4.60 star(s) 91 Votes

ClockworkGnome

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She's introduced, when the game starts out with a sex scene and your very first choice is between having her as a friend or a lover...
Again, that's the player's perspective, not the MC's perspective - and it's in a scenario where she isn't necessarily acting naturally (ie, it's not the "real" her).

It's why I basically pointed out that the player may have a better opinion of her at that point (especially if it's not the first time they're playing the game), but the character has lots of reasons to say no and not a ton of motivation to say yes other than because she's hot.
 

timepants

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Again, that's the player's perspective, not the MC's perspective - and it's in a scenario where she isn't necessarily acting naturally (ie, it's not the "real" her).

It's why I basically pointed out that the player may have a better opinion of her at that point (especially if it's not the first time they're playing the game), but the character has lots of reasons to say no and not a ton of motivation to say yes other than because she's hot.
Well I would argue the mc has some motivation considering he’s been made a slave. Sure a well kept slave but a slave nonetheless. So has Tahir. So kadijah uses the carrot first and if that doesn’t work, the stick.
 

ClockworkGnome

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Well I would argue the mc has some motivation considering he’s been made a slave. Sure a well kept slave but a slave nonetheless. So has Tahir.
That's kind of a situation where modern values might conflict a bit with past reality and assumptions though.

They basically went from living a life of absolute squalor where they have to commit petty crimes just to survive and could die at any moment, to living in luxury that's almost unknown to the average person. The modern perspective (especially in the West) tends to be that "freedom is more important than anything", but for most of human history, plenty of people would see trading up to pampered slavery to absolutely be a positive. A well-treated slave may still be a slave... but they're also well-treated. Going from wearing dirty rags and not knowing where your next meal is coming from or whether you're going to get stabbed just for being in the wrong part of town at the wrong time to living in a palace, eating sumptuous meals, bathing regularly, and wearing wonderful silken vests while getting to sneak into the harem for sexy times is pretty much heaven.

Especially since - arguably - the Sultan already has the power of absolute life and death over every one of their subjects anyway. You're pretty much his slave regardless of whether or not you're acting as a servant in the castle or toiling away in the streets. He's just more likely to ignore or overlook you when you're a homeless nobody, but he could still have you killed or tortured on a whim and no one's really going to object or stop him.

For people who grew up in that sort of world and have come to implicitly accept the idea that things will always be that way and the ruler will always have the power to do whatever they want, the idea of freedom is kind of nebulous. It's not something everyone's going to aspire to all the time, even at the expense of their comfort or their lives.

And doubly so if they're being asked to help kill a ruler who has a reputation for being relatively just, and who has never done anything all that wicked to them personally, in favor of the unknown outcome that would follow where someone even worse could wind up in power, and your own personal circumstances could (and likely will) radically change for the worst. Even if you don't get caught (because getting caught pretty much guarantees horrific torture and death). Can't even use glory or fame as a motivation, because you're just as likely to be reviled as a traitor and a monster as you are a hero or a liberator (just ask Brutus).

I'm not saying there's no possible chance that the main character would ever find value in some form of freedom, or even just an escape from his specific situation (especially if that's how the player wants to perceive him), but there's plenty of motivation to not play him that way.
 

RedNoise

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Apr 24, 2017
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That's kind of a situation where modern values might conflict a bit with past reality and assumptions though.
Slave revolts were a thing in early history too though, sure, they didn't overthrow empires or even manage to change the system for a LONG while, but it seemed to be a common side effect of nearly every region that practiced slavery.

And if I were Kadijah, looking to start a revolt, I would probably look to the more "privileged" slaves that could at least get close enough to actually try something.

Besides, we did spend a bit of time in a cell before our boy Darius bailed us out, we got to see a bit of how the people in power treat those below them, and once shit went down we got a taste of what happens when you don't behave.

And doubly so if they're being asked to help kill a ruler who has a reputation for being relatively just
IIRC Cyrus did mention the sultan softening up when he got old, we don't know what he was like in the past, but if Cyrus saw something admirable, it probably wasn't all that great.

Yeah, it's still player perspective, but it does give me reasons to empathize at the very least.
 

RC-1138 Boss

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Slave revolts were a thing in early history too though, sure, they didn't overthrow empires or even manage to change the system for a LONG while, but it seemed to be a common side effect of nearly every region that practiced slavery.

And if I were Kadijah, looking to start a revolt, I would probably look to the more "privileged" slaves that could at least get close enough to actually try something.

Besides, we did spend a bit of time in a cell before our boy Darius bailed us out, we got to see a bit of how the people in power treat those below them, and once shit went down we got a taste of what happens when you don't behave.


IIRC Cyrus did mention the sultan softening up when he got old, we don't know what he was like in the past, but if Cyrus saw something admirable, it probably wasn't all that great.

Yeah, it's still player perspective, but it does give me reasons to empathize at the very least.
Pretty much. Those slaves at the palace's harem or direct attendants for the princes were the minority. Chances are that most slaves had it worse than Ashur and Tahir when they were living on street in gangs.

