#but why can't female shepard romance tali | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

elvenbeard · 11 months

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Thanks for your answer on the bi/straight mod question! Very interesting to see your perspective, especially since I myself am straight and feel like that is a topic I'm not qualified to offer my opinions on. Bioware, and Dragon Age in particular is what made me bring it up. I was there for the Dorian drama too and it was messy. I never downloaded that mod, it didnt sit right with me either knowing his story, I just happily romanced him with a male inqusitor and went on my way. But then I think about Mass Effect and characters like Jack, is who definitely bi, and Tali who does seem to flirt with FemShep, they're only romanceable for MShep, so I sometime wonder if there's a grey area there where a mod would be ok? Or like for Kaidan, who is bi but not romanceable by MShep until game 3, It seems like a mod for him in ME1 is acceptable. Idk, I'm rambling, but I guess in my opinion they may be okay for some characters, like Kaidan, but not okay for others, like Dorian. And like you said, maybe that's hypocritical, but that makes the most sense to me in a way? Again, not trying to start anything, just happy to have a civil discussion about it instead of seeing both sides yell at each other while I watch from afar and try to make sense of it.

Always happy to discuss things like this in a civil way, cause that's how you learn and see different perspectives!

I think everything considered, everyone needs to decide for themselves what's okay and what isn't. If I love a character so so much, but I cannot or don't want to romance them with a PC they'd be attracted to given their background and story, then what is it that I love about that character (especially if their sexuality is integral to the story)? Do I really love the character for who they are, or do I just hate being turned down by them, despite always being nice to them (do I feel cheated by the narrative)? What is it that prevents me from enjoying this character's story how it's written (is it bad, or is it just not what I expected, what I know from other media)? Is it internalized homophobia, or does it make me uncomfortable to be adressed as a different gender than my own (what can I learn about myself from this)? Something else, all of the above?

I can answer that for myself in regard to why I personally don't mind headcanoning some straight characters as bi or gay. Most random example: Cassandra from Dragon Age. I didn't play her romance, I know vaguely how it plays out though. It's sweet, it's dorky, it's romantic af. I love Cassandra as the strong leader who also loves cute romance novels - get yourself a girl who can be both! But also, from what I know about it, her romance feels like something I've seen depicted in media 1000 times before. I feel like romancing her with a female Inquisitor could give her story a different vibe entirely, one that I personally could relate more to. I'm not saying that her canon romance and orientation are bad either - it's just something that doesn't grab me as much when here are LIs that are "less conventional" (read: more like myself), with stories I can relate to more.

Regarding Jack, Tali, and Kaidan: considering how old Mass Effect 1 is, and how utterly radical it was at the time to have Liara as an LI for both female and male Shepard, I think they really wanted to play it safe with who was canonically available to whom as an LI, and only got braver when ME3 rolled around. It's been too long since I played the games myself, and I only ever played a male Shepard, so I can't comment specifically on Tali's behavior towards Femshep for example. And again, I think it's totally fair to headcanon Tali as bi or lesbian or whatever you want, and get mods that unlock her romance, because it's only relevant to your own game and story and doesn't affect anyone else. It's totally fair to headcanon Kaidan as straight, because if you're only ever playing Femshep, I'm not sure if anything ever comes up that would suggest he's bi, romanced or not (correct me if I'm wrong!). And it's also not gonna take away from me having the ultimate slowburn romance between him and my male Shepard either xD I know there's mods that unlock his romance for male Shep in ME1, too, but I personally do not mind that he's not an LI there. Cause heck... maybe Kaidan didn't realize himself at the time that he is bi, and maybe he realizes only by the time he starts to trust male Shepard again in ME3 "hmm... maybe I'm feeling a little more than just admiration and friendship for this man." I love the M!Shenko romance so much as a slowburn, because sexuality is a shifting thing, and it's never too late to realize that maybe you're not as straight (or cis) as you thought you were.

I don't wanna go into morals or what's okay and what isn't, because in the end, as I said, these characters and their stories are all fictional. Also, good queer representation is by far not as rare anymore as it was by the time of Mass Effect 1 or Dragon Age: Origins, where I kind of accidentally stumbled into Zevran's romance with my male Warden and had my mind blown that it was possible to be gay in a fantasy story. Overall though, there's still too little rep, and if you look around the world rn, at the political climate and the rising tension towards queer people, we need it more than ever, still.

Another reason why I'm personally more "forgiving" towards mods that make canonically straight, cis characters queer, because there's so little gay fantasy knights in shining armour romances, so little dorky space lesbians. The queer characters used to often be the sexually more deviant, morally grey, shady characters (I love you, Zevran, but also.... yeah). They still sometimes are, and not only do we need more, we need more diverse stories. More quiet romantic queers, more serious respectable queers, more evil queers that are evil because they're evil, not because they're queer.

