HELP! Someone explain how gay relationships in ME3 will work

[Poop di Loop]

Cuz I'm completely fucking lost. I created an account on here JUST to get answers.

I try googling, but almost all I get is scary fan fictions/pictures.

Does this change previous/established characters' sexuality? Because Garrus, Thane, Grunt, and Joker all struck me as undeniably straight.(Jacob was the only one who seemed unsure about himself.) I just find it fucking weird that they suddenly change teams, third game in. Or are they just adding in new love interests?

I also have a really (reallly) bad habit of accidentally romancing people I really don't want to. (i.e. Jack, Miranda in ME2). And stuff got awkward after I cut it off. I really just want to stay best buds with Thane, Garrus, and the rest of my male crew. Shit would get bizarre if I (and them) started getting boners around each other.

With the exception of Mass Effect, I've never really played that many WRPGs, so I have NO idea how gay relationships work in a game. Do people throw themselves at you, thus having you have to shoot them down, or do you have to initiate the relationship?

Honestly I think they should just have you say in the beginning of the game whether you want strictly hetero, gay, or bi romance options in the game and then just go off there. It would take a huge load off my back to know I can be friends with a guy without accidentally going into Brokeback Mountain territory.

DISCLAIMER: Let me just say first off that I don't hate homosexuals or have anything against them, period (one of my good friends is gay). I've noticed that saying anything short of "BEING GAY IS THE MOST WONDERFUL THING IN THE WORLD YAY HOMOSEXUALITY" immediately gets you labeled as a homophobe.

edit: Why is captcha on this site so annoying, wat.

 

[BlumiereBleck]

Does the sex really matter that much?

 

[theonlyblaze2]

I think that the gay romance options are mostly going to be with new characters. Plus, we don't know exactly who is coming back. Also, welcome.

 

[Luke5515]

That is actually a good point. I thought they were just doing new people, but I suppose they could say that any character that you didn't get with was the opposite sexuality the whole time, and you just never knew. This would lead to some play throughs with characters of one sexuality while a different play through would have the same characters with different sexualitys. It'll be interesting to see how they handle it. So just wait and see I guess.

 

[Poop di Loop]

Does the sex really matter that much?

It does when it involves changing interactions with characters.

@theonlyblaze: Thanks.

 

[Talydia]

Seems like a relatively small thing to get worked up over. Also, is it really that hard to believe that they were just keeping it hidden? I'm sure there are tons of bosses/commanding officers out in the world without a shred of doubt that some person working under them is straight/gay when they're the opposite.

 

[JimmyC99]

not everyone is coming back Bioware said that the overall companion numbers have been reduced, i can easily see the following being back Mordin, Garrus, Tali, Kaiden/Ashley, Liara. there are more then this like 4ish more so maby Miranda and 3 new people. it really depends on how Drew, Marc and maby David write this years "sexbox" romance tree. (did i just insult Fox news? i think i did, i did tore a pussy cat) so everyone get ready March 2012 the second round of Bioware being both pandering only to gays and hating on them will happen. im sure Mr Gaider is drafting his response now

 

[Poop di Loop]

Seems like a relatively small thing to get worked up over. Also, is it really that hard to believe that they were just keeping it hidden? I'm sure there are tons of bosses/commanding officers out in the world without a shred of doubt that some person working under them is straight/gay when they're the opposite.

Nice. Very subtle, implying how totally cool and liberal you are by saying it's a "relatively small thing" I "got worked up" over. Why did I make an account here, lord.

First, I'm sure people like that exist, but that still doesn't make any sense in the MASS EFFECT world.
As I said before, Shep and the rest of the crew's relationship was not a strict "commanding officer and soldier" relationship. There was barely any level of formality between them besides taking orders as given. They were all really good friends. But not a single hint during the last 3 (or however long) years they've been working together that they're actually gay? I helped them out on some of their most personal issues, but they couldn't even mention their sexual preference? Not even mentioning their undying love for me before the suicide mission when all of us expected to die? Seems like someone's in the closet. But then, oh wait, they suddenly had a 180 degree mindset change and have decided that they want to bone me and clearly stated wanting to do so since the first game. Awwwriighhttt. Let's just throw character consistency out the window, shall we?

 

[evilneko]

Um, yeah, it's completely plausible, especially considering Shep's likely been with someone else the whole time. Maybe you should pay more attention and you won't "accidentally" go down someone's romance path you don't want to.

 

[Irridium]

It'll act just like every other relationship acts.

Talk to the guy/girl a couple of times and they'll want to have hot, sweaty sex with you because you're their "true love".

God damn I hate how relationships work in current Bioware games...

 

[Poop di Loop]

Um, yeah, it's completely plausible, especially considering Shep's likely been with someone else the whole time. Maybe you should pay more attention and you won't "accidentally" go down someone's romance path you don't want to.

Nice to see such polite and friendly and totally not passive aggressive answers.
Being in a relationship doesn't stop female characters from hitting on you/implying they want you in your pants. You talked to Garrus and Thane about past relationships before, and both of them mentioned only ones between chicks. If they were truly bi, they would've mentioned other non-straight relationships as well.

Fucking hell, I'm not here to argue. I just want information.

