History Main / LevelUpAtIntimacy5

* ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles'', while not elaborating much on romance between the various secondary members of Squad 7, has the abilities 'Fancies Men' and 'Fancies Women', which increase a character's effectiveness when around males or females, respectively, because they want to 'show off'. [[HoYay Yes, there are female characters with 'Fancies Women' and males with 'Fancies Men',]] and even one who has both of them. Also, one (female) character gets an extra boost around the female lead.

** ''[[UpdatedRerelease Persona 3 Portable]]'' adds in a female protagonist, whose route goes ''VideoGame/Persona4''[='s=] way by having nine of her teammates be Social Links (whereas only the female teammates can form Social Links for the guy), who can choose out of five options ([[{{Adorkable}} Akihiko]], [[FanPreferredCouple Shinjiro]], [[MayDecemberRomance Ken]], [[StarCrossedLovers Ryoji]] and Theodore) along with crushes from Bebe and Hidetoshi. She can choose at specific points if she wants to date someone, à la ''Persona 4''. And for the guy, there's no consequence for dating multiple girls, à la (again) ''Persona 4''.

* In ''Videogame/FateGrandOrder'', leveling a Servant's Bond Level to 10 will unlock a unique Craft Essence item that conveys special benefits when equipped on that character. [[spoiler:In the final chapter of the first storyline, Servants with their Bond at higher than 5 will gain a passive attack bonus up to a full 100% at 10]].

There are a lot of games out there that want to encourage relationships, romance, and sex between the characters: a game where you Level-Up At Intimacy 5 ''actually makes your character stronger'' or gives them additional capabilities for doing so, usually by having increased RelationshipValues correspond exactly to combat modifiers - say, Intimacy Dice in ''TabletopGame/BlissStage'' or the powers of your [[Franchise/ShinMegamiTenseiPersona various Personas]].

* Major part of ''LightNovel/MagikaNoKenshiToShoukanMaou'' as the higher the hero Kazuki raises his relationship level with the members of his BattleHarem the more of their powers he can access for himself.

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* Studies show that being regularly sexually active (no marriage required) has numerous minor health benefits, though there are also health risks like STDs (which can be screened for). Anecdotal evidence also regularly cites tremendous psychological benefits.

* ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles'', while not elaborating much on romance between the various secondary members of Squad 7, has the abilities 'Fancies Men' and 'Fancies Women', which increase a character's effectiveness when around males or females, respectively, because they want to 'show off'. [[HoYay Yes, there are female characters with 'Fancies Women' and males with 'Fancies Men',]] [[BiTheWay and even one who has both of them]]. Also, one (female) character gets an extra boost around the female lead.

* In the ''Literature/ApprenticeAdept'' series, werewolves only achieve adult status within the pack (conveyed by a [[MeaningfulRename fourth syllable in their name]]) after a ritual First Mating. When a female wolf comes into her first heat, she chooses a male for her first partner (usually an [[TrueCompanion oath friend]], as it's taboo for become Mates later). There's no chance of pregnancy at that time and it's considered good experience for both. Traditionally, each wolf takes the first syllable of their partner's name as their last. With the fourth syllable, they are considered full, adult Pack Members. We are shown, via {{flashback}}, one female wolf who is locked into juvenile status because of her refusal to mate... With a male. [[note]]The flashback is courtesy her [[BuryYourGays former]] lover, the Brown Adept[[/note]]

* In the ''Literature/ApprenticeAdept'' series, werewolves only achieve adult status within the pack (conveyed by a [[MeaningfulRename fourth syllable in their name]]) after a ritual First Mating. When a female wolf comes into her first heat, she chooses a male for her first partner (usually an [[TrueCompanion oath friend]], as it's taboo for become Mates later). There's no chance of pregnancy at that time and it's considered good experience for both. Traditionally, each wolf takes the first syllable of their partner's name as their last. With the fourth syllable, they are considered full, adult Pack Members. We meet one female wolf who is locked into juvenile status because of her refusal to mate.[[note]]We find this out in flashback from her [[BuryYourGays former]] lover, the Brown Adept[[/note]]

