VN Ren'Py Friends in Need [Ch. 9 v0.60c] [NeonGhosts]

[Romanul]

I like Nikki even if I'm not particularly kind to her. Having her show up for the photoshoot and get bullied by the girl she was trying to stand up for was quite enjoyable. It's fun kind of rope a doping her in terms of being her friend and humiliating her at the same time. It's also nice having someone keeping the MC in a kind of grey area where he's not kind but not a psychopath either.

I have to give praise to the author of the game. Rarely have I enjoyed a game so much. He manages to have a MC that does disturbing stuff without portraying him as comically evil. And the way the whole photoshoot ended with Nikki being bullied is just one of the great moments of writing in the game. Hell, even the dialogue with Nikki where he basically threatens her that if she doesn't come for breakfast to his place he will do to her place is great.

There is also the moment where Ashe is alone on a dark ally with the MC. I generally always pick the most evil route in games but in this case because the whole setting is not absurd like in most games, I felt that context wise it would make more sense for the MC not to risk having issues with the police and instead just have "fun" (blackmail) as his place with her so I took that route. Again great writing from the author.

Also, what is this Nikki drama about? Having enjoyed the character and especially MC's interactions with her I was surprised to see people asking for her to be removed from the game. I mean in the later chapter(s) she already

Spoiler: very minor spoiler

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which should be an indicator that unfortunately (for me) we will see less of her. What more do people want?

 

[NeonGhosts]

Something repulsive like MC's crush sent by her boyfriend to get money from him, cause they know that MC have crush on her and can use his feelings?

"Why not to get laid if you can" - that's not how it works, at list writing here is better then that.
I never said that scene is bad, it's all logical but still outcome can be other and it still be logical.

I always maintained this idea that it made sense for MC to have sex with Nicki either way, buuuuut I think it'll be interesting to offer one path that essentially gives you two options -- turn her down for a nice reason (she has a boyfriend, it's just not a good time with the money situation being so fresh, etc.) or a bad reason (he suddenly sees her in a different light due to various factors).

Ultimately it won't be that much work to reconcile with the friendship paths that begin in Chapter 3. But it will leave the first chapter feeling super short for anyone who decides to skip Nicki's content. Maybe I'll add the option for MC to call up an escort or something..

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I have to give praise to the author of the game. Rarely have I enjoyed a game so much. He manages to have a MC that does disturbing stuff without portraying him as comically evil. And the way the whole photoshoot ended with Nikki being bullied is just one of the great moments of writing in the game. Hell, even the dialogue with Nikki where he basically threatens her that if she doesn't come for breakfast to his place he will do to her place is great.

There is also the moment where Ashe is alone on a dark ally with the MC. I generally always pick the most evil route in games but in this case because the whole setting is not absurd like in most games, I felt that context wise it would make more sense for the MC not to risk having issues with the police and instead just have "fun" (blackmail) as his place with her so I took that route. Again great writing from the author.

Also, what is this Nikki drama about? Having enjoyed the character and especially MC's interactions with her I was surprised to see people asking for her to be removed from the game. I mean in the later chapter(s) she already

Spoiler: very minor spoiler

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which should be an indicator that unfortunately (for me) we will see less of her. What more do people want?

Thanks so much for the kind words. I really try to provide a ton of options for people, and write the characters with some internal consistency.

And I wouldn't worry about Nicki disappearing or anything. She's stepping back a bit so some other characters get the spotlight, but she's still prominent in the next installment.

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[Avaron1974]

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Mini Beep Boop is choking out Nickisaurus.

 

[NewTricks]

Love her or hate her, this game just wouldn't be the same without Nikki. It would feel as empty as a politician's promise.

 

[Zerorox]

It's possible alternative to call "filler girl" if Nikky is friendzoned in the very first chapter, still I don't think chapter Will be too short without one sex scene. In my humble opinion it's not crucial.
To be bad and violent to her but without rape, ugh... that Will bring a lot satisfaction for Me personally)

Still, even if I really hate forced sex scenes, this game will not lose any "love points" with Me if first chapter remains without changes)
I'll Just screw her ass in 1st chapter and just friendzone her after that (leaving for myself right to repeat that if she'll deserve that in future) in next playthrough (as mostly usual)

 

[PHIL101-YYouPPHard]

Hey Neon, sorry if I missed something on the front page, but would you mind linking your personal sigs there alongside the fan ones? Some people might not know they exist and others might try to find them and then realize they gotta sift through 115 pages Here's the link to some of them: https://f95zone.to/threads/friends-in-need-v0-375-neonghosts.112500/post-9143702. Not sure where your Viola one is or if you made others.

 

[ename144]

I always maintained this idea that it made sense for MC to have sex with Nicki either way, buuuuut I think it'll be interesting to offer one path that essentially gives you two options -- turn her down for a nice reason (she has a boyfriend, it's just not a good time with the money situation being so fresh, etc.) or a bad reason (he suddenly sees her in a different light due to various factors).

Ultimately it won't be that much work to reconcile with the friendship paths that begin in Chapter 3. But it will leave the first chapter feeling super short for anyone who decides to skip Nicki's content. Maybe I'll add the option for MC to call up an escort or something..

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I think it's fine to leave the chapter short if the player rejects Nicki. After all, by the time anyone plays the new version there will already be more game to play.

But should a similar situation emerge in the future, I would strongly advise against adding a filler scene just to balance out the lewd counts. A short chapter is disappointing, but a chapter that wastes time on filler is, IMHO, worse. If you want to add alternate content, I think that content needs to relate to the situation at hand - either extended non-lewd interaction with the LI or spending time with a logical alternative (e.g. another LI the MC has already established a relationship with). Obviously the latter is extremely time consuming, and the former can get very complicated if you want the conversation to go into depth. So these alternatives can probably only be used sparingly, but I still think they're the right direction to aim if you decide you need to add something.

