VN Ren'Py Let the Nightshine In [v0.17 Ch. 2] [Sieglinnde]

[Sieglinnde]

Any answerers to my male domination question? Is that mostly only the ntr routes or is male domination present in the other route?

what was your question

 

[Sieglinnde]

Ok.
I feel like I finally have the word to describe why I stopped enjoying the game over the last few months.
"Uninspired"
I feel this describes how I every character is written. I feel this describes my excitement when it comes to the new updates and also were the game sits on the Devs priority list. (I could be wrong about that, I don't actually know him)
The amount of content per update was significant back when I still supported the game. Progress in the story seemed to move forward, slowly but surely. All 4 paths would get updated and Ari seemed introspective about her actions and how they would effect her relationship in each route. The Devs started working on "Living Together". And LTNI started getting 3 routes updated. Character progression slowed, but we still present. The game hit its peak story wise with Ari revealing to MC that she's been cheating. Moving forward, she had no reason to ever have sex behind MC's back because he literally cool with anything as long as he knows about it.
After that, Devs starts learning DAZ3D, announcing he's working on ANOTHER project starring Tifa. Again, route development takes another hit and we're down to only getting 2 routes getting minimal updates. After the cheating reveal with Ari and MC, there's been zero character development. Actually, I'm wrong, Ari has REGRESSED as a character. With dev's time split between so many projects, I guess "uninspired" story became the new norm, as Ari is right back to square one with having sex behind MC's back when she has no reason to do so. It makes zero sense to retread older story beats, but when you're no longer focused on this project I guess that's what happens. Adding lifeless characters to the NTR/Sharing route didn't help because NTR doesn't work without an emotional investment from the reader. There's no reason to GaF about Alice, or MC's "Uncle" but they are having more sex than he is and more screen time as well.
Anyway! I've shared my Positives of the game a LOT in the thread so felt that it'd only be fair to share my negative thoughts as well.
Tl:dr Game feels uninspired now. Ari/MC character development is a cyclical disappointment. Updates are super small so no longer worth my sub.

It's fine if you decided not to support me anymore because you didn't like the direction the game took, and I appreciate you letting me know in this way... I understand and respect that these are your personal considerations, and don't try to label something like “this is the way it is because I say so and if it's done differently then it's wrong” as some other people did, since you in many occasions showed how much you liked the game, so I take very much into consideration your vision about all this
It's possible that I have been a little bit saturated due to what happened lately with the release of my new game and so on (It was a difficult choice, but it was a step I must took if I wanted to keep working on developing games... Let the Nightshine in had became bigger than I expected, and the pressure of the criticism I was receiving)
In addition to other criticisms I received on this and my other game as well... I have more people praising and telling me how much they liked the games than people telling me how much they didn't like them, but it's weird... I was always susceptible and sensitive towards negative things regarding this, I guess it's because of the fact that some people forget that there's also a person behind the screen

 

[Joshy92]

It was really hot when Ari called and said she had sex with Tyrone.

 

[Tyktamsyl]

what was your question

My question is exactly that, is there a male domination focus in the non-ntr route?

 

[Turret]

It's fine if you decided not to support me anymore because you didn't like the direction the game took, and I appreciate you letting me know in this way... I understand and respect that these are your personal considerations, and don't try to label something like “this is the way it is because I say so and if it's done differently then it's wrong” as some other people did, since you in many occasions showed how much you liked the game, so I take very much into consideration your vision about all this
It's possible that I have been a little bit saturated due to what happened lately with the release of my new game and so on (It was a difficult choice, but it was a step I must took if I wanted to keep working on developing games... Let the Nightshine in had became bigger than I expected, and the pressure of the criticism I was receiving)
In addition to other criticisms I received on this and my other game as well... I have more people praising and telling me how much they liked the games than people telling me how much they didn't like them, but it's weird... I was always susceptible and sensitive towards negative things regarding this, I guess it's because of the fact that some people forget that there's also a person behind the screen

Hi again!
First off, I might be one hard and consistent critic of SOME parts of LTNI, but I also praise what i liked! For instance, I liked and still like the vanilla path of LTNi quite much and would also tell others to try it if they like stories in that vein. NTR paths, which I always played on fast forward for only completition reasons seems to be quite NTRish, so the fans of that genre should be happy. No problems on that front. And my critic was always aimed at the results of your handiwork, not you as a person.

