Romances have always been a staple of BioWare games, includingDragon Age. BioWare has confirmed that at least several, and possibly all, of the seven companions inDragon Age: The Veilguardwill be romance options for the protagonist. Another smaller aspect of romance that has featured in both recentDragon AgeandMass Effectgames is companions finding romance in each other.
These romances often happen unprompted, and if the protagonist isn’t romancing either companion.Dragon Age: The Veilguardcould introduce a new romance systemthat stands apart from the romance between Rook and their companions or other NPCs. Introducing a system where the player takes a larger role in the lives of their companions, such as a matchmaker, makes the game more interactive and could help make the characters feel more dynamic and real.
The Nature of Romance in BioWare Games and Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Companions who have romanced each other in previous BioWare games include:
These relationships range from purely physical one-night stands to deeply emotional romantic relationships that progress over many years. Most of them, however, progress without any input from the player and happen only in the background of the story.Dorian and The Iron Bull’s relationship inDragon Age: Inquisitionrequires their combined presence in the party over many hours, with certain banter between them triggered. Thanks to the low possibility of triggered banter, this could take many hours of gameplay where both Dorian and Iron Bull are required in the party. The player then needs to speak to both companions once the correct banter has triggered for their romance to have been considered active.
Joker and EDI’s relationship inMass Effect 3requires a more proactive protagonist in that they must actively push both characters toward each other with the intention of romance. Shepard takes on the role of a romance advisor to both Joker and EDI and, towards the end ofMass Effect 3, the two will begin a relationship if Shepard encourages it.
Implementing a New Romance System in Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Dragon Age: The Veilguardcan take romance a step furtherand create a matchmaker quest for the protagonist. Bringing together characters who aren’t being romanced by the player character gives them an active role in the lives of the characters and makes them feel more alive. More interactive options in a video game are always great, especially in a game likeDragon Age, where the relationships between characters and the protagonist are one of the main draws.
Stories about the developing relationships between characters have always been popular, and allowing the player to bring their favorite couples together would be a wonderful new way to explore relationships and romance in video games.
There are onlyseven companions inDragon Age: The Veilguard, so expanding any matchmaking options beyond the party and to other recurring NPCs could be an option. IfDragon Age: The Veilguardhas NPCs in roles like the advisors inDragon Age: Inquisition, such an option could be considered. This would also be similar to Joker and EDI’s relationship, as Joker wasn’t a party member, but was an NPC who was consistently nearby.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
WHERE TO PLAY
Enter the world of Thedas, a vibrant land of rugged wilderness, treacherous labyrinths, and glittering cities – steeped in conflict and secret magics. Now, a pair of corrupt ancient gods have broken free from centuries of darkness and are hellbent on destroying the world.Thedas needs someone they can count on. Rise as Rook, Dragon Age’s newest hero. Be who you want to be and play how you want to play as you fight to stop the gods from blighting the world. But you can’t do this alone – the odds are stacked against you. Lead a team of seven companions, each with their own rich story to discover and shape, and together you will become The Veilguard.
