69 réponses à ce sujet

[Kanedax]

Cassandra is awesome, you shut your ****** mouth, OP.

[Noelemahc]

Guys, girls, everyone in between, let's agree to disagree. Everyone has their own tastes. Me, I wanted to romance Aveline, and I know I wasn't the only one, so Cass is looking to be filling the same role in The Herald's social circle as Aveline did in The Champion's, so...

[Bayonet Hipshot]

I get all that. I never said Cassandra was an unrealistic character, just that she is not appealing as a love interest. The Tsundere that you have to "chase" and get past their prickly side to see "the real person inside" just isn't a universal appeal.

 

Some people do like that, and I'm glad for them. I only chime in when people are all like "Y U NO LIKE CASS?! CASS IS PERFECT". 

 

Meh.

 

Precisely ! 

 

I do not like her very much not because she is a woman but because there is nothing much I like about her in the first place. Her personality is the type I never get along with, be it a man or a woman or a transgender. 

[Gunner]

Having read through this topic, it's left me feeling slightly confused. I've had several romance icons pop up with Vivienne - why is that so? Is that more just a flirtatious thing relating to her character, or...? She doesn't really do it for me (she's got the crazy eyes...) but curious about why the icons are there.

PS: I initially disliked Cass in my first few hours but after 15 more she's grown on me.

[Bayonet Hipshot]

I think the key problem is that while Cassandra is a terrific character with an interesting background and tremendous room for growth, as the only in-party romance for the "Straight Male" character she does not fit the criteria that those of that demographic tend to desire.

 

She's too feisty. She has a tough shell. And she is not feminine enough to fulfill their fantasies.

 

"Romance" in the sense that we get it in a game like this is *generally* a more feminine form of story telling. Women enjoy and value working through a character's issues, getting to what's under the surface. There's a whole book genre dedicated to this, and within that there are subgenres for stuff like sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal. (I write within the latter two of these for a living.)

 

I chatted with my brother and my boyfriend about this to get a more balanced set of opinion. Neither of them are mindless idiots or in any other way prone to being offensive. What they both told me, having looked at Josephine and Cass, is that (for them) Josephine would be "out" because she would be a chore since she's not an in-party character. Cass, on the other hand, is too masculine and over-bearing. It's difficult for them to feel like bad-ass male heroes with her beside them because with her personality it's totally possible for her to overshadow them. Further, a character like Cass (a) does not visually appeal to either of them (both like women with longer hair) and when this is combined with the amount of "effort" required to romance a character their reaction was, quite simply, "Why bother?".

 

Whether it was right or wrong not to include a more traditionally feminine romance option in a party-based role is another debate all together and is one which I, frankly, have no desire to delve into.

 

I am always sorry to hear people aren't happy with the romance options when they care about that aspect of the game. (I wanted Varric, darn it. So I can, in my own way, relate.) But at the same time, I'm going to pardon that exclusion and focus on the fact that I'm going to need to play this game EIGHT TIMES to see how each romance plays out, because I find every option interesting. 

 

I love the "she is too feisty, she is not feminine enough" argument that get thrown at us straight males who are not fond of Cassandra. It implies that straight men only want femininity in women they choose to like. 

 

I for example do not like her very much because she is against many of the decisions my Inquisitor would make such as making the rebel mages the Inquisition allies, not banishing the Grey Wardens, etc. 

 

She also lacks the capability to think before acting. She acts and then thinks or rather regretfully thinks. Which is a big turn off for me. I do not like people who bumble into something for the sake of being direct. 

 

She also takes things too seriously, all the time. I dislike men and women who do that, in real life or in games. I am a bit like Varric in this sense. 

 

It is rather ironic that in a quest to make romances feel more "natural", whatever that means, Bioware did something that I really dislike with Cassandra's romance arc. Seriously, what is natural ? Polygamy is natural yet humans never seem to openly agree with it. So is cuckolding and adultery, it is quite natural and common in nature, which makes it nature. So is having sex in the open, animals are not big on priorities, which makes that natural. 

