Dragon Age: Awwwwwwww.

[andraste]

One of the things Bioware is known for is including romance subplots in their games - ever since Baldur's Gate II player characters have been able to sleep with their companions in almost all of their RPGs, to the general delight of fans. One of the criticisms of the system, though, has been that the player character seems to end up doing all the work: they're the ones who give all the presents and more often than not act as an amateur therapist for the NPCs. This is a side-effect of the RPG set up - it wouldn't be much of a game if the player didn't get to do anything, after all. But in Dragon Age they seem to have shifted the balance slightly. NPCs seem more active in pursuing an maintaining relationships with your character, although depending on the individual you may have to get the ball rolling.



I've already noticed a contrast in Alistair and Zevran's approaches to the issue. Since Alistair is a follower rather than a leader - he hands over command of the last of the Grey Wardens to you about an hour after your joining ritual - you have to flirt with him first if you want to get anywhere. Zevran, on the other hand, starts hitting on you as soon as you meet. Regardless of your gender, your species, or the fact that he was trying to kill you ten minutes ago, before you slaughtered all his fellow assassins *g*. I look forward to encouraging him to pursue me further in some other play-through, but I should probably stop flirting with him and giving him shiny things now that Alistair has declared his affections. Speaking of which ...





Alistair: Hey, look at this. Do you know what this is? (He's holding a flower.)

PC: Your new weapon of choice?

Alistair: Yes, that's right. Watch as I thrash our enemies with the mighty power of floral arrangements! Feel my thorns, darkspawn! I will overpower you with my rosy scent! Or, you know, it could just be a rose. Which I admit is much less exciting.

(They have a conversation, the upshot of which is that Alistair wants to give the PC the rose.)

Alistair: I thought maybe I could say something. Tell you what a rare and wonderful thing you are to find amidst all this ... darkness.

PC: I feel the same way about you.

Alistair: I'm glad you like it. Now ... if we could move right on past this awkward, embarrassing stage and get right to the steamy bits, I'd appreciate it.

PC: Sounds good. Off with the armor, then.

Alistair: Bluff called! Damn! She saw right through me.

PC: You're so cute when you're bashful.

Alistair: I'll be ... standing over here. Until the blushing stops. Just to be, uh, safe. You know how it is.

... at which point I died from cute and had to reload.