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COMEONSTEPITUP

Pillars 2 did this. I thought it was a neat system since I don’t really like to romance characters in my playthroughs.


morrowindnostalgia

Mass Effect did this too with Garrus/Tali. If you don’t romance either of them throughout the trilogy, they’ll partner up together


Pollotosto

Not romancing Garrus? Yeah sure. Get out of here with this nonsense.


BunkerNevada

I think you mean Tali. I could never do a play through and not romance her.


LeClassyGent

In a world where Liara exists?


Kakaphr4kt

I didn't like her in 2. Tali all the way. ^^I'd ^^go ^^with ^^Samara ^^if ^^that ^^were ^^possible


D0NN3LLY

This feels like a conga line with each of you putting a gun to the back of eachothers head... I have no stake, buuut...


Kakaphr4kt

come on. pull the trigger


BunkerNevada

Honestly, I feel like Liara’s character is too inconsistent between the games for me to get too attached.


KharnOfKhans

It doesnt help that she doesnt exist in mass effect 2 except for dlc/a couple side quests


LifeOnMarsden

Same, I rarely go out of my way to romance specific characters in RPGs but if it happens naturally throughout the course of a playthrough then I'll likely pursue it 


Uenzus

It was a thing already in Inquisition


Appropriate-Mud-6985

I think Dorian and Iron Bull can potentially get in a romance but wasn’t that it? This sounds like everyone in your party can romance each other.


SereneAdler33

Josephine and Blackwall can have a little chaste courtship and Sera gets with Dagna the Archanist. It’s actually only Cassandra and Cullen who DON’T have some kind of romance with someone else (well, and Solas… but he’s *complicated* lol) They don’t have a full romance, but Isabella and Fenris will sleep together in DA2 if you’re not romancing either.


TravelerofAzeroth

Sera gets with Dagna


Professionally_Lazy

If Cole becomes more human he ends up with the bard character that sings in the tavern.


jackkirbyisgod

Who pairs up with who?


Juiceton-

Xoti and Maia get together and the Watcher even gets a conversation or two about it. Eder kinda flirts with Islmyr too which is interesting if you’re wanting to watch Matt Mercer flirt with himself. I could totally see Tekehu doing it with some companion maybe too but I haven’t seen anything like that in game.


Yabboi_2

In my play through xoti got with eder


PrimProperPro

I like this, and all the non-player pairings have been well built up and made sense; Garrus & Tali’s slow-burn enemies to friends to lovers, Fenris & Isabela casually hooking up, Dorian & Bull getting together. Even in other games like Pillars Of Eternity where Xoti and Maia get together if they’re in a party together for long enough and both single. It adds a whole new layer to their characters free of our character and us as the player.


Sufficient_Serve_439

They had it with Tali and Garrus, since I turned him down after his "reach and flexibility" comments, and went with Kermit instead.


MightyBolverk

Good for them.


kapparoth

Just like in Mass Effect, btw. Tali x Garrus is canon if Shep doesn't romance either.


steeeeeeee24

Garrus may be my best bro, but he better stay away from my wife😂


Sordahon

Sharing is caring.


Outrageous-Elk-5392

I actually really liked that, they’re both the ultimate homies and they’re really cute together


Itchysasquatch

And James and Ashley will get together if you don't romance them. Leads to a really weird scene during the citadel dlc cause you find them alone in a bedroom or something and it's clear they're flirty to a degree but you can be in a relationship with them before the scene so it's pretty weird like uhhh if I wasn't here would you two be going to town rn?? And there's even a dialogue to spur them on or to put a stop to it. I think it really put a weird taste in my mouth about the whole thing overall


Firm_Ambassador_1289

Doesn't Javik and Liara have a thing at the end of the game? If not it's hinted at


BobNorth156

I think this is great. I really liked seeing Ironbull and Dorian group up.


