RPG Romance- Between NPCs?

[Gemore]

During my exploits in western RPG's (dragon age, never winter nights, mass effect etc. Bioware, usually) I've noticed that you can romance NPC's in your party, but I cant recall them ever romancing each other.

It comes to mind after asking Alistair, as a male character, if he had sex. I came to thinking that it be sort of funny if he got with Morgaine.

Arguably, I have finished this particular game yet, so who knows what happens, but Ive never seen it happen. Any reason for this? Do you guys know any games where it happens?

 

[zfactor]

No, there is no NPC romance I know of in Dragon Age.



Unless you count the option to do a "dark ritual" (hint, hint) with Morrigan, if you are a woman (or a man), you can get Alistair to do it. That is the only NPC sex I know of in that game...

 

[Amethyst Wind]

Not sure if you'd consider them NPCs because you briefly get to play as them near the end of the game, but in Jade Empire if you play as a female character you can set Dawn Star and Silk Fox up together if you work hard enough.

Most minor NPCs simply don't get the screentime necessary to build a convincing romance.

 

[Gemore]

Im not talking explicitly about sex mind you. Just that these interesting characters well.. they seem to focus so much on YOU when I believe they are interesting enough regardless.

Can't say I've played Jade Empire. But in both KOTOR's, the only romance(so to speak) is involving you.

 

[WorkerMurphey]

This is an interesting idea. I can't think of a game that has a significant romance between npcs.

Maybe in The Saboteur Veronique and whatshisface McFrenchie pants? There's even dialogue regarding double dating.

I guess the idea is that nobody likes to be a third wheel - although I'm sure there's some Japanese game that allows you to do exactly that in creepy fashion.

 

[Amnestic]

I'm not sure if it was just a mod or not but I vaguely recalling hearing about a Haer'Dalis/Aerie romance in Baldur's Gate 2, though that never played out for me since I never had space for Haer'Dalis and Aerie was my *****.

 

[Calum_M]

It would be kind of cool to come across two characters already in a relationship, and then sabotage it.

Perhaps I'm just evil though.

 

[latenightapplepie]

I approve of this idea. Sometimes it feels like the whole universe and everyone in it revolves around the player character a bit too much.

That said, it would seem a bit artificial and contrived if all of your party members got 'paired up' in the epilogue of the game. It would be like a bad American soap opera or something. I'm just saying some of them should stay bitter and alone if that works for their characters.

 

[Amnestic]

Oh, I forgot: Fire Emblem series.

With support conversations you can prompt certain characters to get together, and often people will have multiple optional "partners" depending on which support conversations you choose.

Not all of them will have this of course. Some will hang out platonically, some will go their separate ways or some will stick around and find romance with no-named characters you never meet.

So yeah, that's one series where you can get your NPCs together. Super Robot Taisen/Wars has a lot of partnerships too, but those can't be chosen and are generally just a byproduct of the story.

 

[Littaly]

This has occurred to me to at a few times. Actually, the interaction between NPCs is not as fleshed out as it could be. Apart from the occasional banter you never really feel like you have an idea of how thew relationships between your companions is. Ah well, there's still a lot of room for improvement in western RPGs, which is what makes the genre so interesting. Hopefully we'll see it in the future ^^

 

[high_castle]

The Baldur's Gate series also featured romance between NPCs. It wasn't very well-received in general terms, but it was an interesting concepts. And chatter on the BioWare forums seems to indicate there may be some plans for the main character's sister to have a romance arc (no, not with the PC).

 

[Crimson_Dragoon]

In Star Ocean 2, depending on certain conditions, any party member can hook up with any other party member by the end. So this can mean friendship (same-sex) or romance (opposite sex). There are even 2 characters that are already in a romance before you meet them.

 

[StBishop]

It would be kind of cool to come across two characters already in a relationship, and then sabotage it.

Perhaps I'm just evil though.

Bauldur's Gate 1, Kahlid and Jahira.

Kill Kahlid, make Jahira yours. There's no dialog options for it but it happened in my mind.

 

[Fensfield]

Certainly, I can't think of any really mainstream titles that bothered, but the less in-the-limelight RPGs love pairing off their secondary characters. What about Grandia 2? It was great fun shipping Tio and Roan.

Or the Suikoden series? Most of those games generally made sure there were at least a few main-character-irrelevant romances going on in the background.

That said, I'm having rathermore trouble thinking of any Western ones.. but bar Bioware's games, I can't think of any really took the time to play with their NPC's more than the main plot demanded. And even Bioware's only ever hinted fancies, to my memory..

 

[Amnestic]

The Baldur's Gate series also featured romance between NPCs. It wasn't very well-received in general terms, but it was an interesting concepts. And chatter on the BioWare forums seems to indicate there may be some plans for the main character's sister to have a romance arc (no, not with the PC).

Her being your "sister" is kinda flimsy. I mean, how related are they by DNA anyway? Different mothers and their father was a God of Murder who we've already seen can take different forms. I understand how they can be classed as siblings as Bhaalchildren, but I question the actual genetics behind it.

 

[Gemore]

Guess there were a few games that did have them, though not with much player interaction sabotage or creating)

I approve of this idea. Sometimes it feels like the whole universe and everyone in it revolves around the player character a bit too much.

That said, it would seem a bit artificial and contrived if all of your party members got 'paired up' in the epilogue of the game. It would be like a bad American soap opera or something. I'm just saying some of them should stay bitter and alone if that works for their characters.

Yea, that did occur to me - it turning out like a soap opera. That would suck. But I think a little more fleshing out wouldn't go astray

 

[Theik]

Mass Effect 2 has it, to an extend. It's not an actual on-screen romance, but Kasumi is most definitely romantically interested in Jacob. She mentions how she thinks he's a hottie several times, wonders if he's into Japanese girls, spies on him when he's doing situps and even wrote an haiku about him.

 

[Irony's Acolyte]

I have to admit that it would be pretty interesting if some party members hooked up. It always seems weird that so many of the party members are interested in you. I know that its so you have choices and stuff, but perhaps if you had to do certain things then they'd like you, while at the same time another party member would lose interest in you. That way it feels less like your leading a harem and more of a group of actual people with actual interests.

 

[Gemore]

Speaking of characters, Dragon Age has some of the best (and most funny) characters I've every hadd the pleasure to fight beside. Its the main reason im playing.

But it always feels like there just isn't enough. They only get one quest, one romance. And at least in Modern RPGS, its always with you..

Kasumi? I finished ME2 and I don't remeber a Kasumi..