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.

[tracytigress]

I made the mistake on deciding to share a drink with Shadowheart after the party (but turned down the kiss since my character wasn't interested and just wanted a friendly chat), and flirted with Halsin a little. Now it seems no one is interested since I didn't lock anyone in at that specific point, and some I couldn't lock in since I only realised to pick them up after (Gale). It feels a bit silly :/

[EricHVela]

Everyone's experiences are different it seems.

I intended no romances.

Lae'zel propositioned a "just sex" thing because her culture is flippant about sex and find authority figures sexually attractive for some reason (even though she seems to be into negging people which I don't have my character do except to liars). A polite no with a funny footnote is all that came from that one.

After reading, it looks like I safely passed Gale's final opportunity without triggering a thing (if what I read is correct). Supposedly, something's supposed to happen before the Act II finale that'll make plain some kind of desire for a relationship. It didn't happen. I discussed the not-a-cat and talked about learning magic. Nothing.

Wyll and Lae'zel tried to become a thing, but Lae'zel got bored really quickly. That was hilarious to me.

Not a sexual peep from Shadowheart except how she admires my character.

Nothing from the overly flamboyant Astarion, except an admonishment about trying to bit my character. He's been civil (if opinionated) with my character since, and his story is finally getting interesting. No romantic tones (unless you consider the stereotypical "darling" and "my dear" that sounds more like a flamboyant villain than a savior of an entire region). Glad I didn't KoS like I was doing in EA.

Karlach is a different matter. My character suddenly had the option to break up with Karlach even though I have no idea where she got the idea we were in a relationship. The conversation logs don't look like anything requested nor confirmed a relationship. She was sad and had all kinds of self-doubts about it. Annoying because there never was any intent. Is it because she can't touch anyone that she things being chatted and sympathetic is a relationship? (She mentions several times how she's in serious need of intimate contact after 10 years, but nothing my character said had anything to do with offering such, not even a hug.)

Nothing from the remaining tagalongs, but they never seem to have anything particularly interesting to say about their stories. So, I don't bother unless they have the exclamation point over their heads. (Though, that one kid needed to be told where her parents are, and there was no "please talk to me" icon.)

Does the owlbear wanting to eat me count as romance? I don't think so, personally.

[Winter Light]

Like someone else said, approval and romance are not necessarily entangled. I unwittingly romanced Laezel by simply being a jerk and intimidating any NPC that slightly annoyed me which I assume is considered attractive in her klingon warrior culture. My approval with her was still neutral and her coming on to me was a bit out of the blue.

I remarked that she was looking at me different, thinking that she will grudgingly admit she respects me more and we could have a nice "predator handshake" moment. Instead she rambled on about wanting to taste my sweat O_O

I think we could have probably done without romance tbh. It's weirdly tacked on.

[kuijl]

Yeah some romances feel bugged. Especially Minthara, basically after siding with her in act 1 and getting her lewd scene, nothing happens anymore. Somewhere in act 2 she said she would be open for more lewd stuff in the future, but she basically never revisits that topic during talks at the camp (not even with good approval).

Shadowheart also is bugged i think if you start romancing her during act 2 (so not during act 1), she says she will visit you 'sometime' during the night when resting at the camp. But 3 long rests later i am still waiting for her kek. She never talks about it again as well if you talk to her at the camp. But maybe first her mission in act 3 has to be finished before that nightly visit unlocks?

[Sangra69]

It seems that it was easier to get into a same sex relationship, than a straight one. Plus, you can't fix a relationship because you cheated with Mizora on accident. I was curious what she wanted. Then setup your partner to see you just cheated on her. The only drawback of this game was the relationship stuff.

[Nauct]

Shadowheart is like the good girl who doesn't put out before marriage. You only get the sex scene at the end of the game if that's what you're lookin for.

[PyroMonk]

I think you need to pursue long resting more before moving into the next act. Also, exhausting dialogue after the Creche. that would have put your approval through the roof.

[Woke Buster]

Well, straight romances can be easy to miss. It seems Larian focused their time and energy on making gay romances as forced, as possible though. But that's totally understandable from a business perspective: ESG score is very important.

