Originally Posted by vx_phoenix_vx
This may just be a "hot take" and this is solely my opinion but, I disagree with at least the last few comments on this thread (though there's no real problem with them at all, we all have our own preferences):

In my opinion, a lot of the immersion I get from a Role-playing game that includes romances is when they make the characters as close to a real person as they can. In real life, everyone has a sexuality, everyone has a preference and when a game gives certain characters certain preferences, I start to see them as believable characters.
The "player-sexuality" aspect of this game kind of breaks that immersion for me in the sense that no one seems to have a gender/sexuality preference and every player character is appealing regardless of who they are.
It makes it seem like the characters are just there for player consumption which, to be fair, this is still a video game so it's not far-fetched to say the whole game is technically that way.
But I enjoy when good writing lends itself to believable character-developement. Certain characters in this game definitely feel like they should have certain sexuality preferences and the fact that they don't breaks the believable nature of them when it comes to romances.
In addition, polyamory is a big step and big decision in most relationships and for a lot of people, it can be trying and emotional to tackle. Making everyone polyamorous with everyone just makes the character's sexuality even more unrealistic.

Now, this is just my personal opinion. If any of the suggestions for this were to be implemented, as long as there was a way for other people who don't want it to avoid that route, I have 0 issue with people having more options, more polyamory, more romances.

But when you get a line from Astarion when he's explaining a very personal aspect of his character and it includes taking sex slowly and that he'd prefer "no one think of him in a sexual way" for now, I have a hard time believing that character should be able to be polyamorous with anyone. It just feels like it goes against his character.

To each their own though! This is just my opinion and we all have our preferences smile

I would have no problem if Larian had chosen to go this more realistic route, like ME and DA. Even including polyamory in the characterization of 4 of the companions, but being clear about it early on and making it believable through their dialogue and behavior. But they didn't.

Now that ship has sailed though and they can't change it because that would mean taking away some people's romance options. By making all of the companions open to polyamory, it gives the player freedom, like they have with sexuality. It doesn't take anything away, it actually adds more options, especially for lesbians and straight men who don't have any.

By making the companions playersexual, Larian decided player freedom was more important. All I'm asking is they follow through with this player freedom approach in regards to relationship preference. Keep characterization out of it, like they did with sexuality.

It's not like Astarion or SH are even remotely good choices for the orgy anyway, given their abusive history. Hell it's not even history, SH is a literal amnesiac, who is intermittently physically abused due to her hand wound. And then there's all the other different kinds abuse from her past, and same with Astarions. They're definitely being taken advantage of and its really creepy. Yet, if all companions are open to the orgy, and characterization is kept out of it, then it's fair game. It's just porn anyway and doesn't affect anything. I don't personally want the orgy in the game at all, as I find it very cringey, but others like that sort of thing I guess.

Though, as a poly person myself I feel it's important to represent polyamory respectfully. Larian just turned it into an orgy, which doesnt give a good impression tbh. I'm not even sure it can be called polyamory at all really. But they aren't going to get rid of the orgy though. So having an alternative option to have a romantic experience with 2 companions would go a long way to represent polyamory in different light.

I wouldn't expect them to change a whole lot. Like 3way sex scenes aren't required, nor is a whole lot of added dialogue. Mostly just the 2 companions recognizing the relationship and any appropriate ending scenes. Like if I'm romancing SH and Karlach, there could be an option to invite SH to come to Avernus for example. Whether the endings would mesh well is up to the choices made in game, as usual. Just little thinsg could make for a nice experience though.