Reviewing quests with romance options in them!

mirimero · May 2013

So I got bored of killing things in flashy ways and decided to look for love. I typed "romance" into the Foundry's search engine, and it gave me about a dozen quests.

All concerning "necromancers".

...Apparently, I need a bit more help finding what I'm looking for.

If you've created a quest (or know about one) that is reasonably good and involves a strong romantic subplot or element, please post the short code and description here. I'll play and review it. Not immediately, but probably within a couple weeks. I'm a sucker for romance.

Also, on a slightly-related note, how do you get past the lack of gender-check? In my own quest, I'm thinking of giving male characters a man-badge and female characters a woman-badge, but does anyone have a less clunky way of doing it? (I'm getting tired of having my female character addressed as "young man" or "sir".)

Thanks in advance!

Editing this to add a quick list of quests suggested so far in this thread. To any new suggesters, please include the short-code and link to your dedicated thread if you have one!

(Comments address only the romance element found in the quests. My actual review can be found in the posters' threads.)

Quest: The Rise of Nosral
Author: mattkire
Short code: NWS-DQYZ3IW68
Comments: There were some mild flirt options in the first quest. I was unable to finish the second one, though, because it was too tough for me to solo.

Quest: The Frosty Proctologist
Author: labmouse43
Short code: NW-DJHHV5CGY
Comments: Come visit the Frosty Proctologist! It's just like a real bar, er, tavern where you can buy attractive people drinks and chat them up to the break of dawn! Seriously, they should do this for all taverns in the game.

Campaign: The Assassin Chronicles
Author: zovya
Short code: NWS-DNQQJO4CD
Comments: Romance to follow in the next chapter!

Quest: Choice by Combat
Author: plutovich
Short code: NW-DL7DFRIEF
Comments: In my queue

Quest: In Search of Innocence
Author: revelationmd
Short Code: NW-DL8DTYYPS
Comments: In my queue

Quest: All's Fair in Love and War
Author: oortexplorer
Short code: NW-DJ5BFT52F
Comments: Your old friend has received 2 marriage proposals and she doesn't know who to choose. Help her decide: the elf or the dwarf? I'm still trying to come to terms with my choice. I mean, I'm an elf fangirl! But I chose the dwarf and it's still bugging me. ;p Who would you choose?

Campaign: Tears of Selune
Quest: Feast of the Moon
Author: xhrit
Short Code: NW-DADOERMFX
Comments: Flirt options need item triggers, which adds incentive to exploration. No plot-related romance, but the flirts add a bit of extra flavor, see Scathe's diary here. Link contains spoilers. And shallowness.

Campaign: Echoes of the Crown Wars
Quest: Return From the Void
Author: runis12
Short code: NW-DRFKYD2CN
♥ ♥ ♥ Comments: This was intense! Several potentially romanceable NPCs, secret items to unlock diaries and dialogue, actual NPC reactions, plus an amusingly creepy guy who pesters you to marry him... I felt like I was in a Bioware game! If you're looking for romance, look here! ♥ ♥ ♥

Quest: Adventuring College
Author: drakesigar
Short code: NW-DPCZNUVQ7
Comments: Special mention! After all, you do get to flirt with a scantily-clad tiefling. And stalk your classmates while they sleep. I find that watching people as they sleep is kind of... romantic. Don't you?

ash4ll · May 2013

Haven't heard of any quests related to romance, so you got me hooked up.
What I may think of is dialog that is required to complete involving question about gender-orientation. Something like friendly bump "Do you like that woman at the bar?" and answer "I'm not into women" or "Yeah, she seems nice". You can make NPCs appear or disappear depending on dialog prompts so I think this would be a solution for you.

kamaliicious · May 2013

I can't think of a quest long enough where a romance would even make sense.

owlhat · May 2013

I'm working on a quest which will be the first campaign which will feature the option of romancing a character over several quests. So for example in the first quest you gain they're trust, and each quest will continue to progress the relationship, for better or for worse. The romance part will be just an option, you can be just friends, or even eventually enemies (I'm even working on several angles like you start of disliking/hating each other and then become closer, or you start of friendly but then disagree or something happens which causes you to become enemies, I'm even think of making to that you can have your PC fall in love but the love is not reciprocated, or the romance interest loves you but you only wish to remain friends). Unfortunately due to the fact I have two exams still to go, (I hate exam season...) I have not been able to devote much time to it yet. I have been able to story broad the first quest and the dynamics of the relationship in great detail in the first quest, and have a rough outline of where the next quest will take you and how the overriding campaign will end (with all the different paths I have created in my head this equates to about 6 endings so far XD), and I have just started to write out all the dialogue for the quest. However, I won't really be able to make much progress with this, rather grand idea I admit, until about two weeks from now (my last exam is on the 10th of June). However, if you are will to wait, in perhaps a month (or probably more, but hopefully not much more). The first instalment will be ready for you to play.