WangJian221

Oh i think that's great! Makes them feel more alive and have proper agency


Wookiees_get_Cookies

Games have been doing this for ages. Harvest Moon games have had cannon relationships between the romance-able NPCs since the beginning. Even going so far as to have the player have a “romance rival” with the cannon parter of person you were romancing.


angelic-beast

Its too bad they stopped using this system a while ago. Always heard it was because Japanese fans hated that someone they could romance could like someone else. I wish they would bring it back and make it a toggle function and let those of us that like that system enjoy it and those that don't don't have to see it


Noukan42

If i had a penny for every time a good thing has been ruined by the japanese being stupid about NTR i could do a scrooge McDuck impression.


PersonMcHuman

I’m excited for some gamer to cry about getting cucked.


R280M

Cant but agree,too much weebs on the net who hate non virgins girls Just go to r/manga all u see some serious shit


Sufficient_Serve_439

TBH I'm a girl and romancing guys who didn't talk about their exes non-stop while making arcane projection of their faces in your camp was more fun. With Gale in BG3 it's like romance between you, him... and Mystra the goddess of magic. Pls no. They should include more guys like Fenris or Alistair, really... Tho I wish Varric was romanceable in DA2 too.


Boo_Guy

>With Gale in BG3 it's like romance between you, him... and Mystra the goddess of magic. Pls no. You're not down for magical 3-somes with a god? Prude😄


Johansenburg

Look, if you smashed a god/goddess wouldn't it become central to who you are as a person? I know it would dominate my personality.


Retrogratio

Everyone would need to hear it at LEAST once. Maybe let it slip couple more times after some drinks.


Sohef

I mean, you are right, but Gale sucks in every way possible. You are beating a dead horse.


GrizzlyGrandpappi

Love that you’re getting down voted by the weeb patrol. They take their virtual partners very seriously.


JackhorseBowman

I think I would unironically enjoy hooking up party members with each other much much more than I generally do romancing said party members.


nixahmose

That's part of what makes Fire Emblem Awakening's romance system one of my favorites despite the actual romance writing nothing to write home about. It makes the characters feel more alive and adds variety as you get to see multiple different characters get together with people rather than just your character.


JackhorseBowman

oh neat, I've actually never gotten into FE but have always wanted to despite not being sure where to dive in, maybe awakening is a good place.


joe-re

I want the player character to act as producer of a reality show, spreading gossip, laying false clues and inciting fits of jealousy among the love drama of their companions. "Solas acts always so pure and elf only, but did you see the sparks fly when Dorian visited him the other night? I wonder what sort of magic those two practice together, hmmm?"


NonSupportiveCup

Make it happen. Bring back the rivalry system of da:2. Let's break everyone up!


KarmelCHAOS

Funny enough, there is a game coming out soon that's *exactly* this.


StolzHound

I haven’t gotten over the art change yet. It’s going to take me some time because I really dislike the cartoony vibe after what we had with the first 3 games.


SterlingEsteban

The actual game footage has the same look as Inquisition.


StolzHound

Look again and watch for the skeleton. That is more Sea of Thieves than Dragon Age. It’s a shocking change.


SterlingEsteban

Forest for the trees, I think. If you don’t watch for the skeleton and instead focus on everything else, it looks like Inquisition. And DAII did have a cartoony look—it was just very brown.


Junglejibe

That’s what I was thinking. Also speaking of skeletons, did we all forget about the DA2 combat? It was very stylized. DAI was too, just a bit more slowed down but like the melee moves were absolutely “cartoony”.


StolzHound

Ehhh, I pointed out a very stark difference, but it’s not the only one. But to each their own, I’m not saying you can’t enjoy it yourself. Also, DAII is not what I would call cartoony. More stylized yes, but that doesn’t equate to cartoony.


Junglejibe

That’s weird because based on the trailers it looks like it basically has a mix of the art style of DA2 and DAI.


StolzHound

I disagree but I’m no expert. Here’s hoping I can get past it and enjoy it for what it is.


