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

[Holy Bacchus]

I agree with you, but also feel that's exactly what the affinity system is (it was already used that way at the end of episode 4). Beyond being rejected/accepted it can block from even making certain choices. I don't like the system, but it's part of the game and some people may have to go back and run from different saves making out of character choices to get to a desired result.

And if the game does indeed "hard lock" (as mindern puts it) players out of an ending with a certain character just because of an arbitrary hidden affinity check that seems to make no sense based on past actions and RP, then it will be as The Architect said in The Matrix Reloaded;

"Which brings us at last to the moment of truth, wherein the fundamental flaw is ultimately expressed, and the anomaly revealed as both beginning, and end."

 

[Maviarab]

Personally I'd scrap the entire DIK/CHICK checks and just base it all off RP. But I'm discussing adapting the DIK/CHICK system because DPC seems to be married to the idea of that playing a role in whether you get girls.

This is part of the problem. The system just doesn't work. massive dik but chick affinity etc. So far, with the exception of the picnic scene alone (to my knowledge), RP has not had an effect. So what's the point of it? it's like the whole system, remove it or it needs implementing properly.

Surely at some point in time, the RP system has to have some greater effect? Otherwise, really, what is it there for? Hidden yes, but if use the walkthrough, it tells you exactly where all the points are, and said, currently it has no real use. The system is slated for good reasons in my opion. Sure, the entire system can be meta-gamed to hell, I have numerous saves as such, but many people don't want that hassle of micro-managing the system to see/get results they want.

I completely agree it needs scrapping, it hasn't worked (imo) how I quite think he envisioned it to.

 

[mindern]

This is part of the problem. The system just doesn't work. massive dik but chick affinity etc. So far, with the exception of the picnic scene alone (to my knowledge), RP has not had an effect. So what's the point of it? it's like the whole system, remove it or it needs implementing properly.

Surely at some point in time, the RP system has to have some greater effect? Otherwise, really, what is it there for? Hidden yes, but if use the walkthrough, it tells you exactly where all the points are, and said, currently it has no real use. The system is slated for good reasons in my opion. Sure, the entire system can be meta-gamed to hell, I have numerous saves as such, but many people don't want that hassle of micro-managing the system to see/get results they want.

I completely agree it needs scrapping, it hasn't worked (imo) how I quite think he envisioned it to.

Ive said it before, he’s using it in about the worst way possible. The system has potential but it’s ambiguous as balls currently.

Ill keep it brief but my theory before was RP becomes king and decides all relationship outcomes. Affinity changes MC’s tone and how he says things (like it does currently in some ways). Make a lot of DIK choices and you’d start saying DIK things. This would lose/gain you RP with certain girls. You know how in game if you’re DIK or CHICK it changes how a compliment is said and how it’s perceived by the girls? Expand on that.

Spend all your time looking up girls skirts and being a DIK and you’d haemorrhage RP with all the CHICK leaning girls as your compliments and behaviour becomes kinda blunt and overtly sexual. Conversely a CHICK MC being all white knight around Sage and Quinn wouldn’t get RP for being all saccharine with them.

You could still be with these girls but you’d have to pickup the slack RP wise elsewhere.

This way affinity becomes a personality, personality naturally draws you to certain girls but how you actually behave and major choices you make still count and you’re only locked out when RP tanks enough to warrant it.

This method also removes the psychic elements of girls knowing you were a DIK elsewhere magically and condemning you for it. Maya shouldn’t know you looked up Sages skirt when you two were alone.

 

[lemonfreak]

Yes but the being hard locked out due to affinity changes things. If you need a certain affinity for someone it can't just be arbitrary or it renders the entire system moot. We're dealing with an imperfect system here... heavily criticised on this thread. If he's going to have a system that hard locks you out of saying something based on prior actions it needs to have some way of predicting that. Consistency before the hard choice is one way of doing it.

Currently Maya/Josy are an actual example of this system falling apart. You can make all the right choices, have RP through the roof with them and be rejected because off screen you were a DIK. You're arbitrarily locked out of their route with the only punishment for not being similar affinity (I actually think it's an RP check) being you can't finger Maya during the sex scene. Sure they gain/lose RP based on DIK/CHICK choices but they don't show any excessive problem with you being a DIK until it's too late.