P.S It may just seem like a whole load of story and dialogue but there will be fair amounts of combat.

revelationmd · May 2013

mirimero wrote: »

If you've created a quest (or know about one) that is reasonably good and involves a strong romantic subplot or element, please post the short code and description here. I'll play and review it. Not immediately, but probably within a couple weeks. I'm a sucker for romance.

Funnily enough, I am currently working on one with a hint of romance - it's not Mills and Boon but it has romance elements. Just came on here now as I'm having problems with one of my transitions and was out to pick brains

Will post the name and number of the quest when (if) I ever finish it!

meedacthunist · May 2013

This gives me an idea to include a romance option in the next part of Witch Hunt. :X

mirimero · May 2013

ash4ll wrote: »

What I may think of is dialog that is required to complete involving question about gender-orientation. Something like friendly bump "Do you like that woman at the bar?" and answer "I'm not into women" or "Yeah, she seems nice". You can make NPCs appear or disappear depending on dialog prompts so I think this would be a solution for you.

It'll be a bit limited when it comes to an NPC that everyone needs to talk to, but I could see this working for certain encounters. I can think of several awesome applications now! Thanks for the tip!

mirimero · May 2013

owlhat wrote: »

I'm working on a quest which will be the first campaign which will feature the option of romancing a character over several quests. So for example in the first quest you gain they're trust, and each quest will continue to progress the relationship, for better or for worse. The romance part will be just an option, you can be just friends, or even eventually enemies (I'm even working on several angles like you start of disliking/hating each other and then become closer, or you start of friendly but then disagree or something happens which causes you to become enemies, I'm even think of making to that you can have your PC fall in love but the love is not reciprocated, or the romance interest loves you but you only wish to remain friends). Unfortunately due to the fact I have two exams still to go, (I hate exam season...) I have not been able to devote much time to it yet. I have been able to story broad the first quest and the dynamics of the relationship in great detail in the first quest, and have a rough outline of where the next quest will take you and how the overriding campaign will end (with all the different paths I have created in my head this equates to about 6 endings so far XD), and I have just started to write out all the dialogue for the quest. However, I won't really be able to make much progress with this, rather grand idea I admit, until about two weeks from now (my last exam is on the 10th of June). However, if you are will to wait, in perhaps a month (or probably more, but hopefully not much more). The first instalment will be ready for you to play.

P.S It may just seem like a whole load of story and dialogue but there will be fair amounts of combat.

Holy smokes, owlhat. That looks like a lot of dialogue options that you have to write out! I can't imagine how many branches that kind of complex relationship would demand. I hope you don't get burnt out. Sounds very, very intriguing though. Good luck on your exams, and make sure to PM me when your quest is ready! I'll definitely be playing.

mirimero · May 2013

meedacthunist wrote: »

This gives me an idea to include a romance option in the next part of Witch Hunt. :X

Interesting! Evil character option and a possible future romance. I'll check out your quest the next time I log on.

mirimero · May 2013

revelationmd wrote: »

Funnily enough, I am currently working on one with a hint of romance - it's not Mills and Boon but it has romance elements.

Lol, I doubt Mills and Boon ever came out with a storyline involving orcs and drow! (Though it would be great if they did. I could see it now: "Oh darling, I know we had a silly misunderstanding over that homewrecking drow priestess who tried to turn you into her mindless mancandy, but I'm over it now. Embrace me and tear my bodice to shreds!" "Yes, my little lovemunchkin, but first we have to slay this stacked horde of random abolethic monsters!")

I hope you had a good time picking brains here. Lots of luck with your quest, and please PM me (if possible) once it comes out!

runis12 · May 2013

PM me too. ^^ Keep in touch. I'd like to play these, and continue to follow mirimero's romantic scenarios in quotations... jk, jk, jk...
I'd like to see how a well-written quest with romantic elements could turn out. Cheers!~

mattkire · May 2013

My quest series The Nosralian Tales has some romance in it. I am building on it as the quest series expands. Actually give options of 4 possible companions and even a potential love triangle.

