Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Karlach vs Shadowheart who do you simp for :)

This is very good real life advice. You should have a podcast.

Thanks! I kept some of the truly next level techniques to myself, such as:
-- parting because they asked to see your true face? Hand over your soul to cheer them up. Say it's something small to keep for fun.
-- making them believe you're hanging onto spooky unlife for someone else. Rendering you completely unavailable.
-- accepting any and all alternative explanations for why that wasn't a kiss. (Including, but not limited to: making sure you're alive, transferring air, and stealing spiritual energy to possess another body).
-- in case of rejection, kill yourself.

From the women, Karlach seems the most like the kind of woman I'd be attracted to under normal circumstances; she's practical, pragmatic, has a dry sense of humour and isn't afraid to show genuine gratitude or accept help when she needs it.
From the men, Gale is another figure in a line of various video game characters that have shown me that I very much have a 'type' when it comes to men, and it involves a strong intellect, a sharp wit and a dry humour that avoids actively insulting people.

At least, in video games - I'm much more take-folks-as-they-are for men, women and all types between, in my real life - there's just traits and behaviours I avoid (though Shadow, Wyll, Astarion and Lae'zel each invoke enough of those particular traits that they would not be considered options for me regardless).

=

By the by, halflings are small, and they will generally trend towards higher pitched voices as a result - especially in the traditionally feminine register - but there's still not much chance of them being taken for anything other than a mature adult unless they're actively trying not to be... and even then, their size and build ensures that there's no real possibility of them being mistaken or taken for a human child - they're actually Too Small to be mistaken as human children at anything more than a hurried glance.

Three things in life are certain:
-Death
-Taxes
-Icelyn's thirst for Man-Bear

🐻🐻🐻

Actually I am curious about the usual forum posters opinions...

Of the RPGs you have played, pick your ONE (and ONLY ONE) favorite romance per each game, and explain your favorite overall.

You never forget your first.

Alistair in DAO. My first rpg. I didn’t even understand that romance was part of the game, and was shocked when the sweet bumbling young warden started hitting on me. The whole romance was sweet, heartfelt, and very cute. I was having a silly good time with it all.

Then … the stupid bastard. He becomes king and breaks my elven heart by choosing Ferelden over our love. 😭😭 And I was furious. I did not want to talk to him ever again. My elf planned to leave Ferelden for good and find a nice elven hunter to forget that bastard prince and his cute little quips.

But we had a job to do first, and we did it…even tho I was heartbroken. I take him along to the final battle…what does he do? The stupid arsehole who broke my heart and left me a mess? He sacrifices himself for me by killing the archdemon. He just…ran off…sword held high…while I stood there horrified and helpless and sobbing.

It was marvelous. So much wonderfully cheesy and hamfisted angst. Loved it. 💚

So, I'm pretty sure I'm forgetting a few, I'm not a huge romance focus player.

I was playing Pathfinder: WotR with a female halfling with the Azata path, and it has a lot of cool interactions with Arueshale, I liked her character and tried to romanced her.

Thing is, I liked the game but it was reaaaally messy and buggy in a lot of things and at some point I was unable to continue my pursue to romance her because supposedly I accepted to romance Lann or something. It didn't make any sense to me, and didn't went back to try again because I don't know where the mess up was and didn't thought it would lack fluidity going forward so to be able to try with a different npc.
The game feels like a chore at times so, I ended it and that's it.

A heartbreaking story I guess (?

Ok that will sound weird but Viconia in BG2.

Every single RPG I played since then most romance scenes/dialogues tend to be kinda...forced upon me. In BG2 it did feel a bit more natural even if it still remained very simple.

Also I think I just liked Viconia's story and evolution to begin with if you played her in a Neutral - good party.

Hmm, let’s see. In general my favourite romances are with male characters, just because while I do mix it up, my favourite characters to play tend to be straight women like myself. In some of the below games I’d totally accept there are better written romances with other genders.

BG2: Dorn (he’s EE, but I can’t say Anomen even though he’s the only option for female characters in the original game, Jaheira would have to be my pick if I was restricted to that)
NWN HotU: Valen
DA:O: Alistair, even though I didn’t like Alistair as a character much, my favourite romance plot in DA:O is a romance with Alistair, then saving Loghain so Alistair has a huge strop and leaves the party but marries Anora. Sometimes an unhappy ending feels more fitting, somehow! On which note, the tragic Alistair romance timebean mentions above is really good too, in a heartbreaking way.
DA:2: Anders rivalmance after sleeping with and being left by Fenris
DA:I: Blackwall until his secret comes out then swap to Cullen (the Sera romance is dead cute though)
Mass Effect: Kaiden (or Liara, though she loses out to Kaiden mainly because I have so much love for the platonic friendship that develops with her over the trilogy if you don’t romance her)
ME2: No one or Thane (I like the idea of the Thane romance but the writing doesn’t really work for me, and I love Garrus but feel he works so much better as a friend than an LI)
ME3: No one or Kaiden again (again, somehow an unhappy ending feels more right for my favourite Shepard, especially as she’s not going to be around for an HEA anyway)
ME:A: Liam (a sweet and optimistic romance, which feels right for that game and for Ryder)

And okay, they’re all BioWare games, which is partly because I’ve played their games more than any others, but also because I’ve not found romances in any of the other RPGs I’ve played particularly memorable.

