Originally Posted by Arkhan
I have no problem with the portrayal of sexually driven characters in BG3. I think they exist in the real world so it is fair enough to represent them in the game. And correspondingly, I have no problem with the sexually explicit interactions these characters can have with the protagonist, should you desire it.

What I do have a problem with is the overrepresentation of sexual promiscuity. It would be nice to have some characters who are less sex-positive. I think of all the romancable characters, the only one who doesn't shag at the party after saving (or sacking) the grove is Shadowheart, and she gives it up not long after. (Am I right in thinking only Jaheira and Minsc are not romancable?) They are pretty much all unreasonably and unrealistically horny. There is no seduction or romance - just sex - and it makes relationships feel very empty and hollow. It is ironic how a game that claims to be so inclusive is so very exclusive in this regard.

I am a undecided whether this was a deliberate ploy by Larian to create publicity and attract a crowd of influencers who would never normally cover RPGs, or whether it was just Larian being a bit Dutch in their worldview.

Of course it was delibetate.
Larian realized that they had a broken, disjointed mess at their hands and decided instead of trying to deliver a epic adventure like BG1/2 did to go for the lowest common denominator. That meant both removing all consequences for your action (tadpoles, which required complete story rewrites to shove the Emperor in last minute) and putting sex front and center.

Both in marketing, the prominently placed bear sex scenes, the constant mentioning of the possibility of sex in interviews, highlighting that they used intimacy coordinators despite the result not really warranting them, the rather useless genital customization that got highlighted, and so on.
And in the game, often to the detriment of gameplay and story, by rewriting characters to be more bland, "waifu" and most importantly, willing, by basing their characters on the common visual novel templates and Twilight novels, adding some more side sex scenes and pillow talk which in its worst cases devalues otherwise interesting characters like Rafael and also basing the choice of companions to implement not on what would be best for the game, a new class or race for example, but one who the EA players thirsted for the most with the only content added being aggressive polygamy.


And the sadest thing is, it worked. BG3 gets praised to no end, not because its a good BG game with a story worthy of its name and impeccable mechanics, but because the aggressive sex marketing drew in lots of people with no interest in RPGs and no frame of reference about its quality who are only interested in Astarion/Shadowheart being hot while shouting over any requests for improvements to the actual game and story with demands for more kisses! and sex with Driders/other character!