Hypothetical Game Case Study: The Detectives

The two illustrations depict two moments in another example game.

You play the guy. You and the woman, Carey, are both detectives. The first illustration shows her regular feelings toward you. She's generally annoyed with your cocky, swashbuckling attitude. (But you've a right to be cocky because you're so good at your job, right?)

The moment depicted in the second drawing comes later in the game; you stumble upon a loving drawing she's done of you.

Carey obviously feels both annoyance and love toward you. This is classic Layer Cakes, and it results in NPC Toward Player Relationship Deepening. Layers, remember, create depth.

In summary, why not take one of the major NPCs in your game and see if it's appropriate to have that character feel different layers of emotion toward the player?