VN Ren'Py Completed Now & Then [v1.00.0] [ILSProductions]

[JMan9200]

I mean, MC's had to explain the relationship a few times--to Naomi, Sydney, and Hana, at least. And it's pretty much the same explanation every time (so points for consistency, I guess): (1) we love each other, and the societal structures are dead, so who cares; and (2) the world's all gone to shit, so we might as well take pleasure when and where we can find it. The second isn't wrong, necessarily, but it really feels like it cheapens the "we love each other, and who's to say we can't do that now?" The first is owning it; the second is apologizing for it. Own it, MC.

But I continue to believe that Carol is and will always be MC's #1. As further evidence, I consider what Hana told MC when she wanted him: "I talked with Carol, since she's the Queen Bee, and she said it was OK." We don't have to trust Hana's perceptions, of course, but that she sees it that way is notable. More notable is that MC accepts it. Leaving aside whether he should have believed Hana, "Carol said it was OK" was all he needed. He didn't ask about Naomi or Alice; Carol was OK, and that was enough.

And I guess we could quibble about what "give it all up" means, but I think Carol knows where she stands:
View attachment 5351857

Got it. This is some good insight for later. I haven't gotten to this point yet, but yeah I get what you're saying. Carol to me is absolutely what you see in a lot of anime/manga/haremlit as the "first girl" or sometimes called the "legal wife" or "head wife/head of the harem." So for sure if Carol in the beginning took the stance that MC can't be with anyone else, or rejected a LI or put more limits in place we'd be playing a very different game. But since she was open to Naomi and then Naomi makes it clear to Sydney that Carol's approval is necessary before MC does anything with her, it definitely makes sense that she's that last door any new LI needs to get through. I just think that when they do all become official lovers later on (for those that do besides Carol i.e. Naomi, Sydney, etc.), the MC isn't going to start choosing between any of them at that point, but I'll have to see how it all plays out in the end to get a better idea.

To give a parallel to better explain it, since I just realized we're both also recently active in the Cosy Cafe thread, Carol is like the Lucy of that game here. However, I also think and hope that once each girl becomes part of the harem, they're all on the same playing field, like Vicky, Sarah, and so on become in that game. They are very different games though, so lots of nuance separates them, but in my idealized version of a harem ending, it's a good example.

This is also just how I probably would imagine an advanced epilogue of N&T if the game never actually says this outright too lol. Like I know both Carol and Sydney could end up pregnant for example, so I can't see a scenario where MC is just leaving Sydney out randomly years later because Carol changes her mind one day, as important as her approval was early on, there comes a point where the LIs do or should become equals in my opinion.

Anyway, with all the choice deviations there are so many ways it can play out and one random early decision could probably change a whole convo chapters later so everyone is going to get some variations in their playthrough either way.

 

[danb35]

so many ways it can play out

True. I saw what I just posted, but it's entirely possible others wouldn't see it if they made different choices.

 

[Laxus007]

What exactly happened during Halloween? It was brought up a few times by Naomi but the exact details are still vague.
I know someone tried to rufie the girls

 

[danb35]

A friend of Naomi's brother was at least being a creep. I don't recall if he actually assaulted either of them, but (they thought) it was at least headed in that direction.

 

[mordred93]

What exactly happened during Halloween? It was brought up a few times by Naomi but the exact details are still vague.
I know someone tried to rufie the girls

Girls snuck out and went to a party. There was a potential roofie (date rape drug) in a drink and the girls got freaked and left. The guys didn't want them to leave, so the MC showed up to pick them up. Choice to beat the crap out the kid, or not.

 

[Laxus007]

Girls snuck out and went to a party. There was a potential roofie (date rape drug) in a drink and the girls got freaked and left. The guys didn't want them to leave, so the MC showed up to pick them up. Choice to beat the crap out the kid, or not.

Choice to beat the kid? I don't remember this popping up

 

[JMan9200]

Choice to beat the kid? I don't remember this popping up

I don't recall this part either, but still haven't finished yet. However, the creepy guy at the Halloween party is one of the two thugs who tries to capture Naomi when you first find her in the city. You can't kill him at this point in time since he gets away no matter what, but then he shows up again later with the other bandits and you need to kill him at the school. Naomi recognizes him after he's killed and removes his bandana mask and explains that it was him from the party. He's the baseball helmet guy. I think his name was Rodney.

