Alternatives to NPC romance, since it's a polarizing topic

[Tennyoelf]

-SNIP for length-

There are issues about romance in the game that isn't about story continuity. There are also animation limitations as well. If someone wished to romance Urianger as a Lalafell, that would take some genius animator to figure out a way to even show them hugging. If code limitations prevent them from ever figuring it out, then they may limit which races can romance which races, which would be very upsetting to certain players. Buddy quests, which are platonic in nature, would skip that need for extra animations.

Also, there are some who worry about what romance quests added would do to the game culture as well as the perception of the game to those who don't play FFXIV. I've seen some vehemently oppose romance quests. From a developer's POV, that means taking into consideration those who don't want such a thing. All of us are players of FFXIV, we all mean something to the developers. They're going to aim to make as many people as happy as possible.

As for your concern about my idea not addressing the concern, it comes down to the significance of what a best friend verse a romantic partner means to the average person. There is definitely an argument to make that a close friend is indeed just as important, maybe even more so, than a romantic partner. Saying being best buds with a certain NPC would have the same weight and writing constraints as a romantic partner is definitely something that will defer from person to person, from culture to culture. Generally speaking, most people weigh romantic partners are being much more significant than best friends, that a romantic partner will ultimately be the closest, most important person in your life, especially once being married is thrown into the mix. So taking the example of Urianger going to Mars from the article, if we are best buds with him, then an extra line or two, spoken or not, is all that is needed for a goodbye. If we were romantically involved, that means either breaking up or having us go with him. It'll cause a messy situation, especially since Urianger wants to go Mars despite being romantically involved with someone. Also, as the WoL, the developers probably don't want us following after our love interest or we can't because we gotta save the world again. Or Mars isn't going to be in any expansion any time soon. Saying "I'll wait for you!" is an extra writing constraint than, "We're bros, so I hope you come back soon!"

To me, I rather have extra time with my favorite NPCs, even if it must be platonic-based, than get nothing because romance turns out too difficult for the team. Or they're too reluctant because of writing constraints. Having platonic-based questlines for NPCs doesn't take romance quests off the table. They can be separate or even a pre-requisite if they do find a way to implement romance. But if they never do? If they remain reluctant? If those who oppose romance quests became the louder group?

[Yandere-chan]

There are issues about romance in the game that isn't about story continuity. There are also animation limitations as well. If someone wished to romance Urianger as a Lalafell, that would take some genius animator to figure out a way to even show them hugging. If code limitations prevent them from ever figuring it out, then they may limit which races can romance which races, which would be very upsetting to certain players. Buddy quests, which are platonic in nature, would skip that need for extra animations.

Also, there are some who worry about what romance quests added would do to the game culture as well as the perception of the game to those who don't play FFXIV. I've seen some vehemently oppose romance quests. From a developer's POV, that means taking into consideration those who don't want such a thing. All of us are players of FFXIV, we all mean something to the developers. They're going to aim to make as many people as happy as possible.

As for your concern about my idea not addressing the concern, it comes down to the significance of what a best friend verse a romantic partner means to the average person. There is definitely an argument to make that a close friend is indeed just as important, maybe even more so, than a romantic partner. Saying being best buds with a certain NPC would have the same weight and writing constraints as a romantic partner is definitely something that will defer from person to person, from culture to culture. Generally speaking, most people weigh romantic partners are being much more significant than best friends, that a romantic partner will ultimately be the closest, most important person in your life, especially once being married is thrown into the mix. So taking the example of Urianger going to Mars from the article, if we are best buds with him, then an extra line or two, spoken or not, is all that is needed for a goodbye. If we were romantically involved, that means either breaking up or having us go with him. It'll cause a messy situation, especially since Urianger wants to go Mars despite being romantically involved with someone. Also, as the WoL, the developers probably don't want us following after our love interest or we can't because we gotta save the world again. Or Mars isn't going to be in any expansion any time soon. Saying "I'll wait for you!" is an extra writing constraint than, "We're bros, so I hope you come back soon!"

To me, I rather have extra time with my favorite NPCs, even if it must be platonic-based, than get nothing because romance turns out too difficult for the team. Or they're too reluctant because of writing constraints. Having platonic-based questlines for NPCs doesn't take romance quests off the table. They can be separate or even a pre-requisite if they do find a way to implement romance. But if they never do? If they remain reluctant? If those who oppose romance quests became the louder group?

