Ren'Py Lessons in Love [v0.54.0] [Selebus]

[DeSkel15]

Indeed, it is entirely possible we haven't even seen the big bad yet, that the ones we may have thought to be in that role might just be pawns themselves. Considering we aren't in the dark route yet, I'm going to have to assume that the dark route might just begin with the arrival of this mastermind, something so much worse that the entire situation gets exponentially worse. Something so powerful that nothing, and I do mean nothing, is outside the realm of possibility, that what we've thought of as being a really bad thing some of us may not want to see is only a fraction of how bad this is really going to get. Assuming this theory comes to pass in its entirety, we may actually be seeing the birth of something even more gruesome and disturbing than the rest of the Denpa genre combined plus Berserk, quite possibly the most disturbing piece of fiction to be written by a small developer.

Yeah, I feel like Nao set up a few things, including the "pain yet to come" as it puts it:

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Not to mention, the level of gods:

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And to be honest, HOPE, in particular, seems to be comparable to a child in the grand scheme of things:

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With Sensei just being it's favorite character:

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Whether or not Sel can stick the landing, I can't say, but I'm definitely interested in watching the realization of what's really going on, "come to light", as Nao would put it:

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Also, personally, I'm hoping this game never comes close to shit like the "Crossed" comics. Now, I like to think I'm rather tolerant. But eating babies or crucifying your pregnant children, for more or less just shock value, is kind of a... "I'm out" situation, lmao. Existential Horror is fine though.

 

[saerav]

My problem with HOPE's warning isn't about if it's going to be absolutely terrifying or just all bluff. Instead it's about how dragged on it is without serious shit happening from an update-to-update player perspective.

Well, that's the main problem, isn't it? The pacing is much more bearable when you're playing the whole thing at once, but even then, the width of this game's character cast, alongside (at least in my opinion) an effort on Selebus' part to not rush things (which is generally good, don't get me wrong) means that when you're playing update to update the pace is glacial, even with what I would say a decent amount of content pumped out every month, at least when compared to most other games.

 

[Marie IV]

I get that what Selly wants is this thread deleted, but he's being megalomaniacal and irrational, because all that would do is ensure his growth completely and permanently stagnated. Every time this thread pops up on the latest updates page, thousands of people who have never heard of it before get the opportunity to discover it for the first time.

I was so excited to have found a game with writing on par with, or potentially comparable to Black Souls. Nothing else on this site (or in modern fiction entirely) compares to it in my view, and so I fell hard for the slowburn that is LiL almost immediately, sinking hours into reading the walls of text that came with it.

Then came the Patreon-rant fourth wall break. Then another. And another.

In my opinion, no work of art can ever truly be separated from artist. An artist and who and what they are is just as essential for contextualizing the art itself, at least in my eyes. Which makes it such a damn shame since the "art" went from so good to so bad that I had to stop playing the game and just ask myself "what the hell is the artist rambling about" instead of what the character is rambling about.

Now instead of actually playing the game and experiencing said "art", I'm instead reading through a thousand pages of F95 thread text because the rambling here, on porn-pirating site, is somehow more unnerving and thought-provoking then the rambling in-game. At least it seems necessary to do so now in order to fully understand the game; that is if I ever bother to pick it up again.

A bit of a gravedig so apologies if you get a ping or whatever for this. This statement just resonated with me the most, wherein I am almost wishing I never was recommended this game at all after reading what you had to say.

 

[dramires11]

compress pls?

 

[DeSkel15]

I was so excited to have found a game with writing on par with, or potentially comparable to Black Souls. Nothing else on this site (or in modern fiction entirely) compares to it in my view, and so I fell hard for the slowburn that is LiL almost immediately, sinking hours into reading the walls of text that came with it.

Then came the Patreon-rant fourth wall break. Then another. And another.

In my opinion, no work of art can ever truly be separated from artist. An artist and who and what they are is just as essential for contextualizing the art itself, at least in my eyes. Which makes it such a damn shame since the "art" went from so good to so bad that I had to stop playing the game and just ask myself "what the hell is the artist rambling about" instead of what the character is rambling about.

Now instead of actually playing the game and experiencing said "art", I'm instead reading through a thousand pages of F95 thread text because the rambling here, on porn-pirating site, is somehow more unnerving and thought-provoking then the rambling in-game. At least it seems necessary to do so now in order to fully understand the game; that is if I ever bother to pick it up again.

