Relationship system?

I would like to see a relationship system in XIV.

It’s not unusual for games to include romance, as SWTOR. Morrigan, Lana, or Bastila are loved by many male players, so there are plenty of people besides female players who enjoy romance in video games.

The demand is already huge, considering how much fanfiction and illustration exist. Even in ai chat bot, there are a lot of interactions with XIV's characters.

The game already has great characters, so all it needs is the addition of some quest lines like pink quest. someone who doesn’t like mmo may become interested and find enjoyment in playing it.

Of course, consideration is needed for players who don’t enjoy these elements, but I believe the developer could handle it.

What do you think?

If stuff like BG3, Skyrim and Expedition 33 are anything to go by, I'd rather they just not bother. Sorta felt like the attraction was just hollow and tacked on with little real connection.

I'd rather not have a forced romance system added to a game that doesn't need it.

This would have been a good idea when the game was just starting out, but now it can only be a bad idea I'm afraid. Reason is a lot of people already have their headcanons/shipping with NPCs and due to the little information we have on some of them, you basically have to give them a ton of dialogue and personality yourself. If they suddenly added it officially, it'd step on a lot of toes and many may actually grow to dislike the NPC they used to ship their character with due to this. Not worth the effort to make all of this just to get a bunch of people upset with you as a company...


If it only affected new characters to avoid stepping on any ancient toes, then people would be annoyed because they can't get rejected by Y'shtola.


We can't win :(

Only if I can turn it off.

Eh. They'll never make anyone that compares to Garrus.

At this point of the game's lifetime, I'd only want to see it on our own Retainer lol, AND if they let us bring our Retainer everywhere xD

I made the joke that if they were going to make a mobile game THIS was the route they should have taken.

(Heck, I actually dreamed it was a thing, and one of the scenarios was a Garlean train ride "date" with Emet-Selch as he whisked the WoL off to some Imperial villa. It didn't change canon if you accepted him or rejected him, and the entire game was still G rated, but it added villages, cities, zones and such that are never going to be added to the main game or were only added after they got destroyed.)

Keep it outside of the main canon. Nothing in the plot changes. But you can unlock bonus scenes - and in every route the WoL and their chosen Scion, city state leader, or enemy opts to keep the relationship secret or distance or unrequited for the sake of saving the world.

just go to limsa and talk to people, if you want random romances xd

I mean Id love it, but the game likes to kill off my type of men in the story, like really, I'd give names but spoilers

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Originally Posted by NecroprincessCleo

I mean Id love it, but the game likes to kill off my type of men in the story, like really, I'd give names but spoilers

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your name is Necroprincess isn't the guys you like being dead perfect for you?

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Originally Posted by SyferU

your name is Necroprincess isn't the guys you like being dead perfect for you?

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hey not my fault I couldn't put necromancer due to character limit, but close I do like undead guys/demon and bad boys lol

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Originally Posted by NecroprincessCleo

hey not my fault I couldn't put necromancer due to character limit, but close I do like undead guys/demon and bad boys lol

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Now you telling me that even the dead get more girls than me. I really hit rock bottom.

If you don't offer Hildibrand Heliodor Maximilian Manderville, it's not worth it.

If they ever go this route (which I don't think they will) it seems like a bad idea to suddenly start making branching relationship paths with your MSQ companions. I do like seeing the NPCs have romances and I'd be down to have something optional in a society or job quest sort of thing, with a dedicated character in side content, but once you introduce the idea that one character has that canon possibility to fall in love it just puts all their interactions through a different lens. I'm not by any means a hater of relationship routes in RPGs but I think many people will get what I mean when I say it'll result in dialogue that's very clearly meant to nudge the player in that direction and can become very annoying very quick when you'd rather have that companion be a friend. It also has the reverse issue where you do go down the romance route and they still treat you like good buddies in the main story.

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Originally Posted by Veritas-Ancora

If you don't offer Hildibrand Heliodor Maximilian Manderville, it's not worth it.

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yk what, this is the one character I would be totally on board with. even if they play it straight the sheer 100 levels of manderville madness before it makes it inherently funny. bonus points if it gives you extra dialogue options in the MSQ about your beloved husband.

I think letting players marry each other removed any potential mode to officially romance with an NPC. I'm not sure it's totally out, however, as the devs seemingly retconned Y'shtola's romance with Runar (suddenly calling him a younger brother, yeoch) and, bafflingly, there was a live, official event where you could have a lunch date with G'raha. I was gobsmacked seeing it was a real thing that SE made. That's why they're suddenly in every quest!

