I don't mind hesitation. I just really dislike this new approach in which the player has to manually click all the hearts which kills the suspence, the tension, the mystery and drama. And I miss those LIs who made the first step, who were proactive (more or less). It was... realistic? Fun? Hilarious sometimes? Sad, shocking at times. It felt... like real life in a way
Not really, I mean in real life, guys are usually expected to go for the first kiss.
ikr? You want to talk about lack of closure, let's talk about KoTOR 2... T_T
I actually really liked the ending of KOTOR 2. 
I didn't need any more closure than the Exile and Atton walking off into the sunset together, ready to tackle a new adventure (TOR never happened). I'd be pleased with an ending like that for Solas/Lavellan.
Not really. Leliana could fall for the Warden just because she is nice to her. Alistair acts really shy but still initiative. In DAO there were slightly different approaches. Slightly, but still. Heart icons just kill the immersion for me ever since DA2. I hoped they'd never come back
But then some players end up triggering a romance just by being friendly, when they didn't want it. Just like Liara in Mass Effect. Awkward confrontation ensues. I personally didn't like that. I understand the immersion breaking by the hearts, but I'd rather not have companions I just want to be friends with yelling at me for being a jerk and leading them on, when I was just being nice to them.
I don't mind hesitation. I just really dislike this new approach in which the player has to manually click all the hearts which kills the suspence, the tension, the mystery and drama. And I miss those LIs who made the first step, who were proactive (more or less). It was... realistic? Fun? Hilarious sometimes? Sad, shocking at times. It felt... like real life in a way
I get what you're saying - the relationships could be more organic. I think they are getting better in these games, but given that there are so many options, the time needed to add all this nuance would be ridiculous. I think Solas did initiate things in some ways though. He's the first one to say "I love you", clearly ramping the relationship up to the next level. I think you just needed to give him a nudge and he kind of was all in. Which made the whole thing so much more upsetting.
I tried. Hearts stayPretty sure you can turn off the heart icons in settings (Turn off tone).
I prefer the romance system more in Inquisition as opposed to Origins myself, relationships do feel more organic to me.
Pretty sure you can turn off the heart icons in settings (Turn off tone).
I prefer the romance system more in Inquisition as opposed to Origins myself, relationships do feel more organic to me.
The new approval system alone was a huge leap forward in making relationships feel more natural. Before the game came out I had my doubts about it but it really did completely change how I interact with my companions and helped me worry less about their reactions to my choices because I wasn't min/maxing their approval ratings.
It let me imagine that, though he disapproved of a decent number of her choices, Solas eventually learned to respect Lavellan for listening to all sides before making her own decisions rather than blindly following others' suggestions without questioning them.
Oh. I loved it. I never romanced Leliana as my main Warden but her crush on her was just so sweet. Cute, sad, funny. Realistic tooBut then some players end up triggering a romance just by being friendly, when they didn't want it. Just like Liara in Mass Effect. Awkward confrontation ensues. I personally didn't like that. I understand the immersion breaking by the hearts, but I'd rather not have companions I just want to be friends with yelling at me for being a jerk and leading them on, when I was just being nice to them.
Solavellan Syndrome
Symptoms include inability to roll anything but female Dalish, inability to complete other romances & sudden obsession with wolves.
Minor symptoms include listening to All The Break-Up Songs, seeking fanfiction/smut & praying to Patrick Weekes for future DLC.
Incredibly contagious with a rapid spread. If you find yourself humming "Hallelujah", it MAY be too late...
Solavellan Syndrome is not fatal but IS debilitating. If you show any signs, seek shelter at the Solas Recovery Wing on BSN.
Can this really be called a place of recovery? We do a lot of co-rumination here and pass around links to fics/smut and share All The Break-Up Songs. We're essentially egging on our symptoms and purposefully passing this syndrome to other people. This is more like a super secret underground black market to fuel our Solavellan addiction. It's like we're enablers or something.
I tried. Hearts stay
I disagree. Falling in love isn't always initiated by shameless flirting. Trust, care, being close, mutual understanding makes a heart flutter no less than a wink and a flirty tone
I mean, if Solas goes for the first kiss (which won't fit his characterization), there will be people complaining to Bioware about NPCs sexually harassing their characters. It's hard to imagine Solas going for a shy Lavellan.