Foundry Code: NWS-DQYZ3IW68

zovya · May 2013

My campaign has a couple of characters that are romance-able. But unfortunately only the first is published, the second is on the way.

kamaliicious · May 2013

zovya wrote: »

My campaign has a couple of characters that are romance-able. But unfortunately only the first is published, the second is on the way.

Does it start in the first? I don't remember any romance type conversation options.

zovya · May 2013

No, once you join the assassin guild, there are a couple of characters you can build relationships with.

kamaliicious · May 2013

zovya wrote: »

No, once you join the assassin guild, there are a couple of characters you can build relationships with.

Ok, good, glad I didn't miss it. Hopefully the second one comes out soon.

runis12 · May 2013

Cool, I want to look at these quests. I'm actually trying to include the good ol' Bioware romance/friendship/rivalry/maybe rivalmance feel into my campaign with my NPCs. Definitely will be challenging with dialogue trees and making choices "matter" later even in a single quest. I hate all fluff and no consequences for what you say. Probably will have to add an OOC NPC at the start of every quest after my first to use the "console commands" on how you're sitting with a certain character? : / Sorry, just writing/thinking out loud now...! Keke...

owlhat · May 2013

@mirimero Your right, it is going to be a lot of dialogue, but if I take it one quest at a time and slowly build it up it should only take about two weeks per quest. I hope. If it comes to it I may even publish with a relatively limited number of choices to start with, to at least get it out there, and then add even more options and different decisions as I go. I shouldn't get to burned out, writing is what I do all the time, and what I hope to do going forward professionally (it even runs in the family as my Dad is a writer to.) I will definitely PM you about it when I am finished. I'm estimating early August, so clear that calendar

@runis12 Would you also be interested in a PM when I am done? Also the whole Bioware thing is something I'm definitely trying to go for, although with the focus on only two NPC's so far I'm going for a slightly more in depth field. Mind you extra romance options but be something I implement later on... Hmmm. Anyway, you idea about having an OOC NPC at the start of the quest to ask about what happened in the last quest is the only way I have thought of achieving the effect of options influencing later quests/relationships too, although I have toyed with the idea of trying to make it less OOC, perhaps to inform an NPC of what is going on who doesn't know...?

@mattkire I'm definitely going to have a look at your quest. I want to see how others are doing similar things, and I love this sort of quest anyway

@zovya I played your quest, good fun, really looking forward to you next quest (and how you managed to create cut scenes

)

runis12 · May 2013

Sure, give me a PM when you're done owlhat.

Will look forward to hearing from ya. It will sure be fun to tinker around with dialogue, OOC NPC or no. Sadly, I have not published anything yet, but very soon. It's in the final stages.

New to foundry, so I've been focusing on learning stuff, what people like, trying to get an idea of higher level gameplay since I'm a lowbie, etc..... I think the first foundry will serve as more as an intro to the romanceable characters, for people to get a feel for their personalities - THEN they can start making more in-depth decisions with my next one and onwards.

Edit: I've had some RL/internetz friends play test my Foundry. Apparently a certain character is popular. Must be the pink hair. But I'm happy to say I got some people hooked!

owlhat · May 2013

Sounds really interesting!

I'd love to see what you've done, once you've got it ready. I think when romance is used well, within the context of a good plot and setting, it really helps to make it stand out, and adds an extra layer of depth to it. For example, part of the reason I will always consider games such as Mass Effect and Knights of the Old Republic (and to an extent the MMO The Old Republic) will always be my favourite games to keep returning to is partly due to the romance options available, and how they where use to really enhance to story the games where trying to tell.

runis12 · May 2013

Big example - the smexy Morrigan. /salute

owlhat · May 2013

*Claps* Exactly! Although one can't forget Alistair too! It think for me though, the big one, the one which changed my life forever... Was KOTR, the big twist, the romance with Bastila! From the tender age of nine years old I was hooked on the story telling power of gaming. *Feels incredibly nostalgic* Anyway, as much fun as this is, it's way of topic.

zovya · May 2013

owlhat wrote: »

*Claps* Exactly! Although one can't forget Alistair too! It think for me though, the big one, the one which changed my life forever... Was KOTR, the big twist, the romance with Bastila! From the tender age of nine years old I was hooked on the story telling power of gaming. *Feels incredibly nostalgic* Anyway, as much fun as this is, it's way of topic.

