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I am back, v0.46 is currently uploading, so the free release should be within the next 3-4 hours.
A fair few comments here! I certainly have no military background and I'm very happy to get feedback and information from those who do. I'm someone who really struggles when characters in tv, games and film don't behave consistently or believably, I just can't get over it. So anything that helps me do that with my own characters is very welcome.
Like I said there really isn't two armies alike. Even the US military is vastly different than that of the UK (histories and traditions are different) When you look at movies/games/film look at the context of where the characters come from. Why was a Roman legionnaire able to commit mass murder, mass slaughter (or being slaughtered) as well as being worked like mules to build roads and etc...? The Roman society was different--just remember the society loved blood sports I do have to temper that somewhat though, the story has to come first. Not that I believe that realism and accuracy get in the way, just that sometimes the sacrifice is worth it. Although in this case, I do believe it is realistic. So, no military background, but I do have a recent degree in Psychology (done part time over 6 years) and my job does involve analyzing and managing behaviors, although managing client/customer behavior is very different to managing combat situations!
For the most part each person's experience in the military is different even if they are trained to a similar standard. Most never see combat or battle, so in part that is good, but if you're willing, have mental toughness, talent, and drive well funding militaries will get the most out of you
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With regards to the Harem and multiple romance content...
I don't really see this going down the traditional "harem route". Especially after I just said what I did about realism! Whilst I don't hate it, I always find it jarring with harem games where smart, sexy, desirable women decide to all shack up with one guy because he is above average looking, is kind of nice to them and has a big dick.
Porn logic
My intention here is that he is going to be living a high pressure, high intensity life along with a bunch of other people doing the same thing. That committed romantic entanglement is going to be impractical and difficult to cultivate so they are happy to use each other for sex and friendship, but not necessarily more than that.
It's your world build... you build the society, its norms, culture, attitudes, laws, etc. Hey in Ancient Egypt brothers married their sisters. You don't have to mirror today's realities, just make your world build understandable to where the audience follows along
That is certainly true of the older women - Zara, Emelia and Isabella. They are all much older than the MC and even if they weren't in the situations they are in, they wouldn't realistically consider a long term committed relationship with him because of the age difference.
Or... like in human nature older men prefer younger women and if in your world build, having lots of children is important, that normal takes on greater importance. So, your older characters are battling reproductive walls of finding a mate themselves
Then you have those of a different species - Saga, Felsia, Xanthe, Kaisa and Caitlin. Saga & Felisia's culture isn't one that has committed relationships, the concept is kind of alien to them. Xanthe & Kaisa are... complicated, but their lifestyles are totally unsuited to a committed relationship or giving the slightest shit about who else the MC might be involved with. Caitlin is one I haven't yet worked out, there are a number of ways I could do it based on the unique nature of her race, but I'm not quite there yet. But the age difference with her is... extreme... so there is always that.
But how do your "creatures" view human males and females? You could have one species be more like goblins when it comes to human women (I think you know what I mean) and it would make for a good story to have the MC having to defend the women
Heidi, Gabriella and Lyra are the ones who are going to be tricky to get right, because they are in the age range that is ok, they are both strong, intelligent, confident women who have no need to accept anything less than exactly what they want. So... I'm still debating with myself how to progress their relationships beyond physical need but without a care that they MC has sexual relationships with other women.
The Sinclair girls are different and that is perhaps where a more traditional 'open harem" might well work. If they ware willing to cross one big no-no of a line, then it's easier to see them breaking another. Plus, trust and reliance is a big part of what brings them altogether so that also fits.
How does your world build society see such relationships... what are society's expectations... whatever those considerations are going to affect them--that is another hurtle to get over, and you might have fun working out those problems
So, for most characters, you can't lock them out for sure. I might consider a lock-out sort of route with Lyra, Gabriella, Heidi, Caitlin or the Sinclairs. But, if I did, I would make it obvious what is happening and a choice as to how you proceed or... maybe something like a "good end" type short stub of a story.
To the person who said they couldn't access The Academy mission... that isn't happening on any of my test versions - have you gone through the Alice camping trip event? As that is the precursor to it.
Basically...
It should be fun planning and writing your fictional world to share with us. As you go along you are going to evolve the world build as your characters evolve. History is a good guild to draw inspirations from... a society with a high mortality rate is going to be vastly different than one that death isn't an everyday possibility... just as a conservative theocratic society is going to be very different from a liberal free society