 

Anyway, I digress. My biggest issue with Cassandra's romance arc is the fact that the male Inquisitor has to chase her and please her throughout the game, effectively making him and turning him into a love-stricken puppy dog in search of approval and validation from his percieved Tsundere female goddess. The way Cassandra romance works ends up turning her into a prize to be won, an tsundere to be melted, etc. 

 

The worst part is Cassandra does not even give any hints of liking or reciprocates in the middle of the courtship at all. No initiation by her, no gift giving by her, nothing. 

 

Her romance arc is not the romance of equals. It is the romance arc of a pathetic knight having to engage in a wild goose chase to receive approval from his goddess princess. 

 

*Disgusted noise*

[Panda]

Having read through this topic, it's left me feeling slightly confused. I've had several romance icons pop up with Vivienne - why is that so? Is that more just a flirtatious thing relating to her character, or...? She doesn't really do it for me (she's got the crazy eyes...) but curious about why the icons are there.

PS: I initially disliked Cass in my first few hours but after 15 more she's grown on me.

 

Actually it seems like you can flirt with characters who aren't LI's or are LI's that are gated from you. I think Vivienne's case is like Aveline's, you can flirt with her but it never develops to romance.

[Super Drone]

 

Anyway, I digress. My biggest issue with Cassandra's romance arc is the fact that the male Inquisitor has to chase her and please her throughout the game, effectively making him and turning him into a love-stricken puppy dog in search of approval and validation from his percieved Tsundere female goddess. The way Cassandra romance works ends up turning her into a prize to be won, an tsundere to be melted, etc. 

 

 

Oh dear lord, is that really how her Romance arc plays out? That's... yuck.

[ShieldWarden]

After hearing so much about Cassandra... it's actually left me at an impasse. I had myself set on romancing Josephine with my Male Elf because of how she keeps trying to be considerate of his heritage, and well... those lips. *drool* But now I've seen Cassandra being peeled back like an onion and it's surprising and great to see she has so many layers.

 

Although that probably won't change my mind about romancing Josie, I'm definitely excited to pursue the romance with Cassandra the second time around. I'm the type of guy that can respect a woman that holds to her own belief system, whether it's seriously religious or not. I'm also respectful enough to be open-minded and listen. So I relish the thought of her romance now.

 

Thanks, OP. Your hate of Cassandra has lead me to a deeper excitement for my second playthrough, where I'll be romancing the hell out of a strong, sensitive, beautiful, digital woman. Don't judge me.

[GodBrandon]

There are two options for straight males, which is still some bull.

[Hadeedak]

There are two options for straight males, which is still some bull.

There are two options for gay male quizzies. There are two options for gay female inquisitors. There are two options for straight women who want to play a dwarf or a qunari inquisitor. There's three for a female human who's only into the dudes, and four for female elves. Which apparently leaves us with "Bisexual female elves, master race of loooooooooooove". (You have to say love in a tenor and drawl it out there, or it doesn't work.)

 

STRANGELY ENOUGH, that's the same amount of love interests straight dudes had the LAST TWO GAMES. 

 

So I think everyone will survive. Except female elves, who may be too sexy for this world. 

 

I swear, once I get this game, I'm going to do an ace elf gal playthrough once just to mess with the status quo. She will never tag a heart. On the other hand, that might be part of Bioware's crafty plan to get me to play an elf. Damn them and their reverse psychology. Clearly.

 

(Also, you said "some bull" and I avoided making a "Romance Iron Bull" joke until this point. I'm very proud of me.)

[Fardreamer]

Cassandra is butch. Most guys don't like butch girls. Thats just a fact. It has nothing to do with sexism. Your taste in women can't be sexist. She's also abrasive and annoying and not attractive.

[Hadeedak]

Oh god, if they're trying to account for what everyone finds attractive, we're going to need a bigger inquisition....

 

None of the romances are exactly my jam. But I recognize my jam is pretty idiosyncratic, and people want different things in their potential story-telling mate. Which is why I can't have Garrus in every game. Oh well. ...I'm not sure Garrus is a great example, because he IS actually ugly as sin. But he's GARRUS, and that makes up for it. And I'll probably never get an asexual Garrus romance. I can live with that.