That said, having some sort of affinity quest series for each of our main companions is something I really want. Just like a few quests that are some way for the WoL to both bond with a character outside of the main scenario but also maybe learn a few more things about them.

Just accept that Y'shtola belongs to Runar, I know it hurts but you need to move on bro

Thank you for replying.
I tried to summarize your opinions—let me know if I misunderstood anything.

[Opinions about the system]


・Attraction can feel hollow or tacked on, without real emotional connection.

・Some people don’t want a forced romance system and feel the game doesn’t need it.

・There’s concern about disrupting players’ headcanons.

・A romance system would only be okay if it could be fully turned on/off.

・Some would prefer dating retainers instead.

・Garrus is amazing.

・There’s a lack of “wife options” for straight male, bi, or gay women.

・Some want the system, but the character they want isn’t in the story anymore.

・Some will only accept it if Hildibrand Heliodor Maximilian Manderville is included.

・having some sort of affinity quest series for each of our main companions is something I really want. Just like a few quests that are some way for the WoL to both bond with a character outside of the main scenario but also maybe learn a few more things about them.

・Y'shtola is our wife
・Y'shtola is Runar's wife

・If they ever went in this direction (which I doubt), I think it would be a bad idea to suddenly add branching romance paths for MSQ companions. I enjoy seeing NPCs have their own romances, and I’d be fine with something optional in a side quest, job quest, or society-style quest with a dedicated character.
But once you say a main character *can* fall in love with the player, it changes how all their interactions feel. People who don’t want that relationship will start noticing dialogue that pushes romance, which can get annoying when you’d rather just stay friends. And on the flip side, if you *do* choose the romance path, the main story will still treat you like you’re just good buddies.


[If a relationship system existed]

・Keep it completely outside the main canon. The plot shouldn’t change at all.
Instead, players could unlock optional bonus scenes. In every path, the WoL and their chosen Scion, city-state leader, or even enemy keep the relationship secret, distant, or unrequited for the sake of saving the world.

・It depends entirely on two things:

1.Is it purely optional for people who don’t want it?

2.Are the romance options broad enough to appeal to many player preferences?

・Some players prefer going to Limsa and engaging in RP with real people instead.



My idea:
・There could be a side questline involving special items you can give to certain characters. When you do, you unlock a few lines of dialogue and a short scene with them—totally optional, completely separate from the main scenario. It could even clarify that these events occur only in your world (or shard), so it doesn’t clash with anyone else’s canon.
Maybe in another shard Thancred engages with Urianger, and in yours the WoL engages with Thancred.

・Truth be told, I just really want to date Estinien, lol.
Whether you like selfship or not, all opinions are equally good. Each preference doesn't make you better or worse.
I’d love to hear more ideas and opinions—not to decide what’s “best” for the game, but to gather perspectives from different players.

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Originally Posted by Aidorouge

falling back on "most popular" immediately has people fighting for or against certain NPCs (see Y'shtolaXRunar versus Y'ShtolaXWarrior of Light)

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That's also a part I totally missed in my reasoning. If the story is meant to accommodate for the possibility of character x WoL being the "canon" story, it'll shut out writing of character x character romances. Though extensive rewrite options could theoretically work it also then has to account for a player choosing to pursue the romance later and it'll be a very abrupt end to that story thread. And, realistically, that's just an insane amount of effort for something being added so far into the game and optional flavor side content. Dating systems with companions are a selling point for a lot of RPGs, true, but I just cannot see it going over well if it's dropped as optional content locked to the 6th expansion at level 100+ (and there's just no shot they'll go back and do rewrites for earlier content; can't imagine it going well if they left in playboy thancred, moenbryda x urianger, the y'shtola x runar tease etc while they're supposedly married to the player either).

Yes, it’s difficult to create something like this without affecting someone’s headcanon.
However, I think it’s a topic worth discussing, because many people enjoy WoL-ship just as much as they enjoy NPC shipping.

There wouldn’t be a need to rewrite past dialogue either, as long as it takes place after Endwalker. Thancred or Urianger could form new relationships while still respecting their past ones. And if they keep the options limited such as only involving Scions, it wouldn’t add too much work.

I also doubt the developers would write explicit NPC romance for the Scions; and even if they did, it would likely be vague, since they seem wary of backlash from both self-shippers and NPC shippers.
So if it never becomes a major canon element in the future, I don’t think making them romanceable would cause issues.
As others and I have mentioned, they could make it completely optional side content with no special flavor text. Some characters would still refer to the WoL as a friend, but I don’t think that’s a serious problem.

