Forum:Racialised Romance?

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With Bioware talking of making the romance content of DA:I more complex than ever before in their games, and confirming that romance options will have a defined sexuality, I was wondering what are the chances of your player race impacting on romance? For example, Cullen seemed pretty anti-Qunari in DA2, it's certainly plausible for him not to pursue a romance with a Qunari Inquisitor. Of course this just might alter some dialogue and make the romance more angsty or whatever depending on context.

Might it seem more realistic to lock out certain races for some characters? Would an Elvhen companion fighting for his or her people really want to start something with a human?

Personally I think all races should be open for all companions, but with all the talk of creating more realistic and complex romances, this idea of some characters favoring their own race or only a few came to me as a plausibility.

Perhaps the best option is for the race to affect the type of romance - e.g. and Elvhen character would pursue a more traditional romance with another elf, but perhaps a more confrontational romance with a human.

So what do you think, should Bioware lock out certain races for romance options? or should they be left open? --86.147.31.169 (talk) 13:59, May 1, 2014 (UTC)

I see no reason for Bioware to avert the old potato that love conquers all. Especially since race was no obstacle to romance in Origins. As game developers go, Bioware are somewhat famous for being among the most progressive (if not the most progressive.) Within reason, anyway. It makes no sense to me that they'd suddenly up and reverse their stance on interracial relationships.

That said, I do see where you're coming from. If prejudice against a certain group is part of a character's background, it only makes sense that it should come up. Hell, it's just plain bad writing and even offensive not to. ("Normally I hate knife-ears, Inquisitor, but your sexy is just too overwhelming! Now let's forget all about me saying your race is good for nothing and go put some footprints on the ceiling!")

I don't believe that races should be locked out for romance, though why anyone would want someone who looks down on them is beyond me ("I love the way you think I'm sub-human, baby, let's go put some more footprints on the ceiling!"), but unfortunately it is depressingly realistic for someone to refuse possibly the best thing that ever happened to them because of their politics and prejudices. 14:48, May 1, 2014 (UTC)

^(hahaha that got me thinking about Fenris and my Female Mage Hawke) I am going to be REALLY unhappy if i find outmy female qunari mage cant romance the person she/i want to ,sure it may be more realistic and whatever but i dont like being blocked from options on a video game that ia all about customisation ,choices and playinghow you want to ,it just seems like a good way to lose a lot of certain fans.Blitzbear93 (talk) 15:54, May 1, 2014 (UTC)Blitzbear93

This is just a matter of personal taste, here, but I'd rather have characters remain realistic and true to themselves than be fluid with their nature for no real reason other than catering to the players whims. Like how you can't save Leandra, it's part of the story and that's just how it is. If you can't romance someone for whatever reason, that's part of the story and just how it is. There's other games that let you exercise complete control over characters and their love lives (like The Sims) but I believe the more control the player has over someone who's not the main character, the bigger the trade-off in plausibility. And I'll be honest, it's less satisfying. Like, for the sake of argument, if Casablanca were a Bioware game, and you could fix it so Ilsa leaves her husband and stays with Rick, or Rick and Renault become lovers instead. Sure, the player gets to have it left all up to them, but the story suffers for it. 19:44, May 1, 2014 (UTC)

The only races I see as a banned romance is a dwarf and qunari, more male qunari than female qunari because it would be, well I do t think I need to get into detail, but I can see a male or female dwarf with a female qunari more that a male or female dwarf with a male qunari because, you know. 64.90.137.2 18:00, May 1, 2014 (UTC)

Because the animators have so much trouble matching short and tall models? CLuhrsen (talk) 20:06, May 1, 2014 (UTC)

I think they mean, because nuzzle. Silver Warden (talk) 20:51, May 1, 2014 (UTC)

Ah, love can overcome any obstacle. This one in particular just requires a stepladder.

Unless you mean what I think you mean, in which case there's no reason to believe male qunari, um, eh, have trouble finding shorts that fit. For all we know they could have laughably small genitalia, like Russell Crowe. 21:19, May 1, 2014 (UTC)

Sten's remarks to Morrigan about Qunari sex implies that the males can go into some kind of lust-filled trance state, wherein they could unintentionally injure the other person if they are not physically sturdy enough to handle it. So hypothetically, a Qunari male could injure a non-Qunari during sex because of various physiological differences between races (bone strength, tendon/muscle strength, skin thickness, etc.). Even if the key fits, the lock could get shattered if someone slams the key into the lock with all their might. Of course, Sten could have been bsing Morrigan to get her to leave him alone, in which case Qunari sex could be no different than human/elf/dwarf sex.

As for size differences? Dwarves might be shorter than humans/elves, but they're just as wide, so... Silver Warden (talk) 03:29, May 2, 2014 (UTC)

^ XD thats amusing ,it was weird ths height distance between my dwarf female and Alistair in one od my playthroughs yet that still qorked out (looked odd though ,or they could just do what the did with Mass Effect, when Shep and Garrus or Shep and Thane....you know the player doesnt actually see what happens (unlike DA where you see some of what happens) and besides Ohgren commented on how he was juat the right size to show a human girl a good time qunari arent that much taller than humans really so i dont think itd be to much of a problem i think youd have more of a problem convincing a qunari to do ...that.Blitzbear93 (talk) 21:40, May 1, 2014 (UTC)Blitzbear93

