(10-10-2014, 11:18 AM)Blue Wrote: Yoshida's repeated calls to not compare Eternal Bond to "marriage" or to not call it that way makes me think that this ritual does not pertain only romantic relationships (and frankly, I prefer it that way, since it allowed for same-gender players to partake to it without rising protests of differently politically inclined players).
I imagine it may also be taken for Eternal Bonds of brotherhood, for example, or loyal friendship as well... you know, all that kind of relationships that includes love but no sexual exchanges.
In this latter case, I can already think of a couple characters among my roster that may exchange Eternal Bond with their respective loyal adventuring partners.
Personally I think the use of the name 'Eternal Bond' rather than marriage is because they are allowing same-sex couples to partake. Same-sex marriage is a trigger word for many people and by changing the name to something else they can allow players to recognize same-sex couples in game, while still avoiding calling it marriage and pissing off the people against that.
Edit: Probably should have read to the end of the thread before I responded to this. OH WELL.