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

[Wizard_Shiryuu]

Do not underestimate the power of sex in games. Look at the MC for Sisterly Lust, at least cum once a day.

Once a day? What a newb. Check the big free roam in episode 5 and count those alone, then Cathy, two with Jade the previous day... I'm thinking about mapping it for research purposes .

 

[AvatarStormBringer]

Once a day? What a newb. Check the big free roam in episode 5 and count those alone, then Cathy, two with Jade the previous day... I'm thinking about mapping it for research purposes .

Please do share out the chart when you are done.

 

[felicemastronzo]

I think you are going to the extreme on this. No one is saying we want a million branches or a sandbox/open world game. We just want our choices to actually matter otherwise why even give me a choice?

Edit - I'm not talking about the trivial choices, those are fine. I'm talking about the huge potential choices that should be branches within the game and yet they don't really seem to affect anything either. Example - Maya/Josy Friends or More? Wichever way you choose to go it doesn't really affect anything. Ep5 rolls around and Maya and Josy still are all chipper with you after potentially telling you that your not worth the risk, Josy asks you for help instead of Maya her GF who happens to be standing right there, Josy and Maya both admit they still have feelings for you? So what did our choice represent? One less sex scene but that's about it.

unfortunately that scene, although it is so important and is practically the closure of the first part of the story, does not always work.
it is fully consistent and credible only if Mc is involved with both girls and if he has the right affinity to see his proposal accepted

I try to explain myself:
1) if MC is only involved with one of the two girls everything they say is forced enough, for example if MC is only interested in Maya (and therefore does not stay with Josy to sleep after the date) it does not make sense to ask Josy to follow her heart and then eventually propose to be more than friends (a proposal that will rightly be rejected, but it shouldn't have been) at the limit Mc should have asked Maya to choose, and after Maya's refusal to accept to remain friends. but this situation is probably a problem for a very limited number of paths

2) supposing MC is involved with both girls, does it make sense that acceptance or rejection of his proposal is related to his affinity? the 2 girls like MC with that "affinity", but then that same affinity makes him unreliable and risky to continue a relationship.. (not considering that this affinity is determined by isolated gestures that have practically nothing to do with the two girls). there is a sort of moral judgment on MC, then strengthened by the fact that once his proposal is refused in many paths he will go to have sex with Jade, as if to show that the choice of the girls is correct .. this is instead a problem that many more players encounter

3) after the MC proposal is rejected, the "let's be friends" safety net goes on. but it's a kind of armed truce that none of the 3 believes, both Josy and Maya question her at the first opportunity

 

[Real Kreten]

Acting out of Character is literally the definition of bad writing, btw. Characters in all "well" written stories are consistent. They can have their changes, but it must be consistent with their goals.

Yeah, you're right, the focus is on it being a sex game that is solely driven by pictures (which negates his ability to write convincingly). But we're talking about writing skills. There's one determination just as there is with IQ, or with any skill. It's measured by a basic construct of ability. And there are standards you can't break like structure, or it seems wishy-washy, and no longer a storyline well written. I've edited dozens and dozens of novels, DPC, would never make it as a novelist without pictures. When you see things like "Yeah, well" repeated across all characters, that's poor writing and not distinctive. When you see "Oh... yeah, erhm..." That's also a no-no. And there is so much passive voice in this, it's insane. On top of it, he's writing what I'm assuming in 3rd Omniscient without any limits. There are only a few people in the history of writing that are able to pull that off properly. Very, very, very few.

Comparing VN developers to novelists works just as comparing scriptwriters to novelists. It's nonsense. These are different media that require a different approach. Yes DPC probably wouldn't have written a high quality novel. Neither many novelists write a novel of high quality.
We should judge DPC in terms of what he does and not in terms of what he doesn't do, and here he brings a positive shift in the quality of stories that wasn't here a few years ago. He also has a positive influence on other authors and VN is developing. Of course, he is not alone in this. There are also authors like Tlaero, Phillygames, or HopesGaming.
Their games are still influenced by the medium they use and are a bit more primitive in writing, but the positive development is there. Therefore, do not let your antipathy to the author influence your judgment.

