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[vertigomez]

^ Sorry, I didn't mean that the vallaslin revelation should be gated to female elves romancing Solas, I just mean they'd probably have to think up some other world-changing revelation for other races if he hadn't been gated. Or a different romance scene.

[nightscrawl]

Oh, I didn't think you did! I was just throwing that out there XD. With DAI's end-game focus on elven lore I don't have an issue with it being a big, revelatory thing just for elves. I'm not into elves or the culture, but I thought it was an interesting bit to include and don't necessarily think that each race needs their Big Reveal. I think they should have had a different romance scene and had Solas reveal the information to an elven Inquisitor of either gender who is his friend.

[vertigomez]

I'm very drawn to the idea of romancing a political figure in one of these games. Someone in a role like Udina's sounds very appealing, especially if the interaction begins by them covertly informing to us about things we aren't intended to know. There's a certain mystique to linking the flirtation together with political intrigue.

Ahh, if only the political marriage with Anora had been explored a bit more. I still like the potential of that relationship, even if Cousland's not really my bag.

I'm still not sure I'd ever choose an NPC relationship over one with a companion, but if it was compelling enough... maaaybe.

[Sifr]

Ahh, if only the political marriage with Anora had been explored a bit more. I still like the potential of that relationship, even if Cousland's not really my bag.

I'm still not sure I'd ever choose an NPC relationship over one with a companion, but if it was compelling enough... maaaybe.

 

Anora really should have had a more prominent role in Origins and more agency in the story, since she's repeatedly characterised as being a driven woman who doesn't let people make decisions for her, so it's odd she spends most of the story standing by and letting herself be swept along by others.

 

Might have been interesting to see her in the cutscenes with Loghain in Denerim. Or learn that she perhaps had tried to subtly undermine and challenge her father, but her various plans were thwarted, leading to Howe locking her up in his estate to keep her out of trouble?

 

I'd definitely have enjoyed exploring a romance with her... Anora might be a bit of an ice queen, but she's still a total fox. In my canon world state, Alistair is one lucky man, even if he doesn't think so!

[Dean_the_Young]

I'm very drawn to the idea of romancing a political figure in one of these games. Someone in a role like Udina's sounds very appealing, especially if the interaction begins by them covertly informing to us about things we aren't intended to know. There's a certain mystique to linking the flirtation together with political intrigue. 

 

It was awhile ago, but I recall sketching out an diplomat love-interest in a the Mass Effect forums as an example of how a NPC/non-companion romance could work in the Mass Effect setting (a lover at the port of call in the Arc/Citadel equivalent). Not sure I could find it ago, but from what I remember it was also a sketch of sex at the start rather than end of a relationship, and it went like this-

 

Diplomat Dude (hereafter called the Diplomat) would be a peer-figure in the diplomatic service. Not above, not below, not even in the PC's chain of command or posted on the ship, but a significant support character. Call him a liason between the PC and the diplomatic service, and so on- usually on the Arc, but occasionally going out for face-to-face meetings with the aliens for important events, so a guest/escort for maybe an important story mission or two.

 

Character-wise, he'd be a tad Renegade-themed diplomat. A mix of Udina and Anderson, but without the assholery or can-do-no-wrong support. He believes that nationalist/self-interested perspective... but just believes it's better to do so by talking with other (self-interested) species, rather than just fighting and ending up in disastrous conflict (which picking fights as a refugee fleet would be). A moderate, reasonable Renegade- not a peacenik 'avoid fighting at any time' sort that the 'diplomacy' archetypes usually consists- he's cynical but realistic. He expects and accepts similar cynicism and self-interest for others and doesn't get wrapped up in moralizing grand-standing or hypocritical condemnations.

 

Diplomat would be one of those canonical forced relationships- not in terms of friendship and affection, but in that the PC works with him whether you like him or not. Diplomat is your diplomatic inside source, provides political context, and helps cover for the player and the consequences of their actions on the diplomatic front. He also knows/gets along with members of your crew.

