VN Ren'Py Harem Hotel [v0.17.2] [Runey]

[DigDug69]

You forgot that the elves have more than one queen.
Lin would be a great choice for the woodland elves, but Sylvia's people would need a queen too.
Currently, Sylvia would not be a good queen, but given time, and with work, she could be one.
She was one of the high and mighty on the island. She had power and control over other elves.
That was all stripped away from her, so that she is now living on charity and working evenings in a kitchen.
She is seeing life through the eyes of common elves for the first time.
With time, and coaching she could become a far better person, because she is surrounded by great teachers.
MC: has been gaining her respect, so she is starting to trust him and listen to him.
Nia is strong: and can teach Sylvia that some causes are worth fighting for.
Lin is humble: and can teach her that respect and compassion are very important.

As you said, Sylvia has issues, but other people in the game are already showing her very important lessons.

 

[shadowtempered]

None of the elves currently at the Hotel, as they currently are story-wise, are capable of being a leader.

Lin is naive to a fault. It's hammered in repeatedly with multiple characters and her own actions in how she tackles problems she thinks she can solve. If the game ended tomorrow, the elves under Lin's leadership wouldn't grow / change as they are. She'd make an effort, her heart is in the right place, but she lacks any real experience in real world problems to actually solve problems. If someone else has to guide her, she's basically a puppet at that point.

Nia needs something to be angry at. She needs a problem for her to attack and she will throw caution to the wind if it gives her a chance to attack it due to her past tragedies. Could this be focused towards real problems with less baseball bats involved? In the long run potentially, but as she is now? No. We've already had one event where the MC has to chastise her to find a way to solve the problem without it requiring her death. She doesn't value her own life or really those of elven blood. They're better off dead than as a slave is a terrible leadership quality, no matter how drummed up it is in TV.

Slyvia is lazy and short sighted. She had no idea the Queen was trying to isolate her by sending her to a land filled with slavers of her own people or that she was target for the Queen's aggression. She doesn't believe in slavery, obviously, but look how she handles Lin's first encounter: "demand freedom and leave" in a country literally filled with her people as slaves is... what? Lack of foresight / planning / anything. Just what? When Lin expresses an interest in doing something to save elves / speak with the Queen what is her reaction? "Nope". She doesn't want to be a slave, but she doesn't want to put in the work / blood / sweat required to liberate her people. She's a poster child for hiding her head in the sand.

We have at least another year+ of updates before any one of these three would be ready for leadership and honestly I'd prefer Runey didn't bother. I think the elven people, including "our" elves, would be happier and better taken care of with an actual leader being presented and hoisted. For example: the tribal elves chief. It's a stretch, but at least she's working to protect and save her tribe. Now find someone that can be placed at a national level.

Due to the situation, you're looking at co-leaders to realistically help both races. A human who understands and is sympathetic but hard enough to crack down on the baddies and an elf who is patient, experienced and knowledgeable enough to lead their people through very rough times as two people learn to be co-dependent on each other. The closest to this would be Kali's father and step-mother. I know he's flagged as having shady dealings, but he's far closer to the MC in what he does than he is to Cornwell, but maybe we don't know enough about him yet.

The other thing to factor in: if one of our elves has to be a leader, that's one less elf in the harem from a realistic perspective. As amusing as it would be to screw one of 'em before a big meeting, there's enough balance of "silly" and "serious" moments in the story that I don't see this playing out.

Just my two cents on current story growth.

As you said, Sylvia has issues, but other people in the game are already showing her very important lessons.

She'd need a few story patches, but she's easily the best candidate if one of the Hotel's elves has to be a leader.

 

[Strike-10]

You forgot that the elves have more than one queen.

I didn’t forget that … however you are correct I didn’t mention that factor that in any part of my responses.

However … back in the day where each elf race had its own queen you didn’t mention that the elf population was MUCH greater than it is currently in the story. (News report of elves heading into extinction)

So much less population = way fewer Queens (leaders)

I still fall back to the position that Sylvia is and would be one of the worst choices. Granted I detest entitlement and nepo-baby entitlement is just a small aspect of that. I don’t see her as evil … however I can easily see her as racist because she was taught to be racist. Also supremely unaware of who she IS … she is who she has been taught & told to be. I don’t doubt that she could develop into a fine person(because of all the reasons you mention) but that doesn’t address the point that she is who she was taught to be and molded into.

