Orphanus

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Mechanically, forcing the V-card to be with one person saves tracking and writing alternate lines for every possible character they could have fucked first. So I get it from both the Dev wanting to streamline things, and how a young person, boiling over with horniness, would react to someone directly seducing them.
The problem is in that case it would be much more honest to stop claiming this is about decisions and romance & most importantly it's quite silly to claim loosing her virginity to a random person who pushed Ashe towards it as well would suddenly make some of her severe mental health issues and self-loathing go away. I fully understand what your saying & you are right, but that is exactly why writing branching stories is difficult and a ton of work. But when you do you can't make cheap excuses whenever it's convenient, either follow through with it or make a kinetic novel instead.
 
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Hungover00

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The issue is that the game does use silly porn logic whenever it's convenient (or rather to gaslight people daring to voice critique) but takes itself way, way too serious at many other points. You aren't wrong by any means, but doing that is absolutely not a believable cure for Ashe's severe and self-endangering mental health issues & it also takes away from the already very underdeveloped supposed romance aspect.
Yeah, sex in general wouldn't be a believable cure for severe mental health issues. Who would think it would be?

And romance? My assumption was there may be romance sprinkled around, but mostly the story would cover Ashe's sexual awakening. Romance may or may not be included.
 
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Orphanus

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Yeah, sex in general wouldn't be a believable cure for severe mental health issues. Who would think it would be?

And romance? My assumption was there may be romance sprinkled around, but mostly the story would cover Ashe's sexual awakening. Romance may or may not be included.
The author literally claimed the way it (having her first time) supposedly fixes Ashes inability to open up to e.g. Delilah was the important part and therefore the scene was mandatory, I'm not kidding you.

Well the author also told me that Ashe had to loose her virginity to Zoey so that the romance with the actual Loveinterests could become a thing later down the line cause it fixes her insecurities to such a degree. Hence why I say the game uses dumb porn/12 year old horny teenager logic whenever it's convenient but otherwise takes itself way too serious for that to be on the table.
 

Hungover00

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The author literally claimed the way it (having her first time) supposedly fixes Ashes inability to open up to e.g. Delilah was the important part and therefore the scene was mandatory, I'm not kidding you.

Well the author also told me that Ashe had to loose her virginity to Zoey so that the romance with the actual Loveinterests could become a thing later down the line.
It's removing an impediment and passing a hurdle, so I agree with that. It's a step, not a cure. An important step, since most cultures put it as a dividing line of before and after, but 'fix' seems to overstate things. The dev still has Ashe stammering and unsure, but also more open and confident overall, so they seem to be treating it consistently from what I recall. And if Ashe lost her virginity to Fiona, or worse, Delilah, she would have tried to immediately go monogamous. Zoey avoids that by being a stranger and immediately going on vacation so that Ashe can't get a u-haul and move in with her.

I was always under the impression this was a harem game, not a dating sim, so all of that fits to me.
 
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Orphanus

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It's removing an impediment and passing a hurdle, so I agree with that. It's a step, not a cure. An important step, since most cultures put it as a dividing line of before and after, but 'fix' seems to overstate things. The dev still has Ashe stammering and unsure, but also more open and confident overall, so they seem to be treating it consistently from what I recall. And if Ashe lost her virginity to Fiona, or worse, Delilah, she would have tried to immediately go monogamous. Zoey avoids that by being a stranger and immediately going on vacation so that Ashe can't get a u-haul and move in with her.

I was always under the impression this was a harem game, not a dating sim, so all of that fits to me.
But in that case this is a kinetic novel (and a tonally inconsistent one at that), aside from the fact that I personally don't exactly agree with you here but that doesn't mean you're wrong or that I'm necessarily 100% right or that there is only either/or here.

Edit: Also it seems kinda self-explanatory to me that building a healthy relationship with a single, trustworthy person instead of sleeping around with a bunch of uncaring and selfish people who are mostly just using Ashe for their satisfaction is definitely much more prone to be a step-stone on the way to overcoming her issues and mentally healing. There is nothing wrong with monogamy, especially not in Ashe's situation, which is not to say polygamy is a bad thing either. Why take away any sort of player agency in such an important aspect? More importantly though why try to act as if this is about making decisions when you railroad the player into so much stuff? Just seems kinda dishonest to me personally.
 

