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

[Holy Bacchus]

The funny thing is the Jocks post it but we don't have the evidence to pin om them. FUCK!!!

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The Jocks didn't post it. Just because Dawe is antagonising the DIKs by rubbing it in their face doesn't mean they're guilty, it just means he's being a douche and it's what anyone in that kind of rivalry situation would do.

I think you have that exactly backwards. If the protagonist hits a roadblock in the story, we should focus on resolving that roadblock, not cutaway to a later date. The overcoming those roadblocks is the whole point of this sort of story!

Not always. Sometimes the hero of the story can hit a roadblock that causes important characters connected to them to walk away from them because they feel let down/betrayed/disgusted by something the protagonist either has done or is made to appear as though they have done. The story then moves on a few weeks or even months to where they are still not speaking/interacting with the other characters, but the next major story beat now occurs and it will lead down a path to re-forging the relationships they lost.

I'm not saying this will be what happens, or that it has to be, but it's something I could see as a possibility and one which I personally think would be interesting and engaging if done right.

I understand that it's unreasonable to expect meaningful story-altering choices from a game only one person is working on when it's nearly unprecedented even from game studios with hundreds or thousands of workers. Stuff has to be streamlined to some degree. I want to reiterate what would piss me off in a scenario you laid out because my initial reply wasn't entirely clear about it: My problem was mainly with how unrewarding and disheartening it would feel to have all or most of the people we've build relationships with suddenly turn against us when we had no way of preventing it. Shit WILL hit the fan eventually and that's fine, as long as it doesn't feel like a deliberate slap in the face, drama for the sake of drama. Lots of games do similar tropes but the good ones also make sure you aren't left abandoned without others to rely on.

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In both cases, the people that MATTER stay beside the player so even if the rest of the world is against them it doesn't leave a bad taste in the mouth. The problem with your proposed scenario is that it takes away nearly everyone (even if only temporarily) and leaves the player - as you said - an outcast of sorts. It's fine to take away most of the LIs for a while but let us keep our newfound DIK brothers in a "bros before hoes" themed storyline. Or have them and the HOTs turn on us but leave out the LIs that aren't directly connected to either house so we at least have some nicely rendered shoulders to cry on. Taking both is not only cruel but completely backwards to the game's progression.

But again, this still gets to the issue that certain things will happen that are outside the MC's control that end up affecting him directly and we've already seen that as well as being set up for it. Not every character has to abandon the MC if something were to happen that puts him in a bad spot, and they would certainly have plenty of time for redemption and recovery, just like the examples you gave, but if such a thing were to happen to them, it's not necessarily a bad thing.

Despite the things that have happened already, I feel like the MC has had a pretty easy go of it so far, but there are other things going on in the background that could derail this somewhat cushy life and stories where the protagonist suffers a major setback and then has to work their way back up and repair the damage are some of the most satisfying, even if they're hard to watch when you know the protagonist doesn't deserve what happens to them. In the context of a VN like this I feel like it could be even better because while the setback may be out of our control, the recovery is entirely within our control and could give players a real sense of triumph about the fact that they get to take part in undoing whatever happened to the MC.

I really don't get why anyone thinks that the LI's DO NOT know about each other. Sage knows about Maya, and about half the girls on campus, you discuss it in the pool in ep4. Jill knows that you're dating and knows that you have dated Josy. Most of the campuss is about to hear about you and Sage once Sarah and Mel start gossiping. It's no big deal.

Jill knows the MC dated Josy, but that's about it. None of the other LIs have any reason to suspect anything about each other, although that might change with this DnG game in ep 6. Bella certainly doesn't know about Sage, Maya, or Josy, Sage doesn't know about Jill, Maya, Josy, or Bella, Maya doesn't know about Sage or Bella but might know about Jill if Josy told her, and I guarantee none of them know about Riona, Camila, Sarah, Melanie, and Quinn if you had sex with any of them because they're a tight-knit group that's doing something they shouldn't, so they're not going to spread that around with people outside the group.

 

[Deleted member 2739658]

The Jocks didn't post it. Just because Dawe is antagonising the DIKs by rubbing it in their face doesn't mean they're guilty, it just means he's being a douche and it's what anyone in that kind of rivalry situation would do.



