VN Ren'Py Karlsson's Gambit [v0.8.2B Final] [Grym Gudinna Games]

[MilesEdgeworth]

Time to rank the 5 sisters based solely on the way they are playing the gambit and nothing else

5- Juliette- At this point she's just being evil for the sake of being evil. Doesnt help that Kane has control over a mini Juliette, only way Juliette wins at this point is if the player wants a really depraved lifestyle
4- Veronica- She's not even playing and she's above Juliette, says more about Juliette than it does about the lovely scientist who seemingly has better things to do.
3 Alessandra- She hasnt dropped because of anything she's done or hasnt done, the other two sisters are just better situated over the long haul. Her iagoing will probably raise her next update. Cant wait to see her final plan.
2 Dominique- Only one with access to Kane's father. The most flexible of the original and easily the person working the hardest behind the scenes to get the company. But is it too little too late?
1. Olivia- Welcome to the game. Whether on the good track or the evil track her and kane seem to feed off each other, as long as they're both aligned right. Biggest obstacle is getting Kane over that brother sister thing which shouldnt be too hard. However, she should be wary of the other sisters who I imagine are plotting her downfall.

 

[Stan5851]

You have to know that Kane still thinks that Olivia is his sister and that that's all she ever will be.

I can't agree with you about the second part of your statement. On the contrary, after what I saw in Ch7, playing through the "Good Dom" track, and in later scenes, including the little scene of Kane(Dom) and Olivia after taking her shower, and the scene where at the end of Ch7 Elena is thinking while standing in front of the mirror, only further pushed me to think that Tess is moving very smoothly but surely in the direction where Kane and Olivia's romance becomes reality. And this phrase of Elena's in the conversation with Olivia almost openly hints at it.

The only men in this world available to the women are all slaves to be used and abused.

Kane (dom) is not a slave, so he must be the one to turn this whole situation upside down, becoming either the second Alexander (one of the likely outcomes of the EvilDom track, in my opinion) or the just ruler (GoodDom) of this empire, supported by an equal or even obedient wife-to-be from among the challenger families Karlsson and DeKock.

The only romantic relationships Kane has had so far have been with a maid named Junko, Dominic in the last update, and, you might say, with Veronica (she kissed him for the first time and probably intended to do so since they were children).

At least no one will say that there's no romance in this game or that these scenes aren't beautiful (just think of the airy scene with Veronica or the equally beautiful scene with Junko), he-he. I'm sure there will be more romance in future chapters.

 

[vogelbeest]

Time to rank the 5 sisters based solely on the way they are playing the gambit and nothing else

Only "winning" condition seems to be a male heir, Kane being father and any of the Karlson sisters being the mother...
By that standard there's not much difference between any of the girls... One of them seems to have a slight advantage due to (possibly) already having Kane's seed... (DomCollectCum variable) Kane's own status for now seems mostly irrelevant...
Your list mostly depends on player choice or Kane having a choice in the matter.... Something that's not really sure yet with these ladies...

 

[MilesEdgeworth]

Only "winning" condition seems to be a male heir, Kane being father and any of the Karlson sisters being the mother...
By that standard there's not much difference between any of the girls... One of them seems to have a slight advantage due to (possibly) already having Kane's seed... (DomCollectCum variable) Kane's own status for now seems mostly irrelevant...
Your list mostly depends on player choice or Kane having a choice in the matter.... Something that's not really sure yet with these ladies...

I would be shocked if it didnt come down to Kane and what he wants. Especially on the dom route. Otherwise, there's no reason for any of the sisters to seduce him. That and the fact that I believe that Veronica will respect his wishes and she has at the least two votes on lock (three if we include a chosen sister thats not Veronica).

 

[vogelbeest]

I would be shocked if it didnt come down to Kane and what he wants. Especially on the dom route. Otherwise, there's no reason for any of the sisters to seduce him. That and the fact that I believe that Veronica will respect his wishes and she has at the least two votes on lock (three if we include a chosen sister thats not Veronica).

There is always a reason for the other Karlson sisters to try seduce him. The moment it's clear one of the sisters or Olivia seems to hit it off well enough with Kane to expect a succesful Gambit winner, the others will increase their seduction efforts. Same time any of them expecting their chances to be low or non excistent, they might try to even the playing field in other ways.
In the end much will depend on the rules of how to get the seed, Veronica already hints not everything is allowed, but we don't have much to go on as to what exactly are the rules to follow in the Gambit. The Gambit basically overrules the board if conditions are met....

