VN Ren'Py Harem Hotel [v0.18.2] [Runey]

[shadowtempered]

I really like the characters and the harem building components of the game, but it also might be one of the most egregious instances of a porn game dev getting way too obsessed with their deep lore. As the game goes on, so many of the quests involve pages upon pages of dry exposition dumps about a world that is more convoluted than complex. I don't think many people turn to a game where you collect and fuck a building full of women to get serious commentary on racism and religion. There are games that are far better suited for that kind of thing that don't need to constantly undercut themselves by adding "and then you had sex with everyone there." Having a bit of fantasy world building for context and setting is good, but let's not forget what this is.

As the game evolved from less of a sandbox and more of a visual novel, story and exposition became more of the focal point and less on the game play elements. Runey has a story he wishes to tell, which makes those elements important if the story is to be told well.

There are many posts over the years and you'll see it nearly always breaks folks down into two categories. "Came for the porn, left because of the story" Vs. "Came for the porn, stayed for the story".

Ultimately it's up to you to decide where on that fence you side, neither is wrong.

 

[Knight_of_the_lance]

Well lets not mix up AVN and Nukige. By definition Nukige is a AVN (if not centered around other gameplay element) but not all AVN are Nukige. If I would put Harem Hotel on an other category (it would be unnamed as I don't have a name for it) it would be an adult game in witch the sex serve the purpose of deepening your relationship with the characters rather than be the goal of the game. Sadly the difference between a nukige and a game like Harem hotel lies more within the player and the line that separate the two can be blurry and different for each individual. It also can be anoying when you want one or the other but end up with what you weren't looking for.

Like Jondoen88 said this might simply be not for you right now.

 

[vexx_]

How long was the release time from v15 to v16?

 

[DigDug69]

How long was the release time from v15 to v16?

It varies.
There is no release schedule for Harem Hotel.
It is released when it is ready.

 

[torresm]

How long was the release time from v15 to v16?

Going by the patreon posts (too lazy to search the thread right now), v0.15 came out in April 2022 and v0.16 in November 2022.

 

[shadowtempered]

Well lets not mix up AVN and Nukige. By definition Nukige is a AVN (if not centered around other gameplay element) but not all AVN are Nukige. If I would put Harem Hotel on an other category (it would be unnamed as I don't have a name for it) it would be an adult game in witch the sex serve the purpose of deepening your relationship with the characters rather than be the goal of the game.

I called it a visual novel because Runey specifically calls it a visual novel - just not here on F95 desc. I don't even know what a nukiage is, so I'll refrain from using that as any classification due to my lack of understanding of the term.

Hello! I'm Runey and I'm making Harem Hotel, an Adult Visual Novel with Dating Sim and Training themes.

Going by the patreon posts (too lazy to search the thread right now), v0.15 came out in April 2022 and v0.16 in November 2022.

Runey was also sick for a month or so in 2022 which delayed v16 a bit (not sure by how much, he'd have to confirm himself).

 

[TheDevian]

 

[c3p0]

No more fairy wings? And I even got elf juice for sauce.

 

[Knight_of_the_lance]

a Nukige is a game specificaly made to fap. it has it's origins like much of adult gaming in Japanese's culture. I only know the term because I have heard it elsewhere on this forum. for example Granma's house is definitely a nukige. It is not an etiquette that I would slap on Harem Hotel.

You must be registered to see the links

 

[shadowtempered]

a Nukige is a game specificaly made to fap. it has it's origins like much of adult gaming in Japanese's culture. I only know the term because I have heard it elsewhere on this forum. for example Granma's house is definitely a nukige. It is not an etiquette that I would slap on Harem Hotel.

You must be registered to see the links

Gotcha

 

[TheDevian]

No more fairy wings? And I even got elf juice for sauce.

Well, it was not a direct question about it, exactly, so it seemed fitting to use the other one this time. Not a change in overall themes. That said, I should make some new ones soon.

For example Granma's house is definitely a nukige.

I have not gotten far enough for that yet... lol

 

[Strike-10]

I really like the characters and the harem building components of the game, but it also might be one of the most egregious instances of a porn game dev getting way too obsessed with their deep lore. As the game goes on, so many of the quests involve pages upon pages of dry exposition dumps about a world that is more convoluted than complex. I don't think many people turn to a game where you collect and fuck a building full of women to get serious commentary on racism and religion. There are games that are far better suited for that kind of thing that don't need to constantly undercut themselves by adding "and then you had sex with everyone there." Having a bit of fantasy world building for context and setting is good, but let's not forget what this is.

