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I'm planning an otome game and recently came upon a problem (maybe). So far I have 4 main paths: 3 for each love interest, and a "family" path that focuses on the MC's sister. The current plan I had was that the sister falls in love with one of the love interests... yeah.

What I'm concerned about is whether people would consider the love interest "cheating" on the MC and would avoid doing both paths because of it. Another similar scenario is in Mass Effect 3, with Garrus and Tali. If you don't romance either of them, they'll start a romance between themselves.

Another thing that's been on my mind is how much of a role can/should the love interests play in paths that aren't their own. For example, can the childhood friend stay close to the MC even when the player isn't on his/her route? Would it be weird if he supported the romance in that path?

I suppose the core question is: how exclusive do you consider paths? Do you view changes in character a good thing or a bad thing (a character genuinely supporting a romance in another person's path vs. being protective/jealous in their own)? Is there anything that would make it a bit easier to accept?

I think it's understandable whether another character will hook-up with another person in their path or another, since that's how it is realistically. People move on, and they change depending on the flow around them. If you don't want a mary-sue character where everyone and I mean, every living, breathing person falls in love with her whether she gets close to them or not, I think this is a fairly good idea. I am a shipper, and sometimes I ship other character with another one except for the MC (but that depends on the story) I also think that a story when the girl shuns everyone else but the boy of her interest makes her kind of anti-social and annoying.

A protagonist can also play in a part where she can't be the main character, the main romance. For a good example, I think this thread is the only thing I can think of right now : viewtopic.php?f=43&t=14477
To make it believable, build a situation where that other person interacts with the boy better, or a situation where they had past together.

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JESUS CHRIST, GOOGLING HOW TO UNRAR STUFF IS EASIER THAN WAITING FOR 1000 DAYS FOR A REPLY. SRSLY.

Agreed. There are more games that work with hooking up with another. Like the Harvest Moon series.

I love it when the other characters appear in routes. It's kind of strange they would just disappear, especially if they're friends. Plus, it always fun if your favourite character appears.

It would depend if they were already in love before the path starts or not. If they weren't, why should they be jealous? If they were, there must be a good reason why they can deal with it. Like accepting they can never be the boyfriend or something.

No, I find that ok
In the original Harvest Moon is it simliar.
Five love interests that all get married when you're not approaching them. The game even has the possibility of you ending up alone when all girls are taken (in later games was always a "escape" interest that would never marry and as such was always avaible).
That is just more realistic. Think about it, not all girls you find adorable will stay single forever just because you chose someone else

I also find it better if you can destroy your relationship with flirting, resulting in both interests being angry at you (in Rune Factory was that possible if you were as stupid as asking two girls on a date at the same time to the same place).
Makes the characters more alive, since they have a life and dreams to go on with.
So I highly doubt the players would feel uncomfortable about it. If they like Person A it is just more understandable that others like them too. And when the MC is not showing any interest in the possible partners then they are obviously not cheating but searching for their partner on their own (in this case resulting in them dating a family member of the MC).

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Why not give the player the choice? Have little sister confide her feelings for childhood friend... and give a supportive option and a 'wtf?' option. And maybe the 'wtf' option could derail the MC back onto childhood friend's path, if it turns out that they're jealous of little sister's crush...

Or destroy the good relationship with the sister AND makinf the friendship go awkward since the MC actively meddled.
I once tried to bring my little sister together with a friend of mine. Resulted in both hating me (even though my sister forgave me in the
end and is now on clean terms with me again).
So maybe three options from "Go for it!" (them getting together" over "Think it over...?" (resulting in getting back to the friend) to "WTF" (resulting in both hating you)

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I don't think there're any problems with the situations you've described. I actually have two very similar scenarios in my own game (your best friend has a crush on one of your potential love interests, and your male childhood friend will support your relationships with other guys), so I'd definitely say go for it!

Would you and your sister be in love with the same guy at the same time, or just in different paths? The former could be an interesting setup that leads to lots of love triangle drama. Personally, though, I would not want to be on a path where I would have to hurt my friend to get a guy. Like I was always sad in Tokimeki Memorial when one of my girl friends would enter "Rival Mode" and we'd stop being friends because we liked the same guy - I often thought I'd rather help her get with him instead of fighting. ;_;

I second this! At least in my game, I'm letting the player choose what they want to do in the end – either you support your friend, or pursue the relationship with the guy. And if you do want to pursue the relationship, you'll have to work things out with your friend first, so yeah.

As for some love interests appearing in other paths, that's awesome! I wouldn't want one of my good friends to disappear from the game simply because I didn't go down his route (and frankly, I’d like him better if he did support me no matter what ^_^). As long as the guy friend’s actions stay consistent with his personality and relationship to the MC, it should be fine. Like your nice sweet friend shouldn't suddenly morph into a crazy jealous villain just to provide conflict in another guy's path, unless there is a very good explanation behind it (though I guess the yandere type appeals to some people haha). I also think the friend's subplot shouldn't dominate the other guy's path unless they're somehow interrelated, else it's not really fair to that other guy. ^^;

Oh no, that sounds so terrible! I'm sorry. ;_; I actually hadn’t thought of that option before, but it seems quite realistic. Hmm…I just may have to use that at some point… ^^

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AXIOM.01 (girl detective game) - WIP thread/site
The Pirate Mermaid (twisted fairytale otome) - WIP thread/demo
a2 ~a due~ (music, language, love ~ early NaNoRenO project) - game complete!

Just like Arowana, I have the same situations in my game.

I find it both unrealistic and off-putting when the so-called best friends of the protagonist all but disappear when you're not 'pursuing' them. In real life, all people have feelings, and it's completely natural if your friend is interested in 'your' love interest. Even if the MC doesn't decide to date that guy/girl, it doesn't mean that another girl shouldn't!

Further, friends are supposed to be there for you, so even if you don't decide to start a romantic relationship with your childhood friend, he/she should be there, advising or encouraging you. He could approve of the guy you chose, be jealous of him, be worried for you, but he shouldn't just fade out.

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