#why is there no romance in this game

[nightowlmila]

Spoiler warning for Hogwarts Legacy's Sebastian Sallow & Natsai Onai quest lines!

So, I haven't seen anyone talking about the two crucio moments yet - I've decided to just do it myself. (English is not my first language.)

I've always felt like Sebastian was pretty much smitten with the MC from the moment they bested him in that duell in DADA on the first day. (As was the MC with him. Really, you can't tell me otherwise xD)

Which made it very weird for me that he so easily was able to use the cruciatus curse on the MC.

But, after witnessing crucio being cast on Natsai, it makes a whole of a lot more sense.

You see, when Natsai was hit with the curse by Harlow, she broke down spasming, apparently even loosing consciousness, ending up in the hospital wing in a wheelchair. She said it was mainly because her mother insisted, but when you compare that to how the MC was effected by the curse - she seems to be a whole of a lot more damaged by it.

Because MC, while obviously being hurt by it - considering the life bar dropped into the red area - took just one healing potion and was walking and talking like nothing happend. No spasms, no loosing consciousness. They just dropped to their knees in pain. Which means that Sebastian using that curse was not half as bad as Harlow using it.

It reminded me of when Harry used it on Bellatrix in Order of the Pheonix. While she too broke down from the pain, she was basically unharmed by it - because Harry, while furious because of Sirius's death, didn't mean it in a way that would cause unspeakable pain.

I see the same for Sebastian. He didn't want to hurt the MC in that way. That boy has by all means a lot of unresolved issues. Anger issues even. And he definitely is drawn to the dark arts. But he is also a loyal, reliable friend who cares deeply (maybe even a bit too much, considering how far he is willing to go for his sister) about those he loves.

My point being - Sebastian may have used the cruciatus curse on the MC to escape Slytherin's maze - but it was a really weak one compared to an actual dark wizard using it on someone they hate.

Therefore I don't see Sebastian actually wanting to hurt the MC but merely channeling his anger and frustration into the curse to escape a death trap.

He definitely meant to kill that goblin and his uncle, tho. Like I said. Lots of unresolved (anger) issues. Get him lots of hugs and a therapist, please. Why couldn't my MC give him more hugs and therapy sessions? I want more meaningful decisions in that game XD

(No, seriously. The way it most of the time doesn't even matter what you say because the characters answers will not differ is just plainly frustrating at times. No, douchbag Solomon, I did not defend Sebastian, I said he went the hell too far, you moron XD)

[kiss-my-asymptote]

I’m fucking dying Astarion’s early party banter is him just flirting with all the companions and striking out; none of them are having it. When he comes on to Tav at the party, not only is he manipulating them, but they are literally his last choice. Not even plan b or c, Tav was plan ‘fuck it, I guess we’re doing this!’ and that clown still fell into his own pit trap.

[callixspod]

Persona 4 Golden Update but... Something's off. (Read ID: Important)

Expect to see more soon!

[yabishrihere]

“Do you know how hard it’s been for me to contain myself?”

[girl-of-stupidology]

I LOVE PENTIMENT SO MUCH!!! WHERE WAS I WHEN THIS GAME HAD A COOL FANDOM BACK IN 2023 😭😢

As a person that never played a single video game besides Hades this year, never have I found a niche game that is legit made for me if not for Pentiment by Josh Sawyer. If you are an art historian lover, Illuminated manuscript lover, or love silly men and monks GO play it.

[fir-fireweed]

STORY UPDATE! CHAPTER 10 IS LIVE!

This chapter is not long, but it was the most difficult for me to write. This is the chapter I have been dreading since I first dusted off my novella and embarked on this project. I knew the chapter was coming, I knew why it had to happen, but I still struggled with it. I can assure you I disliked writing it more than you will dislike reading it. Maybe.

But it’s not all ominous news—those of you on Ferret’s route are in for a nice treat! She really gets her time to shine in this chapter.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who has followed, read, rated, or commented on this IF! The reception to Viatica has been overwhelming and I love reading your asks and comments, thank you!

[maythedreadwolftakeyou]

idk man been sifting through my feelings on all this. and i think what it comes down to is i don't really care/mind that there are non-canonical (BY DEFINITION, if it is not IN the media, it is not in the 'canon', and this info was in tweets) statements about Lucanis' sexuality being demi/ace/him being a virgin. and i'm glad for people who like to incorporate that into their headcanons about the game/interpretation of his character and expand on that more than the game itself does, like, this is our space now baby do what makes you happy!

but personallyyyyyyy i just do not think these new labels are some magic bandaid that solves the flaws in the pacing and writing of his romance. Lucanis never talking to Rook about his feelings as they get to know each other (but sure is willing to talk to Rook about his feelings for Neve if you don't romance him) is not solved, for me, by saying "well he wouldn't be attracted until he got to know you and also has no experience with sex". the same way calling it a "slow burn" did not solve this for me. especially because right up until release he was being advertised as a "bisexual mess". but now was secretly a "panromantic demisexual" the whole time. it just... idk. you can say anything you want online, you know? but if you don't Show Me... well. i also don't like that people who are saying 'well this was Not part of his story in the game so i don't see it' are getting labeled as anti-ace when like, many of the criticisms i am seeing are coming from people who are themselves demi/ace lol. it's not asexual representation bc it is not in the game itself. (though honestly. i AM glad that that was not jammed into his story arc, and that his quests were about his agonizing over his family and the fact that he's now bodysharing with a demon. because his writing was never going to get MORE lines, and to take away any of the ones he had to put in a sexuality arc beyond an offhand mention would have really crashed that because the existing writing barely holds together as is. like there just was not room to have more so personally i am not criticizing Mary Kirby for her decision not to add it. but you can't not add something and then also claim it's a definitive part of his character. plus i dont think a character needs to know/understand/use modern labels anyway).