 

[MilesEdgeworth]

There is always a reason for the other Karlson sisters to try seduce him. The moment it's clear one of the sisters or Olivia seems to hit it off well enough with Kane to expect a succesful Gambit winner, the others will increase their seduction efforts. Same time any of them expecting their chances to be low or non excistent, they might try to even the playing field in other ways.
In the end much will depend on the rules of how to get the seed, Veronica already hints not everything is allowed, but we don't have much to go on as to what exactly are the rules to follow in the Gambit. The Gambit basically overrules the board if conditions are met....

Not really if it was up to just the board they could just tie him down and wait on the results. If it comes down to Kane ruling with whichever sister, it will come down to his choice. Do you think that if kane is deemed fit to rule they'll just force him to get with whichever sister they deem fit? Their decision might matter with a sub kane but def not with a dom kane

 

[Stan5851]

So what's the importance of a similar bracelet being worn by young Veronica when Kane meets her in that park?
Personally i think Delilah just as (most of) the Karlson sisters will only have limited knowledge about the Gambit, if at all. The players that were there when that plan was made are the older generation. Alexander Karlson may have been influenced by Calista perhaps they even planned it together, but most others at that time probably will have been excluded from any knowledge to the plan. The Gambit Queen (Calista?) seems the one besides Alexander himself that knows everything.
The link with the DeKock family and the Gambit seems to go through the 2 masked companions (Calista's sisters perhaps?)
It makes no sense the bracelet was placed by Delilah and then given to her sister to hack... Neither of them has the power nor the knowledge of the Gambit to pull that off. The DeKock mother could be in on it to a certain degree but even she lacks the power inside the Karlson empire...

So what's the importance of a similar bracelet being worn by young Veronica when Kane meets her in that park?

I don't have an answer to that question, but I can assume that in this world such bracelets could be data carriers associated with the wearer's biometric data. They might even be able to read individual indicators from the wearer's body for additional assessment of the wearer's condition.

Personally i think Delilah just as (most of) the Karlson sisters will only have limited knowledge about the Gambit, if at all. The players that were there when that plan was made are the older generation.

Delilah doesn't have to have all of Gambit's information, she could just be a cog in the system, doing what the head of the family (Cynthia) instructs her to do.

Alexander Karlson may have been influenced by Calista perhaps they even planned it together, but most others at that time probably will have been excluded from any knowledge to the plan. The Gambit Queen (Calista?) seems the one besides Alexander himself that knows everything.

We don't know that either, but I agree that at this point, the greatest bearer of knowledge about Gambit is Callista (Gambit Queen?) herself and Veronica. Perhaps a serious body of data is still known to Alessandra, as a likely candidate for the "second ninja" who has spoken to the Gambit Queen in the past.

It makes no sense the bracelet was placed by Delilah and then given to her sister to hack... Neither of them has the power nor the knowledge of the Gambit to pull that off. The DeKock mother could be in on it to a certain degree but even she lacks the power inside the Karlson empire...

And who's to say that this is the exact bracelet Kane Dom possesses? Suffice it to recall that gaining access to Kane's bracelet is almost impossible.

Spoiler: Why it might be DeKock's

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[vogelbeest]

Not really if it was up to just the board they could just tie him down and wait on the results. If it comes down to Kane ruling with whichever sister, it will come down to his choice. Do you think that if kane is deemed fit to rule they'll just force him to get with whichever sister they deem fit? Their decision might matter with a sub kane but def not with a dom kane

In case the Gambit conditions are met all power goes to the male heir, until he is ready to rule his parents will have full control. So no, as soon that happens any chair on the board is effectively powerless.
The gambit is the will of Alexander Karlson, it's his way to enable his wish for a male heir from his and Callista's bloodlines, even after his death. We don't know the exact rules the sisters and Kane have to follow, but it's clear the Gambit Queen is one of the people responsible for a fair process, but even the boardmembers will help ensuring this, after all it's their chance to become more powerful or lose power. Four of the board members have a fair chance for more power....

Knowing Alexander he couldn't care less if Kane ends up as a slave, but knowing Calista prepared her children for this (even if only one of her blood) , it's safe to assume everybody will have a fair chance.
It will not matter if Kane is sub or dom, the rules for the Gambit will be the same, Kane might win the Gambit being a sub to any of the Karlson sisters or Olivia, he might win the Gambit as a dom or equal to any of them as well...

