VN Ren'Py Being a DIK [v0.10.1] [Dr PinkCake]

[moskyx]

What's the reason why MC doesn't tell Maya all he knows about Quinn's business and the most logical assumptions of it regarding the 'free tuition'? His warning is deliberately vague enough for her to ignore it, thus allowing bad things to happen in the long term in all paths. It may have consequences as Maya would recognize MC tried to warn her, but in the end we won't be able to stop it in time because it seems to be too important in the planned story. Yet any normal person would have been way more specific in his warning, and especially a white-knight type like this MC (him being a CHICK or a DIK doesn't matter, we all agree he's a good guy well raised-up by his father, one who can differenciate good from evil, and drugs and prostitution are clearly evil even if he's taking some advantage of it). This is obviously a frustrating choice (I do want to tell her everything because I care for her and, when giving the option to do so, I actually can't for plot reasons).

About AL, I said some weeks ago that the way MC is forced in a relationship with Megan is quite frustrating, not because the relationship is indeed forced (many games imposes the player a girlfriend from the start or have just only one LI), but because you have many chances to neglect her and you can tell Liam you don't like her that way, yet in the end your MC falls for her, makes a move on her and decide to explore some feelings we, as players, are constantly avoiding and denying. And only in the end those actions have the consequence of not being able to save her. If we hadn't had that options, ironically everything would flow better, because we'd knew we can't do shit about it and would have gone with the flow, accepting we can't change that, and then in my opinion the dreadful choice would have been even more touching. So giving those false choices is actually damaging the gaming experience.

And, in this regard, why nobody is asking why we can't warn Sage about Quinn's scheme? Only because we weren't presented that option and, while one could think it should be there, it's not, and we all move on without giving it too much thought.

 

[zoyle]

That's something I didn't like about AL, Melissa's route felt wrong. I hope we don't get anything similar here, but Jill and Bella are starting to look awfully similar...

Believe it or not you're not the first one to suggest that one...

We know she wasn't the one Chad was talking at the phone when we were sneaking around, because she was in the gym training. That pretty much rules her out.

You make a good point about the gym scene, I'll have to look back at that one.

As far as AL/Melissa/Bella/Jill, the only thing that I feel like I want to add there is that I expect there to be a different dynamic with Jill and Bella because it would be kind of an odd choice to support two different throuple relationships with such a small difference between them. I expect the Jill/Bella scenario to resolve in a way that is substantially different from Maya/Josy, though that could also happen because the Maya/Josy relationship itself doesn't survive. However, given what we see of the interaction between Bella and Jill, I don't expect that to turn into some sort of lovey-dovey poly relationship, as the interactions we see between Bella and Jill are just as stilted and frigid as the original interactions between Bella and the MC. I wouldn't be super surprised if the game doesn't turn out to have a Jill/Bella ending, or that if it does, it's one where you're cheating on Jill or messing around with Isabella with her permission, and not one where you're in a 3 person relationship.

 

[Phynix]

What's the reason why MC doesn't tell Maya all he knows about Quinn's business and the most logical assumptions of it regarding the 'free tuition'?

Correct me if i'm wrong but isn't her "menu" optional? So for those who ignored it, it wouldn't make sense to make a big deal of this because they don't know enough.

 

[felicemastronzo]

What's the reason why MC doesn't tell Maya all he knows about Quinn's business and the most logical assumptions of it regarding the 'free tuition'? His warning is deliberately vague enough for her to ignore it, thus allowing bad things to happen in the long term in all paths. It may have consequences as Maya would recognize MC tried to warn her, but in the end we won't be able to stop it in time because it seems to be too important in the planned story. Yet any normal person would have been way more specific in his warning, and especially a white-knight type like this MC (him being a CHICK or a DIK doesn't matter, we all agree he's a good guy well raised-up by his father, one who can differenciate good from evil, and drugs and prostitution are clearly evil even if he's taking some advantage of it). This is obviously a frustrating choice (I do want to tell her everything because I care for her and, when giving the option to do so, I actually can't for plot reasons).

About AL, I said some weeks ago that the way MC is forced in a relationship with Megan is quite frustrating, not because the relationship is indeed forced (many games imposes the player a girlfriend from the start or have just only one LI), but because you have many chances to neglect her and you can tell Liam you don't like her that way, yet in the end your MC falls for her, makes a move on her and decide to explore some feelings we, as players, are constantly avoiding and denying. And only in the end those actions have the consequence of not being able to save her. If we hadn't had that options, ironically everything would flow better, because we'd knew we can't do shit about it and would have gone with the flow, accepting we can't change that, and then in my opinion the dreadful choice would have been even more touching. So giving those false choices is actually damaging the gaming experience.

