VN Ren'Py Love & Jealousy [Act 2] [Professor Amethyst Games]

[DeviantFun]

DeviantFun can you verify whether the Act 1 from April on patreon is the original or was there an even earlier version and reuploaded?

Done checking, I see no instances of the dialogue Dios mentioned, so my memory was working fine.

I think it was sort of created in his mind to try and make sense of why the pimp would torture Mc for three months for no reason at all aside being a horrible human being with no empathy.

 

[Maviarab]

Done checking, I see no instances of the dialogue Dios mentioned, so my memory was working fine.

I think it was sort of created in his mind to try and make sense of why the pimp would torture Mc for three months for no reason at all aside being a horrible human being with no empathy.

Yeah, of all the things that do happen...this promise you won't say anything for three months is a really odd one.

 

[DeviantFun]

Yeah, of all the thiungs that do happen...this promise you won't say anything for three months is a really odd one.

We needed a strong motivation for that, or at least the reverse of what Dios said: Mia tellling Mc to wait three months to give Lacey time to get clean, so MC could wonder and then BOOM full exposition.

But instead we get this, which really doesn't put Mia in a good light, even if we accept that there was no ill will in it, you have to be VERY inconsiderate and unempathic to decide a specific amount of time on a whim.

 

[Diosvincenccio]

I think it was sort of created in his mind to try and make sense of why the pimp would torture Mc for three months for no reason at all aside being a horrible human being with no empathy.

Could be, maybe i should make myself checked. Anyway thanks for revising the previous script.

 

[DeviantFun]

Could be, maybe i should make myself checked. Anyway thanks for revising the previous script.

haha I didn't mean it like that .

I only meant that you tried to make sense of one of the pretty nonsensical things that happen.

 

[DeviantFun]

And since we went through the scripts again I noticed something that I find strange: Lacey is the only character whose love increase is tied exclusively to sex.

Every other LI has love increases through interactions, calls and so on, but not Lacey.

I tried to rationalize it by saying that Lacey and MC's love is so cemented that only great moments of intimacy actually strengthen it more than it already is, but then the scenes are mild at best.
For example in act 2 both chances (aside from the slut path which is not that great) are very mild, "would you like me to drain your balls?" and "help me get off, please" kind of scenarios.

Ok this could be chalked up to showing care, but then why only sexually?

The slut path (which was arguably the best in act 1 due to the deep understanding and openness MC and Lacey achieve), is kinda bogus in act 2, this whole GF experience thing that should "substitute" their prom night is really weak, and if you factor in Mia hand in the dress (and Lacey going through with it) is rather disgusting.
I couldn't see why MC didn't have the chance to refuse everything (and maybe even be pissed off), in act 1 you actually could, and it made a lot of sense.

Anyway, nothing major here, but it did leave me scratching my head for a sec.

 

[Maviarab]

I tried to rationalize it by saying that Lacey and MC's love is so cemented that only great moments of intimacy actually strengthen it more than it already is, but then the scenes are mild at best.

I woiuld rationalise it more as her cementing her hold/control over him....turn her down...don't increase her base points (100) then there may be trouble ahead in the future for her as he no longer sees her pussy/mouth as all that is sacred and holy.

 

[DeviantFun]

I woiuld rationalise it more as her cementing her hold/control over him....turn her down...don't increase her base points (100) then there may be trouble ahead in the future for her as he no longer sees her pussy/mouth as all that is sacred and holy.

This is a good point I never want to make because if it unintentional really throws a lot of shade at Lacey and MC too.
I don't think those two events are related to this behaviour as they happen in relatively innocent moments...

...BUT every time Lacey fucks up or needs something from MC...sex is used:

Lacey does a heart to heart with the man that humiliated her husband in public (shows how little she cares sadly)? sex

MC lets Lacey go on the business trip? rewarded with sex.

MC is in a crysis because Isaac came to the house? sex (this one through Anna).

Bastion? Phone sex.

MC gets promoted? sex.

The win against Jared and the JD could be others but the conditions are very different so I will not count it here.

I don't know if this is intentional by the author, but it does seem that Lacey uses sex to control him and he is such a gooner that is completely fine with it.
Granted, I am not diminishing sex as a mean to get closer or to end a quarrel (talking is still needed), but it seems to be a constant thorough the story.

edit:
I forgot to mention that if this is intentional and eventually gets recognized...well it would be a sign of great writing and foreshadowing.

 

[FifouWeb]

I haven't read the whole topic and apologize if the subject was discussed before.
IMO, a gallery would be a great feature for this game.

congratulation for the good job

 

[DeviantFun]

I haven't read the whole topic and apologize if the subject was discussed before.
IMO, a gallery would be a great feature for this game.

congratulation for the good job

iirc the author didn't have much faith that L&J would get any traction, but I believe that feature could come with the new acts.

You could always browse the images in the folder...

 

[Diosvincenccio]

Gallery should be a standard in those kind of games by now, not just in this, in all VN.

What i really would like is a chosen start, aka... Start in Act X after answering a few questions. Act 1 is really long, and as more acts are added having separate saves for different routes is gonna be a necesity more than convenience since the route split is fairly early. A start with pathmaking would be convenient.

