Is there any optional romance in this game?

[CloudKira]

Whether in Fallout 2 style casual flings, flirting with NPCs or romance with companions?

[Misao Kamiya]

There are romances in Broken Roads, but they're not the focus of the game.

We're a small team that worked with a limited budget and a limited wordcount that we put in to other elements of the game, but there are definitely romances, relationships and, yes, casual sex as well.

[treahnurb]

Originally posted by Misao Kamiya:

There are romances in Broken Roads, but they're not the focus of the game.

We're a small team that worked with a limited budget and a limited wordcount that we put in to other elements of the game, but there are definitely romances, relationships and, yes, casual sex as well.

Tell me Sean is one of them please

[CloudKira]

Originally posted by Misao Kamiya:

There are romances in Broken Roads, but they're not the focus of the game.

We're a small team that worked with a limited budget and a limited wordcount that we put in to other elements of the game, but there are definitely romances, relationships and, yes, casual sex as well.

Any chance that we might get more romantic conversations/dialogue/options in future updates?

And banters with companions. There is a great lack of banters which in many games like BG helped to make the bonds between the player and companions feel more "alive".

[BadAstronaut]

Absolutely going to get more banter and deeper conversations with companions. In terms of romances, we will have to see. We have a lot of issues to address in the game before fleshing out the romances, but that is not impossible.

It really all depends on how our roadmap plays out for the next few updates and the narrative additions and changes we are getting going with from next week.

[CloudKira]

Originally posted by BadAstronaut:

Absolutely going to get more banter and deeper conversations with companions. In terms of romances, we will have to see. We have a lot of issues to address in the game before fleshing out the romances, but that is not impossible.

It really all depends on how our roadmap plays out for the next few updates and the narrative additions and changes we are getting going with from next week.

Sweet, nice to see that you guys are listening to fan feedback!

Might there also be different fates for NPCs with different endings depending on how we treated them? Perhaps also with an option to "corrupt" them to a meanier ideology ( like from humanism to machiavellan) or "redeem" them by doing the opposite?

Would be great if there were many potential endings for each companion.

Potentially depending if they were also romanced or flirted with. :)

Finally, are there any companion quests? And if so do they the fate of companions in any way?

If they are it would be nice if there were more and if they aren't any then it would be great if they were added if possible. :)

[gamingdevil800]

Originally posted by Misao Kamiya:

There are romances in Broken Roads, but they're not the focus of the game.

We're a small team that worked with a limited budget and a limited wordcount that we put in to other elements of the game, but there are definitely romances, relationships and, yes, casual sex as well.

Can you spoil who and where? Genuinely curious because I can't find any information about this

[treahnurb]

Originally posted by gamingdevil800:

Originally posted by Misao Kamiya:

There are romances in Broken Roads, but they're not the focus of the game.

We're a small team that worked with a limited budget and a limited wordcount that we put in to other elements of the game, but there are definitely romances, relationships and, yes, casual sex as well.

Can you spoil who and where? Genuinely curious because I can't find any information about this

I was wondering too. I bet my ass that Mad is at least to have for casual sex. Other than that I suspect Cole (had a bit of a moment with him) and probably Ella and mabye DJ. Would be 2 women and 2 guys so would make sense?

[przemyslaw1248741]

Originally posted by gamingdevil800:

Can you spoil who and where? Genuinely curious because I can't find any information about this

