Since some things about the game have been bothering me for a short time, I read the other opinions, views or facts with interest. Some agree with mine, others I cannot understand. But for me the MC is the root of all evil. I have to play an eighteen-year-old, pubescent, cock-controlling idiot with a perception and communication problem that runs through all the episodes. Someone in this thread gave it an apt name: male hiking whore!
But first things first:
The structure of the clique was fine until the MC decided to confess his feelings to Erynn. Due to misinterpretation and lack of communication of the situation, it falls apart. Well, he was twelve or thirteen, you can't have high expectations here.
This is followed by the hurt pride that led to him leaving Erynn's letters and phone calls unanswered.
Now he is building a new life with his stepfather. Finds a real friend in Nathan and his first girlfriend in Iris. The relationship lasted 2 years and ended "quietly" when she moved away. Sorry guys, in my day that would be a “NO GO”. WITHOUT WORDS.
I personally believe that the departure of Iris and the almost simultaneous forced move to Nikki and Cara caused the MC to become what I described above. We, at home, say: “He got a crack!” The MC closes his feelings and only thinks and acts with his cock. None of the girls below give me the feeling that the MC is interested in a REAL RELATIONSHIP!
With Elena and Erynn, it remains to be seen how this will develop. But I'm afraid he just wants to fuck her, nothing more.
The bottom line is: Back to the roots! => IRIS
For this reason I changed my game strategy.
On the one hand I play him as a male hiking whore and fuck everything that isn't on the tree at three and on the other hand I play him as an ice-cold asshole.
In this context, I misused the "Alexis secret path" (plus Nikki path). To get into this path I use Layla as a "door opener" and at the same time start a liaison with Elena. At Layla's doorstep I choose Elena. At the same time, I keep Erynn as small as necessary to keep him in the path. On the beach I switch completely to Iris. Unfortunately for me it has a bad aftertaste: In Iris' dressing room the MC doesn't talk to her, he just fucks her. *shake head*.
The future will prove whether I will be successful with this path.
I don't do the whole thing without ulterior motives:
1. It has been theorized that the "kill-fuck-marry" game on the beach might have an impact on the game - we'll see
2. I haven't given up hope of catching Alexis at the end. I want to keep this door open for as long as possible
3. Alexis' character changes from, at the beginning, a whore to a more positive person
4. If Iris is actually unavailable as a relationship or is killed, the path still remains open
5. My two favorites are in a save game
6. In the worst case scenario, I still have Nikki as a backup!
I have a clear opinion about Ethan: At this point it makes no difference to him whether the MC is there or not. He's a skillfully manipulative asshole who can easily play Erynn and the MC (possibly Alexis) against each other. John's opinion on this is very accurate.