I tried. Hearts stay
I disagree. Falling in love isn't always initiated by shameless flirting. Trust, care, being close, mutual understanding makes a heart flutter no less than a wink and a flirty tone
I'm not disagreeing with you. And that's the approach I usually like with video game romances as well. That's why I really liked the "flirts" in the Solas romance, actually. Because they weren't overt at all. They were just playful teasing, and showing you care. I actually think some of the most romantic dialogue is when you can hear your inquisitor matching Solas's rhythm. It feels like they're connecting on a very fundamental level. And you always get approval for that, because in his heart of hearts Solas wants someone to understand him. I think it's dialogue like that which really builds their relationship before you even hit the first kiss scene.
I tried. Hearts stay
I disagree. Falling in love isn't always initiated by shameless flirting. Trust, care, being close, mutual understanding makes a heart flutter no less than a wink and a flirty tone
Well that's how the approval system works, right? It's not marked for the 1-2-3 options which is going to make them approve/disapprove but you have to either 1) think like they do and choose the option you think will make them like you or 2) answer honestly and hope they like it.
I think this is one of the reasons I really "fell in love" with Solas (both in game and out) because the way I naturally play (nice but also snarky) tends to get tons of approval from him. There are a bunch of hidden gems in his dialog for things that will gain his approval you might not realize if you don't choose the right one.
The hearts are just the really obvious "I want to flirt and make this a romance", which I think was a good approach game-wise. As others have said, it separates the "I just want to be a friend and compliment you" from the "I see this as a romantic thing" which is helpful in gameplay terms.
It's funny because,as a female, a lot of the heart options with Cass actually make her disapprove. Ah, Cass, such fun you are.
I'm not disagreeing with you. And that's the approach I usually like with video game romances as well. That's why I really liked the "flirts" in the Solas romance, actually. Because they weren't overt at all. They were just playful teasing, and showing you care. I actually think some of the most romantic dialogue is when you can hear your inquisitor matching Solas's rhythm. It feels like they're connecting on a very fundamental level. And you always get approval for that, because in his heart of hearts Solas wants someone to understand him. I think it's dialogue like that which really builds their relationship before you even hit the first kiss scene.
There were some amazingly sweet and caring "flirt" options and his reaction to someone showing that they want to understand him and are there for him is just so touching. Though Solas is obviously interested in Lavellan physically, the way he places such importance on her spirit feels special and makes him seem so loving and genuine.
Ugh. Yeah, I know. Some people... though a quick kiss and an apology with lots of blushing would probably make it okay? As I gave an idea previously. People do watch and read popular romance genre works, right? Creepier stuff happens there than a kissI mean, if Solas goes for the first kiss (which won't fit his characterization), there will be people complaining to Bioware about NPCs sexually harassing their characters. It's hard to imagine Solas going for a shy Lavellan.
I tried. Hearts stay
I disagree. Falling in love isn't always initiated by shameless flirting. Trust, care, being close, mutual understanding makes a heart flutter no less than a wink and a flirty tone
Which is why I prefer the flirting in DA: I to DA2 (which honestly was shameless, often inappropriate flirting). I liked how some of the flirting with Solas didn't come off as actual flirting in DA: I, but instead kindness and empathy- good things to build a relationship on. The heart options in Solas's first dialogue cutscene and after All New, Faded for Her, come to mind.
edit: I didn't notice this before I posted. Jellobell says it much better 
I'm not disagreeing with you. And that's the approach I usually like with video game romances as well. That's why I really liked the "flirts" in the Solas romance, actually. Because they weren't overt at all. They were just playful teasing, and showing you care. I actually think some of the most romantic dialogue is when you can hear your inquisitor matching Solas's rhythm. It feels like they're connecting on a very fundamental level. And you always get approval for that, because in his heart of hearts Solas wants someone to understand him. I think it's dialogue like that which really builds their relationship before you even hit the first kiss scene.
Well that's how the approval system works, right? It's not marked for the 1-2-3 options which is going to make them approve/disapprove but you have to either 1) think like they do and choose the option you think will make them like you or 2) answer honestly and hope they like it.
I think this is one of the reasons I really "fell in love" with Solas (both in game and out) because the way I naturally play (nice but also snarky) tends to get tons of approval from him. There are a bunch of hidden gems in his dialog for things that will gain his approval you might not realize if you don't choose the right one.
