satisfies the other side who would like a more complete role-playing experience, where relationships and emotions are part of their character's development.

 

Everyone wins in this scenario, and it frees us up to talk about other issues that are more difficult to resolve.

[rjshae]

Other-mance? All I know is, cow farmers do it in the dairy air...

 

 

 

 

Geddit?

 

I think they meant stuff like hatemances, where you try to get some character to hate you, just like making Marburg hate you enough allowed you to kill him in Rome.

Mmm, nope. That's not it. LOL

 

But no matter; other means other any way you slice it.

Edited November 11, 2012 by rjshae

[Osvir]

I've seen a lot of issues where threads like this turned out poorly, so I likely won't be a regular poster in the thread, but I'll weigh in on the topic at least once.

 

I am of the opinion that romance options should be included in the game. Since this is supposed to be created with mature themes, and sex is a significant part of romantic relationships between adults, sex should probably be a part of that(visual or otherwise). I'd recommend a toggle-able option to turn off any racy scenes, for those who'd rather not have them.

 

That being said, there should be no mechanical benefits to pursuing a romance with someone in the game. This allows the no-romance people to simply not pursue it, and lose nothing except the RP that they say they don't enjoy anyhow. On the other hand, it satisfies the other side who would like a more complete role-playing experience, where relationships and emotions are part of their character's development.

 

Everyone wins in this scenario, and it frees us up to talk about other issues that are more difficult to resolve.

 

^This. I like a lot.

[gglorious]

I'll be direct:

 

1) I like romances because I see romantic relations as tending to be deeper. This shouldn't be surprising, as romances are kind of about deep connections. That's why in BG2, all of the people chasing after you keep on whining about their personal problems, many of which actually require real psychological help. They're trying to build a connection and in response your character is becoming more connected to them.

2) I like romances because they offer a chance at a "happily ever after" kind of ending. So, as an example, in BG2, the only way you actually get an ending that talks about your character's future is when you romance somebody and stay mortal. Otherwise, you got nothing. Even in stories where you got something as an after story, you get much more of a concrete one if you romance, because romance is a big deal for a character's future.

3) I'm just sentimental. I think I probably just like romance, so even if it was two party members having a successful romance, I would probably kind of think it was cool so long as I got to see some of the relation.

 

I don't really care about sex in the game. They can just have characters never mention it. They could even have it where sex is a bad idea, like with Aerie in BG2. I like the social and emotional aspects, not the sexual ones.

 

To be honest, there are some problems:

1) I didn't like Elanee, your stalker in NWN2. Why? She's stalking you. I mean, I don't want the idea that a character is just strongly driven to seek you out romantically. If it happens, then it happens, but it shouldn't be an obsession.

2) There is some degree where a romance isn't realistic. I mean, people do seek comfort in times of stress and worry, but at the same time, they're probably not thinking as much about deep emotional connection so much as survival the next day. I mean, this doesn't make romantic efforts wrong, but they will seem a bit out of place. It's probably more likely to be driven by carnal things, or much closer to friendship with sexual/romantic undertones than an explicit romance in all likelihood, because love/romance isn't the first thing coming to mind when death is hovering over you and where surviving until tomorrow is a much bigger question than "does that boy/girl like me?".

3) Deep emotional problems are probably not the best thing. I mean, I never romanced Anomen, but none of the women romanced in BG2 were in any business ever getting into a romance. I can understand that party members are more likely to be dysfunctional than the average, but still....

[Heresiarch]

Sex in video games is lame. Personally, I prefer LARPing this part.

 

I don't really care if my character shags everything that moves or stays as chaste as a eunuch in a full-body chastity suit if it has nothing to do with the character. Geralt, having so many potential sexual encounters in Witcher 1 that they could've overcome his STD immunity, was fun, because that's how his sexual life is usually going along. When he isn't shagging some particular sorceress that is. The latter theme was thoroughly explored in Witcher 2, which never bothered me one bit either.

 

But when sex is treated as the ultimate reward for having a romance (yes, I am talking about you, Mass Effect), it's just silly. Not to mention that all the interaction with love interests are stupid simple: you say the stuff they like, you get your treat at the end. It's nothing but lazy and boring.

 

I think if you can't deliver an engaging romance (either because of limited budget or simple lack of interest), don't do it a t all. It will come out nothing but a total waste in the end.

[Corvus Metus]

Almost every single romance in a computer role-playing game can be defined as either the NPC falling in love with their therapist or the "sex is love" trope.

