Why can't we romance Companions yet?

Fata1moose · August 2022

I was a little surprised they didn’t do it this year. I think if they had a second story arc with companions during the Q4 DLC that would make sense, that way they’re part of the year long story too. A few quests in chapter to become friends and then a few quests in the Q4 DLC to romance them (or just become better friends if you don’t want to romance them).

They could do a gifting system with treasures, and striking locales could increase romantic disposition to give already existing things more functionality. Obviously more dialogue options to flesh out both our characters and theirs where companions ask for our opinions. Most of the dialogue in this game is just asking questions I’d like to see my character have more opportunities to show a personality.

LikiLoki · August 2022

why limit yourself to companions? You know, Tythis Andromo, he's so amazing. So brave and courageous. Give me a little romance with my banker

Onomog · August 2022

katanagirl1 wrote: »

Just please don’t make an achievement for this. Not everyone enjoys doing these things,

/shrug

Not every achievement needs to be done.

the1andonlyskwex · August 2022

I don't think the Vestige has enough personality to justify this. You're not much more than a silent protagonist.

[snip]

[Edited for Inappropriate Content]

Amottica · August 2022

spartaxoxo wrote: »

Amottica wrote: »

spartaxoxo wrote: »

Parasaurolophus wrote: »

Oh no pls... What functionality should this all have?

Maybe just a few quests, some gifts to make rapport gain easier. Some of them can be platonic gifts and some could be romantic ones that makes your companion more interested in your character. Perhaps let us use the ring of mara on a companion, and get a little extra exp with them out. Maybe the end quest culminates in unlocking a house that the companion walks around in.

Eta
I have no idea what they were planning, it's just how I would do it.

That gifting sounds a lot like Star Wars. Let us avoid that.

Gifting is a really common gaming mechanic in games with romanceable allies. I see no reason why this game should avoid a mechanic that makes sense to lore and improves the quality of life of using the Companions.

And they can use gifting to increase romancabilty if they add such a thing to the companion system. It should be separate from rapport and leveling the companion since it would be in addition to it. A great choice the added functionality, if we can call it that.

Treselegant · August 2022

I don't think the Vestige has enough personality to justify this. You're not much more than a silent protagonist.

Mine does, because I'm using my imagination. Its the same for a lot of players who like to get immersed in game.

[snip]

[Edited for Inappropriate Content]

Also curious you jumped straight to comparing romance to sex.

the1andonlyskwex · August 2022

Treselegant wrote: »

I don't think the Vestige has enough personality to justify this. You're not much more than a silent protagonist.

Mine does, because I'm using my imagination. Its the same for a lot of players who like to get immersed in game.

So imagine a romance too.

Treselegant · August 2022

So imagine a romance too.

I know you're being flippant but a lot of people do that and so are interested in it being in game. As it was brought up as being an option for the companion system, I think its reasonable to ask whether it's still going to happen. Regardless of your feelings on the matter.

DigiAngel · August 2022

This seems like a terrible idea considering the recent exploits of ZOS devs as of late. I can just hear Mirri..."you wanna put it WHERE???" Ya pass.

the1andonlyskwex · August 2022

Treselegant wrote: »

So imagine a romance too.

I know your being flippant but a lot of people do but as it was brought up as being an option for the companion system then I think its reasonable to ask whether it's still going to happen. Regardless of your feelings on the matter.

I'm not really being all that flippant. If you're already imagining the Vestige with a personality and you don't really care about relationships progressing to "bedroom scenes", then it doesn't really seem like much of a stretch to imagine one of the more flirtatious (or friendly, depending on your preference) NPCs as a romantic interest.

Actually writing in a romance would be super-weird because real romances aren't nearly as one-sided as any of the existing player-NPC interactions in ESO.

Treselegant · August 2022

Actually writing in a romance would be super-weird because real romances aren't nearly as one-sided as any of the existing player-NPC interactions in ESO.

Bioware have been succesfully selling games with in game romances for years at this point so its obviously popular. Players who like romance in games are perfectly aware they are playing a game so I don't understand the issue. Are romantic films weird? Romantic songs weird? Those are one sided experiences so what's the difference?

the1andonlyskwex · August 2022

Treselegant wrote: »

Actually writing in a romance would be super-weird because real romances aren't nearly as one-sided as any of the existing player-NPC interactions in ESO.

Bioware have been succesfully selling games with in game romances for years at this point so its obviously popular. Players who like romance in games are perfectly aware they are playing a game so I don't understand the issue. Are romantic films weird? Romantic songs weird? Those are one sided experiences so what's the difference?

Bioware PCs aren't silent protagonists like ESO PCs.

