VN Ren'Py Imperial Chronicles [v0.11] [Lazy Monkey]

[lukas7533]

So how many paths do we currently have, and are they worth playing through ?

 

[Filipis]

I cannot believe people are actually complaining that there is actual choice and consequences in the game and divergent paths, not simply kinetic novel masquerading as a choice based VN as 99% of VNs in here .

Personally, I like having choices that matter. It's why I have 7 playthroughs for this game. There's only like 2 other games on here where I have more than that. And that's largely because they have a lot of choices to play around with.

However, I can understand the other sides point. At least to some degree.

If we weren't talking about an AVN, then so many choices would be a delight - but LM is eager to maintain his 2-month schedule like a bloodhound, and that is only going to get more difficult as more story-altering decisions are introduced.

The first of which was Cassandra being alive or dead.

1. Cassandra is alive:
   1. Cassandra is romanced: Green Crown path
   2. Cassandra is imprisoned: White Crown path
2. Cassandra is dead:
   1. Killed before Coup: White Crown path
   2. Killed during Coup: Red Crown path

That's 3 whole-ass story branches from just one character being alive or dead. Meanwhile, all the other LIs are either romanced or not; you either get their sex scenes or not, but they all behave the same on any of the aforementioned 3 paths.

Allowing this kind of branching so early on (half of Chapter 1) was a momentous decision from LM, one that has shown its positive and negative sides quickly:

• Since the Coup, Cassandra's sex scenes are reserved only for 1/3rd of the players (ideal scenario), meaning you are creating content for only a third of your fanbase.
• Compare that to creating content for the Queen, Lia, or Elin, where even if the player doesn't romance them - they still appear on EVERY path in the game, therefore are accessible to 100% of the players.

Like DrakoGhoul says, this kind of branching creates fantastic replayability, but seriously hampers the experience during development - and maybe even the final product, as Cass even got her Dom/Sub scenes removed in favor of one-and-done sex scenes (to reduce workload, no doubt).

 

[TRICKSTΞR]

If we weren't talking about an AVN, then so many choices would be a delight - but LM is eager to maintain his 2-month schedule like a bloodhound, and that is only going to get more difficult as more story-altering decisions are introduced.

The first of which was Cassandra being alive or dead.

1. Cassandra is alive:
   1. Cassandra is romanced: Green Crown path
   2. Cassandra is imprisoned: White Crown path
2. Cassandra is dead:
   1. Killed before Coup: White Crown path
   2. Killed during Coup: Red Crown path

That's 3 whole-ass story branches from just one character being alive or dead. Meanwhile, all the other LIs are either romanced or not; you either get their sex scenes or not, but they all behave the same on any of the aforementioned 3 paths.

Allowing this kind of branching so early on (half of Chapter 1) was a momentous decision from LM, one that has shown its positive and negative sides quickly:

• Since the Coup, Cassandra's sex scenes are reserved only for 1/3rd of the players (ideal scenario), meaning you are creating content for only a third of your fanbase.
• Compare that to creating content for the Queen, Lia, or Elin, where even if the player doesn't romance them - they still appear on EVERY path in the game, therefore are accessible to 100% of the players.

Like DrakoGhoul says, this kind of branching creates fantastic replayability, but seriously hampers the experience during development - and maybe even the final product, as Cass even got her Dom/Sub scenes removed in favor of one-and-done sex scenes (to reduce workload, no doubt).

Filipis, use either the Inline Spoiler or Spoiler.

 

[Filipis]

Filipis, use either the Inline Spoiler or Spoiler.

For an update that was released 2 months ago? Are you serious?

 

[burbero]

So, how did this elf hostility begin? I didn't choose sides between humans and elves; I support both. Regarding the western lands, I supported the rebels.

 

[destroyerofassholes]

I cannot believe people are actually complaining that there is actual choice and consequences in the game and divergent paths, not simply kinetic novel masquerading as a choice based VN as 99% of VNs in here .

Choice is meaningless if there isn't a consequence, and there is barely a consequence to killing Cass other than a complete lack of content you would have otherwise gotten. The killed-cass path has absolutely nothing going on for it, 0 effort. It's basically a fake path.

If the entirety of the choice comes down to "more stuff" or "no stuff", it's not actually a choice. You're still king either way and you unlock nothing new.

 

[Seidan]

I cannot believe people are actually complaining that there is actual choice and consequences in the game and divergent paths, not simply kinetic novel masquerading as a choice based VN as 99% of VNs in here .

it's not a matter of choice/consequence but an amont of work as LM is alone on this project and different path mean more work on each path which mean less content for each specific path

there a reason why multiple choice games are extremely rare even for AAA licence as writting real choice and consequence without merging each path at some point multiply the amont of work - my complaint(not exactly one) with cass path is that LM now have to write 3 different story that include the 3 different path therefore reducing the global content, i'm not complaining about the ability of making said choice and seeing consequence of said choice but rather that the consequence simply last too long (a temporary sub-route you reload afterward would be perfect imho)

merging path would solve this issue but again because one choice have such huge consequence it's not really possible unless plot device "oh elin you can time travel...?"

hopefully when AI will become more usefull and autonomous writting different path would become easier

 

[GarudoSCHE]

Choice is meaningless if there isn't a consequence, and there is barely a consequence to killing Cass other than a complete lack of content you would have otherwise gotten. The killed-cass path has absolutely nothing going on for it, 0 effort. It's basically a fake path.