And, in this regard, why nobody is asking why we can't warn Sage about Quinn's scheme? Only because we weren't presented that option and, while one could think it should be there, it's not, and we all move on without giving it too much thought.

we do not even talk to her about the restaurant, whether we have been customers (in that case we might not say it out of "shame") or if we are only aware of it

 

[Cndyrvr4lf]

Honestly when I read his comment, the thing that I kept thinking is that it's apparent the OP has a hard time empathizing with consequences for other characters instead of the MC serving as his own avatar. The AAA and others are bullies to the MC, so the player feels like the target, whereas Quinn is kind of a bitch to the MC, but is mostly a threat to other characters, especially the character who is integrated into the plot to the degree that you're expected to care what happens to her (Maya).

I think it says more about the poster than the quality of the storyline or the creation.

I lack empathy for people who abuse others. I personally believe they are a waste of oxygen. I don't like being railroaded in to drama when I can see how the MC could stop it but as moskyx said we aren't allowed to because of plot reasons

 

[zoyle]

Correct me if i'm wrong but isn't her "menu" optional? So for those who ignored it, it wouldn't make sense to make a big deal of this because they don't know enough.

MC DOES try and tell her, though he doesn't tell her the details. The official walkthrough from DPC even notes "This decision has major consequences for Maya!" even though, to date, there are no consequences in the game.

I said this earlier but I can imagine a situation where a MC who declined to take Quinn's service can't convince Maya of the truth, and you need to have accepted her number and not ordered all the options to be able to set up a situation where you place an order and show Maya that one of the girls shows up.

 

[Phynix]

Why I've been asking if there is a flag regarding this (as with the ep5 sex scene) to see if it really does make any difference....I imagine all it will do is give Maya some inner monologue perhaps if you warned her and she will go off in the direction DPC wants her to anyway.



Whether you accept her menu or not, it's pretty obvious even to the nerdiest virgin in the world exactly what she is offering before you get the 'choice'. So regardless, the MC knows.

Yeah its obvious to the player, but not to MC, or Sage, or anyone else close but still oblivious.

 

[zoyle]

I lack empathy for people who abuse others. I personally believe they are a waste of oxygen. I don't like being railroaded in to drama when I can see how the MC could stop it but as moskyx said we aren't allowed to because of plot reasons

That you can see those consequences and the easy way to stop it does not necessarily mean that an 18 year old kid in their first week of college can either see the consequences or see the solution that's evident to someone with more life experience.

 

[Holy Bacchus]

I guess its true people see what they want in any art, but I thought it was pretty clear to me that this scene was establishing that Melanie is the girl Chad's been seeing, and that she and Sarah think this will be the thing that goads Chad to break up with Sage so that Melanie can have him (since he can claim he was in the right and she was cheating on him, and he hates the MC very a lot).

A lot of people thought that at first, until they were reminded that when Chad is here:



Melanie is here:



Now, whilst we don't get a view of her front to see if she has any kind of earphones or headset, we can clearly see that there is nothing in her hand or anything attached to her waist, arm, or leg, so where then would her phone be?

I think that scene is more about Sarah and Melanie knowing something about Chad, like they're keeping a secret for him and that him breaking up with Sage will help with this thing he is keeping secret.

 

[zoyle]

I like that, that would actually be a good way of doing it.

I'm actually going to make a 2nd chick-route save that accepts the info from Quinn explicitly for this reason. I may also have that character not pursue Isabella, in case messing around with Isabella makes some or all Jill endings unachievable.

 

[Darkdevil66]

Calm down. No one has said anything about dropping Quinn. I am just pointing out that parts of the story dont make a lot of sense.

It's a porn game with a chick's magnet, nothing was believable since the start. You're just taking things too seriously and personally.

Thats the whole point of these discussions. Just because you don't like my "devil's advocate" post doesn't give you a right to call me "pal" and be condescending.

Jesus, you're so easily offended. No wonder why a character like Quinn pisses you off.

I realize its part of the story but that doesn't mean I need to like it.

And yet, you're the one complaining again and again.

 

[moskyx]

Correct me if i'm wrong but isn't her "menu" optional? So for those who ignored it, it wouldn't make sense to make a big deal of this because they don't know enough.

But when we know about it, we can warn Maya. Why we can't warn another LI who's obviously going to be directly affected if things go south? I mean, it's OK if we can't do that, our MC might even assume she already knows it and doesn't need to be told. Either way I understand that's part of the plot, but if DPC gives me the option to warn Maya, I would like to actually have the option to speak loud and clear because I feel it would be the right thing to do for the character I'm playing. That's just an example of 'false choices' that detracts from immersion

 

[Cndyrvr4lf]

That you can see those consequences and the easy way to stop it does not necessarily mean that an 18 year old kid in their first week of college can either see the consequences or see the solution that's evident to someone with more life experience.

However I find it hard to believe that the same 18 year old kid would let his potential LI (Maya) join a sorority that only offers free tuition to sisters who whore themselves out? Or warn another LI (Sage) that Quinn is screwing her over? You don't need life experience to know that is not ok. However we are not allowed to do any of that due to the plot. You don't hang your friends out to dry if you can save them, at least I don't.

