VN Ren'Py Our Red String [Ch. 12 Full] [Eva Kiss]

[BlandChili]

Eva would need a bigger budget to implement every single choice that you and I would have liked. Let's keep in mind that Chapter 2 was made in a month.

Which is completely fine.
I'm not saying Eva should endeavour to cover all bases, just that there are some options that would have been nice, hypothetically speaking. I just refuse all these rationalisations being given for it, there is no argument that counters my wish completely, I have no illusions about the constraints around making a game of this nature.

I'm not demanding that the specific scenario I have in mind should be implemented, just that it's an element among others that can consolidate into a playthrough that feels like it contains less content. It's a natural result of games like this, I just comment here because I pity myself.

Apparently, when Lena rejected Robert's kiss, even if she didn't mind the date, she didn't like Robert's reaction that followed and wasn't comfortable with him to continue seeing him. And, mind you, in your situation, your Lena defined her opinion of Robert previously by saying "You're okay" (she doesn't even like him as a friend).
When Robert asks Lena about her opinion of him, she can say "I like you" (you didn't have that option it seems, otherwise you would've picked it for the desired outcome), "You're okay" and "I barely know you". If you choose the "I like you", then Robert feels confident enough to kiss her right away. If you choose "I barely know you", Lena can only reject him after that. If you say, "You're okay", then Lena can choose to agree with Ivy's earlier suggestion and go for the kiss herself just to forget about Axel, or she decides to reject the kiss because she doesn't feel comfortable with Robert. Again, you should've had higher approval to say "I like you". Isn't that what you're asking for with Ian's path? For relationship score to matter? In one instance, you want it, in another, you don't.

And all the following events are completely fine as well, there is nothing wrong with it and I understand the rationale behind all of it.

I just wanted another option.

 

[manscout]

I think the interactions with Robert are fine for the type of character he is, but he feels extra sucky when you consider Alison to be kind of his counterpart for Ian's side of the story (both kinda kinky and obssessed with the player's character).

I think there are two issues at hand and mixing them doesn't help the discussion.

The first is that Lena gets only Ian and Holly as choices for "nice and well-developed" relationships, while Ian gets Lena, Holly, Alison, and Cindy. And even if Ian doesn't pick one of them, they can still play interesting parts in his story, meanwhile, if refused in Lena's side of the story, Robert gets Lena fired and then dissapears from the story and Mike becomes a background character you can barely interact with. (I have hopes there will be a 2nd and hopefully more romantic entry point for a relationship with Louise, and if not then I expect lonely shut-in Louise to eventually look for some company with her other roommate, which would at least be an interesting side plot)

The second is how limited Lena's choices currently are to enter some relationships, this complaint does not really apply to Robert imo, he has some options and variance there (nowhere close to what Alison gets but still), but it is kind of an issue with Louise (until a 2nd entry point is added) and definitely an issue with Mike, specially when you compare Mike with Cindy.

Cindy and Mike are both there for the cheating and "stealing" them from someone else kink, but with Cindy, Ian needs to hangout with her multiple times, listen to her deepest feelings and desires and support her, go through a lot of back and forth teasing, only to then finally have an opportunity to act on their feelings and pursue her. Meanwhile Mike's entire character before Lena needs to make a decision is: He is a DJ, he is hot, he has a girlfriend; do you want to seduce him?

It really feels like all the nicer characters are centered around Ian's part of the story, which leaves Lena with less "nice" content, and that is made worse when the characters centered around Lena's side of the story don't seem to receive much development if you don't follow a "lusty" route (Robert dissapears, Mike can hardly be interacted with, Stan is a bit ignored if Lena scolded him and isn't making stalkfap content, Louise is a bit standoffish and participates in less events). Of course this might all be rectified in the next update if Chapter 8 has a good ammount of scenes for those characters that can happen outside of their "lusty" routes, but for now that's why Lena's route feels a bit more empty than Ian's to me.

 

[Leonardovisk]

I think the main route for Lena, if you dont go to Ian, is Mr. Seymour/Axel.

Some kind of distropic relationship. Looks like EvaKiss put a lot of work into that arc.

Mike, Louise, Robert...they are there just to farm points.

 

[BlandChili]

I think the main route for Lena, if you dont go to Ian, is Mr. Seymour/Axel.

Some kind of distropic relationship. Looks like EvaKiss put a lot of work into that arc.

Mike, Louise, Robert...they are there just to farm points.

I don't think we should see anything as "the main route" necessarily.

In my ideal playthrough Lena doesn't get involved with Axel at all. We'll see if Seymour eventually forces the issue.

Isn't Seymour just there to farm points too? You can just choose not to model for him.

 

[Leonardovisk]

I don't think we should see anything as "the main route" necessarily.

In my ideal playthrough Lena doesn't get involved with Axel at all. We'll see if Seymour eventually forces the issue.

