I would like to see the more “ara ara” kind of romance options “female” like theres romance and their is seductive romance. Where that person makes you feel vulnerable and at there merciful touch. But not in the bdsm kinda mercy just idk yall get what i am saying? 
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Absolutely. This is something I really liked about the first Pon Para game. Most of the game is a road trip with the two ROs, so you get a really good sense of them whether you romance them or not, and it makes the romance feel very involved in the plot when you do it, even though it doesn’t really impact that much of what they do.
What is its name partner?
If I could give a suggestion, it would be don’t put an RO just for the sake of it. If you are going to do it, do it with a character that is narratively relevant, and with meaningful interactions. The tropes you use are secondary to the goal of what you are trying to communicate with this romantic subplot.
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I can’t remember it’s been forever since it was last updated so I haven’t seen it… I think I’d recognize the name if I saw it.
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I think they meant Sinners (formerly title Nemesis if I remember right), there’s a demo on dashingdon but no idea if there’s a forum post about it.
Demo link: https://dashingdon.com/play/olivewrites/sinners/mygame/
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Regarding the main topic I’d say don’t make ROs based on what people would like to see unless you’re making a dating game first or want to add some side flings to your story. Focus on creating characters that match your premise and make sense for MC to interact with and then expand them as romantic interests. Otherwise you run the risk of having ROs feel patched onto the game instead of part of it.
Having said all that serious stuff first I will add that I always gravitate towards romances that start cold and detached, but eventually grow warm or even burning hot.
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A young king thats what you are
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Count another vote for both of these.
I’d also like a RO who will actually make a move without me being forced to create a MC that carries around The Cattle Prod of Romance (+20). These one-sided “romances” where it’s always the MC doing the chasing, making the moves, begging for crumbs, etc, are freaking exhausting.
I’m in the minority here, but… Male ROs with a spine would also be nice. No blushing UwU types, or who run away every time they accidentally touch the MC’s hand. This goes back to wanting a RO who can “fuck my shit up” and I can “fuck their shit up” right back. In more ways than one.
Agree with this as well. Even if it’s not a playable thing, it’d be hilarious to see kink mishaps… like losing the keys to handcuffs. Or hearing quite obvious smacking sounds coming from the characters’ room and everyone trying to nonchalantly ignore it (or run away screaming, lol). Hell, just hilarious things during sex would be great.
Short aside: One night, when in college and in my apartment, I was awakened by my best friend’s naked boyfriend. He was freaking out because while they were going at it hard, she smacked her head in to the fireplace and got knocked unconscious. She woke up fairly quickly and I laughed my fucking ass off for years.
I’ll also add sex-to-love romances in there, because it’s a thing. It can be fun when written well, miserable if written poorly.
I love this, too.
Stoic ones can be awesome, too, but only if done well. If used to repeatedly torture the reader and MC, not so much. Pacing is important.
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YES. Give me ROs with agency please. Make the MC feel desired, a little chased, wanted. I know the idea of consent and safety is important but I feel like there’s been such a big shift toward that (which is great, we have to navigate things like that) that there’s now a lot of media out there, including games, where the MC has to give permission or be the initiator for every. single. thing. If my character is pursuing an RO, especially one noted to be physically motivated, they can reach over to hold my hand without having their lawyer contact my lawyer with a two week notice. It’s clunky and tiring, for me personally, to have to constantly give permission or do the thing myself. It doesn’t feel like the characters are actually forming a relationship in which they know or trust each other.
I can’t remember where, but I did see one game that specifically had a toggle at the beginning that allowed the player to basically turn NPC agency on or off, as in “when on, NPC will touch you sometimes or flirt first,” and “when off, MC will be completely in control of initiating all romance and physical contact.” I don’t know that that’s the answer, but it’s an answer and I wish we were moving toward how to balance player agency/mental safety/realistic relationship sims and maybe that method is a step in that direction.
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Yes, please.
I would love to see more kinky stuff too.
This would be amazing because I think the take on the sex of the games that got into the more explicit side of things (or even suggestive) is way too serious. It would be nice to have the option to do a more lighthearted take on the spicy stuff.
