How *unappealing* do you predict straight male romance options will be in DA4?

I can see where people would lump Blood Magic and slavery together, mostly through sort of redefining the context of 'slavery', though. 'Slavery' as it's presented in Tevinter society so far is mostly a form of indentured servitude. Krem's dad was made a slave, for example, and Krem's own take on it seems to be as something that's ultimately very unfortunate, but not necessarily a violation of his human rights, or the like. On the other hand, Blood Magic can inflict slavery of the soul, so to speak. It isn't just about forcing someone to work how you want them to work, it's forcing them to think what you want them to think, and be what you want them to be. This kind of slavery is a little harder to pull apart from Blood Magic in potential terms.

Of course, it's a little more complex than that, since it's not like all Tevinter slaves are willingly indentured. It'd be interesting to see Dorian's take on that aspect (and I suspect he would, for example, not approve of the business in the Alienage in DAO), but you only really get to discuss the ideal of the institution with him, and that particular facet never really comes up.

Well, there's only so much wordcount per NPC.

Does it suggest a different design strategy, though? Or is this something we just have to live with given a budget of X size

The information is important if and only of the player decides it is. Whether the information is relevant is determined by the devs, but the player needs to be able to be wrong about that.

I still don't understand why Blackwall was given a romance over Cullen, who only got one because of the delay. Actually I don't understand why he has a romance at all.

You can look at it as adding to his redemption arc, so maybe the writer found it appealing in that way.


Not sure I understand this attitude. People like what they like. At least his lyrium addiction, and past with mages, makes him a bit less of a cliche KISA.

Cullen isn't my thing, but I'm not going to knock those who like him.

My point of not understanding was based on your "can't think of no kind way to put it" remark, which suggests that you have contempt for Cullen's fans. That may not have been your intention, but that's how I took the statement, which is why I phrased my response as I did.

I don't care for either character, but it seems strange that they'd pass over a hunk character with an established fan base for a hairy 50 year old man?

Every romance poll I've seen has him as the least romanced character by far. Obviously DAI is a done deal, but it makes me worry about how they'll approach romances in DA4.

Presumably, Blackwall is a romance largely because Sheryl Chee wanted to write him as one. I gather that the writer's pit usually figure out these things by working out who wants which of their characters to be romances and what kind. (For another example of the effect this has on the game - Mary Kirby doesn't seem to be as into writing romances with her characters as several of the other writers, hence why only Merrill is an option out of the ones she was the primary for.)

(I mean, I am also kind of boggled that they went with Blackwall before Cullen, but I am sure glad that they did. I think they'd have been less likely to add a Blackwall romance later, and however unpopular he is he's my personal favourite. But they don't actually decide who's going to be romanceable based on what the most fans are likely to want.)

Well, fingers crossed that for the next game they would have at least some consideration for players’ wishes before the end of the development cycle. It worked great in ME, so there is no reason to say it cannot result in good lovestories.

It’s fairily similar (though I would argue that Cassandra, and particularly Josephine, are more along the lines of the options people are used to than Bull and Blackwall. But then again, shaving off Blackwall’s beard makes him like Cassandra in terms of appearance, I.e. not unattractive, but visibly older/rougher) hence the statements that the female players were not treated any differently than the males. Save for those who would anyway play the elves/humans.

Josephine, Cullen, Dorian and Solas are overall the closest to what we are used to getting in BioWare games as LIs both in terms of looks & romantic arcs.

Oh no, not this conversation again.
I'd complain if the romances were all playersexual, so your point already is moot.