 

If you're hostile (uber-aggresive, unwilling to even entertain compromise, etc.), it's a chilly professional relationship while he works with and through your crew as much as you because he knows he needs to put the Greater Good over his own personal dislike. But if it's warm (at least entertaining the prospects of diplomacy, not taking absolutist positions, respectful disagreements), then it's warm. Those little bits of inside knowledge are friendly favors, rather than just necessary contributions.

 

The romance would begin early. An early mission- say some objective in the first quarter/third of the game- is the basis of a team up, and a success. As thanks for a mission well done, Diplomat treats the Squad to drinks at a bar back on the Arc. The good stuff, pulled from diplomatic connections and ambasadorial gifts.

 

Flirting options start under the effects of alcohol. After a bit of drinking and possible flirting (possible romance/rivalmance depending on P/R conflicts), Diplomatic makes to leave and go home. The player can follow on the taxi, with the follow-up option of a last-minute back-off in dropping Diplomat off at his apartment (ie, seeing him safely home), or joining him in his spacious, much nicer bedroom than the PC's sleeping quarters. 

 

(Spoiler- not much sleeping results.)

 

In the morning, a boots scene leads to morning-after-talk, and Diplomat seeks clarification. The player can claim it was a drunken one-night-stand- an option that gives no hard feelings, but cuts off any future romance- or seek to establish a relationship. Diplomat is open to emotional commitment, and romance begins.

 

Diplomat is 'a lover at port' sort of romance- and one where opportunities to sleep around get reflected. Diplomat hears if you sleep around, and while it's not a deal-breaker, it is a stress point, and can complicate the relationship.

 

Diplomat's romance arc is mostly one of being the 'weaker man in a relationship,' and hits on the PC's relative godliness and martial prowess. Diplomat's a, well, diplomat. He's not that strong, he's not that fierce, and so he can't fit the traditional masculine role of being the protector- especially considering he's sleeping with one of the most capable people in Andromedea. Diplomat's just a diplomat, the 'weak' role that has to be rescued or proven wrong by strong martial military figures, and there's an element of insecurity there- especially if the player is flippantly sleeping around. While Diplomat is confident in terms of his job and professionally, he's less secure emotionally in an imbalanced relationship.

 

The romance conflict- the barrier to true culmination- is Diplomat's doubt about whether he can contribute something to the relationship, or if he's a parasite to the time and attention of the impressive and successful Pathfinder. The player can reassure they don't care (Paragon), push/inspire him to try harder (Renegade), or dump him if they find it whiny. While there is an element of insecurity there, it's not needy or desperate as much as trying to know where he stands with you, the player, and what you respect/care about him for. Diplomat's reluctant to emotionally invest in the PC in case they die/abandon Diplomat for another lover, especially a 'strong' one (like a companion romance).

 

The climax of the romance would tie into a story mission towards the end, something like a diplomatic climax that the PC has to save and which Diplomat has to be there for, and in which Diplomat is key to saving the PC from Certain Doom. In a non-romance arc, this is a crowning moment of friendship or a crowning moment of awesome, where even if you and Diplomat don't get along he saves you because he knows the Pathfinder is needed to save the day. In a romance, this is a more emotional act of love- throwing away reservations and risking himself to save the PC because love- and achieving self-confidence and coming to terms with the power imbalance. Even if he can't physically protect the player like a squadmate, he helped save them, and can protect/support them even as a Diplomat.

 

Diplomat ends the romance arc still on the Arc, rather than the player's ship and bed, but is a full romance none the less. Diplomat may be more faithful to the player than the player is to him, but as long as you return to him (and don't commit to any other relationships), you'll always have somewhere and someone to return to and call home.

 

 

Edit:

 

Points I felt would make this a good ME romance were the following-

 

-It took advantage of a 'home port' mechanic for a relationship in which the PC goes back to someone after time away, rather than have them with constantly

-The distance/'lover at port' mechanic offered the opportunity to reflect other flings and romances- allowing a bit more character drama, role playing, and the idea of a 'lover in every port' sort of character

-The use of the Diplomat as a character outside of the chain of command could avoid some of the favoritism/nepotism issues that always bugged me about ME, while also better reflecting a sort of bias on the part of the LI (in which he slips confidential information because he cares, not just because he needs to)

-The idea of a civilian romance to focus on the typical NPC/PC divide of 'power' (the RPG protagonist as a given) and 'powerless' (the civilian NPC). It matches thematically with the general parallels for military vs. diplomatic figures in Bioware lore, where diplomats are typically weak and have to be rescued by the martial protagonists.