 

[gregers]

Here's some fact-free speculation while I'm waiting for the kettle to boil.

Parts of Cynthia's entourage is definitely wrapped up with Callista (Otto certainly, the masked servants (Alexander's sisters?) probably), and it seems entirely plausible that Delilah planted the bracelet for Kane and Nadia could be the hacker, maybe at Cynthia's behest, maybe not.

And then there's Lola. Silent, ignored Lola, who is pointedly introduced by name and with a close-up and then never mentioned or seen again (so far). Maybe just because the dev has forgotten about her, maybe not.

Kiyomi recognized at least one of them by their movements although they'd hidden their appearance, but she's confident that only one other person would do so and that that person is "not a concern".

Could be one of the masks, could be Lola, could even be Otto himself in his conveniently concealing clothes.

Spoiler

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[deuxrayme]

I can't agree with you about the second part of your statement. On the contrary, after what I saw in Ch7, playing through the "Good Dom" track, and in later scenes, including the little scene of Kane(Dom) and Olivia after taking her shower, and the scene where at the end of Ch7 Elena is thinking while standing in front of the mirror, only further pushed me to think that Tess is moving very smoothly but surely in the direction where Kane and Olivia's romance becomes reality. And this phrase of Elena's in the conversation with Olivia almost openly hints at it.
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Which is why I said "still thinks... that that's all she ever will be." Olivia has the knowledge and even wants to tell him, but Kane doesn't know it yet.

Kane (dom) is not a slave, so he must be the one to turn this whole situation upside down, becoming either the second Alexander (one of the likely outcomes of the EvilDom track, in my opinion) or the just ruler (GoodDom) of this empire, supported by an equal or even obedient wife-to-be from among the challenger families Karlsson and DeKock.

A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet. Until Kane has "graduated" from the program and the sisters can not demote him at will or based on certain criteria, he is a slave who has more freedom than some of the others.

At least no one will say that there's no romance in this game or that these scenes aren't beautiful (just think of the airy scene with Veronica or the equally beautiful scene with Junko), he-he. I'm sure there will be more romance in future chapters.

I love that scene with Veronica which is why I made it into a signature simulating them being at a planetarium like they discuss.

 

[vogelbeest]

Could be one of the masks, could be Lola, could even be Otto himself in his conveniently concealing clothes.

Ah, the princess (princesseyes+ variable) perhaps? (Lola could be Kane's sister?)
Seen that all but only now got that possible conclusion...

 

[gregers]

(Lola could be Kane's sister?)

If it's not Nadia then yeah, my second guess would be one of those three servants, with Lola the most likely candidate. We'll see what we see when we see it.

The DeKock arrival scene is common to all paths, so at least that's one that every player gets to see.

(The princesseyes variable seems to track Olivia's sexual attraction to Kane, I don't really get how that's relevant here?)

 

[tarsgrim]

Guys, none of you consider the possibility that a purely good Kane will simply break the system, both corporations with the slave revolution and not stay with any of the sisters...

 

[vogelbeest]

I don't really get how that's relevant here?)

Was thinking in the line of Calista being the Gambit Queen, Princess being the daughter... Did not yet assume that variable was tied to Olivia, got points on several occasions but certainly not with Olivia present in every event. Ah well, learned something

 

[gregers]

Guys, none of you consider the possibility that a purely good Kane will simply break the system, both corporations with the slave revolution and not stay with any of the sisters...

A good dom on the Junko romance path gets the option to join the 'resistance', but equally an evil Kane might want to burn it all down around the Karlssons and DeKocks' rotting corpses.

But it all comes down to which and how many ending scenarios the dev will allow. There are so many characters and possible configurations in the game that she'll have to limit the choices somewhat, I'd imagine.

 

[tarsgrim]

A good dom on the Junko romance path gets the option to join the 'resistance', but equally an evil Kane might want to burn it all down around the Karlssons and DeKocks' rotting corpses.

But it all comes down to which and how many ending scenarios the dev will allow. There are so many characters and possible configurations in the game that she'll have to limit the choices somewhat, I'd imagine.

