So the public version 0.3.1F is released, it's time to focus on versions 0.4
If I can apply,
it would be useful to unify the logic and theme of the whole game.
Now we have three different approaches:
Prolog - Act 3 (old team management):
Basically a completely linear part, where there is no interesting or funny thing,
too much text, and the choices you make in the selections don't matter.
Act 4 (old and new management mixed procedures):
A popular swimsuit quest where half of players don't know what to do.
Because the solution process hint is revealed to player by the hat AFTER the quest has been resolved - brilliant
A typical sign of this act - lack of money
(by the way, who come with that the catcher glove costs 100 + 1 coins?)
Act 5 (New Management):
introduction of new content, portraits,
girl's minigames, the opportunity to make money, finally.
But now you don't need the money so much, now the game requires upgrading skills.
As a example of future options good, many promissing options
but now a lot of unfinished paths (grayed options or options and dialogs now doing nothing).
My sugestions:
It would be good to shorten the prologue and the first three acts.
And maybe a little swap with scenes and mechanics.
In truth, the lake maiden scene could be used later in the game, for example in a quest. Now it brings nothing except seashells.
And the scene with McGonagal would also be better later in the game, for example when she needs to be persuaded to do or agree with something.
Alcoholic episode is useless.
On the contrary, here, at the beginning of game we could start study IMVOIS and start making and saving money for later.
Maybe some scene with Nola, could be good. After all she's the first girl we meet in castle.
Or We can start playing girl's minigames and gaining their support and favor step by step.
As I understand from the posts, here on forum.
It is creation of new scenes and characters that takes the most time.
So isn't possible to use the already created environment (Dumbledor's office, dorms, etc.) and characters for some interesting quest at the beginning of the game?
In Act 4, make sure that the quest hint is shown BEFORE the quest and not after.
And now the game would look a little better and more interesting.
Now everything interesting and tempting is in last Act and nothing at beginning of game.
Good luck