I wanted to like Alistair. But eh. Morrigan was a stronger character.

labmouse42 · May 2013

What is the definition of romance?

* Is it having an NPC join you and you include 'romantic dialogue'

* Is it having you talk to a static NPC and eventually have a 'fade to black' scene(s)?

* Would you want the ability to 'marry' your NPC.

* Does it matter male/female? It seems that there need to be 2 different NPCs to create.

I think of the romantic characters in Fable, which pretty much just sat in a house for you. In skyrim they were a vendor for you. In knights of the old republic, they would be your group mates.
What I'm asking is -- as a player, what do you like best?

runis12 · May 2013

A mix of all really, emphasizing groupmate.

They have to go on the adventure with you, and be there during the adventure's downtime.

labmouse42 · May 2013

I've been putting some thought into how you can make this work.

* You can use different NPCs that spawn when specific dialogue is reached. This lets you evolve the relationship with an NPC over a time.

* You can have them follow you, but they will be there at 'escort quests' and not combat NPCs. Every NPC I've seen cowers when mobs are around.

* My plan is to start the game with an NPC named "reasonably healthy male" and "reasonably healthy female" (nod to Dresden Files Karen Murphy) and as you talk to them they open up with actual names.

This could be a fun side-quest to add to the adventure.

owlhat · May 2013

The idea of the potential romance NPC as more of a companion, rather than someone static, or a housewife/husband, is something I am aiming for. In my camping I am taking it a step father with the NPC, which you can choose to romance, is a major driving force behind the quests. (I won't say any more though, spoilers!)
In repose to your point about what exactly people mean by romance, a one night stand, a longer relationship or possibly even marriage, I'm hoping to mostly go for the longer term relationship, and even have it so that before you can begin to develop a true romance you must first have great trust and respect between the two of you (I deliberately do not use the word 'friend' as there is a difference between liking someone and truly respecting them, and in my experience the latter generally leads to a stronger romantic relationship). As to the topic of marriage, that would be something that would happen very much at the end, is at all, and will be something I will have to consider long and hard as the story line, and characters, evolve and change over time.

You mentioned that you don't think it is possible to have a NPC accompany you without only cowering taking effect. I thought it was possible, much like guards only you can set their behaviour to follow. The only disadvantage to this is that I think it greatly effects the exp you get from encounters, and consequently would be something you would have to make very optional if the PC would rather the exp and not the extra story. Can anyone confirm this? I can not currently access Foundry to test if it would work.

raphaeldisanto · May 2013

I have romance dialogue in one of mine. So far, only the female NPC has her triggers hooked up, but I'll be making them both romanceable, should the player choose to do so.

I can't be bothered to mess with gender specific stuff, since the Foundry would make that clunky, so they're just going to be available for a PC of either gender (but no, you can't romance them both at the same time)

runis12 · May 2013

I personally won't/don't like having an NPC follow me around "escort" style, unless it's in a non-combat area. I actually have a cast of 5 NPCs that will regularly show up together and follow me (or I follow them!) in my quest, and will usually be seen in a Dragon Age style "camp" talking to each other through the currently limited bubble-chat. This gives the appearance that they are actually doing something and helping you out on your quest. And they're generally in a respawn/safe area, away from monsters - to avoid the dreaded /cower. I really really hate the cowering. lol Now, for when NPCs fight with you, I try to make them respawn if they go down. I'm really hoping for an immortal Guard encounter, that doesn't do damage. That'd be sweet. Just to give the appearance of actual fighting. /mehhhhhhhh

labmouse42 · May 2013

This thread has inspired me to add some romance based encounters over the course of the campaign I'm building. You can find the link to it in my sig.

I've laid out the starting foundation for the female romantic interest, and will work with my wife to detail the male romantic interest this week. I don't want to assume what women want in romantic interests.

Does this match something like you were expecting? The idea is to have both male/female romantic interests appear in other episodes and have your interaction with them grow.

imivo · May 2013

zovya wrote: »

I wanted to like Alistair. But eh. Morrigan was a stronger character.

Claudia Black's voice acting made sure of that.

One of my favorite actresses.