I don't think animations are at all a problem. Tall races are already able to do the hug emote with short ones. That alone proves that such things wouldn't be an issue for the animation team if the current animations are not enough for such content. I don't see race limitations being a thing. And, no, buddy quests could just as easily have additional animations made for them. It also might not be necessary, but I'm thinking that they will only add extra animations if they want to for either route.

The...game culture? The idea that optional content would be excluded because some people don't care for it is so beyond absurd that I'm not sure if you're serious. Such a thing should never even remotely be a factor. Like, plenty of people don't care at all for limited jobs or Eureka-like content. Plenty of people aren't comfortable with same-sex eternal bonding. Some people hate certain races. A developer should not decide if things should be in game on the basis of the hatred of others. It's an illegitimate factor of consideration in regard to content that is ultimately optional. And, no, not every bit of optional content is aimed to make as many people happy as possible. A lot of optional content purposely targets niche interests. The idea is to have many different types of optional content so all together there are things for everyone. Of course, it doesn't mean that, as I suggested, a platonic option can't be an option too as a means to increase the number of people such content is potentially enjoyable to. But, the idea that they wouldn't have romantic optional npc quests because some people find it icky or whatever is just, again, beyond absurd to me.

The issue isn't a question of whether or not a close friendship might mean more to someone than a romance. The issue is if someone cares to be invested in a specific character, the developers want to be able to both maintain content that is related to said character for the content in question as well as being able to go keep happenstances open for characters as well. The investment people have in said characters is going to exist regardless of the titles in play and the same type of complaints would exist. If someone really likes Urianger, and wants to do this type of content with him specifically, it matters little if the quest dialogue tries to suggest it's platonic or not. It's still an issue of the player not being able to do the content they want with the character they care most about which is what the developer has expressed to want to avoid.

I don't think it's a matter of compromise. I think it's a matter of giving people what they want. People have constantly asked for romantic optional content for NPCs. Not platonic quests. It does not mean of course that some people may not just want platonic quests, but when the driving request is romance, it makes no sense to not actually give what was requested. From the interview, it's a matter of getting over the stated hurdle for it to come to fruition. The developer did not say, "we're worried about anti romance complainers." It isn't even a concern, so I'm not going to pretend it is as it's not even a valid factor worthy of concern in my mind. Some complaints simply are toxic in nature and should be disregarded. What you describe would apply. For me it goes in the same bag as those who request lalas being auto blacklisted or made invisible and what not.

[Tennyoelf]

-SNIP 4 size-

I am reminded of kneeling when hugging smaller targets in-game since I play Elezen. So yes, that was a poor choice of an example. Kissing would be the only problem, imo.

And yes, I was being serious, I don't troll. You put thought into your reply, I was trying to do the same. And haters are definitely a group not to be listened to. But I am talking about legit issues reasonable people have brought up, at least I think it's a legitimate concern. So I wasn't referring to the people who think it's icky, but people who worry about the game's reputation that might hurt people from trying the game. Or worry about certain overzealous ERPers who may cause more issues like the one here. It's a small worry, granted, but when forming a plan to implement certain content, multiple angles should be considered.

In another reply, I mentioned that these types of quests should probably not start with the NPCs themselves, but permanent NPCs, such as a delivery moogle trying to find Urianger to deliver a letter but finds you instead. Of course, that leads to worry about if they kill off the NPC before the player can do that quest. I have mentioned using the echo to "flashback" to the quest, of course, that means adjusting the starting NPC to trigger the flashback. You could have quests with characters no longer around to require the start of a New Game + of the relevant content, such as having to restart Heavensward to buddy/romance Haurchefant, then a new "goodbye" quest could be made available afterward, or some such.

I'm not arguing against romance, but alternatives if they can't do it (right now) or come to the decision that they don't want to do it. Some complaints are just haters who are gonna hate, but some complaints are valid, and I simply don't want to overlook those who do. I feel a bit weird since I actually really want romance in the game, but I don't want to dive headlong into it without consideration of others with reasonable complaints.

Someone mentioned that it might be weird if a player wants to romance an NPC while they can marry another player and I think not everyone has alts. They also have divorce in-game and not all players marry other players as the obvious answer. If a married WoL wants to romance an NPC, should that be allowed? Should it require divorce? Vice versa? There is concern about the twins since some people want to romance them and they're underage.

And yes, people will definitely be upset no matter what they do, you can't make everyone happy, but it's good to think of it from different angles, which is all I'm trying to do. If you've read all my replies in the thread, I may have come off more aggressive on the platonic angle, but that's because some people seem to have skipped my entire OP and went "icky romance" when I wanted honest feedback.