A bit of a gravedig so apologies if you get a ping or whatever for this. This statement just resonated with me the most, wherein I am almost wishing I never was recommended this game at all after reading what you had to say.

As someone else who came here from Black Souls, I can definitely see what you mean.

Personally though, I just press the skip button when stuff like "Raid" shadow whatever shows up. I subject myself to it the first time, but like the recent Bojack Horseman stuff, I'm thinking it's just there to "set a tone", and more or less intended to be filler, so that things don't feel too monotone. What's being said isn't important as far as I can tell. Some of the 4th wall stuff can be interesting, but it does seem more interesting for the writer than the player at times.

The story itself is still good though, and sometimes I even wonder what is more interesting: the story or what exactly the writer was thinking when they wrote it.

 

[DeSkel15]

compress pls?

My suggestion if you want compressed (go to the previous post):

There's the previous version:

You can then add the current .33
update, such as this:

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to the compressed .32 version.

If you're planning on using Joiplay, then you might have to make a folder within the Events folder also called Events and place the new Events images there, then switch the folders to give the game the ability to load them as they occur. It's manageable, but annoying. So, I guess take that into account depending on what you're using.

You can then add the current .34 update to it:

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[Bingoogus]

Hasn't his Subscribstar support completely stagnated since this thread got quarantined? I know Vehemental commented on it a while back but i've never bothered to keep tabs on it myself.

 

[butterfly boy]

That's because nobody earned the wrath of the gods...yet. We could be seeing snow next reset, even if it is going into spring as that can actually happen in Japan plus the way things are in the game's universe could mess with the weather, so at that point HOPE's wrath will have been earned if Sensei does not do what was ordered. Also, this game has a tendency to NOT lead up to big messed up things, instead going for the fast and hard approach to leave no chance for further warning that something is going to happen besides a few background references like the egg. This, for there to be no setup pointing a bright neon sign at what's coming before it actually hits, is common. He isn't the type of developer to telegraph is every move.

As far as the cutesy stuff we're used to, just because he hasn't done the big stuff yet doesn't mean he's incapable. He's following the lead of some of the most disturbing games and anime of all time, he knows what they do. At best, his showing all this cutesy stuff is to throw us off so we go into the real messed up things off guard for the greatest effect.

This game kind of reminds me of Madoka Magica in a way. There's cute girls doing cute girl stuff with cute girl magic:

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Then all of a sudden Existential Horror:

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And sometimes things gets a little graphic:

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I do agree with both of you that the dark stuff can happen. Ultimately, I don't really care about how dark this game can go, but what matters is if that dark stuff is meaningful towards the story and character progression, rather than just being there for cheap shock value.
I'm just somewhat disappointed because I think the whole mystery/gods side of the story could have been expressed in a more engaging way instead of being cryptic all the time, it's hard to take it seriously when the vast majority of the game is slice of life/drama and the protagonist of this "mystery" story isn't even interested in the mystery...
Regardless, I still trust in Sel's writing ability. He's had some really good events in Chapter 2 and 3 and the improvement in his writing is noticeable. I'm interested in seeing how will he approach this "dark" phase.

 

[butterfly boy]

Hasn't his Subscribstar support completely stagnated since this thread got quarantined? I know Vehemental commented on it a while back but i've never bothered to keep tabs on it myself.

I first started reading this five months ago and it was about $10600? And now it's $11000. The growth rate definitely dropped.
Though stagnation for him is probably a good thing, he can't really keep the puzzle answers secret if the community is bigger. A cult is supposed to be small after all.

 

[Marie IV]

The story itself is still good though, and sometimes I even wonder what is more interesting: the story or what exactly the writer was thinking when they wrote it.

It's especially tragic to me, because when I look up the artist behind Black Souls, I get a thread about how the creator used funds from his game to support an ailing family member. And when I look up Selebus, I get... well, [deleted user] arguing with randoms on piracy website over God Hope knows what, and an apparent obsession with making the most money possible.

Even disregarding rights or wrongs between F95 and Selebus, it's impossible to ignore this aspect now and just enjoy the fiction since I can expect to hear one-sided rants all about it in his game anyways. Which is fine I guess, it is his game; and thus his medium to produce a narrative, especially that of anti-religion (or "heavy religious critique" as he puts it), or just his own narrative of his experience elsewhere. At that point I would be more invested and willing to donate to his autobiography instead.

Im sure the game continues fine, I'm just terribly dissapointed that all I have to expect from LiL now is just another porn game with a narrative focus, and not the exceptionally written masterpiece I initially believed it was.

