I’ll preface this by saying that representation is vital, and a reduction in the sexual diversity ofDragon Agecharacters is not what I’m advocating for at all. I’m simply in favour of Dragon Age continuing its historical approach to companion romance, i.e. every companion has a defined sexuality, rather than the approachBaldur’s Gate 3takes that makes every character pansexual, or perhaps a more fitting term, ‘playersexual’.
Romance in RPGs is a topic we’ve already tackled here at DualShockers. Jervon Perkinsenjoys the constant intimacy of Baldur’s Gate 3and would like to see more of this in Veilguard, I’ve written on how fewer, more developed romances areoften a good thing, and I’m going to echosome of the arguments that Matthew Schomer has already maderegarding companion sexuality here.
It’s fantastic that a range of sexualities are present in these games, but how authentic is this representation if these characters are moulded to the preferences of the player? It almost feels like these romances aren’t quite genuine. I love Baldur’s Gate 3 but oftentimes the romance comes across as very fan service-y as every companion constantly throws themselves at the player. It’s a more light-hearted, sexually charged approach to romance but one that lacks that genuine feeling of connection.
Authentic Representation
The romance in Dragon Age Inquisition is locked behind the sexual preferences of its companions and feels more authentic as a result. There are two bisexual romances, a male-only gay romance, a female-only gay romance and four heterosexual romances. The relationship between Dorian and a male inquisitor is beautiful partially because Dorian has struggled with the social implications of his sexuality, making the connection between the two more rewarding.
There’s a counter-argument to the above that the portrayal of societal homophobia breaks the escapism of the game for the LGBTQ+ community. But, for people who have experienced discrimination associated with their sexuality, I think that kind of real representation is very valuable and should be encouraged. A similar argument emerged in online circles regarding Baldur’s Gate 3 and racism against Tieflings, and whether it was ‘too much’.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Making Everyone Pansexual Cheapens The Romance
I love the accessibility of BG3’s relationship system, but what does it really say about consent?
In a similar vein, if you try and flirt with Sera as a male Inquisitor then she’ll quickly cut you off, telling you that she’s lesbian, she only likes girls and that’s that. It’s refreshing and not something you see a lot of in RPGs that either have every character open to the player or don’t let you broach the topic at all if you’re not sexually aligned with that companion. It makes these characters feel like real people and not just extensions of the player’s fantasies. These are fantasy games, and it’s certainly a valid approach to player fulfilment, but I think Dragon Age is more nuanced in this regard.
It’s also, in some ways, a more authentic representation. Not every member of the LGBTQ+ community is pansexual, or sexually open to all genders. Having characters that represent these subsets of the community is crucial. Of course, you need to have sexual variety among companions to ensure representation. I think Inquisition did a fantastic job in varying the sexuality of its characters, and I’d love to see BioWare include another transgender character like Krem in Veilguard (maybe even as a full companion?).
Now, you’re able to obviously have pansexual romance options, too. That’s completely valid. I especially enjoy it when the characters incorporate their pansexuality into their personality and experiences. I actually think Dragon Age: Origins did quite a good job with Leliana and Zevran, two characters that were thoroughly pansexual, and said as much to the Warden.
There are sections of the community who will disagree with me, and that’s ok. I’ve seen comments expressing annoyance that female Inquisitors can’t seduce Cassandra because they want a butch lesbian romance, or that you can’t be gay with Alistair in Origins. In my opinion, having a strong woman or a soft-hearted man be heterosexual is completely fine, and it speaks to the authenticity of sexual representation in Dragon Age.
The approach taken by Baldur’s Gate 3 is certainly valid and it makes sense in the Forgotten Realms setting where the default setting for everyone appears to be pansexual, but I love that Dragon Age can be representative while also being analogous to the real world. It’s a series that tackles complex topics but gives everyone someone to root for. I hope BioWare doesn’t resort to simple fan service in their upcoming game.
I Wonder Which Origins Companions Will Return In Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Which beloved characters could make an appearance in The Veilguard?