 

[zoyle]

It's a porn game with a chick's magnet, nothing was believable since the start. You're just taking things too seriously and personally.



Jesus, you're so easily offended. No wonder why a character like Quinn pisses you off.



And yet, you're the one complaining again and again.

The thing that, imo, makes this game one of the best VN type games you can find is that while the overall storyline is obviously unrealistic, the individual characters and scenarios are all reasonably realistic and quite well done - even the things that you'd normally describe as 'unrealistic' like the poly relationship. Suspension of disbelief is important, and this game manages to give you scenarios that are mostly realistic enough that you can achieve it in ways that a lot of adult games simply do not.

 

[Cokebaths]

If DPC isn't going with the "Chad is gay" route then I can see something like Melanie or Sarah are secretly related to Chad and that's why they're keeping the secret from Sage. I don't think they're keeping it from her because they have something against her. Or they're the ones blackmailing him. Either way, I don't think the person he's cheating with is someone we've met yet

 

[zoyle]

However I find it hard to believe that the same 18 year old kid would let his potential LI (Maya) join a sorority that only offers free tuition to sisters who whore themselves out? Or warn another LI (Sage) that Quinn is screwing her over? You don't need life experience to know that is not ok. However we are not allowed to do any of that due to the plot. You don't hang your friends out to dry if you can save them, at least I don't.

The MC doesn't know that the free tuition = quinn's restaurant. WE do, because we see scenes that the MC doesn't see, and because we have better deductive and reasoning skills than he does. All he knows is that Quinn whores out some of the girls in the HOTs, and he tries to warn Maya about it in a way that isn't very effective, right before she more or less suggests she's considering fucking his brains out in order to get into the sorority, which uh, is likely to affect your judgment and the things you're thinking about at the time.

 

[Cndyrvr4lf]

It's a porn game with a chick's magnet, nothing was believable since the start. You're just taking things too seriously and personally.

Jesus, you're so easily offended. No wonder why a character like Quinn pisses you off.

And yet, you're the one complaining again and again.

Not really I just don't like "Users/Abusers"

You're right I'm the only one

 

[Phynix]

But when we know about it, we can warn Maya. Why we can't warn another LI who's obviously going to be directly affected if things go south? I mean, it's OK if we can't do that, our MC might even assume she already knows it and doesn't need to be told. Either way I understand that's part of the plot, but if DPC gives me the option to warn Maya, I would like to actually have the option to speak loud and clear because I feel it would be the right thing to do for the character I'm playing. That's just an example of 'false choices' that detracts from immersion

If we could tell Maya all of it then the story would turn out to be something different entirely. I wouldn't necessarily call it a false choice, it's either that or we ignore it completely which would be even worse in my opinion. Right now Maya can't know what her "free" tuition entails. I expect it to change once they are HOTs.

 

[Cokebaths]

However I find it hard to believe that the same 18 year old kid would let his potential LI (Maya) join a sorority that only offers free tuition to sisters who whore themselves out? Or warn another LI (Sage) that Quinn is screwing her over? You don't need life experience to know that is not ok. However we are not allowed to do any of that due to the plot. You don't hang your friends out to dry if you can save them, at least I don't.

Not sure why people use MCs young age to excuse his actions. I can see dumb decisions like getting drunk or wanting to screw anything with a skirt, but letting someone you seem to have a connection with get into a potentially dangerous situation? Most people are little shits at 18 but I'd like to think human decency kicks in every once in a while

 

[zoyle]

If we could tell Maya all of it then the story would turn out to be something different entirely. I wouldn't necessarily call it a false choice, it's either that or we ignore it completely which would be even worse in my opinion. Right now Maya can't know what her "free" tuition entails. I expect it to change once they are HOTs.

Since Quinn is getting desperate and Camila is already part of the scheme even though she's not in the sorority yet, I suspect we'll first see it start to come to a head during the next in-game week when Maya and Josy are trying to join the HOTs, and Quinn, as Maya's 'mother', starts to pressure her to do stuff she doesn't want to do. If I had to guess, that will get foiled initially by Maya and MC doing a lot of the stuff on Maya and Josy's lists (whether directly bc they're in relationship, or staged, etc if they're friends), forcing Quinn to push for more extreme behaviors or more unreasonable requests.

Not sure why people use MCs young age to excuse his actions. I can see dumb decisions like getting drunk or wanting to screw anything with a skirt, but letting someone you seem to have a connection with get into a potentially dangerous situation? Most people are little shits at 18 but I'd like to think human decency kicks in every once in a while

I mean, MC tries - he just doesn't do it well enough and it doesn't work because she kind of brushes it off. Presumably, he'll get more opportunities in the future. The game has a pretty unrealistic timeline - all of this shit has happened in a single week - so there hasn't really been much time for anyone (MC or otherwise) to think to through consequences, and MC has been more or less constantly drunk for the last 3 or so episodes due to all the DIK initiation beer drinking. There's a difference between understanding bad decisionmaking and excusing it. MC's bad decisionmaking is understandable.