-A male LI's flaw of insecurity for deserving the PC, rather than more typical Daddy Issues or broader insecurities. A nice change, if done carefully, since it's the flip side of ME's typical 'you are so awesome!' mantra for the player character.

[Dean_the_Young]

I don't know if fanfiction counts, but-

 

In my way-back-initial first playthrough of ME1, I played a Ruthless Colonist Shepard who, while politically Renegade, was more of a professional nationalist person rather than crazy irresponsible. Had romantic tension with Ashley, but after Virmire it was doomed to UST because of concern of the appearance it might give if it looked like he saved her over Kaiden just to have a relationship.

 

In the lead-up to ME2, when Cerberus was just starting to be circled, I mused up/outlined a fanfic of a sort of interim period romance story of sorts tailored to that Shepard. She was actually based on Kaiden's backstory- that girl he had a crush on but looks back and says Shepard would probably like.

 

In the story, she's there- I forget her name, but she was a VIP of Human political circles, and came to the Citadel after the battle of the Citadel to help establish Humanity on the Citadel Council. She was sharp, she was political but reasonable, but most of all she and Shepard meet and make a connection over Kaiden's funeral. It's a big 'it's complicated'- she has mixed feelings over Kaiden, and Shepard feels guilt, and there's an emotional connection over the empty casket and ceremony.

 

What kicks off the story is that she- lets call her Ada?- takes an interest in Shepard, and starts to build something while overcoming the Ruthless Colonist's characteristic high walls. As they get to know eachother the better they seem to click- they're both committed Alliance patriots, they have more cynical views of galactic politics and resolve to help Humanity defend itself, and there's a definite mutual attraction as they work together to help establish human interests in rebuilding the Citadel, despite some criminal activity and malcontents opposing it all. They even understand eachother to a way that few understand Shepard, with Ada seeing the scars of not just Mindoir, but the guilt over losses in the Torfan operation that earned the name the Butcher.

 

It's a relationship that seems too good to be true- but the more it pans out, the more people support Shepard going forward with it. Anderson thinks Shepard needs to relax more and deserves to be happy, Udina approves of Ada and encourages the relationship of the First Human Spectre and a nearly universally respected human VIP for political reasons, and even Ashley- Shepard's BFF even though the UST is shoved in the closet- swallows the bitter pill and encourages Shepard to go for it. Shepard, who's a guy who's been seriously hurt in the past by trauma of Mindoir and Torfan.

 

The background narrative, aside from the entry of Humanity into the Council, is reports of criminal gangs exploiting the chaos and fighting over territory and access to the Citadel as it rebuilds. Shepard is involved in investigating these things as the Council and C-SEC re-establishes itself, and finds both an unusual human-criminal activity, and the criminal targets of pieces of Sovereign. During the attacks Ada gets caught up in the violence and rescued by Shepard. Romantic culmination occurs when they finally act and sleep together.

 

The story climax follows, when the criminal gangs culminate into a brazen surprise attack on a conference that Ada is in covering the Sovereign debris being secured by C-SEC. Shepard and Co. rush to stop the attackers, and Shepard goes to save Ada... but instead of protecting Ada along with the Sovereign relics, Shepard accuses Ada of being the traitor who let the attackers in. Ada is revealed to be a Cerberus operative all along- using her connections and access on the Citadel to let Cerberus in- and that all of this- even seducing Shepard to steal his datapad the night they had sex- was a plan to get security codes to the Conference in ordeer to steal C-SEC's accumulated Sovereign tech.

 

The betrayal hurts, but isn't a surprise- because when Ada stole Shepard's data, Shepard hacked Ada in return. It was mutual exploitation of eachother's trust in the night of intimacy. Shepard, with Ashley's timely assistance, manages to capture Ada and foil the Cerberus heist.

