Romance feel incredibly broken

[Lambi]

So either my game is completetly bugged out, or the romance is just incredibly weirdly designed.

First with Lae'Zel, I didn't bother getting her approval up too much early game because I wanted to focus on Karlach first. So when I finally started pursuing romance with her in Act 2...Nothing. I have her approval maxed but I don't get any romance scene with her. From what I've read, it looks like you HAVE to romance her in Act 1 otherwise you're permanently locked out. Which is incredibly dumb.

Then we have Minthara, who seems to be in a similar boat as Lae'Zel. Since you recruit her in like the middle of Act 2, it was only really in Act 3 I got her approval up. But again, just like Lae'Zel, it seems like you HAVE to romance her in Act 1 otherwise you're permanently locked out.

It just feels like such a strange decision to have an invisible time limit on romance and then you're forever locked out of it. It's not like something relevant happens to these characters that makes it understandable why they wouldn't want to be romanced past act 1. It's just an arbitrary wall.

[Settings]

Not broken OP :3

Unfinished. Karlach and Minthara had their entire third act stories cut for time. Which is even more annoying when Wyll got an entire rewrite because Larian thinks we didn't appreciate his character enough.

[Lesmir]

are you still in a relation with an other npc when you try to romance them ?
it seem its harder to romancer other if you are already with an npc

[Zerostalgia]

Yep, I can confirm that by turning down any flirts politely by first selecting something like, "What do you mean you like me" and then "No, I just see you as a friend." that you will never be given a chance to romance them.
Once I got the second hell iron upgrade for Kalarch I thought it may give a further chance but it does lock you off completely.
Oh well, I'm enjoying the characters without the romance anyway - perhaps I'll aim for a romance with her next character.

[Lambi]

Originally posted by Lesmir:

are you still in a relation with an other npc when you try to romance them ?
it seem its harder to romancer other if you are already with an npc

I got a bit romantic with Karlach, but we haven't really done anything since she needs her engine thingy fixed. And none of the characters have commented on my relationship with her, so it doesn't seem like that would be an issue. I mean I even had the option to pick Lae'Zel as my lover in the circus.

[Lambi]

Originally posted by Zerostalgia:

Yep, I can confirm that by turning down any flirts politely by first selecting something like, "What do you mean you like me" and then "No, I just see you as a friend." that you will never be given a chance to romance them.
Once I got the second hell iron upgrade for Kalarch I thought it may give a further chance but it does lock you off completely.
Oh well, I'm enjoying the characters without the romance anyway - perhaps I'll aim for a romance with her next character.

I never once turned down any of them.

[Feuver]

Originally posted by Lambi:

So either my game is completetly bugged out, or the romance is just incredibly weirdly designed.

First with Lae'Zel, I didn't bother getting her approval up too much early game because I wanted to focus on Karlach first. So when I finally started pursuing romance with her in Act 2...Nothing. I have her approval maxed but I don't get any romance scene with her. From what I've read, it looks like you HAVE to romance her in Act 1 otherwise you're permanently locked out. Which is incredibly dumb.

Then we have Minthara, who seems to be in a similar boat as Lae'Zel. Since you recruit her in like the middle of Act 2, it was only really in Act 3 I got her approval up. But again, just like Lae'Zel, it seems like you HAVE to romance her in Act 1 otherwise you're permanently locked out.

It just feels like such a strange decision to have an invisible time limit on romance and then you're forever locked out of it. It's not like something relevant happens to these characters that makes it understandable why they wouldn't want to be romanced past act 1. It's just an arbitrary wall.

ACT 1 serves as a cornerstone for most romances.
Flirting is fine, but if you tell them you aren't interested/just want to be friends, they won't ask/propose again. If they haven't made any advances, see next point:

The most important cut point is after the grove mission.

Whichever side you chose, in your party at the camp after, you need to lock in more or less your romance choice because it will heavily affects later acts. I doubt this requires approval, in fact I've no idea what approval does as it is. Lae'zel did not care for me and still wanted to jump on me midway through act 1.

If you haven't sided with Minthara in act 1, you may not romance her. If you haven't sided with Halsin in act 1, you may not romance him. It's just obvious, because you'd literally be enemies.

[king_of_jamaica]

Originally posted by ᛊᚨᛁᛚᛟᚱ ᛗᛟᛟᚾ:

Not broken OP :3

Unfinished. Karlach and Minthara had their entire third act stories cut for time. Which is even more annoying when Wyll got an entire rewrite because Larian thinks we didn't appreciate his character enough.

There hasn't been any confirmation that it was intentionally removed that I can find. It might just be massively bugged for Karlach and Minthara.

Until we hear from Larian on the issue, it's all just speculation.

