When discussing the CRPG developer-romance spectrum, studios often fall into distinct camps. Obsidian tends toward an anti-romance approach, while BioWare and Larian sit at the opposite end of the scale. Owlcat Games occupies a unique space in this landscape; their Pathfinder series and Rogue Trader both feature romanceable companions as core elements of the experience.

However, maintaining balance in these narratives isn't always easy. In a recent developer blog, the studio shared some unexpected hurdles they faced while trying to craft engaging romantic arcs for their players.

The Cannibal Dilemma in Pathfinder

Owlcat developers admitted that they sometimes swing too far away from traditional tropes. While they want to avoid creating "average waifus" that lack personality, they once found themselves accidentally creating a cast of characters that were perhaps too extreme for the average player.

"In fact," the studio noted, "we had this situation early on during Wrath of the Righteous production. At some point we realized we had three female romanceable characters, and all three were cannibals."

This realization forced a significant narrative pivot during development:

  • Arueshalae: The succubus on a path to redemption required mid-production dialogue changes to clarify that she is unusual among demons for not enjoying the taste of human flesh.
  • Wenduag: The spider-legged mutant remained a cannibal, catering to players who prefer more "out there" or edgy companion options.
  • The Third Option: While the third cannibal remains in spoiler territory, Owlcat noted that the rewrite shifted Arueshalae toward a more "average-pleasant" archetype without losing her unique essence entirely.

The Complexity of Romanceable Mechanics

Writing these paths is about more than just dialogue; it involves significant environmental storytelling and mechanical complexity. For example, the character Daeran features an extensively developed arc that includes custom map elements, such as a specific waterfall designed for romantic scenes.

The studio also experimented with different relationship structures in Kingmaker, including a polyamorous couple that players could join or disrupt. Despite the fun of these interactions, Owlcat indicated that they might not lean into this specific mechanic again due to technical constraints.

According to the developers, polyamory in RPGs presents a massive challenge: "The problem with polyamory in role-playing games is the complexity and cost of development, which are growing exponentially."

As Owlcat moves forward with their upcoming projects—including new companion DLC for Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader and the alpha version of Dark Heresy—fans are left wondering if these new characters will offer more traditional romance or if we might see another accidental surge of cannibal romanceable characters.