Tales of Symphonia: Affection tips

Since a lot of people have asked how to make a certain character have the highest affection points, here is a list to help you. Decide who you want as early in the game as possible, and pick all the options for which that character is marked with an X. If more than one is marked as an X, either one is fine.

The list is labeled Location: What's happening for each affection-affecting event. Not all the things listed are actual choices that pop up as part of dialogue; some that are actual dialogue choices are not quoted exactly. But you should be able to understand it.

This list was compiled from the data provided by Takes of Together 200X.

There are many subevents referenced by this list. There are subevent guides here, here, and here, so you don't need to bug me about the details of doing each subevent. :P But feel free to ask for clarification if you're not sure which subevent I'm refering to.

Warning: Spoilers in this list are minimal, but none are marked.

Iselia: Genis tells you to stay in class.
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
It's research.-X------
Okay.X-XXXXXX

Iselia/Martel Temple: Genis asks you to come with to the Temple.
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
I'll go too.XX------
I'll wait here.--XXXXXX

Martel Temple: Kratos says you can't come with.
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
What did you say?!XXXXXXX-
... Gotcha.-------X

Martel Temple: After Remiel leaves.
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Talk to Colette firstX-------
Talk to Genis first-X------
Talk to Kratos first-------X
Go straight to teleporter--XXXXX-

Iselia Ranch: Ask Dirk to make a Key Crest
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Okay.-X------
But....X-XXXXXX

Iselia Ranch: Marble tells you to run.
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Okay!X-XXXXXX
But...-X------

Dirk's House: Colette asks you to go on the terrace
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Say yes.X-------
Say no; talk to Genis first-X------
Say no; talk to Raine first--XXXXX-
Say no; talk to Kratos first---XXXXX

Triet: Before taking the Key Crest to Raine
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Go to Colette's roomX-------
Don't-XXXXXXX

Triet: After giving Key Crest to Raine
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Talk to Genis, don't disturb-X------
Talk to Genis, pinch his nose-X------
Don't talk to GenisX-XXXXXX

Triet: After giving Key Crest to Raine
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Talk to Raine again--X-----
Don'tXX-XXXXX

Triet: See Kratos leaving
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Follow-------X
Don'tXXXXXXX-

Camp: First character you talk too....
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Genis: It's missing something. -X------
Genis: It tastes good. X--XXXX-
Raine: Colette is Colette. --X-----
Raine: She's just becoming an angel, right?--------
Kratos: The village was my fault. --------
Kratos: That's right. -------X

Ossa Trail: Colette worries about the assassin.
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
She's an enemy.--X-XXXX
Feel sorry for her.XX-X----

At Izoold....
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Normal PathXXX-XXXX
Hard Path-XXXXXX-

Subevent: Palmacosta Test Minigame
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Get all questions right-X------
Get all questions wrongX-XXXXXX
No point in getting the other two outcomes, right? The correct answers are "Guardian," "Acceleration due to gravity," and "I don't know."

Subevent: Kratos Training Scene #1
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Do this event-------X
Avoid this eventXXXXXXX-

Palmacosta: Colette wants you to help Chocolat.
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Okay.XX-X---X
The seals come first.--X-XXXX

House of Salvation: Sheena praying
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Speak to her.XXX-XXXX
Be quiet.---X----
Avoid this sceneXXX-XXXX

House of Salvation: About the statue in the geyser.
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
I'll get it.XX-X----
The problem is the geyser.--X-XXXX
Avoid this scene----XXX-
You must pick the first option to be able to get the statue. It's not too great of a loss for Raine/Kratos/etc if you want to get it.

Palmacosta Ranch: Scene with Niel
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Attack the ranch now.XX-X----
Return to Palmacosta.--X-XXXX

Palmacosta: Dorr asks you for something.
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
I understand.XX-X-XX-
I can't do that.--XXXXXX

Palmacosta: Niel asks you to keep a secret about Dorr.
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Okay.XXXX---X
Well...----XXX-

Thoda Geyser: Iced geyser minigame.
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Suceed X--X----
Fail, Colette saves youX-------
Fail, Genis saves you -X------
Fail, Raine saves you --X-----
Fail, Kratos saves you ----XXXX
Fail, Sheena saves you ---X----
Avoid ---(X)XXX-
Whoever saves you is the person who already has the highest affection for you. It should be whoever you're trying for by now.
If you want Sheena, but she's not in your party yet, it's best to avoid this... but it's not very important.

Subevent: Kratos Training Scene #2
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Do this event-------X
Avoid this eventXXXXXXX-

Subevent: Fake Chosen Scene #1
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Okay X--X --XX
No -XX- XX--
(Do this scene now)XXX(X)---X
(Wait) X--(X)XXX-
You can wait until you return with other characters in your party before doing this scene, but do it before the pact with Luna.

Luin: Sheena playing tag.
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
You're nice.--------
You're cute.---X----
Avoid this scene.XXX-XXXX

Luin: Sheena asks to join you
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Okay.XX-X----
No.-XX-XXXX
You won't get this choice if Sheena's affection is already too low

Camp/Luin: Kratos talks about exspheres.
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
I understand.XXXX----
No...!--X-XXXX

Subevent: Kratos Training Scene #3
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Do this event-------X
Avoid this eventXXXXXXX-

Asgard Ranch: Choose these characters to go with Lloyd:
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
ColetteX - - - ----
Genis - X (X)- -XX(X)
Raine (X)(X)X (X)XXX(X)
Kratos (X)(X)- (X)X--X
Sheena - - - X -XX(X)
(X) = Better for a second choice.

