# Baldur’s Gate 3 Players Question the Game’s Romance Mechanics
## A Subreddit Discussion
In a subreddit dedicated to Baldur’s Gate 3, a player posed an important question: “I know you probably heard this here more times than I can count but seriously, why is everyone so horny?” This query highlighted a practical element of the game, where players noticed the aggressive flirting and the difficulty in pursuing certain characters for romance.
## Sex and Romance in Baldur’s DNA
Sex and romance were built into Baldur’s DNA, and Larian leaned into the game’s sexual nature early in the process. The team even used an intimacy coordinator—professionals who help choreograph intimate scenes—to ensure a sense of safety and comfort between actors and production during recording sessions. There’s even a scene where you can have sex with a druid character in his bear form.
## Speedrunning Romance
Speedrunners created an entire run category specifically for how fast you could bed a companion. The top runner, Mae, initially considered it a “joke run,” but the category quickly picked up a following, with Mae holding the current top record at one minute and 58 seconds. Mae emphasized the emotional depth of companions, going against the cliché of typical video game romance.
## An Unintentional Feature
Game director Swen Vincke admitted that characters being desperate to engage in romantic encounters was actually a bug, not a feature. “The approval thresholds were too low when we shipped,” Vincke said. “That’s why they were so horny in the beginning. It wasn’t supposed to be that way. We’ve fixed it since, at least for some of them. We’re still fixing a few.” The goal had been to create relationships that were more like those in real life.
## The Challenge of Romancing in Baldur’s Gate 3
There was a practical element to this query. In a different game, what is or isn’t horny is largely subjective, but Baldur’s Gate 3 doesn’t operate on subtext alone. A major social aspect of the game is romancing party members, from the sharp-jawed blood-sucking Astarion to the mysterious Shadowheart. Shortly after the game’s release in August, players noticed that some party members—particularly the wizard Gale—were harder to discourage than others in the dating department.
## Conclusion
The discussion among players about the romance mechanics in Baldur’s Gate 3 reflects the game’s unique approach to relationships and intimacy. While Larian Studios leaned into the sexual nature of the game’s characters, the unintended aspect of characters being overly amorous highlighted the need for a more balanced and realistic portrayal of relationships in the game. Ultimately, the game’s developers aim to create connections and romantic interactions that mirror real-life experiences, adding depth and authenticity to the gaming experience.
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