Why Can’t I Romance Sarah in Starfield? Troubleshooting Your Star-Crossed Love

So, you’ve set your sights on Sarah Morgan in Starfield, aiming for that Starcrossed Achievement, but your attempts at romance are hitting a wall? There could be several reasons why you’re not seeing the love blossom. The most common culprits include not progressing far enough in the main questline, failing to unlock Sarah as a companion, not increasing your affinity with her by making choices she approves of, or missing key dialogue options during her personal quest, ‘In Memoriam’. Let’s dive into the specific factors hindering your romantic pursuit and how to fix them.

Understanding the Affinity System

Starfield’s romance system isn’t a simple “yes” or “no.” It hinges on a hidden affinity score. Think of it as an invisible meter that fills up as you take actions and make dialogue choices that Sarah approves of. Failing to increase this affinity will lock you out of romance options.

How to Increase Sarah’s Affinity

• Choose actions aligned with her values: Sarah generally appreciates actions that uphold justice, help others, and prioritize diplomacy over brute force.
• Pick supportive dialogue options: When speaking to Sarah, be empathetic, understanding, and encouraging. Avoid being rude, dismissive, or morally questionable.
• Complete quests with her in your party: Her affinity will steadily increase just by having her around as you play.
• Listen to her comments: Sarah will often comment on your actions. These comments are clues about what she likes and dislikes. Pay attention!
• Avoid criminal activities: Committing crimes or siding with questionable characters will significantly lower her affinity.

The Importance of “In Memoriam”

“In Memoriam” is Sarah’s personal quest. It’s crucial for unlocking the romance pathway. Completing this quest isn’t just about ticking a box; it’s about showing Sarah that you care about her past and are willing to support her.

How to Trigger “In Memoriam”

• Continue playing the main story and increasing your affinity with Sarah.
• Travel with her as your companion. Eventually, she’ll initiate the quest.
• If she is not initiating the quest, try talking to her often after completing missions to see if it triggers.

Choices During “In Memoriam”

The choices you make during “In Memoriam” are critical. Showing empathy, offering support, and respecting her feelings are essential. The quest culminates in a conversation where romance options become available if your affinity is high enough.

Dialogue Options: The Key to Unlocking Romance

Starfield’s dialogue system often presents opportunities to express your interest in a character through [FLIRT] options. These options are not always present, but they become more frequent as your affinity increases.

Missing Dialogue Options

• Not progressing the main quest: You need to get Sarah to the point where she opens up to you.
• Low affinity: If Sarah doesn’t like you enough, the [FLIRT] options won’t appear.
• Not listening to her comments: You might be missing clues about what she wants to hear.

What to Say

• Be genuine and empathetic.
• Show interest in her life and experiences.
• Offer compliments, but avoid being overly cheesy.
• Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Sometimes, the smallest mistakes can derail your romance. Here are a few common pitfalls to avoid:

• Ignoring Sarah’s preferences: Not every companion is going to agree with your every decision. Sarah is not one to commit crimes.
• Being impatient: Building a relationship takes time.
• Focusing solely on romance: Try to be a friend first.

New Game Plus Considerations

Starting a New Game Plus (NG+) will reset your relationship with Sarah. While this can be frustrating, it also offers a fresh opportunity to romance her again, armed with the knowledge you’ve gained. Remember that skipping the main story will hinder your ability to progress in the romance.

Relationship Benefits

Romancing Sarah gives you access to a special Emotional Security XP buff, obtained through sleeping together, which boosts XP gains by 15% for 24 real minutes.

Final Thoughts

Romancing Sarah Morgan in Starfield takes patience, attention to detail, and a genuine interest in her character. Pay attention to her preferences, make choices she approves of, complete her personal quest, and choose the right dialogue options. Good luck, spacefarer!

Starfield Romance FAQs

1. Can you romance other characters while pursuing Sarah?

While you can flirt with multiple crewmates initially, you’ll eventually need to commit to one partner for marriage. So, you can flirt with multiple crewmates without destroying relationships, making it easy to overcome the lower levels of building a foundation.

2. How do I know if Sarah likes me?

You’ll notice subtle changes in her dialogue and behavior as your affinity increases. She’ll be more open, share personal stories, and offer more supportive comments.

3. What happens if I mess up the romance with Sarah?

If you make too many decisions she disapproves of, she’ll become distant, and romance options will disappear. However, you can work to regain her trust and rebuild your relationship over time.

4. Can I get divorced in Starfield?

Yes, you can get divorced in Starfield. Your spouse will be removed as your primary companion. They’ll ask you for some time to think and also become understandably angry with you. However, there are no further consequences of getting a divorce. The character will become your friend again, and you can romance them again.

5. Is there a benefit to marrying Sarah?

Yes, after marrying Sarah she is now considered a Committed Partner and will sleep with the players in the same bed which unlocks the Emotional Security XP buff which boosts XP gains by 15% for 24 real minutes.

6. Does Sarah’s age affect the romance?

Sarah’s age is never explicitly stated in Starfield, but it is implied that she is somewhere between 39-50 but acts like a spoiled 25 year old. However, her age does not affect the romance.

7. Can I marry Sarah in New Game Plus?

No, your romance with a companion does not continue into New Game Plus in Starfield. However, you can choose to romance them again during this new playthrough. Make sure you choose the option to not skip the story, as completing some of the missions are essential to progressing with all four romances.

8. What are Sarah’s likes and dislikes?

Sarah appreciates actions that uphold justice, help others, and prioritize diplomacy. She dislikes criminal activities, unnecessary violence, and morally questionable decisions.

9. What happens after I marry Sarah?

Once the wedding is over in Starfield, Sarah is now considered a Committed Partner and will sleep with the players in the same bed.

10. Do I need to complete the main story to romance Sarah?

While not every single main quest is required, progressing through the main story is essential to unlock Sarah as a companion and trigger her personal quest, “In Memoriam.”

11. Can I romance Sam Coe instead of Sarah?

Yes, you can romance Sam Coe or any of the other three romanceable companions. The process is similar, requiring you to increase affinity, complete their personal quest, and choose appropriate dialogue options. To romance Sam Coe Starfield become allies with Sam by raising his affinity, complete his personal mission ‘Matters of the Hart’, choose the ‘Romance’ option when it appears after the quest above, then speak to Sam then go and get Cora’s approval of the relationship.

12. How do I trigger Sarah’s “In Memoriam” quest?

Continue playing the main story, traveling with Sarah as your companion, and increasing your affinity. Eventually, she will initiate the quest.

13. Who are the other romanceable characters in Starfield?

The other romanceable characters are Barrett, Sam Coe, and Andreja.

14. What happens if I romance multiple characters at once?

While you can flirt with multiple characters, you can only commit to one for marriage. Pursuing multiple romances simultaneously may lead to conflicts and disapprovals. The game demands a considerable chunk of gameplay dedicated to a single companion for a relationship to form.

15. Where does the wedding with Sarah take place?

You marry Sarah at Paradiso! If you are interested in game-based learning, check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org for research, resources, and community.