Can You Romance More Than One Character in Dragon Age: Origins? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer is yes, but it’s complicated. Dragon Age: Origins allows you to initiate romances with multiple characters simultaneously, but you’ll eventually be forced to choose one. Think of it as a trial run of polyamory destined for monogamous closure. You can definitely sleep around and enjoy the benefits of multiple romances for a time, but the game mechanics ultimately push you towards a single, committed relationship. Let’s dive into the nuances of juggling multiple romances in Ferelden.
Understanding Dragon Age: Origins Romance Mechanics
Dragon Age: Origins operates on an approval system. Each companion has an approval rating of your Warden, influenced by your dialogue choices, actions in quests, and gifts you bestow upon them. Reaching certain approval thresholds unlocks personal quests and romantic possibilities. This is where things get tricky. While you can raise the approval of multiple characters, triggering romance scenes with each, the game’s narrative structure will eventually force a confrontation.
This confrontation typically occurs after significant plot milestones. Your potential suitors will express their feelings and demand a choice. This isn’t a silent understanding – it’s an ultimatum. Failure to choose will likely result in the rejected party becoming heartbroken and potentially leaving the party. Therefore, while the road to romance is paved with flirtation and shared moments with multiple characters, the final destination is a commitment to one (or none).
The Allure of Multiple Romances
Why even bother with multiple romances if you’re going to be forced to choose? Well, there are several reasons:
- Roleplaying a Complex Character: Some players enjoy roleplaying a character with a chaotic love life. Perhaps your Warden is exploring their options or is simply a notorious flirt. Juggling multiple romances allows you to express this character trait.
- Experiencing Different Storylines: Each romance unlocks unique dialogue and cutscenes, providing deeper insight into the character’s backstory and motivations. Romancing multiple characters, even briefly, allows you to experience more of the game’s narrative content.
- Strategic Benefits: Some players manipulate the approval system to gain access to specific character abilities or items before making a final romantic decision. This can provide a strategic advantage in combat or exploration.
- The Simple Thrill of the Chase: Let’s be honest, some players enjoy the challenge of wooing multiple characters simultaneously, seeing how far they can push the boundaries of the game’s romance system.
Navigating the Jealousy Mechanic
One of the major roadblocks in maintaining multiple romances is jealousy. Certain characters, like Leliana, are prone to jealousy and will confront you if they suspect you’re involved with someone else. This usually happens after completing their personal quest and reaching a high approval rating. The confrontation often involves a difficult dialogue choice where you must either choose them or risk losing their approval (and the romance).
To navigate jealousy effectively, you need to:
- Prioritize: Decide which romance you ultimately want to pursue and focus on maintaining that character’s approval.
- Delay: Avoid triggering personal quests or reaching high approval ratings with characters you don’t intend to commit to.
- Lie (Carefully): In some cases, you can lie or deflect during jealousy confrontations, but this can have consequences down the line.
- Accept the Consequences: Be prepared to lose a romance if you’re unwilling to make a choice.
Specific Character Considerations
Not all romances are created equal. Some characters are easier to juggle than others. Here’s a quick overview:
- Morrigan: A relatively easy romance to initiate, particularly for male Wardens. She’s less prone to jealousy early on, but her personal quest will eventually force a decision.
- Leliana: Prone to jealousy, especially after completing her personal quest. Requires careful management of approval and dialogue choices.
- Alistair: More straightforward and less prone to jealousy than Leliana, but requires a female Warden.
- Zevran: A more casual romance that’s less demanding of commitment, making him easier to juggle with other characters.
The Dark Ritual and its Impact on Romance
The Dark Ritual, offered by Morrigan before the final battle, adds another layer of complexity to the romance system. Agreeing to the ritual changes the outcome of the final battle and can significantly impact your relationship with Morrigan. Refusing the ritual also has consequences.
In summary, while you can technically romance multiple characters in Dragon Age: Origins, the game’s narrative and mechanics ultimately push you towards a single, committed relationship. Juggling multiple romances is possible, but requires careful planning, strategic dialogue choices, and a willingness to accept the consequences. Remember that player choices and their consequences are central to the themes explored in many video games. The Games Learning Society can provide additional information and resources regarding games and their narrative impact. You can find them at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Dragon Age: Origins Romance FAQs
Here are 15 Frequently Asked Questions about romancing multiple characters in Dragon Age: Origins:
1. Can I sleep with multiple characters in Dragon Age: Origins?
Yes, you can sleep with multiple characters before being forced to choose. Triggering the romance scenes requires reaching specific approval thresholds.
2. How do I initiate a romance with Morrigan?
Respond to her dialogue in ways she approves, give her gifts (like the necklace from Lothering and the one from Bodahn), and raise her approval rating.
3. How do I romance Leliana?
Give her appropriate gifts, support her decisions, and complete her personal quest. Be aware of her jealousy.
4. What happens if I refuse the Dark Ritual with Morrigan?
If you refuse, Morrigan will leave the party immediately, and either you or Alistair/Loghain will die at the end of the game.
5. Can a male Warden romance Alistair?
No, Alistair is only romanceable by female Wardens.
6. Can a female Warden romance Zevran?
Yes, Zevran is romanceable by both male and female Wardens.
7. Does race affect romance options?
No, race doesn’t directly affect romance options, except for specific dialogue choices that may be relevant to your character’s background.
8. What happens if I’m caught cheating by Leliana?
Leliana will confront you, and you’ll have to choose between her and the other character. Choosing the other character will likely result in Leliana leaving the party.
9. How high does approval need to be to romance a character?
It varies slightly by character, but generally, you need to reach “Warm” or “Love” approval before triggering romance scenes.
10. Can I reverse a romance decision?
Once you’ve committed to a romance, it’s difficult to reverse. You can try to lower the character’s approval rating, but this may have other consequences.
11. What gifts do characters like?
Each character has preferred gifts. Morrigan likes jewelry and grimoires, Leliana likes Andraste’s Grace and religious items, Alistair likes small trinkets and Duncan’s Shield, and Zevran likes Dalish artifacts.
12. Is there a way to avoid the jealousy confrontations?
Delaying personal quests and carefully managing approval ratings can help, but jealousy confrontations are often unavoidable.
13. Does my character’s class affect romance options?
No, your character’s class does not affect romance options.
14. What happens if I don’t romance anyone?
You can complete the game without romancing anyone. The main storyline will proceed as normal.
15. Can I marry Alistair?
Yes, but only if you are a Human Noble female character, then you can marry Alistair at the end of the game.