Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Adult content in BG3

You described the Minthara scene, that sweet drow on halfling action.

Again, all this is proving is that sex in the game can hurt the game more than help it. All my personal feelings aside, if the game is good, it doesn't need it. If not, it isn't worth playing anyway.

And if sex in the game isn't done right, it is going to only make the game less appealing to players.

So, like I've said before, no sex, bigger potential audience. Sex in game, more likely to limit audience.

I just googled the Minthara romance scene. Looks spicy.

It's early access, let's give them a bit time. Apart from that, I think possible sex scenes will be no more than those in Witcher. Which were tame.

META: Could we maybe instead of locking the whole topic just remove some of the offending posts (give posters a timeout if you're inclined to) and let the original topic continue? It seems unfortunate to let a mostly interesting post get nuked due to a few posts.

Hey guys, what's going on in this thread? Hope you don't mind if I smoke.

Well quite. Temporarily closed for housekeeping.

Edit: done. Let's not bring up that stuff again, please. And no sniping; next person who does that gets uninvited.

Random thought, could something added to moderation just block individuals from posting in a specific topic instead of blocking them from the forums entirely? Could remove individuals from a topic that proves to be problematic for them to engage with without removing them from other discussions?

Honestly, seeing as how this discussion went, I kinda want to ask what would be considered "acceptable" for Sex Scenes in the game? I don't mean what kind of partners or sexual acts, but more how would people prefer it presented, if it must be presented, other than the "Not at All" side of things cause that does answer itself. Like would people prefer a fade to black, fully animated erotica with anatomically correct organs, foreplay only, fade to black with written description of the actions narrated by the narrator, etc etc?

For me, I'd be fine with a fade to black but I'd like to see the characters to engage with meaningful foreplay, as in foreplay where it is important to the characters and their bond, something that can actually be analyzed from a literary perspective, and then maybe some narration of the important emotional bits, don't really want or need the actual intercourse to be described, just what it means for the characters and their relationship.

Definitely not that last one. Visual sex scenes can be useful for purposes other than porn; you see the characters' expressions, them bonding, etc. But a narrated or text-only description of sexual encounters just seems gratuitous and like the goal is erotica.

This would be better than narration of the actual intercourse, but I feel like this is what the after-sex scenes are for. The couple is laying together after sex and through their body language and dialogue (maybe internal thoughts for the PC, probably more applicable to Origin characters) you can learn what it means for the characters.

Alternatively, ^ can be presented in dialogue the morning/days after sex.

I honestly don't know what the issue is, the scenes are BARELY rated "R" content. It is not like this is some waifu sex scene.

I remember in enemy at the gates, there was a sex scene and it was in no way "sexy" but actually a moving moment of companionship between two people stuck in an impossible situation. I do believe sex can be used as a narrative tool ,but often it's just relegated to titillation, which is currently the case in BG3 for sure. It's "i hate you, i hate you, OMG LETS BANG"

If you are going to put it in the game, take the time to do it well! Thinking that you can just throw in some porn is an insult to porn actors, actresses, and directors everywhere. Like all forms of art, it requires effort and dedication to master, and just putting it in to satisfy a focus group will suck.

I'd prefer they put the time and effort elsewhere, but if they must do it, then do it well.

I personally like the idea of it being text based with some narration, I believe there's already a element of that in the EA. But I've also played games where the "sex scenes" are treated more as an obligatory value-add, that made me just want to skip through it, I'm thinking ME:Andromeda, a game I never cared to play through more than once and whose characters I struggled to connect with (with no help from Ryder's acting). So I understand people who are taken out by a clunkily written and awkward interaction they don't feel the game earned, if they get a fade-to-black option, fine.

Edit: that said if Larian actually adds character choices during the scenes, that add to your and your companions characterization, and carry through to the rest of the game; first, great; second, you can't leave that stuff in an option section.

I'm sorry, but again, there is romance and then there is sex. Romance can lead to sex, but sex does not mean romance is taking place. Likewise, intimacy does not necessarily mean sex either. Two people can share very tender, open and meaningful moments together without having sex. Sex, when done right, is the ultimate and deepest level of romance and intimacy; becoming as one physically.

This said, most intimacy moments can be played out in a video game without an actual sex scene. It doesn't have to show two people making out, one climbing on the other, clothes being removed, or whatever. As some have stated, this is really hard to do well in a video game anyway. So, you don't need a steamy sex scene in a video game to show vulnerability, etc.

Again, I thought BG2 did rather well with Jaheira's romance. She expressed her vulnerability through dialogue with the MC. You couldn't even see animations of her face or inflections or anything, but you could feel it in the voice actress' voice. It was in the dialogue itself that you began to feel Jaheira's pain and such. Sure, her romance led up to a moment when you could agree to have sex with her, but there was no need for any kind of graphic representation of it.

So, I do think that romance scenes in the game would make the game more emotionally stimulating. I think one of the things BG3 is lacking is that Larian needs to draw players in more and get them to fall in love with the origin characters. We need more comradery. We need to feel more like the part is a group of friends by the time the Celebration event occurs. In order to do that, we need more intimate dialogue between the characters. And I don't mean romantic intimacy. I mean one-on-one dialogues that are more heart-felt and interesting. These need to help the players connect more and care more for the characters.