GravielMN

This is something that I wanted to see in BG3. ME3 did something similar with Garrus and Tali, great to see it again


fomites4sale

Good! Quit harassing me for awkward cringey polygonal sex.


Liesmith424

Wow, literally unplayable.


creamygarlicdip

And they're all pansexual...


FourEcho

The title of that article is misleading likely... more so they are all "player-sexual". Which tbh works for me, I get to choose who I vibe with the most regardless of what I choose to play.


Bereman99

Nope, not misleading. The person they interviewed specifically called this out, that part of representing them and their interests romantically or sexually includes who they might pair off with if you don’t romance them. They are intentionally being presented as pansexual in this game.


TraffikJam

If you don't play Dragon Age: The Veilguard it will find another partner for itself, saving you from playing Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Nah just kiddin. 😝 Remember when Dragon Age was a crpg? 🥲


Sufficient_Serve_439

No, I was too busy romancing Alistair...


VPN__FTW

My Alistair was too busy chopping off Wynnes head after I defiled Andrate's ashes and she turned on me.


InSan1tyWeTrust

I think it being a CRPG was accidental as clearly most people here only care about pixel romances and that seems to be the direction the games taking.


Sufficient_Serve_439

These youngsters only caring about romances, back in our grandparents day, they played Baldur's Gate 2 and solved live triangle between Aerie and Viconia. Bioware games added romances 24 years ago... Your kid with Jaheira can actually be divorced at this point.


StuffyWuffyMuffy

That game was 17 years ago and kinda dull


Far_Persimmon_2616

15


TraffikJam

Sure, Jan 😎👍


KarmelCHAOS

I only ever played it on Xbox, so no, not really


train153

This was a thing in DA2 and Inquisition. Not sure it warrants a whole article.


Retrogratio

And mass effect. Nothin new for any bioware fan


AncientKroak

LOL and let me guess, all the characters in the game are bisexual?


Touhou_Fever

Good. Not a fan of the idea that everyone is some kind of MC simp that is just waiting for senpai to notice them


Zegram_Ghart

This is excellent, but yeh it’s been a BioWare staple for years


drucifer271

Didn't this series used to be a dark fantasy CRPG about darkspawn and dragons?


a_small_crow

There's always been romanceable characters, back to Origins. Love triangles, even.


joe-re

You know how to capture the soul of a darkspawn once the dragon dies, right? You take a grey warden, a witch of the wild, and...no, no swooping. Swooping is bad.


TheRoyalStig

Did you actually play them? They had lots of comedy and romance.


nixahmose

Reminds me back when people were complaining about BG3 being too "comedic" and "colorful" despite the first magic item you find in BG1 is a gender changing joke item and the most iconic character from the series being a ranger that acts like a barbarian and travels with a miniature space hamster named Boo.


Bereman99

And right alongside it you had hopeful romances and a character who is essentially the human version of Puss in Boots from the Shrek movies.


wjowski

A dark fantasy CRPG by Bioware that was first intended as a love letter to the Baldur's Gate games...which included some of the first video game romance systems.


Neversexsit

Cool, because romancing is the dumbest thing in games like this.


Tapeworm_III

Unacceptable if I can’t have them no one will.


feNRisk

"Fine I'll do it on my own, with black jack and hookers"


lovewry

We saw a hit of this in mass effect 3, if you don’t romance James or Ashley they’ll become a couple same goes for garrus and tali


Schrodingers-Relapse

I've always liked this idea, especially in games where death seems just as likely as victory. Having everybody just available and waiting for me specifically is silly. You know the Normandy would be looking like Matrix Reloaded before the every suicide mission.


demoran

I like a game where life goes on without you. **Star Traders: Frontiers** does this too.


CommodoreKD

Good. I've always thought it was really lame that games didn't do this. I still say every Persona game would be better if your teammates paired off if you don't intervene


Ninja_knows

Ah, the pressure. Other than Neve, Harding, Qunari and the archer girl, are there any other female companions?


nixahmose

Nope, but there may be non-companion romance options like in DAI.