About Cyrus my guess is that the old sultan was as much belligerant on his young age as Cyrus is now.

ps: Still wonder who are the sultan's new children?
sultan.jpg
 

timepants

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Slave revolts were a thing in early history too though, sure, they didn't overthrow empires or even manage to change the system for a LONG while, but it seemed to be a common side effect of nearly every region that practiced slavery.

And if I were Kadijah, looking to start a revolt, I would probably look to the more "privileged" slaves that could at least get close enough to actually try something.

Besides, we did spend a bit of time in a cell before our boy Darius bailed us out, we got to see a bit of how the people in power treat those below them, and once shit went down we got a taste of what happens when you don't behave.


IIRC Cyrus did mention the sultan softening up when he got old, we don't know what he was like in the past, but if Cyrus saw something admirable, it probably wasn't all that great.

Yeah, it's still player perspective, but it does give me reasons to empathize at the very least.
Ah you picked up on that little aside cyrus made I see. The implication is that the sultan was much more warmongering in the past and mellowed as he got older and conquered pretty much the whole continent.
 

timepants

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Pretty much. Those slaves at the palace's harem or direct attendants for the princes were the minority. Chances are that most slaves had it worse than Ashur and Tahir when they were living on street in gangs.

About Cyrus my guess is that the old sultan was as much belligerant on his young age as Cyrus is now.

ps: Still wonder who are the sultan's new children?
View attachment 1960109
Heh you noticed that eh? :sneaky:
 

timepants

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Also in that talk with the sultan if you’re a dick to him you can see a bit of his harder edge.
 
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timepants

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Ah you picked up on that little aside cyrus made I see. The implication is that the sultan was much more warmongering in the past and mellowed as he got older and conquered pretty much the whole continent.
Also to give a little benefit to Cyrus, I mean it’s pretty easy for his dad to play the kind old man when he has Cyrus do his dirty work for him.
 

RedNoise

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Apr 24, 2017
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Also to give a little benefit to Cyrus, I mean it’s pretty easy for his dad to play the kind old man when he has Cyrus do his dirty work for him.
I don't know if you're capable of making me like him (or if that's something you even want to do), but my dislike towards him has me paying attention to what he says, so props for his writing, it usually gets a bit boring hearing the baddies ramble on.

I still remember the few folks who wanted to bone him though, hope they're doing better :LOL:
 

timepants

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I don't know if you're capable of making me like him (or if that's something you even want to do), but my dislike towards him has me paying attention to what he says, so props for his writing, it usually gets a bit boring hearing the baddies ramble on.

I still remember the few folks who wanted to bone him though, hope they're doing better :LOL:
Oh, you're definitely supposed to hate him. But he's a bit more nuanced than "Me kill everybody!" at least. And, unlike most of these games, he's not inexplicably connected to the Mafia!
 
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RC-1138 Boss

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Oh, you're definitely supposed to hate him. But he's a bit more nuanced than "Me kill everybody!" at least. And, unlike most of these games, he's not inexplicably connected to the Mafia!
And he is also not a generic bald or black guy model. :LOL: :LOL:
 

timepants

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You know, I'm kind of curious about some of the things you guys would want in the game, whether it be story or character wise or sex etc. No guarantee I'll implement anything but I'm always curious to pick your brains and see if there's something that resonates for me.
 

Orlox

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Nov 11, 2016
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You know, I'm kind of curious about some of the things you guys would want in the game, whether it be story or character wise or sex etc. No guarantee I'll implement anything but I'm always curious to pick your brains and see if there's something that resonates for me.
With how diverse the cast of love interests already is, it could be interesting to have a new one with some kind of physical disability since that's not something you see often in VNs.
 
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OctoSky

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Jun 29, 2017
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You know, I'm kind of curious about some of the things you guys would want in the game, whether it be story or character wise or sex etc. No guarantee I'll implement anything but I'm always curious to pick your brains and see if there's something that resonates for me.
Finding someone that can make a magical potion allowing the player to impregnate Tahir to start our family. . . .or a Kentucky Derby type race with midgets riding dinosaurs. Either one.
 

JJDrakken

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Oct 28, 2021
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You know, I'm kind of curious about some of the things you guys would want in the game, whether it be story or character wise or sex etc. No guarantee I'll implement anything but I'm always curious to pick your brains and see if there's something that resonates for me.
Story, you adding the Harem tag(Honestly it starts in a region that is famous for Harems, lol). Allowing us then to form our Harem, interesting interactions, if it's a weird, random, silly, zany 1 off(Example our fan).
 

EatBootyIDo

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Apr 7, 2021
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You know, I'm kind of curious about some of the things you guys would want in the game, whether it be story or character wise or sex etc. No guarantee I'll implement anything but I'm always curious to pick your brains and see if there's something that resonates for me.
More muscular female LI’s and group sex imo
 
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4.60 star(s) 91 Votes