The idea that we can "romance every companion" in F4 got me thinking...

All it does is diminish the companions as actual characters living in this fictional world. Characters should have their own place in the story, with their own beliefs, ideals, and emotions. By making them all, in essence, "yes men or women" with a sole purpose to serve and protect our PC makes this world much less believable. It doesn't just end there, though, we're able to "win" at everything we do. There needs to be times when we are just simply told no - regardless of what we want, certain things just can't happen, either as a consequence of an action or choice, or just the personal preference of a certain companion in the story. We shouldn't be allowed to win everything or get everyone on our side. Let the story dictate what is needed, just because it can be fun doesn't mean it's appropriate.

Bethesda claims that little details matter, and they always do a great job at making little details matter in their environment, but not in their stories or characters. Why? Anything worth doing, is worth doing well, especially when it's something with so much emotional potential. Why focus more on the nuances of the landscape instead of believable, multi-faceted characters, or coherent world-building or immersive story and world interaction, i.e., the affect we have on the world and it's inhabitants by choosing to do...what we did. You can say, well the journey beats the destination, but you gotta ask yourself, what's the point? When, no matter how many roads all lead to the same outcome, does it really matter how we got there? Not really. That type of progression isn't thought-provoking, satisfying or very rewarding, it's just linear, pseudo-freedom.

Being thrown into a fictional world and just told to believe it isn't enough. We need to see building blocks, action and reaction, reason and purpose....for all things.

we haven't played the game yet ,it may make sense,and besides that entire arguement could be applied to life so it's kinda hollow.

Um, they're potentially romanceable. There's no reason to assume that means they're easy to romance or will be compatible with any PC no matter their rep, karma, personality and actions.

Don't like what their doing? Then don't buy the game, simple.

I'm not sure being able to romance every companion is confirmed. Just that there is the possibility of romance whether we play as male or female.

I do suspect that they'll have a gender-blind romance system. There are good commercial reasons for doing this (sadly) and there are a few kinda-ok reasons that are more to do with patching over poor writing. On the whole, I agree that this is a poor idea.

For the rest, a large part of the ability to succeed at everything (not all, but a large part) comes from the fact that most people just don't play these games for that long. They never max out a character's build, and so never create a character that can pass every stat or dialogue check. Only the dedicated 'do every quest, explore every ruin, join every faction' players do that.

I do agree that it would be far better if the checks and tests of a character build to determine success were more rigorous. Again, though, the clear commercial benefits of allowing players to advance in a quest even if they don't have the appropriate character build (you really don't need a dedicated magic-oriented character to complete the mage guild quest in Skyrim) are hard to argue with. Bethesda would have to make a clear choice to put game quality (for purists) against game sales - and I suspect there's only so far they'll go with that.

Still, we'll see. FO4 may surprise us in many areas, even if not in all

Indeed, Todd even specifically pointed out they work hard on ensuring there is depth in these relations, so even tho all human companions are potential romance options, Beth is clearly planing to have the player work for it.

So you want it to be like The Witcher 3, no matter what you do, someone will die?

Yup

You are over reacting, at least at the moment. I'm guessing that based on what you do that is going to determine if you can romance a character. I'm hoping the companion system is more like new vegas, where a npc can leave or even go hostile if you go against their ideology. I'm sure there is probably a romance option for each play style (except probably mass murder for obvious reasons) but you probably can't get it all.

I wouldn't mind if there was a creepy girl/guy who didn't mind our penchant for mass murder!

It'd be a laugh if it was the raider who was against mass murder

"You can't keep taking their stuff if you kill all of them! Just kill the ones who fight back, leave the others to scavenge more stuff for you. You're acting like one of the psycho crazies who give us a bad name. Now get your act together! Remember, I'm watching you..."

I do think everyone being bi is silly. But I'm sure karma or something like it will play a role.

So Harley Quinn?

out of curiosity who said that ?

Yeah, I'm not a fan of romance in videogames that essentially makes NPCs a prize, or basically just another side quest to complete.

I think it's certainly possible for NPC relations to have nuance, its just that there's not many great examples of it out there.

The only times I've ever found it terribly satisfying was when I didn't know it was even an option or it at least progressed more organically.

My favorite is still KOTOR where I didn't even know there was an option to have a romance with Bastilla. We just argued through the whole game - I never set out to follow a romantic angle, I just enjoyed our antagonistic back-and-forth. When suddenly it turned into a Han Solo/Leia love/hate thing it was actually a pleasant surprise.

I hardly use companions anyway. They get in the way of my killin'.

Can we romance ourselves? Is that confirmed?

They might not say no, but you can.

*snicker*

Lol I was thinking more along the lines of a grown up Wednesday Adams, but a Harley like character is good too!

Remember, the thread title is Ego stroking.

Agreed, no constructive criticism allowed, execute those who dislike Bethesda, our lord and savior who is without fault.

When you find some that are actively constructive, lemme know.

Only me, just now. That wasn't a reference or anything, just how I thought that odd situation might play out if implemented - which I'm sure it won't be

I think it boils down to Bethesda just wanting to make everyone happy. Which I admire greatly in the choices they have been making. Fact is when you start choosing who players can and cannot marry, then they run the risk of leaving people out. Think Mass Effect 3. They had an option for gay romance but if I recall there was only one and there where many options for straight people to marry. I know some people were upset by that.

I guess Bethesda decided to forgo all that drama and just made the marry options open to every companion. which personally I like. If they decided to pick and choose you who you could marry then they run this risk of you saying "I don't like these options to marry, it's like Bethesda doesn't understand my community" or "why are there these amazing straight/gay companions to choose from but none of them fit my sixuality"

I for one fight it awesome they are all bi because it makes it fair to everyone. They avoid leaving anyone out by doing this. It suggested that they really do care about all their fans. It also gives us an opportunity to build a strong relationship with the companions regardless of their sixuality. Because be honest, if they were labeled as gay then a lot of Straight wouldn't be interested in building a relationship with that companion because it would lead no where. Same goes for the gays out there and trying to build a relationship with a straight companion.

This just makes it fair to everyone.

In other words...it just works.
I applaud your insight, good sir.