VN Ren'Py Rivers of Astrum [v0.2] [Paper Tiger]

[Paper Tiger 83]

First off, my thanks for everyone's opinions and criticism. Secondly, Though F95 lists the project as abandoned, it is not. I had been working on 4 projects simultaneously (an idiotic method that has since ceased). I do understand why it was labeled abandoned though, as 8 months have gone by since the demo release with no upate. This, again, was due to me trying to work on 4 projects at once. As of a month ago, all development efforts have been redirected to Rivers of Astrum, and I will work on it (and only it) until it is completed. The next update is well underway, and all future updates will have *much* less distance between them.

This is my first development attempt at a game, so I'm still ironing out the logistics of it all. Killing work on my unreleased projects until RoA is done is the first step in that.

To address some concerns.

1) Dee (The Squirrel) - Is not fuckable. No. She's Kim's pet, with a bit more to her background which will be developed in future updates. There are many kinks I will submit to, but having Furries in this setting ... it would kill the immersion. I'm not opposed to them, but they would have to be in a different project. It wouldn't jive well with Rivers of Astrum.

2) Lesbian Only content - While this is largely true for Kim's branch of the story, it will fluctuate. Kim's story path is but one of the planned paths. After hers ends, the next story path will focus on a heterosexual couple. Honestly, it did not occur to me to provide a filter for lesbian content, as I'm simply not used to seeing people state that they don't want to see it. I will think heavily about adding this to a future update.

3) Content filters - As it is my first forray into the world of AVNs, if anyone is willing to give feedback on the kind of content they would like toggleable filters for, I'm always open to suggestions!

4) General Feedback - In all honesty, I've gotten next to no feedback directed my way. I run across forum posts like this every so often, but no one on the discord or patreon ever seems to state what they would or would not like to see. Barring altering the plot, I'm open to anything that makes it more appealing to a wider audience, so please don't be afraid to tell me if you think something is trash

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

I liked the beginning but I stopped during the first sex scene. I wasn't going to turn it down but it definitely wasn't vanilla sex. Kim starts by sticking her tongue in Cara's asshole and then proceeds until she starts to fist her. In most games those kinks would be optional and the fact that they were forced upon me was a turnoff so I stopped at that point. I actually prefer romance with my Li's and endearing dialog during the sex scenes because without it these scenes are just porn which I could go to the internet for. I also read that there is an unavoidable voyeur scene later in the story which would be another turnoff for me.
I liked the writing, the Li's and the renders but as my tastes in kinks are obviously so different than yours that I will have to pass on this game. I wish you the best.

No worries. It's quite literally impossible to make a game that appeals to *everyone*. A few things I'd like to mention though. As of my work on RoA up to now, there isn't a *single* voyeur scene, let alone an unavoidable one. Not sure where that got said, but that simply isn't true. Also, I mentioned this in another post. It genuinely never occurred to me to filter lesbian content, as I've never (until now) seen anyone express a problem with it. I will heavily consider adding a taggle filter for it in future updates.

Cara and Kim's romantic development occurs all throughout her branch, that first scene was simply to show how hot they were for each other, since Cara had been away for months prior to the beginning of the story.

"Vanilla" sex will occur rather plentifully throughout the story.

All that said, I understand. I don't like every game I've played. I wouldn't expect a 100% success rate with RoA. But if you have any suggestions I'm open to all of them, so long as recognizing them would not force me to alter the plot.

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

No I got it, that's why I stated that yeah, any chance is better than none. Their choice of a restart. I was just pointing out that, that doesn't stop it also being detrimental to future projects, for them and everyone.
Both are true. Not that it will change their individual decision, just bringing up the point for the whole indi porn game scene.

On the contrary, seeing F95 label my project as "abandoned" actually spurred me to say "fuck my other projects, they don't even have demos", and redirect all my work back to RoA.

There very much *is* a passion with me and Rivers of Astrum. I've had this story rattling around in my brain for the better part of 30 years. Granted, there was less porn in the story when i was 10 .

All of my other projects that were slowing down work on RoA have been shelved, until such a time as RoA is complete.

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

Just a sneak peek at a shot from the upcoming update

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

View attachment 2374960
Imagine being in a porn game and still ending
up with a small dick

Heh, ya know ... it's funny. All I ever seem to see wherever i look is people stating how tired they are of seeing "Horse cocks in VNs" ... so I went with a flacid dick on William, and it's immediately criticized. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a complaint. It just proves what I always say to myself ... "If you try to make everyone happy, you'll drive yourself insane." ... That said, William was a side character. He's gone now. There is a male main character planned, and he does in fact have a horse cock

 

[Jarulf]

Great news that this didn't fall by the wayside, looking forward to see what you have planned for the story.
As for content filtering, I dunno. I'm not too bothered as long as things seem to make sense and we're not talking about the more extreme kinks (vore, scat, rough bdsm), then a warning in the tags should be enough. Personally I do like lesbian content and often play a female MC, but I don't mind a dick or two (limp or otherwise).