That said, if many players don't like romance entirely, or feel that adding a relationship system itself is too much, then it would be difficult to implement other than friendship.

Having a tryst with Zenos would be a dream come true. (I for example can think of two potential points, one in SB, one in EW)

I think an optional system with maybe side quests would be cute.
We could have someone like the wandering minsteral, all the savage and extremes are imaginings (made up/exaggerated tales) and none are 'canon'. It'd also open up potential for exploring non-canon different endings....

That way people who don't wish to engage with the system, can simply not engage with it and it'd be just some extra fluff for those who'd enjoy it and won't have an impact on the story since it'd be in its own bubble I guess.

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Originally Posted by Joeoj

Yes, it’s difficult to create something like this without affecting someone’s headcanon.
However, I think it’s a topic worth discussing, because many people enjoy WoL-ship just as much as they enjoy NPC shipping.

There wouldn’t be a need to rewrite past dialogue either, as long as it takes place after Endwalker. Thancred or Urianger could form new relationships while still respecting their past ones. And if they keep the options limited such as only involving Scions, it wouldn’t add too much work.

I also doubt the developers would write explicit romance for the Scions; and even if they did, it would likely be vague, since they seem wary of backlash from both self-shippers and NPC shippers.
So if it never becomes a major canon element in the future, I don’t think making them romanceable would cause issues.
As others and I have mentioned, they could make it completely optional side content with no special flavor text. Some characters would still refer to the WoL as a friend, but I don’t think that’s a serious problem.

That said, if many players don't like romance entirely, or feel that adding a relationship system itself is too much, then it would be difficult to implement other than friendship.

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Honestly it wouldn't be hard for any of the female Scions barring Krile. There's a whole official short story from back in Stormblood of Lyse, Y'shtola, and Alisaie talking over tea about having a crush on the WoL.

Then it does turn to peoples personal preferences, especially with Y'shtola who magically turns into a persona-esqe MC x Naoto situation. Kanji(Runar) obviously has feeling for Naoto(Y'shtola) but you could still romance her. There's more than a handful of people who are put off from romancing her just on that statue alone.

I admit it would be interesting to see how the WoL will manage to navigate a relationship with 1 dialog option every 4 cutscenes.

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Originally Posted by Thaciscokidd

Honestly it wouldn't be hard for any of the female Scions barring Krile. There's a whole official short story from back in Stormblood of Lyse, Y'shtola, and Alisaie talking over tea about having a crush on the WoL.

Then it does turn to peoples personal preferences, especially with Y'shtola who magically turns into a persona-esqe MC x Naoto situation. Kanji(Runar) obviously has feeling for Naoto(Y'shtola) but you could still romance her. There's more than a handful of people who are put off from romancing her just on that statue alone.

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Yeah, I remember that story. It was cute to see Alisaie having a crush on the WoL.
And like you said, Y’shtola is a particularly tricky case to handle. she has a large fanbase, and It seems like many people enjoy shipping her with Runar.

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Originally Posted by Aidorouge

And woof, I don't want to know what happens in Source Divorce Court, or the aftermath. Can you imagine the snapshots on Jilted EX(treme)? Would be the hardest trial of all time, lol.

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We know that you've saved out tails thousands of time but the jury finds that the WoL must turn over 75% of his Gil and his Large Mansion in the Mist.

https://media.tenor.com/gnxcUF5lSjMA...augh-funny.gif

Yeah, the twins would be automatically out because they literally ARE children. They're 16 years old, and that's comparatively even younger for Elezen that can easily hit 120 years old. (They've not even hit puberty, apparently).

Like, I know I'd pursue G'raha's relationship path if this kind of thing was added, but would it be an issue that he's technically over 100 years older than my 20-something WoL?

Also. Lalafell. People are going to naturally take issue with that despite the game consistently writing Lalafell characters as adults in either completely straight and tasteful ways, or playing that fact up for comedy.

This also just assumes that every romancable character doesn't have preferences beyond WoL-sexual.



Personally, I just make up my own stories. I can doodle and write decently, so fuck it. Cringe is dead. SE programming a ginger catboy to stare at you from any angle because he adores you killed it. Who cares!

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Originally Posted by Rueby

Having a tryst with Zenos would be a dream come true.

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This is such a bazaar take to me. It gives the same vibes as the ppl who want a Joker/Harley type relationship.

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Originally Posted by MicahZerrshia

This is such a bazaar take to me. It gives the same vibes as the ppl who want a Joker/Harley type relationship.