 

[mordred93]

Choice to beat the kid? I don't remember this popping up

From my walkthrough.

 

[JMan9200]

From my walkthrough. View attachment 5361013

Oh wow! Haha I assumed the Halloween special would be epilogue content, but you know what that tracks if this part of a "Then" flashback.

 

[Laxus007]

Is there a solo Sydney path in the game?
Can you avoid Carol romance?

 

[JMan9200]

Is there a solo Sydney path in the game?
Can you avoid Carol romance?

You can eventually reject everyone or just choose one per the walkthrough, but the early content with Carol is unavoidable.

 

[Strategus]

Torent doesn't appear to be loading

 

[danb35]

Brewing beer and playing ILS games--good way to spend a morning.

death of emmie

My response to that a week ago confused it with the death of Missy (which did serve a purpose in the plot, as I addressed then), partially because I hadn't seen it yet. Oof.

I'd seen her encounter the Infected in the woods, which would have been enough to know she was a goner. But no, it wasn't enough. And though I don't think I would have reacted the same way MC did (the last time I felt like I needed a drink, I immediately realized the last thing I needed was a drink), I don't think I blame him. And I haven't yet seen past the end of that chapter, so I don't know what plot fallout there will be, but...

• It got Hana and Carol talking again
  • And somewhat surprisingly, Carol's at least semi-OK with MC and Hana having sex
  • Seems like Carol's a little too forgiving there, but she has a good point that compared to the two traumas of the past two days, it's a relatively minor thing.
• It gave us freeuse Hana
• I don't know what the fallout with McCreary will be, but there can't not be any
• ???

I'm wanting to like Hana, but she isn't making it easy.

I see that some of the reviews complain about the "then" segments later in the game, saying they don't really do much for the story. I think I'm starting to agree. For example, after MC wakes up with his hangover, he discusses with Carol that he didn't drink much, or even have much alcohol around the house, out of concern for being a bad example for her. OK, well and good. We then get a "then" scene of a Hallowe'en party where MC has this conversation with Julie. Sure, Julie-as-Wonder-Woman was easy on the eyes, but this really didn't add anything to the story.

 

[Maviarab]

I'm wanting to like Hana, but she isn't making it easy.

Best girl IMO.

That aside...I cannot wait for Ava to get around to this. She has issues with the Toxi MC hehehe.....

 

[danb35]

Best girl IMO.

I'll assume you've finished the game, so you know more than I, but I expect we're going to disagree here. But she'd move up on my list quite a bit if she'd stop being so standoff-ish. The frustrating thing isn't so much that she doesn't like MC and his group (they invaded her home; I don't or wouldn't blame her), but rather that she likes them just fine, but feels the need to put up the front of not liking them.

 

[Maviarab]

if she'd stop being so standoff-ish.

I have yes. Took me three attempts I'll admit (due to many reasons I'll not get into now as they have all been said before by others and some you can guess). I've also done many of the solo routes so know first hand how bad it can get coding wise/making sense at times.

I will however say: She does.

 

[danb35]

I will however say

Good to know, though not a big surprise--it does (as of the end of Ch. 22) look like we're seeing hints of that, and that'll definitely help my opinion of her. At this point, Carol's my #1, and while that could yet change, I kind of doubt it will:

• She's MC's #1, and I self-insert
  • MC tries to deny this, but she and everyone else know it's true
  • As just the most recent proof, consider the situation with Hana. Hana lies that Carol's OK with their being together, because Hana thinks Carol's the Queen Bee. MC accepts that because Hana's right. Afterward, Carol gives MC the green light as long as she doesn't know about it, and again he accepts that. In no case do Naomi's or Alice's feelings even come up. Even when MC's talking with Alice (or Carol with Naomi) about it, the only issue is that Hana went behind Carol's back; none of the four of them suggest that Naomi or Alice should have been consulted.
• She's probably the most emotionally stable of the group
  • Certainly among the four LIs currently at the Marshland house, and quite possibly including MC as well. It's harder to compare her against Julie or Sydney; Julie in particular might beat her, but we haven't spent much time with her in "Now"-time
  • She's the only one I recall having the sense to tell MC that he's being a dumbass--and he listened to her.
• Probably related to the above, she doesn't have a whole lot of shit to deal with, at least from her past.
  • Obviously the TEOTWAWKI scenario is going to produce some, but she doesn't have the kinds of issues that Hana, Naomi, Alice, or Sydney do.
• Granting that Sydney's hotter, Carol's still pretty cute.
  • Looks aren't a major factor here; they're all plenty good-looking.