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

Great news that this didn't fall by the wayside, looking forward to see what you have planned for the story.
As for content filtering, I dunno. I'm not too bothered as long as things seem to make sense and we're not talking about the more extreme kinks (vore, scat, rough bdsm), then a warning in the tags should be enough. Personally I do like lesbian content and often play a female MC, but I don't mind a dick or two (limp or otherwise).

as far as the heaviery/more extreme stuff ... there is sexual violence/noncon stuff planned, but it was always my intention to give that a content filter. Vore and scat however, that I'm just not gonna do.

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

Random Side note for anyone interested ... i noticed F95 tagged the game with the 'monster girl' tag ... I'm not really sure where they got that from, but there are no monster girls in RoA. Not yet, anyway There will be a version of them, but they won't be the typical cute, innocent, shy types that I'm used to seeing, and it's up in the air still as to whether or not they'll be involved in sex scenes. The only sex scene with a "monster girl" that would make sense to the plot in my head would be a non-consensual one.

The other tags are pretty spot on though ... Kim's big ass is the subject of many a conversation on the discord

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

So, somwhere during the recent update push, I put together some promo images for the characters that have been revealed so far, and I'd just like to share them

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

 

[Udayana]

The other tags are pretty spot on though ... Kim's big ass is the subject of many a conversation on the discord

Big arse? It's a little old since I played this game (I should do it over again and I shall ), but I only remember perfectly proportioned women, it's what struck me most when I played it, the beauty of characters and of graphics.

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

Big arse? It's a little old since I played this game (I should do it over again and I shall ), but I only remember perfectly proportioned women, it's what struck me most when I played it, the beauty of characters and of graphics.

Maybe it's just because i spend so much time looking at it XD But yeah, compared to Cara, Kim has a very thicc ass and thighs Well, I say that, but i know the definition of "thicc" is relative. To *my* eyes she does. Others may not feel the same. But such is life.

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

Looks good, doesn't use the same models we've seen in dozens of Ren'py games, well-written, mysterious plot... what's not to like?

This could set a new standard for Ren'py games. The dev just needs to resist the temptation to use the "Lumpy George" model. Few have succeeded in resisting, but I hold out hope!

I'm not familiar with the lumpy George model. Can you show me some examples, or share a link, so i can make sure not to use it?

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

Uhm is it just me or is the text/font on the smaller side? It feels small to me.
I would definately love bigger fonts. (Bloody hell, seems like I am getting old. )

Apart from that, quality first release! Great visuals. I like the possibly magical squirrel.
Hope it will get more screen time in the future because every great hero needs a pet sidekick!

She absolutely does She's getting a bit more in this upcoming update She might seem like a side character, but in my presets I have her listed as a Main character ... if that gives you any idea of how much i intend to have her around

Also, My font size is set at 35, which is a good bit bigger than the ren'py default. Making it much larger than that, though, would start to create some UI issues

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

so just another skyrim wannabe?

So, Skyrim was released in 2011. The Fantasy Genre has been around since time immemorial. I've been heavily influenced by fantasy titles such as Might and Magic (and Heroes), Lord of the Rings, Warcraft, and Diablo, also Dungeons and Dragons ... all since *well* before Skyrim was released. Fantasy =/= "must be a skyrim clone".

 

[Udayana]

Maybe it's just because i spend so much time looking at it XD But yeah, compared to Cara, Kim has a very thicc ass and thighs Well, I say that, but i know the definition of "thicc" is relative. To *my* eyes she does. Others may not feel the same. But such is life.

Kim is perhaps a little more muscular, which gives lovely curves to her body, but she's still slim, to my eyes I find both Kim and Cara perfect in their own styles. And since it involves less work for you, you mind want to keep them like they are

 

[Joe Steel]

I'm not familiar with the lumpy George model. Can you show me some examples, or share a link, so i can make sure not to use it?

Karakan made a running joke about "St Georgius" with images like
View attachment georgius_on_shelf.webp

That's "fat George" in a nutshell. I'd guess that 60% of the Ren'py games use him because he epitomizes the "gross guy sex" that so many games think is a big seller.

 

[AelphysTerra]

That's "fat George" in a nutshell. I'd guess that 60% of the Ren'py games use him because he epitomizes the "gross guy sex" that so many games think is a big seller.

Ah, the "ugly bastard" trope... I think it's popular for a few reasons. First being the implication that normal people go out and get laid rather than wank to games they found online, second the juxtaposition of a young, attractive woman to an old, unattractive man, and so on.

 

[Paper Tiger 83]

Karakan made a running joke about "St Georgius" with images like
View attachment 3087281

That's "fat George" in a nutshell. I'd guess that 60% of the Ren'py games use him because he epitomizes the "gross guy sex" that so many games think is a big seller.

Oh, ew. Yeah I won't be doing that. I've got my own way to make models fatter/slimmer. Good example is Cappy, the bartender. Pic attached incase you haven't seen him. (But he's not involved in any sex scenes, he's just an old retired Guard Captain who now owns the tavern.)