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not really that wasn't consensual between them for joker to beat her up, its a type of dom, sub, but more sadistic masochism. Its actrually something primal that alot of people are into. plus you beat him up to so its kinda like in theory both having pleasure in fighting each other

Well, I understand many possibilities of making negative things happen to those who don't want it, but we could agree if the system didn't make anyone sad, it would be OK to be there?

If our current situation is ±0 for both people who want it and people who don't, all that is needed is making +(positive) for someone who wants it and not making -(negative) for someone who doesn't.

In that case, I still think it's not impossible. That said, this is actually unfair if only one side is happy, even though it's difficult to make everyone happy at once. It should only be allowed if next time something is added that makes only the other side happy.

The romance system in the game doesn't mean wolship is canon.
Even if the system was happened, It'd be just one possibility and not change the fact that there's also the possibility that an NPC falls in love with another NPC.
It wouldn't actually change anything about the current state in the game; Estinien still can be Aymeric's boyfriend.

Regarding wolsexal, I think it's a matter of perspective.
You could say that it's not normal for NPCs to fall in love with WoL, but you could also say that the Warrior of Light is attractive enough for that to happen.

It's playersexual if Wol is a normal person and everyone loved them (I don't think it's a problem either personally, since video games are entertainment and often have something convenient to make players happy.)
However, I think the game is written in the way Wol is loved because of their actions for others, so it makes more sense that NPCs adore them.

I've been open for this ever since that April Fools joke from the FFXIV community team themselves from back in the day.

It would be a fun little side thing to do, and I'd happily take part! :o

https://i.imgur.com/vbHtS1y.jpeg

Source: Final Fantasy XIV: Official Blog -- Introducing the "Favour" System!

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Originally Posted by Shinku_Tachi

I've been open for this ever since that April Fools joke from the FFXIV community team themselves from back in the day.

It would be a fun little side thing to do, and I'd happily take part! :o

https://i.imgur.com/vbHtS1y.jpeg

Source: Final Fantasy XIV: Official Blog -- Introducing the "Favour" System!

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It's a wild joke to including Garuda as an option lol
Anyway I'm glad I'm not only one who likes the idea.

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Originally Posted by Aidorouge

It's entirely dependent on two things.

1. Is it purely optional for those who don't care to engage with it?
2. Are the actual romance options desirable to all player tastes and preferences?

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This. I could see them doing it in a way that’s totally separate from the MSQ, maybe with some bonus dialog here and there that gives a nod to the relationship when the relevant character is involved. Similar to how certain dialog is different for you if you’ve leveled certain classes or done certain content chains, but people who haven’t leveled those classes or completed a certain quest line just get the default dialog. That bit could be a tremendous undertaking though, depending on how many characters you could choose from, so I could see it just being totally not acknowledged by the MSQ at all.

For the second point, while there are some characters I’d love to see a romance option for, it would be nice if there was a friendship track included too. Especially for the Scions… the twins would have to be limited to friendship track assuming they never age them up to adulthood. But we could still hang out with them, maybe teach Alphie to swim, or spar with Alisaie. If you don’t want to romance the adult Scions, then you could have the option for just hanging out with them. Ideas I’ve thrown around before: stargazing with Urianger, tea over books with Y’shtola, bar hopping with Thancred, getting tacos with G’raha, etc. Just something beyond the current stock dialog you get if the characters are standing around in the world… these are, at minimum, supposed to be our colleagues and friends. It would really make the game feel more alive to have more interactive options with notable NPCs.

I’d especially like to visit some NPCs that have been hidden away since their part in the story has faded. Or visit some of the world leaders. (Although Hien would probably be my top option for the romance track! lol)

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That probably would be the best choice, allowing the player to make their own romance options instead of trying to make any existing NPC be part of it, simply because you have 100% control over their appearance and personality, or how they would inevitably have to add virtually EVERY NPC into the system to make sure somebody doesn't miss out on their favorite waifu or husbando, no matter how obscure they are.

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I could see them doing something like this too, maybe using your retainers. Create your own, or be able to use an NPC model ala whatever they use for the All Saints Wake masquerade (since some are custom and can’t be created with current character creation). Probably would be the easier way to go about it: wouldn’t have anything to do with the rest of the game, so totally optional, and they’d just have to create one system based on appearances, while not having to design custom dialog for every potential NPC in the game.