I remember that I had a "nice intimate" moment while training with Ian Mason in Kokeby when I had merchant origin (it works only when you are a woman, he asks to keep things "profesionally" if you do the very same things as a man) and later you can have rather weak sex with him and as I understand better one with his other companion. There is blond guy, redheaded, kind of dumb guy (that I regret it's not with him) and a black woman, and with her you can also have sex (only as a woman, if I'm correct).
I remember a short moment when talking with Mick and Frida at Kokeby when you can tell a vulgar and straightforward comment about you and your tits being open (or something like this) which he says that he disapprove, but somehow I don't believe him.
As for now, I played mostly as a man and I found absolutely nothing. No one to flirt other than this Gerald Mayer who is an option for all, but for obvious reasons (no spoilers) you cannot conclude anything more with him than an offer of free beer when he visits Brookton. And at the end you are the one giving him free beer... still, I was really touched by this interaction (I won't say why, again no spoilers, play the game yourselves).
Oh, and I just reminded myself about a little flirt with the male food merchant on the main square (one of two who sells Lamingtons) in Merredin. He wasn't interested either. Told me an excuse about his wife.
I mean, you can also try with Adam the magician, but as I said, I tried doing it while being a man and he wasn't interested... for him, fair enough. I can be wrong but he strikes me as if he could be asexual, so I'm fine with him not being interested in me :P
Honestly, I'm a bit disappointed, yes, the game doesn't focus on romances, and it's fine, but giving this possibility to, as I understand, only one origin AND only women, seems a little... meh...
Still, I believe that soon we will get an updates and the game unlockes it's full potencial to be a great game, including more romantic options and companion interactions ;)

[treahnurb]

Originally posted by przemyslaw1248741:

Originally posted by gamingdevil800:

Can you spoil who and where? Genuinely curious because I can't find any information about this

As for now, I played mostly as a man and I found absolutely nothing. No one to flirt other than this Gerald Mayer who is an option for all, but for obvious reasons (no spoilers) you cannot conclude anything more with him than an offer of free beer when he visits Brookton. And at the end you are the one giving him free beer... still, I was really touched by this interaction (I won't say why, again no spoilers, play the game yourselves).

Ahh J-Money. JUSTICE FOR J-MONEY!
I liked how often I could think back to him.

I still think I am onto something with Cole (playing male).

[CloudKira]

I hope there are also quite a few romanceable females when playing as a male character.

[Sultan]

Originally posted by Misao Kamiya:

There are romances in Broken Roads, but they're not the focus of the game.

We're a small team that worked with a limited budget and a limited wordcount that we put in to other elements of the game, but there are definitely romances, relationships and, yes, casual sex as well.

I hope you won't take my comments as too callous or inconsiderate given the tremendous amount of work that has evidently been put in, but you seem to have shot yourselves in the foot here. Unfortunately consumers have little sympathy for the justification of being a small and humble team; it doesn't make the shortcomings disappear or the hole in their pocket any less gaping. In other words, what the bloody hell are you doing creating or releasing the game in the state that it was? Either you've been forced to release too early because the available budget ran dry, or you've bitten off more than you can chew; out of passion and desire granting vision to create something wondrous, knowing full well that there would be inevitable comparisons and shortcomings.

Still, perhaps a share of the blame can be apportioned to the consumer here. People could have recognised in advanced that a small team and with an ambitious project must have a lower level of polish or complexity in certain areas so that a product can actually be released without it being a life-long endeavour. To exaggerate the point, its like expecting an MMORPG developed by one boy in his shed to be comparable to one with AAA resources, and being shocked when the depth and quality show discrepancies.
I haven't really looked too deeply into the established expectation of the consumer versus what was delivered here to make too many comments here; though it appears as though half of the population are delighted and captivated, and the other half see these merits but with good sense to see the shortcomings, especially when comparing the price or what was promised to what was delivered.

Well you don't need another fool like me to rave at you to realise that the launch wasn't as you may have hoped. There are likely factors unconsidered by myself or unknown to those not within the inner circle of the development crunch; but it can still be salvaged, but I like to think you had the sense to avert this...

[BadAstronaut]

Hey all - following this thread and just a quick note that I've read all of the recent comments and do plan to get back to each of you. We're working very hard on the May 23rd patch which focuses on the origin stories and early game, while most of the romance/flirting/sex options appear later in the game.

What I can share for now:
1. I recognise a major imbalance between the number of flirtatious or suggestive dialogue options available to male player characters. We are going to add considerably more options.
2. I'm not satisfied with the range of options nor some of the lines that result in successfully bedding someone. We're adding more lines, and more realistic flirtations.
3. We were severely limited in our wordcount. A lot of things we wanted to do, we just couldn't. Based on player feedback, we're prioritising companions in a big way, giving them far more depth and far more interjections and conversation options at the convoy.
4. Companions do have a like/dislike variable behind the scenes. Their reactions to you do shift considerably based on this, especially in the late game. I want to add more specific companion quests as well, but these likely won't be in by the May patch.
5. Specific ending summaries per companion is a good idea. Would love to do it, but just not top of the list right now. Genuinely a great suggestion that I am taking the team to add to the list.