Not always. Sometimes the hero of the story can hit a roadblock that causes important characters connected to them to walk away from them because they feel let down/betrayed/disgusted by something the protagonist either has done or is made to appear as though they have done. The story then moves on a few weeks or even months to where they are still not speaking/interacting with the other characters, but the next major story beat now occurs and it will lead down a path to re-forging the relationships they lost.

I'm not saying this will be what happens, or that it has to be, but it's something I could see as a possibility and one which I personally think would be interesting and engaging if done right.



But again, this still gets to the issue that certain things will happen that are outside the MC's control that end up affecting him directly and we've already seen that as well as being set up for it. Not every character has to abandon the MC if something were to happen that puts him in a bad spot, and they would certainly have plenty of time for redemption and recovery, just like the examples you gave, but if such a thing were to happen to them, it's not necessarily a bad thing.

Despite the things that have happened already, I feel like the MC has had a pretty easy go of it so far, but there are other things going on in the background that could derail this somewhat cushy life and stories where the protagonist suffers a major setback and then has to work their way back up and repair the damage are some of the most satisfying, even if they're hard to watch when you know the protagonist doesn't deserve what happens to them. In the context of a VN like this I feel like it could be even better because while the setback may be out of our control, the recovery is entirely within our control and could give players a real sense of triumph about the fact that they get to take part in undoing whatever happened to the MC.



Jill knows the MC dated Josy, but that's about it. None of the other LIs have any reason to suspect anything about each other, although that might change with this DnG game in ep 6. Bella certainly doesn't know about Sage, Maya, or Josy, Sage doesn't know about Jill, Maya, Josy, or Bella, Maya doesn't know about Sage or Bella but might know about Jill if Josy told her, and I guarantee none of them know about Riona, Camila, Sarah, Melanie, and Quinn if you had sex with any of them because they're a tight-knit group that's doing something they shouldn't, so they're not going to spread that around with people outside the group.

No sorry. Sage DOES know about the MC and Maya, they discuss it in the pool during ep4. Sage also mentions that rumors are going around campus about the MC and his big cock, and she's smart enough to put two and two together. Also Bella knows about Jill and Jill knows about Josy, and that MC is dating others. It's not too big a stretch of the imagination to assume that all the LI's are aware of rumors, or to know that many have heard that the MC is living with Maya, after all they're not exactly keeping it a secret, they just didn't tell the college admins.

 

[SPACE_BOOOOOST]

No sorry. Sage DOES know about the MC and Maya, they discuss it in the pool during ep4. Sage also mentions that rumors are going around campus about the MC and his big cock, and she's smart enough to put two and two together. Also Bella knows about Jill and Jill knows about Josy, and that MC is dating others.

A couple additions:

Sage most definitely knows about the MC boning the other HOT girls, especially if you're on her path. As if any of them could (or would want to) keep quiet about the magic stick.

Other LIs might not have confirmation about Bella and the MC but the sunbathing cluck you post on her path (with all those comments talking about how he's about to bang the librarian) would at the very least raise some suspicions.

 

[Holy Bacchus]

No sorry. Sage DOES know about the MC and Maya, they discuss it in the pool during ep4. Sage also mentions that rumors are going around campus about the MC and his big cock, and she's smart enough to put two and two together. Also Bella knows about Jill and Jill knows about Josy, and that MC is dating others.

Only if you stay with her, otherwise its just a suspicion on other routes. For all she knows on those other paths, he's just being a really friendly guy towards Maya and it's nothing more than that.

As for the rumours about the baseball bat, remember that he had to run out of the HOT house naked and was seen by 4 of the HOTs and may have been seen by other students as he ran to the library, so that's how those rumours could spread and not necessarily because the girls he's boning are blabbing about it.

