jack1974
Dec 02, 2012
Hmm true that poses an interesting question indeed, because other people in forums a while ago complained about the presence of the "(Romance)" text, since they said that the game was too easy with it (probably people coming from my dating sims games!). However is also true that without a clear indication of the romance choices (like it's present in Dragon Age for example, beside Loren) is easy to trigger unwanted cutscenes...
AokoKaze
Dec 02, 2012
Maybe you could have only the initial romantic option labeled "Romance"? Selecting that would start you down the romantic path with that character, after which you'd have to make the correct choices to progress the romance without guidance. That would allow people to avoid unwanted cut scenes (just don't pick that initial romance option) while also allowing for some difficulty in winning the selected person over.
jack1974
Dec 03, 2012
That could be a good solution indeed! thanks
Sylrissa
Dec 03, 2012
That is a nice idea there Aoko, picking the romance path the first time, could set trigger a flag.
I always found the big (Romance) sticking out like a sore thumb, a bit too easy and a little immersion breaking.
jack1974
Dec 03, 2012
Yes, using this system only in the beginning the (Romance) text would appear, and then if you accept the romance it would no longer appear in future choices, while if you reject the romance, the romance choices wouldn't appear at all. Of course you would be able to screw up the romance later even if you accepted picking wrong choices
AokoKaze
Dec 03, 2012
Yeah, it was a bit immersion breaking for me too. But there should be something, if only to avoid situations like the infamous "I accidentally slept with Jack" incident in Mass Effect 2. Glad my idea is tenable. Since what I know about coding could fit into a very small thimble, I wasn't at all sure. ^_^'
Nighteye
Dec 04, 2012
I made sure to mark every flirt with "Romance" so that people specifically wouldn't claim they accidentally did anything. Draco does compliment your appearance and you have the option to turn him down or be flattered, but that is the only thing I can think of. But that's something I won't be removing but probably actually including more of, as discussed earlier about characters flirting with you before you flirt with them. And also I will be replacing the "Joking/Forceful/Romance" options with actual lines of dialogue ... But I'll probably keep the "(Romance)" tag just to make doubly sure that picky people have nothing to complain about.
That was one occasion, yes. I chose to be flattered by it, but only in a non-romantic way. Draco had different thoughts about it. It also happened with Amukiki in a different scene, but I don't recall which one.
Making compliments isn't always with romantic intentions...
Aleema
Dec 04, 2012
I'll make sure to highlight the romantic options better, but offering a way to turn off homosexuality altogether isn't something I'm interested in. But the final decision lies with Jack. I don't really see why we'd go through the effort if we can make the start of the romance clear enough.
jack1974
Dec 05, 2012
No, nobody wants to turn off homosexuality completely from the games! I think is fair to just make sure that people have more control - this could also involve characters someone doesn't like, so doesn't depends on homosexuality but simply on people's tastes. Let's say a lady playing hates Rei (wooth!! could that ever happen?!) or Amukiki, and wants to make sure to never accidentally trigger romances with him
Or simply replaying the game for the 7th times, maybe she has already seen Rei romance and want to cut off early the romance scenes to save replaying time (even if with skipping option is not a big deal, but...)
Aleema
Dec 05, 2012
It's redundant, is what I was saying. If we're going to work hard so that you can't trigger romances you don't want through dialogue, why build an option system to pick which ones you want in the game menu as well? Besides that, I remember reading a lot of comments about how players tried new sexualities in the original game that they otherwise wouldn't have. Think about what they would have missed if you gave the opportunity to erase those stories from their game from the beginning.
I also resent how this feature was conceived from hate for BxB content.
Sorry I'm being argumentative, this is the last I'll say.
biscuit
Dec 05, 2012
I understand the idea of a (Romance) tag to help narrow down or nip options in the bud, but I actually sort of like being approached once in a while. Example: even though you have to flag Chambara's romance to get it to begin, her aggressive pursuit of the main character was a nice contrast to how the relationships with Loren or Amukiki (just pulling the examples I've played...) either felt as if they simply 'evolved' or that my character was chasing a bit.
