I'd like for two reasons:

1. Immersion (not to certain extremes)

2. It makes it less appealing to download mods that turn TES into a six game if it already exists. Some people download those for immersion because no modders actually make decent mods for it because they put the focus on adding a brothel or NPCs who will have six with anyone.

As far as the six part goes, that should simply be an option, there for those who want it, maybe gives a special boost or something for a while, rather than actually seeing or hearing anything. The important part of it should be that you can have the relationship.

Relationships are a great way to make you more involved in the story, too. And I'm not talking sixual relationships specifically, but family, friends, things that make you feel like you're character didn't just show up some day, he has born and raised here. ( Unless of course, he did just show up some day. ) They make you more invested in the story and the characters, it's the thing I think Bioware has exactly right, you can have a great story, but if I don't give a rats-ass about whether anyone lives or dies in it, it loses a bit of it's shine.

That's true too, yes.

I think it's a part of everyday life and the subject is going to be made mainstream in video games someday, I just don't think an excellent elder scrolls game is the right vessel, let some other horrible title gain the notoriety to pave the way

I think having a dog like Fable 2 would be pretty awesome for a TES game. Not a mindless "companion" like Dogmeat, but something with character like Fable 2.

Edit: I mean in terms of characters you actually give a [censored] about, because when my dog died in Fable 2 I was pretty pissed off.

If a horrible title does so and becomes notorious for it then that precludes your earlier prediction. A good game needs to implement it appropriately before it'll be accepted.

Frankly as long as people think relationships = over-the-top hollywood chick-flick style six scenes and as long as you get parents who don't realise that their kids will still become six-obsessed if they keep blaming it on films and games instead of actually bothering to talk to them, maturely, then it will never be in video games.

Still, Bioware has its integration covered. Maybe, come TES VI, the world will be ready to face up to the fact that it is part of what we are.

And who says there needs to be six? If you think that that's all there is to a relationship, you're more guilty than you think you are.

If anyone feels accused by the above statement it must be a dormant, deep-seated opinion of yourself, because I certainly am not the one to judge.

A bit of off the record innuendo here and there would be fine, but I want to play good sidequests and do some light roleplaying, not play "The Sims: Skyrim relationship edition"

Noone said it would be a maintenance activity. Games that portray couples as being so clingy that being gone for a few days means "oh, they don't love me any more" need less soap.

And there's no need for six references, is there?

Relationships in video games are always a maintenance activity for people who are just trying to play a damn game.

Though this is TES, things are rarely forced on you.

So romances and relationships get in the way of watching a movie or reading a book too?

Not if you have a house with a basemant and a lockable door

Video Games are not books and movies.


GTA IV comes to mind, people always phoning me :verymad:

they'll always find some way to annoy you with it.

After spending all day running through dungeons and crypts, fighting dragons, and saving villages from goblins, my character needs to wind down in bed with a sultry bar maid.

No something like Halo or Fable are definitely nothing like books or movies. But if you look at something like The Witcher or Mass Effect 2 the story and writing is very much in line with a good novel and Mass Effect 2 is definitely movieish.

Edit: Actually mentioning GTA reminded me of RDR, and playing that is like watching a good western a lot of the time for me. And the family and friends are a huge part of the story if not the driving force behind your character.

Maintenance? "Hey wife, haven't seen you in a month, let's screw!" *an hour later* "Oh, your pregnant again? Here's some spending gold, see ya next month!"

When Dancing with the Stars is on, that movie have to wait.

I like nvde/six/flirting whatever in everything (even games), but not in a great quality game like TES. You'll get distracted if that woman/man over there could be a future partner. The work they lay down on TES are all in vain, if all we do is looking for a partner (or partners).

It should not have to be said, but this is all IMO.

I think it is positively hilarious that society is so prudish to the point that mere romance options are taken as smut yet dozens and dozens of people clamor on about blood and gore with open bloodlust in gore/blood topics. Tear people limb from limb: Overwhelming positive response. Add realistic NPC lust or romance options: Nooooo, cooties!!

Obviously everyone has the right to their own opinion, but it's highly odd to me. Moderate without explicit stuff is fine in my opinion and adds to the world just as any other detail does. Why should NPCs be asixual? Drugs, violence, racism, slavery, political tension, and all manner of mature plots are okay, but not anything sixual at all!

I don't think the game needs to have outright pormography added by the developers nor do I think it needs sickening (to me) gore, but obviously there's violence and obviously the races of The Elder Scrolls do have romantic feelings. I don't see how acknowledging that in game is a big deal. Unless I misunderstood the topic creator, they were not asking for detailed in game depictions.

A return of Cassius Curio perhaps?

Few games have succeeded as well at making the player feel dirty.

Nah, focus on slashing up were-yetis with big-ass swords.

I second this :thumbsup:
Having romance options in a role playing game won't transform it into something cheap unless the player wants it to be cheap. Romance options are as natural as needing a home of your own, and since homes are in... maybe it's time for romance to be in too. As optional as buying a house.

Eww! six and romance!

But seriously, why is everyone so against this? What's wrong with NPCs acting like real people? Why can't you have married couples and dating couples? Or a drunk Nord trying to chat up a barmaid? Would it detract from the game? I reckon it would make the world feel more real. There could even be a bit of light humour in, and you could factor it into a few minor questlines (my husbands cheating on me! Go kill him!) and so on.

Well then don't look for a partner and do the quests instead? It's like saying we shouldn't add sidequests to the game because it detracts from the main quest. It's just another thing to do.

I'm not completely against it. Just saying men and women (man/man, man/woman and woman/woman) are drawn to each other, and we would go for it. NPC's on the other hand...

Just mod it in yourself if you want it that bad. The rest of us will have enough in Alduin's coming to occupy ourselves without having the ability to explore relationship opportunities.