* ''VideoGame/DwarfFortress'' used to be an example. Before, dwarves gained skills by hanging out with friends and lovers, and skill boosts will arbitrarily make dwarves stronger (even though this makes no sense for social skills). Thus, that dwarf that slouches in your dining room all day partying and making friends with everyone could very well be more dangerous than your elite military. Now skills only raise related attributes, but you still get such gems as fishing, studying, medic skills, and book keeping improving a dwarf's accuracy with a crossbow and Intimidation and Comedy ''letting a dwarf run faster''.

* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'':
** ''VideoGame/Persona3'' - the various Persona you can use grow stronger as you strengthen your relationship with the character who is associated with the same TarotMotifs. In the case of female characters (including your female teammates), that relationship tends to be romantic in nature. In order to create the Ultimate Incarnation of each Tarot, you need to max out your relationship with that person – of course, that also means that if you want a good lineup, your character is going to turn into a [[MoreFriendsMoreBenefits real Casanova]], since he'll have to win the hearts of five different girls in the same school… (Plus the affections of two girls who you can't actually have a relationship with; a [[spoiler:preteen girl who promises to marry you when she's older]] and [[spoiler:your female homeroom teacher who you meet anonymously through an online game]].)
** ''[[UpdatedRerelease Persona 3 FES]]'' adds another romantic Social Link with [[RobotGirl Aigis]], and allows you to date ([[spoiler:and sleep with]]) Elizabeth, who isn't a Social Link, but will grant you various key items to summon several specific Personas as you progress your relationship. Talk about the living incarnation of studliness…
** ''[[UpdatedRerelease Persona 3 Portable]]'' adds in a female protagonist, whose route goes ''VideoGame/Persona4''[='s=] way by having nine of her teammates be Social Links (whereas only the female teammates can form Social Links for the guy), who can choose out of five options ([[{{Adorkable}} Akihiko]], [[FanPreferredCouple Shinjiro]], [[MayDecemberRomance Ken]], [[StarCrossedLovers Ryoji]] and Theodore) along with crushes from Bebe and Hidetoshi. She can choose at specific points if she wants to date someone, à la ''Persona 4''. And for the guy, there's no consequence for dating multiple girls, à la (again) ''Persona 4''.
** ''VideoGame/Persona4'' continues the trend, but also applies it to your battle allies. Odd-numbered Social Link ranks add additional in-battle effects ranging from using follow-up attacks to taking lethal attacks for the MC, while the Personas of your allies will only mutate to their final forms once you have fully maximized that person's Social Link. Also, ''4'' doesn't require you to be romantically involved with a female in order to max her Social Link (thus you can remain faithful to one girl), though choosing the romantic route will show different scenes.
** ''VideoGame/Persona5'' has the "Confidant" mechanic, which is functionally similar to Social Links including the improvements to your Personas and your party members gaining new abilities, but all of them, even NPC Confidants, also give you additional benefits ranging from additional [[ItemCrafting crafting recipes]], to shopping discounts, to improved proficiency at [[GunBoatDiplomacy negotiating with demons]].
** ''VideoGame/DevilSurvivor2'' features the Fate System, which works similarly to the aforementioned Social Links: reaching ranks 1, 2 and 4 bestows additional benefits to the character in battle, while ranks 3 and 5 unlock new [[{{Mon}} demons]] for fusion. [[spoiler:In addition, there's a point in the game at which all but a few of your allies leave you--which ones stay depend on your route. While there's no route that allows you to recruit ''everyone'' (the Anguished One is only available on his own route, where neither Yamato nor Ronaldo can be recruited, and you can't recruit either Ronaldo or Yamato on the other one's route), you can re-recruit anyone else who you have rank 4 or above with.]]
* ''VideoGame/ThousandArms'' combines RPG gameplay with Dating Sim aspects. The more the girls like you, the stronger you get!
* ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2 Mask of The Betrayer'' goes and makes the only romance in a Creator/BioWare[=/=]Obsidian title that would be unforced give you a feat for finishing it (The male PC romance plot also gives a feat, but it still has the other issues).
** The non-romantic relationships also give bonuses. For example, maxing out the bear Okku's respect for you causes the [[WizardNeedsFoodBadly Hunger Gauge]] to deplete much more slowly.
* In ''VideoGame/BaldursGateII: Shadows of Amn'', romancing Jaheira the "right" way gets ''her'' a Harper Pin, which grants several useful bonuses. While better replacements show up near the end of the game it's a good item for most of the mid-game. More importantly, however, successful navigation of this quest (which is not actually part of the romance, but gets powered up if you're in a romance with her and weaves in and out of it), nets you a few large buckets of experience points. The trope is inverted (though it's perhaps more of an oversight) in the expansion pack ''Throne of Bhaal'', where if you're romancing Viconia you can [[spoiler: convince her to perform a HeelFaceTurn]]; doing so ''prevents'' her from using a very good item that she's already wearing--and she doesn't get a replacement to reflect the change.
* ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'' is a strange case. You can get useful items or stat increases from, or confer stat increases to, almost all your party members by talking to them. The only real exception is Fall-From-Grace, who in a more conventional game would have been a potential romantic interest, but she can help you understand your party members better, cluing you in on which dialogue options to take--and also doing so earlier than the game would normally allow. Annah, meanwhile, is deeply attracted to you; you have the option to kiss her at one point, and it boosts her morale--until she gains her next level, where it returns to normal, possibly due to a bug. (For context reasons, let's now reveal that Grace is a [[HornyDevils chaste succubus]] and Annah is [[HalfHumanHybrid descended from fiends]].)
** Not a romance, but [[MagicKnight Dakkon's]] ''karach'' ("chaos-matter") blade becomes more powerful as he levels up. [[EmpathicWeapon However, how it becomes more powerful depends on how he feels]]. If you help him overcome his inner turmoil, his blade becomes an excellent defensive weapon that boosts his spellcasting. If you intentionally aggravate him, this is reflected in his blade becoming vicious and serrated and better at melee combat. While in a neutral morale situation, it's a balance of the two.
* Not a romantic example, but there are a fair number of Franchise/{{Pokemon}} who will only evolve if the trainer keeps them happy and builds a strong relationship with them.
** Also, the move Return gets stronger the more the Pokémon likes the trainer. The reverse is true with the move Frustration.
** A handful of [=NPCs=] will teach moves to a Pokémon only if it loves its trainer enough, or give the Pokémon a ribbon, or will give you an item if the first Pokémon in your party loves you enough.
** There's now a sub-feature in Generation VI called Pokemon-Amie where you can play with your Pokemon, feed them cakes and pet them. Increasing their affection this way improves critical-hit ratios, exp gain and recovery from status conditions, among others.

