Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Story & Character Discussion Regarding Wyll's Romance [includes new Karlach post-game spoilers]

From what I remember, the EA version of the romance would've fit perfectly well with new Wyll, but I didn't play it much so my memories are definitely fuzzy. I'm confused that they left his flirty banter with Lae'zel in the game - it doesn't seem to fit at all with their new direction for him.

Honestly, yes - the flirty banter with Lae'zel and Shadowheart feels really odd considering how romantically shy Wyll is with the player character (particularly in Act 1, where I always heard that banter). It strikes me as an oversight that those banters can trigger even after your character kisses Wyll at the tiefling party. It's just so inconsistent with how he's portrayed in every other aspect of the romance.

Eek. I did wonder if that was a possibility. Fortunately I knew enough from EA to keep those two out of my party when romancing Wyll.

Not to mention that he shuts down Lae'zel's advancement during the party and only has a chat with her. And we know Lae'zel is very straight forward with making clear what she wants, so it's not like he wouldn't have gotten the hint. To then flirt with her afterward is odd.

Unfiltered banters are a general problem. But Wyll needs fixing in many areas. That second contract (good to know I am not the only one running into it, though, it can mean another response simply does not exist), that banters and his dancing scene. Just got it - completely out of the blue, with not a single flirting between the characters - and no, there is no way out of it. They fixed Gale's responses (somewhat, the neutral response now exists, but if you choose it, his animation and later talk to you are of harsh rejection) but with Wyll there is absolutely no even an imitation of a "friendly path" in this scene. Or a hint that you need to stop in the middle of a dance. Straight to the kiss you go.

I have a constant Jacob Taylor vibe from Mass Effect, where writers simply forgot that he was a romanceable character and there were a few people who did romance him and all but cut him out of the next game plus added a wife to him.

Can't you just decline the dance in the first place? (I've honestly never tried, but I could decline stuff like wine with Shadowheart or Gale's magic lesson.) Does he look just as disappointed if you cut the scene off immediately?

Gosh, please, no. Even with less content than several other companions, I find Wyll to be written a thousand times better than Jacob.

You can decline it. I don't even look at the screen when I do it, I don't want to see his sad expression. You can also stop when he says something about getting more intimate; he still looks sad, though. I'm sorry Wyll! I would really like to dance, I love dancing - I wish it was an actual waltz or something, but I suppose that'd be too hard to animate.

That sounds painful. I broadly wish that every romance in every RPG had the option to decline in a nice way that shows you still value their friendship. I do think that BG3 has a lot of these options, just not in every scenario where it'd be good to have them.

Yes, you can but why would you?
It begins very innocently (plus, my character is already heavily involved with Astarion, with no even hints of any other romances). There are three interactions before the actual dance: 1. curiosity or 2 heavy insults to Wyll. The choice is clear. 2. If you go with the first option, again, curious questions like "but there is no music", "I am not interested" or insult him again. Once again - why stop? 3. Say, you are still curious you have two choices: "let's dance" or "I should call it a day". Why would I stop at this point?

Sure, he does smile all the way and we can interpret it as a hint but considering everything above...


No, you can not!

With Gale (now) you can do magic and still get very clear choice between "Continue. It is a perfect night to get intimate" and "Let's call it a day". With Wyll, once you agree to the dance, this is it. You have three options: "Take a bow", "Smile nervously", and "It was not hard" - all three lead to him declaring "Now let's get to the intimate part".

Larian fixed Gale's part but forgot about Wyll's. That's why I remember Jacob.

And what are your choices at that point? Unfortunately I don't have a save, I can't go check. I remember eventually being able to turn your face away when it seems like he might go in for a kiss.

Okay, I see your point. My thought process was that there are other interactions that seem like they'd be innocent, but which you're clearly "meant" to take as romantic overtures. Like Shadowheart inviting you to share a bottle of wine (which I firmly maintain can be something just between friends) but everyone in the camp reacting as if you clearly started something romantic. If they react that way, I have reasoned, then my character "should" be able to pick up on the same vibes, so I can justify her turning down something I would otherwise accept, since she has no romantic interest in this person and doesn't want to give the wrong impression.

