VN Ren'Py Being a DIK [v0.11.1] [DrPinkCake]

[Chillout1984]

You're probably right about that. That means we're in for some drama in the game that directly affects the MC, not just his friends. That, in turn, could breathe new life into the game and finally introduce a bit of a main story. So far, the game's story has primarily been carried by the stories of the individual characters, and we're still asking ourselves, what is the actual story of the game itself?

I love the game more than anything. There is no other game that I have followed with such enthusiasm since the first day of its first release. But to this day, I still wonder what it is actually about. I have a lot of guesses, but the penny hasn't really dropped yet. The developer is hiding it quite cleverly, or there really isn't any main story at all and it's really just everyday college life and the individual fates of all the people you meet. I think we won't know until it's finished one day

Or maybe this game is just a slice of life game with no real major overarcing plot, but only multiple smaller storylines.

 

[grarg]

Necessary, 'no' but interesting 'yes.' She's the only one with a prior history with the mc which gives it a different dynamic. If we're talking about who and who isn't necessary then there's plenty of characters introduced way back in S1 or 2 that could have been cut out instead. The first that comes to Mind is Nora, she just feels like a budget Bella to me, she doesn't really bring anything new. At least Zoey does have that new dynamic and character type.

Zoey should have been introduced earlier, much like how we only have random screens of Tara and others in S1 & S2, but they only become Others much later, due to Milked Bloat.

Nora is the Superior Bella.

Zoey is the Destroyer, unfortunately, because apparently romance paths mean nothing to DPC when ex-girlfriends figure out what they want, and "BAD" is to be taken literally and whimsically to all other girls.

I'm sure the MG's will all forgive the MC and their "slice of life/main plot" stories will go along just fine without any variation or discrepancies as a result of shattering their hearts...

 

[Geralt From Rivia]

We learn that Nora is a goddess: she's a polymath, a scientist, has a Ph.D in biochemistry and doing her 2nd year in post-doctoral studies, finding new methods in chromatography. (We already know she's a fitness buff.) She's also interested and skilled in art in her spare time, and considers the MC "dreamy" for being into music. Later, we learn she's a teacher.

We then get the card game where the player can choose: listening to music, cats or dogs, if looks are important, and whether you want kids.

Forgive me, but didn't (on her path) Sage ask a similar questions about the MC's future? This is a date, and more than just an Other's choice with choosing Becky or Others, or choosing to spend your money on Madame. Considering "Main Girls" are just whomever DPC chooses to focus a main plot on, romance options are just as relevant if Others. The difference is, Nora is acting like a monogamous relationship option while on the Others/Man-whore path. And is, and is acting, more mature and attractive than Bella.

Not "we", you. This is your personal perception of her personality.

I'm not talking about her personality at all.
She may be an incredibly good person, as you describe, but it all makes no sense when she seems superfluous in this story where we already have several LIs teachers with their roles in the story. She has no role in the game's story. It's more of an appeal to fetishes - a very curvy blonde woman + pregnancy kink as suggested above.

One thing, I'll say about the date, I don't like the part with the card game, it feels like an interrogation. I prefer casual talk with people.

 

[MiltonPowers]

Not "we", you. This is your personal perception of her personality.

I'm not talking about her personality at all.
She may be an incredibly good person, as you describe, but it all makes no sense when she seems superfluous in this story where we already have several LIs teachers with their roles in the story. She has no role in the game's story. It's more of an appeal to fetishes - a very curvy blonde woman + pregnancy kink as suggested above.

One thing, I'll say about the date, I don't like the part with the card game, it feels like an interrogation. I prefer casual talk with people.

I wasn't a fan either, it felt like we were in a classroom with a teacher/student dynamic and not in a flirty way (like Bella for example). Like we were going to get detention or something if we got an answer wrong.

 

[Geralt From Rivia]

Zoey is the Destroyer, unfortunately, because apparently romance paths mean nothing to DPC when ex-girlfriends figure out what they want, and "BAD" is to be taken literally and whimsically to all other girls.

I'm sure the MG's will all forgive the MC and their "slice of life/main plot" stories will go along just fine without any variation or discrepancies as a result of shattering their hearts...

Sorry buddy, but this argument has been proven wrong. Zoey creates tension and internal conflict for the MC and the player, plus given the pitfalls of his Lis, it makes you question the correctness of your LI's choice, but not destruction. Your understanding of her plot mechanism is incorrect. This already seems like an unhealthy fixation.

