VN Ren'Py Secrets and Promises [v0.03] [badbod]

[louisamay]

So first off, I wanted to say that I love the renders, the models, and the level of detail in each scene. Creating multiple renders to show characters actually moving through the space and interacting - rather than relying on just a few static shots - must take a tremendous amount of work I'm sure. But it really pays off. Honestly, it’s some of the best visual storytelling I’ve seen in a VN, even if I have limited experience with them at this point.

That said, I wanted to critique one thing. I love the walkthrough option, but having played without it the first time around I have to say I think the current approach to how "LI" determinations are made isn't very understandable. I'll give Cara as an example:
If you grab her butt right off the bat, you get an immediate negative reaction. Makes sense. Sneaking a glance of her butt in the following scene? Also a negative according to the walkthrough. Yet not much later deliberately looking down her top - while she actively notices - is a positive. What constitutes positive and negative actions feels a bit random when compared side by side.

Later in the story, you can look down her top while teaching her pool. First reaction is playful. Second is more negative. This would imply the third would be an even more negative reaction, meaning without the walkthrough you'd likely avoid doing it. Yet it ends up being a positive and the primary catalyst of the subsequent LI interactions.

Without foreknowledge of right and wrong choices, currently it feels rather difficult to know which actions are the correct ones to take and which should be avoided. It seems like it'd be better to have a less restrictive game design that isn't a good or bad choice system (skip a, skip b, choose c, d, and e) but rather more of a tally system (no or limited "good" or "bad" actions, most/all rather being counted towards a minimum threshold that marks them as a LI, but engaging in too many too fast turns the LI off of the MC) would be more intuitive and less needing of a walkthrough to complete successfully.

So taking the above example, it'd be something like showing interest in a limited number of the earlier scenes, but avoiding engaging in too many opportunities and thus coming across as overly creepy, combined with completing one or two of the pool scene glances would trigger a separate render back at the house asking if the MC "really wants to see them" as a secondary route alongside the current existing one, preventing players from missing that branch of the story entirely just because they misread the implication of the pool scene as being the "bad" choice.

That was probably overly wordy and not entirely clear, but I hope I conveyed the general idea. Just my 2 cents.

These 2 cents are entirely worthy. They assimilate equivalent experience, and, I presume, adduce Cara's hormonal exigencies, as well as the MC's own background and proficiencies. Get Smols!

 

[george agdgdgwengo]

These 2 cents are entirely worthy. They assimilate equivalent experience, and, I presume, adduce Cara's hormonal exigencies, as well as the MC's own background and proficiencies. Get Smols!

My nibba wtf are u saying here?

 

[tmihee]

I don't know why my post will not be shown, the way I create it...but here I try again....it's the answer to Jimmy1984

Uh, I got it. THere was a bracked missing after "SPOILER"...now it should be ok

Spoiler

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He's not talking abt that scene, immediately grab Cara's ass or look at her ass in front of her mother after seeing them is a bad choice logically.
He's talking abt the pool scene with Cara where u HAD to look down her top all 3 times for her path to even open. If u're playing for the first time without walkthrough, the logical choice would be to stop after the second time cuz u probably dont wanna come off as too creepy. A new player wont have the knowledge that Cara already likes the MC and that it's fine to keep looking down her top to start her path

 

[Quetzzz]

the logical choice would be to stop after the second time cuz u probably dont wanna come off as too creepy

Yeah, even more because she acts offended. Though, I don't remember whether her words matched her behavior or body language in the render.

 

[Forgotted]

On the other page, ...Boxed In
There should be a link to the Dev page as well as
a link to this page for Secrets and Promises, right?

 

[Kingwhoisnot]

The next update's gonna take a bit longer.

BadBod Please take your time. You are just doing this for fun and sharing it for us, not asking for a cent in return, side's more time equals better content put out. Thank you so much for making games, and I am so excited for the next update

 

[NordicSunWorshipper]

This and BoxedIn are amazing games. Renders and animations are excellent.

If you wanted to copy that style to make your own game where would you start? Could BadBod give a look under the hood? I don't understand how you make this and would like to experiment.

So excited for next update but can wait for it to be as BadBod wants.

 

[badbod]

If you wanted to copy that style to make your own game where would you start? Could BadBod give a look under the hood?

There's really nothing special to see.
I use Daz3D to create the renders and Ren'Py to create the VN.

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Getting there with the next update.
I've decided not to include the planned Springhaven content until v.05.
I would've liked to have added it, since it involves Alex and Nicole - they've been a little neglected of late, but it would delay the update even further.