Giving her leadership by accident of birth
regardless of her current shallow surface personality development seems shortsighted.

It’s like saying politicians in America should be middle aged white males and as a middle aged white male I don’t subscribe to that.

None of the elves currently at the Hotel, as they currently are story-wise, are capable of being a leader.

Lin is naive to a fault.

Nia needs something to be angry at.

Slyvia is lazy and short sighted.

For example: the tribal elves chief. It's a stretch, but at least she's working to protect and save her tribe. Now find someone that can be placed at a national level.

Due to the situation, you're looking at co-leaders to realistically help both races. A human who understands and is sympathetic but hard enough to crack down on the baddies and an elf who is patient, experienced and knowledgeable enough to lead their people through very rough times as two people learn to be co-dependent on each other. The closest to this would be Kali's father and step-mother. I know he's flagged as having shady dealings, but he's far closer to the MC in what he does than he is to Cornwell, but maybe we don't know enough about him yet.


Just my two cents on current story growth.



She'd need a few story patches, but she's easily the best candidate if one of the Hotel's elves has to be a leader.

I agree with shadowtempered almost completely until his final conclusion of
“best candidate if one of the Hotel's elves has to be a leader.”

I still think Lin or even Nia would be a better choice.
Lin because of her CORE goodness.
(she just needs good trusted advisors like the MC & others)
Nia because of awareness of the history of elf suffering … however putting her as leader is almost as much of a recipe for disaster as Sylvia because her default mindset could just as easily flip the script.

Maybe a triumvirate of Lin-Nia-Sylvia with Lin at the top! and the MC as the First Poly-Gentleman

I liked the suggestion Owl clan chieftess if ONE had to be selected.

 

[shadowtempered]

I didn’t forget that … however you are correct I didn’t mention that factor that in any part of my responses.

However … back in the day where each elf race had its own queen you didn’t mention that the elf population was MUCH greater than it is currently in the story. (News report of elves heading into extinction)

So much less population = way fewer Queens (leaders)

I still fall back to the position that Sylvia is and would be one of the worst choices. Granted I detest entitlement and nepo-baby entitlement is just a small aspect of that. I don’t see her as evil … however I can easily see her as racist because she was taught to be racist. Also supremely unaware of who she IS … she is who she has been taught & told to be. I don’t doubt that she could develop into a fine person(because of all the reasons you mention) but that doesn’t address the point that she is who she was taught to be and molded into.

Giving her leadership by accident of birth
regardless of her current shallow surface personality development seems shortsighted.

It’s like saying politicians in America should be middle aged white males and as a middle aged white male I don’t subscribe to that.



I agree with shadowtempered almost completely until his final conclusion of
“best candidate if one of the Hotel's elves has to be a leader.”

I still think Lin or even Nia would be a better choice.
Lin because of her CORE goodness.
(she just needs good trusted advisors like the MC & others)
Nia because of awareness of the history of elf suffering … however putting her as leader is almost as much of a recipe for disaster as Sylvia because her default mindset could just as easily flip the script.

Maybe a triumvirate of Lin-Nia-Sylvia with Lin at the top! and the MC as the First Poly-Gentleman

I liked the suggestion Owl clan chieftess if ONE had to be selected.

Unlike Nia and Lin, she has potential leadership experience. It might be one-sided due to how she was raised, but being tied directly to the Queen and whatever it entailed would have some level of management tagged with it. Perhaps we learn she was super terrible due to how she was raised and ultimately the elves wouldn't support her. However she was high enough on the chain that she was a threat to the Queen.

Lin has to much to learn, besides leadership, to be a great candidate. Nia is to focused on what's in front of her to swing a bat at. Neither has shown any real leadership moments unless you count teaching someone how to be a maid. Slyvia due to her position had to have done some, albeit potentially small. We simply don't have enough information to gauge her leadership abilities in the past compared to her present. She's learning the world doesn't revolve around her and I'd say she's moving more towards being a tsundere character than a nepo-baby as you referred to her. If she continues to grow, to accept the cause and be more mindful of others, her previous potential leadership + birthright places her at the top of the list. Of course this is applicable to Lin / Nia in smaller amounts - assuming Runey wants to grow them into that type of position.

