Relationship system?

[KihyiFelhede]

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

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).

[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 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.

[Thaciscokidd]

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.

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.

[hydralus]

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

[Joeoj]

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.

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.

[Thaciscokidd]

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.

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.

[Shistar]

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