Hungover00

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But in that case this is a kinetic novel (and a tonally inconsistent one at that), aside from the fact that I personally don't exactly agree with you here but that doesn't mean you're wrong or that I'm necessarily 100% right or that there is only either/or here.

Edit: Also it seems kinda self-explanatory to me that building a healthy relationship with a single, trustworthy person instead of sleeping around with a bunch of uncaring and selfish people who are mostly just using Ashe for their satisfaction is definitely much more prone to be a stepstone on the way to overcoming her issues and mentally healing.
All visual novels are going to have kinetic elements. Having a few anchor points of needed plot events stops insane spread. EI does have some choices that have significance, but I do agree that the dev leans closer to keeping the story on a central rail. The blackmail plotline being the biggest example.

Edit: just saw your edit. I don't think a VN is really the best medium for mental health best practices. A futa harem game is several steps away from reality, and Ashe isn't even currently in therapy, so real world efficacy doesn't seem high on the dev's story priority lists. So I'm not terribly bothered. But a 'slutty' stage in life is a pretty good way for a person to learn more about themselves and how they interact with the world around them, so I don't think it's inherently unhealthy either.
 

Orphanus

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All visual novels are going to have kinetic elements. Having a few anchor points of needed plot events stops insane spread. EI does have some choices that have significance, but I do agree that the dev leans closer to keeping the story on a central rail. The blackmail plotline being the biggest example.
That is not wrong, once again, I'd say though that writing a bunch of unique first time scenes with the main Loveinterests would be absolutely reasonable to expect here, which is something you're free to disagree on ofc and I respect that. This VN basically has no choices, it's fully railroading the player into 3 paths and that's that. Were I the author I'd tag this as a kinetic novel & as a writer I 1000% support the decision to make kinetic novels, it's beyond most people's patience, free time and writing capabilities to create truly branching narratives and I'd advise anyone asking me against trying that unless they have a really well laid out plan and also the financial security to invest that much time into something that might not gain them money at all.

Edit (in regards to your edit): All true but not fitting in a VN that takes itself this seriously. Either depict mental health issues and the way to deal with them in a realistic and believable fashion or don't try writing something that delves into them to the degree this VN does.
 
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RC-1138 Boss

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That is not wrong, once again, I'd say though that writing a bunch of unique first time scenes with the main Loveinterests would be absolutely reasonable to expect here, which is something you're free to disagree on ofc and I respect that. This VN basically has no choices, it's fully railroading the player into 3 paths and that's that. Were I the author I'd tag this as a kinetic novel & as a writer I 1000% support the decision to make kinetic novels, it's beyond most people's patience, free time and writing capabilities to create truly branching narratives and I'd advise anyone asking me against trying that unless they have a really well laid out plan and also the financial security to invest that much time into something that might not gain them money at all.
No it would not. For reasons already explained here and by the developer themselves in discord, that would create a mess of branching choices that would need to be adressed in all future updates.
Making a game is not just slaping some renders together with some dialogue lines.

Also no, this is not a kinetic novel. No matter how many times you try to sell this argument. If there are branching choices then the game is a visual novel.
We have three personality routes for Ashe plus possible relationship routes for Fiona, Natasha, Lexi and Kate already in the game (Zoey and Vanessa aren't yet locked on i think). All those are dependant on player's choices.
 

Orphanus

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No it would not. For reasons already explained here and by the developer themselves in discord, that would create a mess of branching choices that would need to be adressed in all future updates.
Making a game is not just slaping some renders together with some dialogue lines.

Also no, this is not a kinetic novel. No matter how many times you try to sell this argument. If there are branching choices then the game is a visual novel.
We have three personality routes for Ashe plus possible relationship routes for Fiona, Natasha, Lexi and Kate already in the game (Zoey and Vanessa aren't yet locked on i think). All those are dependant on player's choices.
Again, in my opinion it would, since the game supposedly revolves around Ashe's relationships with the cast, but if you feel different and agree with the author I do respect that. The argument with the "branching choices that would need to be addressed" is invalid to me because we are talking about something that could be done in a somewhat reasonable fashion by just adding some additional lines to the individual first full sex scenes with any character in question. It's not the type of thing that requires "branches that would need to be addressed", especially not when the author at the same time claims the first time isn't a big deal. Also this logic would apply to any other choice as well, so it's arbitrarily taking away player agenda no matter what.