The Favor System April Fools joke was really early in FFXIV's life, and I remember being bummed it was an April Fools thing. FFXIV was so early in its story that it seemed possible.

would romancing NPCs work with EB system?

no shaming polys, just thinking out loud

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Originally Posted by Burmecia

would romancing NPCs work with EB system?

no shaming polys, just thinking out loud

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I don't see why not it works in some games where you build a friendship bar/ and can get in relationships with npcs, there one game you can marry the entire towns population lol

I don't really want this. I feel like it would just be another fluff content that soaks up some of the dev resources and is largely pointless like Island Sanctuary was. There's also the fact that people would cry about Lalafells being able to take part in it, or even them making Lalafell npcs you can date, it would just not be a great idea I feel. You could always just write fanfiction about how your WoL takes Y'stola on dates or just go rp date another player, since it is an MMO after all.

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Originally Posted by Kelg

I don't really want this. I feel like it would just be another fluff content that soaks up some of the dev resources and is largely pointless like Island Sanctuary was. There's also the fact that people would cry about Lalafells being able to take part in it, or even them making Lalafell npcs you can date, it would just not be a great idea I feel. You could always just write fanfiction about how your WoL takes Y'stola on dates or just go rp date another player, since it is an MMO after all.

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its not like they are putting resources into combat or really anything outside of the savage/Ultima stuff anyways but true on the lalafell part honestly i want to see the actrual numbers they can blurr out alot of it just just show us on average how much game makes a month, and how much they are putting into the game because it looks like they're putting less in than even some indi games, what they do put in seems only to go to 2% of the game over all

I would much rather like to see a friendship system - maybe like we sort of have with the custom delivery NPCs. Could make daily quests similar to beast tribes where you do partner missions, be that visiting someone or doing a short form version of an existing dungeon or whatever, to raise their closeness. But romance is not a good idea for an MMO.

For one these are established NPCs that need to be cohesively written, so having to figure out how any of them would be in a romantic scenario would cause a lot of backlash from the players regardless of how they are written, because it will likely clash with how most imagine it might be.

Then there is the issue with certain NPC ages, thinking about the twins in particular - but I know there are a ton of others and, as someone mentioned, Lalafell will be an issue due to how intensely childlike they look, regardless of their in-universe standing. Being a better friend to them might work but a romance, especially with how the MC and VISA are currently hounding any form of digital media, would almost certainly get FFXIV put on the blacklist. Same as allowing same gender romances.

Honestly the longer I think about it the more it feels like it would cause drama and anger.
A spin-off game maybe? Dating sims are super popular, it would make more sense to have that kind of thing outside of the mainline game. But the general idea of having some more development for the main cast would be nice.

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Originally Posted by Kelg

I don't really want this. I feel like it would just be another fluff content that soaks up some of the dev resources and is largely pointless like Island Sanctuary was. There's also the fact that people would cry about Lalafells being able to take part in it, or even them making Lalafell npcs you can date, it would just not be a great idea I feel. You could always just write fanfiction about how your WoL takes Y'stola on dates or just go rp date another player, since it is an MMO after all.

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Some players liked the idea of Island Sanctuary, but it failed because the content wasn't something players wanted. That means its failure is a result of quality rather than the idea and system itself.
I think It's the same with the romance system.
Because there is a need for it, whether it becomes pointless or not would depend on how good the content is, not on the idea and system itself.

Also, It is unnecessary to include Lalafell and the twins as options, and I think it's possible for players who want the system to agree with it.

I bileve It's not a bad or strange idea for an MMO to have a romance system.
Games like Warframe and SWTOR have them, and they're both popular.

Although I agree that unfairness should be minimized, it's difficult to add something that everyone likes.
For example, while some players don't like raiding and others don't care about the writing and the stories, we pay the same amount of money. Every change XIV made cost resources, which were paid by players who wanted them and who didn't.
I think as long as the romance wouldn't be forced to players who don't want, and not hurt their headcanon, I think it's fine to consider the addition of the romance.
The dev has been working to make the game fair for all players, so I bileve it isn't impossible.

It seems like a good chance to make content for RPers, casual players, or even people who didn't play MMOs but are interested in the characters. Maybe they could add companion quests like regular RPGs and some MMOs, where protagonists learn more about characters or help them solve problems.

it should be completely optional and wouldn't go beyond friendships. After that, players can choose to unlock a romantic scene, which ought to be optional and not included in the MSQ.
In that case, players wouldn't be forced into unwanted romance with NPCs, and it wouldn't bother NPC shipping.
I believe it might also be beneficial to characters who don't have enough development, like Y'shtola.

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Originally Posted by Thaciscokidd

https://media.tenor.com/gnxcUF5lSjMA...augh-funny.gif

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Unrelated to the discussion, but this gif cracks me up every single time. Thank you for keeping it alive lol