Treselegant · August 2022

Bioware PCs are never silent protagonists like ESO PCs

Actually, this isnt true. One of the biggest and most popular of their games with a silent protagonist is Dragon Age: Origins. A few of their early games with romances actually had silent main characters. Again, I don't see the issue. Games are an art form like any other at this point so I don't think enjoying game romance is any different to enjoying romantic novels or films etc.

the1andonlyskwex · August 2022

Treselegant wrote: »

Bioware PCs are never silent protagonists like ESO PCs

Actually, this isnt true. One of the biggest and most popular of their games with a silent protagonists being Dragon Age Origins. A few of their early games with romances actually had silent main characters. Again, I don't see the issue. Games are an art form like any other at this point so I don't think enjoying game romances is any different to enjoying a romantic novels or films etc.

To be clear, I like romance just fine in games where it makes sense. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is one of my all time favorites and a big part of that is the romantic subplot. I just don't think it works in games with silent protagonists.

Browiseth · August 2022

Parasaurolophus wrote: »

Oh no pls... What functionality should this all have?

what functionality does anything have

why is there even pvp, why are there dungeons, why do we farm gear, why to we grind out champion points

why are we even playing a video game

it's all arbitrary

you know why things are put into a game?

because the developers, community or whoever thought it would be fun

if you don't think marriable companions would be fun, then that's great, but you can't argue against it from the perspective of "it has no functionality" because like i said, literally everything in a game is arbitrary and pointless if you remove it from the context that people enjoy engaging with it

Treselegant · August 2022

I just don't think it works in games with silent protagonists.

Ok, fair enough. Obviously it works for a lot of people and those people will enjoy it if it's added to ESO and you are free to ignore it. Now, lets agree to disagree and stop clogging up the thread

.

Ragged_Claw · August 2022

Just here to make a 'nec-romancer' joke.

Thanks, I'll be here all week.

(I would be interested to see how they handled romanceable companions - hope we get an update soon).

NordSwordnBoard · August 2022

Ragged_Claw wrote: »

Just here to make a 'nec-romancer' joke.

Thanks, I'll be here all week.

(I would be interested to see how they handled romanceable companions - hope we get an update soon).

Polygamancer, then. Is that the Haremancer?

francesinhalover · August 2022

Would be weird, seeing players running around with the same wifes and husbands you have

Snamyap · August 2022

But how are you going to explain to Mirri that you accidentally kissed one of her two thousand identical clones?

Amottica · August 2022

Treselegant wrote: »

Actually writing in a romance would be super-weird because real romances aren't nearly as one-sided as any of the existing player-NPC interactions in ESO.

Bioware have been succesfully selling games with in game romances for years at this point so its obviously popular. Players who like romance in games are perfectly aware they are playing a game so I don't understand the issue. Are romantic films weird? Romantic songs weird? Those are one sided experiences so what's the difference?

The romancing of companions has very little bearing on the success and failures of Bioware games. It is also a static system and has very little bearing on anything once a companion is fully romanced. At least in SWTOR the process of romancing is not very different than leveling up other companions and it is rather meaningless once completed.

In the end, it is a matter of a player choosing to create in their own mind what that "relationship" is which can be done without an "official" romance created by the game system.

Treselegant · August 2022

The romancing of companions has very little bearing on the success and failures of Bioware games.

For many years it was something that Bioware games had which offered a different experience for players as part of their rpgs. That they are good games helps, obviously, but go on the social media groups for these games and what is still being posted about - the romances. So I'm saying, romances in games are a normal and popular thing in gaming and has been for so for many years now. You know, like romantic songs, books and films...which was my point.

It is also a static system and has very little bearing on anything once a companion is fully romanced.

It adds different story elements which for a lot of players is important. ESO is an rpg, its nice to get story and immersion, even if some people have no interest in it.

Dragonlord573 · August 2022

Well considering the companions are uninspired given their very limited dialogue I doubt we'll be seeing ZOS add romance to existing companions, and if it is added it will be a feature of new companions and it'll be tacked on.

Amottica · August 2022

Treselegant wrote: »

The romancing of companions has very little bearing on the success and failures of Bioware games.

For many years it was something that Bioware games had which offered a different experience for players as part of their rpgs. That they are good games helps, obviously, but go on the social media groups for these games and what is still being posted about - the romances. So I'm saying, romances in games are a normal and popular thing in gaming and has been for so for many years now. You know, like romantic songs, books and films...which was my point.

It is also a static system and has very little bearing on anything once a companion is fully romanced.

It adds different story elements which for a lot of players is important. ESO is an rpg, its nice to get story and immersion, even if some people have no interest in it.