* ''[[VideoGame/ExaPico Ar tonelico]]'' is a series of pseudo-dating-sim-esque {{RPG}}s practically built around this trope, as you gain most of the game's [[MagicMusic musical spells]] by "diving" into the female characters' inner mental worlds and helping them fix their issues, an act which the game specifically links to romance. Furthermore, the characters' power in battle is increased by "Harmonics", a set of two gauges which represent the feelings of the fighting party and the magical songstresses respectively, which add status boosts to the party when the bars meet in the middle; the bars increase when the fighting party defends your singer-mage, attacks on her behalf, or does something otherwise suitably impressive for her.
** Incidentally, "diving" at level 5 and beyond is when things get ([[GameplayAndStorySegregation supposedly]]) dangerous. And any and all innuendo before this is blown out of the water [[spoiler: as their "inner" selves quite literally jump the [[CelibateHero protagonist]]. In a bath towel, a Y-shirt or as a succubus.]]
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/{{Wizardry}} 8'', where it's Level ''Down'' At Intimacy 5. You gain the trust of the Rapax Templar by making one of your party members an initiate. As the final task of this ceremony, the character must make a "sacrifice" to their demon queen, which basically means that the initiate (male, although she will take a female if the party is entirely composed of women) has to sleep with her. The bad part is that the lucky guy ends up permanently hexed and suffers massive stat loss if he ever leaves the Rapax Ravine until the demon queen is killed. As if ''that'' weren't enough, if you actually go through with this, it makes the already tough fight with the Rapax prince harder as--in addition to his entourage--he'll also be accompanied by the daughter of the demon queen and the character that slept with her. While this all sounds like a raw deal, being a Rapax Templar does have its advantages, and can lead to a really awesome quest down the line.
* In ''VideoGame/StarOcean'' (really, any of them), various bonuses you can pick up from having good relationships include (in the second one alone): special techniques, random items, improved item creation, and if in battle, doubled attack power.
** Having a good rapport between your party members is essential to teamwork. For example, in The Second Story, if you choose to have your B team fight, it's likely the AI-controlled members will just do their own thing, even if they are assigned to healing duty. If Noel doesn't particularly care for Dias, he'll probably take his sweet time casting Dispel to cure Dias' paralysis.