Of course, perhaps Runey will come out with story bits that she just coasted by in life on the coat-tails of the Queen and she has no leadership experience. Then we return to my previous points that I don't think any of them are qualified but if I had to pick one, it'd have to be her.

At this point in the story, based solely on characters we know, the only qualified leader is Kali's father and the MC. Kali's father grew a company to be a world-wide industry leader and while there is the chance he had shady help or something, it still would have required some form of leadership to have accomplished this. Add in his massive influence, wealth and connections - him campaigning that slavery needs to end would send waves through the world. Unlike Cornwell, he's married to an elf and doesn't have any obvious slaves he abuses. The MC on the other hand helps train two maids and turns a failing hotel into a fully built and successful business (even if you ignore he's sleeping with his entire guest list, his bar is still very successful in terms of money generation). He helps guide the twins through their relationship issues with their father. He rescues and supports multiple elves and Maria. He helps guide Kali from a shut-in video game nerd to her first job, school and a career. He leads, even if the events aren't world-shaking to those outside the hotel.

From a personal perspective, keeping in mind this is my thoughts, I don't like the idea of the MC saving the world. A cog in the machine that causes it to happen? Definitely. Savior of the elven race, harem of hot young chicks on his side, world-wide company at his backing(from Kali), proprietor of a small hotel in the sticks? Not really. With more time thinking on it, I'm growing to liking the idea of Kali's parents taking the reins at the leadership level with MC/harem as the "poster-children" examples for the rest of the world to live by. I'm curious to see what route Runey decides to go with.

 

[DigDug69]

Unlike Nia and Lin, she has potential leadership experience. It might be one-sided due to how she was raised, but being tied directly to the Queen and whatever it entailed would have some level of management tagged with it. Perhaps we learn she was super terrible due to how she was raised and ultimately the elves wouldn't support her. However she was high enough on the chain that she was a threat to the Queen.

Lin has to much to learn, besides leadership, to be a great candidate. Nia is to focused on what's in front of her to swing a bat at. Neither has shown any real leadership moments unless you count teaching someone how to be a maid. Slyvia due to her position had to have done some, albeit potentially small. We simply don't have enough information to gauge her leadership abilities in the past compared to her present. She's learning the world doesn't revolve around her and I'd say she's moving more towards being a tsundere character than a nepo-baby as you referred to her. If she continues to grow, to accept the cause and be more mindful of others, her previous potential leadership + birthright places her at the top of the list. Of course this is applicable to Lin / Nia in smaller amounts - assuming Runey wants to grow them into that type of position.

Of course, perhaps Runey will come out with story bits that she just coasted by in life on the coat-tails of the Queen and she has no leadership experience. Then we return to my previous points that I don't think any of them are qualified but if I had to pick one, it'd have to be her.

At this point in the story, based solely on characters we know, the only qualified leader is Kali's father and the MC. Kali's father grew a company to be a world-wide industry leader and while there is the chance he had shady help or something, it still would have required some form of leadership to have accomplished this. Add in his massive influence, wealth and connections - him campaigning that slavery needs to end would send waves through the world. Unlike Cornwell, he's married to an elf and doesn't have any obvious slaves he abuses. The MC on the other hand helps train two maids and turns a failing hotel into a fully built and successful business (even if you ignore he's sleeping with his entire guest list, his bar is still very successful in terms of money generation). He helps guide the twins through their relationship issues with their father. He rescues and supports multiple elves and Maria. He helps guide Kali from a shut-in video game nerd to her first job, school and a career. He leads, even if the events aren't world-shaking to those outside the hotel.

From a personal perspective, keeping in mind this is my thoughts, I don't like the idea of the MC saving the world. A cog in the machine that causes it to happen? Definitely. Savior of the elven race, harem of hot young chicks on his side, world-wide company at his backing(from Kali), proprietor of a small hotel in the sticks? Not really. With more time thinking on it, I'm growing to liking the idea of Kali's parents taking the reins at the leadership level with MC/harem as the "poster-children" examples for the rest of the world to live by. I'm curious to see what route Runey decides to go with.

I think of the MC as the arsenal of freedom.
He is giving the elves a place for sanctuary, and helping to fund and support their efforts to make changes in the world.