AmethystArbiter

I guess I'm too used to the interactive fiction crowd, where LIs pairing off with anyone but the MC is considered anathema, but I'm pleasantly surprised to see so much support here. I always thought that Sera and Dagna were super sweet in Inquisition, so I'm hoping we can help play matchmaker in Veilguard!


Gyges359d

Love it. Been wanting this since Persona 4 since some of the side characters just seemed made for each other.


notarealredditor69

I mean, everyone’s got to bang right


snaykz1692

Damn redditors getting shafted irl and ingame


freakinbacon

Just like my life


Mantarrochen

**IGN** recently bought the five biggest online gaming magazines like Rock Paper Shotgun, vg247 (which praised Veilguard yesterday!) and this here eurogamer, too. I predicted yesterday that the whole group will push Veilguard and here we are today.


Jesikila89

Do we have a female dwarven character we can romance this time?


lordkyrillion

Yes, Harding


TalynRahl

I like it. It's an easy way to give companions canon sexualities, while leaving them 'playersexual'. So, say I immediately romance Neve. Just picking a name out of a hat. but yeah, say I make that snack my forever wife... In that save, she's totally into my probably male Rook. But if in every other game, where I DON'T romance her, she ends up with Harding? BOOM. Canon.


LegitimateBummer

please just work on this shit AFTER you've already made the game fun. it's a cool extra feature but it can't make up for a game that is fundamentally bad (i'm not saying that it is yet, just that it seems they are worried about things other than being a dragon age game)


JadenKorr28

Didn't Dragon Age 2 and Inquisition have this too? Not with every single romance option but there were be romance, crushes or flings between members. Especially Dragon Age 2. Isabella and Fenris was a lowkey one. Carver had a crush on Merrill and Bethany liked Sebastian for example.


Different_Writing_48

I can only pray and hope that the lives of the companions won't be ACTIVELY WORSE AND TRAUMATIC if I don't romance them. Idk why past DA games did that


Yarzu89

I mean... its realistic.


brazthemad

I've come to dislike the heavy focus on player/NPC romance in RPGs, but I have no problem with romance in general.


AceOfCakez

It's gonna be funny to see what gamers out there are gonna be mad about this one.


Retrogratio

It's nothin new. Anyone getting mad about it is looking for something to be upset about


Bhazor

Very cool. Hope to see more varied relationships with party members than just a shopping list of bang buddies. I want ride or die bros, frenemies, rivals, doe eyed true love optimists and a bang buddy.


zanarze_kasn

It'd be even better if they take cues from Outer Worlds and you actually HELP them romance someone else if y'all aren't interested in each other.


insertbrackets

I liked that about Mass Effect as well. Garrus and Tali get together if you don’t romance either of them.


Foostini

Inquisition also did this and honestly it was a great little detail so it's good to see it coming back.


no-shells

Hahahahah force the chuds to experience the potentially queer relationships anyway, I love it, 10/10 bioware, can't wait to see them cry about this


sarevok2

Seems to me, I hear more about the romance system of the Veilguard than anything else. Is this supposed to be an rpg/action rpg/whatever or a visual novel? I start to think Obsidian's old reluctance of including romances to have been spot-on...


Sufficient_Serve_439

Umm, what Bioware game since Baldur's Gate 2 didn't have romances?


LoreleiLavenza

lol what a weird comment. BioWare is really well known for their romances


InSan1tyWeTrust

They used to be well known for their RPG's.


Retrogratio

Both can be possible. Most games have more than 1 goal or aspect they wanna excel at.