The main elefant in the room is our opposed views on sharing or better said our differing views about the basic definitions of sharing. Despite what you seem to think, I never told you how to do sharing. At the beginning of the "NTR/Sharing" path I actually even gave you the benefit of doubt what you wanted to do. Then I waited for something resembling sharing and waited and waited and got nothing remotely resembling sharing. Even Griev, who went as far as insulting me months ago for my hardline stance, has now given up on the "sharing" path it seems. Going by his words, Arianna is back being an untrustworthy, lying cheater, which the MC should kick out sooner than later. And pardon me that is not and never will be sharing!

The thing is (and your only failure in this) you seem to think going by your posts that you can slap any label on a thing and call it that, no matter what others think. While there is a myriad variants of tables, in thousands of styles, the label "table" comes with some absolutely basic definitions and these are general! Telling someone you bought these nice table will give them an image of some table in their mind until you specify more. They will not imagine a couch or a fridge in their mind, when you tell them about a table!
And this is where you failed with the sharing path of LTNI! You tell us it is a sharing path, but it never happened to become a sharing path, because it does not meet that most basic criteria of sharing! Just look into some of the Sharing/Swinging/Netorase dedicated threads of F95, where you can easily see what the netorase fans like and dislike. They like openness, trust, characters deciding together, some rules they abide by (changes to these riules possible if BOTH agree), no humiliation (humiliation roleplay only if decided on together for some), characters showing some love and consideration to their SO.

LTNI simply does not have a path which meets even these basic criteria for any length of time! Starting the path with NTR stuff was not the best idea, but that could have been rectified (even a variant start of sharing like you intended) with a slow or fast shift towards sharing events. But this does not happen, there are one or two events you could call with some gooodwill sharing, BUT the Arianna of today is still a self-serving, untrustworthy weasel and cheater! And the events clearly NTR!

To put it figuratively, you tell us for months that you will make a car (sharing), but with a different start(NTR), so you lay down a ship keel(NTR) first. But instead of over time continuing to construct the promised vehicle carriage, you keep on working on the ship keel and constructing a ship. When the ship is nearly finished you tell us to look at the fine car you are making. And somehow you are surprised that many players are asking "what car? you are still working on the ship!"?

Bye! And still good luck with your games!

 

[Griev]

Hi and why are you surprised? That had been one of my main arguments months ago that in LTNI the "sharing" path is sharing in name only. NTR with a threadbare figleaf of sharing. It was clear to me from how the "sharing" path developed that Sieglinnde is incapable of doing sharing/swinging/netorase any justice. He is a pure NTR developer and that is okay, but then he should not say he makes a sharing path. He simply does not understand some basic tenets of how sharing works for the sharing fans.
That was obvious the latest when Pr0GamerJohnny a couple months ago explained his and my stance on sharing to Sieglinnde and got a "thinking face" smiley from him. A clear hint that Sieglinnde does not recognise these basics of sharing, he is too much of a NTR lover for it.
That is ok, but as said he should not tell the audience he makes a sharing path, because how that ends can be seen in LTNI. NTR costumed as sharing. There is a German proverb: "Schuster bleib bei deinen Leisten", meaning you should stay with and do what you are good at, not trying something you can´t.
In Sieglinnde´s case this means just making vanilla and NTR paths, which he is good at (I found e.g. the vanilla path of LTNI rather cute and nice). And not trying to take us for a fool with his supposed "sharing path".