TLDR:Story Bad Porn Good

I disagree with your framing, but if that is the frame which you are taking then I can't say you're wrong either. It is fair to say this game might not be for you and that's completely OK.

I, however, do enjoy the deep lore, the emotional and modestly realistic depictions and situations which yes are like life, spiced with sex. Yes, it deals with a lot of adult topics; race, religion, slavery, genocide, coming of age, capitalism, etc etc etc. Sure none of them are like Pulzer or Hugo winning depictions but they're not bad either. Passable if you allow for it.

Generally speaking, this world has magic, high technology which is a rare enough setting where those things aren't commingled (yet) even so the closest I've seen in a Final Fantasy and even then that had light commingling magitech.

Now, imma about to be some heretic here, but... I generally don't like elves, or androids, but I enjoy the depictions here beyond the sexual sphere of both Android and Lin. Now for those ready to crucify me. Ashley Best Girl. *shrugs*

So, since you seem so hot about throwing shade, what would you like to see to improve the game? Or maybe you're just some troll who comes in throwing shade without anything to say that could improve the game? "Hurr durr cut content" nah dawg, you'd be ruining the game for a bunch of us if you did; configure the skip to jump the text if all you want is T&A.

TLDR:Story Good

As the game evolved from less of a sandbox and more of a visual novel, story and exposition became more of the focal point and less on the game play elements. Runey has a story he wishes to tell, which makes those elements important if the story is to be told well.

There are many posts over the years and you'll see it nearly always breaks folks down into two categories. "Came for the porn, left because of the story" Vs. "Came for the porn, stayed for the story".

Ultimately it's up to you to decide where on that fence you side, neither is wrong.

TLDR:HH is shotgun/buffet covering as much of the bases as possible take what you like … enjoy it and try not to bitch about the parts that don’t matter for you.
WHICH IS THE CORRECT ANSWER

I’m 99.5% in love with HH … However I too have caught myself feeling like the story at times is diving a bit too deep down the rabbit hole.

Anecdotally this seems to me to be the rule of thumb regarding development cycle.
-2 updates per year (ish) 3 if nothing interferes (irl,Covid,etc)
-1 update is story focused 70%story/ 30%porn
-1 update is porn focused 70%porn / 30%story
- the overall size of the “new content” over the last few updates has been affected by some rework/smoothing of the past events story.

I completely support how Runey is doing what he does …
My guess part of the reason why he does it this way is keep his interest level up and keep the product as a whole from falling into a “rut” …

I too have minor bitches/whines/suggestions but other than a simple statement of what I would like to see as a development direction. I won’t get upset if Runey chooses to ignore and do whatever they want.
My suggestion is that the next porn heavy update cycle is.
Fill in the empty placeholders in the dungeon content.
The F&E twin dungeon event was amazing and such a tease!!!
IMO the “others>” dungeon tab is missing the following stuff
(put in small font because it’s just my 2¢ and on the whole pretty unimportant !!)
Nia, Sylvia, Ann, Peni, Cira. (Sanctuary)
Moon (bar)
Ellen (Hotel reception)
Jin, Hanna, Lucia (AKA The “roommates”)
Kate
The college girls out in the onsen but those girls getting dungeon content is a ridiculous pipe dream (even if Vanessa has the bondage rope tan lines … tease … in place)
More ELF dungeon content! *BEGGING*
Sylvia NEEDS SERIOUS DISCIPLINE!(Bonus* if she realizes she is a pain slut)
Nia can have her ”Every Human is Evil” meter recalibrated & figure out that being in love with one (the MC) is OK.
Jin can develop a healthier sex/life/drug/sister relationship balance
(which is touched on by the Devian’s “Jin’s first anal with MC“ meme)

Jin's first anal event? ...Or so I imagine.

Ann
Peni
Cira
These Elves would happy pleasing the MC in very dirty dungeon ways … as thanks for the rescue from a typical elf slave life (even though by embracing the dungeon the elves are somewhat IN the typical elf slave life (on the surface) but THEY CHOOSE to fulfill the role vs it being forced onto them … but only FOR and BECAUSE of the MC and his hotel sanctuary)

