As for Sage's non-fuck buddy path, I was disappointed by the way it worked out in Episode 7. We should have had more build up to starting a relationship, preferably after the sparring session. And the sex scene should have been at least a little different than the fuck buddy version, even if just to acknowledge this was a new experience for the two.
Hopefully Episode 8 will belatedly show some distinction between the paths.
The way I've heard it tell and the screenies I've seen posted here seem to indicate that Sage non-fuck buddy path is a better progression but I've yet to play it. I'll probably do a dry run of it soon to see if it's worth changing my main save over. It's strange cuz you would expect the sex scene to be a bit different, given the dialogue changes. Hell, Sage's ep 7 sex scene changes if you're on Quinn's path by having Quinn look a little jealous when they catch you. You can't get 100% on that scene if you bang someone first either. And yet it doesn't change at all if you come into it from non-fuck buddy path. This would seem to indicate that there's probably going to be negligible distinction between the two paths and DPC just wanted to give players one last chance to hop on the Sage path. We'll see what the future brings.
I think it's fair to say Sage prefers to be loyal, but her actual track record isn't great. I understand the sentiment behind her cheating when she knows Chad cheated first, but she's still cheating. More importantly, she'll also try to drunkenly hook up with the MC in Episode 2 if you give her the opportunity, and that's before she confirms Chad is cheating on her.
I doubt Sage is going to cheat on the MC in the game, especially if the MC keeps curling her toes. But I don't think it's unreasonable for the MC to worry about it because Sage has shown she will rationalize a justification for her actions if she gets horny enough.
That said, NTR is not happening in this game so Sage will almost certainly be loyal if you're on her path.
I wasn't making an argument that Sage is justified in cheating. If your partner cheats, and you cheat in revenge, that's still cheating. My argument is that from Chad's POV there was no relationship for Sage to cheat on.
Thought experiment - let's say Chad finds out that while he and Sage were going out, MC was giving her the foot long special. Does Chad think Sage is a cheater? No, of course he doesn't think Sage is a cheater - in his mind, he wasn't in that relationship anymore, he hasn't been together with Sage since he discovered he was gay, it was all a lie that he dragged her along for. The only reason he pretended to care was to keep up appearances. Does Sage think she herself is a cheater? Obviously yes, because from her POV she was still in that relationship, but she wasn't. Again, the relationship didn't exist for Chad, it was a farce. You can't cheat on someone who isn't going out with you.
What are you talking about? Right in ep 1 it's explicitly stated by both of them that Chad & Sage are boyfriend & girlfriend. Chad warns the MC not to make any moves on her, Sage is furious Chad's cheating on her. Both parties have to agree to an open relationship, which clearly this wasn't - they're both cheaters. So while Sage may put great stock in loyalty, apparently that went out the window where the MC is concerned.
While I agree with most of your post, this bit is inaccurate. Sage flat out tells you Chad's cheating, what she wants help with is proving it. She's a well known figure on campus, so it's harder for her to sneak around Chad - which is where the MC comes in.
I appreciate the partial agreement, I'll take it
I don't even care if Sage is a cheater or not, I'm a disgusting Quinn simp so I can deal with more than that. I just feel it's an interesting argument is all.
You're right that it's explicitly stated that Chad and Sage are in a relationship of course. But that's a lie, as we find out. Only Chad knows the truth of their relationship - which is that he's using it as a cover so he can be gay with Troy. Doesn't matter what Sage, the MC, the general public or anyone thinks they know. The truth is that for Chad, there is no relationship, the man that Sage thinks she's in a relationship with does not exist. Sage can't cheat on someone who doesn't exist. But Chad can still cheat on Sage because she actually exists and he's posing as someone who's in a relationship with her. He can hurt her, she can't hurt him. He knows the truth, she doesn't. It seems unfair to call Sage a cheater in those circumstances, even if she thought she was cheating by being with the MC - the only reason she'd think of cheating in the first place is because Chad's lie is making them both miserable.
