Ren'Py Desert Stalker [v0.16c] [Zetan]

[Yngling]

Bro the queen is the law

That is a common misconception.

Even in the most absolute dictatorship, the dictator still needs to keep people happy.

If either the inner circle or the general population become too unhappy, the dictator will be on his/her way out and probably dead.

In the case of the game, Queen Merneith strongly bases herself on ancient Egyptian mythology, which is the reason why her stalkers need to collect artifacts. But it also means that, like the Pharaoh's of ancient Egypt, she can't rule without consent of the priests.

 

[ksatnod]

Just stumbled on this little gem of a game. Really nice. I wonder, is there some indication when you have gone through the current content? I have started on the Zone with Shani, and returned to the shelter after exploring the factory. Meanwhile the MC has been to Ivy's place and helped the raiders take over the General's operation. Is that it so far, or am I missing something? There are no indications of new events/content...

That's probably it, check the quest log, quests that aren't completed but are at the end of their events will have a "to be continued" underneath their title when selected, if all incomplete quests have that message, you're up to date. With regards to your spoiler what did the item that Shani retrieved look like again?

The dev could put a mission room like place similar to the Mutant bunker and the highway outpost after being conquered by the raiders. After you marry/copulate? with the queen. I'm guessing a viable antagonist for this mission line would be Zeta vs Mutants and Lord Abrax. Since it's clear Lord Abrax is planning something. Though we'll find out on what the dev plans for the queen and Zeta.

I have some thoughts on what Abrax is planning, in short, it's an unstable bomb but then I wondered if it's a traditional bomb or is it something to turn Zetans into decayed or mutants?

Is there a speculation thread or can we just use spoilers in this thread?

 

[Yngling]

Is there a speculation thread or can we just use spoilers in this thread?

I'd say go ahead...

 

[RHead]

That's probably it, check the quest log, quests that aren't completed but are at the end of their events will have a "to be continued" underneath their title when selected, if all incomplete quests have that message, you're up to date. [/ispoiler]

Thanks. Seems I am through the current content then. It is a bit confusing, as some quest say "To be continued" in the quest list on the left, while others show that in the quest text on the right...

With regards to your spoiler what did the item that Shani retrieved look like again?

The glowing cylinder?

 

[Machete]

That is a common misconception.

Even in the most absolute dictatorship, the dictator still needs to keep people happy.

If either the inner circle or the general population become too unhappy, the dictator will be on his/her way out and probably dead.

Technically, all a dictator needs is the loyality of the army, through witch he can keep the territory under control by force. And it can be obtained by different means, it hasn't to be a moral loyality. He might be the only one able to provide the army with some degree of wealth, have key obstages or some other form of leverage.

Yet if the people is angry he can't sit carefree on his chair.

But then, actually, at least for some time, dictators tend to be very popular among the people. It's after the regime fell that everyone have always been against the dictator and for democracy...

 

[ksatnod]

I'd say go ahead...

Alright, it's probably absurd and unlikely but here goes It seems clear that Abrax's decayed is hostile to Zeta and probably everyone, it also seems to me that they're the most advanced techwise, (though I don't recall if they have access to firearms) and the most populous. So the artifact can't be something useful to Zeta or else he'd try to convince Shani/MC to bring it to him instead.

So the simplest explanation is that it's a bomb, dirty bomb or some other way of causing destruction. Plotwise I think it would push Zeta closer to the mutants who might be the only faction that definitely have guns on hand, and that would solve the moral/strategic dilemma that the mutants are in. It also might make Zeta more amenable to allying with raiders.

Depending on how the devs wants to write it, I could see Abrax thinking the artifact would turn normal humans into decayed but it backfiring and it turning Zetans into mutants(which would answer the question on the mutant's low numbers and being accepted by Zetan society) or maybe even having multiple effects like it turning some into decayed, some into mutants, and others just remain unaffected.

Finally, there's always a chance that the artifact is a dud and will disappoint both the Queen and Abrax but mostly Abrax since he's the one trying to play 4D chess with it.

 

[Yngling]

Technically, all a dictator needs is the loyality of the army, through witch he can keep the territory under control by force. And it can be obtained by different means, it hasn't to be a moral loyality. He might be the only one able to provide the army with some degree of wealth, have key obstages or some other form of leverage.

Yet if the people is angry he can't sit carefree on his chair.

But then, actually, at least for some time, dictators tend to be very popular among the people. It's after the regime fell that everyone have always been against the dictator and for democracy...

We are getting off topic, but who is the army?

It can be two things:

1) Conscripts, militia or professionals who are part of the general population and serving for a sense of duty and perhaps monetary compensation. These are loyal to the state but the state may or may not be the same as the dictator.

2) Mercenaries who have no ties to the general population. They are neither loyal to the state or the dictator but loyal to the money.

As Machiavelli already argued, mercenaries may seem nice at first but at some point the WILL turn against you and your population and then you'll have two problems.

As a dictator, therefore, you will want to go for a people's army but then you will need also the loyalty and support of a large part of the population.

 

[cvjoint]

That is a common misconception.

Even in the most absolute dictatorship, the dictator still needs to keep people happy.

If either the inner circle or the general population become too unhappy, the dictator will be on his/her way out and probably dead.

In the case of the game, Queen Merneith strongly bases herself on ancient Egyptian mythology, which is the reason why her stalkers need to collect artifacts. But it also means that, like the Pharaoh's of ancient Egypt, she can't rule without consent of the priests.