The only real competition I could see would be someone about MC's age, who would be more of an equal or partner. This might be Alice, but while she's grown on me a lot, she's still kind of a ditz (which I don't intend to be mean; I know at least some of it is dealing with both the physical and the mental trauma--but regardless of the reason, her mind just isn't all there). But Julie's free now, headed his way, and has feelings of her own for him. And MC's known her longer than anyone else. And Carol had even considered trying to hook them up.

We'll see how long it takes for me to finish. The non-stop trauma is, I think, getting to me a bit, so it may be a little while before I go for Ch. 23.

 

[Maviarab]

Good to know, though not a big surprise--it does (as of the end of Ch. 22) look like we're seeing hints of that, and that'll definitely help my opinion of her. At this point, Carol's my #1, and while that could yet change, I kind of doubt it will:

• She's MC's #1, and I self-insert
  • MC tries to deny this, but she and everyone else know it's true
  • As just the most recent proof, consider the situation with Hana. Hana lies that Carol's OK with their being together, because Hana thinks Carol's the Queen Bee. MC accepts that because Hana's right. Afterward, Carol gives MC the green light as long as she doesn't know about it, and again he accepts that. In no case do Naomi's or Alice's feelings even come up. Even when MC's talking with Alice (or Carol with Naomi) about it, the only issue is that Hana went behind Carol's back; none of the four of them suggest that Naomi or Alice should have been consulted.
• She's probably the most emotionally stable of the group
  • Certainly among the four LIs currently at the Marshland house, and quite possibly including MC as well. It's harder to compare her against Julie or Sydney; Julie in particular might beat her, but we haven't spent much time with her in "Now"-time
  • She's the only one I recall having the sense to tell MC that he's being a dumbass--and he listened to her.
• Probably related to the above, she doesn't have a whole lot of shit to deal with, at least from her past.
  • Obviously the TEOTWAWKI scenario is going to produce some, but she doesn't have the kinds of issues that Hana, Naomi, Alice, or Sydney do.
• Granting that Sydney's hotter, Carol's still pretty cute.
  • Looks aren't a major factor here; they're all plenty good-looking.

The only real competition I could see would be someone about MC's age, who would be more of an equal or partner. This might be Alice, but while she's grown on me a lot, she's still kind of a ditz (which I don't intend to be mean; I know at least some of it is dealing with both the physical and the mental trauma--but regardless of the reason, her mind just isn't all there). But Julie's free now, headed his way, and has feelings of her own for him. And MC's known her longer than anyone else. And Carol had even considered trying to hook them up.

We'll see how long it takes for me to finish. The non-stop trauma is, I think, getting to me a bit, so it may be a little while before I go for Ch. 23.

I assume you're doing the full harem? More will be turning up at the house You make fair points though, I never really gelled with Carol though even though as you say, she is the MG.

(and God only knows why he put cedrtain endings in if not on a girls path ugghh.)

 

[danb35]

I assume you're doing the full harem?

I assume that's the way the WT mod goes, so yes (I think).

More will be turning up at the house

Other than the two already en route? Because I assume they'll make it (especially since one of them is pregnant with MC's child).

I never really gelled with Carol

Fair, and I've never been one to judge another's preferences in LIs (other than Cass in Artemis--F that bitch).

 

[LokkenJP]

I assume that's the way the WT mod goes, so yes (I think).

Other than the two already en route? Because I assume they'll make it (especially since one of them is pregnant with MC's child).


Fair, and I've never been one to judge another's preferences in LIs (other than Cass in Artemis--F that bitch).

Yes. The WT guides you to the full harem ending, opening as much as possible from the gallery in one go. But even in the harem ending there is always a single main love interest that get special attention in the ending cutscenes. It’s up to you to choose one (the WT will give you some advanced warnings of this as the time to choose is approaching, assuming you’re using the latest v4 version I uploaded a few days ago)

If in your game there are already two more people en-route to the final house, then no, there is no one else pending.

Hope you’re enjoying the game!
(And give a chance to Hana, every game needs a “I-can-fix-her-tsundere” character, and it was her in N&T; her ending is one of the most touching ones. Maybe not the first choice, but definitely is worth loading a save afterwards to see her extended final scenes as main LI)