I'm not including Chambara and Mesphit since they'll be available in the expansion. When that one is out, might update this poll. Indeed I allowed "re-voting" meaning that you can change your mind later if you want

It's mostly a thing doing for fun, but will also help me and the writer to understand what is more popular amongst the players. So if we see a particular kind of personality/situation is very popular, we'll try to do something along the same lines in future games, and so on.



Even if I'm the author, I have my preferences too. I voted Loren - Saren, even if it was a *very* close call with Saren - Myrth. But Loren - Saren is really wonderful IMHO. It might be for the atypical situation, you being a slave, and she is your mistress, but seeing her change her point of view and attitude towards Saren,

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and late in the game, towards all the slaves, is something that goes beyond the classic love archetype

(hope I wrote what correctly lol).



Favorite moments:

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During the injured leg scene:

saren: "Kill me, if you must. I won't ignore your pain, even if you chose to."

"Saren stared at the floor in the next moment, unsure of what would come next. When nothing happened immediately, he feared the worst."

loren "You think ... I would kill you? For this?"

"Saren looked up and saw Loren's pained expression."

...

"Especially since he thought that, as a man, he would have never have had the privilege to touch her. He reached his hand out to her leg."

"Loren shivered in anticipation just before he touched her skin."

"Saren's fingertips brushed against the top of Loren's foot as he softly placed he hand on her ankle and glided it slowly upwards, searching her leg for trauma. Loren's eyes closed, but not from pain."

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If you were a Palace Guard (during character creation):

"Loren could not help but remember the day her life was saved by a nameless slave. She had broken out of the castle and spurned her studies, but turned down the wrong alley or took the wrong street ... the people there did not care who she was."

"Her one sword was knocked from her hands, young Loren knew fear for the first time, and vowed to always have a spare."

"She was saved by a man before she was attacked by the low-lifes. That man ... was Saren."

"Loren sat down on the ground in the middle of the forest, finally letting her memories flood her."



I particularly like this one since shows that already when Loren was young, Saren was looking for her, protecting her.

There are more of course, including the final romance scene. Those are just the ones I liked mostly. There's also a new one really cool that Aleema just wrote, but since is not available yet I don't want to spoil the fun even with a spoiler tag!!

Well, we're probably the only 2 who have played the full romance arcs (maybe Anima too), so we can vote more confidently, and it's like picking my favorite child here, but ... I think Rei is the most satisfying to me. You can see his different layers throughout his arc, I hope. I wouldn't say he matures per se, but you learn that his brash behavior is him masking how he really feels [color=#FFFFFF]and loneliness[/color]. The guy does have a healthy sex drive, but that's not automatically a bad thing.



I could vote for all the romances here, I just feel Rei has a nasty rep already, so I wanted to defend him for a moment.

Yes probably too early to vote right now for most people, since some final scenes can really change the mind about a romance I easily imagine Rei becoming the most popular character amongst female players though!

Amukiki! I love him with both Saren and Elenor. If he didn't exist it would be hard to choose because I really love Saren/Draco and Elenor/Karen a tiny bit more, but I can't choose which one. All the romances are interesting, but Amukiki made me squeal (on the inside) like a school girl (womanly and on the inside) so far. I'm looking forward to finishing the game to see if my opinion changes and of course the expansions when Chambara and Mesphit are available.

Rei is winning for the moment XD I had no doubts… At least from my experience with fandoms, girls like that type of character a lot. I guess there's a special feeling to make the womanizer fall for that one special girl. I had a few romantic scenes with him because I wanted to try out all of Elenor romances… Even if I wanted to make an exclusively lesbian Elenor. He kinda won me over (but I'll aim for the amazon queens, of course I won't settle with less!).Btw, there was a scene where she feels jealous of Mirth when she sees him too close to Rei… Did I get this scene because I already had hearts with him? Now I'm confused if I got the heart before or after that scene /o But I liked the banter between him and her. The haugthy type that refuses to fall for the guy straight away works in that kind of setting, I think, and it makes it out to be an interesting story. Now, I know Saren isn't an option for Rei, but I enjoyed their talks as well XD (I don't know if they were specific, though, Elenor can have those talks too and I didn't realize; but Saren was my first character to play as, so…)



I'm not interested much in BxG as I'm in… all the rest, but I gotta confess Myrth won me over. She was shyer than I thought to be possible with that… leaf covering XD She was adorable. I found myself flirting with her as well! (then I had to backlog because I didn't want Amukiki getting jealous XD) Amukiki was my favorite romance so far, though. I loved how noble he was… I would pin the barbarian to be, well, more barbarian, but he was stoic and heroic. Amukiki, even being trained his whole life to behold the sword, stepped out very gracefully for Loren. I really enjoyed how childish was Saren's behavior in comaprison; their banter was fun as well XD And the budding respect between them was honest and cool.



