I do like romances having their special scene that establishes the relationship in Act 2 because it allows you to be a couple for some time in the game. For Gale this works pretty well - at least for me - because his story is so strongly tied to the main plot and figuring out what the Crown is - possibly plotting to take it for yourselves - becomes part of the romance. It gives you a good feeling of being partners with someone and working towards a shared goal. Since the epilogue was added, I am pretty happy with his romance - especially since the latest patch. (Though he still forgets that vampires don't eat when inviting you to dinner with Tara but oh well ... )
Astarion's is a romance that I more and more like better in theory than in execution. In Act 3 he very quickly comes to terms with abandoning the ritual so you can have a clean wrap up of the quest. Having some time and little events between Cazador and the graveyard wouldn't hurt. There is also the misalignment of character and player dialogue for Spawn Astarion. From Astarion's lines, his relationship is also one of partnership, of doing things together, there is nothing in the plot, environment or the player dialogue though, that allows for these feelings of partnership to be felt - apart from the Araj scene maybe.
My real problem is in Act 1 though. His night in the woods is deliberately set up as feeling fake and performative, but your character is written as to fall for it completely and you have no way to properly react to it. You are allowed to mention it the morning after, but - much like during the brothel - you are not given to opportunity to ground the situation. Being able to derail that pastel forest scene into a good, depressing conversation about what it means to feel powerless and at someone's mercy would be cool.
Last edited by Anska; 01/03/24 10:01 AM.