In my hypothetical Sage would have a lot of DIK choices and like the MC for being a DIK so that it was natural when this hard locked DIK choice rolled around. The game would give you the chance to be the man she wanted and indicate when you were being the kinda guy she likes. As you put it choices would naturally lead you to the best girl for your MC. Instead you can basically behave however you like with girls and the story chugs along with zero consequences (EP5 had Bella 180 on a DIK MC almost entirely) and hard checks materialise out the ether. This should all be carried by the RP but isn't.

Personally I'd scrap the entire DIK/CHICK checks and just base it all off RP. But I'm discussing adapting the DIK/CHICK system because DPC seems to be married to the idea of that playing a role in whether you get girls.

I didn't lay out an arbitary system, I laid out a system in which ther MC's decisions would match him with the best girl for him; there will be fucking morons who make the fucking stupid decision to target one particular girl based on the initial appearence and those idiots will be punished for their lack of self awareness.

In my hypothetical, RP is a minor check that only comes into play after Dik/Chick Affinity and Dik/Chick Status are taken into account.

 

[flippityflop]

This is part of the problem. The system just doesn't work. massive dik but chick affinity etc. So far, with the exception of the picnic scene alone (to my knowledge), RP has not had an effect. So what's the point of it? it's like the whole system, remove it or it needs implementing properly.

From my personal observation, I noticed that RP affects some of the conversations you have with the LIs. More specifically what they say to you and how they say it.

 

[Holy Bacchus]

Spend all your time looking up girls skirts and being a DIK and you’d haemorrhage RP with all the CHICK leaning girls as your compliments and behaviour becomes kinda blunt and overtly sexual. Conversely a CHICK MC being all white knight around Sage and Quinn wouldn’t get RP for being all saccharine with them.

This look says Sage might like the MC being a bit saccharine and sweet.



Also, Quinn might not be totally opposed to it either.

 

[Naxer]

Well, let's speculate for a while. What do you expect to happen on next episode? What will be the next hot scene to behold?

 

[AvatarStormBringer]

This look says Sage might like the MC being a bit saccharine and sweet.

Nailed it!

 

[flippityflop]

How something is said is a pretty lame and pointless use of the Rp system though don't you think? Can't say I really noticed thata t all myself to be honest. different with chick/dik status yes, not noticed it upon RP. Again, even in the WT, the only time it makes a 'noticeable' diff (ie, you can or cannot do something) is the picnic scene.

Considering I'm playing this game primarily for its story, no, I don't think it's lame. It makes some conversation feel a bit more meaningful.
And no, I don't think the RP is used strictly for that. I'm gonna side with what mindern said. Maybe the game uses RP as a buffer of sorts.

 

[Holy Bacchus]

Well, let's speculate for a while. What do you expect to happen on next episode? What will be the next hot scene to behold?

I speculate about things a lot on this thread, but that's not somewhere I'm really willing to go. It's virtually impossible to guess much of anything about how the next episode will play out, even with the preview renders. I don't think anyone got anything right about how ep 5 went, especially how it would mainly take place in one location for the majority of the game or that that location would be the Prep mansion. Most predictions also had it going to at least the Monday and seeing what would happen to Rusty after the Cathy pic, and that the HOTs were partying with the Jocks in some big, deliberate betrayal move by Quinn.

So really, nobody can anything say for sure and all we can really do is speculate what's going on in the preview renders and express our hopes for the next episode. To that end, I really hope that this "longest ever episode" will advance the in-game time until at least the Friday of the upcoming week because we haven't had such a long progression of time since the 1st episode and would be nice to just kind of zoom through this Scavenger Hunt week.

Nailed it!

All the girls will likely have a soft side to them, even apparent tough girls like Quinn, and the MC will just do what all MCs do and break down that tough exterior to reveal the softy inside.

 

[flippityflop]

Then that in turn makes the Chick/Dik status utterly pointless. See how this ends up? It is pointless. Use one system or the other, or just scrap it and write better dialogue. Chick/Dik status already changes those dialogue interactions. So basically what we are summising is: There are actually 3 different systems in place all working against each other? Seems either incredibly badly implemented or he likes giving himself more work that he needs to.

