Do you think they should have given orientations to the NPC to give them more personality or do you think it was fine the way it was? Personally, the approach they have is good, which often voids of the stereotypes when given sixual orientations like with other games like Dragon Age and Mass Effect. Something I also enjoy but doesn't like how they approach the sixual orientation personally. Bethesda game is also more about freedom of choices, so we should roleplay the way we want to.

If their orientation adds something to their backstory or character, then yes, gender preference should be specified. If not, leave it open. For example, Veronica's preferences caused tension between her and the rest of the Brotherhood, so it was important that her preference for women be specified. On the other hand, Arcade's preference for men didn't really add anything to his story or character, so that should have been dropped.

When you talk about NPCs, are you referring to companions, specifically, or to any NPC that could be encountered? I have to agree that I like how they handled companions, without making stereotypes. Some characters feel more natural to be romanced by a specific gender, though, in my opinion, but that's subjective. I've only played ME2 and DA:O, and I can't say I've noticed any LGBTQ characters during my playthroughs beyond the elf assassin (blanking out on his name) in DA:O who is bisixual.

I think in general this is a sensitive topic, be it with video games, movies, or TV shows, because for the most part I see very cliched depictions of LGBTQ, even if the characters are shown to be just as gifted or flawed as anyone else (which is a step in the right direction).

Those are just my thoughts, and I'm not sure it answered your question.

There is still some differences I noted. When traveling with Cait as a male she comments that I'm watching her ars. When playing a female she never said this to me.

I would prefer sixual preferences ... as long as those preferences are exactly what I wanted to do each play-through. So ... in response I guess we get generic date-bots.

I earnestly don't believe any of the companions would have had more "depth" to their character if the game told me they only romanced a certain gender. It doesn't change their personal stories or cause any contradictions, and the character arcs never explore sixual identity - which isn't a wholly common thing in stories, even a lot of Bioware characters wouldn't have changed much if they decided to mix up the sixual orientation.

This is pretty much what I'm trying to say.

Hi Leburns I am playing as a female in one of my play throughs she said exactly that to me but only once. It was so funny.

I don't know I thought they did a good job, and had no Liara romancing me or else...... I dont think is all that much work (just change a line slighty if you even have to) and it certainly makes people happy it seems (well as happy as people get on the internet haha).

Then again I miss the day's when you could get shot down.... And some NPC were actually picky in who they would romance...

Is that wishy washy enough, hehe

I disagree about Arcade. I think him being gay did add something to his character, it made him more fleshed out. If all character traits that didn't in some way play a part in the story were dropped we'd end up with pretty bland characters. Why give characters names, interests, unique facial features? To make them feel more like people. Idk, in my opinion it helped make him more interesting. At the same time it was handled well in that the devs didn't feel the need to make his sixuality be constantly referenced or acknowledged, which is often done in cringeworthy heavy-handed ways in games, for example a lot of people didn't like how Dorian's story in DAI revolved around him being gay. Plus, Arcade being gay gave me another use of a perk I picked.

But I like the way it was handled in Fallout 4, it never felt awkward or too out of the blue no matter what romance I chose.

There's also some non-companion characters who do seem to have set sixualities in the game, and they're done well too, I think. The two scientist women in DC seem to be in a relationship, and that Mel guy in the Big Dig quest flirts only with male Sole Survivors.

Well yeah, it wasn't the focus of his character, but on the other hand, it was still part of his character. Just like him being a Follower didn't particularly add anything but it was still part of his backstory and personality.

I thought Arcade was done pretty well honestly. The whole "I'm gay" thing wasn't shoved in your face and as a result he didn't become a walking-talking stereotype. It was just his sixual orientation, it wasn't a big deal, and the game didn't treat it as anything special either. Just like Cass being hetero didn't add or take anything away either.

Woah. Why would you say that?

They should drop making it a topic maybe, but having a definite sixual orientation that is NOT "whichever the PC is", is part of any character or any human. Any game that does have romances must play with this deck, otherwise it's watered down nonsense. I'd rather have the developer show some spine to include more LBGT characters than usual still today - which I assume is really why most LBGT players would rather take the "playersixual" solution over predefined, because not doing so mostly means "nine heroes and the gay one".

My point being, it all depends on how "fair" you really want it to be. But when characters are written not as definitvely open for everything, but just indifferent, I think it takes away from their character. If you wanna make sixuality a thing, then go through with it. If you don't, then don't.

Honestly, I think Arcade could have not been established as any orientation and his character and story would be pretty much the same. Also, I think Cass, if you play a female courier and choose the Cherchez la Femme option says that when she is drunk, she does not care who she sleeps with, possibly indicating she is a stereotypical three-drink bisixual.