You know, usually games cater to the straight male, and most bioware games have had more options for straight men, then for anyone else. This is the first Bioware game that a straight woman had more than one, maybe two options. I absolutely love it that I feel like I really have a choice this time around.
It equals out in the end.
In Dragon Age: Origins, Morrigan was a mysterious and highly accomplished mage. She was analytical, practical, and cold (on the surface); however, exploring romance gave you a chance to break down those walls. Her allure was so strong, sometimes one would make decisions they wouldn't typically make just to appease her. On the other hand, Leliana was a former assassin/bard, trying to repent for her past. Truthfully, she got on my nerves until she was "hardened", but after that, totally awesome.
Fast forward to DA: Inquisition. Straight male characters have two options...
1. Cassandra - Party member. Nobility. Warrior archtype. Goody-two shoe religious fanatic since youth.
2. Josephine - Non-party member. Nobility. Politician.
This is the first Bioware game (in DA:1-2 and Mass Effect 1-3) that I've not elected for a relationship. Since the primary relationships are a total drag, I was hoping it was possible to strike up something with Leliana if she wasn't romance in the previous DA titles, but after a quick Google, I see that's not an option... again, very disappointing. I much prefer someone who's in the middle instead of "one of the guys" (Cassandra) or "one of the girls" (Josephine) - both of which are way too "good" and diplomatic for my taste (both past and present).
Meanwhile...
Straight female gamers have (3 party members, 1 non party member):
1. Blackwall
2. Iron Bull
3. Cullen
4. Solas
Homosexual gamers have (2 party members (m) / 1 party member & 1 non-party member (f))
1. Iron Bull (m)
2. Dorian (m)
1. Josephine (f)
2. Sera (f)
*Women definitely got the shaft here because Sera's a lunatic and Josephine's so damn boring...*
Honestly, I could care less what's provided to different sexes / sexual orientations. I am just disappointed by the lack of options provided to straight male gamers (which feels a bit like the twilight zone). Both options are completely boring, one dimension individuals. What gives?
Eh, romance options is weird either way, because:
Straight female:
1. Blackwall: Angsty Warden that left the party if you romance him. He tried to be like Anders, but he doesn't quite get it that he doesn't have that much attraction going for him. Plus, his personality is straight up annoying to me, even though Bioware tried its best in maintaining the LI pool. His description is pretty much supposed to be 'the perfect man', but he's just annoying, imho.
2. Iron Bull: Lol, this is an interesting character, but....I can't romance James Vega, despite the horns. I just can't.
3. Cullen: a ringer for Alistair's romance, except you get more fangirl moments with him than DA:O.
4. Solas: .....He have his appeal, the whole thing about "I stand alone" works for some, I guess, but even though I understood his reason for leaving, I feel that it was unnecessary, and only serve to put in some interesting tidbit about the Elvhenan, and increase the amount of questions of "wtf happened?" to both the romance and the game's lore.
So pretty much the only passable romance option for straight female is Cullen (for those who like sweet romance, and those who have been drooling about him since DA:O), and Iron Bull (because, well, horns).
Male Homosexual:
1. Iron Bull: Lol, you know you want to ride the bull.
2. Dorian: He's sassy, a little kinky, and the 'stach, man! Unfortunate hairstyle, but the 'stach is the main thing anyhow 
Plus, his body! Those sparkly hands! XD
Female Homosexual:
1. Josephine: ............I'm not touching this. I don't even understand why she's an LI.
2. Sera: She has some hilarious conversations, but she's too much of a nutjob for me. Maybe other people appreciate her sense of humor, but....she's too much of a nutjob for me. However, she seems like a great friend. For some reason, I see her as a mixture of Isabella and Merrill, plus as splash of Varric's arro...I mean, confidence.
Straight Male:
1. Cassandra: She is Cassandra, and I like her. Strong backbone, hard on the outside, semi-soft on the inside. Loves Varric's smut literature. Just a little bit less powerful than Aveline, with a bigger stick up hers. Workable, but not everyone want to stand beside an untamable woman that can hand you your behind multiple times, while not cracking up at Iron Bull's naked scene.
2. Josephine: As explained above, I think she should not even be an LI. Just...no.
I don't know, I do think that the straight male Inquisitor did indeed get a little short, but not as bad as the hand they dealt the female in ME3.
You know, usually games cater to the straight male, and most bioware games have had more options for straight men, then for anyone else. This is the first Bioware game that a straight woman had more than one, maybe two options. I absolutely love it that I feel like I really have a choice this time around.
It equals out in the end.
Garrus, Thane, Kaidan, Vega (in the Citadel DLC, though he doesn't give an achievement), Javik (again in the DLC, although his is more a joke than anything), all in ME3. That's 5.
Javik and Vega do not count.
Jacob does.
Unfortunately.
Garrus, Thane, Kaidan, Vega (in the Citadel DLC, though he doesn't give an achievement), Javik (again in the DLC, although his is more a joke than anything), all in ME3. That's 5.