I remember those conversations. I remember taking his side because you CAN have a sharing path that STARTS with cheating imo. But the couple would need to talk like mature adults, decide to stay together and move forward afterwards. I THOUGHT that's where we were going , and for awhile it was a legit Sharing path for a few updates. MC got with Mallory in front of his gf again. Ari had sex in front of him a few times. Then, Ariana just started cheating again with no reason to do so due to MC being ok with her having sex as long as he knows about it. Then after she cheats, she tells him that she wants to fuck the guy's dad. MC didn't respond immediately so say says no matter what he says she's just gonna do it anyway. MC just looks shocked and says nothing...
So basically the routes are changed once again!
Vanilla Route (cute, sweet but is treated more like a "what if?")
NTR Route (Ariana cheats and cucks MC)
NTR Route, Again (Ariana Cheats behind MC's back the whole time)
NTR Route, Again...Again (Ariana Cheats behind MC's back but with only 1 guy this time, and the guy also fucks her mom)

 

[Turret]

I remember those conversations. I remember taking his side because you CAN have a sharing path that STARTS with cheating imo. But the couple would need to talk like mature adults, decide to stay together and move forward afterwards. I THOUGHT that's where we were going , and for awhile it was a legit Sharing path for a few updates. MC got with Mallory in front of his gf again. Ari had sex in front of him a few times. Then, Ariana just started cheating again with no reason to do so due to MC being ok with her having sex as long as he knows about it. Then after she cheats, she tells him that she wants to fuck the guy's dad. MC didn't respond immediately so say says no matter what he says she's just gonna do it anyway. MC just looks shocked and says nothing...
So basically the routes are changed once again!
Vanilla Route (cute, sweet but is treated more like a "what if?")
NTR Route (Ariana cheats and cucks MC)
NTR Route, Again (Ariana Cheats behind MC's back the whole time)
NTR Route, Again...Again (Ariana Cheats behind MC's back but with only 1 guy this time, and the guy also fucks her mom)

Hi!
You post just confirms my opinion that Sieglinnde, despite his many statements, has zero grasp on Sharing stuff and looks at it only from a NTR perspective. He seems unable to see the differences. What you tell me about the last few "sharing" updates makes me glad I did not play this crap!

 

[Griev]

It's fine if you decided not to support me anymore because you didn't like the direction the game took, and I appreciate you letting me know in this way... I understand and respect that these are your personal considerations, and don't try to label something like “this is the way it is because I say so and if it's done differently then it's wrong” as some other people did, since you in many occasions showed how much you liked the game, so I take very much into consideration your vision about all this
It's possible that I have been a little bit saturated due to what happened lately with the release of my new game and so on (It was a difficult choice, but it was a step I must took if I wanted to keep working on developing games... Let the Nightshine in had became bigger than I expected, and the pressure of the criticism I was receiving)
In addition to other criticisms I received on this and my other game as well... I have more people praising and telling me how much they liked the games than people telling me how much they didn't like them, but it's weird... I was always susceptible and sensitive towards negative things regarding this, I guess it's because of the fact that some people forget that there's also a person behind the screen

I don't insult Devs, unless they are purposely ripping supporters off. You can have the absolute worst game ever made and I wouldn't insult YOU, as a dev. I also will never attempt to speak for anyone other than myself. I don't think you're a bad Dev by saying I feel that you may have become uninspired. Maybe you need a break? If you're down about the negative feedback, sometimes that can effect your creative output. Time away, could also allow you time to think more about the direction you want to go with the game, and its routes. Right now you have 3 routes that are all so similar in what they bring, that they may as well be 1 route. Right now, The Vanilla Path stands out. The other 3 blur together. Maybe it'd be a good idea to compress the paths and lower your work load? That should also decrease the pressure you place on yourself.
This is your game! Do what you want with it! But a friendly suggestion we be to focus on what you're good at. Your other projects (Living Together/ Tifa's Dark Heaven) focus on lying, cheating female characters with a gullible, idiotic MC. Why not just focus on a single path with that same sorta focus instead of 3 that all feel the same, just with different characters fucking Ariana. Just add them all to that single path. Relieve some pressure, lower your work load. With 2 paths, they can both be updated each month, and nothing is left ignored.

 

[iamvenom_t]

Sieglinnde You shouldn't even be in the trenches let alone read every single comment, unless you're a complete psychopath that is! And it's very apparent that you're far from one. Interaction with feedback is something that should be done where the fans are directly supporting you and you know for certain that they really are paid supporters. Even then, as the creator you shouldn't 100% cater to what they ask you to do. Most, if not all should be whatever tf you want! Quite literally.