Lin is still young and gullible, but she is also learning like Sylvia is.
In time, Lin would make a wise leader, but she has a hard road ahead for that to happen, and she will need a lot of support to get there.
As you said, Nia seems to need a cause, well, helping the elves to rebuild their civilization would be one hell of a cause, so she also would make a good queen, and much sooner than Lin would be ready.
She already has leadership skills, and is not gullible.

 

[shadowtempered]

I think of the MC as the arsenal of freedom.
He is giving the elves a place for sanctuary, and helping to fund and support their efforts to make changes in the world.

Lin is still young and gullible, but she is also learning like Sylvia is.
In time, Lin would make a wise leader, but she has a hard road ahead for that to happen, and she will need a lot of support to get there.
As you said, Nia seems to need a cause, well, helping the elves to rebuild their civilization would be one hell of a cause, so she also would make a good queen, and much sooner than Lin would be ready.
She already has leadership skills, and is not gullible.

I definitely consider him something similar. He's helping things "move" and honestly I think that's way more important to the story and the girls around him than being the one-true savior.

Sadly within the confines of the current story, without some massive story elements / time-skip, I just don't see Lin or Nia growing sufficiently or fast enough to overcome a hurdle as large as leadership for an entire race. Many of Nia's current choices are very short-sighted and often end in violence / potential death. She's gotten herself nearly caught, actually caught, forced sex, nearly killed, endangered herself / MC / Peni and that's just what I can remember off the top of my head.

I think a case can be made for nearly any of the three to be a potential leader for the elves, it just a question of how long / believable / realistic to the story they would be. Only time and Runey will tell.

 

[DigDug69]

I definitely consider him something similar. He's helping things "move" and honestly I think that's way more important to the story and the girls around him than being the one-true savior.

Sadly within the confines of the current story, without some massive story elements / time-skip, I just don't see Lin or Nia growing sufficiently or fast enough to overcome a hurdle as large as leadership for an entire race. Many of Nia's current choices are very short-sighted and often end in violence / potential death. She's gotten herself nearly caught, actually caught, forced sex, nearly killed, endangered herself / MC / Peni and that's just what I can remember off the top of my head.

I think a case can be made for nearly any of the three to be a potential leader for the elves, it just a question of how long / believable / realistic to the story they would be. Only time and Runey will tell.

And we all know that Runey is a student of the wisest man to have ever lived.
He will say nothing, nothing!!!

 

[halluva]

TLDR:Story Bad Porn Good

I think this is a pretty dishonest framing on what I said. I like story in my porn games; if I just wanted porn I could get it a million other places without any of the fuss. I think adding story and characters you can get attached to makes the whole porn experience more enjoyable by adding context. The problem for me is that the story in HH gets way too lost in its lore that is, ultimately, just a kitchen sink grab bag of a bunch of different anime and video game tropes that are done better elsewhere. I don't mind that it's not "Hugo Award winning"; I don't need it to be. But if you accept that the purpose of the story is to make the porn better, then having characters drone on about their made up religion does nothing. I think we need to realistic and accept that writing in porn games is graded on a curve because we're ultimately here to get off. If you started comparing the writing in these games to others that focus solely on the narrative and characters without the concern of a horny power harem fantasy, then it's never going to go well.

 

[Strike-10]

Unlike Nia and Lin…
….I'm growing to liking the idea of Kali's parents taking the reins at the leadership level with MC/harem as the "poster-children" examples for the rest of the world to live by. I'm curious to see what route Runey decides to go with.

yep … its all a crap shoot…
my primary point and observation…was that Sylvia doesn’t have all that much going for her as leader other than her ”birthright“ & add all her obviously prejudiced & lazy traits make her imo third of the 3 choices.

Personally I would rather have a truely good hearted, hard working, & un-experienced person in charge than a lazy, simple, supremacist, add that they are “entitled“ to it by birth and I’m like hell no …lol.

The term of nepo-baby was more of a reference to the born with a ”I win” button …
nepo-baby’s don’t always slack through life but it’s not uncommon…
*see* that Olivia sminfluencer where her parents paid $x00,000 to get her fast tracked into college and falsified activities like crew so she could get into X prestigious school … and by attending … the nepo displaced a person that actually had to WORK to get accepted.