Fair enough, but I wouldn't consider Vega or Javik a romance option, but more of a joke. But, if you put all of the games together, I honestly believe it evens out in the end. I know what it's like to be disapointed by the romance options. And, if you consider many other games, it's hard to even play as a female character.
Like I said, I understand that people feel shafted, but I feel DAI was one of the most inclusive games for all sexualities, and that is an achievement.
Garrus, Thane, Kaidan, Vega (in the Citadel DLC, though he doesn't give an achievement), Javik (again in the DLC, although his is more a joke than anything), all in ME3. That's 5.
You've got to be kidding me. Javik and Vega both don't count. It's a single scene of you waking up next to them (also, they're both so consent blurring its beyond inappropriate). Thane dies in the first third of the game, you can only romance Garrus if you import a ME2 save where he was romanced, and Kaidan is potentially dead. Play your cards wrong and a FemShep can have zero straight LIs in ME3.
But in ME2 she did have three legitimate LIs.
You've got to be kidding me. Javik and Vega both don't count. It's a single scene of you waking up next to them (also, they're both so consent blurring its beyond inappropriate). Thane dies in the first third of the game, you can only romance Garrus if you import a ME2 save where he was romanced, and Kaidan is potentially dead. Play your cards wrong and a FemShep can have zero straight LIs in ME3.
But in ME2 she did have three legitimate LIs.
This is true. I was thinking of ME3. I keep forgetting about Jacob, haha, because I just couldn't stand how my Shepard acted.
This is true. I was thinking of ME3. I keep forgetting about Jacob, haha, because I just couldn't stand how my Shepard acted.
I agree Jacob is the worst.
I agree Jacob is the worst.
And then the whole thing with ME3, I felt sorry for anyone who did romance him.
You've got to be kidding me. Javik and Vega both don't count. It's a single scene of you waking up next to them (also, they're both so consent blurring its beyond inappropriate). Thane dies in the first third of the game, you can only romance Garrus if you import a ME2 save where he was romanced, and Kaidan is potentially dead. Play your cards wrong and a FemShep can have zero straight LIs in ME3.
But in ME2 she did have three legitimate LIs.
Thane dying early doesn't make it any less of a romance.
Granted, it's a terrible romance because of his death and the total retcon of his personality being imported from the ME2 romance, but it's a romance nonetheless since he acknowledges being with Shepard and being happy with her. I don't count Jacob because he flat-out calls it quits.
Javik and Vega do not count.
Jacob does.
Unfortunately.
Yeah but FemShep got Samantha Traynor, who I think should count even though she's a woman. I was so regretting playing a ManShep when I hit on her and she said "What, you didn't pick up on all the incredibly obvious hints that I'm an oversexed* lesbian?"
I was hoping she was bi . . . .
*She's either oversexed or just generally epicurean. Actually I think she's most likely the latter. Another reason to like her.
I mean cmon, thats got to be the first LI in a video game who is herself a gamer.
You know, usually games cater to the straight male, and most bioware games have had more options for straight men, then for anyone else. This is the first Bioware game that a straight woman had more than one, maybe two options. I absolutely love it that I feel like I really have a choice this time around.
It equals out in the end.
two wrongs don't make a right.
Working on romancing Cullen...and I like it better even than Alistair. I mean, I haven't gotten far, but Cullen is more sure of himself than Alistair was and he makes sure to know about the Inquisitor's feelings about the Herald deal.
Alistair shows concern for your Warden, but I will admit that he doesn't always do. And it took me hardening him in order for him to stand up for himself. Still my favorite Origins LI, but I am taking a liking to Cullen more.
You're comparing Alistair when he was a fairly fresh recruit to the Grey Wardens... to Cullen after everything he's been through? That's unfair.
You should compare the two like they should be, in the first game. Cullen in the mage tower.... literally runs off because he's too shy to handle a bit of flirting. Where as Alistair in Origins did doubt himself, but he didn't run off after a single flirt line.
Believe it or not, Cullen has gone through a bunch of **** at this point. So it's a no-brainer that he'd be confident by now.
You're comparing Alistair when he was a fairly fresh recruit to the Grey Wardens... to Cullen after everything he's been through? That's unfair.
You should compare the two like they should be, in the first game. Cullen in the mage tower.... literally runs off because he's too shy to handle a bit of flirting. Where as Alistair in Origins did doubt himself, but he didn't run off after a single flirt line.
Believe it or not, Cullen has gone through a bunch of **** at this point. So it's a no-brainer that he'd be confident by now.
...So it's okay to call Cullen a simple Alistair 2.0 like other people did in this thread? I was simply pointing out the differences between the two romances whereas a few other that simply called Cullen and his romance another Alistair.
Besides, if you would notice, I said that I LOVE the Alistair romance. I played that romance with a Human Noble more than anything else. And it was a few months ago that I did a Dwarf Commoner/Alistair romance. However, because the way the romance is written in DAI for Cullen, I am finding myself liking it more than Alistair's.