** Also, if your relationship isn't high enough with any of your teammates (if you haven't finished their character quest and talked with them in the final chapter) you'll end up with the bad ending as [[spoiler: the only reason Vayne doesn't go through with his original despair driven suicide is that the character you have the highest RelationshipValues with snaps him out of it]]
* ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles'', while not elaborating much on romance between the various secondary members of Squad 7, has the abilities 'Fancies Men' and 'Fancies Women', which increase a character's effectiveness when around males or females, respectively, because they want to 'show off'. [[HoYay Yes, there are female characters with 'Fancies Women' and males with 'Fancies Men',]] [[BiTheWay and even one who has both of them]]. Also, one (female) character gets an extra boost around the female lead.
* While you don't actually level up from it in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', you do gain influence - and can lose it, too, based on your actions. Sufficient influence with a member of your party grants them bonuses from the inspiration your character provides them. [[YouLoseAtZeroTrust Negative influence, on the other hand...]]
** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' follows the suit by giving your Companions unique bonuses/passive powers upon reaching high levels of either Friendship or Rivalry, such as the shieldmaiden Aveline taking 10% damage for Hawke if her Friendship was maxed out.
* In ''VideoGame/RaidouKuzunohaVsKingAbaddon'', your {{Mons}} will gain a new skill when their loyalty is maxed out. This is the primary method of gaining passive abilities, which are sorted differently from attacks.
** And the more Loyalty you gain, the higher Raidou's Rank becomes (some ranks are just awesome: Morning Star, or Taisho Examplar), but also: at certain levels, Raidou is gifted with more tubes, allowing him to hold more demons.
* In ''VideoGame/MonsterRancher 2'', your monster's relationship values have a ''major'' game mechanic effect. Monster with low Loyalty are much more likely to fool around during fights, disobeying your commands and leaving themselves open to attacks. If a monster gets too spoiled, it will often refuse to do its training exercises, while a monster that fears you too much gets stressed out (shortening its lifespan) and is likely to run away. How you treat your monster can also affect its Good-to-Evil axis, which both affects its behavior and its access to certain techniques.
* ''VideoGame/AlphaProtocol'' gives you "perks" for getting into bed with various women which adds a couple of in-game benefits. It also gives you experience points, so it's always funny to see Mike level up just after doing the dirty. Oh and the game has six achievements based around sex - five for having a good night and one for abstaining. You get perks whatever you do. [[http://alphaprotocol.wikia.com/wiki/Perks Perk list]]
* In ''[[VideoGame/MitsumeteKnight Mitsumete Knight R: Daibouken Hen]]'', you gain access to [[LimitBreak powerful magic spells]] if one of the two female partners of your party has very high RelationshipValues with [[TheHero MacLeod]]. If ''both'' of them are in love with him, you get ''even stronger'' magic spells, one of which being a [[EverythingsBetterWithRainbows rainbow-colored]] KamehameHadoken.