I'm hoping that as his personal hatred of me fades, the truth of my words will stick around and percolate, and something positive will result in the long term from my participation here.

yea literally

 

[Mori Enjoyer]

hoping for a pta meeting event with all the milfs when spring comes

dont know how the spring reset will work if it will progress through summer and end in the fall season or go straight to winter with summer/winter resets being 6 months each, that or a god is gonna die soon.

 

[jimmyjoo]

Check the Wiki for the requirements, there is a whole list of event needed to be seen and be beyond 220 days

You must be registered to see the links

(Bookmark the Wiki, great reference for help getting through the game)

Then use the Puzzle Guide on the 1st page of this thread for the answers to get through the Event "There is Nothing"

I had been using that and had completed all required previous events.

 

[DeSkel15]

It's especially tragic to me, because when I look up the artist behind Black Souls, I get a thread about how the creator used funds from his game to support an ailing family member. And when I look up Selebus, I get... well, [deleted user] arguing with randoms on piracy website over God Hope knows what, and an apparent obsession with making the most money possible.

Even disregarding rights or wrongs between F95 and Selebus, it's impossible to ignore this aspect now and just enjoy the fiction since I can expect to hear one-sided rants all about it in his game anyways. Which is fine I guess, it is his game; and thus his medium to produce a narrative, especially that of anti-religion (or "heavy religious critique" as he puts it), or just his own narrative of his experience elsewhere. At that point I would be more invested and willing to donate to his autobiography instead.

Im sure the game continues fine, I'm just terribly dissapointed that all I have to expect from LiL now is just another porn game with a narrative focus, and not the exceptionally written masterpiece I initially believed it was.

I just ignore all of the drama, tbh. As long I'm being entertained and the Creator isn't going around choking strangers or trying to ruin the lives of innocents, it's no big deal to me. Most people suck anyway.

Also, I find this game rather religious all things considered. There's god stuff around every corner. Maya definitely seems "anti-religious" though, which is funny considering she's a shrine maiden that prays to a god every once in awhile at least. Yasu's whole thing is also being apart of a minor religion, and Tsuneyo has her own religious beliefs. I suppose even Ayane sees Sensei as a god:

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[DeSkel15]

hoping for a pta meeting event with all the milfs when spring comes

dont know how the spring reset will work if it will progress through summer and end in the fall season or go straight to winter with summer/winter resets being 6 months each, that or a god is gonna die soon.

Yeah, I was actually wondering about that. Imagine if HOPE just kills Pareidolia to skip Spring or something. That'd be interesting.

 

[ccxvidonaferens]

I suppose even Ayane sees Sensei as a god

She certainly seems to worship him like one. And she's not the only one either.

 

[DeSkel15]

She certainly seems to worship him like one. And she's not the only one either.

Yep, Sensei is kind of like an accidental cult leader at this point. He just wanted to fuck teenagers, but ended up becoming their god.

That actually seems to be a big part of the game, with even Sekai writing a poem about it:

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Anything can be a "god".

 

[alex2011]

Yeah, I feel like Nao set up a few things, including the "pain yet to come" as it puts it:

Spoiler

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Not to mention, the level of gods:

Spoiler

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And to be honest, HOPE, in particular, seems to be comparable to a child in the grand scheme of things:

Spoiler

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With Sensei just being it's favorite character:

Spoiler

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Whether or not Sel can stick the landing, I can't say, but I'm definitely interested in watching the realization of what's really going on, "come to light", as Nao would put it:

Spoiler

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Also, personally, I'm hoping this game never comes close to shit like the "Crossed" comics. Now, I like to think I'm rather tolerant. But eating babies or crucifying your pregnant children, for more or less just shock value, is kind of a... "I'm out" situation, lmao. Existential Horror is fine though.

As much as it might seem like I'm complaining or in someway hold a negative opinion about these possibilities, I'm actually excited to see a game potentially setting up to push boundaries in ways and to levels that rarely get pushed. I'm kind of an anything goes type, no limits, so even topping Crossed would be fine with me personally speaking. I still get disturbed by it in the short term, though.

What I said is still just a guess, though. It almost looks like he's setting up for something huge to happen at the change in route, but as usual, I could always be wrong.