Yeah, not a fan of the DIK/Chick system either. I wish the game would instead give us those as extra options during conversations and scenes requiring actions that are currently tied to our affinity.

Having said all that however, given how recent the picnic scene is/was, it also perhaps possible that from episode 6 onwards the RP system will be used more going forward from now on to decide what scenes you may see or how they play out. What we do know for sure is, he implemented it for some reason didn't he? Maybe the picnic scene is/was just the first instance of RP actually making a 'significant' difference in 'what interactions' you're able to do. So it won't stop a scene from occurring perhaps, but what you can do within said scene differs greatly with said RP?

What does the RP change specifically about the picnic scene? That's not something I ever tested myself.

 

[Holy Bacchus]

What does the RP change specifically about the picnic scene? That's not something I ever tested myself.

If you have more than 20RP with Maya, you kiss her.



If you have more than 10RP with Josy, you touch her panties.

 

[flippityflop]

If you have more than 20RP with Maya, you kiss her.

View attachment 755335

If you have more than 10RP with Josy, you touch her panties.

View attachment 755338

Okay, I remember kissing Maya. I don't remember touching Josy's panties.
... So yeah, looks like I have work to do.
Thanks for the heads up!

 

[SpikyHair]

For the moment, DIK path is definitely better. Can change drastically when we get Jill content
edit : DIK path will still be better nonetheless imo. CHIK choices give me a simp vibe, so eww

Last I checked "neutral" path opened up the most lewds (and/or possible LI choices), so not quite.

Also, how the hell is, as a quick example, shit like hitting Troy for something he clearly had no control over, or starting a brawl against the Alphas, "simping?"

I can get that some can see being a little bit more attentive to the girls, beyond going "Becky, wanna smash?!" as "simping" on the basis of whatever your personal values are, but Chick choices are, in general, demonstrably the more emotionally mature and responsible approach. Also, far less "fun," for what it's worth, and I actually like that DPC made it that way.

 

[Deleted member 2309987]

Some quick thoughts cuz I can’t stop thinking about this game.

I love Bella’s attitude. How cold she is toward everybody except MC. How Jill says she’s never seen her react to anybody the way she’s reacted to MC even though she’s still being absolutely robotic most of the time. How she can’t help herself when it comes to caring for MC and how she slowly lets him into her world. When her lust for him boils over. That scene in the spa is chef’s kiss. There’s something about being the only person seemingly capable of breaking down the iron clad walls of this absolute bombshell that is so hot to me. Her chilly exterior makes the rare moments where she’s vulnerable all the more special. I laughed out loud when MC got a small chuckle from her outside the pool and he just sat there with a genuine shocked face.

I’ve been playing a lot of these games especially since quarantine and I just haven’t enjoyed one quite like I’m enjoying this. It’s silly camp but there’s enough depth there for these characters to be interesting and this story to be really dynamic. It’s going to be tough waiting for DPC to finish this game in 2026 in Kanye’s America but I’ll be here for the ride.

P.S. : Quinn is going to get my MC in a lot of trouble somewhere down the line...

 

[Yamura]

I speculate about things a lot on this thread, but that's not somewhere I'm really willing to go. It's virtually impossible to guess much of anything about how the next episode will play out, even with the preview renders. I don't think anyone got anything right about how ep 5 went, especially how it would mainly take place in one location for the majority of the game or that that location would be the Prep mansion. Most predictions also had it going to at least the Monday and seeing what would happen to Rusty after the Cathy pic, and that the HOTs were partying with the Jocks in some big, deliberate betrayal move by Quinn.

So really, nobody can anything say for sure and all we can really do is speculate what's going on in the preview renders and express our hopes for the next episode. To that end, I really hope that this "longest ever episode" will advance the in-game time until at least the Friday of the upcoming week because we haven't had such a long progression of time since the 1st episode and would be nice to just kind of zoom through this Scavenger Hunt week.



All the girls will likely have a soft side to them, even apparent tough girls like Quinn, and the MC will just do what all MCs do and break down that tough exterior to reveal the softy inside.

I would guess there will be some attention to the rebuilding of the DIK house.....MC visits home and maybe finds out something significant about his mom....Tommy & Quinn try to deal with their....business. I wonder, for those who had the MC pursue Jade & Cathy, if that will come back, but maybe later in the story.....Sarah & Melanie plotting against Sage for what might be her growing relationship with MC. Some possible jealousy by Jill for the connection she suspects MC has with Bella. Might be fun to see just what Cathy does at her classes on Monday morning. Oh yeah, school......

