Allan Schumacher wrote...
Just curious what others have to think about this. It is important to note that I'm not the biggest fan of Romances in RPGs, mostly because I find that they just seem kind of off (Sorry David... 
). Usually I come away enjoying them, but it's the other aspects of the writing that a typically really like.
One of my favourite romances, though, came from Planescape: Torment. Anyone that has played Planescape: Torment can probably understand where I'm coming from (I strongly recommend it. Some of the best writing in fiction as far as I'm concerned), but I'll describe it a bit for those that may not have played it.
The one I am thinking of is with a succubus named Fall-From-Grace. I find her a very deep character and a caring and compassionate one to boot, which is interesting because she's a succubus! The PC and FFG are able to become close, but ultimately the relationship can never be truly consumated given the fact that she's a succubus. I found it fascinating to have such an interesting character that I feel has such great chemistry with the PC, but ultimately the outcome is tragic because they're never able to express it in a physical way.
I also find it refreshing in that it's unique; most relationships in RPGs tend to have a clearly defined "win condition" of being in the relationship, often portrayed by a scene depicting an intimate encounter.
I think that, in general, a romance like this would probably meet some resistance in a BioWare game based on our game catalogue and how we've done romances, but I thought it'd be interesting to see what BSN's take on it was.
Cheers!
I agree that it's lame when sex is the victory conditiion of a relationship in a video game. Certainly the ME2 romances pretty much all feel like that because it scripts the encounter at a particular time in the game. But I don't feel like every recent Bioware romance is like that. Consider Morrigan. The relationship is sexual pretty much immediately. For me the high points of the relationship are tied to the decision in Redcliffe and about how that can feel different if you're imagining your character in a relationship. Specifically you might feel the strain of common sense (person's not being straight--shouldn't trust) and desire (*want* to trust her). And that's not sexual. And then the Denerrim conversation is also not sexual. So, really, I like it when there's some kind of conflict or turmoil in the relationship--and that can work whether sex is in the relationship or not. With FFG, there's an obvious conflict/turmoil--and it's the inability to have a physical component. With Morrigan though, you have a conflict (trust) that's independent of sex.
So in short, I think an FFG scenario can work. But ulitimately I don't think it matters if there's a physical component or not. What matters is that there be a challenge or conflict in the relationship. I agree though that I'd like for people to be wary of the idea that sex is the victory condition. I think it should certainly be present usually (but not necessarily always)--because that's honest. It would be intentionally hiding something for it not to be there. But it also shouldn't be overemphasized (and scripting it to being near the end of the game, as in Mass Effect 2 and 3 can create that impression).
Modifié par Giltspur, 12 avril 2012 - 07:00 .
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I don't think the they grasp the notion of character growth.
). In da:o the fem warden/allistar romance when you are human noble i really liked. Because it was "complete", and you had to make some pretty damning sacrifices to make it work.
