Doesn’t bother me a bit, and I don’t think I’ve seen too many negative reactions to this.
Eek. Lana+Koth has been mentioned… yeah, that got ridiculous. It’s not a big deal to me as long as the relationship is clearly over; niggingly uncomfortable, but no “worse” than an RO whose past relationships become important for different reasons. If there’s any hint that anything is currently going on, I’ll look for a different RO.
For me? Yeah, it makes it worse, and that’s what turns me off of ever playing the route(s) of the ROs that fall in love. Especially since they get a nice, happy romance where they’re together instead of teenage, angsty, pining bullshit for most or all of the story instead of a proper relationship.
As long as it doesn’t preclude the MC becoming close friends with them, this doesn’t bother me. If it’s a mean girls situation, or one of those “we’re tight and you’re never gonna be a part of this, MC!” then no thank you… unless my MC can be a complete and utter bitch to them and take them down (which is a whole other topic on its own, but I am sick to death of games where the ROs and NPCs can shit all over the MC and the MC has no choice but to sit there like a mealy-mouthed child, taking it).
Fine with me. If there are snarky comments or mentions about two ROs having had a fling or being exes that are totally over each other now, then it has no bearing on me being able to enjoy playing different MCs with those ROs. In fact, that’s the kind of “angst” that is both realistic and makes for more interesting RPing if the author plays it right. Let the MC be insecure about it (on that route) if they want, and let said RO share a piece of that history with them. Hell, on a non-romanced route, it would be a good way to let the MC feel closer to both of them, getting to hear the story and being part of things.
But even if it’s just a fling, I don’t want to see it in game. It just mucks everything up for me for other playthroughs. Having it be in the past is fine, though.
Agree with this as well. It’s your story. If you want to throw your energies into non-romanced RO romances (say that ten times really fast) that have nothing to do with the MC, then that is your choice. For every person who hates it and avoids the game because of it, there will be another who flocks toward it for the same reason.
I’m not sure this is the case. Just my opinion, but I think the people who are for having ROs with loving relationships in-game aren’t likely to ditch the game if they aren’t there (provided the game is otherwise engaging). As part of the other crowd, I am likely to do that, unless the romances shown are with ROs I don’t give a flip about and have no intention of playing, regardless. But if those romances are better than what my MC is getting, which seems to be the case in every single game I’ve seen this in? Screw that game.
You’ll never satisfy everyone. Even if you went through the trouble of making it a choice to show non-romanced ROs in relationships (skipping the text for those who don’t like it), someone will moan and whine about it. If you’ve ever seen gamers whining about the ability to play on easier modes than insanity for various games, you know what I’m talking about (they don’t even want the option available to anyone). There is a group of people that isn’t happy just getting what they want–they have to control what everyone else gets, too. Those people will never be satisfied. The best you can do is write what you want (or what you’re characters dictate, if you’re like me, lol), get feedback from people you respect, and edit from there.
Yes, I agree with this. It’s just as bad as watching ROs get better romances than what my MC gets from any RO (including the ones that hook up with each other).
I will say, it feels like there might be a lot of assumptions of authors abilities to implement this correctly as well. I have a feeling someone who puts this in their game isn’t going to just put it in out of the blue just because, and I definitely don’t think any author that does it is going to focus on it more than the MC’s chosen romantic path. We have to remember, they probably do have just as much drama/things to work out in their relationship, we’re just not seeing it. It happens off screen because they’re not the focus of the story. Someone said it earlier, but these characters are individuals. They’re lives continue on, even off screen, hence why I put the extra scenes option in my game, to show some of those moments and give OOC context to their future actions).
Again, I totally don’t mind that people don’t like it, everyone is entitled to their opinions! But all the comments that just assume authors can’t do it correctly and will haphazardly write a lovey-dovey, completely perfect end-all be-all romance with no depth behind it for non-MC characters, just feel a bit presumptuous.
That’s not saying that the people who are saying that haven’t had bad experiences with this particular branch of storytelling before, but every story is different. I understand the value of constructive criticism and constructive feedback on a trope someone dislikes. I think a better way to phrase it for some people here would be, “I’m not a fan of the trope to begin with, but if an author is going to do it, here’s what they should avoid, and these are the reasons I don’t like it.”
I dunno, maybe I’m just being too sensitive here.