 

[Tserriednich'sNen]

I like to speculate, too. I think all of us do in some way; whatever fuels the imagination keeps us from the outside world, and that's fine by me. Too much gloom and doom lately. I still think Josy will be the end result. When Neil told him the story about Lynette coming back to him, I think of Josy coming to the MC at the very end. The MC latched on pretty fast in the beginning. And as we can see how slow this story is developing, the characters can change their feelings a hundred times before they graduate. I just hope Jill is an option.

I've no idea what you mean by 'end result' and what do you mean by hoping Jill is an option?

 

[papasmurf]

i can't find Rusty's Room in the Mansion!!! Anyone?

 

[Wizard_Shiryuu]

i can't find Rusty's Room in the Mansion!!! Anyone?

It's through the room that Jacob used to block in previous free roams bellow the stairs. From there you'll see Tommy. In that screen turn right. The arrows there might be a bit tricky.

 

[papasmurf]

It's through the room that Jacob used to block in previous free roams bellow the stairs. From there you'll see Tommy. In that screen turn right. The arrows there might be a bit tricky.

theme damm arrows got me lost in this mansion for 2 hrs lol

thx for the tip

 

[LatinEmperor]

I'm curious, is there an official list of who the main girls that have routes are? Is it the 10 girls in the "Rewards" app or is it just the 5 main girls in the "official walkthrough"? For anyone who doesn't know, the main walkthrough lists Josy, Maya, Sage, Jill and Isabella as the "main girls" but also lists Cathy, Jade, Riona, Camila and Quinn as "side girls". I'm assuming at this point its just the 5 routes since those paths are what you see at the end of each chapter.

Currently playing my 2nd playthrough and to be honest i'm really REALLY liking Jade this time around and it got me wondering if shes actually going to have a route, shes one of the 10 in the rewards app but shes listed as a side girl in other places.

On another note, does anyone know how old Bella is?

The main girls with actual routes are the five shown in between the episodes: Maya, Josey, Jill, Bella, and Sage.
However, based on the MC moral/choices, the MC can have additional sex scenes with the other female NPCs. However, it seems other than hooking up with them, the MC will be unable to establish a actual relationship with those characters. A bit of a bummer, since I actually prefer Cam and Riona over Josey.
As for Bella's age, she is late 20s to early 30s.

 

[always86]

The main girls with actual routes are the five shown in between the episodes: Maya, Josey, Jill, Bella, and Sage.
However, based on the MC moral/choices, the MC can have additional sex scenes with the other female NPCs. However, it seems other than hooking up with them, the MC will be unable to establish a actual relationship with those characters. A bit of a bummer, since I actually prefer Cam and Riona over Josey.
As for Bella's age, she is late 20s to early 30s.

Bella should be 36. (She did Her ‘hell week’ 18 years ago). She would have likely been at least 18 when she started College.

wouldnt be hugely surprised if there are endings with the minor characters. Less likely to be happily ever after but might be ‘we dated through college but broke up’ or ‘we dated but who knows what the future holds. While the main LIs should get A variety of substantial ends.

 

[RC-1138 Boss]

Bella should be 36. (She did Her ‘hell week’ 18 years ago). She would have likely been at least 18 when she started College.

wouldnt be hugely surprised if there are endings with the minor characters. Less likely to be happily ever after but might be ‘we dated through college but broke up’ or ‘we dated but who knows what the future holds. While the main LIs should get A variety of substantial ends.

It would be great if the teachers get their own ending. Jade has more character development than Jill so far in my opinion. Same for Quinn.
It would be a shame if not possible. Maybe since drpinkcake intends to do a lot of episodes they can be turned into possible romance options.

 

[felicemastronzo]

for DPC, adding a happy ending does a lot more work

I would be happy to have 5, excited if they were 5 + 1 (5 LIs + M&J)

perhaps as for example for sisterly lust (in that case there was only a summary of the years to come) there could be a "consolation" ending with another girl over the 5 LIs that can be activated only if we manage to get dumped from all the others ...