Isn't Seymour just there to farm points too? You can just choose not to model for him.

The great Saymour just for farm?

How could you? (kidding)

 

[Princess Groundhog]

The great Saymour just for farm?

How could you? (kidding)

I wouldn't be surprised if Seymour has an actual farm. With ponygirls and cowgirls.

 

[Leonardovisk]

I wouldn't be surprised if Seymour has an actual farm. With ponygirls and cowgirls.

In fact hes farming Lena, for photograph points!

 

[Cabot]

The first is that Lena gets only Ian and Holly as choices for "nice and well-developed" relationships, while Ian gets Lena, Holly, Alison, and Cindy.

I would argue that an AxelxLena v2.0 "nicer" or at least healthier relationship isn't out of the question, and anyway Ivy should also be considered as a possible well-developed and slow burn relationship. That way Ian and Lena would have a simillar amount of options without introducing new characters.

But, I guess, yeah if someone don't go for the IanxLena route AND don't dig clingy Louise AND don't want to get involved with Axel AND don't consider Ivy as a potential partner AND don't encourage Holly to be less shy AND don't mess up with Mike because he has a gf... then I understand how Lena's part can be seen as less developed or lacking options. But, truth be told, that's quite an specific route, methinks.

Nothing wrong with that, mind you, just that probably is to be expected.

 

[BlandChili]

I would argue that an AxelxLena v2.0 "nicer" or at least healthier relationship isn't out of the question, and anyway Ivy should also be considered as a possible well-developed and slow burn relationship. That way Ian and Lena would have a simillar amount of options without introducing new characters.

But, I guess, yeah if someone don't go for the IanxLena route AND don't dig clingy Louise AND don't want to get involved with Axel AND don't consider Ivy as a potential partner AND don't encourage Holly to be less shy AND don't mess up with Mike because he has a gf... then I understand how Lena's part can be seen as less developed or lacking options. But, truth be told, that's quite an specific route, methinks.

Nothing wrong with that, mind you, just that probably is to be expected.

It's no more specific than fucking everything that moves. Why should only one extreme feel impactful in a game where the selling point is "your choice matters"?

It doesn't feel impactful to just get nothing. (I'm being a bit hyperbolic, I know)

This is plucking out something specific from your list, but the reason why I don't consider Ivy an option yet is because Lena's not been allowed to masturbate to her, I'm fairly sure. I always was under the impression that there isn't any intention for Lena/Ivy to pair of, at least not in a monogamous manner.
We'll see if this Billy thing turns into that.

Also, this is just a minor point, but keep in mind some people like to play Lena along a lesbian route, which is my attempt in my first pt. Hitting all those markers for such a person is not specific but at least mildly likely. Not every lesbian is going to be interested in reciprocating Louise's after-break-up advances.

 

[Cabot]

It's no more specific than fucking everything that moves. Why should only one extreme feel impactful in a game where the selling point is "your choice matters"?

Well, probably because at the end of the day this a smut game and doesn't seem unreasonable that the "slutty" route gets more content than the other extreme.

As a curiosity: Did you know you can, if ircc, have a "nun run" in GGGB where Ash doesn't fuck anyone in the whole game? It's awfully short, but is there (or something very close to that). First time I let my wife play the game she tought it was a shopping and partying simulator, heh.

This is plucking out something specific from your list, but the reason why I don't consider Ivy an option yet is because Lena's not been allowed to masturbate to her, I'm fairly sure. I always was under the impression that there isn't any intention for Lena/Ivy to pair of, at least not in a monogamous manner.

I wouldn't be so sure. It's heavily implied (or even explicitly stated?) they have hooked up before, they're obviously bbfs, Lena has some lesbian experiences in her background and in-game, in this chapter they get to make out and have some heavy petting and my spider sense tells me Ivy could be interested in being more than a friend to Lena (there's for sure something fishy in her behaviour, but I just can't put my finger on it).

 

[SpikeZg]

Cindy says hello from the Maldives

 

[BlandChili]

Well, probably because at the end of the day this a smut game and doesn't seem unreasonable that the "slutty" route gets more content than the other extreme.

No doubt about that, that's also why I make an effort out of pointing out that I have continued hope and interest in the games further development and that by and large, I like the stuff that's in it, despite what my criticisms might imply. The issue I have currently stands out a lot in chapter 7, it will most likely not stand out like that once the chapter is integrated into the oncoming story content.

As a curiosity: Did you know you can, if ircc, have a "nun run" in GGGB where Ash doesn't fuck anyone in the whole game? It's awfully short, but is there (or something very close to that). First time I let my wife play the game she tought it was a shopping and partying simulator, heh.

I know. My first playthrough of GGGB was similar to my ORS: OTP with a female character, Eva.