North Korea is a stunning example of a dictator who rules over a people that are absolutely miserable but he still rules absolutely

 

[Yngling]

North Korea is a stunning example of a dictator who rules over a people that are absolutely miserable but he still rules absolutely

It may seem to you that they are "absolutely miserable" but for some reason apparently they are content (or afraid) enough not to rebel.

But I would suggest that prosperity and happiness are not the same and neither is absolute.

I have never been to North Korea so I don't really hold an opinion on the country. From what I see on TV it does not seem very appealing to me, but perhaps the North Koreans have a different opinion.

 

[Walter Victor]

It may seem to you that they are "absolutely miserable" but for some reason apparently they are content (or afraid) enough not to rebel.

But I would suggest that prosperity and happiness are not the same and neither is absolute.

I have never been to North Korea so I don't really hold an opinion on the country. From what I see on TV it does not seem very appealing to me, but perhaps the North Koreans have a different opinion.

Spoiler: Off topic about North Korea

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[El_Loco]

It may seem to you that they are "absolutely miserable" but for some reason apparently they are content (or afraid) enough not to rebel.

But I would suggest that prosperity and happiness are not the same and neither is absolute.

I have never been to North Korea so I don't really hold an opinion on the country. From what I see on TV it does not seem very appealing to me, but perhaps the North Koreans have a different opinion.

Spoiler: offtop

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[Cynicaladm]

I fuck the law.

as for the checks and balances... the queen is broadly considered a goddess by the general populace... this is enforced and by the state church, the Temple. there are zealots in all levels of society and all walks of life.. much as there are more detached and cynical and even non-religious individuals...
a fair bit of the population are Children of Zeta, children born through the...breeding policies enacted by the Temple.
The Children of Zeta who are not adopted into families, enter the service of the Temple, one way or another, or enter the palace bureacratic apparatus, or the army. This means that all 3 of those institutions are in a solid percentage populated by Children of Zeta, who got most of their basic (and advanced) education from the Temple itself.
The queen is, at least, nominally, above the temple on account of the temple being pretty much dedicated to the cult of the queen, both as an individual and institution.
Of course, there are those, in the Temple and elsewhere, who play a role into selecting the new queen, and raising/educating/shaping her... it stands to reason that at least some of those would be people less enchanted by the supposed divine nature of the queen... then again, the Catholic Pope can be a political nomination but even then, the cardinals all swear by the fact that their votes are guided by prayer and divine inspiration, and the masses of Catholics will still consider the Pope as a divinely guided ultimate authority on all matters religious, if not more.... so there...

 

[Mfka5]

I fuck the law.

 

[Carefree247]

Tier List:

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S tier represents the 4 characters I adore in this game due to their looks and writing.
A tier is for those lovely characters who couldn't make it to the S tier and those who aren't fully fleshed out but interesting.
B tier is those lovable ppl who aren't fully fleshed out,but whose prospect I'd enjoyed so far.
C tier are the ladies I'm curious about,but don't have much for me to judge on to definitively rank them.
D tier are those forgettable ones or those I'd avoid.

 

[ksatnod]

View attachment 2599182

Should be Judge Dredd

 

[punisher2099]

Should be Judge Dredd

Spoiler

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[Mfka5]

Should be Judge Dredd

Didnt even know who that is.
I'd say Batman is more famous

 

[Vicxent]

Alright, it's probably absurd and unlikely but here goes It seems clear that Abrax's decayed is hostile to Zeta and probably everyone, it also seems to me that they're the most advanced techwise, (though I don't recall if they have access to firearms) and the most populous. So the artifact can't be something useful to Zeta or else he'd try to convince Shani/MC to bring it to him instead.

Finally, there's always a chance that the artifact is a dud and will disappoint both the Queen and Abrax but mostly Abrax since he's the one trying to play 4D chess with it.

That is true since Abrax doesn't even want it (or at least acts like he doesn't want it), basically a perfect trojan horse. And it doesn't need to affect all of Zeta, just turn the Queen into a decayed and Zeta will fall immediately. Though it's just a cylinder of possible Nuclear source I believe it's a dud since it's not producing any response to the Giger counter (assuming Shani's counter is working) and without an antenna of sorts how can it even activate remotely? That being said I don't believe Zeta would refuse such a thing since it's glowing AF, though I think we can choose whom to give it too: The mutants, Zeta, Abrax or raiders(?) heck even to Ivy But speculations will get us nowhere, we'll see what's the dev/s are planning.

Anyway, can't wait for the Queen update. So many good VN's now, though 95% of them are still being made T_T. I wish I will have enough time to play them or still immature enough to enjoy them later on, time is ticking at least for me.

 

[wiseold6996]

That is a common misconception.

Even in the most absolute dictatorship, the dictator still needs to keep people happy.

If either the inner circle or the general population become too unhappy, the dictator will be on his/her way out and probably dead.

In the case of the game, Queen Merneith strongly bases herself on ancient Egyptian mythology, which is the reason why her stalkers need to collect artifacts. But it also means that, like the Pharaoh's of ancient Egypt, she can't rule without consent of the priests.

Then set the marriage date already as priests too like zaton. Stalkers also are a highly respected profession so a husband of the queen being an experienced stalker would also fine to the general people

 

[truaheday]

Will it be possible to shave the MC's beard in the future?