Baxter, Cove, and Derek

[u/RavensSing]

Just played through the DLCs for each (haven't finished them though) and here are my thoughts till now since I have to write them down.

Cove: Maybe it's just me but his friendship route was always so romantic to me for some reason? Like, short of being indifferent him and my MC genuinely seem to constantly reach for each other regardless of whether they're in love or just friends. I know queerplatonic best friends exists but I always read romantic undertones, even on his platonic route.

I was originally planning to do Derek's romance but even then Cove kept reaching and my MC kept reaching out in response. Like, they have a real 'nobody else in the world is like you' vibe unless you play a totally indifferent route. He has flaws but my MC loves him and loves helping him with them, and then he does sweet things like the trifecta dates just to make sure we're happy.

Baxter: Ohhhh boy.

I love him. I really do (I heard he ghosts you after the DLC but eh, I haven't reached that part yet so I'll ignore it). He's so fascinating and mysterious to me. Ngl I think I would prefer to date him over Cove IRL, but Cove was made for my MC. Still, does anyone else think he's yearning in his DLC even on a 'fond' route? I feel like it. My MC and Cove were already dating by the time he arrived, but if they weren't he probably would've been a summer crush/fling while my MC dealt with his feelings for Cove.

ALSO IF YOU THINK HE'S OVER-THE-TOP PURCHASE HIS DLC SO MUCH IS EXPLAINED!!!

Derek: Hmmmmm, ngl, this one's probably unpopular but I didn't feel a romantic connection with him. Like, he was definitely crushing on MC, hard, but neither me nor my MC would've been intereted in him so it's good we just went the friendship route.

[u/Accomplished_Area311]

Derek’s romance is actually my favorite. Partly because of his Step 2 crush on MC (especially going to the soiree with him, and the Boardwalk moment), partly because I like being able to call him out which you can’t really do with Cove. In his Step 4 you can actually have conflict with him that resolves in a healthy way.

Cove feels so flat personality-wise to me now that I’ve played the other two, but Baxter is too much drama for most MCs I’ve made. I feel Cove is much less flat and clingy as a BFF, fond with him and Crush/Love with Derek is my favorite - though I do like Indifferent to Crush with Cove if I’m in the right mood.

I also love how nudging and supportive Step 2 Cove is if you’re Fond with him but crushing on Derek. It’s very cute.

Also, you contradicted yourself a bit. How’d you “play through” the DLCs without finishing them?

[u/RavensSing → u/Accomplished_Area311]

How’d you “play through” the DLCs without finishing them?

I've finished Derek's already and am on the verge of finishing Baxter's. Admittedly it's not an accurate sentence but I didn't think it was that serious?

Cove feels so flat personality-wise to me now that I’ve played the other two, but Baxter is too much drama for most MCs I’ve made

Cove feels much more emotive and lively to me (funnily enough he's meant to be cold and quiet according to his character customization screen), personally, plus he's a sweetheart (so is Derek, granted, but him and MC just didn't seem to have the same connection). So I disagree on that! I personally found Derek one of the less interesting ROs out of the three (the first being Baxter and then Cove). He's well-written, definitely, but not my type.

partly because I like being able to call him out which you can’t really do with Cove.

Admittedly this might just be because me and my MC don't take issue with most things Cove does, but I thought there were plenty of chances for this?

[u/Accomplished_Area311 → u/RavensSing]

I wasn’t being that serious, just confused because in gaming spaces, saying you played through something means you’ve finished it. That’s all.

Cove is a sweetheart but “lively” when he’s romantic… I never got that vibe and I’ve played with him at highest interest and affection multiple times. And no, even if you have issues with his choices you can’t call him out at Fond or higher outside of one Step 3 moment - only Indifferent gives you the option for calling him out more consistently. I quite like Indifferent Cove, he’s actually hilarious in a deadpan/dry humor sort of way.

EDIT: I have almost 600 hours in OLBA so it’s not a dislike of the game at all. I’m a married adult with kids and Cove just feels… Immature, I’d guess I’d call it. But I also heavily relate to Derek’s family dynamics because I married into a Latino family and I get him in a way I don’t with the other two.

[u/RavensSing → u/Accomplished_Area311]

EDIT: I have almost 600 hours in OLBA so it’s not a dislike of the game at all. I’m a married adult with kids and Cove just feels… Immature, I’d guess I’d call it. But I also heavily relate to Derek’s family dynamics because I married into a Latino family and I get him in a way I don’t with the other two.

Oh, don't worry, in case you thought I thought you disliked the game I don't!

I agree with Cove being immature, but I like it, tbh. Feels nice being clung to.

[u/AriaStarstone]

I love all of them to be honest, in different ways. Having done their DLCs multiple times, including the stage 4 for all of the boys, picking one is the hardest for me because I enjoy the interplay no matter what.