I think the only love interest I didn't find myself curious about was Draco. Poor kid, though XD I felt too maternal towards him in the end.

I guess there's a special feeling to make the womanizer fall for that one special girl.

Yup, basically.

Btw, there was a scene where she feels jealous of Mirth when she sees him too close to Rei… Did I get this scene because I already had hearts with him?

I'm not entirely following the she's and him's in that sentence. Could you clarify more?



You're right about Amukiki being not as "barbarian" as you would expect. His history will be more explored in the expansion. There's a lot of development that I'm planning on and already consider part of the characters, but you guys aren't privy to it, yet. ;_;

I guess since Amukiki has been living for years in the human empire capitol of Grimoire, he learned to be more "polite" (can't find a better term right now). But I can imagine him like a wild beast ready to attack if someone threatens his honor / code of rules

Karen... I'm in love with Karen. I don't know why, must be something of her sprite. But I find her more attractive than Loren! (I know will be killed for saying this...)

uasgduwgd I should pay more attention to what I write pffff. What I meant was: "Elenor felt jealous of Myrth when Myrth was talking to Rei." That was when she discovered they were relatives.



And mannn now I can't wait for the expansion ever more. I was already eager for Chambara and Mesphit, but now more info on Amukiki?! I'm sold <3

Karen +1. The mom factor and the last lover barely being cold make the path feel seriously wrong, but it's a wrong path I'll take all day. Tough, mature, and wonderfully vulnerable. The rafter scene is game, set, and match.

Karen... I'm in love with Karen. I don't know why, must be something of her sprite. But I find her more attractive than Loren! (I know will be killed for saying this...)

I would have enjoyed romancing Karen also, but I see why she would be reluctant to get involved again so soon...



However, given that the back-story *shows* she likes guys, I think it was a questionable design decision to allow the FxF and not the FxM romance option.



Karen looks like late-30s while Loren looks like she is 18... I wouldn't say she is "more" attractive, but sometimes a well cared for classic is more appealing than a new car fresh off the lot. After all, the seat is probably more comfortable and some of the "new car" problems will have already been fixed by the prior owner... Older cars are also usually involve lower cosmetic maintenance and in general are a better value...



But we aren't really talking about cars, now are we... :>

At the top for me is Loren with both Elenor and Saren. I'm a sucker for the defrosting ice queen type. Second would be Amukiki for Saren (and close with Elenor). I like the way the romance progresses and Amukiki is a pretty admirable character, in some ways the most interesting of the cast so far. For Elenor though, second place goes to Karen. She is slightly tragic and trapped by her culture, but wow, what a smooth operator when it comes to romance. It just struck me that her romantic style is very similar to Rei's. I find it charming with her and ... not so charming with Rei (a little sexist perhaps).

Myrth was a little too shy for my tastes. If she had been the only love interest, I would have been disappointed. Draco is similar. He's a little too passive for my taste. I mostly felt sorry for him.

I followed the romance path with Rei like someone taking vile medicine they know is good for them. It was mostly an obsessive desire to try all the paths. And yet, and yet the opportunity Rei offers for Elenor to reconnect with her elvish heritage seems priceless.

So at the end, when the time comes to make choice, I feel like the PC will be giving up something important if they reject Loren, Amukiki, Karen, or even Rei. I don't feel that way with Myrth and Draco.

All the romance seem well written and there is plenty of real variety in character types, so congratulations

Karen... I'm in love with Karen. I don't know why, must be something of her sprite. But I find her more attractive than Loren! (I know will be killed for saying this...)

I would have enjoyed romancing Karen also, but I see why she would be reluctant to get involved again so soon...



However, given that the back-story *shows* she likes guys, I think it was a questionable design decision to allow the FxF and not the FxM romance option.



Karen looks like late-30s while Loren looks like she is 18... I wouldn't say she is "more" attractive, but sometimes a well cared for classic is more appealing than a new car fresh off the lot. After all, the seat is probably more comfortable and some of the "new car" problems will have already been fixed by the prior owner... Older cars are also usually involve lower cosmetic maintenance and in general are a better value...