 

[Uriel ☁]

Ultimately it won't be that much work to reconcile with the friendship paths that begin in Chapter 3. But it will leave the first chapter feeling super short for anyone who decides to skip Nicki's content. Maybe I'll add the option for MC to call up an escort or something..

I don't think the people that would send Nikki away without exploting her intersects much with the people that would call up an escort.

 

[Raoddik]

Maybe I'll add the option for MC to call up an escort or something

And then some people will "fall" for escort and you will have posts about adding her as LI.

 

[Krynh]

Is there a discord? A few spelling mistakes to tell about

 

[Zerorox]

And then some people will "fall" for escort and you will have posts about adding her as LI.

Sooooo True)
Yeah, it seems filler girl is not the Best idea now, and game has enough sex scenes for it's current leight
But at the same time, call an escort girl in future (optional ofc), when MC is Just bored and lonely is not a bad idea at all, at least I can remember only very few MC's doing that)

 

[Crosspulse]

I have no issues with Nikki being in the game, very few games offer a dark path with decent writing.

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Cheers to NeonGhosts, this game has quickly become one of my favorites. The Gabby renders are superb IMO.

 

[PHIL101-YYouPPHard]

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Hmmm, it just occurred to me: I wonder if the MC's reaction in the first chapter is explained by the initial Nikki encounter mirroring how his mother treated him? Am I getting my games confused? Didn't Neon say this MC had/has issues with his mother? If the issue was that his mother was, say, a narcissist that feigned love and affection for him only for him to, in the end, find out she was simply after something, then it's possible that Nikki's confession and request for help with her financial situation kind of triggers something in the MC; even if Nikki isn't actually a narcissist and doesn't have the same motives as his mother did, he reflexively perceives it in that light because he was conditioned into looking for it. The player of course gets to choose what exactly that reaction is: either disappointment and acceptance and possibly rationalization (affection route), redirecting and mirroring behavior (corruption route), or defiance and rage (taboo patch route); but the trigger would remain the same. And with the new plans for MC to be able to have a non-sexual relationship with her, avoidance (neutral/friend excummunication route)

Also, I'm really high right now so I have no clue if I'm making sense.. sorry about that

 

[Zerorox]

Hmmm, it just occurred to me: I wonder if the MC's reaction in the first chapter is explained by the initial Nikki encounter mirroring how his mother treated him? Am I getting my games confused? Didn't Neon say this MC had/has issues with his mother? If the issue was that his mother was, say, a narcissist that feigned love and affection for him only for him to, in the end, find out she was simply after something, then it's possible that Nikki's confession and request for help with her financial situation kind of triggers something in the MC; even if Nikki isn't actually a narcissist and doesn't have the same motives as his mother did, he reflexively perceives it in that light because he was conditioned into looking for it. The player of course gets to choose what exactly that reaction is: either disappointment and acceptance and possibly rationalization (affection route), redirecting and mirroring behavior (corruption route), or defiance and rage (taboo patch route); but the trigger would remain the same. And with the new plans for MC to be able to have a non-sexual relationship with her, avoidance (neutral/friend excummunication route)

Also, I'm really high right now so I have no clue if I'm making sense.. sorry about that

Why not, interesting theory, your MC - it's only for You to decide))

And as we know, games with weak plot and writing Will not provoke such discussions and theories.

 

[Krynh]

Thorougly enjoyed playing this game. All the girls were hot and I enjoyed the dark routes (even if I rolled them back immediately) a shame that the boyfriend caught us fucking the blonde though.

 

[NeonGhosts]

Hey Neon, sorry if I missed something on the front page, but would you mind linking your personal sigs there alongside the fan ones? Some people might not know they exist and others might try to find them and then realize they gotta sift through 115 pages Here's the link to some of them: https://f95zone.to/threads/friends-in-need-v0-375-neonghosts.112500/post-9143702. Not sure where your Viola one is or if you made others.

Ah yeah, I'll compile them all in one post and link to it. Also, while I'm thinking about it - anyone have suggestions for tags I should ask the mods to add to the OP?

And then some people will "fall" for escort and you will have posts about adding her as LI.

This is the real reason I won't do it. I've got my damn hands full as-is.

Is there a discord? A few spelling mistakes to tell about

There is, but it's patron-only for now. Send me a PM here, though! Happy to take a look.

 

[NeonGhosts]

Signatures and Ephemera

Created by NeonGhosts


Created by Gorse


Created by Machete

 

[Uriel ☁]

anyone have suggestions for tags I should ask the mods to add to the OP?

Certainly:

• Sexual Harassment
• Exhibitionism
• Humiliation
• Interracial

Arguably:

• Bdsm
• Prostitution
• Slave
• Stripping

Here is the tags definition.

 

[NewTricks]

Replacing Nikki's sex scene in the first chapter with an escort? Well, somebody does need help paying back a student loan...

 

[Zerorox]

This is the real reason I won't do it. I've got my damn hands full as-is.

Yeah escort can totally wait, we can call her anytime (before MC'll lose all his money) through the story)
Ofc only if we'll be able to hear her sob story, help her, date her, impregnated her, marry her, divorce her... ups too far

If serious, game is in early stages, and most important now is main plot progression and main girls plots progression (it's quite a lot of them already, so it's a shitload of work and I do hope most understand it)
All remakes, graphic upgrades and so on... can be done after game is finished or burn out is just unavoidable.
So good luck!
And Best regards from Viola's aunt from Kiev, she's safe, don't worry)))