 

[felicemastronzo]

Jill knows the MC dated Josy, but that's about it. None of the other LIs have any reason to suspect anything about each other, although that might change with this DnG game in ep 6. Bella certainly doesn't know about Sage, Maya, or Josy, Sage doesn't know about Jill, Maya, Josy, or Bella, Maya doesn't know about Sage or Bella but might know about Jill if Josy told her, and I guarantee none of them know about Riona, Camila, Sarah, Melanie, and Quinn if you had sex with any of them because they're a tight-knit group that's doing something they shouldn't, so they're not going to spread that around with people outside the group.

it depends a lot on the path you follow

Josy knows about the date with Jill, and so Maya probably knows too

Sage knows that something with Josy and Maya is or has been, and vice versa, during the movie night it was quite evident

Bella, if we choose MC to go to her, she knows about Josy and Maya (plus of course Jill)

also there have been many scenes in public places and rumors go around

 

[Cigar-Ferras]

also there have been many scenes in public places and rumors go around

I'm looking forward to seeing what Tommy' reaction will be when he finds about MC and Josy. Don't think that will be a bro-fist moment ....

 

[Maviarab]

No sorry. Sage DOES know about the MC and Maya, they discuss it in the pool during ep4. Sage also mentions that rumors are going around campus about the MC and his big cock, and she's smart enough to put two and two together. Also Bella knows about Jill and Jill knows about Josy, and that MC is dating others. It's not too big a stretch of the imagination to assume that all the LI's are aware of rumors, or to know that many have heard that the MC is living with Maya, after all they're not exactly keeping it a secret, they just didn't tell the college admins.

Only if you are there. Not forced into a Sage path at all.

Again, people need to get over it. This is a story where you are railroaded. It's a story with a start, middle and definitive end. Your choice is illusion only. every single branching path game is like this. Even from multimillion dollar AAA studios.

Understand this. You have limited degree to tailor it to your preferance, but you will end up in the same place, otherwise he would be writing 50 different stories for the next 20 years. There is one story, one end and there will be minor differences in playthroughs.

Why can people not get this into their heads?

 

[Ennoch]

remember that he had to run out of the HOT house naked

I'm sure everyone has forgotten that by now, right? Right?
Nobody remembers the poor dude running around naked like some bloody creeping perv or anything.. Such a cool guy we play. Was that a trash can top? Can i just please cry?

 

[Deleted member 2739658]

The path's you follow is important and I think would inform the general conversation better. Through saves I've explored as many of the options that I can, but have a save for my main path, and I'd be interested in hearing from others about their choices.

I named my character Simon, when given a choice I usually name a male MC Simon, it's from Simon Templar, the Saint.

I generally try to maintain a Neutral Affinity and a DIK Status.

As for LI's my main choices are Sage and Josy. I did have an interest in Maya but that passive-aggressive screed in Gender Studies class, as well as the other events in ep4, put an end to that. I don't know if a path to Josy even still exist, but if there is one I'll be hard put to decide between Sage and Josy, though I lean a little Sage. I like Jill but I'm not into her. After seeing the intro to ep5 I'd kinda like to see her wind up with Rusty, I thought they were cute. I have no interest in Bella at all. Of the other women in the game, I really like Jade, I like Camila and Mona, and I like Nichole/Envy. I like Riona but am not interested in sex with her. I loathe Quinn and wouldn't even fuck her with a dirty stick.

Of the major choices I've made that effect relationships.

- I didn't pay for Maya's lunch -1rp
- I slept with Josy
- I stayed at the party and danced with Sage
- I stayed with Sage
- I chose just to be friends with M&J, though at that time if given the option I would have told them both to get fucked.
- I fought Dawe, the Alpha's, and Caleb.
- I erased the Jade video
- I didn't punch Tybalt
- I have prioritized Sage and Josy rp's, I think I may have gotten them all

 

[grandgangster]

When is the next update??

 

[felicemastronzo]

Only if you are there. Not forced into a Sage path at all.

Again, people need to get over it. This is a story where you are railroaded. It's a story with a start, middle and definitive end. Your choice is illusion only. every single branching path game is like this. Even from multimillion dollar AAA studios.

Understand this. You have limited degree to tailor it to your preferance, but you will end up in the same place, otherwise he would be writing 50 different stories for the next 20 years. There is one story, one end and there will be minor differences in playthroughs.

Why can people not get this into their heads?