 

[Wizard_Shiryuu]

for DPC, adding a happy ending does a lot more work

I would be happy to have 5, excited if they were 5 + 1 (5 LIs + M&J)

perhaps as for example for sisterly lust (in that case there was only a summary of the years to come) there could be a "consolation" ending with another girl over the 5 LIs that can be activated only if we manage to get dumped from all the others ...

Most likely there would be six, for now I think we should consider 5 solo and M&J. But an ending like that is one scene, making a scene for secondary girls doesn't mean much extra effort, and it would make the ending exponentially better.

 

[felicemastronzo]

Most likely there would be six, for now I think we should consider 5 solo and M&J. But an ending like that is one scene, making a scene for secondary girls doesn't mean much extra effort, and it would make the ending exponentially better.

in fact it is a consolation ending.
I don't think a fan of another character (Jade, Riona, Quinn ...) would be really satisfied with a final render of MC and her girl watching the sunset ....

an ending without a route loses all its importance

 

[Wizard_Shiryuu]

in fact it is a consolation ending.
I don't think a fan of another character (Jade, Riona, Quinn ...) would be really satisfied with a final render of MC and her girl watching the sunset ....

an ending without a route loses all its importance

Yeah, I agree. (Well, not a final one, at least a full scene or something ). But for now it seems there kind of is a route for some seconday girls, Camila, maybe Riona, Quinn... From there to a full route there isn't much left. Heck, even a Nicole route seems plausible at some point. Maybe thats going too wide, but damn that would be great.

 

[Malicre]

It would be great if the teachers get their own ending. Jade has more character development than Jill so far in my opinion.

100% agree.

I think Jade has had more of a relationship with the mc then any of the girls at this point and i like the way they are together. The scene with them in the bath relaxing and talking about life was one of the better relationship moments in the entire game.

 

[moskyx]

unfortunately that scene, although it is so important and is practically the closure of the first part of the story, does not always work.
it is fully consistent and credible only if Mc is involved with both girls and if he has the right affinity to see his proposal accepted

I try to explain myself:
1) if MC is only involved with one of the two girls everything they say is forced enough, for example if MC is only interested in Maya (and therefore does not stay with Josy to sleep after the date) it does not make sense to ask Josy to follow her heart and then eventually propose to be more than friends (a proposal that will rightly be rejected, but it shouldn't have been) at the limit Mc should have asked Maya to choose, and after Maya's refusal to accept to remain friends. but this situation is probably a problem for a very limited number of paths

2) supposing MC is involved with both girls, does it make sense that acceptance or rejection of his proposal is related to his affinity? the 2 girls like MC with that "affinity", but then that same affinity makes him unreliable and risky to continue a relationship.. (not considering that this affinity is determined by isolated gestures that have practically nothing to do with the two girls). there is a sort of moral judgment on MC, then strengthened by the fact that once his proposal is refused in many paths he will go to have sex with Jade, as if to show that the choice of the girls is correct .. this is instead a problem that many more players encounter

3) after the MC proposal is rejected, the "let's be friends" safety net goes on. but it's a kind of armed truce that none of the 3 believes, both Josy and Maya question her at the first opportunity

Not to mention that if your MC decides to be just friends, when Josy and Maya tell him later on they still have feelings for him, he starts to consider things again. Which in my opinion is the biggest flaw of all this game. If I've chosen to be friends is because that's the closest way to tell them to fuck off, but it seems that's impossible to do so far, even though this would have been a perfect point to allow it. So I guess they are too much important for the upcoming story and the MC can't part ways with them even in an amicable way, and in that case I would have preferred not to being able to make such a 'fake' decision which seemed quite important. Now, I understand this is still an early point of the story and maybe that choice is only the key to pursue 1 on 1 relationships with them. We'll see.

