I am going to copy what I wrote in my thread, because one of Larians lackeys wants to bury the truth aboout the criticisms. (im sorry im voicing my displeasure this way, but im actually pretty frustrated about it at this point)
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I am going to put this as simple as possble, the romance paths in this game are broken... Larian screwed up here, its the only major blemish on this game.
The game interprets literally every act of kindness, and compassion, as a romantic gesture. Characters frequently assume you are in a relationship when you are not... and there is no clear option for turning them down most of the time.
The game essentially is forcing players who even want to be a little bit good into relationships with everyone.
The romance paths need to be overhauled, and we need to get ways to get a lot of the content without there being romantic angles to it.
Gales magic scene where he teaches you magic shouldnt ahve to be romantic... yet regardless of your choice at the end (which is clearly one option that pursues romance, and one where you dont) he still fucking assumes you are romantically attracted to him.
Romance options need to be clearly tagged and marked, and there needs to be options for being kind to people without it triggering romance.
I cant believe I have to say this to Larian, but as my female friends have told me "this is what every woman has to deal with when men are nice to them"
Being nice to people, does not mean you are sexually or romantically attracted to them...
Hell saying anything to halsin at the party, leads him to thikning you are romantically attracted to him...
You guys bragged about how much effort you put into the romances, but somehow missed hte fact that "being nice to people is not the same as being romantically attracted to them"
Look, I love this game... but this really needs to be fixed.
And for the love of god, when the inevitable press release comes out and Larian apologizes and promises to update the romance paths.
dont say some shit like "we sincerely apologize, we forgot to incorporate paths for asexual/aromantic players" or anything like that, we dont need you insinuating everyone who hates being creeped on is of a specific sexuality. Thats like saaying every woman not into you "must be gay" or "must be crazy"
Im not discrediting the aro/ace experience, im saying dont weaponize them throwing them under the bus as an excuse.
Larian fucked up here, and they need to own it instead of putting it on the shoulders of the players... this was downright despicable how the romance paths were handled almost. (im exaggerating here, but I am very frustrated with it at this poitn in the game,i ts making me dread talking to my companions)
Did larian just assume nobody would talk to their companions unless they were horny for the companions? I am going to assume in good faith that Larian was so busy playtesting the romances, worried about getting them right, that they missed the fact that the non-romantic paths werent working properly, and that there are glitches with non-romantic paths not flagging properly...
But... christ... at least add a tag at the end of dialogue that initiates romance. A heart? The word Romance in brackets?
(I also want to add, the companions are way to forceful about it, which feels very creepy and offputting to players. One or two companions being flirty is okay... but this is out of control feeling and creepy)