[Zerostalgia]

Originally posted by Lambi:

Originally posted by Zerostalgia:

Yep, I can confirm that by turning down any flirts politely by first selecting something like, "What do you mean you like me" and then "No, I just see you as a friend." that you will never be given a chance to romance them.
Once I got the second hell iron upgrade for Kalarch I thought it may give a further chance but it does lock you off completely.
Oh well, I'm enjoying the characters without the romance anyway - perhaps I'll aim for a romance with her next character.

I never once turned down any of them.

Well I guess definitively you must have to have a certain conversation in act 1 then.
Good to know for that next character I guess - it is a shame you missed out when you wanted to pursue that option.

[Lamp]

Originally posted by ᛊᚨᛁᛚᛟᚱ ᛗᛟᛟᚾ:

Not broken OP :3

Unfinished. Karlach and Minthara had their entire third act stories cut for time. Which is even more annoying when Wyll got an entire rewrite because Larian thinks we didn't appreciate his character enough.

I knew Karlach felt extra hollow for some reason. And that sucks about Minthara, she the MC's romance interest for my dark urge run but not at act 3 with him yet.

Sure hope we get to see those two fleshed out.

[Lambi]

Originally posted by Feuver:

Originally posted by Lambi:

So either my game is completetly bugged out, or the romance is just incredibly weirdly designed.

First with Lae'Zel, I didn't bother getting her approval up too much early game because I wanted to focus on Karlach first. So when I finally started pursuing romance with her in Act 2...Nothing. I have her approval maxed but I don't get any romance scene with her. From what I've read, it looks like you HAVE to romance her in Act 1 otherwise you're permanently locked out. Which is incredibly dumb.

Then we have Minthara, who seems to be in a similar boat as Lae'Zel. Since you recruit her in like the middle of Act 2, it was only really in Act 3 I got her approval up. But again, just like Lae'Zel, it seems like you HAVE to romance her in Act 1 otherwise you're permanently locked out.

It just feels like such a strange decision to have an invisible time limit on romance and then you're forever locked out of it. It's not like something relevant happens to these characters that makes it understandable why they wouldn't want to be romanced past act 1. It's just an arbitrary wall.

ACT 1 serves as a cornerstone for most romances.
The most important cut point is after the grove mission.
Whichever side you chose, in your party at the camp after, you need to lock in more or less your romance choice because it will heavily affects later acts. I doubt this requires approval, in fact I've no idea what approval does as it is. Lae'zel did not care for me and still wanted to jump on me midway through act 1.

If you haven't sided with Minthara in act 1, you may not romance her. If you haven't sided with Halsin in act 1, you may not romance him. It's just obvious, because you'd literally be enemies.

Right. And that's what I'm saying is weird. Why would many of these characters just refuse to be romanced past Act 1. It makes no sense.

[Lambi]

Originally posted by Zerostalgia:

Originally posted by Lambi:

I never once turned down any of them.

Well I guess definitively you must have to have a certain conversation in act 1 then.
Good to know for that next character I guess - it is a shame you missed out when you wanted to pursue that option.

Well I can gurantee that I didn't turn any of them down. I knew EXACTLY which characters I wanted to pursue from the moment I hit "New Game". I wouldn't in a million years have turned any of them down.

[Zerostalgia]

Originally posted by Lambi:

Right. And that's what I'm saying is weird. Why would many of these characters just refuse to be romanced past Act 1. It makes no sense.

The only reason that makes sense to me is budget :/
Someone probably considered multiple story beats to unlock a previously locked romance option but then made the call to have sparse, early chances.

[Feuver]

Originally posted by Lambi:

Right. And that's what I'm saying is weird. Why would many of these characters just refuse to be romanced past Act 1. It makes no sense.

It's probably just pathing logic. The romance scene in act 1 is extremely important for future references in later acts, so it's probably why.

Could they patch it / Allow you to change options midway later? Maybe, but it would probably involve re-writing a lot of later interactions.

It's not like Mass Effect 2 where you can just swap whoever you're ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ by the end game. Romances have a little more nuances than that.

[Lambi]

Originally posted by Feuver:

Originally posted by Lambi:

Right. And that's what I'm saying is weird. Why would many of these characters just refuse to be romanced past Act 1. It makes no sense.

It's probably just pathing logic. The romance scene in act 1 is extremely important for future references in later acts, so it's probably why.

Could they patch it / Allow you to change options midway later? Maybe, but it would probably involve re-writing a lot of later interactions.

It's not like Mass Effect 2 where you can just swap whoever you're ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ by the end game. Romances have a little more nuances than that.

I mean it feels like in that case they should've made it clearer for the player. Maybe have dialogue right before Act 2 where they heavily imply "This is your last chance to romance me".

[ACS36]

Approval has nothing to do with romance options. It's not obvious, but most people make the assumption that approval is how you romance and It's not at all.

It's all about doing the companions quest lines and selecting the flirty dialogue options when they appear. If you ignore the flirty dialogue options you won't romance anyone.

It's a poorly designed system. And yes you can miss the chance if you don't lean into it at the right moment.