Whether an interaction succeeds depends on several factors, such as Stats, Traits and Mood.
When it comes to stats, the most important for interactions is probably Favorability, but Intimacy, Obedience, and Desire might also play a role. Either way, hitting the requirements for Yearning, Lust, etc seems to lower the thresholds.
While all the characters will more or less agree to anything you do, given enough stats, certain characters may be more open to some interactions earlier or later, depending on their traits. You can mouse over their traits on their Abilities menu to check how they're affected by them. Some may be docile and have lower thresholds and some may be prudent and have higher thresholds. Some may hate men (Misandrist trait), making it much more difficult to build favorability.
If you know what you're doing, Mood makes everything else a lot easier.
First, let's talk about the Mood and Composure meter that sits under their name. You might have noticed that interactions will sometimes add a heart to Mood and remove a star from Composure. The Mood stat represents how much they're enjoying your company and the Composure stat represents their momentary inhibition. Generally, all positive interactions will raise Mood a little bit to a maximum of five hearts. Physical interactions, such as skinship, will lower the number of silver stars until the very last star is replaced by a single gold star when completely emptied. Characters with low Composure are more uninhibited. The lower their inhibition, the more likely you'll be able to get away with something like Embrace and Headpat despite low favorability. Depending on their sexual frustration and how much they like you, they may end up pushing you down for sex. Keep in mind that characters that have consented to sex aren't necessarily open to vaginal penetration,
even if they're putting it in themselves. Raise your intimacy and/or desire before attempting.
Some tips:
- Mood and Composure will slowly return to their initial values if a character goes too long without interaction.
- You can perform a kiss on the forehead by selecting Kiss right after a Headpat. Fair warning though, they'll be pissed off if they're barely tolerating Embrace.
- Similarly, you can initiate a Kiss after Lap Pillow, but it will be a full-on kiss. Don't do this unless they're okay with kissing.
- Pay attention to the Anger stat. If embracing a character sets it to !!! or higher, don't embrace a second time until it's empty or almost empty. That goes for all interactions.
- Characters with high Mood and/or low Composure can enable the Follow command. Try to lead them into a secluded, indoor location before attempting physical contact at low favorability. Their anger raises slower when it's just the two of you.
Next, let's talk about their
other mood. You might have noticed at some point characters being happier or angrier than usual. Their mood, in this sense, will be reflected in their portrait as well as a status next to their name. Characters in a bad mood give less favorability and get annoyed more easily by physical contact, including skinship. Oppositely, characters in a good mood give higher favorability and are more tolerant of physical contact. You can raise a character's mood by completing their favors, cooking their favorite foods (which you'll only know if your intimacy is high enough), and giving them sake. Moods will last as long as you don't do anything to change it. Pushing your luck can remove the Happy state.
Be careful of what sake you give and how much you give. Characters have a preferred strength based on their alcohol tolerance. A character will refuse alcohol if they feel like they had too many. Characters will also refuse alcohol faster if the strength of the sake is not to their liking.
The next part is very important, so pay attention. As a character becomes more intoxicated, they also become less inhibited. However, interactions they don't like will sober them up very quickly. If a character pushes you down when they're drunk and sobers up to Tipsy mid way, the character will (justifiably, in my opinion) treat it as rape. Sexual XP earned that way will also count as Unconscious XP. Conversations will also automatically fail if a character is too drunk. Moderation is key.
P.S. I don't really recommend the Music route. It's really hard to train because it saps a shit ton of energy and stamina just to play an instrument once. If you're dead set on doing it anyways, I recommend also practicing cooking and eating your meals to regain some energy. Also keep in mind that you can bathe once a day for a good bit of energy and stamina. Also, I'd recommend befriending Kosuzu. She'll rent out spares of books being loaned. She also has this weird book that doubles sex XP for you and the people you're having sex with, but I'm not sure how/when you get it since it's a relatively recent addition.