Progress:
Oakhill - Complete
Cedar Grove - Complete
Lakeshore - 65% (1 more replay scene with Dawn to do here which will take the most time)
Springhaven - 0% (May not add content here to v.04. Might leave it for v.05)

1305 Renders
40 Animations
6 Replay Scenes (Nettie, Violet, Millie x3, Ruth)

 

[Sentenzah]

Hi Badbod and the others, I wanted to ask a question. I played the game in a gentle mode, not looking at breasts when I could, and also aggressively a second time, looking, hugging, and touching. I didn't unlock the scenes with Millie, in fact the only scene available for now, both when I was aggressive and when I was gentle. But then using the hack I realized I didn't unlock many scenes, especially none with Cara and Sarah. I wanted to ask, if I use the hack and therefore unlock all the scenes and keep it in the new update, will the story continue as if I had unlocked all the scenes in the previous update? Or will it continue with my original save game? And one last thing, since Cedar Grove will be there, what should I do with Nettie? I chose to have her do the job when she was drunk, like everyone else, I think.

Thanks for the info, really great work with this game, keep it up, Badbod.

 

[badbod]

I wanted to ask a question....

The scene unlocker isn't my work, and I haven't looked at the code, so I don't know how it may affect the game. It probably doesn't, but I can't guarantee it.
If you're trying to get all the scenes by playing, then the easiest thing to do is play with the built-in walkthrough enabled (Switch it on in the preferences menu)

I chose to have her do the job when she was drunk

Wrong decision if you want to keep her in the game!
Once her path is closed, you can no longer visit Cedar Grove.
Keeping her path open is the best choice, even if you don't want it to be sexual. In the next update, you have the option to have a friendship-only relationship with her.

 

[TonyMurray]

Hi Badbod and the others, I wanted to ask a question. I played the game in a gentle mode, not looking at breasts when I could, and also aggressively a second time, looking, hugging, and touching. I didn't unlock the scenes with Millie, in fact the only scene available for now, both when I was aggressive and when I was gentle. But then using the hack I realized I didn't unlock many scenes, especially none with Cara and Sarah. I wanted to ask, if I use the hack and therefore unlock all the scenes and keep it in the new update, will the story continue as if I had unlocked all the scenes in the previous update? Or will it continue with my original save game? And one last thing, since Cedar Grove will be there, what should I do with Nettie? I chose to have her do the job when she was drunk, like everyone else, I think.

Thanks for the info, really great work with this game, keep it up, Badbod.

If by "hack" you mean a gallery/scene unlocker as badbod mentions in his response, then that's only for the gallery itself, it doesn't change your saves at all. The only way to have your saves reflect a choice is to choose that option while playing - unless you use a mod, for instance URM, that allows you to change choices during gameplay.

Regarding the "soft and hard" options you mention, it's not just a case of always soft or always hard. You have to select the right one at the right time, which will often depend on your previous actions. Again as the dev comments though, the built-in walkthrough is the best source of help for that.

 

[Sentenzah]

Okay, so as I imagined, the hack to unlock the galleries is just a way to see what additional scenes there are beyond your decisions, and to see what you could have unlocked. It's better if it doesn't affect your saves so you can play the story and then use it only at the end, like I'll do now, when the game is completely finished. Otherwise, you won't even enjoy it.

Yes, about Nettie, I realized I'd screwed up when I got her drunk and made her do the hotel job.

I'll replay the game with walkthrough enabled and try to make the right decisions. At least it'll be ready for the next update.
One last question: is there a "hack" or program that can translate conversations into another language? Italian, for example?
Thanks for the advice, guys.

 

[badbod]

One last question: is there a "hack" or program that can translate conversations into another language? Italian, for example?

Found this in the translation forum. It's for v.03: Italian translation

 

[TP314]

Yo badbod,
Any action with the sister on v4? Can't wait btw, love this game!

 

[badbod]

Any action with the sister on v4?

She makes an appearance, but the most action you can get is a hug.
It was always planned that she would be the most resistant, so it'll be a while before we see any real action involving her.

 

[MiltonPowers]

She makes an appearance, but the most action you can get is a hug.
It was always planned that she would be the most resistant, so it'll be a while before we see any real action involving her.

 

[DuchessYasmin]

Getting there with the next update.

So does it mean that we're hopefully getting the update in November?

 

[badbod]

So does it mean that we're hopefully getting the update in November?

No promises, but yeah, hopefully.

 

[TP314]

She makes an appearance, but the most action you can get is a hug.
It was always planned that she would be the most resistant, so it'll be a while before we see any real action involving her.

I'll hang tight. Thank you for this game and keeping the updates running!

 

[tmihee]

There's really nothing special to see.
I use Daz3D to create the renders and Ren'Py to create the VN.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Getting there with the next update.
I've decided not to include the planned Springhaven content until v.05.
I would've liked to have added it, since it involves Alex and Nicole - they've been a little neglected of late, but it would delay the update even further.

Progress:
Oakhill - Complete
Cedar Grove - Complete
Lakeshore - 65% (1 more replay scene with Dawn to do here which will take the most time)
Springhaven - 0% (May not add content here to v.04. Might leave it for v.05)

1305 Renders
40 Animations
6 Replay Scenes (Nettie, Violet, Millie x3, Ruth)

Me when there's no Nicole till 0.6 :



but hey at least we get 3 Millie scenes