You are of course free to make the argument I'm wrong about the kinetic part but I again disagree, even if you are at least making a proper argument for why I'm wrong. Decisions only existing to set up 3 specific routes (and being locked into them by default) is the opposite of actually giving choices since it isn't about making decisions but about making sure not to make mistakes that lock you into a route you don't wanna see. That has nothing to do with freedom of choice, it's trying to pass a test & starting all over (or rather reloading) if it leads to the "wrong" route.

Edit: Just to make this clear: I'm merely writing down my thoughts and opinions, the author absolutely should write whatever they want, same way I should write my honest opinion on the result. Also I don't hate the game or anything, I merely find it disappointing and increasingly lackluster. Since a lot of that has to do with, or is solely based on, my personal preferences I'd still rate this game around 3,5-4 stars (resulting in 4 no matter what, as we can't give half stars here and giving 3 stars seems unkind and unreasonable to me) since I don't wanna be petty or make my own opinion the be all/end all.
 
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RC-1138 Boss

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Your opinion, or even mine means nothing. The definition of what is a kinetic novel is pretty clear about what can be classified as such.

It is very obvious you want to restart the same circular argument you kept repeating for several pages before just to come back to the, also circular, complaint about lack of agency.
I am not going there. Find someone else.
 
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Orphanus

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Your opinion, or even mine means nothing. The definition of what is a kinetic novel is pretty clear about what can be classified as such.

It is very obvious you want to restart the same circular argument you kept repeating for several pages before just to come back to the, also circular, complaint about lack of agency.
I am not going there. Find someone else.
The kinetic part is by no means the only aspect this was about & I stand by the argument I make that this isn't really offering decisions because of the way making choices until this update was mostly, if not exclusively, about not getting locked into a route one might not wanna follow.

Edit: In all fairness I have to accept that me saying this is a kinetic novel might be wrong, plain and simple. I take that. Doesn't change a thing about anything else we were debating though & you are not invalidating any of it by trying to pretend that this isn't a proper argument worth replying to but randomly accusing me of trolling just because I stand up for what I wrote back then even now. As you yourself write your (and everyone's) opinion is meaningless & nobody has to follow it, just because it's yours. (I say that cause you write "even mine" when actually your opinion is as important/unimportant as anyone else's)

No, I'm merely not convinced by you or the Dev on that point and therefore of course make the same argument since that is my point of view on the matter still. Obviously we don't have to debate it any further but there is no reason for you to get passive-aggressive because I'm not agreeing with you, it's nothing personal nor do I care to convince you of my opinion & it's certainly not an attempt to lure you into some pointless argument for my entertainment just because I'm not writing 'yes you are right I agree with all you said', that sorta drivel is below you.
 
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RC-1138 Boss

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There is such a society. In a PORN GAMES. There are explicit rapes, without consent. And rough seductions. And that's normal for a porn game. And in this game there is only harassment. What world are you from that you call this rape? Natasha did NOT rape anyone in the game. Maybe you just don't know what rape is? Spoiler: it's not just showing your dick to someone.
To be fair there may be a rape attempt in the Kitten Ashe route. If Ashe tries to refuse her advances the only way out is by hitting Natasha in the nuts.

That being said i don't believe Natasha is written as a dom as some guy (who got his innapropriated remarks deleted) said. She is (well) written as a corrupt cop that blackmails people in exchange for sexual favors.

Now Vanessa i dare to say is written as a character with some dominant features. With the way that she leaves even a Siren Ashe wanting for more after their making out.
 

Orphanus

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To be fair there may be a rape attempt in the Kitten Ashe route. If Ashe tries to refuse her advances the only way out is by hitting Natasha in the nuts.

That being said i don't believe Natasha is written as a dom [...]. She is (well) written as a corrupt cop that blackmails people in exchange for sexual favors.
If that is the intention behind how she's written then yes, definitely a fair assessment. (I excluded the part about the other guy cause I won't judge if what they wrote was appropriate or not)
 
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