* In ''VideoGame/CriminalGirls'', you can use Punish Mode to teach [[BadassAdorable party members]] new moves. (Battle moves, [[AllMenArePerverts you pervs]].)

* In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'' getting married has a number of benefits.
** Your spouse will open up a shop to keep themselves occupied while you're away, and you get a cut of the profits (approximately 100 gold per every 24 hours). You can also buy and sell items from your spouse as you would a regular merchant.
** Once per day your spouse can prepare a homemade meal for you that increases the rate of health, magicka, and stamina regeneration.
** Sleeping in the same house as your spouse gives you a temporary buff called "Lover's Comfort" that increases the rate of skill-learning by 15% for eight hours.
* This would seem to be the case for ''VideoGame/Conception2ChildrenOfTheSevenStars'' from {{Creator/Atlus}}. From the [[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GOOSTFE Amazon]] listing, "ThePowerOfLove: Combine your power with the powers of other Disciples to give life to Star Children, ethereal beings that can fight in battle. Manage your partnerships carefully!"
* In ''VideoGame/LufiaCurseOfTheSinistrals'', Maxim and Selan both gain a LastChanceHitPoint Title after their marriage and the birth of their child. Albert, the NPC who grants Titles, [[LampshadeHanging wonders what childbirth has to do with their newfound ability]].
* ''VideoGame/RakenzarnTales'' grants you stat boosts and even new moves when you reach a new relationship level with one of your love interests. These are mostly for Kyuu, but his date - if she's a party member - will sometimes gain these as well.
* ''VideoGame/{{Lunarosse}}'' will grant Noel and Gloria a new party buff move if you max out your relationship with each of them.
* ''VideoGame/BoxxyQuestTheGatheringStorm'' has a couple of points where you’ll be asked to pick one of your partners to have a support conversation with. The first time is at the start of Chapter 7, and the second is halfway through the Sky Abyss. Whomever you pick will gain multiple experience levels, (three for the first time, two for the second), alongside some character development.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyBraveExvius'' features a Trust rating for almost every unit (with the exception of some plot-critical units). Increasing trust has two benefits - one, after every quest or exploration, there's a chance that each unit will find a bonus item, with that chance equal to their trust rating (with 100% trust guaranteeing said unit will find something). Two, a unit that achieves 100% trust gives an item or ability that can be equipped on other units, and many of these items and abilities are rather nice and only available in this manner.
* Inverted in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel''. Growing the bond between party members increases or enhances the various link abilities they can use, and maxing out the bond between Rean and another character allows an optional romantic encounter between them.
* Building relationships with your party members and friends in ''VideoGame/RakenzarnFrontierStory'' can gain you new moves and combat options, such as switching out characters mid-combat. This is especially important for party members, as improving their levels is primarily how you gain new {{Limit Break}}s.

* In ''VideoGame/SakuraWars'', the more one of the girls likes the hero, the higher her stat bonuses. In addition, a high enough trust rating will unlock special attacks.
** These include giant mecha that transforms from a theater.
** And a hot springs bath that makes mecha explode.

* ''[[Creator/AliceSoft Sengoku Rance]]'', as well as the other games in the series, love this trope. As the relationship goes up, characters get stronger, to put it in a simple way.

* In ''Videogame/FateGrandOrder'', leveling a Servant's Bond Level to 10 will unlock a unique Craft Essence item that conveys special benefits when equipped on that character. [[spoiler:In the final chapter of the first storyline, Servants with their Bond at higher than 5 will gain a passive attack bonus up to a full 100% at 10]].

