My apologies; I know this has been discussed before. There is a somewhat similar thread at the first page regarding Halsin advances, but it's not about him, it's not even so much about Shadowheart's character, but how this particular decision is still affecting a group of
players who took the most popular romance route and are being mocked by both the creative decision and the community.
Things would be so much easier if she would tell you that she is into open relationships from the very beginning, but she said otherwise, and that was a lie. Being lied like that is offensive to many players. It is offensive for those who wanted mono route; I believe it is offensive for lesbians, as they have horny man trying to insert himself into the established relationship, but their LI, somehow, more than fine with this; It is offensive to poly as well, as they were deceived just the same, being told by Shadowheart that she is not into it the first two acts.
We were blatantly deceived, and I believe we have every right to be offended.
I feel like I was lured into a trap, as I was told by Shadowheart that she doesn't want to be a spare lover, and I believed her. I love Love, and I played as a commited and loyal character, only to stumble upon that flirty banter between Shadowheart and Halsin, that is happening regardless of your choices. She never expressed a will to open the relationship, nor did you, yet she is more than willing to accept it. Then I found out what kind of things she is admitting in those scenes you have avoided, and it stings being aware of that. I try to ignore it, try to tell myself that this content is pretty much avoidable, but even if this never happened in your playthrough, it's there, and you know now what she is thinking about
a lot, what she is dreaming about.
Emotional affair is a real thing, it hurts a lot in real life and it leads to dire consequences.
I can't avoid this part of content even if the game is not launched, as there are a lot of posts like [LINK TO POST REMOVED BY MODERATOR] keeps appearing. it's just one of many examples. You can find easily lots of other examples, or just wait for a couple of days on reddit or any other forum, similar posts will most likely pop-up somewhere, some are upvoted, others, like this, don't, it depends. And I have noticed, that when people, who wants to disagree with sudden character change and raise this issue, their concerns are usually demeaned and insulted by other users who are on board with this change or just try to gloat over another group of players. They have been called names, made assumptions on their character and on themselves IRL, but they just cared about characer's arc. Just look at the comments in the similar posts, many of them are even upvoted. In the best case scenario, they would get a response like "Lol, you got too worked up about pixels, she is not real, go touch a grass, lol". She may be not, but
the time, emotional and financial investment in the game is pretty much real.
Narrator: You are living a mundane life in the town, with the war a constant, looming presence on the news and in everyday conversations, the air is heavy with tension. You've found refuge in the world of immersive Fantasy RPG that has become your escape. The real world fading away as you put on your headset. You feel the familiar rush of excitement, ready to dive into the virtual realm and leave your troubles behind.
Narrator: This game has become your sanctuary, a place where you can be someone else and make a difference. Your party consists of interesting characters with their own complex stories. Even though the story touches dark and serious topics, it, unfortunately, stikes a chord with you and you feel connected to the fictional characters even more, genuinely care about their story. You have listened to your friends, the media, and everyone praised the studio that made this game. You are so moved, you have bought ALL of their games onto your account. You believe they would never betray a player's trust.
Narrator: "Want something nasty?", your companion, palladin JC, asked with unsettling smirk, not fitting his established character. You decided to not to tempt the fate. But curiosity is not a sin, and you decide to see on YouTube, what would happen if you have agreed. The sting of the slap echoes through your screen, and you feel a mix of shock and betrayal. Even though you did not agree, you still feel suspicious when your virtual friend and companion is around, knowing he is not above hurting your character.
Narrator: You have decided to look up the various forums online, if anyone is bothered by the sudden character transformation. Forums are filled with users justifying the paladin's actions, saying it was all in good fun or that your character was asking for it. "Let the palladin have fun", "Can you blame him?", "You could have easily avoided by saying 'No' or not bringing him to your camp", "Must be a day ending in 'Y', someone whining about it again", "Imagine being so fragile, you got offended by the video game character", "Well your character must be warlock, and you have a punchable face", "This game is clearly not for you".
Narrator: The pain from the virtual slap is a reminder that even in your escapades, you can't truly escape the cruelty of the world. You don't have a place anywhere in the world, whether it's real, or even virtual. You ask yourself: "Am I really that fragile and pathetic?". But you already know the answer.
I am sorry, just wanted to vent out my frustration and speak out in defence of other players. Do we really deserve this treatment?
