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How do you handle Romance in D&D games?
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<blockquote data-quote="el-remmen" data-source="post: 8436824" data-attributes="member: 11"><p>Romance between NPCs is different than romance involving one or more PCs.</p><p></p><p>Between NPCs it is plot point, a motivation, a way to develop pathos for these fake people that makes them feel more real. The star-crossed lovers, the missing betrothed, the dead spouse returned from the grave are all things that can be part of a D&D adventure or encounter.</p><p></p><p>Involving PCs it gets more dicey. For my part as DM, PC-involved romance has to 1. be player motivated 2. not involve actual playing out romantic gestures/overtures in first-person (too awkward both for those involved and those who have to watch). For example, the tiefling ranger in my Ghosts of Saltmarsh+ campaign expressed a crush on Oceaus the sea elf. She decided that, but it seemed like it could provide cool character moments so I had him coyly also express interest- and now every once in a while she just mentions in-character how she can't wait to see him again (it has been a while) and that is just one more hook to keep the party tied into the plot that involves him and his people and that's good in my book. But so far it is chaste romantic love.</p><p></p><p>Mostly the romance stuff itself is kept off-screen, but the consequences and feelings that can drive adventurous action is the focus.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="el-remmen, post: 8436824, member: 11"] Romance between NPCs is different than romance involving one or more PCs. Between NPCs it is plot point, a motivation, a way to develop pathos for these fake people that makes them feel more real. The star-crossed lovers, the missing betrothed, the dead spouse returned from the grave are all things that can be part of a D&D adventure or encounter. Involving PCs it gets more dicey. For my part as DM, PC-involved romance has to 1. be player motivated 2. not involve actual playing out romantic gestures/overtures in first-person (too awkward both for those involved and those who have to watch). For example, the tiefling ranger in my Ghosts of Saltmarsh+ campaign expressed a crush on Oceaus the sea elf. She decided that, but it seemed like it could provide cool character moments so I had him coyly also express interest- and now every once in a while she just mentions in-character how she can't wait to see him again (it has been a while) and that is just one more hook to keep the party tied into the plot that involves him and his people and that's good in my book. But so far it is chaste romantic love. Mostly the romance stuff itself is kept off-screen, but the consequences and feelings that can drive adventurous action is the focus. [/QUOTE]
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How do you handle Romance in D&D games?
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