I've noticed some strange issues with the facial expressions that kind of take me out of the immersion throughout the game. Not only with the face expressions but with some of the poses / movements that our character makes, too.
An example for the illogical faces that sticks out in my mind is during one of the dreams with the Emperor late in the game, where
as a Dark Urge, the Emperor starts talking about Bhaal's plan, and the camera shifts to my Durge where she's got this insane, evil smile spread across her face, even though I was playing the "resist" path the whole time. That evil smile is so out of place here that it's comical.
It's not just with my own character, but also the fact that our companions copy our character's facial expressions at times, and it looks very weird or inappropriate.
Case in point:
![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/rpcwyBBW/EvilGale.png)
^Gale's face here makes it look like he's having the same evil daydreams as DU, lol.
(Evil Gale unlocked)
Haha, the evil Gale looks really funny! But, that scene you described really breaks the immersion. Still, you want to laugh while playing in situations that are funny in the story, not because your character has a completely inappropriate facial expression that makes a serious situation comical. And in some moments the opposite happens, for example, Astarion makes some funny sarcastic joke, I laugh heartily, and my Tav frowns his eyebrows, looks at Astarion judgmentally, as if he said something he shouldn't have said. The emotion, "Get that bore off the screen, Astarion don't look at her, it's not true!" is also not conducive to immersion and becomes a drop of tar in the honey barrel of Astarion's awesome humor. Of course, the problem with the fact that the character makes a crazy smile when not necessary, or frowns in really funny moments, is due to the fact that all players are different and differently perceive and roleplay these or those situations, but the facial expressions are the same for all. As a result, it turns out that the character as if not yours, you have to look from the outside, and not immersed in the story, the most unpleasant in this - when it feels as if they try to impose you an emotion or attitude to the situation. In other RPGs, where animated scenes and dialogs with companions are also present, we mostly see the interlocutor during the dialog, and I don't remember having problems with my character's emotions and reactions. Such frequent switching to a player-controlled character is more typical for interactive novels, but there the hero is not our alter ego, but a pre-defined character with his own appearance, character and reactions, and the game does not provide full immersion, but rather "story driving", and the pre-defined reactions look quite organic. Maybe the games of the future will add special keys to select the character's emotions, that would be a great idea to keep the immersion and not mix RPG with novella.
I agree it would be much preferable to have an expression on our character's face that expresses pleasure and delight during the kisses. That's what kisses normally would elicit, esp. if you're asking for them again and again. I want to add that I'd also like there to be more opportunities to show AA love in general. Having the option for my character to tell him she loves him, reinforce her devotion, tell him that she still cares for him as a person after ascension... just as examples. Since we can do the opposite to him and insult him, I think we should also be able to show our support and our love. Right now it feels a bit lacking to me in that way.
Yes! This is categorically lacking. Lots of opportunities to antagonize or insult Astarion, some lines just make me angry, I wish I could learn at least some basics of modding so I could erase them from my game and they wouldn't be an eyesore. Yes, you shouldn't be angry for something you never choose, but such an unfair imbalance, when there are opportunities for "it" but no opportunity to show your love, is certainly not the best approach to in-game romance. In the main story of the game, there are no such problems - there are plenty of options for lines and choices, and I have no problems with roleplaying in the main story. Some lines I may never choose either, but unlike some of the frankly annoying lines and actions in the romance line, I can't remember a single "bad" line from the main plot, simply because there are choices there, there's a balance, and what you don't like among those choices just slips by, doesn't make you focus on it, isn't memorable, and what you like and what you choose as a result is memorable. In Astarion romance, especially post-Ascension, unfortunately this imbalance in favor of negative options is all too apparent. And pleasure and delight during kissing could fix this, level this imbalance, make the game better, happier and warmer for the player. And of course, I would really like to have at least one good line to express my true attitude, my true feelings towards Astarion after Ascension.
I think this speaks to the loss of trust that many of us (myself included) suffered due to what happened in the last patch, unfortunately. Rather than excitement, it's sad that many of us now have to feel worried and anxious about anything new that might get added to the AA romance path, in case it tries to push that same unhappy sentiment again.
It shouldn't be the norm. It can't be the norm and never has been, not in any RPG with romance options. It may be some variation, but the norm and the main line for romance has always been love. Love, beauty, loyalty, tenderness, happiness - these are what people usually associate romantic relationships with. It's what we expect from relationships in the game, what we feel, what we believe in. And when all of that is suddenly shattered, of course, a person can't believe anymore. Just like one can't trust a friend who has suddenly betrayed. But fortunately, the game can always be improved, erasing the bad and replacing it with good. Happy faces for our characters in kisses, I think this is exactly the step the studio could take towards the players, a step towards trust.