And sometimes you just need a little bit of self-fulfillment in fiction when the real world constantly tells you "no one would ever love you the way you are". I can see why you don't wanna be turned down by your favourite fictional character, and there is no harm in "what if" scenarios that mods allow you to experience. Since being straight is still considered "the norm" in large parts of society and in fiction, I feel like some straight people playing games with diverse queer rep experience being turned down for their gender and orientation for the first time in their lives there. And maybe "make this character straight" mods are a way to cope with that unexpected rejection from their favourites (and again, being turned down by your fave is never fun, and when you have the chance to play out "what if" scenarios in your head or with mods, by all means, go for it! I get it, I really do).

But my guess is as good as any other and still: me understanding it doesn't mean I wanna see it on my dash.

Simultaneously, I get it that female players want to play female characters, cause even female protags are not something that was always just there from the beginning of games. Me personally, I prefer playing male characters when given a choice. And now you have games like Cyberpunk, where you can canonically make V trans (it's not perfect by how it's pulled off, but what in life is perfect?). Having that option alone was another utter *mind blown* moment for me, and I hope more and more games will pick this up in the future and "normalize" it, make it standard, expose people to the existence of queer people at every opportunity xD And now I'm completely off topic so I'll stop here with my rant!

TL,DR: Let people mod what they mod, if they really wanna, they're gonna do it anyway. Everyone needs to decide for themselves what's okay and what isn't, and there are no bigger, all encompassing morals to adhere to. Maybe we're all not that different in our experiences and wishes and daydreams and just need to realize it more. Be kinder and more respectful towards each other. Focus on creating and enjoying the things that you love and share it with people who love it. And, if all else fails... block/mute/blacklist things and people you don't wanna have in your life XD

And there's nothing bad in being a little hypocritical sometimes, hell, I still get mad af at stupid mods and stupid takes XD I'm far from perfect, I'm super petty actually. I've fucked up in the past, and will probably fuck up in the future, too, it's just human. But I still will try to do my best to be respectful and just remove myself from environments and content that gets me mad, and focus on the good things and the cool people and what they do and support them. Help them be louder against bigots as best as I can.

#answered asks #anonymous #fandom stuff #long post #if you wanna come off anon would also love to chat about this more in private!

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c-rowlesdraws · 3 years

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Tali’Zorah Mass Effect vas Normandy's in-game unmasked portrait (even the new revised one) is a letdown and an insult against me personally, so here’s my own re-imagining of this sweet alien girl with a heart of gold and an immune system of wet tissue paper.

(inspired by this fanart and certain pieces of concept art)

#tali'zorah #tali'zorah vas normandy #mass effect #tali mass effect #quarian #hear me out....... tali who looks like an alien AND looks like someone who's been sealed up in a suit her whole life #i'm watching a friend play parts of legendary edition and i can't believe i slept on these games for TEN YEARS #they're good actually #it turns out they're good #but why can't female shepard romance tali #i'm being #personally victimized by mass effect #this is homophobia #my art

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lethalhoopla · 2 years

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When I finished and noticed I thought about you and what your thoughts would be on that tid bit.

I like the small details they have when it comes to the different gendered Sheps. I just wonder why poor bro Shepherd gotta be left out. Let him be apart of the family, Anderson.

Though I suppose it might just be a difference in how he views Shepard as whatever gender they are? Don't know the full reason but my guess probably has to be.

Male Shepard could handle himself, at least Anderson thought so, yes he is close with him, he would fight and die alongside him but not? In a son-father kind of light? Maybe he did but didn't wanna just drop it on him out of the blue, perhaps due to how some guys think they can't really be that open and emotional.

But with female Shepard he felt more comfortable since oh women do tend to be emotional and open with that. Personally find that to be bullshit if it's the actual reason to be honest. It only came to my thoughts due to sick tired brain.

In my eyes and many others I feel, Anderson basically adopted Shepard, don't matter their gender. That's his kid, I'm dying on this hill.

Also definitely was worth the Tali romance 👌 I may do a few more playthroughs romancing others like Miranda and Thane. Not Jacob though, never him. Cheating asshole who throws a damn fit if you break it off with him, big baby.

It might be a slight difference in choices, but it seems there's a high chance of broShep getting called "son" by Anderson, at least! Though... yeah, man, the energy that 'child' has is so different from 'son', even if they're trying to do the same thing. It's even weirder that they had the VA record the 'child' version for femShep, but the 'son' version for broShep. It's such a purposeful choice - the only thing I can think of is that they had 'son' first, then were struggling to have an option for femShep... and 'daughter' really doesn't have the same potentially casual fondness that 'son' does, so they awkwardly landed on 'child'.

