Originally Posted by LiryFire
Originally Posted by papercut_ninja
How exactly does an option that allows another player to experience the ascended Astarion romance the way they interpret it infringe upon your experience if it's optional?

Infringe in that it doesn't stick together and has no basis in story.

Like, I don't mind the worried look on your face when Tav wants to part ways with Astarion after the tadpole disappeared and their eternal bond didn't. Though it's also not quite in the context of the story as it is with Spawn.
But the logic is consistent - break up, don't like something, sad.

But the kisses you click on after a night of passion? A particular meme is that it's done on the 14th of February, "love flies in the air". I don't think anything in the world would make me agree that this angst, torture in context and well written.

We have other evil paths and characters, if we only intrepret AA as scary, it's biased. Minathra isn't scary? I know some people intrapretise her that way. Add the "I don't like kissing" opition to everyone, well except the good characters I guess. And that would be really weird.

Options should have a story basis and take into context.

See, the point here is to avoid the very toxic discussions regarding ascended Astarion's story and character. Because those disagreements are causing so much resentment, if there are suggestions to solutions that could satisfy everyone, then they are not forcing either of the interpretations upon anyone else.

If there is only going to be one final set of kiss scenes, then something neutral that allows for different interpretations is the best solution.

If you could implement different sets depending on player choice - submissive, abusive, romantic or over-the-top-Gomez-Addams if you want, then you can just pick the set that you feel is the most cohesive to your interpretation of the story.