I agree with you
and in the end we will tell if we liked this story or not


but this idea leads me to think that what happens in any path is always "enough" universal anyway

 

[Holy Bacchus]

Only if you are there. Not forced into a Sage path at all.

Again, people need to get over it. This is a story where you are railroaded. It's a story with a start, middle and definitive end. Your choice is illusion only. every single branching path game is like this. Even from multimillion dollar AAA studios.

Understand this. You have limited degree to tailor it to your preferance, but you will end up in the same place, otherwise he would be writing 50 different stories for the next 20 years. There is one story, one end and there will be minor differences in playthroughs.

Why can people not get this into their heads?

Exactly. It's just as I've been saying with regards to if something major happens to the MC that potentially upends his life in a negative way, that if such a thing were to happen it would be because this is what the story truly is and that all the various relationships along the way are just variables on a single set track for the overarching narrative. We don't have the power to stop certain things happening to the MC because we're not in total control of the story, we're just in control of certain things about him.

 

[SPACE_BOOOOOST]

I'm sure everyone has forgotten that by now, right? Right?
Nobody remembers the poor dude running around naked like some bloody creeping perv or anything.. Such a cool guy we play. Was that a trash can top? Can i just please cry?

Oh please, if I was that well-endowed I wouldn't even bother wearing pants most of the time. Nothing embarrassing about having a third leg.

 

[Traitus]

Jill knows the MC dated Josy, but that's about it. None of the other LIs have any reason to suspect anything about each other, although that might change with this DnG game in ep 6. Bella certainly doesn't know about Sage, Maya, or Josy, Sage doesn't know about Jill, Maya, Josy, or Bella, Maya doesn't know about Sage or Bella but might know about Jill if Josy told her, and I guarantee none of them know about Riona, Camila, Sarah, Melanie, and Quinn if you had sex with any of them because they're a tight-knit group that's doing something they shouldn't, so they're not going to spread that around with people outside the group.

Sage also knows about Jill. She post in the cluck where Tybald flag MC's as spam. Maybe not all the details but she knows about the date.

 

[Warped77]

I have, and I do not share your opinion. The relentless, brutal drama in the last quarter of that game was damn near sadistic. I can accept a story going dark, but that's not an excuse to revel in said darkness.

Suffice it to say, Acting Lessons is the single biggest concern I have with Being a DIK.

Fair. I wasn't a huge fan of the 'fatal attraction' thing in AL, but I thought 'the choice' and the whole cancer storyline were done fairly well. To each their own, though.

That said... I think it's a bit strange to see people saying in previous pages in this thread that they'll be upset if BaDIK takes a dark turn. I mean, the game STARTS with a 'if you're in a dark place, don't play this!" disclaimer. Things are obviously going to get dark at some point. I don't know if it'll be 'crazy killer' AL dark or 'My Name is Luna' levels of dark, but it wouldn't surprise me.

 

[Craduco]

Maybe I'm blind but how does writing a review work?

 

[Wizard_Shiryuu]

Fair. I wasn't a huge fan of the 'fatal attraction' thing in AL, but I thought 'the choice' and the whole cancer storyline were done fairly well. To each their own, though.

That said... I think it's a bit strange to see people saying in previous pages in this thread that they'll be upset if BaDIK takes a dark turn. I mean, the game STARTS with a 'if you're in a dark place, don't play this!" disclaimer. Things are obviously going to get dark at some point. I don't know if it'll be 'crazy killer' AL dark or 'My Name is Luna' levels of dark, but it wouldn't surprise me.

Crap, and here I am with my lights out .

That is true, but the game is way lighter than AL. AL was dark since the begginning, it started with a robbery after all, the cancer subplot... Even if things start going wrong in BADIK I doubt they would reach AL levels.

 

[SPACE_BOOOOOST]

Maybe I'm blind but how does writing a review work?

Just click on the stars in the upper right corner of any page (select as many of the 5 as you want) and it'll automatically bring up the window where you can write the review. Basically, you have to write one in order to rate the game.

 

[Holy Bacchus]

Maybe I'm blind but how does writing a review work?

Click the stars in the banner at the top to open the review text box window.

 

[Craduco]

Thanks guys