Some nepo’s of course are absolute striver’s and accomplisher’s in X field …. (Sylvia‘s story to date doesn’t convey that she is one of those).

I don’t necessarily see how Nero & wife would be a “good option” maybe as an “easy” option amongst a bucket of non-ideal choices.
like with politicians irl … vote for the least objectionable Idiot.

Ha ha ha.

 

[TheDevian]

a bunch of stuff

Sylvia - While she is improving, she needs to be humbled more, and start to pull her weight. Of all the elves in the hotel, I think she is the one who needs the dungeon most. A good leader needs to be able to see things from every perspective, from the highest born to the lowliest of the low. I have been saying for decades, that everyone, no matter who you are, should have to live off of a minimum wage job for a while, and see what it's like. But the point is, she needs to be brought down more before she can be raised up again. She could eventually gain a position of power again, but not until she been broken and rebuilt.

Lin - I agree, that she is too naive, but I think she has the best temperament, other than maybe our Desert Elf Princess. She is maturing quickly, and she is gaining valuable leadership abilities as we go. Learning not only from the mistakes of the past, but her present ones.

Nia - No, just no. Nia is a lot of things, but she might be one of the least qualified to be a queen, she does not have the temperament for it at all. Body guard to the queen, sure, but she is not even the best military leader, and fighting is what she does best. Tp be a good leader, you need to be able to make better plans then run in and start cracking skulls. She is also getting better, the more she sees that she is not alone, and she has people she can depend on, but I fear she will always be hot headed. ...At least for a long time.

Perhaps with our help, Jia can be an integral part of the rebellion, and prove herself worthy again. She was never a leader of any kind, but many people do still love her, and she knows about how the system works.

I agree with Strike that the elves need to band together at this point (united we stand, and all that), so what I am thinking is that (assuming that they don't have to all move, and live together) they have a queen, and then form a council who advises her, and represents their people's interests.

For example, Queen Lin, with Sylvia, Jia, Qiya, our favorite drow, and maybe others if we find more tribes, as her council of advisors. Each one as the representative/leader of their people.

I think this is a pretty dishonest framing on what I said. I like story in my porn games; if I just wanted porn I could get it a million other places without any of the fuss. I think adding story and characters you can get attached to makes the whole porn experience more enjoyable by adding context. The problem for me is that the story in HH gets way too lost in its lore that is, ultimately, just a kitchen sink grab bag of a bunch of different anime and video game tropes that are done better elsewhere. I don't mind that it's not "Hugo Award winning"; I don't need it to be. But if you accept that the purpose of the story is to make the porn better, then having characters drone on about their made up religion does nothing. I think we need to realistic and accept that writing in porn games is graded on a curve because we're ultimately here to get off. If you started comparing the writing in these games to others that focus solely on the narrative and characters without the concern of a horny power harem fantasy, then it's never going to go well.

Okay, and most of the rest of us love the world building, and how it keeps growing. It beats the crap out of many professional books, movies, shows, and games. I would play this before almost any so called AAA games on the market these days, and most of that is because of the lore, the character and world building. Writing in the rest of the genres are going down the shitter, while many so called 'porn' games are striving to do more.

This game is not for everyone, and that is fine, but one of the reasons it is so popular, is exactly what you are complaining about.

 

[Strike-10]

I think this is a pretty dishonest framing on what I said. I like story in my porn games; if I just wanted porn I could get it a million other places without any of the fuss. I think adding story and characters you can get attached to makes the whole porn experience more enjoyable by adding context. The problem for me is that the story in HH gets way too lost in its lore that is, ultimately, just a kitchen sink grab bag of a bunch of different anime and video game tropes that are done better elsewhere. I don't mind that it's not "Hugo Award winning"; I don't need it to be. But if you accept that the purpose of the story is to make the porn better, then having characters drone on about their made up religion does nothing. I think we need to realistic and accept that writing in porn games is graded on a curve because we're ultimately here to get off. If you started comparing the writing in these games to others that focus solely on the narrative and characters without the concern of a horny power harem fantasy, then it's never going to go well.

Yes Sorry …

my TLDR of your post isn’t 100% correct
to get 100% they should read your full post
I even partially agree with you on certain aspects.