P.S. If people really thought of other people as human beings the world would be a utopia, not a place where there's a good chance that a nuke might fall on our head.

 

[Oliz82]

Hello.

Sieglinnde You shouldn't even be in the trenches let alone read every single comment, unless you're a complete psychopath that is! And it's very apparent that you're far from one. Interaction with feedback is something that should be done where the fans are directly supporting you and you know for certain that they really are paid supporters. Even then, as the creator you shouldn't 100% cater to what they ask you to do. Most, if not all should be whatever tf you want! Quite literally.

P.S. If people really thought of other people as human beings the world would be a utopia, not a place where there's a good chance that a nuke might fall on our head.

Unfortunately, I can't agree with that. It would destroy the meaning of Sieglinnde participating here.

If a paid supporter would ask him/her to add harem, how is he/she supposed to react? I've often read on other threads that listening too much to Patrons was having a negative effect on the game itself.

We can't take comments only when they are positive. We can't take negative ones at heart either. A dev should use them to make his game better.

I already said it before but I can't help him/her anymore since I stopped playing after he/she switched from real porn to 3dcg, though I continued reading the thread because what most contributors write is interesting, with some exceptions, and I just participate when it's something more generic like this.

Your PS is wonderfully said but doesn't match our societies, more and more individualistic.

Good continuation.

 

[Kotobiki]

Hi and why are you surprised? That had been one of my main arguments months ago that in LTNI the "sharing" path is sharing in name only. NTR with a threadbare figleaf of sharing. It was clear to me from how the "sharing" path developed that Sieglinnde is incapable of doing sharing/swinging/netorase any justice. He is a pure NTR developer and that is okay, but then he should not say he makes a sharing path. He simply does not understand some basic tenets of how sharing works for the sharing fans.
That was obvious the latest when Pr0GamerJohnny a couple months ago explained his and my stance on sharing to Sieglinnde and got a "thinking face" smiley from him. A clear hint that Sieglinnde does not recognise these basics of sharing, he is too much of a NTR lover for it.
That is ok, but as said he should not tell the audience he makes a sharing path, because how that ends can be seen in LTNI. NTR costumed as sharing. There is a German proverb: "Schuster bleib bei deinen Leisten", meaning you should stay with and do what you are good at, not trying something you can´t.
In Sieglinnde´s case this means just making vanilla and NTR paths, which he is good at (I found e.g. the vanilla path of LTNI rather cute and nice). And not trying to take us for a fool with his supposed "sharing path".

Reading comprehension, meet Turret, it's your first time meeting but I hope you Will get al-wait, Turret, where are you going, don't ignore Reading Comprehension!

 

[Kotobiki]

Ok.
I feel like I finally have the word to describe why I stopped enjoying the game over the last few months.
"Uninspired"
I feel this describes how I every character is written. I feel this describes my excitement when it comes to the new updates and also were the game sits on the Devs priority list. (I could be wrong about that, I don't actually know him)
The amount of content per update was significant back when I still supported the game. Progress in the story seemed to move forward, slowly but surely. All 4 paths would get updated and Ari seemed introspective about her actions and how they would effect her relationship in each route. The Devs started working on "Living Together". And LTNI started getting 3 routes updated. Character progression slowed, but we still present. The game hit its peak story wise with Ari revealing to MC that she's been cheating. Moving forward, she had no reason to ever have sex behind MC's back because he literally cool with anything as long as he knows about it.
After that, Devs starts learning DAZ3D, announcing he's working on ANOTHER project starring Tifa. Again, route development takes another hit and we're down to only getting 2 routes getting minimal updates. After the cheating reveal with Ari and MC, there's been zero character development. Actually, I'm wrong, Ari has REGRESSED as a character. With dev's time split between so many projects, I guess "uninspired" story became the new norm, as Ari is right back to square one with having sex behind MC's back when she has no reason to do so. It makes zero sense to retread older story beats, but when you're no longer focused on this project I guess that's what happens. Adding lifeless characters to the NTR/Sharing route didn't help because NTR doesn't work without an emotional investment from the reader. There's no reason to GaF about Alice, or MC's "Uncle" but they are having more sex than he is and more screen time as well.
Anyway! I've shared my Positives of the game a LOT in the thread so felt that it'd only be fair to share my negative thoughts as well.
Tl:dr Game feels uninspired now. Ari/MC character development is a cyclical disappointment. Updates are super small so no longer worth my sub.