EDIT:
I agree, if you see the flirty side glances, you should also see the moments where they purposefully avoid eye contact. If you see them hanging out in the hall, a little closer than normal, you should notice when they seem to be staying in completely separate rooms from one another as well. I don’t think their should be entire scenes dedicated to the good or the bad, unless it is a scene that specifically focuses on one of those characters for character development purposes. I think, mainly, it should just be context clues dropped here and there on occasion.
Then why do I need to see it at all? If it is so important to show a relationship between a RO and a NPC or other RO, then it should be important enough to show if there are ups and downs and trouble between them.
I mean, I get what you’re saying, but if all the “bad” of their romance happens offscreen because it’s “not their story” then why does any of it need to be there? Saying they “probably” have drama to work out doesn’t really change what we see, and when all we see is a happy shmappy romance between them when we, as players, end up with angst-filled crap when our MCs romance them, it’s difficult not to take this as I’ve been saying. Throw in a relationship for the hooked up ROs, when our MCs have to go through an entire book or even most of a series of books to get an actual relationship and it just makes things worse. From an author’s perspective, it may feel like you’re putting more work into the MC’s romances, but from my perspective as a reader, I’m seeing that my MC gets needless pain and, if left alone, the ROs get happiness.
Just to clarify… I freaking hate needless and forced angst. Obviously. So I don’t consider this a “treat” in my IF.
Perhaps. And if anything I have said hurts your feelings, I apologize. That said, you yourself said above that we shouldn’t assume that ROs who are romancing each other don’t have all the horrible crap the MC gets heaped upon them in their romances. But, again, if you’re taking the time to show me that they are together and in love and happy, then unless I see some of the other, I have no reason to think they are anything but perfect for each other and any MC I try to pair with them is just getting in the way of their possible bliss.
That is basically what most of us who dislike this trope have done and are trying to do. For some, though, as soon as an author does it, they may lose interest in the game because there’s just no way to make it palatable for them.
I just finished Totem Force. To my surprise, Sammy and Phil ended up dating. In my last play through of Creme de la Creme, Hartmann and Auguste got engaged. Same with Max and Delacroix.
Good for them. At the end of the day, cogs are fictional stories for entertainment. I don’t think they will be heartbroken if I don’t return their feelings.
I want to preface this by saying it really is all a matter of preference for both the author and for the reader and that I don’t believe either one having a defined preference is wrong in any way.
For me personally, I’m in the “really don’t enjoy when this happens” camp. I think it essentially comes down to the mechanics, and confines, of the medium. When writing a novel for example, every part of the story is set to happen in a specific way. The main character will always end up with who the author decides, the supporting cast will always have the exact fate and the exact relationships play out, centered around the main character(s), and that main character is not a vehicle for the reader’s influence. This is why we often use terms in romance related genre like “main lead”, or “second lead” (and “second lead syndrome”, rip me every single time), because there’s often a definite build up for that character and the position they’re in for the romance to happen in a certain way.
However, when in an interactive format, a lot of this changes. The reader, and therefore the character, does have a lot of influence over the world and other characters. It’s the driving force behind the entire story and purpose of this format. Now authors have their own inclinations for this limit and for seemingly how much influence in a lot of ways - some relinquish control over the cast character’s gender to suit the preference of the reader, some allow them to dictate their entire presence in the plot by allowing them to join or not join the group, etc etc - but the story is written not as a set of solidified events and there is some unrealistic sway.
So, instead of a “main lead” and “second lead”, in interactive fiction the romanceable cast characters all become the “main leads”. The dynamic has changed with their relation to the main character. As an author writing a game, my personal writing preference is that I don’t want the player to have too much control over the cast characters - they can’t change their gender, they have set sexualities, and some have deal breakers or preferences of their own (because I seem them as fully realized individuals) - but I do want to give them the same dynamic of all being “main leads” in relation to their character because I just find it more enjoyable. If I think two characters in the cast are very compatible, I’ll remove them from being a romance option and just have them put into a different dynamic (so no longer a “lead”) within the story. If not, I find that it can feel more in line with a novel and come across as having a canon vision as the author for those characters.
