Your taste in candidate characters

[Kikki]

EDIT: Added a poll since a topic I found especially interesting came up on page 3. I've allowed for two choices because I myself waver slightly on this.

Pretty much been a (fairly) regular here for about two years and I STILL sometimes can't figure out where to post my topics. Hopefully this is the right one.

I'm thinking about marriage candidates. Specifically, about traits you can't resist, that, if one candidate has that or those traits, it will automatically draw you toward them.

~Long hair on a guy almost automatically draws me to him. (I also like Yuzuki's almost genderless appearance, as I find androgyny appealing, especially in the face.)
~I always tend to be drawn to the ones who speak a little more poetically when everyone else is predominantly prosaic, like Yuzuki from Trio occasionally does or Elliot from Stardew, who does it a lot. Candidates prone to abstract thought appeal to me, too. They tend to be in artistic professions in the game...creators of some sort. I know some people hate this and find it cringey or artificial, but as long as it seems sincere to me, I really like it.
~I can't stand arrogant tsunderes but I love the ones who make me want to tease them, ie: the ones who are embarrassed to let anyone realize just how besotted they are with you under all the 'it's not like I care, or anything!' while casting constant sideways glances at you, or the 'I guess you can have it if you want. I just picked it up off the ground,' on a present they probably spent a month making for you, and other similar behaviours. They make me laugh. It's really fun to make them say lines that make them blush as often as I can, lol.
~Some types of magical or otherwise special candidates automatically have a bit of extra appeal because they tend to inspire my imagination more easily and make me dream up backstories for them without much effort, which makes me more interested in them.

What about you guys? Got any traits (personality or looks or whatever) that really draw you in and help you narrow down your choices? I'd prefer to talk more about traits you love than ones you hate, though Does your preference seem adequately represented in bokumono games (or similar games) or have you never yet come across your perfect guy/girl? (I would love even more of what I like in the game, of course, but I feel like I get at least a little of what I want in every game.)

[Kam]

for bachelors i generally go for ones who are laid back and/or friendly, gray and skye being the notable exceptions

for bachelorettes, i like the ones that are cheerful and/or confident, so i tend to go for bossy types or witch princess when they're available, and the 'nice girl' when they're not

a candidate making me laugh pretty much supersedes anything else, though. if a character makes me laugh, they're usually the first one i marry (though more often then not i'll end up restarting and going for someone who's more my type)

the only real outlier is inari, who i went with purely because they're the closest the series has to a gay option (the same kinda goes for jamie, but i never went for them because they're mean and the game ends if you marry them)

[Getaris]

In an extremely sad and ironic turn of events, I usually end up marrying the alcoholic girl. Alternating with the "generic nice girl" type.

When it comes to bachelors, I prefer the stoic/mature type. Preferably with black hair. Reina is the odd bachelorette that fits this trope.

[Guest]

i'm not really a "romantic" type of person, so i like candidates that are more friendly. i also tend to look for the laid-back type.
in terms of looks, Julius is probably my favourite. there's so much detail to his appearance. i also liked Soseki's look, but he did nothing besides eat coins and complain about being old. :P

[Anna_Lynn]

Hmm...tough question. Here's what usually lures me into the bachelors:

Spoiler:

-I'm a sucker for the bachelors that "seem lonely", like Gray, Raeger, Cam/Kamil, etc. I felt bad for Gray in MFOMT, since he doesn't seem like he has any close friends in the town, and his Grandfather isn't the most pleasant villager around. Cam is viewed as a workaholic, especially if you read Howard's diary about him. With Raeger, not only is he always driven to work hard at his restaurant, his past girlfriends have dumped him, making him seem a little more lonely, so to say.

-Guys who own or like animals. For example, I really liked Cliff in HM64 because of his bird, Cain. I pursued Denny in SI because of his bird, Popper. I found Cam's requests and attraction to cats adorable. If RF4 counts, I nearly married Dylas because he was part horse.

-Guys with long hair, but not too long. Kind of a weird trait to have, considering how picky I am with a character's hairstyle. If a guy has hair that flows past his shoulders, and it's super thick or curly, I'm usually not into it. Bachelors that have straight and long hair are my cup of tea, like Skye, Cam/Kamil, and Hinata.