You're comparing Alistair when he was a fairly fresh recruit to the Grey Wardens... to Cullen after everything he's been through? That's unfair.
You should compare the two like they should be, in the first game. Cullen in the mage tower.... literally runs off because he's too shy to handle a bit of flirting. Where as Alistair in Origins did doubt himself, but he didn't run off after a single flirt line.
Believe it or not, Cullen has gone through a bunch of **** at this point. So it's a no-brainer that he'd be confident by now.
Yeah, very true. Alistair romance happened when he was barely an adult, still quite naive. Cullen's happens when he's a full fledged man and has tons of experience and wisdom in his belt. Both characters had some great development though. Kinda jealous we got to see Cullen's more evenly throughout each game when Alistair has only had cameos. 
Yeah, very true. Alistair romance happened when he was barely an adult, still quite naive. Cullen's happens when he's a full fledged man and has tons of experience and wisdom in his belt. Both characters had some great development though. Kinda jealous we got to see Cullen's more evenly throughout each game when Alistair has only had cameos.
Like I said, I LOVE Alistair's romance and his character. But when people want to say that Cullen and his romance in this game is just another Alistair, then I get a little aggravated. Because there is differences between them. Cullen is a mixture of sweet and angst. In Alistair's case is mainly sweet until the end, depending on the Landsmeet and the Dark Ritual. I love Cullen's romance better, but I will always choose Alistair as my favorite romance in Origins. Just like I choose Fenris' in DA2...which is full of angst...huh...
Like I said, I LOVE Alistair's romance and his character. But when people want to say that Cullen and his romance in this game is just another Alistair, then I get a little aggravated. Because there is differences between them. Cullen is a mixture of sweet and angst. In Alistair's case is mainly sweet until the end, depending on the Landsmeet and the Dark Ritual. I love Cullen's romance better, but I will always choose Alistair as my favorite romance in Origins. Just like I choose Fenris' in DA2...which is full of angst...huh...
Oh I believe you completely, I was just agreeing with their point that the romances are different probably because of the major difference in age and life experience between the two. 
Both great romances though.
Oh I believe you completely, I was just agreeing with their point that the romances are different probably because of the major difference in age and life experience between the two.
I guess the other post griped me a little...I had made mine in response to those that wanted to call Cullen's romance (and his character) just Alistair 2.0. Though I didn't make my explanation clear...(sweatdrop).
But yeah, both are done amazingly. I was waiting for Cullen and a romance with him since the second...and I wasn't disappointed. But since I have a PS4 (got to Wicked Hearts in the PS3 version), I must now play the game again...but with a more beautiful Inquisitor for Cullen.
I guess the other post griped me a little...I had made mine in response to those that wanted to call Cullen's romance (and his character) just Alistair 2.0. Though I didn't make my explanation clear...(sweatdrop).
But yeah, both are done amazingly. I was waiting for Cullen and a romance with him since the second...and I wasn't disappointed. But since I have a PS4 (got to Wicked Hearts in the PS3 version), I must now play the game again...but with a more beautiful Inquisitor for Cullen.
Haha, yeah I don't agree that he's Alistair 2.0 either. The similarities pretty much end at both of them being blonde human males. They each have their own distinct personalities for sure. Alistair is more lighthearted and less of a leader, for sure. Cullen has the serious vibe going on but really knows how to rally people. Both have strengths and weaknesses. I played on PS4 and it was beautiful, glad you'll get to experience it!
Laughs, I still think a female gamer like myself approves of the males in this game at least, you can have seven options in ME3 while woman were only aloud Garrus if romanced in two and Kaidan yippe sorry if you did not pick Kaidan to surive the bomb and chose to kill Garus no straight options for you in me3. Yup straight male's are so mistreated in these games. Joke
and I think most reasonable stright males will agree that the femshep got the short end of the stick on that. Jacob with another woman and knocked her up, Thane... died, Garus I thinkwas alright Kaidan at least in ME3, finally found a personality.
In DA2 everyone got the same amount of relationships. While IN DA:O I think females had what Leilana and Alister.
Sera honestly... I just want to slap her upside the head... alot... sometimes her jokes are funny but most of the time extremely juvenile
But don't get me wrong the 2 stright male ones are decent. I just think people want X or Y. And they get something else.
Haha, yeah I don't agree that he's Alistair 2.0 either. The similarities pretty much end at both of them being blonde human males. They each have their own distinct personalities for sure. Alistair is more lighthearted and less of a leader, for sure. Cullen has the serious vibe going on but really knows how to rally people. Both have strengths and weaknesses. I played on PS4 and it was beautiful, glad you'll get to experience it!
Cullen also has an epic death glare. (a certain scene in his romance...)
Cullen also has an epic death glare. (a certain scene in his romance...)
Yep! *already shamelessly youtubed that* 
Yep! *already shamelessly youtubed that*
Yeah...
Yeah...
Spoiler
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