@Skitia Since you are asking for feedback, I would suggest thinking about how to address the insane increase of stakes from around mid-BG2 to the end of ToB if you are orienting your mods along the lines of Isra and Sirene. While I very much enjoy Isra's down-to-earth, drama-free romance style in principle, something about it seems slightly out of place in ToB especially. Same goes for Kelsey and a couple of others. It just seems odd that after you have witnessed your LI literally turn to a Cthulhoid monstrosity before your very eyes and are marching towards their possible ascension as a divinity, you keep going back to discussing mundane relationship issues. Maybe that's the point these mods are trying to make, and in general I appreciate such slice-of-life writing (in BG1 for sure!), but in ToB it creates a huge dissonance for me, which is why I prefer the more operatic Bioware romances there (and mods with strong story integration such as Imoen, Sarevok or Xan).
The novel makes Neera's questline seem like Shakespeare by comparison so I am glad you said that tongue-in-cheek!
Did you just badmouth my pink-haired goddess?!
Anyway, on a more serious note, I think that some of the romance content should really have been a more general quest - specifically the whole Jaheira Harper thing. Missing out on that because your'e not romancing her seems like a lost opportunity.
The novel makes Neera's questline seem like Shakespeare by comparison so I am glad you said that tongue-in-cheek!
Did you just badmouth my pink-haired goddess?!
Anyway, on a more serious note, I think that some of the romance content should really have been a more general quest - specifically the whole Jaheira Harper thing. Missing out on that because your'e not romancing her seems like a lost opportunity.
It's not just Jaheira either. Nearly all of the romanceable companions feel a lot more one-dimensional if you don't do their romances. You never get to learn about the moment of compassion that cost Viconia her favour with Lolth, or the trials that she endured trying to live on the surface. It's hard to see Anomen as anything but a holier-than-thou knight if you never learnt about the childhood that shaped him and why he started viewing himself as better than other people (it's actually a psychological defense mechanism to stop himself from falling into depression). Without his romance, Rasaad feels very much like somebody whose sole defining trait is his obsession about his brother (aka the "Old Owl Well" syndrome, after a certain paladin in NWN2. :P) And without the extra insights that comes with his dialogue, Dorn feels like a cardboard cutout blackguard whose sole reason for existing is just to kill anything and anyone that gets in his way, without any long-term goals or deeper motivations.
The novel makes Neera's questline seem like Shakespeare by comparison so I am glad you said that tongue-in-cheek!
Did you just badmouth my pink-haired goddess?!
Anyway, on a more serious note, I think that some of the romance content should really have been a more general quest - specifically the whole Jaheira Harper thing. Missing out on that because your'e not romancing her seems like a lost opportunity.
You actually see most of Jaheira's harper quest even if you don't romance her, missing one, possibly 2 encounters.
OTOH you miss out on the entire past catches up content with Viconia if you don't romance her.
@Isewein Good to know; will have to give IEP a look in future runs (installed it once or twice years ago but I think I had a buggy release back then).
@megamike15 Indeed, he goes from 'stow your advice old man' at Keldorn to 'sorry Teacher, for acting like a brash young jerk'. That's a significant milestone for an insecure young man who had an abusive father.
At the very least Anomen's banters need improved triggers so that the 'obnoxious Anomen' comments stop firing after he becomes Sir Anomen; it's jarring to hear him express changed attitude towards Keldorn along with a significant alignment AND wisdom shift, then suddenly revert to the superjerk comments. A post-knighthood voiceset tweak would be gravy.
The novel makes Neera's questline seem like Shakespeare by comparison so I am glad you said that tongue-in-cheek!
Did you just badmouth my pink-haired goddess?!
Anyway, on a more serious note, I think that some of the romance content should really have been a more general quest - specifically the whole Jaheira Harper thing. Missing out on that because your'e not romancing her seems like a lost opportunity.
