Hot take: Aerie would be too problematic to have in a modern BG game

[blitzstrahl]

Wondering if I am alone on this but it’s been morbid curiosity driving me to keep reading people’s opinions on this game. I don’t think a character like that can exist anymore, especially as a romanceable character. Her traits are a problem - too traditionally feminine, perceived “weakness”, young/wide-eyed not jaded personality. I think a male version of this could exist. But not a female one anymore. Look at the characters we have and I think we see it’s true.

Say what you want about Aerie (I know some hated her) - I’m not here to debate if someone liked her. But it seems like we’ve lost the ability to portray some kinds of characters in games, and traditional characters are now problematic. “Diversity” has ironically excluded some options we used to have, while the newer diverse archetypes are starting to seem more and more the same leading to less overall choice unfortunately.

[Naked Granny]

Originally posted by heh:

Originally posted by Naked Granny:

How many male characters like Aerie can you name?

like half the male companions in modern crpgs are aeries. play the pathfinder games, all the men are more feminine than all the women. and all the women are insane baby-eating sadists. these things are like literary rorschach paintings into the minds of the writers, revealing that the people who write crpgs now are mentally ill.

You think Regill, Lann and Greybor are like Aerie and that Ember, Seelah and Arueshalae are insane baby-eating sadists...??

Or did you mean that Jubilost, Harrim and Regongar were delicate effete waifs like Aerie while Octavia, Valerie and Amiri were baby-eating sadistic monsters...???

[Jeffer'son Airship]

Aerie would be fine. There are plenty of characters like that in modern games.

[Naked Granny]

Originally posted by Mugen Majimq:

Originally posted by Naked Granny:

You think Regill, Lann and Greybor are like Aerie and that Ember, Seelah and Arueshalae are insane baby-eating sadists...??

Ember is definitely insnane

Maybe.

But she's not an evil sadistic monster which was the original claim... Shifting goalposts is a direct admission of failure, just so you know.

And I really don't think anyone should be claiming that Aerie is particularly mentally stable. The comparison of their hyperfeminine naivete, waifish presentation and delicate sensibilities is pretty complete. And no one could seriously claim otherwise - unless they haven't played the games at all.

[Jotun]

Originally posted by BigJ:

Originally posted by zero:

she is a generic feel good character, why would she have any reason not to be included?

rough past that drives them to do good? that is *the* most generic fantasy backstory you can have.

Because currently bg3 has a big issue with characters all hiding BIG SECRETS, so a feel good character is almost seen ss Taboo...rather than nice surprises...or a goof ending to several plot points from characters.

I guess her having been mutilated is not a big secret... /s

[Zaris]

Like some others said the general problem of BG3 companions is that all of them have "big secrets" woven into the main plot. I kind of miss the "normal" heros with their "little" personal problems like in BG2:
- Jaheiras problems with the corrupted harpers in Atkatla
- Minsc feud with Edwin
- Natalias family problems (castle conquered by trolls and the forced marriage thing afterwards)
- Jan Jansen sick child
- Anomens drunken father responsible for his sisters death

Instead we have here:
- Shadowheart: a f*cking god turns up every 3 seconds
- Lae'zel: a f*cking god turns up every 3 seconds
- Gale: a f*fcking god turns up every 3 seconds
- Astarion: only wants to be an ascended vampire why not
- Karlach: don't have a story besides "broke out of Avernus" and now live a happy life (you can literally feel her rushed includement outside EA)
- Wyll: 2 f*cking devils turn up every 3 seconds

The whole story in general: Instead of having godly spawn background with a dead god we're now facing 3 living gods the same time which are also coming out saying "hello".

Some people on this board defended the low lvl cap that lvl20 is for godlike encounter and here we're fighting Myrkul on lvl9.

[mutantbeth]

"perceived “weakness”, young/wide-eyed not jaded personality" This maybe appeals to a teen audience but not to a mature audience. Also don't try to lump in femininity with weakness you can be feminine and strong look at karlach shes the most feminine in the group I wish her character wasn't rushed. "perceived “weakness”, young/wide-eyed not jaded personality" also lump that in with aeries very insecure personality and its just problematic you want a character like that tbh.

[blitzstrahl]

Originally posted by mutantbeth:

"perceived “weakness”, young/wide-eyed not jaded personality" This maybe appeals to a teen audience but not to a mature audience. Also don't try to lump in femininity with weakness you can be feminine and strong look at karlach shes the most feminine in the group I wish her character wasn't rushed. "perceived “weakness”, young/wide-eyed not jaded personality" also lump that in with aeries very insecure personality and its just problematic you want a character like that tbh.

I was saying “perceived” weakness because it seems like some people now see traditional femininity as weak and the only way to portray a strong woman is throwing that archetype into the garbage and making them have more traditionally masculine traits. I don’t really like the term “traditional femininity” either but I don’t know what else to call it; I think in this context at least it’s clear what I mean.