Actually, I find that Astarion is probably the closest one to this currently. I really felt more connected to him after the dialogue about how I would prefer to die and especially after he mentioned how Casador always like to toy with people too. He's probably my favorite origin character just because I like his smart-butt attitude and sense of humor. I do wish he didn't disapprove of every good choice you make, but he is a bit more of an evil character, so I get it.

But the point is that each character needs to have more that draws you in and makes you like them. Then, when it comes to romance, we need the player to trigger it so that they can romance whoever they want and not be romanced by the others. I don't want Wyl hitting on me when I feel more like he's a bro and we should be kicking back and just joking around together as opposed to him wanting to share a bunk with me. Likewise, some have expressed that they don't like Lae'zel and find her repulsive, so I'm sure they don't like her proposition as much as I don't like it. (And I like Lae'zel and would like to know more about her character. I'm telling you. There's more to her.)

Then, as you get more flirty dialogue with the one you are romancing (or more than one if that's your cup of tea), then things lead to more scenes with just the two of you down by the river or whatever sitting and joking and flirting. Then maybe showing a more innocent kiss. Then maybe the next time it is more of the two sharing a glance with one another as they are sitting around the campfire with the rest of the party. The two then slip away one at a time so no one really notices...or maybe they do. Maybe one party member watches one of you go and smiles knowingly to the others. The two romantic individuals find a moment off in the small alcove across the log at camp. One pushes the other up against the wall and they share a bit of passion there. But it is kept brief to indicate it hasn't been taken to THAT level yet. The next time fade to black. All of these things being triggered by the player so that they can take it to the level they want to take it to.

Then the relationship indicator could change to Lover or something once you have reached the full blown relationship level. If they really wanted to, they could then incorporate jealousy in the party between individuals, like how Aerie and Jaheira were fighting over the MC. I mean, if they did it right, they could really make the romances interesting and more fun and not so much 0 to 60 sex, and it should span out beyond Early Access if necessary. I mean, I get that you have a tadpole in your heads and you might move a bit quicker than a standard relationship, but it shouldn't feel so rushed.

I even think Lae'zel's romance could be way more interesting. Instead of offering herself to you at the Celebration, I just thought she'd be way more tough to crack. She doesn't like feeling vulnerable, so I would think that she'd be fighting any feelings she might have for the MC. I was thinking it would be far more interesting for her to resist sex with the MC until after her character is broken or something more substantial. Maybe the party visits her creche and learns that they are just going to kill her too and there is no cure. Then everything she has believed in is a lie. Even after that, after she breaks down and shares with the MC her shattered hopes and dreams, then I figured it'd be better if she fought it all the more. Part of her doesn't like being so vulnerable with you, so she resists any deeper connection in spite of her attraction. Little by little, she is whittled down until she can no longer handle it. She THEN loses it and throws herself at you, after she's been thoroughly pushed to the point of breaking.

I mean, it doesn't have to be that, exactly, but something more than just, "You killed goblin leaders. You make me hot. Let's do it." So boring and lame, vulgar and crass and pointless.

Even Astarion's could be more enticing. Him just saying, "I mean sex, Darling," is just not sexy. If he was feeling some appetite for such things, why not have a scene at the celebration where it shows you moving off by yourself and Astarion is suddenly there, coming out of the shadows. He then tries to smooth talk you, using wit and flare to try to entice you to do things with him.

Shoot! Even if Lae'zel did that on Celebration night, that would be better than simply approaching her in the middle of the party and having her say she wants to do things with you. There's no romance in that at all. There's got to be some sort of seduction. Right now it's just uninteresting and like the party members are asking you to go hang out at the mall as opposed to being max level intimate with them.

You just want to rewrite everything to your own preferences. I can assure you in the real world people like Laezel exist, and they don't even share a life or death encounter, they just happen to be at the bar during closing. There's therefore nothing objective in that entire analysis.

You might think it's vulgar and crass, but others think that just bonking is fine. Doesn't always mean nothing either, plenty of relationships start with sex and move on the the rest of it over time.

I don't think the celebration scenes are meant to be romantic, they're meant to be casual liaison between people physically attracted to each other after a period of heightened emotions (i.e. the climax of the grove/goblin conflict)
I agree with you in so much as the celebration scene feels a little disjointed, mostly because they seem to exist in their own continuity, there is little to reference your characters relationship throughout Act 1 beyond which side you chose.

I just want to point out that the most ADULT thing you can do in this video game is maybe NOT date your co-workers.

I reject everybody, not because I am prude, but because I am the boss and I don't want us to wind up in the D&D equivalent of HR. :P

Hey remember when actual erotica found its way into the Elder Scrolls games, I just thought of that for some reason.

Ah whatever. The "romances" as they are called are boring, meaningless, and pointless. They have no purpose. There is no fun to them at all. They are like going to the doctor and having him examine you. They are very sterile and out of place and you pick someone like you are in the grocery store, and the moment is over and the game moves on.

That is my point. I was trying to give an example, not saying I wanted it exactly like I said. The point is that there is nothing interesting at all about any character relationship. There is no character connections at all.