One of the big problems is that the programmers don't account for sexual preference in straight male culture. If a male friend hits on you, it is over big time. Bridge burnt. Mandatory distance. Done. Kaput.
Not to mention personal distance. MC and Gale sit ridiculously close given all the space available.
Instead they've got a matrix where X companion will approach MC under Y conditions. Sexual preference not implemented.
Back in release, Gale wouldn't take no for an answer and had to be told twice. Bad timing of Wyll or Halsin and it'd seem like the all the men of the Realms were coming for you. Uncomfortable/goofy-funny/unimmersive, take your pick. Doing a second run now and my MC simply interacts less with male companions, roundabout way to solve the problem + IC for a stoic type.
I absolutely agree. The male companions are terribly written in terms of the fact that they are entirely unrepresentative of male friendship and companionship. There are so may weird implications of dialogue lines, longing looks in to your character's eyes and strange proximity. You may say that this happens between heterosexual man at points but this always in jest or as a manifestation of power plays not sincere as it is coded in this game. Larian has just decided to do away with male friendship in the pursuit of player sexuality. Halsin will not quit for me and it makes him so pathetic. Wyll's awkward dance scene is even more absurd than I expected it to be. Bring on mods and fully customisable hirelings because I'm not doing another run with these strange little puppy dogs.