On a less rational and purely emotional field, I’m also kinda a hopeless romantic and I like the idea of a relationship being special within a story for my character. It’s not realistic, but just as in real life where if you and your significant other were not to be dating, that they would end up with another person, having the meta knowledge of who exactly within your friend group and exactly what that relationship looks like is something else and would not be the best feeling haha. It’s just not a mechanic that I personally enjoy, but again, I can see why authors choose to include it and think it’s just a matter of what you value in a story. =)
I think I weighed in on this somewhere up there but if not I’ll just say I generally like RO/RO match-ups. I will say when it’s poorly done it can be very very bad so perhaps we just have different instances that formed our opinions.
While reading this thread I got to thinking about why I might like it. I think it’s almost nostalgic for me. I spent much of my adulthood with the same group of friends. After a couple decades of friendship we’ve paired off (or grouped off as the case may be) in just about every match-up possible considering our varying orientations. This could have been horrible but because we all managed avoid any cheating or badly hurt feelings it has only made the group more tightly knit. Obviously this isn’t that common, at least as far as the positive ending, so I don’t expect anyone else to feel the same.
So at least for me seeing other paths to a good life is important. Since romance paths are often built around helping the RO overcome some obstacle or trauma it never seems fair to me when all unromanced characters don’t get that growth.
To be fair there is no romance in the original version of BG. Romances became a thing in BGII. After BGII killed off Khalid and Dynaheir in the intro dungeon. Coincidence? I think not.
I am tired of people saying if you don’t main a certain RO, they will not flirt with you, nooooo… Yes, that is how real life works, you got to keep going forward. But, there another thing in our reality, let’s say you love someone but she/he goes for someone else. Would you instantly forget her/him? No, would you be “happy” for them? No. Because you simply can’t.
Not sure why you spoilered it, but this logic falls flat when you realise that you weren’t pursuing the NPC you were supposedly in love with in the first place? Also, real-life heartbreak(s) have no bearing in this discussion. (We’re discussing it in the context of the game).
Ah you got me wrong, i mentioned it because i think it might be cool to witness. Like, there is a particular RO, who still wants to be with MC even if we don’t romance her.
To clarify again, I really believe that authors should be free to write what they want and this is just my personal taste and the reasons why I got them.
I am not at all trying to convince authors to stop writing those kinds of stories.
(And sorry for my bad grammar, English is not my first language).
Theory time!!:
My theory on why readers feel NPC’s and NPC’s romance feels more “canon”.
This may be because the authors may have difficulty writing the MC.
However, this is just a theory and I have never felt that way.
If any readers had felt that way, feel free to tell me if I am wrong or on to something.
Also!! Some have said that the MC is the reader’s character, which is crazy to me.
In my opinion, the MC should be seen as the author’s character too, and not just the readers!?
Now for @HarrisPS questions!!:
Q: Does it feel worse if you witness two of your romanceable companions falling in love?:
A: I won’t personally like it.
I will be too fixated on collecting enough romance points and predicting where the author has put the romance lock to enjoy the story.
Q: If characters become best friends if they’re not spending their time romancing the MC, is that as contentious as a romantic attachment?)
A: In my opinion, the Ros should be able to befriend anybody that they want, regardless of what the mc does.
Given your Ros goal and motivation, which has nothing to do with the mc, create a well-dynamic character.
Q: How do people feel as players if romanceable characters have a romantic/fling history with each other, but don’t get to rekindle things ingame?
A: If there is no chance for them to get back together, then it is totally fine for me.
With that out of the way, listing to me HannahPS:
YOU SHOULD write the story that YOU want to write, that makes YOU happy.
Don’t listen to people that say otherwise.
YOU SHOULD write for YOURSELF first and then your readers.
Because you will never be able to satisfy anybody.
Hell, some people will probably never read your story, because of the genre you have picked.
To quiet Stan Lee: “You are not special or unique, so I can guarantee you that people will read your story because they will like the same things as you do”.
And I have seen many people here that like this kind of content.
And there is enough content for people like me, to go to other places
…Note, but you should probably still listing to your editor, feedback and don’t do anything illegal, or something that can hurt people.
But I will generally wish you good luck with your writing and hope you will have fun with it.
We will excitedly wait, for the day you share more of your stories with us.
It has been a long time since I posted my first post here.
But I still get stressed about the mechanics of the game and end up not enjoying the story, before I know where the romance lock is, and then get annoyed by myself for getting stressed.
So I am still very appreciative of any authors that are open about NPCs romance NPCs.
And then the authors get to tell people like me, that complain, that they could have just read what the game was about, and tell them to go to other places.
Unfortunately, it is something some people need to be told.