I do agree with both of you that the dark stuff can happen. Ultimately, I don't really care about how dark this game can go, but what matters is if that dark stuff is meaningful towards the story and character progression, rather than just being there for cheap shock value.
I'm just somewhat disappointed because I think the whole mystery/gods side of the story could have been expressed in a more engaging way instead of being cryptic all the time, it's hard to take it seriously when the vast majority of the game is slice of life/drama and the protagonist of this "mystery" story isn't even interested in the mystery...
Regardless, I still trust in Sel's writing ability. He's had some really good events in Chapter 2 and 3 and the improvement in his writing is noticeable. I'm interested in seeing how will he approach this "dark" phase.

There's only so much you can say without giving out too much, which threatens to ruin any big reveals in the future connected to the specific information being given. If he's setting up something big for the future like I've theorized, then being cryptic about things at this point does serve to not accidentally expose too much and ruin the potential impact. We're looking at what could possibly be the future entrance of the real main antagonist according to my theory and, if he's trying to make it some big thing, giving what he's planning away will ruin that.

There have always been two sides going on in parallel with this game. You have this sort of slice of life element you mentioned, that's what is going on with the girls, Sensei, that side of things. Then there are the darker themes that started almost completely quarantined to 'happy' scenes and have been slowly leaking into the main and/or events over time. The more this leak goes on, the less slice of life and the more dark element we'll see until things finally hit their peak somewhere that I would have to guess is further within the dark route than I theorized about the entrance of the main antagonist. That is when things will be at their worst, most gruesome, most disturbing point in the entire game.

Yeah, I was actually wondering about that. Imagine if HOPE just kills Pareidolia to skip Spring or something. That'd be interesting.

Now that you say this, HOPE does seem like the 'do whatever is deemed necessary' type that would do something drastic if it meant getting his way. Killing Pareidolia, or any character really, would be considered something drastic considering that might be a way to get rid of that pesky spring getting in the way of the winter he's looking for.

 

[DeSkel15]

As much as it might seem like I'm complaining or in someway hold a negative opinion about these possibilities, I'm actually excited to see a game potentially setting up to push boundaries in ways and to levels that rarely get pushed. I'm kind of an anything goes type, no limits, so even topping Crossed would be fine with me personally speaking. I still get disturbed by it in the short term, though.

What I said is still just a guess, though. It almost looks like he's setting up for something huge to happen at the change in route, but as usual, I could always be wrong.

Now that you say this, HOPE does seem like the 'do whatever is deemed necessary' type that would do something drastic if it meant getting his way. Killing Pareidolia, or any character really, would be considered something drastic considering that might be a way to get rid of that pesky spring getting in the way of the winter he's looking for.

Yeah, I'm fine with pushing boundaries, it's just that "Crossed" didn't really just push boundaries. It satired them in a way. That's something I'd like this game to avoid. I'd rather suffer watching a character suffer than feel the need to laugh at the ridiculousness of it.

Like if Rin gets raped, I'd much rather not end up feeling cringe from it.

Yeah, some Immortal Kombat sounds interesting, although it's possible that HOPE is actually dead at the moment anyway. I don't recall seeing it since Sekai showed up, albeit I could be forgetting.

 

[BlackDays]

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Thanks for this. It's part of what i meant in one of my previous posts, with Pareidolia trying to push Akira towards a certain point/state.

This is also something for you DeSkel15
Back to the book selection. I don't think the 3rd book is about Pareidolia, or it wouldn't have something against Akira falling into it.

I guess what the text in the picture refers to will be the entry point to the dark route, in conjunction with "Take something you're not supposed to have.".
That something i believe could be Maya. Akira states this at least one time.
Maybe Maya will tempt him to fuck her somewhere around or during a Happy Event or reset, which will trigger the dark route.
I guess it will also bring up (maybe again, like past iterations) full blown predator Akira.

There's also Laverne (a "Day of the Tentacle" character ^^) Maya (the creepy looking one in the shadows).
Maybe Laverne Maya is the Maya that recklessly fucked some Akira iterations to death and into a reset.
Which is kind of interesting given her speech about how horrible it was to watch all the people/her friends getting reset and therefore forgot all they experienced together, and so, losing them.

Because if the destruction of an Akira iteration means imidiate reset, then she'd have been responsible for what she says was horrible. And she must have known this.
Her urges must have been pretty bad, but i guess she deemed those Akira iterations as disposable for whatever reasons.
Wonder what changed that. Was it told? Maybe i forgot. Maybe she thought if she just tossed the dices often enough, the real Akira would return.
Success i guess.

 

[DarkDaemonX]

I was really surprised when "Anything & Everything" added a real 100 points to Maya's affection points, I had to check her page to make sure it was real.