But totally, Anderson (especially by 3) has big Oops All Dad energy. Regardless of Shepard's gender! I support this awkward long-distance space family, dammit. (And Anderson lowkey trying to make up for the, shall we say, emotional 'distance' in 2, haha).

Also if you're playing the PC version, I know for sure there's a mod on Nexus Mods that allows for femShep to romance Miranda! (Also Jack~). And Thane is SO GOOD though my heart can't handle what happens in 3... how dare you do this to one of my favorite alien men bioware

Jacob is perfectly chill as a bud but holy hell shit gets so weird if you romance him. Especially given his choices in 3 and that he literally has a kid with another lady. Like. W h a t. It's uh, no wonder that he's one of the least popular romances...

#mass effect #anderson is just -you're my dad! boogie woogie woogie woogie- meme i don't make the rules #love romancing all my wayward alien & human space vigilantes/criminals/ex-terrorist-agents #except jacob sorry jacob Big Weird Vibes given what they do with his character arc #there's not even much 'time' between the end of 2 and start of 3 so like.... they really give him a hell of a heel turn.........#wild

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sugarbubbleslove · 2 years

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Current Mass Effect PT (Adept Shepard)

So - I'm putting this under spoilers. Read the Tags before you go any further.

So I'm completing a No Garrus runthrough and OH. MY. GOD!!! It's amazing!!

I never recruited him in ME1, only spoke to him about the Normandy gun and let him die during the Sucicide mission.

So when he was supposed to show up in ME3...it actually took me until I met up with the Primarch to hit me that nothing really specific happened.

After you complete Tunchunka - SAMANTHA is the one who approaches Shepard and has a comforting conversation with her (And even checks out Shepard's ass - I'm playing as a female here - and it was hilarious.

It was an actual zone-in-on-the-ass scene - like Shepard gets with Kaidan (should you romance him in ME1 and stay faithful).

Damn - it was hilarious and it took me a long time to actually remember that it never happens when you have Garrus.

So...sorry, I can't go back. My game is just too good without Garrus and so far - nothing has indicated it even needs him in ME3.

----

As much as I love playing as an adept in ME3 Omega, I do prefer my engineer if only to shut up Petrovsky because he would NOT. SHUT. UP. Piss off dude, you're still getting your head blown off for your experiments.

And yes - my Shepard is a paragon but there are some moments where she needs to shoot someone (Aria didn't kiss her and turned...nicer...lol)

----

Thessia still pisses me off no matter what. I had to listen to Liara call my Shepard Callous for telling her not to focus on everyone dying.

Like seriously? Aren't you supposed to be some hard-ass Shadow Broker (who apparently can't broker her way out of a wet paper bag but whatever)

then she goes off on how she can't face banshee and Kaidan - KAIDAN - tries to placate her. I honestly wanted my Shepard to turn around and tell him to stop pandering to her. That they have been facing Husks since Eden Prime, they got to see how Husks were converted so no, Liara doesn't get the monolopy on that tramua.

And of course the line with the alliance air support (I admit it, I turned around and unloaded a clip into her. Didn't do anything but it made me a feel a bit better). People can say she was jesting all they want - all I heard was someone whining about the fact that her world was the ONLY one, apparently, under seige by the Reapers.

Then the whole arguing against Shepard about Asari OBVIOUSLY didn't hide the beacon - like...what? Its in a fucking statue, Liara. It's clear what your damn species were doing.

And another thing - the way the councillor asari talks to you, if you pick the 'renegade' option and ask her why they're suddenly helping, she says it's because they are now being threaten.

Like the very fucking implication that if the Reapers had left Thessia alone, the Asari would have gleefully sat off to the side and watched the galaxy crumble just to keep their beacon secret intact? Fuck off.

And now I'm on the Normandy, talking to Kaidan - who is talking to Adams and they're both talking about how Liara was after the death of her mother and how she told them stories about her mother for weeks and I'm just like...

I picked her up after Virmire. She was lucky if she had her ass on the Normandy SR-1 for a week.

Now I'm gonna hit Sanctuary, get Miranda back (Cause she's my best girl) then do the Citadel DLC and have fun with Kaidan.

(And of course, Liara is a 'mandatory' guest to the party. Urgh)

---

And can I say - it felt right to have both Kaidan and Tali back on my team again to take back Tali's homeworld and to save the Rachni Queen?

It felt normal.

Though the next playthrough I'm gonna have both of them for the bomb which means I'll do Rachni first.

----

And does anyone else thinks it's hilarious that all of TIM's problems come in the form of Commander Shepard?