I mostly gave it that because there was the next two postings that followed by others fall under an easy
Left/Right/Center …
Their TLDR characterizations are as accurate or inaccurate .

Jondoen88 responded to your post in opposition and he got a somewhat “dishonest framing” framing as well In my TLDR

I wasn’t shooting for dishonesty…I was shooting for drawing a picture of the spectrum
and some laughs … sorry if it came off that it was at your expense not my intention.

yours got left or right and the next two got opposition to your post and finally a somewhat middle ground.

to a degree …

I didn’t mean offense …
and YES …You didn’t say “story bad” …
I probably should have thought out the TLDR‘s a bit more …
but by their nature the are a butchery/synopsis … overview

look at it this way …
That epically long post of mine eventually only advocated adding more along your espoused parts… (with my own wants seasoning it)
I didn’t however have much of anything to add regarding expanding the story and the diving down rabbit holes that you were commenting about …IIRC.

 

[Strike-10]

OMG IM DYING IRL

”a bunch of stuff”

PERFECT!!!

small correction
DigDug69 & Strike & Shadowtempered & halluva and others said:

No way does DigDug69 deserve ALL the credits!!!
They MUST SHARE NAO!!!

 

[DigDug69]

I think this is a pretty dishonest framing on what I said. I like story in my porn games; if I just wanted porn I could get it a million other places without any of the fuss. I think adding story and characters you can get attached to makes the whole porn experience more enjoyable by adding context. The problem for me is that the story in HH gets way too lost in its lore that is, ultimately, just a kitchen sink grab bag of a bunch of different anime and video game tropes that are done better elsewhere. I don't mind that it's not "Hugo Award winning"; I don't need it to be. But if you accept that the purpose of the story is to make the porn better, then having characters drone on about their made up religion does nothing. I think we need to realistic and accept that writing in porn games is graded on a curve because we're ultimately here to get off. If you started comparing the writing in these games to others that focus solely on the narrative and characters without the concern of a horny power harem fantasy, then it's never going to go well.

The one issue with part of what you said, is concerning the quantity of background material we are getting.
We have no idea what, if any of that information may become important later in the story.
A simple comment about someone's past, may hold the clue to saving the day later on.

And, personally, I really do like that background stuff a lot, because it makes the story more interesting, when you know why people are the way that they are.
Without the look into Ashley's past, we would just assume that she was insane and far too dangerous to keep around, and not the broken little girl who is just desperate for love.

 

[shadowtempered]

yep … its all a crap shoot…
my primary point and observation…was that Sylvia doesn’t have all that much going for her as leader other than her ”birthright“ & add all her obviously prejudiced & lazy traits make her imo third of the 3 choices.

Personally I would rather have a truely good hearted, hard working, & un-experienced person in charge than a lazy, simple, supremacist, add that they are “entitled“ to it by birth and I’m like hell no …lol.

The term of nepo-baby was more of a reference to the born with a ”I win” button …
nepo-baby’s don’t always slack through life but it’s not uncommon…
*see* that Olivia sminfluencer where her parents paid $x00,000 to get her fast tracked into college and falsified activities like crew so she could get into X prestigious school … and by attending … the nepo displaced a person that actually had to WORK to get accepted.

Some nepo’s of course are absolute striver’s and accomplisher’s in X field …. (Sylvia‘s story to date doesn’t convey that she is one of those).

I don’t necessarily see how Nero & wife would be a “good option” maybe as an “easy” option amongst a bucket of non-ideal choices.
like with politicians irl … vote for the least objectionable Idiot.

Ha ha ha.

I suggested Kali's parents simple as an option - not saying they're a "good option", but an option compared to the existing choices based solely on the characters we currently know? Most likely.

A quick and dirty comparison:
Father is massively wealthy and influential. Has his fingers dipping into multiple industries and has one of the leading tech businesses in the world. Married to one of the oldest half-elves in the world, doesn't appear to be abusive.
Step-mother supports Kali despite early disinterest from Kali. Has sex with her husband(which is why Lucy moved) and doesn't openly seem negative to it. Was concerned when he was shot, suggesting some level of care plus the sex life is important framing because they sound like an actual couple. Supports / suggest the MC shelter and save elves using the money gifted to him by the father.