[BadAstronaut]

Originally posted by Sultan:

it doesn't make the shortcomings disappear or the hole in their pocket any less gaping [...] Either you've been forced to release too early because the available budget ran dry, or you've bitten off more than you can chew; out of passion and desire granting vision to create something wondrous, knowing full well that there would be inevitable comparisons and shortcomings.
[...]
There are likely factors unconsidered by myself or unknown to those not within the inner circle of the development crunch; but it can still be salvaged, but I like to think you had the sense to avert this...

You don't know how right you are...

Some things we just can't (and won't) talk about publicly. Just know we're far from done. Hopefully some day we can do some kind of making of or tell all which will reveal a lot to players. But first we need to make this game what we believe it can (and should) be.

[CloudKira]

Originally posted by BadAstronaut:

Hey all - following this thread and just a quick note that I've read all of the recent comments and do plan to get back to each of you. We're working very hard on the May 23rd patch which focuses on the origin stories and early game, while most of the romance/flirting/sex options appear later in the game.

What I can share for now:
1. I recognise a major imbalance between the number of flirtatious or suggestive dialogue options available to male player characters. We are going to add considerably more options.
2. I'm not satisfied with the range of options nor some of the lines that result in successfully bedding someone. We're adding more lines, and more realistic flirtations.
3. We were severely limited in our wordcount. A lot of things we wanted to do, we just couldn't. Based on player feedback, we're prioritising companions in a big way, giving them far more depth and far more interjections and conversation options at the convoy.
4. Companions do have a like/dislike variable behind the scenes. Their reactions to you do shift considerably based on this, especially in the late game. I want to add more specific companion quests as well, but these likely won't be in by the May patch.
5. Specific ending summaries per companion is a good idea. Would love to do it, but just not top of the list right now. Genuinely a great suggestion that I am taking the team to add to the list.

Very glad to see that male players will receive more romance content!

After all its not just female players who enjoy this kind of stuff.

Nice to see that player feedback is being taken into account. Looking forward to future updates and game's continuous development. :)

One more idea btw, would it be possible to also add NPC sex/flirting/romance like how in Fallout 2 players could have flings with non companions (though I love getting closer to companions) too? And if there is already is such stuff (only played as male character) then hoping to see even more of it added.

To some players romance in video games might seem a bit silly but IMO it adds some human touch/emotions to the setting and helps seeing characters out there as people with feelings and needs regarding stuff like romance and/or sex like in RL. Make them more "real" and not just mere quest givers.

In postapocaliptic/falloutish settings it makes sense even more so that people would seek more solace and support from others to hold on under such difficult circumstances.

[treahnurb]

Originally posted by BadAstronaut:

Hey all - following this thread and just a quick note that I've read all of the recent comments and do plan to get back to each of you. We're working very hard on the May 23rd patch which focuses on the origin stories and early game, while most of the romance/flirting/sex options appear later in the game.

What I can share for now:
1. I recognise a major imbalance between the number of flirtatious or suggestive dialogue options available to male player characters. We are going to add considerably more options.
2. I'm not satisfied with the range of options nor some of the lines that result in successfully bedding someone. We're adding more lines, and more realistic flirtations.
3. We were severely limited in our wordcount. A lot of things we wanted to do, we just couldn't. Based on player feedback, we're prioritising companions in a big way, giving them far more depth and far more interjections and conversation options at the convoy.
4. Companions do have a like/dislike variable behind the scenes. Their reactions to you do shift considerably based on this, especially in the late game. I want to add more specific companion quests as well, but these likely won't be in by the May patch.
5. Specific ending summaries per companion is a good idea. Would love to do it, but just not top of the list right now. Genuinely a great suggestion that I am taking the team to add to the list.

So nice to read. Will certainly replay then :)