Now to take seriously the actually well elaborated commentary. I don't necessarilly disagree with what you said, but I do think the "sub-route" (I hate that name with a passion) does have a very valid reason to be. People being repeat offenders is a very real thing. Reasons are varied: deep down knowing she's getting too deep into it so doesn't want MC to notice that (IE believing he wouldn't be okay with her being emotionally invested in someone else). Developing an addiction to the secrecy/cheating aspect but not wanting to admit it. Simply being too hard-headed and whimsical to admit to yourself you shouldnt do something (IE Ariana basically believing she's sure she can control herself from doing something without permission this time even if shes drunk, even if she failed all the times before, shes sure she can keep herself in control this time! Right..?), etc.
I think a path with someone who can go and say "I fucked up" and try to fix things, only to trip again on the same stone is a concept pretty neglected in cheating and NTR genres so it's worthy of getting it's own path rather than just keeping her as exclusively repented smooth sailing relation or as purely cheater with little to no regrets. In NTR games its always "MC never finds out she's cheating", "MC finds out but keeps quiet", "MC finds out and the relationship is magically fixed and she's now a faithful GF" or "MC finds out she's cheating till the clímax so even if she does cheat again it doesn't really matter storywise". "She's a cheater but MC finds out soon because she tries to fix things, but starts cheating again" is different than all the other paths we have and than most NTR game stories in general so I'm p interested in how this path develops.
Although updates are def getting too small which is why I've not popped in much, but given how long some of the other games I play like Zombies Retreat and Lisa take to put in significant concent I'm kinda getting used to on waiting for updates to pile up before going through múltiple at a time rather than just having a small taste every update.

 

[Griev]

Now to take seriously the actually well elaborated commentary. I don't necessarilly disagree with what you said, but I do think the "sub-route" (I hate that name with a passion) does have a very valid reason to be. People being repeat offenders is a very real thing. Reasons are varied: deep down knowing she's getting too deep into it so doesn't want MC to notice that (IE believing he wouldn't be okay with her being emotionally invested in someone else). Developing an addiction to the secrecy/cheating aspect but not wanting to admit it. Simply being too hard-headed and whimsical to admit to yourself you shouldnt do something (IE Ariana basically believing she's sure she can control herself from doing something without permission this time even if shes drunk, even if she failed all the times before, shes sure she can keep herself in control this time! Right..?), etc.
I think a path with someone who can go and say "I fucked up" and try to fix things, only to trip again on the same stone is a concept pretty neglected in cheating and NTR genres so it's worthy of getting it's own path rather than just keeping her as exclusively repented smooth sailing relation or as purely cheater with little to no regrets. In NTR games its always "MC never finds out she's cheating", "MC finds out but keeps quiet", "MC finds out and the relationship is magically fixed and she's now a faithful GF" or "MC finds out she's cheating till the clímax so even if she does cheat again it doesn't really matter storywise". "She's a cheater but MC finds out soon because she tries to fix things, but starts cheating again" is different than all the other paths we have and than most NTR game stories in general so I'm p interested in how this path develops.
Although updates are def getting too small which is why I've not popped in much, but given how long some of the other games I play like Zombies Retreat and Lisa take to put in significant concent I'm kinda getting used to on waiting for updates to pile up before going through múltiple at a time rather than just having a small taste every update.