 

I had a point. Oh yes. If they don't hit the nail on the head as far as your character-to-romance preferences, I strongly recommend snapping your finger, going "Aw, shucks" and moving on, either by going outside of your character personality/romance comfort zone, or just not bipping the heart option.

 

Rad bromances are fun, too.

[Fardreamer]

They don't need to please everyone. But clearly they displeased the majority.

[jellobell]

They don't need to please everyone. But clearly they displeased the majority.

The heck do you mean "clearly"? Do you speak for the majority now?

 

Thanks, OP. Your hate of Cassandra has lead me to a deeper excitement for my second playthrough, where I'll be romancing the hell out of a strong, sensitive, beautiful, digital woman. Don't judge me.

I judge you an excellent judge of character. That is exactly why I love Cass.

[Boudicae]

Oh dear lord, is that really how her Romance arc plays out? That's... yuck.

If her romance is anything like how her friendship plays out, then no. She may not agree with every decision you make, but if you treat her with respect, she'll respect you back. If you tell her to her face that you think she's stupid, she's not going to appreciate it. It's really not that complicated.

[ShieldWarden]

I judge you an excellent judge of character. That is exactly why I love Cass.

 

Well.... in that case, I'm okay with being judged. 

 

 

If her romance is anything like how her friendship plays out, then no. She may not agree with every decision you make, but if you treat her with respect, she'll respect you back. If you tell her to her face that you think she's stupid, she's not going to appreciate it. It's really not that complicated.

 

So... like a normal relationship, then? 

[GodBrandon]

There are two options for gay male quizzies. There are two options for gay female inquisitors. There are two options for straight women who want to play a dwarf or a qunari inquisitor. There's three for a female human who's only into the dudes, and four for female elves. Which apparently leaves us with "Bisexual female elves, master race of loooooooooooove". (You have to say love in a tenor and drawl it out there, or it doesn't work.)

 

STRANGELY ENOUGH, that's the same amount of love interests straight dudes had the LAST TWO GAMES. 

 

So I think everyone will survive. Except female elves, who may be too sexy for this world. 

 

I swear, once I get this game, I'm going to do an ace elf gal playthrough once just to mess with the status quo. She will never tag a heart. On the other hand, that might be part of Bioware's crafty plan to get me to play an elf. Damn them and their reverse psychology. Clearly.

 

(Also, you said "some bull" and I avoided making a "Romance Iron Bull" joke until this point. I'm very proud of me.)

You're super cool bro

[Leoroc]

I'm a bi male so I have a bit more option; but honestly I love the Cass romance. I just got her a naughty book as a gift and it's been great flirting with her. She's like a mix of Morrigan and Aveline.

 

The m/m romance choices are terrible. Iron Bull will break me in half and Dorian is not only a bit on the ugly side (that awful moustache is just the start) he's also irritating as hell.

 

I want my Cole

[Semipro]

I'm a bi male so I have a bit more option; but honestly I love the Cass romance. I just got her a naughty book as a gift and it's been great flirting with her. She's like a mix of Morrigan and Aveline.

 

The m/m romance choices are terrible. Iron Bull will break me in half and Dorian is not only a bit on the ugly side (that awful moustache is just the start) he's also irritating as hell.

 

I want my Cole

 

Dorian is incredible. I'd personally mod you a romance-able Cole (if there were mod tools that is) if BioWare would let Dorian share equal time on both sides of the fence. Granted the mustache really didn't quite work out digitally as good as it looked in the concept art, but....with Dorian's personality I just don't see the mustache at all or, to be more accurate the offensive quality of the mustache is far less offensive because his personality is carrying a lot of weight in lieu of some really horrible facial hair design by...whoever made the facial hair in DA:I.

[Hadeedak]

 My sunglasses are set to 98%.

 

I dunno, I haven't had my coffee yet. As usual, I feel like this is kind of a "The grass is always greener" issue.