 

There draw-down is of the aftermath of the events, as the fallout comes out. Ada's betrayal is a surprise to everyone- but Shepard's foiling of it, and saving the day, helps secure Humanity's entrance into the Citadel. Shepard is lauded, while many offer him their apologies (for encouraging the relationship) or sympathies (for that it failed). Anderson and Ashley in particular are the ones who know just how hurt Shepard was- even if he's hiding it under the familiar facade.

 

During this time, Ada is a prisoner and repeatedly interrogated, to no avail. Eventually Shepard is called in, to confront the woman who betrayed him. Unlike the others, who Ada was immovable, her guard against Shepard is no more absolute than his against her. The moral of the confrontation is that what they had is real- and that Ada never really lied to him. While Shepard put the Alliance first, Ada put Humanity, which means Cerberus. But while she misled him on that, everything else- the insight and intimacy they shared- that was honest.

 

Shepard says he doesn't believe her, and repeats a now-familiar refrain of not trusting pretty much anyone, including her. Possibly the only people Shepard trusts on a personal level are Anderson, and possibly Ashley. Shepard makes a point that his heart is hardened towards Ada, and that there will be no mercy. In short order she'll be removed, and interrogated, and probably tortured until she breaks. He has no mercy for her, and no feelings.

 

Following Shepard is Ashley- who came with him, but stays behind. Ashley is emotional where Sheapard wasn't and couldn't be- angry on his behalf, and loathing Ada. Not just for being Cerberus, but hurting Shepard. Despite being a trusted confident and BFF, Ada is the one who recognizes and calls out Ashley's interest for Shepard- even taunting her that Ada had what Ashley never could (because Shepard won't fraternize with his subordinates, but Ashely won't leave). It's an effective taunt, but Ashley reigns herself to pass something on. Something Shepard implicitly asked of her since he couldn't- a form of mercy. A cyanide pill, so that Ada can avoid the interrogation and torture of the Alliance. It's the sign he still cares despite what he said- that he doesn't want her hurt- even if things are what they are. Ashley leaves, and Ada is contemplative.

 

Ada doesn't commit suicide. The story ends with news of a Cerberus action in the Citadel- Ada has disappeared from her confinement, vanishing in a Cerberus operation during the prisoner transfer. Ada is free and on the run, and gone. Ashley tells this to a stoic Shepard, who watches with an unreadable expression as he stares out into space, presumably at where Ada ran off to. The tension between Shepard and Ashley remains, even as Ashley tries (and fails) to suggest a night out to take his mind off Ada.

 

The story really ends with an epilogue, after Shepard's revival and meeting with The Illusive Man. It's a hostile Renegade conversation, with cooperation unlikely, until Shepard makes and sticks to his demand- he'll work with Cerberus on condition that Ada is delivered to him. The Illusive Man tries to persuade him, not wanting his own agent to be murdered so casually, but ultimate concedes to Shepard's all-or-nothing.

 

When the Normandy arrives, Joker greets Shepard and brings him aboard- but Shepard's eyes immediately go to the comms officer. It's Ada, in a Cerberus uniform, and if she's afraid of being killed she's brave enough to hide it. Her face is as unreadable as Shepard's is- and after a formal, military-style interaction in which Shepard challenges her to justify her existence on the ship, Shepard leaves without another word.

 

It's tense, huge lingering issues, and ambiguous... but Joker sighs, and points out that no one died. Ada watches Shepard go, still ambiguous, and the scene (and story) end with it clear that neither one of them are quite as unaffected as they pretend.

 

And so it ends.

 

 

That's the kind of romance I wanted for my 'canon' Shepard in ME. Pity it had to be fanfic musing.

[vertigomez]

While not something I personally care about, I wonder if they'll continue with the trend of letting us hook up with royalty..? There's Alistair, Anora, Sebastian, and Cassandra give or take a few heirs. Dorian and Josephine are nobles but they're not royalty.

Just curious if they'll buck the trend. Maybe have someone want to be with a human PC specifically because of their royal bloodline, or something? Could be interesting. Or a disaster.