Ah shit, here we go again.
I think the first character he came up with is either Maya or Jill. Because much of the central storyline regardless of LI status within the game revolves around those two, but specifically more on Maya.
Considering the fact this game's going heavy on the derision of homophobia (rightly so, might I add), and much of the central plot hinges on Maya's actions to escape the most visibly villainous character of all so far (maya and derek's dad might not be a criminal like Quinn, but he is easily the most disgusting, most reprehensible character of all, without a single line of dialogue, to boot) and drives the events.
I'm suspecting Jill might be the other option due to a specific combination of story forcing you to date her at least once, and in no other way allows you to escape being a friend to her AND a rather quickly darkening storyline of oppressive male gaze and blackmail. Not for nothing, but Tybalt started out a creep, and no matter how CHICK or DIK the MC is, he regardless progresses quickly towards that Harvey Weinstein zone of ultra mega creep. Not to mention Tybalt's tangentially connected to the other big plot of Daddy Burke and whatever the fuck he's got going on. All that makes me think that no matter Jill's standing with MC, something BIG is going to happen to her. In fact, I'm expecting the "save megan/melissa" level of story impacting event to focus around her, if not specifically her.
Quinn or Josy is not that very first character due to my reasoning of logical conclusion. The primary concern many people seem to have had with AL was that its final villain came out of the left field, and in a major and massive way. So what do you do in your next game? You go and read up on writing a narrative story, and all those books will tell you the same thing: Make your villain / antagonist relatable. Quinn is so relatable to the point of some people confusing her with an actual LI (somehow forgetting that she is a drug dealing, blackmailing, racketeering pimp who turns out college girls, no matter the reason).
In a story structure like this one, villain comes after creating the dramatic hero focus for that villain to foil. Quinn goes ALL in to fuck with Maya, and in fact, is the one reason why Maya has the lead over Jill in my mind in terms of this "who was first" debate. Quinn was (until very recently) trying to turn Maya, the sweet, hurt gay girl who is already being oppressed by her family, and by all intents and purposes, alone as alone can be on that campus.... into a prostitute. Let that sink in for a second. And she was doing it by way of extreme derision. Putting down Maya to the point that she's telling her that she's only good to be a, pardon the expression, dumb slut.
In fact, no matter the player choices, MC's influence is what keeps Maya afloat till Josy arrives on the scene to support Maya, and even further beyond that, again, regardless of choices made, whether as a friend of some sort of boyfriend, helps Maya. Think about it, without MC, Maya would've probably fallen into Quinn's influence by episode 2, thinking she has no one to trust or rely on besides Derek ( who isnt doing anything other than covering with their father), and already extremely hurt by Josy's absence.
Due to the tangential apperance of Josy, her already resolved family storyline with her dad, I am crossing out Josy as that first initial character as well. Sage and Bella are clearly written after the initial story skeleton was already in place, and in the case of Bella, her entire arc is easily avoidable as a non LI, beyond the fascination with locked door. She's definitely the filler drama element. Same goes for all other secondary girls.
The third and what I consider to be the dark horse option in this "who was first written" debate is... MC. This MC is not a blank slate, he has extensive background and storyline.... And clearly something is going on with the mother side. If you think about it for a second, for a stated 12-14-20 episode game... Maya's storyline is already nearing its peak point. Jill's is further away, but the central conceit of it is already initiated in the form of blackmail by Tybalt. Yet MC's storyline is just starting.
....Sorry for the Warscared level of post folks. I'll shut up for a while.
