Argh, been overwhelmed by work - I just wanna quit and do my own stuff xD
For reference, the amount of stuff I have written is enough for a book, so when I'm close to releasing the game - I will publish the book too (different audience and writing, obviously, it's just something for fun).
Hmm, you made a few points I realized are not clear in the current version.
Showing alignments/faction options - not currently done in an obvious way, guess I will do it post-Inquisition meeting when the game properly splits.
Showing abilities - it's more of a time investment question, I can make something looks awesome like abilities presented in a cool way, but damn, it's way more effort than making a sex scene.
I think some Barry style comedy will make it a bit more interesting too.
Morgana is still the opening, but it is flashbacked from the culmination of the battlefield.
For character intros - need to do a better job, though, I like for instance how Lily is introduced, but your structure of 'show' actually works too to present all important bits in a structured way
I like introducing in various pairs because it introduces some dynamics, but I get the overall point.
Writing in different styles is fine, but takes more time.
This will also be the case for Kiri and the clothes prank, depending on past choices. Part of the thing for v2.0 is to connect everything this way and make it more interesting (it wasn't in v1.5)
My responses might be all over the place, but I have a pretty good idea what you mean, and users here in general, to move things forward.
I think pacing is better now, I redid the intro - and I actually like it now. Now includes short cutscenes xD
I played a loooot of games (it's part of my girl job to play stuff) - and I can tell ya, Disco Elysium is the ultimate masterpiece... And the writing, it's what I always strived for. Idk if you like reading older stuff, but it's like a mix of The Yiddish Policemen's Union and Germinal by Émile Zola - both books are damn bangers.
This is partly player/dev differentiation, I want lots of lore to be present and made available, whether the player cares to read it or not in a separate interface.
For reference, the amount of stuff I have written is enough for a book, so when I'm close to releasing the game - I will publish the book too (different audience and writing, obviously, it's just something for fun).
I think the new version has it better, I understood from comments what works and doesn't - I think. Publishing it here is super useful (and fill up my Patreon slowly but surely xD)
Let me firstly say that it feels great when someone actually reads what I write xD
Hmm, you made a few points I realized are not clear in the current version.
Showing alignments/faction options - not currently done in an obvious way, guess I will do it post-Inquisition meeting when the game properly splits.
Showing abilities - it's more of a time investment question, I can make something looks awesome like abilities presented in a cool way, but damn, it's way more effort than making a sex scene.
I think some Barry style comedy will make it a bit more interesting too.
Morgana is still the opening, but it is flashbacked from the culmination of the battlefield.
For character intros - need to do a better job, though, I like for instance how Lily is introduced, but your structure of 'show' actually works too to present all important bits in a structured way
Eh, Japanese VNs set a trend of sequential introduction of characters, wouldn't say I'm a huge fan. Meet your neighbor, run into a girl with a toast, meet a student council president, etc.
I like introducing in various pairs because it introduces some dynamics, but I get the overall point.
You loose your fancy stats when you make an alt account xDI know that making renders are hard and time consuming, but I thought making distinct or unique character that is believeable is harder because in most games that I played, the characters feel the same, different model, different name but their personality is the same, mostly because a single person write the characters. Personally, I can't even make an alt account because of similar writing, it will be easily traced back to me.
Writing in different styles is fine, but takes more time.
I redid Sam character and will redo the sex scene accordingly, including the Thoughts part to give more context.When it comes to the MC in the intro ( at l east in the Demo and v1.5 ), the game is only or too focused on the "what MC can or cannot do" and neglect for the most part "showing" who is the MC. In simple terms, the decisions in the game had been about choosing "Redemption", "Corruption" or "Anarchy" but not the why. I have said this before, but I just want to explain why "the why" is important, which is aligning who the MC is and the player's fantasy. The impression I have so far is that the MC is actually an "anarchist", which explains why the player is given the choices "Redemption", "Corruption" or "Anarchy" in many scenarios. Only an "anarchist" can act good in one instance, completely wacko another. One example for this is the Sam hallway scene:
1. "Let Sam go" - possible future romance, good guy
2. "Exploit your authority" - forced sex
3. "Disturb Sam's shadow" - mind control sex
But yeah, this is just how adult VNs operate, players given good or bad choices, and to play as good guy, pick only the good choices. Since there is no hard route, it is up to players themselves to create a pseudo-route that fits their fantasy
On a related note, follow up scene the next morning, there is no reason why MC sleep naked in the bathroom if he "Let Sam go" the night before. You could say that Kiri takes his clothes off and hid it in the Library anyway so that she can do her prank, but it just makes no sense, unjustified for her to prank the MC when he had been a good boy. Ideally, that "Redemption" choice the night before should really create alternate "route" ( missed out hallway scene, Lily & Saya hallway, and Zuri & Erica Library ) that goes straight to the auditorium with Lily & Saya, unless Zuri & Erica Library scene has importance, then Kiri told the MC to meet them and the MC went to the Library fully clothed, wave to Lily & Saya in the hallway while entering, before going to the auditorium. This way decision has more weight and more meaningful. Understandably, it creates more work that not many want to do.
This will also be the case for Kiri and the clothes prank, depending on past choices. Part of the thing for v2.0 is to connect everything this way and make it more interesting (it wasn't in v1.5)
My responses might be all over the place, but I have a pretty good idea what you mean, and users here in general, to move things forward.
