@Vallmyr Just to be clear: that chart has no bearings on the BG romances... The exchange between Jalily and I in the thread linked in the OP of this discussion pretty much sums up who can romance who in BG.
@Vallmyr Just to be clear: that chart has no bearings on the BG romances... The exchange between Jalily and I in the thread linked in the OP of this discussion pretty much sums up who can romance who in BG.
Hm? Oh yeah. I was just pointing out that my two protagonists for Icewind Dale apparently can't have a kid which crushes my hopes and dreams.
I was just speaking that I imagine Viconia hates elves as she fits the stereotypical female Drow persona (minus the Lolth thing) and that Jeheira and Aerie in game don't show any hatred or even distaste for the other races.
One thing I liked about Dragon Age: Inquisition is that Sera, my beloved, only dates chicks.
I'm a male elf guy and flirt with her all the time. She denies me all the time.
I feel that creates a fun RP dynamic. I would like to see an elf protagonist attempt to romance Viconia and see her deny him when he tries to advance every time. Maybe eventually see it turn into an inside-joke between the two.
I for one like the restriction. Viconia won't romance elves? Cool. She's got cultural baggage. It makes the character more real.
I kept forgetting to mention this, but that is one of the restrictions that makes sense and I would not change.
So you are for restrictions as long as they make sense to the character and as long as every PC can find at least one person (or two, options are good) to love in the campaign you are ok with restrictions.
Love is based on personal taste and for the same reasons it is very unlikely for me to ever fall for someone who doesn't fit my "hunting scheme", I can see how certain characters won't be attracted to certain other characters. And really, "race" is one of many superficial aspects that are essential to the sexual attraction of many many people, like hair colour, size, shape, etc.
I think it's best to have a good mix. Some characters should have only very distinct taste in partners while others should feel much broader appeal. Having only the first type will most likely make many players feel excluded, having only the second type makes it feel unrealistic (aka "player-sexual"). The key is, as so often, finding the right balance.
Also, a well written character doesn't just have good and positve aspects and even though for example Viconia may be way more liberal than most of her kin, certain tastes and the likes are simply burned into your brain if your environment dictates you in the majority of your life. Even if she won't kill surface-elves on sight like her culture would dictate her, she would probably still feel rather uneasy among them and I am pretty sure most people prefer a partner to whom they can feel good next too.
To be honest, I think it gives Viconia an extra layer of depths and it underlines the complexity of her personality. Yes, on the surface it looks like xenophobia but if you dig a little deeper, you can find so much more.
Not to forget, I think it adds to the replay value and encourages playing different characters, if certain NPCs only date certain PCs.
Regarding Baldur's Gate specifically, I don't think it's done right there, though the EE at least makes some effort fixing it. However, BG is an old game and a pioneer on the subject. Also, I'll take Anomen over Casavir any day >.>
But yeah, I can see how some folks prefer player-sexual characters over variation, but just like sexual preferences, that is all a matter of taste ~ In the end, it comes down to what the developers feel is more important: Immersion or inclusion, for it is difficult to have both. I prefer immersion.
I always like to have one character that's player-sexual. I think Dorn in BG2:EE and Iron Bull in DA:I have the mindset of, "Is it sex-able? Yes? Alright, we can romance."
Comments
I was just speaking that I imagine Viconia hates elves as she fits the stereotypical female Drow persona (minus the Lolth thing) and that Jeheira and Aerie in game don't show any hatred or even distaste for the other races.
One thing I liked about Dragon Age: Inquisition is that Sera, my beloved, only dates chicks.
I'm a male elf guy and flirt with her all the time. She denies me all the time.
I feel that creates a fun RP dynamic. I would like to see an elf protagonist attempt to romance Viconia and see her deny him when he tries to advance every time. Maybe eventually see it turn into an inside-joke between the two.
It's like a relationship but not a romantic one.
Tragic love, as it were~
Or maybe date them because they remind her of Khalid. /shrugs
Works both ways.
Love is based on personal taste and for the same reasons it is very unlikely for me to ever fall for someone who doesn't fit my "hunting scheme", I can see how certain characters won't be attracted to certain other characters. And really, "race" is one of many superficial aspects that are essential to the sexual attraction of many many people, like hair colour, size, shape, etc.
I think it's best to have a good mix. Some characters should have only very distinct taste in partners while others should feel much broader appeal. Having only the first type will most likely make many players feel excluded, having only the second type makes it feel unrealistic (aka "player-sexual"). The key is, as so often, finding the right balance.
Also, a well written character doesn't just have good and positve aspects and even though for example Viconia may be way more liberal than most of her kin, certain tastes and the likes are simply burned into your brain if your environment dictates you in the majority of your life. Even if she won't kill surface-elves on sight like her culture would dictate her, she would probably still feel rather uneasy among them and I am pretty sure most people prefer a partner to whom they can feel good next too.
To be honest, I think it gives Viconia an extra layer of depths and it underlines the complexity of her personality. Yes, on the surface it looks like xenophobia but if you dig a little deeper, you can find so much more.
Not to forget, I think it adds to the replay value and encourages playing different characters, if certain NPCs only date certain PCs.
Regarding Baldur's Gate specifically, I don't think it's done right there, though the EE at least makes some effort fixing it. However, BG is an old game and a pioneer on the subject. Also, I'll take Anomen over Casavir any day >.>
But yeah, I can see how some folks prefer player-sexual characters over variation, but just like sexual preferences, that is all a matter of taste ~ In the end, it comes down to what the developers feel is more important: Immersion or inclusion, for it is difficult to have both. I prefer immersion.
Ok, I'll shut up.
They shall leave no crevice untouched!