The hearts are just the really obvious "I want to flirt and make this a romance", which I think was a good approach game-wise. As others have said, it separates the "I just want to be a friend and compliment you" from the "I see this as a romantic thing" which is helpful in gameplay terms.
It's funny because,as a female, a lot of the heart options with Cass actually make her disapprove. Ah, Cass, such fun you are.
Yeah, I think one of the reasons why I like the romance so much is that I do go for the intellectual open-minded guys in real life. The whole thing felt really natural to me because I also tend to be bold and impulsive and would go for that first kiss lol.
Can this really be called a place of recovery? We do a lot of co-rumination here and pass around links to fics/smut and share All The Break-Up Songs. We're essentially egging on our symptoms and purposefully passing this syndrome to other people. This is more like a super secret underground black market to fuel our Solavellan addiction. It's like we're enablers or something.
Well, the Solas Leper Colony doesn't sound as nice...
You know... after replaying some of the DAO prologues today, it occurred to me that almost 50% of the Bioware games I've played have involved tragic elf romance in some fashion. More if you count Baldur's Gate mods (thanks Kulyok, I blame you for starting this addiction 
)
Dammit Tamlen.
Does anyone have before/after images regarding the vallaslin removal? I just did "the scene" this past weekend and I'm trying to get used to my Lavellan's brand-new face.
I thought the Solas flirts were pretty well balanced, since the earliest ones weren't (to me) romantically forward, but more in line with expressing you have his back and are interested/amused in his passionate views. Preliminary flirting, I like to call it. By the time the first kiss comes around it might seem a bit fast, but for context: Josephine states in her first romance scene in Skyhold that "we've only known each other for a few months" so we can infer that Haven--->Skyhold = 2 to 3 months. Considering the amount of trekking you can do across the Hinterlands alone I think this is reasonable. And I don't know about you, but if I'm interested in a person they'll know about it within that time frame for sure.
A reason I think the first kiss works even for a shy or not so forward Lavellan, is because it's in a dream. As Solas says, some things are easier in a dream. Even if she didn't know she was in a dream at the time, it may have been easier to act on her impulses.
Romances in DA2 were... Hawkeward if you know what I mean. Even really good onesWhich is why I prefer the flirting in DA: I to DA2 (which honestly was shameless, often inappropriate flirting). I liked how some of the flirting with Solas didn't come off as actual flirting in DA: I, but instead kindness and empathy- good things to build a relationship on. The heart options in Solas's first dialogue cutscene and after All New, Faded for Her, come to mind.
Does anyone have before/after images regarding the vallaslin removal? I just did "the scene" this past weekend and I'm trying to get used to my Lavellan's brand-new face.
Spoiler
If you don't mind my curiosity, did she have the scars + the tattoos, or did they come about after the removal?
Either way, she's gorgeous. But a jarring transformation!
Ugh. Yeah, I know. Some people... though a quick kiss and an apology with lots of blushing would probably make it okay? As I gave an idea previously. People do watch and read popular romance genre works, right? Creepier stuff happens there than a kiss
The problem is that video games are an interactive medium. The player isn't passive, they interact with the game. Reading a book or watching a television show or movie is passive and most people don't put themselves in the position of the main character the way some people will with video games.
There were some amazingly sweet and caring "flirt" options. His reaction to someone showing that they want to understand him and are there for him is just so touching. Though Solas is obviously interested in Lavellan physically, the way he places so much importance on her spirit feels so special and makes him seem so loving and genuine.
Yessss. I think this is when I really fell in love with him. He just seemed so genuinely happy that someone was taking the time to listen to him. And the fact that he's so surprised when you pick the caring options made my heart hurt.
If you don't mind my curiosity, did she have the scars + the tattoos, or did they come about after the removal?
Either way, she's gorgeous. But a jarring transformation!
I put the scars on her during the CC. I knew beforehand about the removal option, so I didn't want to leave her face 100% bare when they were removed. I even chose one of the more dramatic vallaslin options to make it more severe of a change...but now I'm struggling to get used to it, haha!
Thanks, I love her face! I'm super sad about no New Game+ options, because I'm going to want to replay this character to perfect it eventually and I know I'll be unable to recreate her. 
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