Alright, a short response to some of the earlier posts, since I feel bad for leaving people hanging.
These original scenes are noticeably more hardcore because they're exempt from the corruption progression. We go from hardcore cheating sex to handjobs.
I will concede there is some merit to what you’ve said, as much as it pains me to do so.
The problem with SoC is the scope of the game. It’s pretty damn massive, and the scale of the conflict that is being presented in it rivals that of Game of Thrones. And this reflects itself in the nature of the scenes – you are not running a sprint here, you are running a marathon. The scenes can’t go from high octane fuckfesta to another high octane fuckfesta. They have to go Build up -> Climax -> Build up -> Climax – Build up -> Climax, in accordance to preplanned character arcs. This can be a bit of a problem, especially if you want to give the players some choice as to what events they want to see.
I will agree I might have focused a little bit too much on writing build up scenes, because, in all honesty, I love the buildup scenes more than the sex scenes.
The mental struggle! The internal dialogue! The logic gymnastics that accompany the main character as it’s torn between their outdated morality and their growing decadence! The feeling of the walls closing in on them, the pressure, and the growing belief that the only way to proceed Is to descent further into corruption, turning a blind eye on the possibilities of redemption, silencing that quiet voice in your head that tells you that resistance IS possible, that the enemy CAN be fought, and that staying true to your ideals is worth every sacrifice!
That’s the stuff that keeps me going. The sex scene is a nice reward, but without context, it’s just any other smut.
That being said, again, I will concede I indulged myself a little bit too much here, so I think I’ll be doing some hardcore Andras for the next update…
Some other examples of this are the Emma scenes. I mean, they don't really matter at all. They seem to exist just to check the pregnancy fetish off early in the game. Rowan doesn't really grow or change and she certainly doesn't matter.
Not all of Rowan’s growth occurs through predetermined story event.
At the start of the game, the player gets to decide what drives Rowan. And afterwards, it is up to them to decide whether or not they want to stay true to that ideal.
You can start the game saying you’re doing this for Alexia, and then let Andras toss her into a pit with Wullump with no opposition.
You can start the game saying you’re just bidding your time, and then indulge in every depravity possible, until nothing of your soul remains.
You can start the game saying Jezera managed to convince you, only to realize what a horryfing world you’re building here, and turn around mid way.
Many stories have a… Linear character arc. Like, you have to decide at the start of the game if you want to be good or bad, and roll with that, because that’s how you get the most out of the content. It’s easier that way, but that’s not what we’d ideally like to do. Ideally, it would benefit if Rowan was able to have a realization about his choices and behavior midway, and might seek to change his ways.
That was the point of the Emma scene. He is met with a woman that was raped into a Stockholm syndrome, and confronted with the reality this is more or less what he’s going to perpetuate from now. It’s up to the player to decide whether or not they want Rowan to keep committing atrocities with feeble moral justification.
Also, I do like to give the patreons some freedom over what characters they will see in the future. In a year from now, when the main plot is rolling steadily, I do want to reach out to our backers and ask them which of the small NPCs like, Emma or Dazzanath, they would like to be enriched with a castle plot of their own.
Ideally.
That being said:
I just really feel the beginning of the story has much more intense scenes, and that you should try to replicate them as much as possible to get more patrons.
I’ll keep your words in mind. But do remember that a 3CG sex scene is *not* cheap. It’s something we can indulge when we KNOW the player will stumble upon. We can’t just do it for everything.
I wish constructive criticism paid for artworks, but sadly, it does not
I love the scenes, but I feel like this game just needs a no-story-full-technical update where you can play the first part of the game and actually play it. There's so many resources and stat checks in the game that still go unused or that don't really work yet we're about to enter into the second act of the story
We’re on it. The skill rework is taking a bit long, but it’s still on the planning list.
Alright, now back to writing butt stuff.