MR T3D said:
someone get that webcomic where the male Hawke is talking to the elf-guy, and says to himself "Okay, just let him down easy, don't want any rivalry points here" and then the next frame they're in bed, with him puzzled as to why.
Yeah, that was the problem alot of people had with Zevran. You had to be a dickhead in order to not sleep with him.
Same with DA2 and Anders really, there are the "no thanks" options but they're all harsh and piss the other character off. I mean I'm not being funny here but for a homosexual person to expect some other person to also be homosexual is silly to the point of stupidity, especially with no hint beforehand. I'm not saying don't have that initial flirt to test the water but I'm also pretty sure most wouldn't be offended by a polite, "no thanks mate that's not my bag, thanks for the compliment though."
It's harsh of me to expect that acceptance of decline by homosexuals, it's never nice to be declined however diplomatically it's put, but you'd imagine familiarity with the experience breeds indifference; and it is the reality of the situation. We base the games society on what we know of real life except where we are told it's different; we haven't been told (even in an inconspicuous codex entry) that Thedas is equally split between heterosexuals, homosexuals and bisexuals (despite, I think, this being what the writers are implying) so we shouldn't expect it to be.
Maybe they're too worried about the impact that would have on sales? Which, if true, is depressing (more so because they're most probably right to be worried rather than not ballsy enough to just announce it).
You can't even choose the sarcy response as a yes/no, it's always non commital (and the character continues to flirt). In point of fact the funny response is the most cuntish available to you, as you don't say yes or no you just string them along. So, you're left feeling like a dickhead when you're expecting the funny button to be funny. There should be a yes, a no, a cheeky yes and a cheeky no. If you're really wanting the full spectrum you also go rude yes/no and I'm-not-worthy yes/no.
You could argue all those options wouldn't fit with a pre-written character like Hawke, but; s/he's apparently undetermined enough to go for one of four wildly different characters whilst promoting rivalry or friendship with not only them but a few others too (not to mention the whole mage/neutral/templar thing). So, that argument doesn't hold much water with me. Interaction with characters is also one of the only avaliable ways to influence the story, so needlessly curtailing it is frustrating.
Sticking to monogamous relationships was a predictable, and predictably dull, choice. The only character that probably wouldn't be up for something more interesting would be Anders, the others wouldn't have anything against it.
What? This is a fantasy game people. Key word fantasy, you may or may not have heard of the phrase sexual fantasy. Bringing hero fantasy and poon tang fantasy together (like they're not normally linked in our own heads) only makes sense.
It just aint PG which is, as we all know, the only audience games have.