Relationships & Romance - How do you think it'll play out?

I'm all for complexity and intricacy, I just don't want it to be overly complex. Convoluted may be a better word for it, that would be bad.

Depending on the background and how the player plays his/her Shepard, Shepard could already be having nightmares before the events of ME1.

For my Shepard, she didn't have nightmares, even though the game shows it, but I headcanon my Shepard having dreams of being at a Led Zeppelin concert. Yeah it was sad seeing the kid killed with everyone else in the shuttle, but it wasn't sad enough for my Shepard to have nightmares over.

Samantha comforts femshep just before attacking Cronos. I'm sure that will happen in MEA especially from dad and brother/sister.

I'm sure I might get some hate for this, but I would really like to see at least 1 shipmate that is willing the CHEAT with you. That's a "real" and "organic" relationship. Not a series of checks the game runs to see if you're already in a relationship with someone else, so all other romantic pursuits magically disappear.

Playing as a Renegade, cheating seems a lot more in-line with the character than being dedicated to one character.

I thought the whole "check" systems that both ME3 and DAI had were rediculous. In DAI I downloaded the mod that removed these, and allowed multiple romances, because I was doing a power-hunger, eleven, seductress mage. But it would have been better if the system was designed so that you can cheat, get caught, and deal with the consequences.

Not in-game.

I prefer not to use walkthroughs until I have at least done one run without them.  Saves depend on how far back the missed trigger might be. You could still end up having to repeat a lot of stuff if you don't discover you've missed it until much later.

Still, Mass Effect is one game I always end up replaying so I suppose it's not quite as big a deal as it might be on a game I only plan on playing once.

My concern is that they say organic and then the romance turns out to be not so different from the same old flirting system we're accustomed to.

I'm sure there will be the possibility to not have a romance. All Bioware games so far have. 

Both Mass Effect and Dragon Age had that, where your character could show romantic interest in a person but that person doesn't have the same feelings or wish for that kind of relationship.

More "organic" may mean that the ME series will now have the option for potential friends/lovers to rivalpath you, Or just not like you.

The DA series always had that. I mean, your companions could get to the point where they challenge you to a fight. They will up and leave if they don't like you.

ME squadmates are always your BFF no matter what you do, so maybe they're changing that around. I hope.

Also some emotional foreplay would be nice; that includes party banter even before you're in a relationship. DAO, Alistair was asking Lelianna for love advice while we're out on mission. Wynne comments on Alistair watching you walk. All this triggered on its own. You just overheard it.

Your squadmates noticing a budding attraction is quite "organic" because your people always pick up on that sort of thing. Sometimes before you do. Sometimes it is your friends that bring it to your attention because see things, and the way you two interact with each other, that you may not notice.

Banter from squaddies is important for that authentic feel. This could also be in play with friendship, or rivalry. A little comment about you all being best buddies/enemies. Nothing that goes on and on, rather strategic sprinkling of these commentaries, and suddenly you're not in a vacuum anymore.

Having the potential LI flirt with you first. Yes, please, already. I don;t care about ninjamancing, even if I get disapproval. It's worth it to me just to not be the one all the time that's hitting on people. It's not natural.

Physical animation goes a long way, too. Things like their eyes following you. And that is something that can be done in general, not just for romances. DA2 had the npc's "aware" of you. Their eyes followed you often along with some idle animations--things like that. It made it possible to "read" into it and rp it quite a bit just from that animation.

I don;t like gating romances. I hope that's not what they mean. But they did say for friendship, too. So maybe there is no gating.

Bioware has never made it triggering a romance complex.  If anything, the problem's at the opposite end.

That's where "ninjamancing" comes from.

Yeah, man. I feel it in ME1, DAO to an extent, ME2, ME3, DAI. I noticed it in DA2 but it was sort of overshadowed when I romanced Isabella because she came back with the book (even though she doesn't have to be romanced). It felt like it was done out of love and friendship so it felt like an extension of what she feels for the relationship. Obviously, for that playthrough but it's interpretation is different for other PTs for me.

Honestly, if the NPC is a flirt and ends up in a fling with someone else but you catch her/him. It could be a crisis point where you end it when the person apologizes, accept it and move on expecting loyalty which he or she will give since you've committed after the crisis, or have a chance to get back at the person via a choice if you accept the apology (petty, I know. Lol). It adds depth if it is done right. Most times, you are locked when you "engage" in a romance but being a flirt in the meantime isn't bad.. You're feeling out your options. Lol. If you aren't into it, you can disengage. The PC cheating and getting caught by the two romances would be karma but that's alot of resources for each NPC to interact with each other and you unless only the first one in the relationship confronts you without specifics of the other NPC (if not, way more resources) that leads to a unnecessary crisis point that leads to one relationship ending. It can't be referenced by the NPC with alloted resources for each NPC to speak on it out of the blue. Too much resources, but I like the concept.

I know this sounds ridiculous but it would be pretty crazy to have a character/party member that does open relationships so you can partake in another relationship (unknown to the real romance so it proceeds like normal). At a crisis/certain point, you can ask to just be together without other romances (or begin it like that in the beginning of flirting), end the affair, or continue the fling with the other relationship being in the front seat.

Of course, too much resources and promotes the wrong behavior.

ME3 was so damn wrong though. I didn't know many people who romanced Jacob but he was a.. Too many words. I feel bad for who put their heart and time into that relationship, waited for ME3 (how long?), and Bioware screwed them. F that dude. I feel bad for people who romanced Thane but there was alot of foreshadowing.. though going through an extra loop to keep him alive would have been nice of Bioware. It wouldn't have a big emotional impact if he died knowing you choose that route so I guess I understand.



I disdain cheating on a loved one even though I mentioned a weird idea.