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

[Maviarab]

My comment wasn't about Kane, beyond lamenting that his dom-track cuts you off from so much of Olivia's story.

I find the way Olivia's character is handled generally frustrating: She lies, behaves erratically, and acts outside the player's control at key moments. But she's still a more interesting character than Kane, who, regardless of path, thus far mostly serves as a bland foil to other, more vibrant characters (granted that I've skipped the test build for now).

Given that Olivia's story is (according to the dev in this thread, many moons ago) the reason the game exists, I find the way it's handled pretty odd: That one of the major branch splits (Kane's dom/sub) cuts you off from so much of her story is just poor design, imo, but I've been grumbling about that in this thread since it first came up.

It really doesn't though. You just miss all her interaction with the subs and slave program (and you only see those on the SubKane because..well, Kane is a sub). Are you also going to complain SubKane never see's any of the scenes with Olivia on the opposite track hmm? All relevent scenes with Olivia (regardless of whether or not Kane is in them) are fully shown. I think you're making a mountain here and trying to make something fit a narrative that really does not exist.

I Have a problem with Celeste and Phoebe giving Kane a mansion because later on when Jul and Dom give Kane human chips to bet they say he has no assets which is either a pothole that Tess forgot about or Celeste and Phoebe lied about giving Kane a Mansion

At that point...how would any of them know what has just transcribed with Phoebe and Celeste? Plus, they have not actually 'given it' to him yet...iot's a proposal.

 

[DoverDad]

It really doesn't though. You just miss all her interaction with the subs and slave program (and you only see those on the SubKane because..well, Kane is a sub). Are you also going to complain SubKane never see's any of the scenes with Olivia on the opposite track hmm? All relevent scenes with Olivia (regardless of whether or not Kane is in them) are fully shown. I think you're making a mountain here and trying to make something fit a narrative that really does not exist.


At that point...how would any of them know what has just transcribed with Phoebe and Celeste? Plus, they have not actually 'given it' to him yet...iot's a proposal.

That screen was fucking hot what Celeste did to her daddy with the spider and the look on his face when she told him that she was the reason he is now confined to a chair

 

[Maviarab]

That screen was fucking hot what Celeste did to her daddy with the spider and the look on his face when she told him that she was the reason he is now confined to a chair

Yeah Celeste is definitely not a very good girl and will absolutely requires a good spanking

As for her character, I'm not actually overly fond of her myself...not sure it's her personality, as love some other very twisted sadistic characters, there's just something about her. Her sister, I adore and on the twisted stuff, I even like their mom too a lot...just can't get into Celeste at all for some reason. (ofc I do have all her paths, as I do for all chars).

 

[DoverDad]

Yeah Celeste is definitely not a very good girl and will absolutely requires a good spanking

As for her character, I'm not actually overly fond of her myself...not sure it's her personality, as love some other very twisted sadistic characters, there's just something about her. Her sister, I adore and on the twisted stuff, I even like their mom too a lot...just can't get into Celeste at all for some reason. (ofc I do have all her paths, as I do for all chars).

I can't wait for all hell to break loose in the next update when Cole and Calista make a return, I wouldn't be surprised if that is what Tess ends cp8 pt3 on

 

[Rufio]

Imagine finding something odd, or think one element has a poor game design is making a mountain and forcing a narrative... Word of warning to anyone wanting to have a critical opinion, to share it you need to get through the dreaded white knight XD

 

[vongoladex]

I was quite surprised when the revolutionaries appeared in the New Paris's elite class.

 

[Stan5851]

My comment wasn't about Kane, beyond lamenting that his dom-track cuts you off from so much of Olivia's story.

I find the way Olivia's character is handled generally frustrating: She lies, behaves erratically, and acts outside the player's control at key moments.

You probably have a different Olivia than I do. My Olivia (of my Dom saves) doesn't lie to me, cares about her family and loves Kane...Yes, she may be hiding something, but there are reasons for that...But her intentions are not against KaneDom or Seth. I'm among those players who believe the “agent Olivia” theory is very real and valid, and our sweet little "sis" really does know a lot more than she's showing, which is confirmed in the game.But Olivia and her actions are a topic for a separate conversation, so I'll end it there for now.

But she's still a more interesting character than Kane, who, regardless of path, thus far mostly serves as a bland foil to other, more vibrant characters (granted that I've skipped the test build for now).