I don't see an evil Kane blowing up the possibility of having all the power

 

[gregers]

I don't see an evil Kane blowing up the possibility of having all the power

That'd be my preferred ending. Kane, Seth, and Olivia killing everyone and their dog and riding off on a trandem bike like The Goodies, whistling a merry tune.



But of course the dev might not want to write an ending with that specific vehicle.

 

[Stan5851]

In case the Gambit conditions are met all power goes to the male heir, until he is ready to rule his parents will have full control. So no, as soon that happens any chair on the board is effectively powerless.
The gambit is the will of Alexander Karlson, it's his way to enable his wish for a male heir from his and Callista's bloodlines, even after his death. We don't know the exact rules the sisters and Kane have to follow, but it's clear the Gambit Queen is one of the people responsible for a fair process, but even the boardmembers will help ensuring this, after all it's their chance to become more powerful or lose power. Four of the board members have a fair chance for more power....

Knowing Alexander he couldn't care less if Kane ends up as a slave, but knowing Calista prepared her children for this (even if only one of her blood) , it's safe to assume everybody will have a fair chance.
It will not matter if Kane is sub or dom, the rules for the Gambit will be the same, Kane might win the Gambit being a sub to any of the Karlson sisters or Olivia, he might win the Gambit as a dom or equal to any of them as well...

However, this does not mean that if Kane Dom can win this Gambit, he will not be able to make his own decisions on most issues. After all, we mustn't forget who the MC is in the game. Even in the "Karlsson_Group_relationships" that Tess posted, the same Olivia is only listed as Olivia Karlsson ( default sister name), not even as the 2nd MC. So personally, I have no doubt that a smart Kane Dom could succeed and rule this empire for the next 18 years with one of the Karlsson sisters, not excluding Olivia.

Also, in light of recent events, let's not forget the DeKocks that we are so actively discussing here. And I doubt very much that they want power over the Karlsson Group solely on the terms of the late Alexander. Too many interests and too much power have converged here, and the moment is near when the severed heads of those who stumbled and were not on the side of the strongest will fly. Personally, I can't even predict what might happen if Kane gets a real chance to knowingly support the DeKock family's claim to power over the Karlsson Group. And whether anyone in that case would remember the Gambit conditions you mentioned.

 

[vogelbeest]

Guys, none of you consider the possibility that a purely good Kane will simply break

Yes, it seems likely a purely good Kane, especially on the sub path will simply break...
As for the system? Yeah, can't imagine a purely good Kane making no changes, but leaving it all to the justice of the resistance seems a very risky gamble as well. Seems to me the best possible option is removing the worst people from power and getting enough support for changes to the system. The big question is who of all people in power can be redeemed?
I tried the sub path once or twice and even Junko has a mean streak lol... But much of it, even for the Karlson sisters, comes from the system Alexander Karlson invented... Kane did not grow up in that system, it's easy to pas judgment but being fair is not, you can't just blame everybody for growing up in that system and surviving...

I can't even predict what might happen if Kane gets a real chance to knowingly support the DeKock family's claim to power over the Karlsson Group. And whether anyone in that case would remember the Gambit conditions you mentioned.

Seems to me if that would happen it would be on the team or solo player paths... There's 3 choices during the test.
Tess will have too many endings otherwise

 

[tarsgrim]

However, this does not mean that if Kane Dom can win this Gambit, he will not be able to make his own decisions on most issues. After all, we mustn't forget who the MC is in the game. Even in the "Karlsson_Group_relationships" that Tess posted, the same Olivia is only listed as Olivia Carlsson ( default sister name), not even as the 2nd MC. So personally, I have no doubt that a smart Kane Dom could succeed and rule this empire for the next 18 years with one of the Karlsson sisters, not excluding Olivia.

Also, in light of recent events, let's not forget the DeCocks that we are so actively discussing here. And I doubt very much that they want power over the Karlsson Group solely on the terms of the late Alexander. Too many interests and too much power have converged here, and the moment is near when the severed heads of those who stumbled and were not on the side of the strongest will fly. Personally, I can't even predict what might happen if Kane gets a real chance to knowingly support the DeKock family's claim to power over the Karlsson Group. And whether anyone in that case would remember the Gambit conditions you mentioned.

I remember that in the prison part there is a question about heirs if only, whether to distribute it or continue collecting information even after death even if it makes everything blow up.
the variables below are soloplayer teamplayer or gambitplayer I don't know if it will end up having any repercussions but as data there it remains