-I don't always go for the fun, upbeat guys, but sometimes I do. If a bachelor can make me smile, cry from laughter, or make me say "what the hell did I just read?!" after seeing them say something stupidly funny, I'll go for them. For example, I find Rock so weird and stupid at times in AnWL, that I'd actually consider marrying him because of how hilarious he is. Pierre was a lovable little goofball both in IoH and SI; I still wished I married him at times. With Hinata, the main character loves to tease him during festivals or normal conversations, which usually results in a funny response from him. In RF4, I married Doug, since he's such a lovable dumbass at times. To this day, I still chuckle when I hear him say "This weather's « Puppy Doodoo »!" during an overcast of clouds.

-Finally, bachelors with sad or intriguing backstories. I don't know why, but I always, and I mean always marry bachelors who have a depressing past. The more I think about it, most of the guys I've married are orphans. Some abandoned their parents, or vice-versa. Some left their families to support themselves independently at a young age. Some even became criminals, more or less. But as long as they have character development, they all become softies toward the main characters over time.

[Bluie]

I am a sucker for May–December Romances, so if there is an older candidate, male or female (though usually attracted to the males), I will always go for them.

Won, Griffin, Carter, Soseki, and Klaus all fall into this category (though the former two really aren't that much older than you looks-wise).

Also, facial hair = automatic marrying material. Gustafa's beard is a beautiful thing.

[Nightlight]

-I find it hard to resist the cheerful/energetic/dorky bachelors. If there's an energetic goofball somewhere in the game chances are I'm marrying him . Other traits that really appeal to me, but are not as important as the ones already listed, are "a love for animals" and "loving their family and/or being good with kids."

-Having an interesting backstory, being magical, and/or being very unique are a few other things that can instantly draw my attention to a marriage candidate. Keria and Leia from HMDS are a couple of characters I was drawn to and liked because of how unique they were. Keria for being a mute, amnesiac princess that you can rescue from the mines by marrying her, and Leia for being a mermaid (it should be noted, however, that I've never married Leia, as Keria was the one to win my heart .) I married the Wizard from AP because he was the first wizard we ever got (plus I wanted to marry off all the rivals,) and I want to marry Woofio from Trio because of his uniqueness and backstory (his personality also sounds enjoyable .)

-There's really no trait I find irresistible as far as looks go, as I pay far more attention to personality/backstory. That said, because I like the cheerful/energetic/dorky guys I tend to end up with the younger looking ones, as they usually give those personality traits to them (maybe because those traits are considered immature? *shrugs*)

[copernicusmaximus]

There is SUCH inconsistency to my favorite bachelor or bachelorette. I've tried to nail down traits I like, I really have, but it's pretty much impossible. For every game, my favorites are:

-Elli from FoMT (fave bachelorette)
-Cliff and Kai tied from MFoMT
-Muffy from AWL
-Jamie from MM ( why can't we stay married! :'( )
-Tori from RF
-Dorothy from RF2
-Toby from ToT
-Wizard from AP
-Leon from RF4
-Sanjay from ANB (fave bachelor)
-Nadi from SoS (never got far in this game tho)
-Ludus from SoS:ToT

Plus I'm thinking I'll date Kasumi from Trio if I ever get around to a boy file. So yeah...inconsistent! If anyone sees any patterns feel free to share since I don't see it

[Guest]

[quote="Kikki"]Pretty much been a (fairly) regular here for about two years and I STILL sometimes can't figure out where to post my topics. Hopefully this is the right one.

I'm thinking about marriage candidates. Specifically, about traits you can't resist, that, if one candidate has that or those traits, it will automatically draw you toward them.