I agree with everything you've said, but the issue is none of the characters have shown that kind of depth. Everyone is 1 dimensional. Ari doesn't have depth to her character other than, I want to have sex so I'm gonna have sex with whoever I want, whenever I want. Don't get me wrong, that's 100% ok, but as players it's not our responsibility to create those scenarios in our own head to force some kind of mental or emotional turmoil or growth on Ariana to MAKE her a deeper character than what she actually is. In game Ari doesn't seem to struggle with her choices at all, she's carefree and just does what she wants because she can. Her bf is a towel, and wouldn't voice his displeasure no matter what she's doing, and she knows it. She doesn't HAVE to grow. She doesn't HAVE to question her actions because there's no repercussions for them. MC isn't gonna leave. He's just gonna take it, and beat off to it.
To sum it up, the way she's written in all 3 NTR routes is the same. Ari does what Ari wants, when Ari wants to do it. Her bf wants to hangout? She says no. Lies about homework, sucks and fucks someone else. She might send him a pic later idk. MC has shocked look on his face like he can't believe she's doing the same thing she's always done... rinse and repeat for multiple updates.

With NTR/NTS they don't really HIT when you aren't emotionally invested in the characters and their relationship. The NTR stings, because you liked reading about their relationship and how well they got along. Now it's being ruined, and the NTR genre preys on that tension, jealousy and anxiety. MC has the anxiety But, you can't beat a dead horse to death... it's already dead. So his constant shock at Ari sucking Tyrone's dick for the 100th time and sending him a pic of it can only be done so many times.
With NTS you have to feel attached to their bond. 1 core tenant NTS relies on is trust. I don't even know if MC trusts Ariana, more so that he's just knows he can't stop her from fuckin who she wants to fuck. So he just goes along with whatever she does with zero input or agency within the relationship. I should probably stop calling him the MC because he's not, SHE is. After all, it's HER that's given every choice to determine which route the reader takes. He's mainly a background character that is acted upon depending on the choices Ariana made.
Backtracking to what I said about NTS only working when you care about their relationship; Outside of the Vanilla route, which is super cute and I love it, no other route makes them feel like a couple that you'd want to root for. I find myself thinking Ariana would be better off with Tyrone. He was her best friend before she dated MC. They get along well, she confides in him ,tells him everything, hides nothing from him , and according to her she's obsessed with his cock. She's in love with Tyrone. She lies to her bf to sneak off to have sex with him even in the "sharing" route. I'd rather see THEM together tbh! There's zero need for MC. That's NOT how NTS works...lol

anyway thanks for replying. Sorry for Wall-o-Text! It's been a while so...

 

[Akabakka]

It's true that some MC from those NTR games , could use once every while reminders over why the girls are so hellbent on staying with them . In this case , I'm not so sure i understand why Ari sticks around , other than fulfilling a commitment , and only staying true to that one . Her best friend feels more in love with the MC , at this moment .

Mind you , I'm fine with how things are , but it's the kind of nuances and added depth that could make it better

 

[Kotobiki]

I agree with everything you've said, but the issue is none of the characters have shown that kind of depth. Everyone is 1 dimensional. Ari doesn't have depth to her character other than, I want to have sex so I'm gonna have sex with whoever I want, whenever I want. Don't get me wrong, that's 100% ok, but as players it's not our responsibility to create those scenarios in our own head to force some kind of mental or emotional turmoil or growth on Ariana to MAKE her a deeper character than what she actually is. In game Ari doesn't seem to struggle with her choices at all, she's carefree and just does what she wants because she can. Her bf is a towel, and wouldn't voice his displeasure no matter what she's doing, and she knows it. She doesn't HAVE to grow. She doesn't HAVE to question her actions because there's no repercussions for them. MC isn't gonna leave. He's just gonna take it, and beat off to it.
To sum it up, the way she's written in all 3 NTR routes is the same. Ari does what Ari wants, when Ari wants to do it. Her bf wants to hangout? She says no. Lies about homework, sucks and fucks someone else. She might send him a pic later idk. MC has shocked look on his face like he can't believe she's doing the same thing she's always done... rinse and repeat for multiple updates.

