| Criterion | Success (e.g., Baldur’s Gate 3 ) | Failure (e.g., Fable III ) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Romance triggers after specific story beats & rests | Romance triggers after buying a house / giving 10 gifts | | Agency | Players can initiate, pause, or break the link | Romance is a linear achievement track | | Consequence | Other NPCs react; story branches change | No external narrative impact | | Mechanical Harmony | Healing, protecting, or fighting alongside feels intimate | Romance is a separate menu from combat |