* ''Manga/TheWorldGodOnlyKnows'' is an interesting case. Runaway spirits are beings from Hell that feed on negative emotions. Therefore, the best way to chase them out is to use positive emotions--specifically, love. However, beings from Heaven are the opposite, and are directly strengthened by love. In both cases, it is noted that a kiss is generally an important milestone. It's enough to force out a runaway spirit, and enough to give a goddess wings. At the same time, it is noted that this is only an approximation. Several times, Keima has been in situations where a kiss wasn't enough, simply because he played the card too early or there were other complications.

* ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02'' provides a G-rated, non-romantic example: [[FusionDance jogress evolution]] triggers for the first time when the {{mons}}' human partners bond in such a way that "their hearts beat as one" and they gain a deeper mutual understanding: Daisuke gets through Ken's IneffectualLoner attitude by telling him YouAreNotAlone, Miyako [[LesYay delivers a]] GetAHoldOfYourselfMan to Hikari, and Iori begins to understand why the forces of evil are Takeru's BerserkButton.

Usually, the explanation for how hitting on people could ''possibly'' make you more powerful is that your AppliedPhlebotinum weaponry is powered by [[ThePowerOfLove intense emotions]]; sometimes this is coupled with the idea that you're fighting a [[EnergyBeing Being Of ]][[IncrediblyLamePun (Im)]][[EnergyBeing Pure Thought.]]

* As the Valkyries in ''Val X Love'' are supported by the PowerOfLove, they level up through "Val Love" events, like holding hands to go to the store, studying together, eating a bento the Valkyrie made, [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers feeling up the Valkyrie's chest for half a minute...]]

* ''VideoGame/BoxxyQuestTheGatheringStorm''has a couple of points where you’ll be asked to pick one of your partners to have a support conversation with. The first time is at the start of Chapter 7, and the second is halfway through the Sky Abyss. Whomever you pick will gain multiple experience levels, (three for the first time, two for the second), alongside some character development.

* In newer versions of VideoGame/TheSims, Romance oriented Sims have as their main life goal to have as many love relationships as possible. This gives them happiness and points with which they can buy game-enhancing items. And, all jobs in the Sims require maintaining a lot of friendships to reach their higher levels.
** In The Sims 3, Sims gain Charisma skill when they [[UnusualEuphemism WooHoo]] with other Sims. If it is enough of a gain to move them up to the next skill point, it's more than a little funny to get the announcement while your Sims sit on their bed in post-coital bliss.

** ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral Genealogy of the Holy War]]'' uses this with a twist: it's limited to romantic relationships, and in the second half you play as the characters' children. Their abilities depend on who supported with whom in the first half. The second generation characters can be paired up as well, but this only gives the usual stat bonuses since the game ends before a third generation can show up. Additionally, sometimes the partners in a relationship can give each other stat point increases or great items. Later games are similar, but that falls under RelationshipValues.

* ''[[Creator/AliceSoft Sengoku Rance]]'', as well as the other games in the series, love this trope. As relationship goes up, characters get stronger, to put it in a simple way.

* VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas has this. Six girls you can date, in exchange for perks, like weapons, clothes, their cars, the possibility for dying/getting busted without losing all weapons, and, in one of the girls' case, a plot advancing MacGuffin for a mission.

* In ''Anime/LuckyStar'', Konata says that to her, building up "trust points" in the days before Valentine's Day is more important than the day proper.

* ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'', people who are in a close relationship can share each other's inventory. If they are married, their inventories merge.

A subtrope of DeusSexMachina. Can involve PowerPerversionPotential. A weaponized verson of ThePowerOfLove and ThePowerOfFriendship. May or may not be IntimateHealing. The opposite of VirginPower. Often used with YouLoseAtZeroTrust. When being TheCasanova is more effective than being a DoggedNiceGuy, that's MoreFriendsMoreBenefits. Compare OptionalSexualEncounter.