But I am not your mother, so I can’t and don’t want to, tell your authors what to do.
I really think this is a situation of: If you don’t like it then don’t read it, situation.
Sadly, I don’t think there would be a middle ground for us, that would be a good world tho.
But we will just have to accept either other existing, just like we have to accept people that like pineapple on pizza. 
But here is a good talk about warnings in games and how to use and see them.
However, they do talk about role-playing a lot.
But I still think it is a good talk.
Trigger warning for talking about trauma and abuse:
If they are ROs, I don’t like it, if only cause I can stumble upon just because of a weird event chain that might not even be intended and that would be unpleasant.
If they are just NPCs, I’m fine with it, it’s just character development.
I love that honestly. I always felt that most cases where poly wasn’t an option was just there to inflate replayability. (Looking at you Mass Effect and Dragon Age).
Not really but depending on how it’s written, it can make you feel like a third wheel (like some of the poly romances in ‘The One chosen’ or Versus).
Doesn’t really change my opinion either away.
If they are NPCs, I’m fine either way but if they are ROs, I’m prefer that option since it avoid the issue I mentioned above.
Sounds interesting as long as it doesn’t turn into guilt tripping you for not picking them.
I’m not a big fan of it. The thing is, I usually end up having one RO I like above all the others. And that means I’d rather not see them with anyone but the MC - and if I know I’ll have to see them get together with someone else, I definitely won’t ever risk a playthrough where I don’t romance that specific character. Meaning there’s a lot of content I’ll miss out on.
I have observed such behavior before. Insecure people tends to deal poorly with competition. Now imagine have to deal with fear of cheating from both male and female acquaintances of your love interest, its stressing! 
That said, NPC with a personal life makes any game world more alive and full of nuance. It’s like after some time without result the npcs just kind of go on with their life.
I wonder if we can turn that into a game mechanic? Hmmm. Imagine a game where you are freaking Eros the cupid and should ship and matchmaker the other characters into shipping each other, yeah! This would be the CYOA I don’t knew I needed in my life…
MC:
I do my hair toss
Check my nails
Baby how you feelin’?
NPCS:
Feeling good as hell
Wow. I learned a lot from this thread. Honestly, I always thought my issue with this as a reader was perhaps just jealousy, especially because there’s some ROs I’ve become attached to in different IFs but when I thought more about why I was attached to them… I realized my favorite romances in IF games has been because they were incredibly interesting and shined a light on both the MC and the RO. I loved them together, I was attached to them together. They went through arcs together, they challenged each other, their journey in itself was a story. I was invested in how they grew together.
I love interesting characters. I love complicated and at times even dysfunctional relationships. I don’t love ROs dating ROs just for the sake of it. If they have past or even current relationships with other NPCs or even other ROs, that can be an interesting opportunity to reveal things about their character. But the story I’m interested in & ready to analyze (I am a future couples therapist lolol) & strap in for the ride for is the protagonist and the RO. I love when the RO is a character specifically chosen to tell a story with the protagonist (and this can include diff poly groupings ofc).
This thread is great (and really controversial, wow lolol I love it). It made me think more about what purposes the RO can serve in the game/story. Of course, people are going to have differing opinions but this was still a great opportunity to think about why we engage with fiction in the way that we do. This was really inspiring from a writing pov and also made me appreciate my favorite IF romances even more than I already do which is quite a bit 
Honestly, I like it when NPCs get into relationships that aren’t the MC.
NPCs should have lives of their own. Including the ones we can romance. Part of organic, compelling storytelling can be found in the characters populating the world the author has created. These characters have histories, stories, and backgrounds that make them who they are.
Some are more resistant to being open about their emotions because of what has happened to them. Others are open for the whole world to see.
Take this as an example: if an RO is promiscuous, and this is known, that character not being in a relationship outside of the Main Character makes no damn sense. This is an RO with a raging libido, one that’s known to sleep around…and they’re not getting into bed with someone, or multiple someones, when the MC isn’t romancing them?
Are you kidding me?
On the other hand, if you have a more chaste character the MC comes across and starts romancing as the story progresses, I can see, realistically, that RO not getting into a relationship especially if them being in one was something they never saw happening outside of the MC.
If I saw that RO with another character, without context, I’d be really confused because when I did romance them, learning that they weren’t planning on getting in a relationship, for whatever reason, would make that romance special.