Re-read my post you were responding to...that Kane is gone, he's changed dramatically for the better. (there's no reason for me to lie to you)

Given that Olivia's story is (according to the dev in this thread, many moons ago) the reason the game exists, I find the way it's handled pretty odd: That one of the major branch splits (Kane's dom/sub) cuts you off from so much of her story is just poor design, imo, but I've been grumbling about that in this thread since it first came up.

This is the first time I've heard that Olivia's story is the reason the game exists. Tess has created a complex and multifaceted narrative where both Olivia and Kane have the freedom to choose who to be, yet Kane remains the main MC, and Olivia's role (if we're talking about the Dom route) is important but inferior to Kane's... Also, I can't agree that Olivia is supposedly not controlled by the player at key moments. Just the opposite, all the key moments from the very first episode onwards are exactly where we have full control over Olivia and her decisions.

(I sincerely hope that no one is taking real world messages from this story, least of all advice on masculinity, but that's an entirely different discussion.)

And I, on the contrary, hope that from this “message” of Tess, those people, to whom it was addressed, will still learn some lessons, because even I, having a purely masculine view of what is happening, can not help noting the significantly increased in the modern world manifestation of infantilism and unwillingness to take responsibility.

 

[Stan5851]

Imagine finding something odd, or think one element has a poor game design is making a mountain and forcing a narrative... Word of warning to anyone wanting to have a critical opinion, to share it you need to get through the dreaded white knight XD

If you notice that something doesn't look the way it should, write about it on Tess's discord (in the appropriate channel), because the test version is for that reason, so that all possible bugs, errors and other flaws will be fixed in advance, before the release of the main final version.

 

[Stan5851]

You are all sick, demented people.

Sharpshooter890,..we are not so “sick”, hehe. I won't hide it, I'm very glad Tess shares my desires for Juliette...So, hopefully that's exactly how it will be.

Spoiler: Ep8 pt2 SPOILER

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[Sharpshooter890]

Sharpshooter890,..we are not so “sick”, hehe. I won't hide it, I'm very glad Tess shares my desires for Juliette...So, hopefully that's exactly how it will be.

Spoiler: Ep8 pt2 SPOILER

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I'll wait for the release version before discussiong things, soo, mid-january?

 

[Gamer8n8]

Though I Understand the episode revolves around the game show, i.e., mostly around kane .. I am very disappointed with the lack of Olivia content, especially given the size of the update! I know there is gonna be one more sub scene with her in the final update and may be one on the dom side too, but still .. Just two scenes on the dom side, same two on sub side, one even shorter is disappointing.

The update is good. The main story/lore around the founders of Karlsson's company and the way it unveils around current scenario after karlsson's death and the state the world is in, is all been consistently very engaging. I just wish to see more drama and more story rich scenes. The game show somehow didn't click with me, not very engaging. It is what it is.

We are entering into the final third of the story after the game show .. hope it will be an amazing ride. Still good amount of stuff left there to reveal and am expecting one big twist in the end.

 

[Stan5851]

I'll wait for the release version before discussiong things, soo, mid-january?

It's hard to say, but I hope so. I wouldn't want to wait another month. As for the discussion, I get your point, the only comment is that my spoiler is from the scene you may have seen before in the screenshots of Tess herself that Mav and Silver posted here. But anyway, that's your right and I respect it. We'll discuss everything when the final version comes out.

 

[PickerLewd]

First update without SanchoMod , diving directly into the pool with the sharks or witches in this case .

 

[Stan5851]

First update without SanchoMod , diving directly into the pool with the sharks or witches in this case .

URM is great at keeping track of flags and variables and what your decisions affect. Admittedly, it's unlikely to save you from witches, given that your Kane is K4.

 

[SlowGoesSlow]

Corrupted Claudia already being down to stomp out the poors with Evil Kane and Evil Dom is so fucking funny. She only needed like an hour max to stew on that pep talk from Kane and went full send.

 

[gregers]

You probably have a different Olivia than I do. My Olivia (of my Dom saves) doesn't lie to me, cares about her family and loves Kane...Yes, she may be hiding something, but there are reasons for that...But her intentions are not against KaneDom or Seth. I'm among those players who believe the “agent Olivia” theory is very real and valid, and our sweet little "sis" really does know a lot more than she's showing, which is confirmed in the game.But Olivia and her actions are a topic for a separate conversation, so I'll end it there for now.

Olivia has canonically been lying to Kane and Seth for a long time prior to the game events and continues to do so during it. What her ultimate intentions and motivations might be I've no idea and nor, I would posit, does anyone else except (hopefully) the dev.