I thought maybe you could do the same with Wyll, but... I never have. So... for science... I reloaded and tried the nicest refusal I could give. Watch silently, say he couldn't disappoint anyone if he tried, then decline... then decline again, when he asks if you're sure. And his reaction just about broke my heart. He's so disappointed. I wish I could unsee it.

I don't know if it's different depending on what's led up to it or not? The character I'm reloading to test this has already kissed him and said she wanted to dance with him, so it makes sense that he'd react that way to her. It feels like an oversight if he reacts the same way to everyone.

Yeah, this feels like an oversight as well. Even speaking as someone happily playing Wyll's romance, I was surprised that you don't get an opportunity to stop dancing once it moves into the more intimate style of dance.

You absolutely have the right to be reminded of anyone when thinking about anything. That said, you are causing me psychic damage every time you post comparing Wyll to Jacob. Please, have mercy!

No choice, you just accept the dance. At the end of it you kneel in front of each other and you get to:
1. Press your lips against Wyll's.
2. Invite him closer with a knowing look - it's what you both want.
3. Turn your head away.
4. This has gone too far. I should take my leave.

1. and 2. both result in a kiss and start of romance. 3. and 4. both have him walk away very slowly while thanking you for the dance with a sad puppy face.

Ironically, kissing him and then telling whoever else you were romancing that you choose them will make him a lot less sad (at least in the case of Shadowheart). He takes it like a boss.

Unfortunately, going that far (to the kiss) currently ends one or more of the other romances, even if you break it off afterwards, due to a bug. Oops.

That's the point - there are no choices. It is a declaration, not a suggestion, your character has nothing to say to it. Then you dance intimately, get to the kissing position - and THEN you can turn away (or kiss him).

Don't get me wrong! I personally have nothing against the whole thing. Wyll is hitting on Lae'zel and SH, why should he ignore my girl? Even though dancing was very sudden without any premise, it still can be seen as a sort of extended variation of that "hitting on" banter. As if he knows about Astarion, but wants nevertheless check his chances. For me, it's all good and even if a bug with flags, it's fitting and adds replayability.

But it does not make the scene clear or even coherent. With Gale Larian finally marked the border: here is a friendly conversation and past this point - romance. With Wyll they did not do it (yet?). You simply dance and then, without any input from your side, suddenly about to kiss Wyll. You can reject the final step, but this is not what I would call "just say no". Before his declaration, two options have to be added similar to Gale's, like "Well, that was fun, I'll go now" and something about you willing to get intimate.

A very simple fix (though I suspect his reaction will be similar to Gale's, as if you rejected him with prejudice).

My deepest apologies! As a survivor of many long forum battles regarding romances (and let's not touch endings here) in ME, I fully understand and even share that flavour of PTSD.



Please, tell me my rejection of Wyll at the final point ("Turn your head away") did not break up my romance with Astarion! I am not that far after the scene and would rather reload than progress with the dead romance.

Option 3. and 4. (see my post) do not count as starting romance, so you should be good.

I don't think so, but I haven't done any testing personally. Just responded to frantic posts on Reddit and they usually mention having ended things afterwards, but the break-up not taking.

I appreciate your good humour about it! I am a veteran of those discussions as well (including the topic we absolutely won't talk about). The memories are not always fun.

Regarding the various unwanted behaviours of companions in romantic situations: I understand characters making errors of judgment at times, or having wishful thinking, etc. But I wish I could be confident that such behaviours were always intended at a writing level, rather than being the result of a bug or simply overlooked in some final edit. This issue is hardly unique to Larian, obviously. Plenty of my other favourite studios have let a few odd moments slip through the cracks in their romance writing.

It's a relief to know I am safe, thank you!


True. Even enjoyable, bugs are bugs. Maybe Patch 4 will fix more problems but for now, I guess all hopes rest on the Definitive Edition.

Patch 4 will likely fix some things, break other things - you know the drill. I'm guessing that we won't see large scale content additions until the DE (if one is forthcoming) but tweaking broken or missing flags could happen sooner, I'm sure.