 

[grarg]

Tbf, as one of the people who actually enjoyed the Interlude, though I felt it could've just been a flashback, I find Zoey's got a lot more skin in the game than some of the Others girls. Besides her history with Tremolo and her story of "the dream wasn't as good as she thought, so she returned", I'm interested in seeing how she and Tremolo develop their relationship, outside of the MGs paths.

Could DPC have written her return a bit better? Yes, but it is the man's story at the end of the day.

The problem is: Zoey is just a thing to forgive. The MC has clearly moved on; the story isn't about Zoey. Her arc was done. Any sane male going through 1st year of college and having women coming at him from every direction wouldn't care about some wanna-be-ex wanting to be de facto girlfriend #1.

But because DPC wants people to have freedom to choose a LI, apparently even after a Crossroads choice, the slice of life "main" plot just keeps going on -- whatever that's supposed to be. Which is still going to alienate Zoey -- or suddenly she becomes part of the "main five" -- and everyone magically gets along?

We have to use the term "paths" now instead of MGs, since Zoey can be a ILY option, which implies monogamy or at least dedication. And her story has nothing to do with...what's been going on so far.

Now, if Zoey becomes an Others Queen, that's another story, but making her out to be an apologetic puppy, doesn't share itself to a Quinn outlook to relationships, or a Sage-lite.

Zoey: "Hey, I'm your #1 girlfriend now. You can still see Others. Also, threesomes." <-- what should've happened if she's this late in the game.

 

[Ionslain]

So it isn't a Harem game then? Do we need to choose one or multiple girls at the end of the game? Or it has a Harem setting? Anyone give me some spoiler!

 

[Macky009]

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[Chillout1984]

Sorry buddy, but this argument has been proven wrong. Zoey creates tension and internal conflict for the MC and the player, plus given the pitfalls of his Lis, it makes you question the correctness of your LI's choice, but not destruction. Your understanding of her plot mechanism is incorrect. This already seems like an unhealthy fixation.

View attachment 5039068

How has this already been disproven? We don't know yet what the consequences will be if we choose Zoey over the current girlfriend(s).

So it isn't a Harem game then? Do we need to choose one or multiple girls at the end of the game? Or it has a Harem setting? Anyone give me some spoiler!

We can have sex with many girls, especially on the Others route, but no this isn't a harem game.

 

[grarg]

Sorry buddy, but this argument has been proven wrong. Zoey creates tension and internal conflict for the MC and the player, plus given the pitfalls of his Lis, it makes you question the correctness of your LI's choice, but not destruction. Your understanding of her plot mechanism is incorrect. This already seems like an unhealthy fixation.

View attachment 5039068

What argument?

You (or can) choose Zoey over Others and MGs.

It destroys the entire history with other LIs. Much like the breakup with all the other girls on previous events (in Ep8 I believe.) But hey, go see how those turn out. I'm sure Maya & Josy, Bella, and Jill will give you a second chance if you, you know, change your mind, again.

Destruction is the best way to describe it.

Oh, the MC has history and problems and "girlfriend" issues thinking about Zoey? Wow. How deep. You mean like when he was bullied, had no mom, no friends, and his only friend was a f*ck buddy who left him?

If Zoey makes you question your romance choices so far in BAD? You clearly like hurting yourself after all these years.

 

[exazubi]

Or maybe this game is just a slice of life game with no real major overarcing plot, but only multiple smaller storylines.

That's actually how it seems to me so far.

 

[Geralt From Rivia]

How has this already been disproven? We don't know yet what the consequences will be if we choose Zoey over the current girlfriend(s).

Because destroying path is the player choice. Make stupid decisions, play stupid games, push the wrong buttons. There is no forced mechanic return to Zoey. There aren't even any traps on the path that DPC likes to set up - for example, Jade is a time bomb for Sage's path, which the player doesn't know about. With Zoey everything is obvious, if you want to come back, choose.

 

[Chillout1984]

Because destroying path is the player choice. Make stupid decisions, play stupid games, push the wrong buttons. There is no forced mechanic return to Zoey. There aren't even any traps on the path that DPC likes to set up - for example, Jade is a time bomb for Sage's path, which the player doesn't know about. With Zoey everything is obvious, if you want to come back, choose.

Yeah, but that would still mean that Zoey is the one who instigates the final choice, not MC. Especially the quote of her DIK version makes her worthy of her "title" of The Destroyer.