and personally i DO prefer an awkward/fumbling Lucanis, to be clear. Before Veilguard came out I was never expecting the sexy antivan lover angle because we got that once already: Zevran. I didn't want poor-imitation Zevran, and bioware would not write Lucanis like that to make sure he is a more distinct character anyway. BUT i do think it's reasonable in a bioware game to expect that a romance is going to have romantic content--and the number of times after his cutscenes i literally said aloud "go girl give us nothing" after he failed to react to a flirt was pretty sad. If he's awkward and nervous give him a line where he stutters and doesn't know how to react, not just a blank stare and back to business, or whatever. Or a scene where you can literally ask "you never respond to my flirting do you want me to stop" and for him to say say he likes it but doesn't know how to reciprocate or. ANYTHING. Idk. I have seen 10 different posts/takes on how the Wall Lean Scene fits in, be it that he was imitating a romance novel or it was crow seduction training or he was just pretending because that's how he's seen Illario do it but at the end of the day. It is all just speculation because nothing in the game EVER addresses how wildly different the tone of that scene is from every other one of his romance scenes. And as much as i love the Sexy Wall Lean, given the rest of his characterization in EVERY other romance scene, i think I'm at a point where i think the romance would have been better served by cutting it out and having a different scene where you actually get to talk to him instead.

but! that is not the game we were given. we only have what we have, which is the Veilguard content by Mary Kirby, and The Wigmaker Job written by Courtney Woods (where for reference, he mentions stumbling into an orgy on a previous job, and having an "interesting" time getting out of that, so i already think we have 2 different interpretations of his character between them anyway). but yeah idk man to me "well he's ace" is not an excuse for either gaps in the writing or cut content or whatever was going on. because 1. HE IS NOT AN ACTUAL PERSON he is a storytelling vessel that i felt failed to satisfyingly communicate the entire romance story and 2. even if he was a person saying 'well in ace relationships communication sucks' would also be, not great, you know. everything beyond the text itself is just interpretation and headcanons

[vigilskeep]

the lucanis romance pacing is kind of objectively terrible, no idea what the writing thought process was, but it’s so funny in-world that it basically circles around to a win for me

[momochanners]

Yes, YES; This one gets it.

[jaysworlds]

hello mcr girlies. which mcr song is YOUR song i mean like 'this song gets me like no one else has ever got me this is the greatest piece of music ever to be created etc etc etc' the song no one understands like you understand.

i'll go first. mine is Summertime

[corseque]

“But the game is DA: Veilguard not DA: Solavellan” hey dipshit, was BG3 about Dame Aylin and Isobel because they have a resolved romance plot in it? Or were they somehow able to tell a story about both? Don’t be fucking stupid

[preciouslittle-bhaalbabe]

Durge and Astarion have the potential to be the BESTEST buddies or the most loyal lovers. Like almost immediately after Astarion threatened them Durge is like "OMG BESTIE SAME ID LOVE TO SEE YOUR ENTRAILS". Then once he joins the party Durge has clocked him as being undead basically right away. Maybe not fully realising it but the mind doesn't dance with thoughts of a perfect pretty corpse for any of the other companions.

Not to mention just how similar they both are. When Astarion pours his heart out to durge in act iii after they find out the truth??? It's such a sweet moment. He knows exactly what to say to them and nobody else even asks Durge how they're feeling after finding out the truth besides him.

He watches them sleep because he's worried ;w;

Everyone else is just like "oh wow. So maybe don't be a Bhaalspawn ok?". They're not exactly helpful lol

ALSO not to mention the "kill your darling" cutscene??? Astarion is fucking terrified but he's so sweet about it ;w;

Everyone else is like "ugh you're rabid this isn't good"

And Astarions like "you're cute! In another life we may have been friends. But this is MY SWEET and you need to get out >:c"

I love them your honour.

[houseswife]

I love how neferiously hugh laurie delivered his lines in that 5x1 scene where house is blackmailing wilson. because the dialogue could’ve been conveyed in a manner that was obviously facetious and unserious (like the way RSL was playing the scene: “You’d jeopardise a patient—? 😒🙄) but he literally chose to go “If it keeps you here😈👹” in the most deadass, diabolical tone. so the result is that we have house sounding like a genuine psychopath as he threatens to let a woman die and then wilson proving he’s an even BIGGER one by responding with, like, mild exasperation at best. 10/10 dynamic no notes

[annn-starrr]

they're all serving cunt. we've been known.

[askfordoodles]

felt so euphoric to be able to come out as nb/trans in Veilguard, loved the added dialogue they took the time to write and record just for such scenarios

now can we PLEASE make a game where u can explicitly, verbally come out as ace, and also without it automatically locking you out of the romance path

pls bioware (and other companies) some of us are STARVING

[anintroverteddarling]

TW; SLIGHTLY SUGGESTIVE(???), Im not sure but it feels like I've done smth illegal ASKDJNADSFKJADNFS

I tried to draw smth cute again but ended up looking... uh...

but then I added in

Overall, intrusive thoughts won that night help--