I’ll tackle this from my perspective as a straight woman who’s more demisexual than anything else.
If I romanced a man in a story and we were in a monogamous relationship, and then I did another playthrough where I didn’t romance him, and he was with a man – I wouldn’t care.
Because that relationship isn’t any of my business.
If he was with a man or woman before he was with me, it still isn’t any of my business. Funny, no?
Now, if I was in a relationship with him and he’s attracted to another man or woman, I’d damn well expect there to be a conversation about that. Open dialog and communication across all boards. Because I know the most important part of any relationship is communication.
Overall, when it comes to NPCs, I, personally, find it exceedingly childish to say that an RO is not allowed to be in relationships if I’m not pursuing them in that playthrough. It’s like watching two toddlers throw a tantrum over a toy where one started screaming bloody murder because the other kid “has the audacity to play with that toy” when the screaming demon isn’t playing with it.
So, yeah, I want them [the ROs] to chase after the things they want – be it people they love, a job they want, or even goals or ideals I have no direct influence over.
I’d rather have complex characters with their own interests, and minds of their own, than shallow cardboard cutouts that don’t do jack when I’m not pursuing them. Just. No.
This is also a very important aspect, too.
If an RO does end up in a relationship outside of the MC, then it should make sense. There should be a reason for it. But that romance should not, ever, overshadow the MC’s romance.
In the same vein of thought, the MC and an RO also shouldn’t get together “just because.” I like complicated relationships, especially when well-written.
Also, controversial threads are the best.
Would the MC know about it though? Is this character also one who loudly announces they’re going on a date? (Or is the relationship with another team member?)
(Also no, I don’t really care one way or another, but I can totally understand why waving an NPC-NPC romance in your face for no reson would be annoying.)
Chances are, the MC not knowing would be understandable to a certain degree. If the MC is new to an area, or just meeting the RO in question, then the MC not knowing would be believable. However, if the MC is continuously oblivious, it becomes unbelievable.
If they don’t notice the RO being a very…active individual in that sense, then someone is going to say something. It could be a friend or a coworker who tells the MC. It could be a past lover of the RO trying to make a scene or scare off the MC. Walking in the RO in question. Something has to put that up in the forefront, otherwise we’re playing with denial.
Whether or not the RO announces their fast and wild lust-life would depend on the RO in question. Some might brag. Others might keep it to themselves.
If we’re going into teammate dynamics, I wouldn’t see the promiscuous RO getting into an actual relationship with them unless it’s one of those one-night stands where the one who had been with them would likely warn the MC away. Or if it was something that had happened in the past, but they broke it off for one reason or another. The ex knows this RO, works with them, and was with them at one point. The ex doesn’t want the MC getting hurt by pursuing someone that isn’t known for commitments (and when you do romance them, the RO in question committing to a relationship would be extremely rewarding if done right).
Every decision an author makes has to have a solid, good reason. Reasons that propel the story forward in some way. If the RO is getting with another character in a different route, make sure it counts and adds to the story. If the relationship is going to be mentioned, it needs to be woven into the story itself somehow, and done in a way that builds upon the story instead of taking away from it.
I feel it is exceptionally strange for anyone to think an author would choose to write something ‘just cuz,’ usually there is a reason behind the choices that they make. For me, personally, sometimes there is so much that it can stun me in place, all the things to keep in mind.
I wonder what readers might think of ROs who have histories with one another. I’m considering making two of my ROs exes of one another but I’m wondering how poorly received it would be, I just think that their dynamic would beget an amusing larger history. I always think its weird for a bunch of pan people to be around one another and nobody is thinking of dating or ‘fun times’ until the story starts?
When I come across something like this, I am so happy! I love lore, be it the world and its events or the characters learning about it. There’s so much that can be done.
Personally, if someone else can’t handle that…that’s on them. People are complex.
This! This!
Of course they were thinking about it, even if it was never outright stated. Especially in stories where all the ROs are made to be ungodly attractive to the point that I question how they would be interested in a plain, normal human.
It would make things so much more interesting if there is backstory. Like, if the MC is going after one of the ROs, another one might be, ‘like, I don’t mean to scare you, but he bites.’
→ the comment above is actually something an RO in one of my other projects say about an RO you can romance who just happens to be a very sexual individual.
Thinking about such a deadpan comment from one RO about another the MC is getting with is enough to make me laugh.