In your list you are keeping almost all of the young cast (except Zac) and removing more of the adults. I have recently learned that some people watch it for the adult content. Most of the adults are secondary paths. If you don't have enough of them you have Sofia jumping from kid to kid with an adult from time to time. She would seem more like a predator than anything else.
Some of the adults you didn't mention (I'm sure there are more): Nathalie, Alyssa (Zac's mom) the movers, Logan (yuck).
I totally agree though that he should cut out the randoms and one time meetings. They bring very little to the story. Maybe he wants her to make the first step with someone she doesn't know in a place she's not known in. A one-night stand can sometimes be easier as a first step than other alternatives. If that is the case I can understand it, and he could keep that one random but that's it.
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A big reason why I sincerely think he needs to trim the fat.
Don't worry about the characters and relationship very few care about.
Rough list of those I'd keep as mainline characters/scenarios:
1. Dylan and Ellie (for the incest lovers)
...that rout would take at least 2 updates and wouldn't be all that good. So more like 4 would be needed
I think he meant keep them as mainline characters and interests for Sofia, not the storyline with them getting together. (Although that's actually the only storyline for Dylan that I like, I don't really care about him and Sofia)
2. Sam and his family
...Yes, and is the easiest for Dylan and Sam's mom is an easy catch. Also a good plot devise in that if he can get Amber, he would develop the courage and self-confidence to make the real move on Sophia
3. The HS kid (Aidan is his name, IIRC) and his one buddy. Drop the idea that he's a teenage boy with a posse of adult, tattooed thugs (lol).
...Thats whole Aidan rout is the weakest of all. He has the teacher pretty much under his control and ought to be working at getting Sophia for himself
What do you mean by weakest? In what sense?
Also, I don't think he really has Sofia under his control. His control over Sofia is strenuous at best. Her motivation to keep him happy and off Dylan's back is not that strong. You can easily see that with Dylan going off to boarding school if you refuse Aiden at any point during the storyline. She doesn't really loose sleep over it. This storyline is good because we see that Sofia actually enjoys the exhibitionism and almost everything that goes with it. The only part she doesn't enjoy (or doesn't admit it to herself yet) is that Aiden is the one making her do all this stuff.
4. Maybe one I'm forgetting or maybe have a fan vote.
These people get the most time and 90% of the rest of the VN involves them.
The side characters that you see for small bits and may even knew day get what they want are:
1. Her sister
...Agreed! But not for the reasons you're thinking of. Yes, Patrica is good plot build tool to "corrupt" Sophia, but mostly Patrica is the best developed character, and a lot of interesting scenes can come out of it. It's not just the possibility of a lesbian scene, but the two sisters getting into a mutually shared experience.
2. The postman
...Oh Hell No! Keep him around as just side plot fixes but no, the mailman need not knock on Sophia's door.
3. The principal and/or teacher that's blackmailing her
...Have to say no to that. Those characters are so far back into the past and would take serious updates to reestablish their relevance to the story. It would be better if someone beats up or runs off those two or by doing so, it strengthens other storylines
4. Sex Ed kids
...I really don't know how the developer is going to pull off this rout. I'd keep it just because I want to see how the developer solves this problem. IF I was the story writer, I have some ideas on it--ideas that are plausible, but I am not on the team which is better because I am curious how someone else will pull it off.
5. Old dudes in the retirement home
...Nope! There are too many better story routs to focus on. First Amber's Daughter working her way through her newfound sexual identity as well as Sophia's. The maid, it's interesting but not that well developed so just makes for an interesting scene. The rest of the other possible routs can just be of interest and filler material to further the story line.
6. Mob boss
...Why? The only way you could get the boss more involved is for him to do more favors for Sophia. Worst Sophia hasn't built that much attraction for him to be that interested
The mob boss is back in the path where you get him to help you and beat up on Aiden to get him off your back. He even tells her he might call for a favor in the future for this. I very much like that idea. And from what I've read from L&P's answers, there is no plan for the mob boss himself to get with Sofia, so there's no need for an attraction there. That favor would involve getting Sofia to work in his casino or some other shady stuff and there, fun things can happen.
That's about it but admit I may be missing or overlooking some.
These all get no more than 10% of the story and time to make it. Forget the museum dudes, randoms met at a sauna, randoms met at a bar with your daughter and randoms in general. Drop them entirely.
Focus the story by trimming the fat but I'm not sure he's capable. He's too tied to his claim of having it all pre-written (total BS) or too poor/unwilling of a writer to change what needs to be changed.
As is, there are currently people that have waited years between the characters they like. Years, lol. Years have passed since they got to see Sophia with a character they play the game for.
Currently, a lot of pretty mainline players are going to wait...3 or 4 updates...for someone they like. At his pace that's at least a year. A LOT of people are going to be out for a while unless he trims the fat. I don't think you're alone.
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Thing is there are still things left undone that were introduced earlier. The movers, the janitor, the two college boys, the maybe wife-swap Liam has brought up, the pregnancy angle if there is one...etc.
The movers, not so much unless Sophia bumps into them again on the streets...just like the ones who assaulted Sophia in the subway. Rather weak and maybe just to build more back drop to Sophia's corruption. The Janitor, naw, not really. The janitor was so long ago and how would you make that happen; more important, why would Sophia go down that rabbit hole. The two college boys, sure that one is a one-night stand sort of adventure Patrica and Sophia can both take part in.
Then you have side events like Dylan, Ellie, etc. And you can reintroduce characters like Tyler (he actually has gone the furthest with Sophia save for Liam...had they been left alone or had the ability to go somewhere more private it is likely he would have been the first to tag Sophia
What I said above to AlfredBundy4 applies even more to you, as you were saying no to even more of the adults characters. A game with Sofia and mostly kids would not work for a lot of people.
All that being said, I appreciate how much thought both of you put into how the story should unfold. I hope I just gave you another perspective about that.