I only played that game in its complete form however, I don't know what it was like during development

I wouldn't be so sure. It's heavily implied (or even explicitly stated?) they have hooked up before, they're obviously bbfs, Lena has some lesbian experiences in her background and in-game, in this chapter they get to make out and have some heavy petting and my spider sense tells me Ivy could be interested in being more than a friend to Lena (there's for sure something fishy in her behaviour, but I just can't put my finger on it).

I just always had the impression that Ivy was at most bi-curious, she seems so hung up on cock to me. That of course could easily be changed though, the option is definitely there. Her attachment to Lena is clear though, so like I said, only time will tell how that develops.

To me it just seemed that Lena's masturbation options were sort of 'hints' put into the game to indicate which characters Lena desires. You can masturbate to Holly without any real flirting taking place between them, right? I can't recall if the "I think you're lovely" option in the gym is required.

 

[Stretta]

How the fuck are you gonna have that dipshit Perry say that bullshit about gorillas in a jungle to the bouncer's face and not get his skull caved in? What even is the point of Perry? Every time he opens his mouth he reveals himself to be an incel piece of trash who needs his ass beat, but I'm forced to be his "best friend."

 

[SpikeZg]

Perry is one annoying and pathetic asshole, i wouldn't stand his BS 1 min IRL, i hate ppl like that...

 

[BlandChili]

How the fuck are you gonna have that dipshit Perry say that bullshit about gorillas in a jungle to the bouncer's face and not get his skull caved in? What even is the point of Perry? Every time he opens his mouth he reveals himself to be an incel piece of trash who needs his ass beat, but I'm forced to be his "best friend."

It's all setup for the oncoming Ian/Perry path where Ian will be Perry's knight in shining armor.

Bro style.

 

[ehct2332]

It really feels like all the nicer characters are centered around Ian's part of the story, which leaves Lena with less "nice" content, and that is made worse when the characters centered around Lena's side of the story don't seem to receive much development if you don't follow a "lusty" route (Robert dissapears, Mike can hardly be interacted with, Stan is a bit ignored if Lena scolded him and isn't making stalkfap content, Louise is a bit standoffish and participates in less events). Of course this might all be rectified in the next update if Chapter 8 has a good ammount of scenes for those characters that can happen outside of their "lusty" routes, but for now that's why Lena's route feels a bit more empty than Ian's to me.

Fair point.

I don't care where Eva takes this game too much, to be honest. Whether it achieves a balance between relationships later on, or whether greater emphasis is placed on corruption paths. I've enjoyed the writing, which is more than what I can say for most games.

However, going on what we've seen, the possibility exists that Eva may explore corruption with the female characters as the story progresses, especially with Lena. Holly and Cindy are options, too. If the player decides, Lena introduces Holly to the bouncer, leading to some suggestive dialogue. It could be foreshadowing both Lena and Holly's corruption. For all we know, Billy's proposition could be some hardcore porn-shoots in a villa somewhere, which I'd imagine would make a lot of users here cry on the inside, while others wouldn't mind, while others would love it. In all honesty, this development wouldn't surprise me.

The less "nice" content that you've mentioned would be an issue for those wanting something with more substance, perhaps, for Lena, which is an issue. The game already has plenty of characters, so I'd imagine that Eva would need to introduce new ones, which could present setbacks. I do understand that these games can be costly and take time to develop. On the other hand, who besides Ian and Holly in the game makes a realistic, long-term partner for Lena? I can't imagine Eva re-writing or re-designing Perry, Wade or Stan, as three examples.

I'm good with developments in any direction, as I've been surprised, and have enjoyed most of the offered paths. But I think that Lena not getting more long-term relationship routes, or as many as Ian, is something that wouldn't surprise me.

 

[Princess Groundhog]

What even is the point of Perry?

To watch Ian deep in Emma's ass, most likely.

 

[Princess Groundhog]

It's all setup for the oncoming Ian/Perry path where Ian will be Perry's knight in shining armor.

Bro style.

This was very minor, and possibly just me, but I sensed more bi vibes coming from Perry initially, in Chapter 1. Obviously we now know there won't be any m/m stuff, and that's fine if that's Eva's vision, but it's still fun to speculate.

 

[forthewins]

Having the option "kiss Robert" and "reject Robert" is fine, but not everyone likes forwardness so they'll default to "reject Robert" even if up to that point they kinda liked some of what they'd seen.

I get what you're saying overall, but I think Robert in particular is a bad example, because being pushy and demanding is a fundamental part of who his character is at this point in time. He's basically like that in every scene in the first few chapters.

(Even in my "Let's see other stuff" route where I've hurt my heart by forcing Lena to endure him, I really want to dump his ass just about every time he's on my screen.)

 

[Big Zeta]

Around when shall we expect the final 0.7? How much time does it usually take this dev to roll out finals?