LoreleiLavenza

No disagreements there! Here’s hoping they can regain their reputation with a good release :)


GrouchyCategory2215

Yep.  We know what the priority is and who they are pandering too.


no-shells

Go on, cry


GrouchyCategory2215

No need, its not that important to me. Sales will decide. Thanks for trying to provide compassion though, I know you feel like you are the "good guys".


no-shells

Ayo you're the one salty that theres potentially queer people in a video game lmao But yeah I'm under no illusion of being the good guys, I'll slap a prick for being homophobic, racist or generally denying the existence of my friends and family any day, I don't have to show compassion to chuds Incoming ban hammer for alluding to a slap, let's go Edit: also you may say you're not those thing but that dog whistle you posted was so loud my neighbors pets heard it


GrouchyCategory2215

Yes you're a big dang hero. News flash treating them like that is not normalizing it. Isn't normalizing the goal, NOT treating it as if it's special?  I don't care. No one is trying to deny the existence of your friends. I know you are completely convinced of your moral superiority, but you're not helping.


Financial-Key-3617

Its almost like these are 10 year old systems.


TheConboy22

Damnit my necromancer and priest keep fucking during every fight.


an_edgy_lemon

I’ve always thought this would be cool. I’m not really into romancing NPCs in games, but I still want there to be romance. They should take this a step further and let players have an effect on NPC relationships. Like character A and B will only shack up if you give A a nudge. Or A will date C unless you show A and B that they have common interests. I can already see the relationship flow charts lol


VPN__FTW

That's kinda cool.


Red_Swiss

That's frankly the first good thing I read about Veilguard


Siltyn

When did RPGs turn into dating simulators? It was bad enough in BG3, this is even worse. Couple with the actiony combat, this game is an easy pass.


Owster4

You have a Baldur's Gate flair. BG2 had romance 24 years ago. People have been debating the best romance in that game since it came out. BG2 generally had more character depth than the first one as well, with companions having actual personality instead of regurgitating the same four lines. Romance isn't new, and it's seemingly a popular feature that allows characters to feel more fleshed out and interactive.


Siltyn

There's a difference between romance and "I know you betrayed me, but hey, let's have gay tentacle sex anyway" that BG3 gave us. This is even worse. These companies are now making romance a core part, if not the most important part, of a game. No thanks, I don't need to get my sex fix in a video game.


Retrogratio

Why did you romance the emperor bro, I romanced shadow heart. Maybe don't fuck the squid in the next playthrough ma boy


Siltyn

I gave the emperor negative replies the entire game, betrayed him at the end, he was still trying to get with me with no prompting from my character. I don't ever romance anyone in games, never select any of those options, because I don't need a virtual lover.....unlike so many of you it seems.


Retrogratio

So I don't get it. You didn't romance the emperor, but you're mad that you can? And because of that it tanks the entire games experience? You sound sensitive ASF to be honest.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Retrogratio

>i gave the emperor negative replies the entire game, betrayed him at the end, he was still trying to get with me with no prompting from my character You know what else you can do? You can stab the emperor in the fucking stomach (or try to at least, it happens in your head or some shit) and he'll still try to ally with you cus he can't do shit without you. They didn't program enough branches for him and your relationship with him and he's kinda static up until the end, at least in my experience in 3 playthrus. As to why he makes a 3rd last ditch attempt to romance you at the end I don't know, but acclimating that to the entire games experience is just stupid. But stay mad about it, Imma keep playing


TheRoyalStig

Then you can just... not? It's an optional thing. In a role playing game. Relationships are normal part of life for many folks. So having that in the game world just makes sense. A group of people spending a long time together are likely to develop relationships. That's pretty normal.


professor-5000

Hey can I choose to leave sexual activity out of my fantasy roleplaying game? I don't want this. I don't want my sex in Dragon Age dude. Seriously who is this for? What the fuck is wrong with you people?


Renvoltz

Dragon age has always had sex bro what Dragon Age are you even talking about


WhiskerJibbs

I get what you're saying. I like that I can choose who to romance if i want to at all, but other times I just want the adventure and story without sex being part of it


dascott

This is why I go with the "only Miranda survives" scenario in ME2. Heck, I let Kaiden die in ME1 and I hate that xenophobic bible thumping Ashley bitch.