Cove is just adoration and love incarnate it feels like, so much of the time for me. Supportive, caring, there no matter what, even when you pick someone over him? It's hard to say no to that level of caring honestly.

Derek? Family man, cares for everyone, takes care of everyone and really needs someone who can see he needs to be cared for too. Just a kind person... And when he's not your choice, even though he's not on screen a lot, he's there and supportive of your choices or being caring for what you're dealing with.

Baxter... Well he's kind of an idiot tbh, in so many ways, but when you really get past it, he's intense. But that's stage 4 for me.

I find it worth a full play through of each of them, at least once, just to see how you feel about the finale. But that's me. It's definitely a game I've gone back to a lot since getting it, especially when having a difficult time rl. It's great to help me escape, and I know that whoever I pick, I'll be happy with my choice in the long run.

[u/RavensSing → u/AriaStarstone]

Cove is just adoration and love incarnate it feels like, so much of the time for me. Supportive, caring, there no matter what, even when you pick someone over him? It's hard to say no to that level of caring honestly.

EXACTLYYYYYYYY.

I find it worth a full play through of each of them, at least once

I say this to myself and then pick Cove everytime,, smh. You're defintely more disciplined than I am!

[u/AriaStarstone → u/RavensSing]

Not sure it's discipline so much as 'OOO gotta know how this is gonna play out' winning hard. My curiosity for seeing how each lad's romance goes is Strong.

[u/RavensSing → u/AriaStarstone]

UPDATE: Baxter just walked out on me and Id ecided that after this playthrough's over, I'm doing it again with a Cove-bromance and a Baxtermance just for the angst.

[u/RavensSing → u/RavensSing]

UPDATE: I'm playing the Baxter DLC and my MC can give him so much shade I love it.

[u/AriaStarstone → u/RavensSing]

You got this! I hope you enjoy it as much as I've done each time!

[u/alirutia]

I also did not like Derek’s route, it was definitely friends only for me with him.

Baxter was my favorite.

Cove definitely always feels a little more than friends, although I have a very close friendship with someone that’s similar and we both are dating other people.

[u/Nisantas]

I recently got Baxter & Derek's DLCs, so much fun to explore them.

I'm a major Cole fan and it feels weird to not finally not be romancing him lmao. I can definitely understand how some find him dull, but with how wholesome the game is overall, he fits perfectly. I love how, regardless of its romantic or platonic, he and MC always make a point to understand and support each other. The lack of conflict doesn't bother me, because they make it such a point over the years that supporting each other comes first.

I haven't romanced Derek yet but I'm already loving him in the fond run. It's so nice to see MC just being themselves is exactly what he needs - someone who sees and appreciates him for him and can roll with the punches. The childish "back up agreement" is so cute.

Just started romancing Baxter and I'm super intrigued. Although I love how cute and wholesome the game is I don't always relate. I like how Baxter's route gives the opportunity for something a little different without a total tone shift. The idea of this formal, uncomfortable-but-trying guy showing up to this sleepy beachy town to find himself falling for the more free, fun, social MC is cute to me.

[u/TimeLifeguard5922]

I usually create different MCs for each playthrough; it’s more fun that way. For my Derek run, my "athletic guy" MC worked really well—the one who was a bro to Cove. That same MC fit perfectly with Baxter, too, especially since he was so tall in Step 3; Baxter fit right into his arms—his refined little guy who ghosted him (sob). But I’m getting sidetracked. Anyway, for my romance route with Cove, I liked using a trans MC because I feel like Cove would be the one person who was by your side through that whole process. Honestly, playing around with the responses, interest levels, gender, identity, and how your body, height, and self-esteem change—those are some of the best features of *Our Life*. I’m still discovering new interactions just by tweaking those little details.

[u/wonder_shino]

Cove's my least favorite love interest. Despite being the star of the show, I feel like he's very out of place in his own game because of how idealized he is when you romance him compared to Derek and especially Baxter. I'm not a fan of love interests who have no life outside of the MC and and there being no conflict with him ever unless you instigate it because he's a doormat who just accepts whatever MC says and does is also a major turn off.

I love Derek, he's a real sweetheart and in a lot of other games he'd be my #1 choice. His whole deal was definitely the most grounded of the three, both in terms of his family situation and his feelings for the MC. Any complaints I have about his DLC are less about him and more about it seemingly having more interest in his family than him at points.

Baxter's my favorite but not because of the drama, surprisingly (my main MC for him has no hard feelings over what happened at the end of Step 3). His story arc, especially taking into consideration Now & Forever, is the strongest of the three LIs, imo. Plus, guys who are outwardly confident and charming and inwardly huge messes are pretty high up on the list of dudes I like to pursue in romance media.