Tower of Mana: Pick a third party member.
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Genis -X------
Raine X-X--XX-
Kratos X---XXXX
Sheena ---X----
You don't get this if Sheena isn't in your party yet. This decision doesn't have a huge impact, so don't fret if you want to take a certain character to keep the parties balanced or something.

Hima: Talk to this character first when party splits up:
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
ColetteX-------
Genis -X------
Raine --X--XX-
Kratos ----XXXX
Sheena ---X-XX-

Subevent: Kratos Training Scene #4
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Do this event-------X
Avoid this eventXXXXXXX-

Hima: Ride the dragon with....
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Genis XX---XXX
Raine --X-XXXX
Sheena---X----

Hima: Sophia asks if you're Sheena's friends (Hard Path)
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
That's right.---X----
You've got to be kidding.XXX-XXXX

Hima: Sophia asks you to get Boltzmann's book (Hard Path)
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Okay.X--X----
Okay, but....-XX-XXXX

Meltokio: Raine asks about saving Colette.
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
All right, that's fine.X-X-X--X
No. -X-X-XXX

Subevent: Kratos's Secret Mission #1
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Ignore -X-XXX--
InvestigateX-X---XX
Don't do this eventXXXX-XX-

Subevent: Mature Child, talking to Wells in Ozette
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
I understand.--X-XXXX
What did you say?!XX-X----
Avoid this event.XXXXX-XX

Ozette: Regal and Presea ask to join.
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Of course.X--X-XXX
If it's okay with everyone else.-XX-X---

Subevent: Kratos's Secret Mission #2
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Act concernedX-X---XX
Ignore XX-XXX--
Don't do this eventXXXX-XX-

Subevent: Presea’s childhood friends (after Colette rejoins the party)
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Pick all the nice answers-----X--
Avoid this eventXXXXX-XX

Temple of Earth: Pick a character to cook
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
ColetteX-------
Genis -X------
Raine --X-----
Sheena ---X----
Zelos ----X--X
Presea -----X-X
Regal ------XX

(Note: there's a question later on in the Pink Pearl sidequest, but you must start the quest now, before completing the Temple of Ice, to get it.)

Altessa's House: Mithos asks to come with you
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
That's fine.-XX---X-
It's too dangerous.X--XXX-X

Altamira: Regal asks to stay with the party
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
of course.X--XX-XX
If it's all right with Presea.-XX--X-X

Meltokio Coliseum: Pick a character to enter:
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Lloyd (X)(X)(X)(X)---X
ColetteX-------
Genis -X(X)-----
Raine -(X)X-----
Sheena ---X----
Zelos -(X)(X)(X)X---
Presea -(X)(X)(X)-X(X)-
Regal --(X)(X)-(X)X-
(X) = Next best if you can't fight well enough with the better choice.

(The highest affection character will talk with Lloyd outside the ring change room in the Temple of Darkness.)

Subevent: Devil's Arms, while getting Fafnir
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Be patient.X---X--X
Stop?-XXX-XXX

Subevent: Regal and Candy
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Help him.X-----X-
Don't XXXXXX-X
For best results, pick these answers: Regal, Tofu, 60 billion Gald, Prisoner/President (both work), Tethe'alla/Moon (both work), Alicia

(In the Remote Island Ranch, the highest affection character will help Lloyd ambush the Desians while the lowest will act as bait.)

Subevent: Visit Raine's mother
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Do this eventXXXXXXX-
Don'tXX-XXXXX

Subevent: Heal Clara in Izoold
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Help.XXXX-XXX
Don't.XX-X----
Avoid this scene.XX--XXX-

Iselia Ranch: Pick three characters to join Lloyd
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
ColetteX - (X)-- - - (X)
Genis (X)X (X)X- - (X)(X)
Raine (X)(X)X X(X)(X)(X)(X)
Zelos (X)(X)(X)XX (X)(X)(X)
Presea (X)(X)(X)X(X)X (X)(X)
Regal (X)(X)(X)X(X)(X)X (X)
Kratos (X)(X)(X)X-(X)(X)X
(X) = Better for second/third characters.

Your attempts to make a certain character love you start to pay off with a scene at Dirk's house.

Sybak: About Kratos....
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
I trust Kratos.XXX----X
There is a possibility.-X-XXXX-

Subevent: Kratos's Secret Mission #3
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Ignore XX-XXXX-
Investigate--X----X
Don't do this eventXXX--X--

Subevent: Pink Pearl Ring, talking to Joshua
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Tell the truth.-X-X---X
Lie.X-X-XXX-
Avoid this event.XXXXXXXX

Subevent: Raine is sick, Genis and Mithos leave
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Follow. XX---X--
Don't follow. X-XXXX-X
Avoid this eventX--XXXXX

Subevent: Presea and exspheres, scene with Tabatha
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Do this event.XXXXXXXX
Avoid this event.XXXXX-XX

Subevent: Duel with Kuchinawa, talking with Tiga beforehand
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
I don't know about it.---X----
Tell the truth about KuchinawaXXX-XXXX

Subevent: Duel with Kuchinawa, after the battle
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Win, stop himXX-XX--X
Win, don't stop him--X--XXX
LoseXX---XXX

Subevent: Princess Guard, rescue Princess Hilda
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Do this event.XXXXXXXX
Avoid this event.XXXX-XXX

Subevent: Dinner Party, pick a character from the list (for the balcony)
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
ColetteX------X
Genis -X-----X
Raine --X----X
Sheena ---X---X
Zelos ----X--X
Presea -----X-X
Regal ------XX

Subevent: Lost child in Sybak
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Do this event.XXXXXXXX
Avoid this event.XXXX-XXX

Subevent: Aifread, some question you're asked....
OptionCoGeRaShZePrReKr
Okay.X--XX--X
No. -XX--XX-
AvoidXXXXXXXX