 

[SPACE_BOOOOOST]

I really hope that this "longest ever episode" will advance the in-game time until at least the Friday of the upcoming week because we haven't had such a long progression of time since the 1st episode and would be nice to just kind of zoom through this Scavenger Hunt week.

Time really has to go faster than it does now, that's for sure. 5 episodes and we've only progressed a little over 2 weeks. At some point I expect some bigger jumps in time because even if the game settles for a one week per episode norm, we'll never reach spring break for example, which would be a pretty big missed opportunity.

 

[ChipLecsap]

Last I checked "neutral" path opened up the most lewds (and/or possible LI choices), so not quite.

Also, how the hell is, as a quick example, shit like hitting Troy for something he clearly had no control over, or starting a brawl against the Alphas, "simping?"

I can get that some can see being a little bit more attentive to the girls, beyond going "Becky, wanna smash?!" as "simping" on the basis of whatever your personal values are, but Chick choices are, in general, demonstrably the more emotionally mature and responsible approach. Also, far less "fun," for what it's worth, and I actually like that DPC made it that way.

I think most of these people's problems with the CHICK choices are simply comes from the name for it aka CHICK . they probably feel less masculine about themself or something. I see it more of as either you are Nice, more calm guy, or an impulsive asshole, most of the time. the strip club with Lilly is a perfect example, you either an asshole who put his finger in her asshole or pussy without her
permission, and there for she react you as you deserv, you are an asshole, or you are a nice guy, and you rewarded later with a free blowjob.

of course there are girls who prefer the assholes, but you kind of guess what kind of girls they are and where that will eventually lead you.

but i prefer the balanced. I'm nice with the people i like and they like me, and I'm not afraid to be asshole , and stand up for myself with those who act toward me like assholes.

 

[SPACE_BOOOOOST]

but i prefer the balanced. I'm nice with the people i like and they like me, and I'm not afraid to be asshole , and stand up for myself with those who act toward me like assholes.

Except the game allows this freedom of choice less and less as you progress through it. Every major decision cuts off a "slice" of the affinity bar and if you alternate these choices based on your actual judgement, you'll end up in a situation down the line where at first you won't be able to do "massive" DIK/CHICK decisions, then "huge" ones and so on. Eventually, neutral MCs will be left with only that green part of the affinity bar and a bunch of options greyed out during conversations, unable to take a stand or make an impactful choice.

Or maybe I'm missing something, I don't know. Haven't tried going neutral so far, it just doesn't seem like a viable path on the long run.

 

[chocolatemilkgames]

Last I checked "neutral" path opened up the most lewds (and/or possible LI choices), so not quite.

Also, how the hell is, as a quick example, shit like hitting Troy for something he clearly had no control over, or starting a brawl against the Alphas, "simping?"

I can get that some can see being a little bit more attentive to the girls, beyond going "Becky, wanna smash?!" as "simping" on the basis of whatever your personal values are, but Chick choices are, in general, demonstrably the more emotionally mature and responsible approach. Also, far less "fun," for what it's worth, and I actually like that DPC made it that way.

DIK is brash, CHICK is reserved. However, hitting anyone at all is a DIK choice, so definitely not simping. I wouldn't call the CHICK MC a simp, but basically my personal feelings on the CHICK path is that the MC doesn't bother to go after things he might want for the most part. There are times where he absolutely does regardless of the path you're on, but ultimately the dialogue feels almost "nice guy". Less like he's being honest about what he wants, and more like he's saying what he thinks people want to hear (you could easily argue that that's ultimately worse). Of course this is completely dependent on the player's personal interpretation of the same thing and how it reads in your inner monologue.

Ultimately part of what makes this game stand out so much is how well DPC nails dialogue and character interaction. Be too brash and some people will be put off by it, BUT the confidence and boisterous nature will also make more people take notice of you and be drawn to you and vice versa. Be too reserved and people will hardly ever notice you or even care about you beyond an acquaintance, BUT the people who did get to know you will come to love you on a deeper level. Which is better just depends on where you are in life.