With NTR/NTS they don't really HIT when you aren't emotionally invested in the characters and their relationship. The NTR stings, because you liked reading about their relationship and how well they got along. Now it's being ruined, and the NTR genre preys on that tension, jealousy and anxiety. MC has the anxiety But, you can't beat a dead horse to death... it's already dead. So his constant shock at Ari sucking Tyrone's dick for the 100th time and sending him a pic of it can only be done so many times.
With NTS you have to feel attached to their bond. 1 core tenant NTS relies on is trust. I don't even know if MC trusts Ariana, more so that he's just knows he can't stop her from fuckin who she wants to fuck. So he just goes along with whatever she does with zero input or agency within the relationship. I should probably stop calling him the MC because he's not, SHE is. After all, it's HER that's given every choice to determine which route the reader takes. He's mainly a background character that is acted upon depending on the choices Ariana made.
Backtracking to what I said about NTS only working when you care about their relationship; Outside of the Vanilla route, which is super cute and I love it, no other route makes them feel like a couple that you'd want to root for. I find myself thinking Ariana would be better off with Tyrone. He was her best friend before she dated MC. They get along well, she confides in him ,tells him everything, hides nothing from him , and according to her she's obsessed with his cock. She's in love with Tyrone. She lies to her bf to sneak off to have sex with him even in the "sharing" route. I'd rather see THEM together tbh! There's zero need for MC. That's NOT how NTS works...lol

anyway thanks for replying. Sorry for Wall-o-Text! It's been a while so...

I half agree with you here: I think this can be summed up to something you kinda said yourself without notiicing even if you seemed to initially propose then contrary - its not that Ari lacks depth, its MC who does. Ariana is same across all routes barring the twists that happens... And thats not bad writing wise, that's consistency. The issue is that MC is a blank slate himself barring a few minor characteristics.
Ariana can have dilemmas, done so multiple times... And as you've mentioned, there being multiple routes is pretty much based on her actions rather than MCs. The issue is MC himself doesn't have reactions with big enough impact for her to have a big change since in the end all the decisions are up to her. Now I don't mind this too much personally to be honest since I play games mainly for the girls, I don't self-insert as MC all that much, but I get why this might be a issue than what I take it as.
If I were to name and example, NTRd by Clumsyness made me like all 3 MCs: FMC, MC/NTRd and Netori, they all had unique traits beyond plot related characteristics. Ariana has a personality beyond plot characteristics. So does her mom, Tyrone, Malory or even Rose with her limited screentime. MC not really, as you said he's not really gonna do anything regardless of the choice, its Ariana who decides if she feels to taking an action that would change the path or do something that might legitimate cause character actions beyond "Oh, I'm surprised you're into cuckolding".

 

[Griev]

I half agree with you here: I think this can be summed up to something you kinda said yourself without notiicing even if you seemed to initially propose then contrary - its not that Ari lacks depth, its MC who does. Ariana is same across all routes barring the twists that happens... And thats not bad writing wise, that's consistency. The issue is that MC is a blank slate himself barring a few minor characteristics.
Ariana can have dilemmas, done so multiple times... And as you've mentioned, there being multiple routes is pretty much based on her actions rather than MCs. The issue is MC himself doesn't have reactions with big enough impact for her to have a big change since in the end all the decisions are up to her. Now I don't mind this too much personally to be honest since I play games mainly for the girls, I don't self-insert as MC all that much, but I get why this might be a issue than what I take it as.
If I were to name and example, NTRd by Clumsyness made me like all 3 MCs: FMC, MC/NTRd and Netori, they all had unique traits beyond plot related characteristics. Ariana has a personality beyond plot characteristics. So does her mom, Tyrone, Malory or even Rose with her limited screentime. MC not really, as you said he's not really gonna do anything regardless of the choice, its Ariana who decides if she feels to taking an action that would change the path or do something that might legitimate cause character actions beyond "Oh, I'm surprised you're into cuckolding".

Whoa Whoa Whoa! Ariana and consistency don't even belong in the same sentence lol. She's written all over the place! That was her initial appeal to me as a character; She was SO inconsistent that she couldn't stick to her own words. I thought it was funny/cute that she could inner monologue for 1 scene than go against all of it in the next... because Cock! Now if you meant that she's consistent in a "so inconsistent that you can consistently count on her being inconsistent" then I agree!
She reminds me of a toddler. You ever hand a toddler a toy and as they walk towards it, you pull out a second toy, the forget they ever wanted the first one, and head towards the second one instead? That's how Ariana works, but its 4 toys, and the toys are dicks...