Regarding drama, bad endings and shit hitting the fan, just remember that, until Ep5, the only bad-smelling thing in AL was Melissa's abussive step-father. Besides that, it was a fairly light-hearted game, even the initial robbery was quickly forgotten as a potential source of conflict. I'll say it again, DPC's disclaimer the first time you run the game can't be there just for presenting us Jill. Things are gonna go south, probably affecting different characters in different ways according to our affinity with them. I guess we still don't know which would be the triggering event, but Quinn's shenanigans can easily be a source of serious problems for most of our LIs, even Jill as she's living in that frat house and could get caught in the crossed fire. Bella is the only one who I can't see fitting in that story arch, but she is misterious enough to not ruling her out completely.

 

[Malicre]

Not to mention that if your MC decides to be just friends, when Josy and Maya tell him later on they still have feelings for him, he starts to consider things again. Which in my opinion is the biggest flaw of all this game. If I've chosen to be friends is because that's the closest way to tell them to fuck off, but it seems that's impossible to do so far, even though this would have been a perfect point to allow it. So I guess they are too much important for the upcoming story and the MC can't part ways with them even in an amicable way, and in that case I would have preferred not to being able to make such a 'fake' decision which seemed quite important. Now, I understand this is still an early point of the story and maybe that choice is only the key to pursue 1 on 1 relationships with them. We'll see.

In my playthrough the mc and josey / maya were just friends, i rarely had any contact with them post breakup and that's usually only when i visit the HOT house to see someone else.

If you're still talking to them via phone/text/swyper or w/e then that's your fault.

 

[felicemastronzo]

Not to mention that if your MC decides to be just friends, when Josy and Maya tell him later on they still have feelings for him, he starts to consider things again. Which in my opinion is the biggest flaw of all this game. If I've chosen to be friends is because that's the closest way to tell them to fuck off, but it seems that's impossible to do so far, even though this would have been a perfect point to allow it. So I guess they are too much important for the upcoming story and the MC can't part ways with them even in an amicable way, and in that case I would have preferred not to being able to make such a 'fake' decision which seemed quite important. Now, I understand this is still an early point of the story and maybe that choice is only the key to pursue 1 on 1 relationships with them. We'll see.

Josy's words are a stab in the back ..

in a game called Being a DIK that you can't tell someone to fuck off it's a serious lack ...

 

[Wizard_Shiryuu]

Not to mention that if your MC decides to be just friends, when Josy and Maya tell him later on they still have feelings for him, he starts to consider things again. Which in my opinion is the biggest flaw of all this game. If I've chosen to be friends is because that's the closest way to tell them to fuck off, but it seems that's impossible to do so far, even though this would have been a perfect point to allow it. So I guess they are too much important for the upcoming story and the MC can't part ways with them even in an amicable way, and in that case I would have preferred not to being able to make such a 'fake' decision which seemed quite important. Now, I understand this is still an early point of the story and maybe that choice is only the key to pursue 1 on 1 relationships with them. We'll see.

Regarding drama, bad endings and shit hitting the fan, just remember that, until Ep5, the only bad-smelling thing in AL was Melissa's abussive step-father. Besides that, it was a fairly light-hearted game, even the initial robbery was quickly forgotten as a potential source of conflict. I'll say it again, DPC's disclaimer the first time you run the game can't be there just for presenting us Jill. Things are gonna go south, probably affecting different characters in different ways according to our affinity with them. I guess we still don't know which would be the triggering event, but Quinn's shenanigans can easily be a source of serious problems for most of our LIs, even Jill as she's living in that frat house and could get caught in the crossed fire. Bella is the only one who I can't see fitting in that story arch, but she is misterious enough to not ruling her out completely.

It looks like M&J are too central with the story and will always be there, one way or another. It is a problem, specially considering how low they end up in polls, Maya in particular (the girl with the most exposure and character development right now). I don't think DPC expected them to be that unpopular, if lots of people don't care about them they don't percieve the story as it's intended. It's like people who didn't like Megan in AL, it felt too forced for them... And they are going to be central in future plotlines too. Quinn's for example.