It's not just Jaheira either. Nearly all of the romanceable companions feel a lot more one-dimensional if you don't do their romances. You never get to learn about the moment of compassion that cost Viconia her favour with Lolth, or the trials that she endured trying to live on the surface. It's hard to see Anomen as anything but a holier-than-thou knight if you never learnt about the childhood that shaped him and why he started viewing himself as better than other people (it's actually a psychological defense mechanism to stop himself from falling into depression). Without his romance, Rasaad feels very much like somebody whose sole defining trait is his obsession about his brother (aka the "Old Owl Well" syndrome, after a certain paladin in NWN2. :P) And without the extra insights that comes with his dialogue, Dorn feels like a cardboard cutout blackguard whose sole reason for existing is just to kill anything and anyone that gets in his way, without any long-term goals or deeper motivations.
If I had some simple modding skills I would definitely turn Jaheira and Aerie's romance talk into possible friendship talks because most of their conflicts and dillemas don't really depend on romantic interest to be developed.
@DJKajuru It's very easy to do that for your own game - it's just a matter of removing the gender restrictions for the RomanceMatch variable and instead place them at the few specifically "Romantic" lovetalks with NI, but actually it's not such a simple matter to publish it as a mod, because you effectively have to extract the whole set of events and recode it under a new variable (as the Viconia friendhsip does). Seems scarcely worth the trouble when you can just remove gender restrictions and skip past one, two awkward talks (ok, Aerie might have more than one or two).
I prefer the more operatic Bioware romances there (and mods with strong story integration such as Imoen, Sarevok or Xan).
@Isewein Out ot curiosity, are you aware of my Ajantis BGII romance because it has very strong story integration in ToB where Ajantis as a paladin tries to deal with the "my love is not only a Bhaal spawn but also the one from Aloundo's prophecies in a private hell enclave with a Solar from the gods as a teacher" situation as best he can. If the romance is not for you that's another thing, but if mod romances with strong ToB story integration are listed Ajantis BGII definitely fits the description. [/promotion]
I am of course aware but haven't played it, Jastey. (Save for the fun jealousy portion where Xan and he dream of fighting a dragon or somesuch in BG1? My memory of this is hazy at best...) I haven't really taken a Lawful-Good-type Bhaalspawn through the games, but if I ever do I will definitely give it a try.
I am of course aware but haven't played it, Jastey. (Save for the fun jealousy portion where Xan and he dream of fighting a dragon or somesuch in BG1? My memory of this is hazy at best...) I haven't really taken a Lawful-Good-type Bhaalspawn through the games, but if I ever do I will definitely give it a try.
@Isewein Thanks! @Arvia made a quite good summary of what you have to expect from the Ajantis BG1 romance here ...
I am of course aware but haven't played it, Jastey. (Save for the fun jealousy portion where Xan and he dream of fighting a dragon or somesuch in BG1? My memory of this is hazy at best...) I haven't really taken a Lawful-Good-type Bhaalspawn through the games, but if I ever do I will definitely give it a try.
@Isewein Thanks! @Arvia made a quite good summary of what you have to expect from the Ajantis BG1 romance here ...
Hey, if you like to be a noble damsel in distress who is rescued and protected by a young man in shining armor, he'll make you very happy!
The novel makes Neera's questline seem like Shakespeare by comparison so I am glad you said that tongue-in-cheek!
Did you just badmouth my pink-haired goddess?!
Anyway, on a more serious note, I think that some of the romance content should really have been a more general quest - specifically the whole Jaheira Harper thing. Missing out on that because your'e not romancing her seems like a lost opportunity.
It's not just Jaheira either. Nearly all of the romanceable companions feel a lot more one-dimensional if you don't do their romances. You never get to learn about the moment of compassion that cost Viconia her favour with Lolth, or the trials that she endured trying to live on the surface. It's hard to see Anomen as anything but a holier-than-thou knight if you never learnt about the childhood that shaped him and why he started viewing himself as better than other people (it's actually a psychological defense mechanism to stop himself from falling into depression). Without his romance, Rasaad feels very much like somebody whose sole defining trait is his obsession about his brother (aka the "Old Owl Well" syndrome, after a certain paladin in NWN2. :P) And without the extra insights that comes with his dialogue, Dorn feels like a cardboard cutout blackguard whose sole reason for existing is just to kill anything and anyone that gets in his way, without any long-term goals or deeper motivations.
