OP is just sharing his opinion - the way he does so, might be questionable.
But most of the comments here are not any better. While you might not accept the opinion, there is no need to attack OP personal - at least not if you want to come off as someone who is 'better'.
OP can stay mad. Astarion is a better man than they could ever hope to be XD
Lets take this as an example. You don't even know the person behind the post, yet you want to compare him to a fictional being, that has been shaped to fit a narrative and to attract a specific kind of players? Questionable.
This was Larians plan all along. They designed the companions specifically to attract simps of all kinds and made sure to attract their attention with bear sex marketing.
The core pillars of RPGs suffered as a result but sadly the strategy works.
To me, this is more what I read in the OP rant. Larian wanted to sell their game to lots of people who otherwise would've never picked up this game. And what's the best way to do so? Sex, well, bear sex in this case.
It's interesting how social media platforms that rely more on simple image/video sharing are full of thirsty comments while other platforms that are more known for exchanging texts and longer statements are way less thirsty and more reasonable - but that tells us enough about the clientele.
Personally, I'd like to see more posts and discussions about the main plot, because I feel it is underrepresented and I don't want future RPGs to become even more dating simulations with a shallow story as a side gimmick.
That being said, I feel like its too late to hope for changes. Social media has won, it seems. The platforms on which people share their wildest dreams: Every companion being trans, males becoming pregnant, how they want pixel characters to f*** them so badly in every opening etc.
I mean, if thats what they need, so be it, but just because you have an opinion doesn't mean it has to be shared by anyone.
From what I saw, the people being way more angry about others not accepting their opinion don't come from the "I'm a long time D&D player" side but more from the thirsty part of the community.
Makes me question who is the 14yo in this fandom.