~Long hair on a guy almost automatically draws me to him. (I also like Yuzuki's almost genderless appearance, as I find androgyny appealing, especially in the face.)
~I always tend to be drawn to the ones who speak a little more poetically when everyone else is predominantly prosaic, like Yuzuki from Trio occasionally does or Elliot from Stardew, who does it a [i]lot[/i]. Candidates prone to abstract thought appeal to me, too. They tend to be in artistic professions in the game...creators of some sort. I know some people hate this and find it cringey or artificial, but as long as it seems sincere to me, I really like it.
~I can't stand [i]arrogant [/i]tsunderes but I [i]love [/i]the ones who make me want to tease them, ie: the ones who are embarrassed to let anyone realize just how besotted they are with you under all the 'it's not like I care, or anything!' while casting constant sideways glances at you, or the 'I guess you can have it if you want. I just picked it up off the ground,' on a present they probably spent a month making for you, and other similar behaviours. They make me laugh. It's really fun to make them say lines that make them blush as often as I can, lol.
~Some types of magical or otherwise special candidates automatically have a bit of extra appeal because they tend to inspire my imagination more easily and make me dream up backstories for them without much effort, which makes me more interested in them.

What about you guys? Got any traits (personality or looks or whatever) that really draw you in and help you narrow down your choices? I'd prefer to talk more about traits you love than ones you hate, though :) Does your preference seem adequately represented in bokumono games (or similar games) or have you never yet come across your perfect guy/girl? (I would love even more of what I like in the game, of course, but I feel like I get at least a little of what I want in every game.)[/quote]

But you like Sanjay best where does he fall into this? Just long hair? That's kinda lame you know...

[Kikki]

But you like Sanjay best where does he fall into this? Just long hair? That's kinda lame you know...

I have (more than) amply explained my feelings for Sanjay on multiple occasions (to the point where some folks around here may roll their eyes if I start again) and did not feel it necessary to make another essay on him in this thread. He is and always has been special and not at all full of my usual triggers...the only one of his kind, for me. I loved him because his situation and his personality immediately created a whole story around him, for me. His long hair is nice, but in fact, I don't think Sanjay is especially good-looking...he looks gentle, but a little plain, except for the long hair. My favourites are always characters I see as introverts, and that is probably the only pattern of mine that he really fits into.

If that does not meet with your standards for the reasons one must have for liking a character, then I will just accept being kind of lame.

[Guest]

[quote="Kikki"][quote="Anonymous Fish"]But you like Sanjay best where does he fall into this? Just long hair? That's kinda lame you know...[/quote]

I have (more than) amply explained my feelings for Sanjay on multiple occasions (to the point where some folks around here may roll their eyes if I start again) and did not feel it necessary to make another essay on him in this thread. He is and always has been special and not at all full of my usual triggers...the only one of his kind, for me. I loved him because his situation and his personality immediately created a whole story around him, for me. His long hair is nice, but in fact, I don't think Sanjay is especially good-looking...he looks gentle, but a little plain, except for the long hair. My favourites are always characters I see as introverts, and that is probably the only pattern of mine that he really fits into.

If that does not meet with your standards for the reasons one must have for liking a character, then I will just accept being kind of lame.[/quote]

I feel kinda bad...I didn't mean to make you sad. I just wanted to tease you a bit so that you would be a bit more talkative about your choice. I apologize, I just like reading what you have to say, because you have an artistic aura about you and a peculiar way of typing.

[Pachi]

Tbh, the bachelors' physical appearance get to me first hahahu but I usually go for and end up marrying the ones who are kind/nice and gentle, right from when the MC meets them -- Cliff (MFoMT), Cam (ToTT), Raeger (SoS), Hinata (3oT). I had a kinda hard time choosing in 3oT because all of them look great and were also so nice to the MC. Especially Yuzuki. If I were to make a new girl file, I would go for him.

[Kikki]

I feel kinda bad...I didn't mean to make you sad. I just wanted to tease you a bit so that you would be a bit more talkative about your choice. I apologize, I just like reading what you have to say, because you have an artistic aura about you and a peculiar way of typing.

Oh, I see. Online, I usually take people's words seriously rather than as a joke unless it's very obvious. If you were just curious to know more, then I'm flattered by your interest, thank you. I would PM you an answer rather than inflicting it on everyone, but I cannot do so with a fishie since you have to have an account to be able to receive private messages. I'll try to explain a little more without being too lengthy about it or repeating too much of what I've said before. And I'll put it behind a spoiler so it's easy to skip.

