#playersexuality

[vergess]

I am once again BEGGING people to fucking understand that "playersexual" IS a thing, it's just not a GOOD thing. There are many characters in many games (games which are NOT THE FUCKING BALDUR GATE) who are NOT "bisexual" because they are not EVER attracted to ANYONE but the player character. They are not written as fully fleshed out bisexual characters.

Pretending that there "is not such thing as playersexual" both undercuts games like BG3 that DO write in characters with complete, complex sexual and romantic arcs that are indeed bisexual in nature.

AND elevates shitty fuckshows games that toggled a boolean into "bisexual rep."

So, okay, let's recap people.

PLAYERSEXUAL IS A DEROGATORY TERM FOR WHEN OTHERWISE STRAIGHT CHARACTERS HAVE A SINGLE VARIABLE TOGGLE SET INSTEAD OF BEING IDENTIFIED AS BISEXUAL IN THE NARRATIVE

It absolutely fucking exists

BG3 is not however an example of playersexual because (say it with me)

BG3 characters are bisexual

As in they are shown, stated, or otherwise confirmed in the narrative to experience attraction to people of multiple genders not just the player character

please

the words

they have meanings okay

[bitchesgate3]

I will always be in favor of playersexuality. Until the day game designers have more nuanced understandings of sexuality.

Game designers still only understand flamboyant gay, mean lesbian, slutty bisexual, and quirky queer. Any identities not those are not even recognized. And any complex characterizations are only afforded to "normal" straight characters.

While Larian gave us a step in the right direction, they are still coming from the above framework and trying to reiterate upon that. And you have to understand that framework in order to recognize why their implementation is still somewhat shallow while still being the best offered compared to other games in the genre.

In the past, every time I encountered a woman in a romanceable video game who correctly represents my own experience of bisexual/pansexual identity, she was only romanceable by male characters.

These are women who have tough exteriors on a spectrum of "bitchy femme", a midpoint of "aloof androgynous", to "tough masc". All points that are gnc in some way, but all are women who also have a soft interior that is interpreted as conventionally feminine.

Game designers interpret these two traits (outward gnc and inner softness) as a nullification to heterosexual woman. Time and time again. Falling into the stereotype of being a woman for a man to tame.

Will they ever understand? Or do people as a whole just don't understand the many ways bisexuality can take shape?

[sporeservant]

I’ve been seeing some discourse on bg3 tumblr lately regarding playersexuality in video games. for anyone who’s curious about this term and it’s relevance, I really highly recommend the video essay linked below. If the link isn’t working for you, it’s called “how bisexuality changed video games” by verilybitchie on YouTube. It might surprise you, check it out if you get the chance!

[sewermageboy]

I wanna take the word playersexual away from y'all.

Not just the ones who say that the bg3 companions are playersexual, obviously they're not, they express desires and queerness outside of the player character.

But also those who say that the word "playersexual" in itself is bi/panphobic. It's not. It describes a game mechanic in which love interests are blank slates, and their sexuality (and especially their queerness) only reveals itself through player interaction, a mechanical bisexuality as opposed to a narrative one.

Learn the meanings of words before chucking them around and making blanket statements about them.

[kyliafanfiction]

So, like, I agree playersexuality in RPGs can be limiting from a storytelling/character depth/character agency/etc standpoint, and that is very true.

But also, I don't want to have to be a guy to romance the characters I want to romance.

I mean, thankfully mods for Bastila and Handmaiden and Morrigan and Cassandra exist, but honestly, if it's a choice between the most appealing lady being straight or being playersexual, I'd take playersexual every goddamn time.

This does not mean playersexuality is a superior choice from a writing or game design standpoint, far from it.

But if it means I get romance the female character that I like the most for that, I prefer it personally, in the games I play.

[apocalypsegay]

seeing ppl in that post saying "claiming 'playersexual' is a thing is also biphobic" nnnnnno playersexual is a legitimate issue with how some games will claim Bisexuality when the character is just Mechanically Bisexual but Writing-wise nothing abt the bisexual experience is taken into account such as ignoring their attraction to all genders depending on the route. pointing this out isn't biphobia, it's pointing out the blind spots in (usually) cishet writers' approach to bisexuality.

[stinkrascal]

i love to be bisexual...... i love making all my ocs bisexual....... i love that all my fav characters are vocally bisexual....... bisexuality rocks :)

[zarekthelordofthefries]

BG3 Companion Sexuality Headcanons

Astarion: Pansexual. Has a slight preference for men. Has a complicated relationship with feelings of attraction and connection, so doesn't usually like thinking about his own sexual identity. Thinks Wyll is the hottest other party member.