You have a literal power couple of the MC/Lin but at a national level. Not only does he like elves, he's married to one. Not only is she common born, she's a half-elf. Are they worthy of leading? Not necessarily, but at least the father has some experience in leading a company and she has a shared foundation in the common elves and their mistreatment.

MC/Lin:
Not a ton is known about him prior to moving and inheriting the hotel. The hotel lost much of it's value that it was down to one slave/maid and the receptionist. He turned that into a thriving local business. Aaaaand that's it so far. He's traveled, he's experienced, but he has no real connections to change anything. The false queen turns to him for help and how'd that go? Maria's story events? More of the same. If Kali wasn't staying at the hotel, he'd be even worse off than he is for those he loves. Lin? She's a common elf with a huge heart but is unique about her that would help tie folks to her? She's lived a relatively sheltered life, wasn't abused by slavers, wasn't forced to work the streets. By comparison to nearly every other common elf we've encountered she's had it really good.


Again, just tossing ideas out. I'm not saying my thoughts are gospel or correct. I enjoy the discussion and bouncing ideas around.

Sylvia - While she is improving, she needs to be humbled more, and start to pull her weight. Of all the elves in the hotel, I think she is the one who needs the dungeon most.

My issue with this is the dungeon hasn't been used to humble anyone. Assert a level of dominance, awaken the girls to other sexual ideas? Sure. As a form of detention for bad behavior? The MC doesn't / hasn't rolled like that.

Any of the girls who love/trust isn't high enough can literally say no and walk away, nothing about the dungeon is forced. I can't recall a single event there that is a form of discipline beyond dragging out if the girls are allowed to cum or not. That's really the only thing about it, delaying the gratification. Unless I'm not remembering correctly, but if I am, then this won't be how Slyvia gets humbled unless Runey specifically decides to change it for her.

Besides what could be more humbling than finding out your queen sent you to a foreign land to be raped/enslaved/killed off, only to return home and be locked up and abused. I think Slyvia knows exactly where she fits into things, she's just afraid to confront it and her acting the way she does is just that.

 

[Runey]

I think this is a pretty dishonest framing on what I said. I like story in my porn games; if I just wanted porn I could get it a million other places without any of the fuss. I think adding story and characters you can get attached to makes the whole porn experience more enjoyable by adding context. The problem for me is that the story in HH gets way too lost in its lore that is, ultimately, just a kitchen sink grab bag of a bunch of different anime and video game tropes that are done better elsewhere. I don't mind that it's not "Hugo Award winning"; I don't need it to be. But if you accept that the purpose of the story is to make the porn better, then having characters drone on about their made up religion does nothing. I think we need to realistic and accept that writing in porn games is graded on a curve because we're ultimately here to get off. If you started comparing the writing in these games to others that focus solely on the narrative and characters without the concern of a horny power harem fantasy, then it's never going to go well.

I'm not going to stop focusing on the story, and it definitely doesn't serve to make the porn better, it's the opposite.

Complaining isn't going to do anything. If you don't like it, leave it. If you want to help this project, say something constructive.

I understand that at times I could have written things better, I'm always growing and I'm currently in the process of remaking a lot of content, as I've been doing for years because I've been improving. Without listing specifics problems and how you would like them to be fixed, you just come across as whining and have ultimately wasted time.

 

[Strike-10]

I suggested Kali's parents simple as an option - not saying they're a "good option", but an option compared to the existing choices based solely on the characters we currently know? Most likely.

A quick and dirty comparison:
Father is massively wealthy and influential. Has his fingers dipping into multiple industries and has one of the leading tech businesses in the world. Married to one of the oldest half-elves in the world, doesn't appear to be abusive.
Step-mother supports Kali despite early disinterest from Kali. Has sex with her husband(which is why Lucy moved) and doesn't openly seem negative to it. Was concerned when he was shot, suggesting some level of care. Supports / suggest the MC shelter and save elves using the money gifted to him by the father.

You have a literal power couple of the MC/Lin but at a national level. Not only does he like elves, he's married to one. Not only is she common born, she's a half-elf. Are they worthy of leading? Not necessarily, but at least the father has some experience in leading a company and she has a shared foundation in the common elves and their mistreatment.