 

I personally wouldn't mind romance (even if I prefer bro-mance, relationships that focus on family, mentor-student relations, etc.) if it was well-written - in most cases, its really not. Could Obsidian do it? Sure. But as they've proven in KOTORII, they can right other sorts of relationships better. So why bother with romance?

[Mandragore]

Reading over these threads I'm still at a loss as to what the issue is here, if the plot calls for romance, then it should have romance. As for sex, its supposed to be a mature game involving human, presumably adult protagonists. No one is saying it should be explicit or graphic, but seeing as sex and sexual attraction are part of human nature, it should at least be present in some form. Personally, I would prefer to play a character with depth, not some sexless, two-dimensional meat robot.

 

That said, I'm not really a fan of ME style romance sub-plots, which were basically just a tacked on bone an alien minigame. If its going to be in the game, I say make it canonical and non-optional and find a way to tie it into the main plot.

[Osvir]

Reading over these threads I'm still at a loss as to what the issue is here, if the plot calls for romance, then it should have romance. As for sex, its supposed to be a mature game involving human, presumably adult protagonists. No one is saying it should be explicit or graphic, but seeing as sex and sexual attraction are part of human nature, it should at least be present in some form. Personally, I would prefer to play a character with depth, not some sexless, two-dimensional meat robot.

 

That said, I'm not really a fan of ME style romance sub-plots, which were basically just a tacked on bone an alien minigame. If its going to be in the game, I say make it canonical and non-optional and find a way to tie it into the main plot.

 

Is it Aumaua nature too? Orlan? Do they do it in the same way?

 

Personally, like I said time and time again, I'd prefer if the romances were limited and "situational" to one or two (at most 3) companions in whatever way Avellone wants to present it (gay/straight/bi/psionic/cross-breed/tragedy/obnoxious/scary/destructive etc. etc.). Situational Example: If I make an Orlan main character I won't be able to romance that Human chick, but if I would make a Human main character I could romance her.

[Hormalakh]

Do any of you guys ever come back and read what you write and just feel embarrassed?

 

I'm just wondering, because sometimes some of these posts remind me of why I can't be known for playing video games.

[Corvus Metus]

Reading over these threads I'm still at a loss as to what the issue is here, if the plot calls for romance, then it should have romance.

 

The thing is, I can't think of a single role-playing game were the romance sub-plots were important to the over-all plot.

 

As for sex, its supposed to be a mature game involving human, presumably adult protagonists. No one is saying it should be explicit or graphic, but seeing as sex and sexual attraction are part of human nature, it should at least be present in some form. Personally,I would prefer to play a character with depth, not some sexless, two-dimensional meat robot.

 

What if a character is celibate? Maybe he believes that by denying the flesh and allowing himself to focus on the spiritual, his magic is more powerful.

 

Or maybe, the said character believes in no sex before marriage - and even if you romance them, they'll be no love-making until you tie the knot (which for whatever reason can't happen.

 

Or maybe, just like some people in real life (see: asexuality) they don't experience sexual attraction.

Maybe, like various characters in Song of Ice and Fire, a character is a child protagonist. Personally, I'd love an RPG to have a child party member.

 

There are countless ways a character can be deep, without needing to resort to sex.

Edited November 11, 2012 by Corvus Metus

[BruceVC]

Personally I am really happy with these poll results, only 8 % of people don't want any form of Romance\Sex. But lets be generous and include option 3 (boring friendship) in the anti-Romance numbers. We get to about 36 % at this stage that are opposed to Romance\Sex. I hope this finally puts to rest the age-old debate that the PE community doesn't want Romance\Sex in the game. Once again this poll proves unequivocally it does

[kenup]

Personally I am really happy with these poll results, only 8 % of people don't want any form of Romance\Sex. But lets be generous and include option 3 (boring friendship) in the anti-Romance numbers. We get to about 36 % at this stage that are opposed to Romance\Sex. I hope this finally puts to rest the age-old debate that the PE community doesn't want Romance\Sex in the game. Once again this poll proves unequivocally it does

You assume everyone on the forum/community votes. Not to mention arguments(which the romance crowd doesn't have) have more weight than poll results.

[AGX-17]

Do any of you guys ever come back and read what you write and just feel embarrassed?

 

I'm just wondering, because sometimes some of these posts remind me of why I can't be known for playing video games.

 

See:

 

http://www.something...cial-forums.php

for details.

 

Edit: For the record, I think this SA article should be inextricably bound with Chris Avellone's opinion on romances in all extensions of this discussion going forward.

Edited November 11, 2012 by AGX-17

[Monte Carlo]

Promancers are so sad they simply create lots of .alts to vote for sock-puppet lurve.