How do you prefer the story in a visual novel to unfold?

[Dr Alt Tab]

 

[Living In A Lewd World]

I personally like most, when a rich world and deep characters are built through action and drama.

 

[balitz Method]

Visual novels tend to have this holdover issue (they've been getting better about it lately, but I still see it) where they like to detail the player character's entire day, from the moment they wake up all the way to bedtime, following them through every trip to the toilet, every mundane conversation, and this -really- murders their pacing. It's perfectly okay to skip around.

What we've ended up with are all these visual novels that take forever to get going. A slow burn story is all well and good, but that's not the same as wasting time with needless chit-chat that delays setting the story's hook until you're the equivalent of 50-60 pages in.

 

[Dr Alt Tab]

Visual novels tend to have this holdover issue (they've been getting better about it lately, but I still see it) where they like to detail the player character's entire day, from the moment they wake up all the way to bedtime, following them through every trip to the toilet, every mundane conversation, and this -really- murders their pacing. It's perfectly okay to skip around.

What we've ended up with are all these visual novels that take forever to get going. A slow burn story is all well and good, but that's not the same as wasting time with needless chit-chat that delays setting the story's hook until you're the equivalent of 50-60 pages in.

I agree, but I imagine it's something very difficult to balance, without weighing one way or the other.

 

[Doorknob22]

The player has to believe. He has to be able to believe the girl with the big tits is the MC's teacher and the cute redhead is his best friend's little sister. Otherwise if they are just mindless bimbos who fuck the MC for no reason, you're not telling a story, you're making a slideshow of porn. Some storytellers are able to establish believability quickly, while others (most) need more time, but it's all about making the players believe the characters IMHO.

 

[Lerd0]

..is always funny seeein these polls....then seeing the games doin the best on like itchio or steam.....or patreon.....
...and realize.....ppl be lying.....

 

[MarshmallowCasserole]

These three are not mutually exclusive, and the grouping in the poll is weird.

Rich world-building: sure, it's always nice to have good worldbuilding. But an important part of good worldbuilding is actually delivering it without bogging down the story, without obnoxious infodumps and without stealing focus. Good worldbuilding != slow.

Slow character arcs: generally, is what I generally prefer because the opposite side of the spectrum in adult fiction is "virgin to slut" arc in 5 minutes, which is not satisfying.

Emotional depth — yes, please.

Things going quickly, less waiting. This is what I chose in the poll, mostly because I hate strories that just stall for time with absolutely meaningless garbage.

More action or drama, see above. At the same time, more action does not mean that the character arcs should not be deep and slow(ish).

Humour, casual scenes: have their place. There's a reason action often has a romantic subplot, alternating the tone is good.

No need for deep narrative: yeah, sometimes that works too, and works extremely well!

 

[tanstaafl]

..is always funny seeein these polls....then seeing the games doin the best on like itchio or steam.....or patreon.....
...and realize.....ppl be lying.....

I don't think they're lying. But I do think that you won't find a lot of base-line normal on a pirate porn game forum.

 

[Lerd0]

I don't think they're lying. But I do think that you won't find a lot of base-line normal on a pirate porn game forum.

...u followin me around bear?
...will rub ur belly.....

 

[tanstaafl]

...u followin me around bear?
...will rub ur belly.....
View attachment 4891025

I am not...
but I accept belly rubs...


Stop saying interesting things and I will leave you alone...maybe.

 

[Lerd0]

Stop saying interesting things and I will leave you alone...maybe.

...never.....
...the voices won't let me.....

but I accept belly rubs...

 

[Death Panda]

Depends on your writing ability.
Would I like to read a pornographic LotR written by Tolkien? Absolutely.
Would I like to read a pornographic LotR written by the writers of Rings of Power? Hell no.

 

[_user]

Would I like to read a pornographic LotR written by Tolkien? Absolutely.

Really? Tolkien? It's a classic sure, but hardly the pinnacle of writing.

But yeah, anything works as long as I like the prose and there's good pacing. Except mystery and horror, fuck those.

 

[tanstaafl]

It's a classic sure, but hardly the pinnacle of writing.

 

[Death Panda]

Really? Tolkien? It's a classic sure, but hardly the pinnacle of writing.

I didn't say it needed to be the pinnacle.

 

[Goeffel]

I can't remember if it's really the first time I see a "depends / I like variety" option in such polls around here.

anyways:

------------

you other guys there: maybe try T.H. White: Once and Furture King, also fantasy, also British, from the same time. but way more based, and I perceived it as well-written (read it in German, though).

 

[sauron_mv]

I like slow-burn games but only if the story calls for it. I don't like stories that are stretched out like chewing gum to make more money.

 

[Jaike]

..is always funny seeein these polls....then seeing the games doin the best on like itchio or steam.....or patreon.....
...and realize.....ppl be lying.....

Or... the people that post in general discussions and vote in polls here are different from the average zonie, and the average zonie may be pretty different from the average supporter on itch.io, Steam, or Patreon.

Just dig up any poll asking like "do you prefer male or female protagonists" and you'll see the same effect.

 

[Lerd0]

Or... the people that post in general discussions and vote in polls here are different from the average zonie, and the average zonie may be pretty different from the average supporter on itch.io, Steam, or Patreon.

Just dig up any poll asking like "do you prefer male or female protagonists" and you'll see the same effect.

...or they are all liars.....

 

[Mispeled]

Thank you for this poll. Actually makes me happy to see story-rich and balanced is at the top.
Even if it's not the most representative polling due to its location and audience, it still means there's interest in it.