Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Companions and Romantic Dynamics in Relation to M/M Pairings

If that's the case, I would hope everybody has the option every time, but as Niara points out above, with what we've seen so far, that's appears unlikely.

And if that's the case, I'm going to be a little angry, because for all the "the game is about choice" over and over, if choices about how we screw aren't present, why would they include these scenes at all?

So I tested a few combos and there are some interesting dynamics with f/f Minthara.

Spoilers for pg-13 descriptions of things


Either way, you can then read her mind and either delve into her desires, which will make it easy to convince her to join you. Or you can read her fears which will then require an intimidation check DC 15 to make her agree to let you live

Thanks for the responses! It's definitely interesting to see the varied perspectives and thoughts, and obviously a lot of it comes down to 'we're not sure yet'. I suspect I'll probably try to play it slow the first couple of days until people grind through it all then hopefully get an answer. I really do hope it isn't as simple as replacing the female models with the male; that's far more lazy than I tend to expect of Larian. At the same time I don't really expect every character to have options, as much as that would be the 'ideal', to sort of forge your own dynamic. As much as it probably shouldn't be, at least in my experience there's a decent bit of weight behind either top/bottom societally, and those dynamics sort of play out and inform relationships in various ways. Obviously this isn't 100% of the time, but it has been 100% of the time for MY experiences, which is part of why this thread was made--it makes a difference, character wise, in how they're presented or how I view them, and it's difficult to self-insert or get invested in a character if the dynamic simply ends up being one that I wouldn't have.

Truthfully I hope we see quite a few dynamics across the spectrum. The game doesn't need to be NC-17 levels of kinky or anything, but some hints towards d/s or alternative lifestyles and such are always welcome. Proper poly pairings would go a long way, as well, as so often it's just an open relationship/people not minding, which isn't quite the same thing.

I suspect worst case is just the player being on bottom regardless, second worst might be being on bottom regardless except for Astarian. Which is nothing against him (or bottom leaning folks), but as he "looks" to lean that way the most it'd be a bit problematic, writing wise. Zevran had similar issues, really, and it's good to buck trends and try to get away from the stereotypes. Of course I will hope that all of the characters can express themselves and end up on either side, but *gestures* Unfortunately M/M representation in games is rarely good or well handled, especially in the more explicit sense. I appreciate we're slowly becoming more inclusive, but I still don't expect much because the industry has taught me not to.

I have a feeling we'll be getting the latter, simply because, again, it's so much easier than anything else - so easy that modders have been implementing such things in other games for years. But it's interesting that a few games outside the indy sphere are starting to at least attempt it.

Stop dashing my hopes! *laughs* But no, I do understand the issues with it. It's a little tragic, truthfully, but there's only so much dev time and the more niche an option the fewer people are liable to see it, arguably creating some sort of worth based around things that are a more common denominator. We have been seeing a few games here and there add them in, though, both in actual pairings and background. I Was A Teenage Exocolonist was really inclusive and well designed that way, for all that it is (mostly) a VN so is perhaps arguable if it deserves placed in a similar level of consideration.

Btw, I suspect Gale is likely to be pretty flexible when it comes to both romantic and sexual configurations. We know that he was the lover of a certain famously polyamorous goddess, so at the very least he's presumably open to that. And while I've only tried his "spending the night" scene with a female PC (and the actual sex scene wasn't present in EA, just the prelude and aftermath), it's presumably similar for a male PC and he talks about working through what sounds like a Faerunian equivalent of the Kama Sutra so when it comes to positions he might be up (or down!) for anything.

Halsin is the only companion I believe who has definitely been confirmed as up for polyamory, though we obviously expect more else the polyamory would have to remain theoretical.

Well yeah he’d be pretty hypocritical to say no to you bringing a third given his long game is a throuple between you, himself, and Mystra.

Plus he doesn't seem to mind if you're sleeping with someone else in the party as long as you're also sleeping with him.

He is interested in Males, too. I didn't make it all the way through to the camp scene with my Paladin test run, but there was definitely interest when we cast the spell together. I imagined kissing and we had a follow up talk about how he was pleasantly surprised and was open to more.

Actually

That sounds really unpleasant! Hopefully it's a matter of persuasion to give something different a try rather than "force"?! (I'll admit that party night encounter is the one that I never did try in EA.)

Well, at first she’s trying to force YOU to submit, and I think there’s a strength check to turn the tables.

Yeah, that's pretty much what I expected, and the turning the tables with a show of dominance and strength makes sense too.

I suppose as long as it's all between consenting adults who can stop at any time then anything goes. I might leave venturing into this territory for a later playthrough of the full game, though.

Yeah you have to approach her and then she starts, but I don’t think there’s a “Wait, I’m not into this!” Option.

And it’s a pretty high check. So that’s why I was referring to her as an evil dominatrix type.

I agree that a choice would really enhance the depiction of all possible intimate relationships, especially how preferences could be discussed in the dialog leading up to it, for example playfully, cautiously or even forcefully. One can hope that they did read Niara's threads and took the hint to consult people with actual experiences.

Some additional thoughts:
-"simple" model swapping etc. might be difficult, i read somewhere in the BG3 modding-sphere that sometime during EA every character got their own unique skeleton (which is used to rig all animations). I'm not sure if this is the complete skeleton or just the head for facial animations, or just for some non-human races. either way this would make actors in scenes not easily interchangeable.
-I only know a little bit about animation rigging, but judging by the modding scenes in many games this could be adressed by dedicated modders, the tools made a huge jump in the past couple of years
-a few of my friends who are gay said that they have no penetrative sex at all, it's all oral and manual. I remember the documentary from Stephen Fry (I think it's called "Out There") stating something like more then 50% like it that way. I wonder if Larian has implemented something like this, i guess it would lessen the impact of the roles/positions

It sounds like my Lolth Sworn Lady Drow is going to have to work to get her ladies in line :p

But on a more serious note, if it is like the Minthara scene, you have the option to back out and when you 'take control' it is a consensual swapping of roles. With all the other considerations Larian is putting into people's freedom, including pronoun choices, I doubt they are going to purposefully add nonconsensual material in a titillating way. Even the 'torture' scene in the Goblin camp is 100% consensual for the PC.

I mean its Lae'zel. Her whole ideas on intimacy are unhealthy.

You gotta remember she's a teenager who grew up with an idealistic outlook on her fascist society. She's totally brainwashed,

Hopefully you can deprogram her after the creche.

ah yes, deprogramming a teenager so you can have a healthy romantic relationship with them.

ROFL and also