[[folder: Web Original ]]
* The web serial ''Memetic Narration'' ([[http://writetocreate.tumblr.com/ found here]]) features high school students who get sucked into a computer and fight turn-based rpg battles. Their available abilities are affected by their relationships with each other, so the main character (being the only one who knows of this) works hard to befriend each of his teammates.
[[/folder]]

* VideoGame/DwarfFortress used to be an example. Before, dwarves gained skills by hanging out with friends and lovers, and skill boosts will arbitrarily make dwarves stronger (even though this makes no sense for social skills). Thus, that dwarf that slouches in your dining room all day partying and making friends with everyone could very well be more dangerous than your elite military. Now skills only raise related attributes, but you still get such gems as fishing, studying, medic skills, and book keeping improving a dwarf's accuracy with a crossbow and Intimidation and Comedy ''letting a dwarf run faster''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 4}}'' has romance options for certain companions after you have maxed out your relationship status with them. Once you are romantic with a companion, resting on a bed while they are nearby will grant you a "Lover's Embrace" perk, which increases the value of experience gains for a limited time.

* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', the ritual by which a Faerie Queen confers the mantle of Knight to a chosen mortal is completed- well, you can guess. What [[spoiler:Harry]] doesn't find out until later is that the entire Faerie Court also watches the proceedings.

* In VideoGame/{{Turgor}} If you open Sister's hearts, they will allow you to go in their chambers and travel to other sisters. It is also implied that the chambers of a happy Sister give more Color. However it is subverted [[spoiler: when you find out that giving Color to a Sister heavily damages their realm due to the sheer amount of it you need to use, which will actually decrease the amount of Color you can get. This will eventually lead to the Scorpio appearing, which will completely destroy your gardens. ]]

* In the board game ''{{Kingdom Death}}: Monster'', the "Intimacy" story event is used to make babies and also has a chance of permanently strengthening the two parents. It is risky, though - there is a high chance that one or both parents will die.

* In RealLife, marriage (but not anything else) unlocks lots of special rights and financial bonuses that make it easier to get a high score and a better game experience, but also some rules and restrictions. For female characters, it also makes pregnancy and being over a [[ChristmasCake certain age]] much more acceptable depending on the server. Won't [[spoiler: prevent death]] but makes you less pitiful during it. You should check your stats and server rules to determine whether you'll pay more taxes, or whether you'll risk [[SoLongAndThanksForAllTheGear losing half your stuff]] if [[YouLoseAtZeroTrust the marriage breaks down]]. Some servers have implemented a GayOption patch.

* In ''Franchise/StarOcean'' (really, any of them), various bonuses you can pick up from having good relationships include (in the second one alone): special techniques, random items, improved item creation, and if in battle, doubled attack power.

* In RealLife, marriage (but not anything else) unlocks lots of special rights and financial bonuses that make it easier to get a high score and a better game experience. It also makes pregnancy and being over [[ChristmasCake certain age]] much more acceptable. Won't [[spoiler: prevent death]] but makes you less pitiful during it. On the other hand, you should check your stats and server rules to determine whether you'll pay more taxes, or whether you'll risk [[SoLongAndThanksForAllTheGear losing half your stuff]] if [[YouLoseAtZeroTrust the marriage breaks down]].
** It all depends on the server. All versions have some rules for it, but on some it's more necessary than others (especially for female characters), in others it's just a perk or a SelfImposedChallenge. [[BrokenBase Don't get us started on the]] GayOption patch.
** To put it another way: marriage doesn't require Intimacy to be at level 5 in order to initiate, but having it at a high level makes [[YouLoseAtZeroTrust divorce]] less likely, and regardless of what the players' intimacy levels were at the beginning, [[LuckBasedMission it may or may not end with]] [[SoLongAndThanksForAllTheGear losing half of your items]] and a lot of prestige (again, depending on server and current rules in effect).
* Another RealLife example, studies show that being regularly sexually active (no marriage required) has numerous minor health benefits.
** Not to mention the tremendous psychological benefits.
** Just as long as you don't get an STD.
* Very slightly TruthInTelevision. People who are socially active or have had several romantic relationships tend to be better and more experienced at them, less likely to say dumb things to their partner and start arguments. Those who are inexperienced in these matters have a harder time.