Lae'zel: Pansexual, kind of. Doesn't really relate to sex and gender in the same way as the Faerunian companions. Githyanki socially de-emphasize romance, and all sex is generally for pleasure since Vlaakith decides who bears eggs. Lae'zel is alloromantic, but romance isn't generally at the front of her mind in a relationship. Neither is gender; ultimately Lae'zel is attracted to conviction and fighting prowess, moreso even than anything physical.

Shadowheart: Bisexual. Very slight preference for men. (EDIT: I've rotated this in my mind after people pointed it out and I think actually Shadowheart has a slight preference for women.) Remained closeted into adulthood, not because the other Sharrans would discriminate against her (they generally don't care about sexuality) but because she wanted to impress everyone with how well she could keep the secret. Also, excessively kinky.

Gale: Bisexual. Has more experience with women than with men, but that has more to do with circumstances than preference. Though physical appearance isn't not a factor, he would probably describe himself as a sapiosexual; he's attracted to knowledge, intellectual curiosity, and strong opinions. Had crushes on several teachers in wizard school.

Wyll: Bisexual. Realized he wasn't just attracted to women at a young age, and his father was very supportive. No preference between genders, but one of his favorite things to do is court gentlemen exactly the same way he courts ladies; he likes being the devoted chivalric prince to men since he knows it's less common for them to be flattered and told they're beautiful.

Karlach: Pansexual. Years of being unable to make genuine connections with anyone have made her horny for affection, kindness, and commitment. Maybe had some gender preference before going to Hell, but her time there has given her lots of time to consider basically any options. Has at least a slight crush on basically every other party member.

Halsin: Pansexual. No gender preference. Halsin has had centuries to explore his sexuality, and his robust understanding of nature gives him a non-binary perspective on gender and sex. Nothing is a casual fling for this dude, though -- if you show the slightest bit of interest in him he will dedicate his whole heart to you. And also anyone else who shows interest in him at the same time.

Minthara: I didn't actually have Minthara in my party, but from what I've seen she seems like a pretty traditional drow, and when I think of drow and sexuality I sort of imagine a reverse of ancient Greek customs; bisexuality is the norm, men are prized for their beauty and for marriagibility, but it's expected that women will also have flings with other women, and those relationships are often considered more meaningful. I imagine Minthara follows those lines, being bisexual and assuming she may one day marry a beautiful man but being more inclined to meaningful, affectionate relationships with women, due to her own prejudices moreso than preference between genders.

Jaheira: Thought she was straight for the first century of her life, but has more recently opened up to other possibilities. Isn't particularly interested in marriage or a deep interpersonal romance at this point in her life, but she has entered a state of questioning her sexuality -- she's just not super interested in experimenting with actual relationships. She's got more important stuff to do. Did have a fling with Ninefingers that neither of them tell anyone about.

Minsc: Doesn't like labels. Minsc isn't interested in finding a partner, doesn't really care about sex, and is enthusiastic about romance mainly when other people do it. He hasn't given a lot of thought to where he might fall on any sexual/romantic spectrum, but he definitely sees beauty in all of his friends. He will give you the most heartfelt and often embarassing compliments on your personality, style, and appearance. Does that mean he's attracted to you? Maybe, maybe not, but there's definitely something queerplatonic going on.

[prismatic-starstuff]

you know what sometimes self-care is just straight up blocking someone who erases a character's canon pansexual identity

[llamagirl28]

Another BG3-related ask: who would the BoC ROs pursue if they’re playing BG3? 👀

Oooh fun!

Elaine - Karlach

Isac - Lae'zel

Sofie - Astarion

Agravain - Shadowheart

Gawain - Wyll

Galahad - Shadowheart

Nimue - Astarion

This is more of, who would they pursue on a first playthrough because all of them would take an interest in multiple characters lol

[saanphoenix]

Person on Twitter: "Larian didn't give any of the characters canon sexualities."

Neil straight up said Astarion was pansexual. He is not "playersexual," he is pan.

Same person, continuing: "So I'mma headcanon Astarion as gay because he used the phrase 'handsome virgin' and only flirts with Gale--"

Look, you can headcanon him whatever you want. But, like. You're canonically wrong. :)

I wish y'all would stop accidentally erasing other sexual identities that aren't straight and gay. And if you're intentionally doing it, oh ho hooo. I don't like that.

[larena]

The thing about "playersexual" as a video game criticism buzzword isn't necessarily that it's completely useless at describing a real thing - if you want to discuss the bizarre way Skyrim romance works, or things like Leah in Stardew Valley having an ex that changes to match the player's gender, sure, "playersexual" might be a term that describes those things.

