![Shep and Gale are shown standing in front of a waterfall.](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,q_60,w_645/f01188a528c9ae1772898e6ec72f712b.jpg)
Baldur’s gate 3latest update fixes over 1000 bugs. That’s not a typo, the 2GB patch is extensive and fixes issues big and small, from combat glitches to short characters not being able to cuddle with their tall lovers. But to top it all off, it’s easier to avoid an unwanted romance with Gale, the Magician’s magical companion, with whom several players have accidentally struck up a love affair.
The problem appears to be due to the backend coding of an early scene with our wizard friend. It teaches the player how to manipulate the Weave, the magical power within Dungeons & Dragons fiction to which he is particularly attuned. If you choose to play it this way, it can be quite a sensual moment, with even some magical, telepathic flirting thrown in for good measure.
However, some of the dialogue in this scene and those leading up to it can be misinterpreted as platonic, despite the game recognizing them as romantic. Larian Studios is now making some adjustments to this scene to allow players to choose something more pleasant than telling him to fuck off, but maybe not as pushy as “imagine kissing Gale while he’s looking you in the eye” .
Read more: We have opinions about Baldur’s gate 3‘s approach to romance
Actual patch notes read as follows:
- Made it less ambiguous that you romance Gale when choosing certain dialogue options.
- During Gale’s spell-learning scene, you now have the option to imagine a future with Gale that is somewhere between a kiss and a headbutt.
As a fan of Gale’s novels, it was funny to learn that other players were dealing with this problem, because I thought my relationship with him was the most natural in the world. But I ran into a problem where the game for some reason assumed that I had some kind of romance with Karlach since I had the option to “break up” with her after strengthening my relationship with Gale through Cosmic Sex in Gale’s Astral Projection.
I have no idea how this happened, but the real lesson is that in addition to the very direct and clear dialogue options, we we need a heart icon next to the romantic dialogue options so we know exactly what the player’s intentions are. BioWare was right. Fight with me.