If the entirety of the choice comes down to "more stuff" or "no stuff", it's not actually a choice. You're still king either way and you unlock nothing new.

Considering that in his previous game the decisions made in the early and mid game affected the ending,I'm almost certain that killing Cass will have consequences down the line. There are a lot of things in the game whose future impact isn't yet clear.

For example, Elin: There are tons of ways to raise her relationship points. There are decisions that give her +5 or +3, but dialogue checks so far have required her relationship points to be non-negative. And I'm wondering if this will continue or if there will be a barrier of some specific value for getting a good ending with her later in the game (I'm hoping for this option)

 

[n00bPanda]

Wasn't there a ending note at the end of 0.9 that 1.0 will (1.1 in this case) also feature a big choice? Probably on the degree of marriage candidate or better yet coup choice. You guys complain about Cass' choice -with right reasons mind you- saying development began to get stretched out very early, ignoring his probable plans to put more of that kinda decision(s) in every milestone in the story I believe. I mean this ain't a race he can keep the game however long he wants, this could be very well his magnum opus. After all, whole idea of this VN formula revolves around episodic releases, it gives author the liberty in the means of time and story and also the means of sustainability that provides morale and living (?) with loyal customers (fans in his case since he ain't selling the game).

 

[n00bPanda]

Considering that in his previous game the decisions made in the early and mid game affected the ending,I'm almost certain that killing Cass will have consequences down the line. There are a lot of things in the game whose future impact isn't yet clear.

For example, Elin: There are tons of ways to raise her relationship points. There are decisions that give her +5 or +3, but dialogue checks so far have required her relationship points to be non-negative. And I'm wondering if this will continue or if there will be a barrier of some specific value for getting a good ending with her later in the game (I'm hoping for this option)

Can't quite predict how many endings there will be but I think it would make sense to split endings in the terms of harem and poly/single routes as to make whole corruption/love thing to make sense. I just can't see 'romantic' Elin acceptin harem dynamics. But then again, the game is young. Who knows how it proceed in the terms of romances? Just give me Cass x Elin route bro ✌

 

[Filipis]

Can't quite predict how many endings there will be but I think it would make sense to split endings in the terms of harem and poly/single routes as to make whole corruption/love thing to make sense. I just can't see 'romantic' Elin acceptin harem dynamics. But then again, the game is young. Who knows how it proceed in the terms of romances? Just give me Cass x Elin route bro ✌

Agreed. The Love vs Corruption paths for Elin and the Queen don't make sense unless those stats unlock different endings for them (Corruption for a Harem ending, Love for solo endings).

 

[Filipis]

Considering that in his previous game the decisions made in the early and mid game affected the ending,I'm almost certain that killing Cass will have consequences down the line. There are a lot of things in the game whose future impact isn't yet clear.

For example, Elin: There are tons of ways to raise her relationship points. There are decisions that give her +5 or +3, but dialogue checks so far have required her relationship points to be non-negative. And I'm wondering if this will continue or if there will be a barrier of some specific value for getting a good ending with her later in the game (I'm hoping for this option)

Could be. But it just comes across as a non-choice. Cass was killed at the end of 0.5... five content updates later (6+ months in-game time) and she is still dead, with no mention of anything strange happening around her grave or the like.

LM could've teased something in regards to her death, but nothing. And that's why it feels bad.

 

[DrakoGhoul]

Considering that in his previous game the decisions made in the early and mid game affected the ending,I'm almost certain that killing Cass will have consequences down the line. There are a lot of things in the game whose future impact isn't yet clear.

There's consequences for it. Both in the game and it's tracked in the code according to what someone told me a while back. Elis has to kill Cass himself though. Not via Isis or Vampy boy. Then the entity will tell Elis that he didn't listen to him or something of the effect. What those effects will be? We don't know yet without knowing who the other snakes are.

 

[josh963]

Update this weekend, probably??

 

[GibboBtw]

So, how did this elf hostility begin? I didn't choose sides between humans and elves; I support both. Regarding the western lands, I supported the rebels.

They existed.

 

[DontBeAfraidKid]

All done, A couple of days and a release-LM
Update Friday/ Saturday most likely.

 

[RacistSanta]

All done, A couple of days and a release-LM
View attachment 5366998

 

[Filipis]

All done, A couple of days and a release-LM
Update Friday/ Saturday most likely.
View attachment 5366998

LM usually releases on the weekends, so let’s give him time to polish the update by not expecting it before Saturday.

 

[Jacowboy]

I heard the dev was fixing the translations... what's the news on that front? are the translations not dogshit anymore? (I remember the begining of the game being REALLY bad)

 

[Filipis]

I heard the dev was fixing the translations... what's the news on that front? are the translations not dogshit anymore? (I remember the begining of the game being REALLY bad)

English translation has gotten better, but it’s still machine translated.

I started a fanmade project to improve it, and got to 0.2 before deciding to remaster the game from scratch. For more details, check the Improved Translations mod pinned in the OP.