But it's just so utterly tainted by bad faith biphobic criticism of actual bi characters that it's impossible to trust it's ever not being used as a cudgel to eliminate bi representation that someone has arbitrarily decided doesn't count.

Like the thing that always gets proposed as the alternative to "playersexual" characters is characters with "set sexualities" - here almost always meaning monosexual characters. And there's nothing wrong with wanting more monosexual queer representation, but to claim that it's "more realistic" is just flat out biphobia plain and simple.

If people want playersexual taken off the shelf they've gotta stop acting like five bisexual people being in the same friend group is impossible.

[dolores-slay]

I always found it beautiful how open and accepting of his own bisexuality Fenris is. Despite flavour text we know the societies of Thedas are different levels of phobic, and it's nice to imagine that despite his very understandable issues with physical intimacy, this man who's been through so much trauma and injustice at least gets to fall into love with wide eyed wonder and no shame no matter who he falls in love with.

As someone whose experiences with own bisexuality are more like those of Anders and Isabela, Fenris and Merrill remind me of some younger people around me for whom the bi realization can be a neat little discovery about themselves and not a source of internalized guilt and shame.

[bluerose5]

The fact that I'm still seeing the term playersexual on my dash in 2024. Like, just say y'all can't comprehend a fictional setting in which bi/pansexuality is the majority, cope, and move on. Not everything has to be a direct reflection of our reality. That's why it's fiction. 💀

[lily-orchard]

When is there a difference between "Playersexual" and characters in an RPG just being bi?

"Playersexual" refers to an entire cast, not a singular character.

Playersexual is when every companion is a romance option regardless of the player's gender. They're all bi, they're all single, and they all have zero romantic conflicts in the cast, and they will all patiently wait for you to make up your mind.

I've only experienced two games that actually indulged in this myself. Dragon Age 2 and Baldur's Gate 3, where almost every party member save one or two (The player's surviving sibling in DA2 and Jaheira and Minsc in BG3) is romanceable regardless of gender, race or class. Though I'm told Larian's other games do this as well.

Playersexual is bad because it really breaks the storytelling over its knee when it comes to romance. It's the point where Romance in RPGs stops being another story you can take part in and starts becoming just a glorified dating sim and it attracts the discourse and audience of one. I don't know if any of you remember, but when DA2 first released, the audience was just as intrusively horny as BG3's is right now.

It makes characters feel less like their own people and more like set dressing. Like they don't have lives that exist outside of the player. Not only do your characters feel more plastic, but it speaks to a writer being thoroughly unimaginative.

In BG3's case this is just part of a wider problem of Larian having poor character writing in general, and most of their characters, sans Wyll and Karlach, are just half-realized carbon copies of previous Baldur's Gate characters.

There's a scene in Mass Effect 3 where Male Shepard flirts with Traynor and Traynor turns him down because she's gay, and Shepard is just like "Oh I'm so sorry!" And Traynor's really smug about "breaking the famous Commander Shepard's heart" and they're both laughing and playing more chess.

It is undeniably the cutest scene that Male Shepard is able to be a part of, especially since it defies the 'meme' of Shepard being an unrelenting horndog. And it works because Traynor is a fully realized character in her own right with more character work on display in five minutes than most characters have in entire trilogies.

This is especially irritating when the writers of DA2 and BG3 just went "Oh every character is bi/pan" because it sidesteps the actual problem. Just because you're bi in a fantasy world doesn't mean you're going to immediately be attracted to the party leader.

In BG2, Viconia is the only romanceable party member who will NOT get into a relationship with an elf (half elves are fine). Why? Because she's a drow, and they fucking HATE elves. Aerie is the only romanceable party member who is available to a Gnome player because she's fully assimilated into Gnomish culture. These are the only instances where the racial restrictions of the base game romance options are actually interesting, the rest just copy the only 4 races the writers could apparently take seriously.

In the modding community, modders mostly just copy-pasted the "Humans, Elves, Half Elves, Halflings, Straight Romances Only" schtick wholesale, with the exception of Imoen. This is the same problem of being "playersexual" where the same settings are copied wholesale for every companion without thought, rhyme or reason.

It's very telling of how little thought was put into the characters, even before we get into how poorly DA2 and BG3s companions are written to begin with.

[quinnanneslace]

mlm wlw solidarity is durge and shadowheart amnesia and fake ass name buddies. gaslight gatekeep girlboss but make it uhh illithid amnesia anonym. tadpole trepan (gamer)tag. only way this could get crazier is if they both had evil gods wait why am i hearing boss music