Dragon age: origins

[the_green_one009]

i cant help but find it hilarious how people find the sex/romancing in this game as either overt or fast. this is exactly how dragon age was minus the gifts if you dont count letting story characters take character relevant artefacts and items. its crazy similar

[Wokelander]

I remember my Morrigan romance as having several extra steps from hi to bonk but I haven't played it since it released

[Razorblade]

Romance is definitely way slower in Origins, outside of using the gift DLC that effectively raises their opinion instantly, that one exploit that lets you make Morrigan ready to bang right after Lothering, or speedrunning across the map to every Andraste's Grace location for Leliana. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, mind you. In BG3, relationships develop over the course of each act, whereas it's largely a one-and-done, mid-late game thing in DA:O.

That being said, I think most people's issue in BG3 is that companions try to initiate romance when they hit a high relationship score, rather than the player doing so via explicit choice. In DA:O, and other Dragon Age games, you have to actually flirt with your romance option of choice to progress the romance, whereas the initiative in BG3 more or less exists with your companions, rather than the player.

It's more "realistic" that companions have some agency to fall in love, of course, but it also makes for feel-bad gameplay when you have to shoot multiple people down every playthrough, often in overly harsh ways like "Ew Lae'zel, the thought of having sex with you is foul."

[Wokelander]

Originally posted by Razorblade:

Romance is definitely way slower in Origins, outside of using the gift DLC that effectively raises their opinion instantly, or that one exploit that lets you make Morrigan ready to bang right after Lothering. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, mind you. In BG3, relationships develop over the course of each act, whereas it's largely a one-and-done, mid-late game thing in DA:O.

That being said, I think most people's issue in BG3 is that companions try to initiate romance when they hit a high relationship score, rather than the player doing so via explicit choice. In DA:O, and other Dragon Age games, you have to actually flirt with your romance option of choice to progress the romance, whereas the initiative in BG3 more or less exists with your companions, rather than the player.

I'll have to play it again because I remember the Morrigan romance as being extremely well-developed over the entirety of the game. Of course I sort of lump in the part where I married the Queen for pragmatic reasons while involved with Morrigan as part of it which I suppose you could argue it isnt

[id795078477]

Originally posted by the_green_one009:

i cant help but find it hilarious how people find the sex/romancing in this game as either overt or fast. this is exactly how dragon age was minus the gifts if you dont count letting story characters take character relevant artefacts and items. its crazy similar

Wrong on multiple levels.

BG3: approval = romantic interest, NPC will always confuse you being nice to them (or at least not being a jerk) with your "unbridled interest to bang"
DAO: approval is independent of romantic status completely and romance needs certain key moments happening to progress

BG3: everyone just walks to MC (okay, technically, MC starts the conversation, but the technicalities are irrelevant) and starts their advances, barring maybe 1 companion (who is a female).
DAO: MC needs to actively pursue romance, it's a reward, not a nuicance

BG3: nobody has any identity and the "player-sexual" is implemented through the path of least resistance aka regardless of what you make your MC, the dialogue is the same (which defaults to treating any MC as predominantly female since there are more male characters and they make advances)
DAO: there are "B" characters who will accept any romance from MC and there are strictly straight characters and their "straight" identity is not only written, but also is a must be in-lore, it's a hard line, full stop (because it's unfathomable to imagine a gay king since a successor there is an absolute must while the witch joins the party with the goal to conceive a child, so making them gay is a joke - but nevertheless the mods that do that are still up)

Finally, about "gifts" - if you didn't install over-9000 mods or DLC that provide for said gifts, it was impossible to advance even one stage when you're on "romantic" branch of the character through gifts alone. Gifts had diminishing returns on approval and there were only 2 "big" gifts per companion in vanilla, totaling the entire feedback from those gifts at around ~30-35 points.

DAO was made 14+ years ago yet handled this important aspect so much better. It was not ideal by any means, but it had just enough to have that subject covered well.

[mutantbeth]

Originally posted by Khorvale:

I remember my Morrigan romance as having several extra steps from hi to bonk but I haven't played it since it released

nah. I was kissing alistair in the section you first meet leiliana. And having a night out before you meet zevran. It was crazy quick.

[Metallicus]

Romance was 10 times better in DA:O than in BG3. The player sexual stuff is cringe.

[Jeronimosss]

DAO has really well-written characters and romance. As much as I enjoy BG3 I still look back to DAO and it feels deeper. Also DAO had Astarion before it became mainstream (looking at you, Zevran).

P.S. Actually let's complete the list:

Leliana = Shart (religious gentle type)
Sten = Lae'zel (honour, discipline, warrior)
Alistair = Wyll (typical hero, dad issues)
Loghain Mac Tir = Minthara :D (evil companion)
Wynne = Jaheira (old wise lady, still going strong)
Oghren = Minsc (seems silly, but has good heart)
A Mabari Dog = Halsin (always ready to lick your face)
Shale = Karlach (strong female, constructy)
Morrigan = Gale (mage with dark ambition)

[Khorne Flakes]

Not DA:O but it's also Bioware. Tali from ME1+ME2+ME3 is one of my all-time favorite romances from a RPG. Beginning with subtle signs and feelings that're never voiced in ME1. Confrontation mid-way through ME2 and finally romance at the end of the game. Finished off with a mostly satisfying climax for ME3, especially with Legendary Edition/Citadel DLC.
The best part about romance in the trilogy though? Once you make it clear you don't want a romance, companions take a hint and don't continue to hound you.

Meanwhile in BG3 you don't even depart from the first region and everyone is already trying to get in your pants. It was very off-putting from not only pursuing a romance but from even interacting with the characters. I had to force myself to continue romancing Karlach because her comments were getting ridiculous, borderline simpish... but she did have some some very cute and sad moments that were worth seeing.
The romance in BG3 very much has it's ups and very much has it's downs. I do hope it receives a rework in the future, maybe alongside friendship exclusive dialogue/events.