The super dream is EVERY ELF at once + the MC Dungeon Group event

Sidenote*
Ann is perfectly ready to be available to the MC in the dungeon … but maybe the MC can force her via Dungeon to admit to more personal interests beyond sex (maybe gardening, cooking, other … (maybe Moon gets her interested in architecture or Autumn gets her into religion) via a shared dungeon experience) granted these rabbit holes would take some story events to create the dungeon intersection of Ann&Autumn or Ann&Moon … just sayin that the options could VERY FUN and could force some depth on Ann the perfect Elf Bimbo!
Just like what’s happening to Jin but without the ugly drugs bit. Iirc Ann is the type of elf whose hormones/drug Jin was supplementing herself with …maybe Jin & Ann could come to a meeting of the sexy minds (and bodies) under dungeon supervision… to Promote the growth of both … maybe Ann would profess to Jin how her bimbo body & dark elf hormones are something she wishes she could be rid of even though that since they are natural to her she doesn’t suffer the added negative effects of memory loss to the degree that Jin does when she self supplements with them & if that was the case for her that she would hate the hormones to an even greater degree and can’t believe that Jin would accept loosing memories of her parents, sister, family.

 

[DigDug69]

Dungeon content can be fun, but I think that to much of it could be detrimental to future events with some characters.

Sylvia is a high born elf: Making her a slave, even in a BDSM environment could have downsides later on.
Yes, I know, BDSM is not the same kind of slavery, but it can be degrading none the less.
Game mission (as I see it): End slavery, free the slaves, and overthrow the government.
If you overthrow the government you will need new leaders. Not just for the human population, but for the elves too.
The current queen, as seen on TV and other public events, is nothing but a puppet, and would not be trusted by the majority of the elves.

The queen on the island is a tyrant, who would not be willing to work with the humans.

Sylvia being high born, would make a great choice for a queen of the elves, and by treating her with respect, while also working with her to break her bad habits of feeling entitled, would have a better chance of earning her trust and respect. Which would make her far more willing to work with humans to build a better world for everyone.

Memories of being spanked and degraded could come back to cause problems later.
So, I disagree with taking Sylvia to the dungeon, unless she wants it.

 

[Strike-10]

Dungeon content can be fun, but I think that to much of it could be detrimental to future events with some characters.

Sylvia is a high born elf: Making her a slave, even in a BDSM environment could have downsides later on.
Yes, I know, BDSM is not the same kind of slavery, but it can be degrading none the less.
Game mission (as I see it): End slavery, free the slaves, and overthrow the government.
If you overthrow the government you will need new leaders. Not just for the human population, but for the elves too.
The current queen, as seen on TV and other public events, is nothing but a puppet, and would not be trusted by the majority of the elves.

The queen on the island is a tyrant, who would not be willing to work with the humans.

Sylvia being high born, would make a great choice for a queen of the elves, and by treating her with respect, while also working with her to break her bad habits of feeling entitled, would have a better chance of earning her trust and respect. Which would make her far more willing to work with humans to build a better world for everyone.

Memories of being spanked and degraded could come back to cause problems later.
So, I disagree with taking Sylvia to the dungeon, unless she wants it.

I totally see where you are coming from …However Sylvia is the absolutely LAST person I would put in that position. Lin or Nia is a billion times better choice.

Putting Sylvia into a leadership role imo is like putting a crack addict in charge of the pharmacy.
Which is why I see her perfect place is in the dungeon content…cold turkey/break/remold her entitled mindset, and expectations and somewhat outside imposed personalty into something more personally true (for her).
The bonus of her releasing herself into a realization that she has deprived herself of pleasure & self knowledge by trying to “fit” into the “I’m royal“ role she landed in by birth.
Even though it isn’t her Real Self (which is why I said bonus if she becomes a pain slut … which is a person that gains pleasure via pain) which currently she adamantly avoids because she currently thinks that’s a “commoner” “not royal” preconception etc etc
Also something to think about regarding dungeon content (even in this fictional world) is that it’s most often completely separate from REAL WORLD day to day. The dungeon door should be considered as a gateway where you can completely shed everything from the other side of the door …
granted …I can see how being an actual slave in a fictional world then being on the surface the same thing on the other side of the door can be nebulous / problematic.

However … look at like this …
Per canon I freed Sylvia,Nia in the R (real) but they pretend as slaves because the W (world) has them as slaves but behind the D (dungeon) they find & determine their authentic self determined selves…in which place are they who they most desire to be??

 

[Strike-10]

Another way to view Sylvia is as a 2nd or 3rd tier Nepo-baby and she has many many many horrible traits... and I easily see Aryan, Master Race correlations not to mention that by birth she fell into a rut of the mindset that she is to be served … even if she wasn’t at the tip top of that food chain and was being used/disposed of by the queen.

Imo she really doesn’t have any idea who she is …
She only is what she was molded into by birth and by the Queen out on the island.

 

[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.