Lucanis Romance Super Disappointing
I had to stop bringing Neve with me because he flirts so obviously with her and gives me scraps. Being one of the clear forefront winners for romance before the release, wtf were the writers thinking...
Forum Discussion
I think it's horrible that you can't even romance Lucanis after choosing Minrathous. I saved Treviso and romanced Lucanis on the first playthrough. On my second, I chose to save Minrathous and I have been locked out of the romance with Lucanis (when I wasn't locked out of a romance with Neve for saving Treviso), and there are these scenes we're forced to witness between Neve and Lucanis - beyond the general banter in-party - (plus a scene with Emmrich talking about the romantic date that Lucanis took with Neve - um where was ours?) and their "relationship" feels more deliberate and fleshed out than Lucanis x Rook.
It feels like Rook is the second choice, especially since the writers were obviously trying to have them be bonded over the dragon attacks on their cities and their mutual crusade to protect their people/cities.
That would have been an interesting dynamic to have played out as the bond between Rook and Neve or Rook and Lucanis, instead of having Rook play the piece that comes between them.
Overall, I think that removing the ability to "chat" with your companions at the Lighthouse (the way they did in every other Dragon Age game), kind of limited our interactions with all of the companions. There's no opportunity to get to know them outside of their companion missions, which are focused and time locked. You don't even really get to hear anything about Lucanis' struggle with Spite until the "Inner Demons" quest. There's no follow up to how he's going after being stopped from going through the eluvian by Taash and Harding. You can't talk to him about the crows, his previous relationships, his life before Spite, ways to help him sleep or keep him safe, his adjustments or problems with spite, etc. There isn't even an option for Lucanis to say "Hey, Spite is really riled up by your presence, so it would be good for me to keep my distance for a while".
I just feel like there were so many opportunities to build a platform of friendship with Lucanis and the other companions outside of their fetch quests. I used to love chatting with the companions across all the games, looking to see if there were new questions or interactions. I really miss that with this game. It's just them giving you a mission most of the time.
I super agree. I hate coming into the Lighthouse to just be chatted AT and not WITH. I honestly don’t have much issue with the game beyond the dialogue but that issue in itself is so glaringly obvious it really throws me from immersion and is kind of killing it for me. The only characters I honestly feel connected to are Emmerich and Manfred, who I will def try romancing in the future but tbh after over 90 hours into Veilguard it’s just making me miss Inquistion and Cullen lol.
I will say playing a Crow and pretty much restricting Neve to benchwarmer and bringing him everywhere with me instead from the moment I realized what was happening with Lucanis has helped make the romance “slow burn” somewhat explainable but I really do have to create a whole storyline in my head to do so and that should have been the writers job from the get go.
The relationships were what drew me into loving DA to begin with so it is super disappointing after being so excited for VG to then be so let down by that aspect.
Not to mention you really just barge in to conversations most of the time and when you don’t they chat happily away in the Lighthouse while completely ignoring Rook. Why even have a player character? :(
I agree 1000%. Especially when you take in consideration the previous dragon age games. Lucanis had limitless potential in his romance with rook but EA ruined every chance they got. Spite could have also played a much bigger role, we know he is obsessed with rook (one tiny scene) he is a demon. Spite could use the fade while they are at the crossroads or even Rook's dreams to speak with Rook. They cut out so much from this game, 1 and 2 are barely included. Morrigan and Varric, that's it! No hero of ferelden, Alistair, Hawke, Anders, etc. This should have been a masterpiece but the layoffs and people leaving really affected the game.