Spoiler:

Sanjay appeared in the game more at Amir's shoulder than boldly square in front of the camera...an orphan who, for reasons unexplained in the game, became the one person the prince relied on at all times. But even though Amir values him so much, Sanjay keeps himself back, as though he were a servant rather than the friend or brother he clearly is to Amir. Even if you go visit him every day, whenever you show up, he assumes you are there to see Amir, not him...as though he doesn't expect to be recognized as an individual at all. And even after you've assured him that you're there to see him, until you've lavished so much attention on him that he can't help but realize it's really him you're there for, he thinks you're just a really nice helpful person whose friendliness can assist him in supporting the prince, and he's happy about that...but he comes to like you for his own reasons, too, and even begins to stand at your shoulder as a lovingly concerned support. He's gentle and quiet and never puts himself forward but instead stays in the background to be the pillar of support that will hold everything up for you so that you are never burdened by too much weight, but he's quite stern, too, and won't take Amir or you risking or neglecting yourselves even a little...he'll tell you off promptly and force care on you and his best-friend prince if you don't care for yourself to his standards.

In my view, Sanjay is the most loyal, caring and selfless bachelor I've met. I love his dedication, and that if you befriend him, the devotion that made him dedicate his entire life to Amir slowly turns to you (without him losing his connection to Amir). I'm always intrigued by the type who put themselves...their wants and needs...behind others'. I like having my MC fussed over by him, and I love to have her take care of him in return, to be the one who puts him first.

His personality and his situation with Amir just wrote a novel in my head without me having to work at it...it just unfolded. It kept me very interested in him; I love him to bits, even though he's mostly fairly plain-looking and he doesn't have any outrageous or quirky lines like some others. I think about what it was like for he and Amir as kids, and what it would take to gain that level of regard, and how somehow, the MC manages to become as important to him as Amir...that you, as the MC, are the one 'selfish' thing Sanjay may ever do for himself. All that together is what makes it surprising for me when I hear that the general consensus is that Sanjay is boring...for myself, I've never met a more interesting guy.

@Pachi...yeah, I'd say that's one of my patterns, too...I love the guys who seem super gentle, like Sanjay and Yuzuki and, to a lesser extent, Raeger. In my case I like the feeling of the ones who seem like wisps on the wind...it makes me want to take hold of them. And it's true! Trio is absolutely packed with really, really nice guys. Some are awkward or have other small issues, but each one of them is the type who'd run to your house at 2AM if they heard you were injured, even if you hadn't yet gotten that close to them. Imo, anyway. So far Yuzuki has been my favourite (though I had no complaint with Ludus, he just wasn't my 'type', I guess) but I'm still going to try Ford and Wayne as well, even though Wayne is probably the very opposite of my type since I don't seem able to get into extroverted characters and I dislike the cowboy-style. He's still a super nice guy, Trio style. And appearance is what I go for, too, if there are no personalities/circumstances strong enough to sweep me away, such as in Trio where everybody is very nice and no one (except Inari) has circumstances that seem more clearly unique than anybody else's.

[CatBlueCamp]

First, my pet peeves:
Pet peeve #1: Marriage canidates that look so young there is a chance that they're not legal. Due to this stipulation, I usually prefer bigger or older bachelors.

Pet peeve #2: I can't stand being insulted as a means of being flirted with either irl or in a game. I prefer a bachelor that treats both me and my character with respect. Most tsunderes are out. (Except Grey from mfomt)

My favorite bachelors are usually the big, friendly, hardworking sweethearts with Owen from AP/ToT being the prime example. Dean from Sky Tree is another good example. Bob from MM being a third. When that type isn't available, usually I nab the "old" bachelor. (Claus / Soseke) because AT LEAST THEY LOOK OVER 18. <.<

Edit: @Kikki I really liked reading what you had to say. I'm glad you didn't pm it.

[Kikki]

Edit: @Kikki I really liked reading what you had to say. I'm glad you didn't pm it.

Thank you; I'm glad I don't want to irritate people by constantly saying how much I love Sanjay, but if I get asked for my reasons, then I certainly do have some to give.