well, that scenario I presented is my worst nightmare as well...
...and here we are only talking about LI routes. Let's not get into how Rockford can be set up for what seems like a really dark path.
- Thread starter Impious Monk
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...and here we are only talking about LI routes. Let's not get into how Rockford can be set up for what seems like a really dark path.
Chillout1984
Engaged Member
- Nov 15, 2020
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Yeah, the things he says and thinks when you're on the ahole path (so where you for example choose to go with the students and you continuously hit Em's rapist) is really a slippery slope of him becoming extremely corrupt to maybe even a murderer himself.well, that scenario I presented is my worst nightmare as well...
...and here we are only talking about LI routes. Let's not get into how Rockford can be set up for what seems like a really dark path.
Yeah, there's a whole host of things that can direct a player to cause Rockford to question, nay abandon, is belief in the sanctity of the law and start breaking the law himself, and it looks like taking that route could make Rockford head down a very dark path.
Not intervening in Jamie's incest case (meaning she loses) / Illegal background check on Tanner Koch / Illegal use of ADA badge in an unofficial capacity / Choosing to kill Tanner Koch / Meaningless sex with two pre-law students instead of going to Colleen.
Choosing to kill Tanner Koch after giving him an illegal throat punch in the ring is perhaps the most shocking. Solomon Hobbs beat women to death in part because of the trauma he suffered when his mother pimped him out to men as a child. What excuse does Rockford have for wanting to beat a man to death? He's only ever experienced rape and sexual abuse second-hand in the courts and with Emmeline/Malena.
mike12013
Member
- Oct 3, 2024
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Kind of. Rockford gets his ass kicked (fairly) by Koch, if a player takes the option to enter the ring at the club. With Rockford on the ground, there is a choice to have Rockford either tap out of the fight or throat-punch Koch (something Malena taught Rockford for self-defense, but illegal in the ring). If a player chooses to throat-punch Koch, which disables him, the next choice is for Rockford to kill him/beat him to death as he lies prone on the ground (sound familiar?). That choice leads to Rockford getting pulled off Koch before he can murder him. Anything other than tapping out after losing the fight gets Rockford banned from the club and has a negative effect on Malena's LI path.
_SerapH_
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- Feb 3, 2024
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Chillout1984
Engaged Member
- Nov 15, 2020
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Wow, I didn't even know it was possible for Jamie to lose her case. Ah well, we'll see how much further Rockfort will go on his dark route. Still a shame we can't kill Tanner for real (yet).
If Rockford doesn't stop the brother from disrupting the court (i.e. attacking the accused), then Jamie "loses" the case, since the case gets dismissed by the judge. It would then require a new trial with a new jury, and the victim would have to take the stand again, yada, yada. I don't think or know if there are any major repercussions for Rockford if Jamie's case is dismissed, other than it puts the seed in his mind that the justice system is unfair/unjust, plus he gets to potentially see some vigilante justice in action.
The Tanner Koch thing is a really dark escalation because it involves an option for the MC to cross a line to commit murder. I doubt this AVN will have a fairytale ending for Rockford down such a path. There will be consequences.
mike12013
Member
- Oct 3, 2024
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Even after one of the DA's (Erin i think?) loses a rape case, then Rockford loses the gang shooting case he starts losing faith, I think he becomes disillusioned regardless of which path you end up on
True.
Those two outcomes are set in stone to ensure Rockford has a reason to start doubting the legal system.
Anyway, perhaps the most important thing about Rockford's choice during Jamie's trial is the dialogue he expounds to the brother, provided the player chooses to intervene.
Kinda a little bit unbelievable that he only starts to doubt the system after he already worked 10 years. Similar to democracy its not even close to perfect but just the best we have (yet).
Everyone involved in/with the justice system quickly realises that law is not always just and that quite a few verdicts are wrong
Rockford starts with the "the legal system isn't perfect but it's the best we've got" attitude, so I think he's always been aware of it's failings.
The story indicates he's lost cases before, but not how many. Naively, Rockford expresses surprise that the Orcs, through Sen. Carrington, are breaking the law of the land, and Sen. Carrington calls him an "idealist" unduly influenced by Aghavni.
Rockford seems to be getting jaded enough to potentially cross the Rubicon, and this comes at a time when he's getting hammered on all sides with his personal and family issues. Players can judge for themselves if this transition is realistic.
One of the ironies is Sen. Carrington wanting Rockford to run for office to oppose an incumbent who he perceives as "weak" on justice, all while breaking laws with impunity himself.
IM has stated that the two primary themes of the AVN are family and justice, so I am interested to see where Rockford goes on a "dark" path if he feels he has to take justice into his own hands or gets comfortable with breaking the law himself.
moskyx
Forum Fanatic
- Jun 17, 2019
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Yeah it wasnt meant as a critic against the dev or anything and i dont even think hes doubting it this much more than before (yet?), imo his conversation/rant with the college girls in the bar (about jurys, was funny as a german btw) was less waving conviction and more a general "philosophical" view on the matter.
He behaved more like a prof who wants incite curiosity and new thoughts than someone who strictly declares everything a fact hes saying.
I liked the "smaller" moral dilemmas so far a lot already, like is it okay to look up the guy who raped emmeline? Its like 100% safe that this guy is guilty and justice failed but i would still argue it would not be okay to do so. It would open doors to a spy state if every lawyer/officer looks private data up whenever he feels its justified.
But what if looking him up could help preventing it happening again?
I really liked these smaller moral dilemmas
Hengat
Member
- Oct 17, 2022
- 164
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I finally managed to finish this episode and the only thing that bothers me is Rockford "standing up" for Solomon while having an argument with Malena. Firstly I don't agree with this decision so it's a small break of immersion. Secondly you can simply choose to not give a damn about Solomon while talking with Sean and Donna Lee but it's only after the talk with Malena. It makes this whole quarrel a weak plot point. I understand they needed to be drift apart for a time so we can unravel whatever Malena is dealing with but I feel like it could have been done better.
Still, great update and good luck with the next one Monk.
Almost forgot, I couldn't care less about Emmeline reveal. Team Malena all the way.
Still, great update and good luck with the next one Monk.
Almost forgot, I couldn't care less about Emmeline reveal. Team Malena all the way.
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pv7
Newbie
- Apr 30, 2018
- 63
- 114
This game is making me emotional at times, great work.
And I can't be the only one to replay the episode to specifically make an Emmeline branch, although having the veggie sister as an LI would have been interesting too.
Additionaly I hope that there will be a different kind of walkthrough one day. I like the gesture of including it but the way its structured is making it pretty cumbersome to use.
And I can't be the only one to replay the episode to specifically make an Emmeline branch, although having the veggie sister as an LI would have been interesting too.
Additionaly I hope that there will be a different kind of walkthrough one day. I like the gesture of including it but the way its structured is making it pretty cumbersome to use.
- Jul 12, 2020
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jadepaladin
Well-Known Member
- Mar 9, 2020
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How so? You'd rather have a point a to point b style walkthrough with all choices mentioned instead, even if they don't matter for the route you're on?