Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Suggestions & Feedback Relationship Development [SPOILERS for Chapter 1]

Apologies if people have posted on this before -- I looked, but there's a LOT of threads so I definitely may have missed it.

So, one, I LOVE this game. It's intense. Y'all killing me with this classic mode bc my day job is super intense in the time of the COVID so I've been playing things on easy mode, but after my initial frustration, I'm kind of enjoying the process of thinking things through (and being murdered to death if I don't lol).

One bit of feedback I'd offer on what I've experienced of the game so far, though, involves the development of the PC's relationships with their companions.

Throughout my playthrough, Lae'zel, Shadowheart, and Astarion's attitudes towards my PC have ranged from what seemed like complete contempt to loathing / disgust. After making a few moves, Astarion warmed up but [i]barely[/i] (still greeted my PC with "What do you want now?" / "You're staring again" like what? My dude, I'm just tryna see if you got any new interactions after a quest move, dang).

I wasn't able to get a kind word out of Shadowheart until succeeding at a persuasion roll for the first time near the end of the chapter, before that, basically contempt with occasional surprise when the PC said something she liked. Then once my PC persuaded her to stop being so freakin weird/secretive about her religious devotion, she got a little more friendly.

I'm pretty sure Lae'zel would have debated throwing latrine water on my PC if she'd been on fire.

Then, on the night of the celebration, ALL OF A SUDDEN, EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER WANTS TO GET SOMEATHIS SWEET ELF MAGIC

Like whut? Now y'all are jealous and in my PC's business about who she's going to bed with and tryna sneak in?

I'm not even mad about it, I actually really love that multiple / all companion characters express interest directly and unambiguously in the PC so you don't miss any cues or choices, but if they're gonna be like "HAY HAY YAY WE KILT GOBLINS U DOWN 2 CLOWN BC I'M DOWN 2 CLOWN, WHAT UR MAN GOT TO DO WIT ME" at the end of the first chapter (which again, I FULLY SUPPORT), there probably aught to be at least some kind of clue that Lae'zel, Shadowheart, and Astarion feel a little better about you than worg dung prior to the event.

I don't want them to be full-on friendly bc those are not their personalities, just a less jarring jump from "I TOLERATE YOUR EXISTENCE BC WORKING OUT THIS PROBLEM ALONE IS STUPID" to "YOU MY TROPHY GIRL, GET IN MY BEDROLL HAAAAAY"

I actually dislike how formulaic the romances seem to be.
Pick X person to snuggle up with at Y story point.
I want more interactions, getting to know each other, maybe some drama, SLOW warming up to each other, or even straight up being rejected under certain conditions.

Definitely agree -- it felt like "OH GOBLIN LEADERS MURDERED TIME FOR NOOKIE" without any slow burn / build up. At first I thought the game was just moving REAL slow but things are moving much faster after Ch 1 in a way that doesn't feel completely organic? The pacing seems off.

It seems that in some cases, there are scenes and interactions that we might have misses. Specially if you don't use the tadpole. But I agree that for things not to be forced, they should add previous flirts and comments. They flirt among them, but not with you.

Shadowheart: There are a few (I think 4) triggers in the maps that give persuasion opportunities. The dog and owlbear cub help too.

Astarion: He is basically a "playboy". I have one play through that left him in the camp 100% and still has conversation opportunities pop up, before celebration. Basically you have to kill enough stuff. Oh, you have to discover his vampire secret though.

Lae'zel: If you pay attention to her dialog with Wyll, she don't believe in love, but open to bed.

Gale: As long as you feed him all the expensive stuff ...

Wyll: Side with tieflins and kill enough goblins and he is yours.

So on the night of celebration ...

I think the problem is not how to rise approval, buy that missed conversations and scenes make the celebration too rushed. I had high approval with wyll but didn't triggered hos scenes.

Laezel likes casual sex but she shows no attraction or interest in you until that point. That is weird.

Maybe, not 100%, you have to bring her to the risen road patrol and survive the encounter.

I think the disconnect for me was that *everyone* wanted some private time with you at the party and it was the only thing on their minds. It's a party. You want to hang out and chat first and then maybe some signals start going, direct or indirect. I understand the post-danger excitement plus alcohol desire for closeness. But I'd have liked a party first. Maybe I just can't remember what youthful parties are like.

I did bring her to that encounter. But I didn't use the tadpole. I think that when you don't use the tadpole, other scenes doesn't trigger. Reading the forums, I think it might be because the tadpole triggers some initial scene and many scenes check for that first scene. So no tadpole means less scenes.

It is a pity, since I do like the scenes even if dialoge options are limited at this point.

There should be persuasion option so she will revel her Shar worshiper identity. No tadpole required.

I've got that at magic sealed Selunite's chest. Non-tadpoled run. The other triggers rolls failed. :P

I've actually had the exact opposite problem on one of my playthroughs. I had high relationship with a couple of them and medium with another...during the party everyone snubbed me. I didn't note which class/race combo I was at the time, so not sure if that was a factor or if some of this is just semi-random (or just plain bugs).

I think this is because for romance to happen, you need to have get some scenes/quest first. And for some of those, you do need the tadpole.

Romances are not tadpole gated. We need high approval and some things like weave scene for Gale or killing gobbos for Wyll (but his triggers are broken anyway). All of these can be achieved without tadpole usage.

And Intelligence option to simply figure out ...
At least after her revolt against Selune item ... or second ... or third ...

I found it sort of hilarious that Gale won't sleep with the PC unless they've jumped through his cutscene hoops, but all Lae'zel has to do is walk up and proposition him. See also: Wyll.

It's canon, Lae'zel is the hottest person in camp. Obviously the only reason she doesn't get with Shadowheart is because she refuses to ask

For Gale weave scene, I can't help but click "kick his ..." and the scene concluded🤣🤣🤣

I haven't romanced him yet, not interested at all:P Wish they give some better male romance options. Not going to bang some low iq hamsters.

Gods, I HOPE this isn't an option. The possibility to romance a manchild is just... creepy at best. Just become his witch or whatever.

Never got the weave scene. I did get the Astarion sex proposal. And Laezel got angry/proposed, while shadowheart offered to drunk, which can be mistaked as friendly but it was supposed to be the romsnce?

Wyll and Gale weren't an option even if I fid their "quest". By the way, the "Wyll's eye" thing is weird. If you found it, why he doesn't say anything?

Anyway, it looks as if the triggers are all wrong. People say that if you get approval too fast, you miss out. How that makes sense?