Of the above, the Alistair romance is probably the one I think is best, even though he’s the character I like least, just because it has a story that can feel like it is part of the game’s plot rather than an add-on.

I don't really like video game romances. That being said, I am going with the odd choice of Nameless Hero and Patty in Risen 2. Mostly because I really, really like Risen 2 (me and about 5 other people I think) but also because its totally integrated into the game and not something that feels like an artificial side quest. Also, she really does a good job of tanking Tacarigua early game and its fun to watch her be a badass while I try not to die.

The companions I like the most don't necessarily have the most... romantic romances. Or any at all. Afraid no one ever really fried my brain circuits.

Let's see...

Huh, not a lot of game's I can bring to mind had developed romances that you could make choices about...

NWN etc.: I enjoyed Aerin Gend, and Linu, but I really wanted more development with Tommy. Expansion content, I'm fond of Valen.
NWN2: Deeply disappointed that the romance line for Neeshka was cut and incomplete. Bishop and Cas never really did it for me, either of them. I wanted to hang out with Sand more.
To My Great Shame: I've not actually played MotB, despite being told I simply must many times by others... I keep meaning to, but haven't. But I have heard a lot about Gaan and Safyia both, and they both sound like folks I'd like to get to know better...

Kingmaker: Angel boy was sweet, but not really my type, and Octavia and Reggie were... a project, that really needed to get themselves healthy *before* getting me involved, so it wasn't the most healthy relationship progression, which kinda made it feel not so great. I'm all for poly rep in games, for obvious reasons, but they didn't portray it as well as I'd have liked - or rather, they showed the difficulties that come of insufficient communication and understanding. Mostly I was just put out that the two individuals I'd liked to have had romances with - Linzi and Jubilost - were both put off limits by the game. Owlcat has something against romancing smalls characters. *grumbles*

I always appreciated that a lot of final fantasy games have romance/flirtation variables that affect certain dialogues and scenes, but I'm continually disappointed that they ultimately don't let you derail from the story-book-mandated romance that they pick in advance.... You can Tell Riku that she's more your type, over Yuna, but it doesn't actually change anything in the story. Sadness.

Back in BG2 I did the Aerie romance. That ticked all the boxes under the Sun; rapport, flirt, love triangle, first fight, romance, deferred sex, she became a monster, have to kill, rescue beyond death, sex, decide to stay mortal together or ascend to demigod, then a baby! Only missing a wedding.

Later on I did BG2 SoD and a romance with a captain. By comparison it was sparse.

BG3 romances seem to be an enhanced version of Aerie one, seemingly with more on and off ramps. I appreciate that.

I’m hoping Karlach has a romance option, I like her demeanor, face, voice and hair. Oh, and she a complementary twohander warrior.

****

Given some more thought, the reason I like romance in BG games is that it adds a game within the game where I have to consider another dimension in my party make up.

I recall relationship music coming on in BG2 a welcome change to fighting trolls or inventory management.

Let's see...

I have to preface that while I'm lesbian in real life, I normally select my romances on which character I like the most.

I often so all romances possible in different playthroughs to see all the content, I never finished my Solasmance, since I hated that guy.

BG1 : mostly modded characters
BG2: same, since females only get Anomen aka one of the worst characters in gaming history


DAO: Zevran- he has a really great development

DA2: Isabela - just love her

DAI: tie between Sera ( If you're not elf) and Iron Bull .

KOTOR: Juhani
KOTOR 2: I really don't like any of them that much

SWTOR: Lana Beniko- she is just my favorite character

BG3 : so far Shadowheart

I don't have any favorite romances in other games.

Now I can guess what "simp" means.

Totally Shadowheart, I would do anything to get intimate with her (except doing harm to others/destroy the world, so I have some concerns wether we'll go well together or I possibly have to stick a dagger into her guts in the end). That goes on to the meta even, for example, when I made a Cleric, I avoided gods who could utterly displease Shadowheart (not that it would matter in the bland game ...). Isn't that spineless? But it's for a worthy cause.

I like Karlach, from the short moments I had with her, but I don't find her attractive. If we had a bigger party, she probably would be in.