If I had some simple modding skills I would definitely turn Jaheira and Aerie's romance talk into possible friendship talks because most of their conflicts and dillemas don't really depend on romantic interest to be developed.
Again, most of Jaheira romance content (the Harper plot) is available even if you don't romance her; no need for a mod to access the plot.
For more content with Aerie, I highly recommend this gem by @Coutelier : https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/26945/wings-version-0-91b/p1 Some very well written and amusing bits (especially if you keep Aerie and Imoen together in the party; also go back to the circus after Aerie gains some levels), as well as a nice little benefit for Aerie
@ithildurnew regarding Jaheira I meant the dialogues that only occur if she's romancing you, most of them involve memories from the past and jaheira's interest in charname as a friend.
Thank you for the mod suggestion , I'll have a look!
Comments
and yours has a good chunk of it's middle cut due to time.
Anyway, on a more serious note, I think that some of the romance content should really have been a more general quest - specifically the whole Jaheira Harper thing. Missing out on that because your'e not romancing her seems like a lost opportunity.
you leave my fire starting elf alone.
Yeah but... out of all the NPC'S, I AM THE BEST OF THEM ALL!!!
It's not just Jaheira either. Nearly all of the romanceable companions feel a lot more one-dimensional if you don't do their romances. You never get to learn about the moment of compassion that cost Viconia her favour with Lolth, or the trials that she endured trying to live on the surface. It's hard to see Anomen as anything but a holier-than-thou knight if you never learnt about the childhood that shaped him and why he started viewing himself as better than other people (it's actually a psychological defense mechanism to stop himself from falling into depression). Without his romance, Rasaad feels very much like somebody whose sole defining trait is his obsession about his brother (aka the "Old Owl Well" syndrome, after a certain paladin in NWN2. :P) And without the extra insights that comes with his dialogue, Dorn feels like a cardboard cutout blackguard whose sole reason for existing is just to kill anything and anyone that gets in his way, without any long-term goals or deeper motivations.
You actually see most of Jaheira's harper quest even if you don't romance her, missing one, possibly 2 encounters.
OTOH you miss out on the entire past catches up content with Viconia if you don't romance her.
@Zaxares Funny thing about that particular syndrome - its eponymous Paladin's sole defining trait remained that even when romanced.
@megamike15 Indeed, he goes from 'stow your advice old man' at Keldorn to 'sorry Teacher, for acting like a brash young jerk'. That's a significant milestone for an insecure young man who had an abusive father.
At the very least Anomen's banters need improved triggers so that the 'obnoxious Anomen' comments stop firing after he becomes Sir Anomen; it's jarring to hear him express changed attitude towards Keldorn along with a significant alignment AND wisdom shift, then suddenly revert to the superjerk comments. A post-knighthood voiceset tweak would be gravy.
If I had some simple modding skills I would definitely turn Jaheira and Aerie's romance talk into possible friendship talks because most of their conflicts and dillemas don't really depend on romantic interest to be developed.
@Isewein Thanks! @Arvia made a quite good summary of what you have to expect from the Ajantis BG1 romance here ...
Hey, if you like to be a noble damsel in distress who is rescued and protected by a young man in shining armor, he'll make you very happy!
Again, most of Jaheira romance content (the Harper plot) is available even if you don't romance her; no need for a mod to access the plot.
For more content with Aerie, I highly recommend this gem by @Coutelier : https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/26945/wings-version-0-91b/p1 Some very well written and amusing bits (especially if you keep Aerie and Imoen together in the party; also go back to the circus after Aerie gains some levels), as well as a nice little benefit for Aerie
Thank you for the mod suggestion , I'll have a look!
... at whining...