As long as they don't make sex the ultimate goal of the romance, i'm fine with whatever path BW decides to go. Seriously, getting into relationship with a companion should elicit some extraordinary reaction from them. Like... taking an arrow for you or helping you manage your army or something. ANYTHING other than :" Hello my love, let's have sex before the final battle!" Jesus... enough with cheap porn lines. I bet Lisa Ann could write better romance.--Markurion (talk) 23:01, May 1, 2014 (UTC)

Unfortunately, spend about eight seconds on any anywhere from tumblr to deviantart to AO3 and it becomes rapidly apparent that sex between fictional characters is all that most fans seem to give a crap about. 13:38, May 2, 2014 (UTC)

Never thought of this but you're right, we the true geeks seem to be over fixated of fictionalized sex between our characters?? Maybe it's because the most vocal group of fans are the freaky oversexed teens (as in they want it but ain't getting it). Also, we have been taught that the true show of love to someone is sex so that's where they are going with sex scenes in games I think and I doubt they'll change it sometime soon 'cus it is embedded into our culture.--Dave The Maniac (talk) 14:48, May 2, 2014 (UTC)

Which is funny, when you think about it, because the most important relationships we have in life are usually not sexual. All relationships to other people shape and define us in one way or another, for better or worse, and yet sexual ones are in the minority. There's the relationships you have with your parents (or surrogate parents), grandparents, brothers, sisters, teachers, friends, enemies, rivals, bosses, subordinates, comrades, I really could go on and on. But every fandom seems to be strangely obsessed with making every relationship sexual in nature, often to the expense of a more interesting dynamic. Don't get me wrong, I'm no prude, but I find that attitude to be something worse than immature; namely a pitiful lack of imagination. 16:04, May 2, 2014 (UTC)

Yeah maybe it could be because the most vocal group of gamers are the guys who spend all their time on the internet, with a relation only with their fleshlight.--Dave The Maniac (talk) 16:15, May 2, 2014 (UTC)

That's only half of it. There may be a vocal group of male gamers who objectify female characters, but there's just as loud a group of female fans writing all the porn. 16:49, May 2, 2014 (UTC)

It's all because of Rule 34. The interwebz are largely anonymous, so any and every sexual desire will inevitably be expressed in one fashion or another. Fan-fic porn is just a small part of that. I can guarantee you there's porn on house flies and combs. (No I haven't looked.) There's also the fact that everyone's ultimate motivation for everything in life is either to get laid or get some food (or drug or other consumable substance). Everything else is either a means to one (or both) of those ends, or a way to repress them. Fan-fic porn (or just porn in general) can appeal to anyone who isn't getting laid 24/7.

And if you think about it, wanting to bang a fictional character is no less disturbing than wanting to slaughter thousands of nameless soldiers/zombies/aliens/robots/darkspawn. And not only do we actually get to see that happen, we take part in the action. I don't have any problem with extreme violence or sex being depicted in any medium, but complaining about and/or trying to censor the latter when in real life the former is infinitely worse is just baffling. Silver Warden (talk) 18:31, May 2, 2014 (UTC)

I just think that the focus on sex we have in this world is baffling, yes it is great to get laid but it's not everything in life and certainly not the focus of being in a relationship. TBW, ask around in the chat and I'm no prude... just thinking aloud.--Dave The Maniac (talk) 19:07, May 2, 2014 (UTC)

You're right, though, especially when you said above how we're bombarded by the media with the message that sex is the goal of any relationship and true sign of love. Pffffft. If that were remotely true, one night stands would be marriages. Personally I think the goal and truest sign of love is trust. Practically speaking, just about anybody can have sex with anyone else. Not everybody can trust, and not just anybody can be trusted. Raidenshred (talk) 19:32, May 2, 2014 (UTC)

You're not wrong. Heh, it's actually quite refreshing to encounter someone more cynical about human behaviour than myself. Of course, I can't speak for others, but my reasons for wanting to play DA (or other games, for that matter) weren't for the purposes of simulated slaughter. I play games for the same reasons I watch movies or read books; an entertaining story. Games have an advantage of being more immersive. If Bioware tried to sell me DA as all the shagging and slaughter I could stomach, I'd have passed. Though I admit I'd probably be in the minority there, since there's no arguing that sex sells and violence is a narcotic. Of course, censorship is worse. Let something stand on its own merits (or lack of them), I believe, and let individuals decide for themselves about it. If it results in a mad scramble for the lowest common denominator, it's an unsurprising pity, but not a race to the bottom I have to take part in. 19:25, May 2, 2014 (UTC)

Lol finally someone that plays games for the same reason I do... dude you get a thumbs up!!!--Dave The Maniac (talk) 19:59, May 2, 2014 (UTC)

If it makes sense for a character to have a preference for or against a certain race then I'm all for it. I don't think it should be implemented just for the sake of it though. Rayvio (talk) 03:26, May 2, 2014 (UTC)

In Thedas there is more racism playing in affect for romantic relationships. elves primary concern is reproduction and continuation of their species. Therefore the elves view interracial relationships as betrayals, as half elven children will look primary as the partner's race than elf. It also rules same sex relationships impractical, for such unions do not produce elven children. The Dwarves are a proud race that have a superior view of themselves. It's also shown that have a hard time reproducing with their own kind, therefore making it harder to mate with other races. Plus they are also an traditionalist culture, likely not will to accept new people into influence their culture. The Qunari on the other try not to infuse emotions with reproduction. They bred only certain people to together to get the best results from offspring. The humans just view other races as inferior, making social mores that discourage unions with other races.