In other games often many characters are not to my liking. I always play as male, and I like men and women, usually with a slight preference to men, and more of the androgynous kind. I prefer elves over dwarfs, so to say. They ideally have to be lean, mentally strong, rational, deliberate, cautious, reserved and self-aware (aka be-not-Halsin) and of course show some skin, but I feel I'm straying off a bit.
Anyway, I was interested in Zevran and Morrigan in DA:O. In DA 2 I tried to get busy with Fenris. In Morrowind, Skyrim or Fallout 4 I make me my own male companions and mostly use a female from a mod (who is not too distorted by male fantasies), I like e.g. Ellis in Fallout 4. In DOS2 I preferred Sebille.

Dragon Age Origins: Morigan ...
I know its quite common answer, but i just like how she goes from "love is a burden" to "screw it, i love you" ... its a little shame that little later she went back to her original mindset, but i kinda get it ... still, i dont enjoy any romance in whole Origin as when your character meets her in Witch Hunt and you leave together. :3

Dragon Age II: Isabela ...
I dont really remember anything of that game, except i hated every single aspect of it ... and that i liked this treacherous b****.

Dragon Age: Inquisition: Solas ...
If we would talk about wich character i liked most, it would be Iron Bull ... or Dorien, but i never played gay male, so this romance was locked for me ... but story of Solas is awesome one, and my first character was traditional Dalish ... so as Solas teached my Elf truth about her people, while they fall in love, only to reach that tragic end ... i just love that story.

Mass Effect: Liara ...
There is not much to say, characters in original Mass Effects arent very interesting to me ... i allways killed Alenko and never felt any desire to romance Ashley ... so it was Liara or nothing.

Mass Effect 2: Morinth ...
Bcs f**k to your death is my dream!
NO! Just kidding! ... Actually its Garus, bcs it felt most natural.
Or Liara, im not really sure if it can be counted, since its not really new romance, you can just state that you two are returning together when talking with her.

Mass Effect 3: Liara again ...
Not even single doubt on my mind! She is just too sweet to resist.
I heared tho that there is a secret option to have threesome with her and Tali ... not really sure if that is still favourite romance, or just fulfilling my dirty fantasies.

Star Wars - Knights of the Old Republic: None ...
I didnt even know you can romance anyone when i played it, and i just mention it here so i can say that whole relationship with Bastila felt forced. :-/

Star Wars - Knights of the Old Republic II.: Brianna ...
Im not even sure if there is any other to be honest, most of them just admire you so much, so they fall in love ... but Last of Handmaiden feels different.

Star Wars - The Old Republic: Elara Dorne ...
Its not like she is the best character, or that her romance would be somehow especialy good compared to others ... but i really liked that she (as far as i know) is the only romanceable companion, whos life was put into danger, and in order you save her, you need to sacrifice lots of inocent lives.
I just like tragic endings, what can i say.

Witcher III.: Yeneffer & Tris ...
You can pick at several occasions in game ... and when you cant really pick one, at certain point, they offer you actually have them both at once ... i wouldnt spoil surprise here, but i loved the outcome! :3

Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines: officer Chunk ...
I know this isnt really standard romance, but if you play a Toreador Female, and have low humanity (or at least that is the only combination i managed to trigger it) ... then, if you seduce Chunk at the start of the game, but dont kill him ... he falls in love with you ... and later in game, you can be the cruelest bitch that ever walked this world, when you stomp on his heart so hard so he NEVER speaks to you again.

Fallout 4: Paladin Danse ...
Its not really a "romance" in the true meaning of that word ... for in-world reasons ... more like best buddies story, but i like it anyway.

Metal Gear Solid: Otacon & Sniper Wolf ...
This may be a bit cheating, since its not player romance, but its still sweet ... bitter at the end, but sweet.

Heroes of Might and Magic IV: Alana &. Gauldoth Half-dead ...
If you dont know their story, i strongly recomend to google it ... its a bit Romeo and Juliet style, but epic!

And i gues thats all i can remember.

//Edit:
There is one thing i find funny about BioWare ...
They offer us romancing gays, lesbians, bisexuals, humans, elves, several type of aliens, even dude who is twice as big as our character and have horns as big as we have arms ... but once some fans mentioned that our Dwarves have no romance options except other races, they get all offended and start yelling that they are not our virtual pimps.
I mean, what is wrong with Dwarves? O_o

Actually you can 'date' officer Chunk with every female character
If you seduce him to get into the gallery, he will think, you are his girlfriend afterwards. You have especially funny dialogue as a Malkavian.

Yeah i know.
But what i like about that particular "romance" is that potential outcome ... you dont just break his heart, you litteraly emotionaly destroy the man.