 

[Maviarab]

I haven't read the whole topic and apologize if the subject was discussed before.
IMO, a gallery would be a great feature for this game.

It really wouldn't. The scenes are few and far between and even then, consist of a few images (he is thinking/planning adding some animations). See below...

You could always browse the images in the folder...

Far easier...not like therte's insane branching and lewd scenes to be found all over the place.

Gallery should be a standard in those kind of games by now, not just in this, in all VN.

Dunno...I never use them.

What i really would like is a chosen start, aka... Start in Act X after answering a few questions. Act 1 is really long, and as more acts are added having separate saves for different routes is gonna be a necesity more than convenience since the route split is fairly early. A start with pathmaking would be convenient.

Honestly, if just crate a main save file at the branch in say slot 6....then can make new saves off that. And in this, there is so little decision making, it takes a few mins max to tab through to catch up. How I made all mine. Skipping stops at text you have no read yet (on any variations). Even quicker is right clicking the 'skip button' but can't use on this one and wouldn;t work well anyway given so few decision sections.

 

[CrysusPariah2]

I haven't read the whole topic and apologize if the subject was discussed before.
IMO, a gallery would be a great feature for this game.

congratulation for the good job

Dev confirmed in a patreon post that he hopes to implement a gallery in a future release

as DeviantFun stated, dev didn’t think that the game would take off as much as it did

I’d like having a gallery too. Currently there wouldn’t be much point to it besides just establishing it, as the story is pretty much on rails and nothing you can accidentally miss at the moment. Once there are more releases and the branches are further expanded, it you be a nice way to keep track of any content missed or track scenes from other routes.

 

[DeviantFun]

Gallery should be a standard in those kind of games by now, not just in this, in all VN.

What i really would like is a chosen start, aka... Start in Act X after answering a few questions. Act 1 is really long, and as more acts are added having separate saves for different routes is gonna be a necesity more than convenience since the route split is fairly early. A start with pathmaking would be convenient.

Honestly? I don't care as much, I'd rather have more story.

It wou;d be a little nice touch, but in the end this isn't a AVN with that focus, it does have explicit scenes (actually less vanilla than many) but I doubt people play it for the "art" component.

I have several saves of points I like to replay and menaningful choices, and like none of very few of them are sex scenes.

As for the arc selection that would be very interesting, even on fulll skip act one is several minutes long!
That said....how many peoplle play L&J more than once?

 

[Diosvincenccio]

It wou;d be a little nice touch, but in the end this isn't a AVN with that focus, it does have explicit scenes (actually less vanilla than many) but I doubt people play it for the "art" component.

It wasnt a complaint to this game in specific, it was meant as a expression of desire, every VN should have a gallery or scene replay by default. If you use it or not its another thing.

That said....how many peoplle play L&J more than once?

The very fact that YOU say this... its hilarious. So yeah, theres a few that have replayed the game a few times that come to mind.

 

[Maviarab]

That said....how many peoplle play L&J more than once?

So yeah, theres a few that have replayed the game a few times that come to mind.

 

[gino.pilotino]

how many peoplle play L&J more than once?

I have just started the second round.

 

[gino.pilotino]

I have to say that the second round, even though I know what's coming, hurts more than the first one.

 

[CrysusPariah2]

I have to say that the second round, even though I know what's coming, hurts more than the first.

Welcome to the club
Congrats for pushing through
Don’t let it stress you too much and if you need to talk, everybody in this thread has been through it and will lend an ear

 

[DeviantFun]

Welcome to the club
Congrats for pushing through
Don’t let it stress you too much and if you need to talk, everybody in this thread has been through it and will lend an ear

Eh the surprise might be gone but the frustration from MC inability to defend himself or even take a simple stand will be always there.

He is unable to protect himself or even Lacey (she needs protection from herself too), going to great lengths to actually amplify the damage as much as possible (with the help of our resident monster).

Even in act 2 where we could hope for some emotional growth we still get our whiny wet blanket sort of care bear attitude.
And Lacey doesn't respect his wishes and takes stupid decisions because he can't be a pillar to stand on, he is always in need (not a justification, she still acts like an ass) and he is never in charge.

I said it once already being good because you can't be anything else, doesn't make you good, it makes you weak.
If he chose to be good while having the potential to be dangerous....well that would have been a different thing.

I am in the office today so I don't have the files with me, but iirc even when he finds the fake video, he goes there, shouts a bit and then leaves...the description of ptsd is done well, but he is still completely ineffective.

Show us that he is fed up, show us that anger that is more than posturing, so far his only victim is a phone or a slap to Lacey in punish route (where he also runs away instead of fixing what he has done, very mature).

And I don't mean to imply that he should get physical all the time(or at all), but instead of running away with the tail between his legs, stand there, send other people away, gain control, be assertive.

Face Mia, face Anna, face Barty damn it, face someone, and I will give leeway on facing Lacey and then caving because that is his weakness.

How can you let what Mia has done slide? How can you let what Anna has kept secret (tennis + drugs) slide?

Anyway, this is why L&J is so hard to read, if you try and immerse yourself in MC, his lack of ability and actions and his inherent weakness does transmit impotence and lack of agency.