The romance stuff is childish right now, as in immature. It's all masturbatory nonsense that breaks immersion.
Everyone waits until the same night to suddenly get horny.
And when they do all get horny, there's no sexual identity to go along with it. Nothing about your character matters to them, in terms of gender or race or class. It's not even remotely realistic.
They don't care that you raised them from the dead three times. They care more about a handful of conversational choices.
I would prefer a system that gradually allowed a relationship to build via conversation. A system that took into consideration travel time spent together. I would prefer the companions to have actual interests. If Gale is straight, then Gale should be straight. If Astarion is bisexual, then he should be bisexual. These things should be a part of the characters' identities. Built in, regardless of who the player character decides to play.
Additionally, I think it would be beneficial if some of the non-companion NPCs were romanceable. Just because a random tiefling or druid isn't traveling with you doesn't mean a relationship can't begin to form.
Just my opinion.
That was much of my point, but you definitely simplified it. Thank you.
+1
In case of BG2, people were modding the game so they could e.g. have a romance as half-orcs or dwarves (or elves for Viconia). In BG3, I guess (some) people will be modding romance out of the game. Progress!
To be fair, SH's romance has some potential. But all romances should really be reimplemented: Decoupled from approval (that's the most important thing) and important scenes/choices should not occur at the exact same place/time for every romance option (maybe it's done that way so Reddit teens can save/load and easily see all the softporn scenes?).
