Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Suggestions & Feedback Our Petition for More Raphael Content/Romance

Definitely many interesting things you throw in the room here.

I think that many who didn't participate in making the petition and who saw it later misinterpreted it as a list of demands rather than a collection of ideas and wishes from fans - what it was meant to be. Looking back, I would phrase this point more clearly.

I don't agree with the opinion raised here many times, that "a romance" would take from Raphael's arc or character, especially since we mean "romance" in the widest possible way.

He is narcissistic, he is obsessed with himself and with power, romance is not high up his list of priorities (probably not even sex), that's all true, and not a single one of us (as in: the group of people who put the petition together) wants to lose those aspects about him.

But if we analyze what's in the game already more closely, we are not that far from a "romance" with him without even changing much. He flirts constantly (I could list the lines, but I think that would lead too far at that point), we only want the chance to flirt back, he seems interested in the MC to say the least, there is the slightly hidden "He loves you, he loves you not" scene, the fact that he treats the MC mostly in honorable ways when he could use other methods to get that crown, the meeting in a brothel of all places, and many details more.

((Regarding Hope, no it's not clear if his obsession had a "romantic" (in the widest, most toxic sense) aspect to it, but additional text found in the game data hints at it even more strongly, but I think it's a given that what he does to her is sexually loaded "at least". In any way, Haarlep assumes "Raphael only loves Raphael" and it might be true or not. How well does this incubus sex toy know him? Maybe very well, or maybe not at all, it's open for interpretation and I like that it is.))

The options not to kill him after that battle and to let him go instead should be in the game already. And/or the chance to explore the house fully without betraying him/slaughtering any creature there and triggering his (well-deserved) rage and attack. The dinner is a must too after he promised it.

And aside from that? I don't think a kissing scene with him - should the MC be interested - would be OOC at all.

Yes, some think he's not capable of being attracted to anyone but himself. Others, however, interpret the fact that he's a cambion, not a full devil, as proof that he is capable of more human feelings. Personally, I think one of the most fascinating topics about him is this gap between his very human emotions and hobbies we see about him in the game and his devil aspects and what all of this must mean in devil society and how this struggle goes hand in hand with his (not so well) hidden insecurities. A growing interest (or even feelings?) for a mortal might add to the mix in interesting ways.

But, and that's important here, that's only my interpretation. A romance scene or a kiss or whatever would not come connected to a spelled-out reason why it happens. Maybe he wants to further manipulate the MC. Maybe he just went with the mood and a fling of attraction and wanted to see where it would lead. Maybe he actually struggles with some feelings. Maybe it's the MC kissing him and he is mostly surprised but fond enough of them (his words, not mine) to play along a bit. Who knows! It would be up to the player to decide.