Again, the companion system has had little bearing on the success and failures of bioware games. It just has not because it is so extremely limited.

As for the different story element, using SWTOR as an example, it is brief and once done it is done.

I am not suggesting Zenimax should not add a "romance" system to the companions here but merely pointing out the fact that it will be extremely limited and shallow as it is in Bioware games. I say this because seriously doubt Zenimax will do better than Bioware on this.

Treselegant · August 2022

I am not suggesting Zenimax should not add a "romance" system to the companions here but merely pointing out the fact that it will be extremely limited and shallow as it is in Bioware games

For a lot of people the romantic elements in these games were involving and interesting enough to talk about 10 or more years later so obviously not everyone feels as you do. I imagine anything added to ESO would be closer to what's found in Fallout 4/76 where its not exactly in depth but offers enough for players who enjoy romantic elements in their rpgs. I think most people interested in this kind of feature are aware that this is probably going to be the case. I don't think anyone goes into playing an rpg with companion romances expecting a life-like experience - we have real life for that.

Amottica · August 2022

spartaxoxo wrote: »

Back in an old interview, Rich said that romance options were coming. They even gave us the Smolder Scrolls, so clearly the understand this is something people would enjoy. Has the idea being scrapped?

[Quoted post Removed]

This is a good point.

It is also probably a better idea and less expensive to create a limited and shallow framework and let someone's own imagination and creativity run the show. That is the only way one will find the romantic relationships with an NPC to be involving and interesting enough to talk about it a decade later as @Treselegant has found in their NPC relationships.

Belegnole · August 2022

Amottica wrote: »

wrote:

spartaxoxo wrote: »

Back in an old interview, Rich said that romance options were coming. They even gave us the Smolder Scrolls, so clearly the understand this is something people would enjoy. Has the idea being scrapped?

[Quoted Post Removed]

This is a good point.

It is also probably a better idea and less expensive to create a limited and shallow framework and let someone's own imagination and creativity run the show. That is the only way one will find the romantic relationships with an NPC to be involving and interesting enough to talk about it a decade later as @Treselegant has found in their NPC relationships.

I disagree. [snip] ZOS has mentioned adding romance to the companions, so I think it should be done. A few additional quests with the companions wouldn't be a bad thing. Especially if it was for the RP value and nothing was hidden behind them such as gear.

[Edited for Inappropriate Content]

SilverBride · August 2022

I would like this but first I need a companion I find attractive.

peacenote · August 2022

I post about this every time it comes up. I really dislike this idea. And in my opinion if it were in the game it WOULD affect me because it would be content and I try to complete/ attempt all content. I don't want to SEE the options, I don't want to feel like I'm missing out on a storyline, and as a result I don't see how it can be added for others and not impact my experience as I do use the companions.

Not to mention we play with others in this game so I would have to hear and see in chat "I just married Mirri" and other such comments which... I just am really turned off by the whole thing. I know it's an adult game but I really don't want to experience people skimpily dressing up their romantic companions and talking about it.

In my humble opinion, the romance stuff is fine in a solo game but it adds a layer if creepiness when it's a community of real players all romancing the same few companions and choosing what they wear like dolls. We don't even have children anywhere in Tamriel which I believe is for the same reason... to keep from veering into territory that's just best to be avoided in an MMO game.

So I apologize but we'll have to agree to disagree. To me this isn't a situation that can be a compromise where others get the feature and I can just avoid it.... but we are a large community, we aren't going to all agree on everything.

I'm sure if ZOS intends to add it, they won't change their minds because of me. But I definitely will hate it if they do.

spartaxoxo · August 2022

the1andonlyskwex wrote: »

Treselegant wrote: »

So imagine a romance too.

I know your being flippant but a lot of people do but as it was brought up as being an option for the companion system then I think its reasonable to ask whether it's still going to happen. Regardless of your feelings on the matter.

I'm not really being all that flippant. If you're already imagining the Vestige with a personality and you don't really care about relationships progressing to "bedroom scenes", then it doesn't really seem like much of a stretch to imagine one of the more flirtatious (or friendly, depending on your preference) NPCs as a romantic interest.

Actually writing in a romance would be super-weird because real romances aren't nearly as one-sided as any of the existing player-NPC interactions in ESO.

Why would it need to progress to a bedroom scene? You just learn a little bit more about them, and then you can marry them and they'll say things like "Welcome Home, Sweetheart" at your place. If they did mention sex at all, it would just be "you're looking cute" and then a fade to black, like they did in Fargrave. But that's highly unlikely and totally unnecessary.

This isn't that kind of game, and that's fine. I mean Disney movies feature romance too. Romance stories do not always have to lead to featuring sex.