 

[CthulhuMessiah]

It just will.

 

[Sean Steele]

I'm confused as well I thought all the romance in 3 would be your flames from 1 and 2 respectively and that Shepherd got no new lovers in 3.

 

[FFHAuthor]

I think the main issue is that Bioware's other prominent example of handling Male/Male relationships was Dragon Age 2, and that was handled about as much subtlety as a hand grenade in a Funeral. It's mainly the fact that to fit in a male homosexual relationship, they've had to retcon it into the story. Anders being the pinnacle of this with Dragon Age 2, his first appearance in Awakening he was straight, Dragon Age 2 when you're playing a male character he's gay...or straight, depending on your gender choice.

I think that the biggest reason fans have issue with the homosexual relationships that Bioware has been creating are that the supporting cast automatically changes to being gay to fit the opportunity for that romance. Every romance-able character in Dragon Age 2 is open no matter what gender you chose. The characters feel more like props than a part of the story, they aren't set and they feel weaker for it. Mass Effect has had very strong characters that are really appealing to fans, retconing them and changing them to suit a romance option later in game just fells like it weakens them, Ashley was always a male romance option, Kaiden, always a female, Liara was always 'bisexual', it didn't matter what gender you chose, those were set.

 

[Zeraiya]

I created an account just to reply to this topic

I know that a lot of people who play Male!Shep are having a bit of a freakout about this new change that will be happening in ME3. (Obviously, with Fem!Shep it's not that new, since Liara is aesthetically female and thus Fem!Shep could always have some form of gay relationship in the series.) I do understand where the concerns come from. I don't see how the characters could suddenly switch sexual orientations, and it would be really weak if in the final installment of the game you get this really flimsy 'oh... I was always bisexual, didn't you know?' from one of the already estabalished characters. Having said that, I think that excuse could work on ONE of the recurring characters... maybe. Shepard isn't a problem since one of the most important parts of the game is that you, the player, are creating Shepard so if he/she suddenly realised that they were bisexual or gay, then so be it.

What I can say to help on the matter is that I read somewhere in an article (I'll try and track it down and post the link) that BioWare are aware that fans don't like how easily they end up romancing characters. I had massive issues with accidently romancing characters in both Dragon Age II and Mass Effect 1 & 2 (Seriously, Kaiden and Anders... -_-). BioWare said that the intended to 'fix' this and are creating much more deeper and emotional friendships that don't immediately switch to romance and are making it more of a conscious choice if you want to romance the character. Hopefully this means you can have a nice chat with one of your gay crewmembers and not have them expect you to suddenly jump into their bed.

I also think that BioWare isn't going to 'troll' the characters they've made. And if they do... oh God help me. Yeah, if they make Garrus bisexual I'm going to have a bit of a fit. It's not that I'm homophobic or anything of that nature (quite the contrary) but I firmly believe that Garrus (and like Poop di Loop said: Joker, Thane and Grunt) is straight. If they just switch him overnight it will feel like they disregarded the character they made. The same goes for the female characters like Tali - I cannot believe that she could be bisexual either. Jack is the only one who could be - and I actually think she admitted to having sex with women, so there you go.

The last thing you have to take into account is a lot of the companions that were in ME2 will not be companions in ME3 considering BioWare said they were going to cut down the amount of companions and my guess would be by half or so. Immediately half of your concerns are cut away because if the people aren't your companions you won't romance them. I don't think they'll make Tali or Garrus bisexual, Liara already is and the other 3 or so are mysteries. My guess is, like others have said, new companions will be made in order to cater for same sex relationships.

As far as homosexual relationships go... they should be the same as heterosexual. I think Dragon Age is one of the only games that got homosexual relationships right... although everyone in that game just threw themselves at you regardless which was disarming. But the game at least treated gay people and homosexual relationships with respect which is what you want. Homosexual relationships are new to games so the most important thing is making them comfortable for the player.

Personally I just hope the new characters cater for the same sex relationships. As much as I would love to romance Tali and Garrus whatever my gender I don't think it fits with the already estabalished characters.

(On a side note: James Vega - the "footballer on steroids" - would make a very awesome gay companion for Male!Shep... lol)

 

[Poop di Loop]

snip

THANK YOU.

This is exactly what I was looking for.
I just wanted information, not a hugeass debate

And I'm honored that my thread prompted you to create an account just to reply.

 

[manythings]

-snip-

Panic less and wait. The only they've explained with any detail so far is that old relationships are stil remembered and cheating, if you did it, will screw you later on.

EDIT: How in god's name do people "accidentally" romance someone? I've never once made that mistake. In ME2 I guess you could think the short text was something else but in DA2 there's actually a fucking symbol, a Golden Heart no less, that indicates it's a romance option.

 

[DigitalAtlas]

Welcome, extremely paranoid person who reminds of Tweak from South Park.

I'd like to point out for you, the game isn't out yet. We have no clue how it'll work as none of us work for Bioware. If we did, Dragon Age II wouldn't be so hated here.

As for accidentally romancing characters, I'm sure you're not paying close attention to your dialogue choices. I advise you to replay ME2 again and focus on each bit of dialogue with your crewmates. Say what you feel like saying. Because if you pay attention to your choices, there should be no way that happens.