But we aren't really talking about cars, now are we... :>

Karen's so sad and hopeless. I just wanna give her hugs and make her feel better! She's my favorite followed by Loren (with either Saren or Elanor. I just like Loren's character). I was curious about Karen rejecting Saren and only preferring Elanor, but then I thought if Ray...nor? Ray...lor? Her man slave was the only guy for her, she'd probably "default" back to women. Especially one who was so obviously pushing for her future happiness.



Also! 1) I also think Karen's sprite is a bit hotter than Loren and 2) No. We're not talking about cars

uasgduwgd I should pay more attention to what I write pffff. What I meant was: "Elenor felt jealous of Myrth when Myrth was talking to Rei." That was when she discovered they were relatives.

For some reason that's what I knew you were talking about! Yes, that totally happens, irregardless of if you romanced Myrth. Since Rei just joined the party, there's no way for me to gauge if you're interested in him or not, and in the chance that you are interested in him, or Myrth and just haven't flirted with her yet, I kept the option to feel a bit off for an optional seed of attraction, if you want it. The sentence (well, it's different for Saren and Elenor) also serves as just plain noticing they're close.





Interesting reactions here to all the characters. Both Karen and Draco are pathetic (in their own way), but Karen is looking more attractive than him. Hmm.

Karen all the way. However I reserve the right to change my mind after the expansion is released as I'm hoping Chambara is awesome.



Best Regards

Jim

Interesting reactions here to all the characters. Both Karen and Draco are pathetic (in their own way), but Karen is looking more attractive than him. Hmm.

Karen's badass and very in control with you, despite her emotional weakness and the fact that you've gotta take the initiative. She catches you in the rafters and everything; I could have swooned. Also, she's smoking hot and I have a weakness for dominant older women in general which apparently is not as rare as I thought, going by the poll answers.

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And she totally whips Loren's well-toned butt in the love triangle thing. She's so cool when she's fighting in the name of love. This is why she's the Queen.

Draco, meanwhile, is kinda shy and vulnerable all around. I like that in a fictional love interest guy, but it's not for everyone. I like both his joking surface face with the flashy fire tricks and the inner self with all the deepseated emotional issues he's so terrible at hiding. I felt so-so about him until he talked Mesphit into taking him as a hostage in Saren's place when I went through that route combination. And this was before I had any affection points with him, which was pretty cool! I like his overall design, too. He's pretty adorable.



Myrth I wasn't all that cool with. I love the character, but Saren was a total lunkhead with her in most of the cutscenes, and then they both turned into soppy despairing messes... I hate to say it, but Rei had a point about them being a bad match.



And speakin' of Rei! It might be that I was romancing him with Forceful!Elenor, but he came off as way too pushy. Although you did get the option to shut him down firmly and kick away his romance plot for good, so I can't be too mad about that, and a lot of his scenes were pretty good. I'd call him "charmingly antagonizing" rather than flat out awful, if only because he's so handsome. I'm still not sure whether I want Elenor to smooch him or punch him square in the nose.



Amukiki ticks me off a little because he's cooler than Elenor/Saren and I really want them to show him up. I'm way too emotionally invested. Once they start being on a less rocky and more equal footing I warm up to him, but the early segments always get me hissing.



I'm way more okay with being Loren's underling. I guess I prefer dominant women and laid-back and/or submissive dudes? I like being a badass duo with her, and I like the bond of trust and respect that grows between them even if you don't romance her.

Certainly helps that Karen is actually showing some skin. Yes, I'm bitter that only 1 of the 3 male love interests shows any skin.



I can't wait to see if any opinions change after playing Chapter 4!

Draco needs something, but I'm not sure what. He's already witty. Maybe his chemistry with Saren doesn't feel quite right. They're both kinda on the submissive side, even Forceful Saren so perhaps what's missing is some tension. That could be my issue with Myrth as well.

Sexual tension, or do you mean conflict? Both are good.



I like Myrth's path how it is now (though, Saren is a bit of a doofus on it, I'll admit. not for everyone), but I could touch up Draco's arc. No personality changing, but I could replace the middle cutscene with something else. Originally, the conflict with Saren x Draco is that Saren is annoyed by Draco, but that melts away pretty fast. Perhaps too fast?

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Jack wanted me to wait on revealing something in Myrth's path until the CG scene, and I agreed, but I think not knowing it is making Myrth look like an indecisive blunderbutt. Which is my fault. Perhaps I will reveal it sooner, like in the 3rd cutscene.

Continuing an irritation path could be a nice lever to use. Draco's personality has grown organicly through his experiences while Saren would be living in a culture where being docile is a survival trait. Having that annoying interaction from a socialy safe male could make it easier for Saren to regain and hone a more dominant personality that's more true to who he really is.