Re-read my post you were responding to...that Kane is gone, he's changed dramatically for the better. (there's no reason for me to lie to you)

I didn't mean to imply that you were, and apologize if it came across that way. I was just stressing that I only spoke from what I'd seen of the game, which did not include this latest build.

This is the first time I've heard that Olivia's story is the reason the game exists. Tess has created a complex and multifaceted narrative where both Olivia and Kane have the freedom to choose who to be, yet Kane remains the main MC, and Olivia's role (if we're talking about the Dom route) is important but inferior to Kane's...

I can dig the comment out a little later,* but basically (and I'm speaking from memory here so forgive any imprecision), Tess said something a long time ago in response to comments about the multiple-protagonists thing to the effect that she wouldn't have created the game if it hadn't been for Olivia's path.

* Edit:

The female protagonist has the ability to be good/evil and that sort of thing, but also can go lesbian/bi/hetero. That will depend on choices. Her sexual orientation will absolutely impact her endings too, as certain characters are wired to be the "partners" of that path, etc. I do understand that multiple protagonists are not for everyone, but I honestly would not have made this game without Olivia's path as this is for me what I enjoy personally.

Also, I can't agree that Olivia is supposedly not controlled by the player at key moments. Just the opposite, all the key moments from the very first episode onwards are exactly where we have full control over Olivia and her decisions.

Just two off the top of my head: We don't get a choice in Olivia withholding information from Kane or handing Seth over to be abused by whatshername, Katsumi?

 

[Stan5851]

Olivia has canonically been lying to Kane and Seth for a long time prior to the game events and continues to do so during it.

There was no such thing in my walkthrough. I don't know where you came up with that at all (no offense).

Just two off the top of my head: We don't get a choice in Olivia withholding information from Kane or handing Seth over to be abused by whatshername, Katsumi?

Let's clarify some points..we're talking about the Dom route now because I have no idea (although I've seen a few sub scenes in Sancho Gallery) how Olivia behaves towards SubKane and SubSeth..So please tell me, what information (in the Dom route) did Olivia decide to withhold from KaneDom? Personally, I don't remember that.

Regarding Seth - in all likelihood, you might want to refresh your memory and replay the game. Olivia (and us as a players) has the opportunity to decide if she wants to give Seth to Katsumi or not.

 

[gregers]

There was no such thing in my walkthrough. I don't know where you came up with that at all (no offense).

Let's clarify some points..we're talking about the Dom route now because I have no idea (although I've seen a few sub scenes in Sancho Gallery) how Olivia behaves towards SubKane and SubSeth..So please tell me, what information on the Dom route did Olivia decide to withhold from KaneDom? Personally, I don't remember that.

No offense taken. See e.g. here, here, and here.

Regarding Seth - in all likelihood, you might want to refresh your memory and replay the game. Olivia (and us as a player) has the opportunity to decide if she wants to give Seth to Katsumi or not.
View attachment 4384971

I got the name wrong, sorry, meant handing him over to Kiyomi (and here), which happens regardless of the helpseth/fuckseth choice.

 

[Maviarab]

I'll wait for the release version before discussiong things, soo, mid-january?

At the very latest I would say. Tess usually pretty efficient.

First update without SanchoMod , diving directly into the pool with the sharks or witches in this case .

You'll be fiiiiiiiiiine

Just two off the top of my head: We don't get a choice in Olivia withholding information from Kane or handing Seth over to be abused by whatshername, Katsumi?

I got the name wrong, sorry, meant handing him over to Kiyomi, which happens regardless of the helpseth/fuckseth choice.

But you do get the choice of whether to help Seth or not which directly affects his scenes before he leaves for Island 4.

As for Olivia withholding information...I think you're msising the whole point of her storyline and how that fits into the gambit. I'll refrain from commenting further on your (usually coherant and literate) posts from now on in here as you obviously cherry-pick points to fit the agenda you have made up for yourself (which again, mostly does not exist).

 

[gregers]

But you do get the choice of whether to help Seth or not which directly affects his scenes before he leaves for Island 4.

As for Olivia withholding information...I think you're msising the whole point of her storyline and how that fits into the gambit. I'll refrain from commenting further on your (usually coherant and literate) posts from now on in here as you obviously cherry-pick points to fit the agenda you have made up for yourself (which again, mostly does not exist).

Agreeing to disagree is fine by me, I'm not spoiling for a row. I hold firm opinions on the strengths and weaknesses of this game, but have no particular axe to grind beyond that: Obviously you and Stan read the game differently than I do and that's cool, interpretation is free as long as we're all agreed on the actual words on the screen.