What does "close companion" mean when choosing dialog options?

[A boy named Sue]

Title.

Is it close in proximity at the campfire? Is it close in relationship? I assume it's the latter but i don't see a way to find out which companions are "close"?

[Shini]

It is proximity, but I am not sure exactly on the actual distances right now I am basically stacking everyone as close as they can while manning the campfire and any other workshops i need to.

[Bearji 🌱]

I'm skeptical it means anything or the definition of "close" is way too vague. I assumed it meant adjacent or near adjacent but I see these effecting companions up to halfway across the campsite (namely, my horsies in the back. one of my crew complained about how all we were doing was hunting wolves and it pissed off one of the ponys )

[A boy named Sue]

Originally posted by Bearji™:

I'm skeptical it means anything or the definition of "close" is way too vague. I assumed it meant adjacent or near adjacent but I see these effecting companions up to halfway across the campsite (namely, my horsies in the back. one of my crew complained about how all we were doing was hunting wolves and it pissed off one of the ponys :lunar2019shockedpig:)

I think @shiny is wrong and +1 - Sometimes it triggers on companions across the camp.

[PotatoBasket]

Right click on your character from the menu or their avatar. Then in the bottom left of that screen there is a red/green split-circle. Right click on that.

**There are a only three scales to relation each way from zero. Multiple people can take up the best slot but it seems to bug out for the "best friends" bonus if their are multiple in the instance of couples... I'm not for certain on conditions for that.

[KocLobster]

Originally posted by Shini:

It is proximity, but I am not sure exactly on the actual distances right now I am basically stacking everyone as close as they can while manning the campfire and any other workshops i need to.

its PROXIMITY?! Why did I think it merely strengthened the bonds that already existed between that character and all others lol

[mikejunt]

There is an achievement for characters getting married, but I've had men and women get to best friends without ever having that happen, what is the deal there exactly?

And yeah the 'close' helps establish new relationships, since you can drag people around before activating the bubble if you want to.

[Stardustfire]

in the case of "close companions" in camp mode events, it means Group Members that already have a friendlier standing to the Merc with the Event.

[mikejunt]

Originally posted by Stardustfire:

in the case of "close companions" in camp mode events, it means Group Members that already have a friendlier standing to the Merc with the Event.

it doesn't, the "Close companion" events can be what moves someone from neutral status or can even be something that moves someone *out* of a negative relationship and into a positive one. It seems to pick semi-randomly weighted towards people in closer physical proximity, but sometimes people on the other side of camp will still get the effect; this is really noticable if you stick all your ponies in one corner on a hitching post like I usually do, both because nothing else is ever building relationship with them because they're not in combat and not nearby during rests to the tent/campfire.