Guess you shouldn't have brought her back, asshole

#No Garrus Runthrough #a certain asari can piss off #Anti-Thessia #I hate that fucking mission #rail roading Shepard #Shenko #Adept Shepard is fun #but I really miss my Engineer Shepard #why can't I use both?#Like Andromeda?!!#mass effect legendary edition #wish I could do a complete no Liara Runthrough #but bioware insist in forcing her in #urgh

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scoundrels-in-love · 5 years

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You've played mass effect?? I always romance kaiden. I can't escape! But Tali's my true love, I just always play as a female Shepard 😭Have you played andromeda? Who was your favoeite character? If you've played ME have you played dragon age???

I am sorry to disappoint, but I actually have not played any ME series games Or Dragon Age games.

I have, however, watched most of the romance storyline gameplay videos when I was in my Star Wars: The Old Republic phase which is BioWare developed Star Wars MMO with similar story system to ME and my main was a Trooper, voiced by Jennifer Hale, so of course that alone got my curiosity. Beside, the youtuber that was doing storyline videos of SW:TOR also had them of ME and DA, so I just fell down that rabbithole.

Fell very heavily, in fact! Though I never really watched Kaidan’s or Ashley’s romances, purely because if I knew them better, I could never commit to the decision you have to Make even just through watching the game. Which, in fact, is why I never tried to play these games - I could never bear making all these choices that kill people I love.

But yes... Garrus ended up being my main space hubby, but I was also very fond of Thane! (To point I’d go on DeviantArt and consume fancontent.) And Tali is precious and 1000/10 would die for her, sweet romance dork. Something about Shakarian got me good, though, their awkward sweetness because they’re both rough around the edges and this is a new territory in so many ways? The way their mutual respect grows in mutual, bone deep love? I can’t quite explain, but it hit a lot of my trope-likes just right. Similarly with Thane, what can I say, I love my tragic romantic fools.

Said youtuber went MIA after like, making half of Andromeda content so I don’t have solid opinion on that, but I did love Jaal for the most part!! Squid-kitty man with large family and gorgeous home planet!!

And in DA:I, my main babe was Cullen, though I know he’s ‘problematic’ due to previous game story lines and what not, but CHARACTER GROWTH, PEOPLE. I live for characters that fuck up and learn and grow. Though I’d die for literally like... every romancable companion except side eye at Solas and maybe Blackwall, but I don’t think I finished watching that one.

So, again, I am sorry if my answers, either in characters or that I’ve not played, are disappointing, please no tomatoes my way~ I do love to read the meta, like Kaidan’s last night and fraction of my brain is still in BioWare story corner, though my PC can’t run the MMO anymore. (But I miss it terribly and it’s main enabler in my nerdy love for SW.) And I’d love to hear more about what you like, etc.!

#rainy rambles #games #gaming #lovely people #rainy day conversations #i-live-so-i-love

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werankladies · 6 years

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Bioware Ladies Ranked by How Bullshit It Is You Can't Romance Them As A Female Character

1. Tali’Zorah Vas Normandy – Tali is so obviously into FemShep that it’s not even funny. The only possible excuse for this one is that they’re mutually pining for each other and too scared of rejection to see it through (which would be out of character for Shepard regardless of how you play her, so nah). Additionally, I am forever salty that someone who’s just so damn cute can’t be smooched as a Lady.

2. Cassandra Pentaghast – Have you seen her haircut? Her muscles? God damn.

3. Morrigan – Morrigan’s open and absolute distaste for men is such an overwhelming sign of lesbianism that it makes me question what the writers for Dragon Age were even thinking when they made her character. Were they thinking? I have my doubts.

4. Jack – Jack literally admits to having had past romantic and/or sexual encounters with both men and women, so it makes zero% sense that FemShep can’t romance her.

5. Bastila Shan – Bastila and KOTOR’s protag are quite literally soul mates. I really don’t need to say anything else.

6. Dawn Star – “Childhood Friends Having a Crush on Each Other and Growing Up To Explore Those Feelings, But Lesbians” would have made such a good arc, y’all.

7. Miranda Lawson – Other people have made this point before but it’s still valid so it’s unrealistic that the “genetically-engineered-to-be-perfect human being” would be straight (or British, for that matter).

8. Cora Harper – I think there’s a fan comic or something floating around out there about this but you Do Not roll with Asari commandos and come out the other side completely straight.

9. Ashley Williams – I can’t really think of any reasons why Ashley should be romanceable as FemShep other than that you can’t be straight in space, but that’s still pretty compelling.

10. EDI – I actually kind of understand not being able to romance EDI, and in fact I’m happy for her and Joker. That said, I’m still upset on principle alone that I don’t get to smooch a Robot Lady.

#bioware #mass effect #kotor #dragon age #jade empire #tali'zorah vas normandy #cassandra pentaghast #morrigan #jack nought #jacqueline nought #bastila shan #dawn star #miranda lawson #cora harper #ashley williams #edi

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