Franka
Dec 05, 2012
I don't want you to censor any of the characters' personalities. If it's in Chambara's personality to aggressively push her sexuality onto the object of her desire, then she should do so, and it's simply up to the player how to react to it. If it's in Draco's personality to give romantic compliments to the person he's fallen for, then he should do so, and again it's up to the player how to react.
How they would then react in the future after being told to go jump into a bottomless pit should also depend on their personality. Chambara might be edged on, Draco might jump into that pit, and so on...
jack1974
Dec 05, 2012
Thanks for all the opinions! I don't want to censor anything (more the opposite, I'm against censorship as you can imagine
).
Is a delicate matter but what Aleema said is true though, that some players might never have tried other sexualities if there wasn't the option in game. I think there's a big difference: if a unwanted romance scene triggers is one thing, but just a "flirty scene" shouldn't be a big deal. I'm a straight male but some scenes with Draco were just fantastic to read and honestly would have been a pity to miss them. Same reason, if is a character that takes the initiative (like Chambara mentioned above) it would effectively mean censoring her personality.
So I think won't use that system after all, too many downsides. Those who accidentally stumble in a unwanted flirty scene can just use the fast skip option if they want
Sylrissa
Dec 05, 2012
Oh of course, I am completely against censorship, I guess when I read tag, I thought of it like in Mass effect, when I would talk with Kaiden and you could if you choose the right option, join in talking about Liara and your interest in her, and he would get the idea.
I would never want anyone to have to cut or censor any of their work. (also agreed, the Draco scenes were incredible and some of the best in the game imo, though my fave still has to be Chamby's ones)
jack1974
Dec 05, 2012
Ah no, that's different from what was originally proposed. That could be a smart way to handle it indeed, though wouldn't work in every occasion like in the examples above if there are characters like Chambara who like to take the initiative themselves.
I also understand that sometimes you might make a compliment to a person of the same sex without any second intention, like two gladiators respecting each other for their skills, not necessarily are attracted to each other.
There's still lot of time before the game gets written, so if you have any suggestion feel free to post them. Though ultimately I prefer not to force too much my writers by putting them too much constraints when they write. As I said just a simple flirty scene, even if the player didn't mean to see it, is not a big deal.
If you could "accidentally unlock a romance ending you don't want" now that would be weird, more like a bug
Sylrissa
Dec 05, 2012
Ah no, that's different from what was originally proposed. That could be a smart way to handle it indeed, though wouldn't work in every occasion like in the examples above if there are characters like Chambara who like to take the initiative themselves.
I also understand that sometimes you might make a compliment to a person of the same sex without any second intention, like two gladiators respecting each other for their skills, not necessarily are attracted to each other.
There's still lot of time before the game gets written, so if you have any suggestion feel free to post them. Though ultimately I prefer not to force too much my writers by putting them too much constraints when they write. As I said just a simple flirty scene, even if the player didn't mean to see it, is not a big deal.
If you could "accidentally unlock a romance ending you don't want" now that would be weird, more like a bug
Ah okay, I totally read that wrong the first time then, as you and Aleema are very right.
If I think up any decent ideas, i'll leave them here for sure!
Nightsnow
Dec 05, 2012
With characters who take the initative the solution would be to have the option to permentantly rebuff them at the characther's first flirt.
That is not saying that the characters (if they are a natural flirt or/and just contrary and like to provoke) shouldn't keep flirting, but mechanically the player doesn't get 'heart points' anymore so nobody end up kissing someone by accident.
biscuit
Dec 05, 2012
Nightsnow: OK, I think I understand a bit better now. I agree with that.
SpectralTime
Dec 06, 2012
I DO sorta think that, assuming the player gets hit on by a character besides their love interest, that they have a "let them down easy" option rather than a "God no! I hate you!" option or a "What? Homophobic rage!" option.
jack1974
Dec 06, 2012
Yes of course the rejection would be something soft/easy. Maybe even funny, do you remember the lines spoken by Ramas if you try romance with him? I totally laughed reading those
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