Originally Posted by Tharrow
In terms of him having romantic feelings, he is also aware that his behaviors could negatively impact a player character who does not like the same things he likes. He stops and explains his way of behaving before engaging in the behavior, giving the player character the opportunity to either continue on with him, or to disengage.

Wow, what a post, thank you.

Just one quick response because I don't have much time left - he tells Tav his feelings and only AFTER Tav says that the feelings are mutual he follows up with the non commitment topic. After quite some time where he seemed kind of interested in Tav but asks Tav to wait until the curse is lifted. And in this time Tav might fall in love with him.

To come around so late with his views and how he want to approach being with Tav, especially if he notices that Tav is interested in him, is not showing much care or being responsible. He should have let it slip or talk open with Tav about his views on relationships/commitment to let Tav know quite early about it. But he lets Tav fall in love with him too and then comes around with the "but...".

Sure, Tav then can still reject him (also at least in my game this is buggy right now and while you don't have a romance scene and a break up is implied by dialog the next time you talk with him he is calling you his lover). It is still too late because he let Tav fall in love with him and could / should have known (from his vast experience having met a lot of people and being to a lot of places which he talks about) that his way of living/loving is not everyones way.

This is why people are calling this behavior manipulative. If Tav is already in love with Halsin Tav is more likely to still engage with Halsin due to the deep feelings. If Tav would know this from the beginning it would maybe impact Tav so much as to not even fall in love with Halsin. Maybe it wasn't meant to be manipulative but you could see it like this.

I mean, I get why people in real life would be careful to open up with such private information early, but this is a game and as a player I might assume Halsin works as the other romances and have a proper/monogamous romance path just to find out very late in game that he isn't as expected and now you are stuck with this decision (and without love) or take him anyway (and be disappointed) or to reload and replay a lot of hours or to abandon the playthrough and start new (and romance someone else).

For me romances are the main reason to replay the game - I don't plan and play further playthrougs for the decisions (I always play good so not much variety there) or classes (I don't care much about gameplay and only play on easy) but for the companions and especially, romances. But then I want my happy ending with this love interest (and ideally without needing to rewrite most of it in my head to make it satisfactory).

Maybe it is expecting to much, yes we can have sex with him, yes he has romantic dialog, but the major point for me is really the ending which sounds like he isn't even interested to work with Tav together to build a future together (even if timed and not until they both die). But the other romances have this - yes, they can have other outcomes, but if romanced and depending on decisions you can stay with them and talk about the future together.

Last edited by Cawyden; 16/09/23 08:26 AM.