They are honestly both kinda lame, in the stereotypical sense, but more than that, it's the delivery that feel the lamest (to me)... and this one just went turbo, with Mordecai being all "you're too cool dude, and you're such a cool dude I'm gonna make you the cool dude in chief, because just by looking at you I can tell that I can count on you, and also I'll be gone soon for reasons you can't understand" has to be the most obnoxious plot contrivance I've seen in a while, if ever xD.
that's the kind of shit that happen when your creativity get on the backseat, and you take ideas from retards.
OOH! Does this mean I can share my awful ideas too?
I feel like with either route of NWO/SMR, they kinda feel rushed to get that point in a narrative sense. The only thing really blocking you in getting to Aria in the first place is stat grinding and a countdown for X number of days once you fight a couple Cyker people, not narrative pacing, and after that, the big obstacle is stat grinding, based on what your decision is. I think Caitlin's quest is probably the best designed from a narrative standpoint. I feel like the narrative impediments to the quest make sense, so even though some of it *is* just countdowns and whatnot, it's still more satisfying than getting stats right, then going to X and killing Y.
That said, now that the Mastersphere has been accessible for such a long time, I feel like you should have the option to accompany Caitlin there. Maybe if your intelligence, tech, and medicine stats are high enough, you can trigger events with her to help speed up the process (that could also be folded into the other waiting areas).
But back on topic.
I feel like having some thing in the middle of these quests is needed. Really, everything feels a little anemic (haven't tried the new SMR content though, so some of this may be in the new update).
Just a few ideas off the top of my head:
Intro:
If you don't get Aria within a certain number of days after she's made available, House Cyker gets her. You can continue to ignore it, and if Control and Cyker Power reaches certain thresholds, she gets broken by them. Alternatively, if Control or Cyker Power is too low, there's a chance she can escape. Alternatively alternatively, you can help break her out, and either capture her for yourself or let her go for the revolution.
Middle:
If Aria is in your power, you can get the chance to rub elbows with some of the other prominent people in town. Make the choice between bringing her or not (with an automatic penalty for the odds of success if you don't), with how well behaved she is affecting your fame/prestige and Kymanto Power. Use this as an introduction to House Adler and maybe the other Great Houses so you can meet characters earlier, and maybe even potentially start getting the attention of some of them like Arizona and Kansas. Could also include the chance for special events triggering at the Golden Dragon or the Orient.
Also, depending on your power level, Aria's feelings for you, and the Control level, maybe you can be randomly beset by rebels trying to free her. Presumably, if her feelings for you are high enough, she's signaling people not to intervene. And, as a flipside to the earlier suggestion, if your and Kymanto's Power levels are insufficient, House Cyker might come after you to get Aria for themselves.
End:
Like I said, haven't done the SMR stuff since it was just an option to sell Aria, but I can see this splitting down a few paths, based on your decisions. Like a loyalist path where you work on behalf of House Adler, and a coup path where you either betray him to make someone else Chancelor or take the role yourself. Maybe include options based on your standing in the Senate and other factions, like CTM or other religions.
For the NWO path, I think being again that your role in the Senate and your relationship with Aria could both inform your role in the new regime. Like, if you broke Aria but still took part in the revolution, you could let her take over, claim the title for yourself (easier if you have Senate backing), or have her as your puppet. Have the ability to order/persuade her on policy without having to release her from your household, and have events in the Senate/Palace about policy and such. Maybe include a "flock" system that's basically setting up a clash between you and Ezra. If Ezra can convince people you're treating Aria as an abused puppet they'll become hostile against you. You could get people on your side by maintaining high affection and marriage with Aria, working with her on policy rather than controlling her, etc. Or just not be political and leave the policy to others.
Also, I feel like whatever your treatment of Aria is, Kymanto and Cyker should have a follow up to your decision. You should have to either accept getting booted from Kymanto, or be able to convince them that installing Aria is going to be in their best interest.
Obviously, I'm not expecting any of this to make it in the game, and I'm sure it'd be a lot of work to include even if Grim was interested in something akin to it. Just putting it out there.
I have been asking for more vendors/job-givers
Might have to be male or unattractive females though, or someone is going to want to make her permanently a resident of his house and not interactable on the map anymore.
I think the solution is more akin to something that should be done for Caitlin's clinic or letting Mae work with her father: Make these jobs/titles that they work in that area like any other job, but have them be interactable with a couple of slides and flavor text based on what their job is, their skills in that job, and the conditions of the workplace.
There's kinda already a framework for this in how Michelle is treated before you add her to your house.
Definitely think there should be such a thing for jobs like Performer at your taverns and the Golden Dragon. I feel like going to the Dragon to see one of your girls perform as an event is kind of a no brainer, with the chance to earn more prestige based on how well they do that night. Also, I'm surprised there's not a Performer role for the Orient, and a little surprised there's not one for Furry's, though I think that one could include some risks (if not from guests, than from Furry) and an affection hit.
I definitely think it'd be cool to be able to open a shop so you could unload items for a varaible income based on differing factors like your manager's skills and whatnot. I think it might also be a cool way to introduce the Carroza faction if they're trying to shake you down, and open up the possibility of paying them protection money, allying with them, or wiping them out.
Also, is there still no reward for wiping them out? Feels like there should be.
So, is there a way to bring Madame Stuckey and her slaves into the house? I have a suggestion: expand the map, establish overseas colonies, or even other planets. You could also increase the number of captives you can carry. You could set up a scenario where when you go on an expedition, it's not just you and your entourage, but also a group of mercenaries or slaves. Instead of showing these people individually, you could use more general descriptions, assuming they're useful. Honestly, I've always felt that for the most powerful person on a planet, the MC's actions and outings are a bit shabby.
I think before we go to other planets, we should be getting some of the surrounding territories. There's the Kingdom of David which comes up in dialogue a bit but we haven't actually gotten to (And is presumably where Rachel's quest is supposed to go), Ivardin, New Tokyo, and Lake City, and another continent.