 

[Sieglinnde]

How about a mod that changes every mention of "god" into "Jehova"?

View attachment 3723523

i would do it if it wasn't oddly specific

 

[Kotobiki]

Whoa Whoa Whoa! Ariana and consistency don't even belong in the same sentence lol. She's written all over the place! That was her initial appeal to me as a character; She was SO inconsistent that she couldn't stick to her own words. I thought it was funny/cute that she could inner monologue for 1 scene than go against all of it in the next... because Cock! Now if you meant that she's consistent in a "so inconsistent that you can consistently count on her being inconsistent" then I agree!
She reminds me of a toddler. You ever hand a toddler a toy and as they walk towards it, you pull out a second toy, the forget they ever wanted the first one, and head towards the second one instead? That's how Ariana works, but its 4 toys, and the toys are dicks...

I didn't say "her actions are consistent with her words", I just said she's consistent lol. Being consistent in having double standards is also a form of consistency, people just for some reason twist the meaning of consistency into only a positive thing normally when consistency just means... consistency, be it for the good or bad lol. All Ariana's choices make sense to her character, and her character is liberal, horny and emotional, she's the type who can say I love you then get drunk and fuck someone else, and both aspects of this character being true to her lol. Ariana's plenty consistent, in being a girl in a candy shop as you called it, if she doesn't get caught and told off from trying the candy that catch her eye, she will, and once she finds out she can get away with it, she will continue to indulge.

 

[Griev]

All Ariana's choices make sense to her character, and her character is liberal, horny and emotional,

I mean yea... If you paint it like THIS, ANYTHING she does makes sense to her character. She could order Pineapple on her pizza, take a bit and spit it out because she hates Pineapple on Pizza. It'd make sense! She could Wear a MAGA hat to the polls as she's voting for Biden. She could do any amount of contradictions and according to how you describe her, it'd make sense.
If she's a schizo, then everything makes sense 100%.

She's a, lets say "free spirit" before the game starts. Becomes completely faithful on a dime after she meets MC. Has 1 drink, becomes a "free spirit" Again. Stops for a few weeks to be faithful to MC ...again. Has 1 drink, goes back to being a "free spirit". She could have had sex with Tyrone when she was single but waited until she got into a relationship to do so. Consistently inconsistent. BUT if you paint her as a character that just does anything they what, changing her mind on a whim you can excuse any of those inconsistencies as "just Ariana being Ariana!".
It also gives the Dev a "Get out of jail free card" to Do anything he wants with the character free of any critique from supporters. Any in game decision she makes that seems odd will be seen as "Just Ari being Ari!" you know how she is! She can change on a dime, that liberal, horny, emotional girl!

 

[Joshy92]

I mean yea... If you paint it like THIS, ANYTHING she does makes sense to her character. She could order Pineapple on her pizza, take a bit and spit it out because she hates Pineapple on Pizza. It'd make sense! She could Wear a MAGA hat to the polls as she's voting for Biden. She could do any amount of contradictions and according to how you describe her, it'd make sense.
If she's a schizo, then everything makes sense 100%.

She's a, lets say "free spirit" before the game starts. Becomes completely faithful on a dime after she meets MC. Has 1 drink, becomes a "free spirit" Again. Stops for a few weeks to be faithful to MC ...again. Has 1 drink, goes back to being a "free spirit". She could have had sex with Tyrone when she was single but waited until she got into a relationship to do so. Consistently inconsistent. BUT if you paint her as a character that just does anything they what, changing her mind on a whim you can excuse any of those inconsistencies as "just Ariana being Ariana!".
It also gives the Dev a "Get out of jail free card" to Do anything he wants with the character free of any critique from supporters. Any in game decision she makes that seems odd will be seen as "Just Ari being Ari!" you know how she is! She can change on a dime, that liberal, horny, emotional girl!

I don't know about all that but damn I love seeing Ariana getting blacked.

Could you imagine Ari getting pregnant but we tell everyone the baby is mine? Poor Tyrone would be devastated but he is just a beta so his feelings are irrelevant.