 

[Geralt From Rivia]

What argument?

You (or can) choose Zoey over Others and MGs.

You just answered your question perfectly, without the need to write further. You, the player, do this by your choice. End of story. Your further subjective opinion on how you evaluate their past relationships and their influence, how “deep” it is, has no bearing on the issue, it is demagogy.

If Zoey makes you question your romance choices so far in BAD?

I love playing this game, having fun, seeing the consequences of my decisions and causing chaos. I ruined the M/J path by going back to Zoey just to cuck shrimp for fun again. (again, I'm the path destroyer, not her)

You clearly like hurting yourself after all these years.

You have issues. Hurting myself by playing the game with imaginary characters? By exploring it?
Only thing I can answer on this:

Yeah, but that would still mean that Zoey is the one who instigates the final choice, not MC. Especially the quote of her DIK version makes her worthy of her "title" of The Destroyer.

Initiate or not, she has no control here. If it were forced based on the past dynamics of MC/Zoey during Episodes 9-11, say if Zoey's high score led to an auto-selection to return to her - then yes. But we don't have that.

 

[BTWZ1]

Because destroying path is the player choice. Make stupid decisions, play stupid games, push the wrong buttons. There is no forced mechanic return to Zoey. There aren't even any traps on the path that DPC likes to set up - for example, Jade is a time bomb for Sage's path, which the player doesn't know about. With Zoey everything is obvious, if you want to come back, choose.

Dude, relax. I've noticed for a long time that this toxic guy is walking around different discussion threads and everywhere he says how bad this "insert any name" game is. There's no point in arguing with him.

 

[Moni23]

I'm sure the MG's will all forgive the MC and their "slice of life/main plot" stories will go along just fine without any variation or discrepancies as a result of shattering their hearts...

As far as I know, Josy still hasn't forgiven MC for leaving her at the crossroads. How will she react if he leaves her and Maya in episode 12? No, they won't forgive him. They will hate him until the end of the game. Returning to Zoey will ruin the relationship with the entire main five (MC of the others will be able to fix this over time).
The only one I'm not sure about is Derek. Will he stop being friends with MC if MC leaves Maya? Any good brother would do that, but I'm not sure DPC would implement this scenario.

 

[Geralt From Rivia]

Dude, relax. I've noticed for a long time that this toxic guy is walking around different discussion threads and everywhere he says how bad this "insert any name" game is. There's no point in arguing with him.

Haha, I know. I just like to throw it at the fan.

 

[HOBGTG]

When I, as a player, have a choice of how I want Zoey to be, it makes it easier my playthroughs. I really don't care if her Dik version is a " destroyer ".

For me, she is not a destroyer but an old friend. That's it. We have been given a choice of freedom to shape her. She is not coming out strong unless player lets her to. If you want drama, have it your way. If you want to have a good time with your LIs, make it easy for yourselves. In the end, we get to decide.

 

[Chillout1984]

Initiate or not, she has no control here. If it were forced based on the past dynamics of MC/Zoey during Episodes 9-11, say if Zoey's high score led to an auto-selection to return to her - then yes. But we don't have that.

If a girl (tries to) conquer a man of which she knows he is in a relationship, she is called a homewrecker. That is why "we"call Zoey "The Destroyer", even though in the end it's Tremolo's decision.

As far as I know, Josy still hasn't forgiven MC for leaving her at the crossroads. How will she react if he leaves her and Maya in episode 12? No, they won't forgive him. They will hate him until the end of the game. Returning to Zoey will ruin the relationship with the entire main five (MC of the others will be able to fix this over time).
The only one I'm not sure about is Derek. Will he stop being friends with MC if MC leaves Maya? Any good brother would do that, but I'm not sure DPC would implement this scenario.

True, she seems extremely close to forgiving MC during the HOT/DIK event in episode 11, but Josy isn't completely there yet. This choice will at best reset that progress and at worst make it much much worse.

 

[MiltonPowers]

When I, as a player, have a choice of how I want Zoey to be, it makes it easier my playthroughs. I really don't care if her Dik version is a " destroyer ".

For me, she is not a destroyer but an old friend. That's it. We have been given a choice of freedom to shape her. She is not coming out strong unless player lets her to. If you want drama, have it your way. If you want to have a good time with your LIs, make it easy for yourselves. In the end, we get to decide.