[Яeplicant]

Ursprungligen skrivet av User-315-708:

Well, straight romances can be easy to miss. It seems Larian focused their time and energy on making gay romances as forced, as possible though. But that's totally understandable from a business perspective: ESG score is very important.

You're doing it again.

[Annie Other]

Looks like what you have to do is to talk with all your companions as often as possible to check if they have aynthing new to say.
And spam rests from time to time. Spammed 4-6 before the party night and was surprised how much had piled up already.

Gale never tried anything. He showed me the Weave one night, I chose not to get intimate, and that was it.
The one strange thing about Gale is that he sometimes approves from afar. I made him a Diviner, but I don't think this is the reason.

Wyll, despite max Approval, never tried anything on his own. COULD have chosen to dance with him, but I didn't. My MC wasn't much in a mood to celebrate either.
I really like Wyll, but his Hero complex sometimes can get a bit too much. But the main problem is that he is not Karlach.

Lae'zel at one point said that she would like to (I think it happens when approval reaches 20)... and I said no thanks. She still respects me. Will have to take her with me soonish.

It is a bit strange with Halsin who isn't even a companion yet, that I get the option to say something about being too strong at the party when there was nothing I did or said... I really like Halsin, some things he said and how he reacted when I told him what bothers me... I see why some people say he is lawful good. I really want to get along well with him, but certainly no relationship. Same problem as with everyone else: he is not Karlach.

I allowed Shadowheart to kiss me several nights back.

During the party I chose Karlach. Had to choose between Karlach and Shadowheart. Which I interpret as having successfully friendzoned everyone else.
Currently don't get an option to tell Shadowheart about Karlach. Which is what I want to do ASAP, as it iwould be only fair.

I didn't get the impression that any male NPC flirted with my male MC. Well, maybe Abdirak, in a way, but that is a different matter entirely and a story full of misunderstandings.
The only two NPCs who flirted with me openly were Auntie Ethel and Lakrissa.

[Toaster Maximus]

Ursprungligen skrivet av Annie Other:

Looks like what you have to do is to talk with all your companions as often as possible to check if they have aynthing new to say.
And spam rests from time to time. Spammed 4-6 before the party night and was surprised how much had piled up already.

Gale never tried anything. He showed me the Weave one night, I chose not to get intimate, and that was it.
The one strange thing about Gale is that he sometimes approves from afar. I made him a Diviner, but I don't think this is the reason.

Wyll, despite max Approval, never tried anything on his own. COULD have chosen to dance with him, but I didn't. My MC wasn't much in a mood to celebrate either.
I really like Wyll, but his Hero complex sometimes can get a bit too much. But the main problem is that he is not Karlach.

Lae'zel at one point said that she would like to (I think it happens when approval reaches 20)... and I said no thanks. She still respects me. Will have to take her with me soonish.

It is a bit strange with Halsin who isn't even a companion yet, that I get the option to say something about being too strong at the party when there was nothing I did or said... I really like Halsin, some things he said and how he reacted when I told him what bothers me... I see why some people say he is lawful good. I really want to get along well with him, but certainly no relationship. Same problem as with everyone else: he is not Karlach.

I allowed Shadowheart to kiss me several nights back.

During the party I chose Karlach. Had to choose between Karlach and Shadowheart. Which I interpret as having successfully friendzoned everyone else.
Currently don't get an option to tell Shadowheart about Karlach. Which is what I want to do ASAP, as it iwould be only fair.

I didn't get the impression that any male NPC flirted with my male MC. Well, maybe Abdirak, in a way, but that is a different matter entirely and a story full of misunderstandings.
The only two NPCs who flirted with me openly were Auntie Ethel and Lakrissa.

Abdirak, is just a priest of a evil kinky goddess, he is just doing his job and loving it. Do something you love and never will work a day in your life.

[Hex]

It's not a dating sim. Get close to the character you want to by having them in your party and talking to them a lot and stick with it instead of trying to min-max some hidden values you think are there.

[TripSin]

Always start rizzing early