Not exactly a specific kind of love interest, but sometimes I have the feeling that romance-focused games take smooching/having sex/entering a relationship with the RO as the main goal of the story, which the MC will get at the good ending, you know? I would like to see more realistic relationships in games, where you can grow being together with the RO, facing together every shit that got in your way. Like, a “two against the world” thing. Some MCs have to deal with terrible plot-related stuff AND with a RO who doesn’t make anything easy. Sometimes I want a supportive RO who loves the MC and who can grow with them. A RO that is flawed but is doing their best. Someone who will have my MCs back, and my MC will have theirs. Don’t focus your whole damn game in angst - at least in relationships. Things can be light, things can be fun. It’s an absurd notion you ONLY can create a romance story if you make the character suffer so they can be happy in the end.
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Yes!! I’ve complained about this elsewhere. So many authors mistake build-up to characters getting together as the romance. It’s not. That shit is boring. I want to see the couple/throuple/whatever kicking some ass together, and being each other’s shelter in the storm. Longing glances and waffling can only go on so long. Let them be together and let’s see them making that work while fighting monsters/solving crimes/whatever.
Yep. The whole “angst” thing turns me off now. Just write people and stop trying to make them all a bunch of tortured tropes with no depth. And, ffs, if you’re determined to make an angst-fest to satisfy the tweeners (and those who miss being tweeners), at least give an off ramp for the adults who prefer their romances less “angsty” and more adult. That way we can have our “two against the world” story while the others sit around pining and crying over their LIs.
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I enjoy antagonists and rivals as romances and how the MC or the RO get influenced troughout the history because of it, I like slowburns as long as I don’t have to wait to the end of the story just to get a kiss, the RO initiating flirting can be good as long as it is in character with their personality and also I tend to prefer the non-human ROs, like if the option was a vampire/lamia/etc or human I would go for the vampire/lamia/etc on my first playtrough since I usually find them more interesting.
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I enjoy ROs that are characters first and romances second. Even if that means the ROs in question are imperfect and/or polarizing (and they are fewer in number). The ROs from I, the Forgotten One are the best examples.
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Probably RO’s who feel really established as characters in the universe. Theyre only interesting as a RO if they can be interesting on their own, without the MC in the picture. I also tend to enjoy RO’s who are not antagonistic and hostile without good reasons, its very hard to build up a romance with a character if they hate your guts, especially if the story concludes in one book. (Also RO’s who are not passive and pursue the MC are hot and im gutted there arent more of them.)
And most importantly, RO’s who only exist to have the MC fix them or their past without ever building a meaningful relationship in the first place is the worst kind of trap I see a lot of characters fall into. A relationship should be equal, in giving, in receiving. I shouldnt feel like im just going down a checklist in order to be rewarded with a scene thats one sided at best.
A good RO is someone who can properly see the MC and treat them like they’re also part of the world.
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Agreed - and on these sort of lines in the other direction, what I sometimes see is a creator who loves their character so much that they want to always show how cool and interesting they are. It’s great to love one’s characters, but it can be a bit much if the MC is put in a position where they can’t disagree or be better than the character at something, or the character is always right. It makes for a less satisfying experience as a player, because their MC is always overshadowed by the NPCs, but also means the character doesn’t have the breathing room to be a fully-realised person, flaws and all.
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Not a fan of Romance. But if I had to have one suggestion I would have a RO who is more Sarcastic but actually fun. Not broody. As well as not having that much Trauma or no trauma in regards to Romance.
I would also prefer less happy go lucky or plucky ROs. Make someone without optimism or atleast some more downer moments.
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I guess this doesn’t quite answer the question, but one I do occasionally feel “meh” about is that every RO character lack an orientation or preferences of their own.
I believe I have seen one or two games so far where you’re locked out of a path based on your own played gender. I guess it would just be nice if there were more like that, to give the character more of a human feel since not everyone you approach is going to like you, or be interested.
Though I imagine a big part of this would be that it is a game, and you may often need to forgo a sense of realism for fun and options.
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Someone batshit crazy who will take the lead to initiate romantic gestures 
. Yandere or certain characters that seem gentle in the outside but cray cray in the inside 
.
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PLEASE can I have someone quiet who’s not broody, or an ass, or running away from their feelings, or “shy”, PLEASE. Just someone who doesn’t see anything wrong with each of us occasionally sitting at opposite ends of the couch with our own books to read!
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