MC/Lin:
Not a ton is known about him prior to moving and inheriting the hotel. The hotel lost much of it's value that it was down to one slave/maid and the receptionist. He turned that into a thriving local business. Aaaaand that's it so far. He's traveled, he's experienced, but he has no real connections to change anything. The false queen turns to him for help and how'd that go? Maria's story events? More of the same. If Kali wasn't staying at the hotel, he'd be even worse off than he is for those he loves. Lin? She's a common elf with a huge heart but is unique about her that would help tie folks to her? She's lived a relatively sheltered life, wasn't abused by slavers, wasn't forced to work the streets. By comparison to nearly every other common elf we've encountered she's had it really good.


Again, just tossing ideas out. I'm not saying my thoughts are gospel or correct. I enjoy the discussion and bouncing ideas around.

Ok that paints a somewhat better picture of them being a viable candidate…I think my original negative reaction of them being the leader was due to previous impressions I formed while experiencing the story, and parallels to IRL 1%’RS (Elon Musk, Jeff Besos, Bill Gates) and the simple fact that as a couple they are 75% human 25% Elf and a better “Elf leadership” couple % would be 75% elf 25% human or 100% elf.

 

[shadowtempered]

I'm not going to stop focusing on the story, and it definitely doesn't serve to make the porn better, it's the opposite.

I've always personally appreciated the fact when you have a lore dump about to happen, you ask the MC if he wants to skip it.

Ok that paints a somewhat better picture of them being a viable candidate…I think my original negative reaction of them being the leader was due to previous impressions I formed while experiencing the story, and parallels to IRL 1%’RS (Elon Musk, Jeff Besos, Bill Gates) and the simple fact that as a couple they are 75% human 25% Elf and a better “Elf leadership” couple % would be 75% elf 25% human or 100% elf.

I try very hard not to compare HH to anything in real life but I get your point. Until we see what kind of movement's are created in game-world down the road and how Runey is going to decide on leadership roles, it's difficult to imagine an elf taking up the mantle and having any real success as things stand. Current events suggest failure from any angle, so we can only really project ideas until the ball starts rolling towards change.

 

[Strike-10]

My issue with this is the dungeon hasn't been used to humble anyone. Assert a level of dominance, awaken the girls to other sexual ideas? Sure. As a form of detention for bad behavior? The MC doesn't / hasn't rolled like that.

I’m pretty certain that The Devian was using the term “humbled“ was a written shortcut to reference to Sylvia voluntarily entering the dungeon with the MC … exactly like every other LI … and via the “processes” that happen within … come to a more humble realization/reality and a healthier level of introspection of herself and her past behaviors.

She can also step away from the expectations from others that have been forced onto her and determine FOR HERSELF what she wants.

Somewhat like what happened with Felicity & to a lesser degree Emma.

 

[DigDug69]

I’m pretty certain that The Devian was using the term “humbled“ was a written shortcut to reference to Sylvia voluntarily entering the dungeon with the MC … exactly like every other LI … and via the “processes” that happen within … come to a more humble realization/reality and a healthier level of introspection of herself and her past behaviors.

She can also step away from the expectations from others that have been forced onto her and determine FOR HERSELF what she wants.

Somewhat like what happened with Felicity & to a lesser degree Emma.

Or, he meant that the head pats had gently, and affectionately knocked some sense into her.

 

[Runey]

I'm not going to stop focusing on the story, and it definitely doesn't serve to make the porn better, it's the opposite.

Complaining isn't going to do anything. If you don't like it, leave it. If you want to help this project, say something constructive.

I understand that at times I could have written things better, I'm always growing and I'm currently in the process of remaking a lot of content, as I've been doing for years because I've been improving. Without listing specifics problems and how you would like them to be fixed, you just come across as whining and have ultimately wasted time.

I wanted to add onto this and say that I think I've gotten a lot better at writing exposition into the dialogue, especially in v0.17. Anyone is free to point out some sloppy work though.

I think a lot of people who complain about the exposition here are only upset that they sat through Nala and Vanessa telling them slavery is bad in that one single event, which was optional. Maybe I'm wrong, but everyone who complains says nothing constructive so I would never know for sure.



Side note: I'm also trying to focus more on the slice-of-life aspect of these characters, so many events now will begin with a "prelude" to the main course. For example, Cira and Maria talk casually before the main scene in this new event.