9 réponses à ce sujet

[Nocte ad Mortem]

This topic, as far as I've seen, is usually approached by how it effects the LGB community. I can understand why, but I've been wondering what the (mostly hetero) female perspective is on playersexuality/bisexuality arrangements that allow all characters open vs the 2/2/2 structure divided by sexuality that some have considered.

 

I don't want to come across as presumptuous, but from reading the romance threads, it seems heterosexual/bisexual females tend to be the ones I see most posting about romances. It also seems like it's usually females that get the most attached to the romance possibilities. (See, Cullen) I also see more females supporting the playersexuality/bisexuality dynamic with the 2/2/2 side being more populated with males. (Note, I'm not saying ALWAYS, but MORE OFTEN.) What's also true is that there are generally way less opportunities for women to experience romance in video games as a woman PC. In Mass Effect, for example, men were given a substantially larger amount of love interests than women, especially women wanting a male interest. I know, as a gay male, I get more invested in the romance feature because it's something so rarely offered to my demographic. That leads me to favor the playersexuality/bisexuality route, because it's still somewhat disappointing, when there are only 3 options, to get shut out of possibly the "main" one and relegated to NPC romances, or at least something with much less plot relevance. (Like Cortez in ME)

 

With this in mind, I wonder, do the female posters on the BSN feel it would be more difficult if your favorite LI ended up not being available to you? Is there a similar feeling that, because your demographic is ignored by most other sources, it's harder to not be dissapointed by not getting what seemed like a real opportunity here? For example, if a popular speculated LI (think Solas or Cullen) was the "homosexual" offering, how would you feel about it? 

 

 

My main question about playersexuality vs 2/2/2 stems from my impression that lesser represented groups get very invested in the availability of Bioware romances BECAUSE this feels like one of their only chances to access similar content anywhere, but everyone else can feel free to give their own opinion in any way that relates to the romance feature. I don't want straight guys to feel like their opinion isn't at all welcome in the discussion. Go ahead and tell us how you'd feel about a "main" female romance being homosexual only, for example.

[Allan Schumacher]

Thread locked pending cleanup.

[Allan Schumacher]

Thread reopened.

 

[moderator Allan]

 

A few things:

 

If you feel a poster is trolling, please report the post(s) and do not attempt to antagonize or counter troll.  There's a greater chance of you also getting caught in the blast in that case.

 

Second, I know on the BSN threads that seemed doomed to the close bin often have people enter "sudden spontaneous any topic mode."  Please don't do stuff like that.

 

As a further warning, I have a predisposition to simply revisit threads I have posted in out of habit, so I'll have less tolerance to misbehaviour in this thread if I see more of it, and there's a better chance that I actually WILL see it.

 

[/moderator Allan]

 

Allan

[Allan Schumacher]

So, in combat, making Wynne a blood mage cheapens her?

 

I'd actually argue yes!  Haha.

[Allan Schumacher]

Not that I've actually made her a blood mage haha, but I separate somewhat what a character is capable of in combat versus how they see themselves within the actual story. In my mind, Wynne  Forgive me if I sound a tad stupid, I don't normally respond to topics such as these cause I feel out of my depth. Would you feel that Wynne was cheapened, Allan, if she specialized in shapeshifting or became an Arcane Warrior?

 

Blood magic, in particular, is the most egregious one because it's a topic with very strong opinions about it.  I can see pros and cons of providing accessibility for the companions, so in general I don't really have an issue with stuff like Shapeshifting and Arcane Warrior, although I think it'd be a nice touch if the Character said "No."

 

I like the specific specializations that Maria pointed out, as they are still somewhat character defining while allowing some freedom by the player to experiment and have a party that synergizes well with their own character.

[Allan Schumacher]

None of the devs have actually said it, as far as I know.

 

It's an interpretation that has come out of the fanbase that from time to time, David has referred to it on places like his tumblr, but often with quotation marks in what seems to me to be a referential way to make reference to this discussion.

 

Link

 

 

 

I have used the term in similar ways.  I actually try to NOT make any wholesale statements about DA2's characterization, though given that the issue is only affected via metagaming, I don't have any real issue against what the term references and take part in those discussions.

Modifié par Allan Schumacher, 11 avril 2014 - 08:03 .

[Allan Schumacher]

Main points against it:

 

(1) If companions are "playersexual" that comes across, over several playthroughs, as if either everyone (in the world) is bi or your companion group is pre-selected - in-world - for sexual orientation. Keeping every playthrough self-contained in my mind in order to avoid being thusly affected takes effort, and more effort the more I talk with others about the story, and it is a constant strain on my suspension of disbelief since the little voice keeps nagging in my head "things don't work that way".

 

(2) Sexual orientation is part of a character's identity. Having it variable makes them less tangible and relatable.

 

If I may, isn't a lot of this alleviated if you see the characters of DA2 (or some other game) as bisexual?

[Allan Schumacher]

That I would need to see them that way is exactly a part of the problem. Why do I have this group of companions who are "pre-selected by fate" for sexual orientation? I feel this oddity would need an in-world explanation. In order for such an explanation to appear plausibly present in the story, the story would need to deal with sexuality as a theme.....

 

So the issue for you, then, is the "plausibility" of meeting people that happen to be bisexual?

 

 

Anders is not even bisexual in DA2, he is playersexual depending which gender selected for player character.

 

I'm definitely of the opinion that Anders is bisexual.

[Allan Schumacher]

I'm closing this thread.

 

Since I can abuse "last word" power, I'm going to...

 

 

Since when equality involves being able to have a romance with whoever you like? Real-life persons can reject you, among other reasons, for being from the same gender.

 

None of our games let you romance anyone that you like.  Further, DA2 does have people that reject you.  This argument is invalid, and stuff like this I will be growing increasingly intolerant towards, as I will consider it intentional derailing of threads and/or trolling.

[Allan Schumacher]

I will add one more thing:

 

It is okay to think that something like 2/2/2 is a better implementation.  It's okay to think that all the romances being available to everyone is not as interesting.  It's not okay to talk down to others because they happen to like something like this.