- Nov 21, 2018
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Well you have your work cut out for you. The only way I will ever play a VN more than once is if the paths lead to a completely different line of events and that is just too much to expect from a small studio, ofc. I will likely end up holding control through 90% of the game on the second playthrough and that is just boring. Just saying that the path of least resistance is swapping character models and few lines to make different paths. That just isn't going to do it for me to replay the whole game.I personally like replaying games and trying different paths to see how dialogue and stories change. That is my goal for Shards of the Past, to have diversity in the scenes and choices that a new playthrough still seems rewarding.
I am planning a Steam release. I wanted to focus on getting a few updates out first before going live on steam. I am planning on doing early access so anyone that wants to purchase just needs to buy the game once and then will get all the updates as they become available.
Yea, the thought of doing that, even with people who aren't love interests disgusts me. I'd rather do without the item. Almost nothing worse than literally selling out your friends/companions. As you said it's a random encounter and probably wont be relevant to the story in any way but even as a non-fan of sharing content, I would think there would be a better way to implement that kink, rather than just offering your friends to random npc #56.Sharing - This is part of a random encounter I had written for later in the game. You and your group come across traveling merchants. One of them has an item you want, but you have nothing he wants in trade... or do you? His gaze sure is lingering on your female companion...
Keeping the story moving forward and still giving players valid choices and branches is the big juggling act. I am hoping that the choices, alternate scenes and random encounters will give players enough incentive to try multiple playthroughs without blowing up development time with too many options or paths. Some folks don't like to replay no matter how much choice they have and that's fine also. I personally like to replay games or scenes to see "what if" so I wanted to build the game in a similar fashion.Well you have your work cut out for you. The only way I will ever play a VN more than once is if the paths lead to a completely different line of events and that is just too much to expect from a small studio, ofc. I will likely end up holding control through 90% of the game on the second playthrough and that is just boring. Just saying that the path of least resistance is swapping character models and few lines to make different paths. That just isn't going to do it for me to replay the whole game.
Yea, the thought of doing that, even with people who aren't love interests disgusts me. I'd rather do without the item. Almost nothing worse than literally selling out your friends/companions. As you said it's a random encounter and probably wont be relevant to the story in any way but even as a non-fan of sharing content, I would think there would be a better way to implement that kink, rather than just offering your friends to random npc #56.
justmyuselesstwocents. Do with it what you will.
Och my, I didn't know I had this in me...young man is pulled into an epic story of your making.
My goal is for each love interest to have their own path and storyline.
There will be consequences for your actions as well since I want the things you do and say to carry weight.
All of the above sounds most excellent and now that I know it won't be a harem, you got yourself a new patreonI personally like replaying games and trying different paths to see how dialogue and stories change. That is my goal for Shards of the Past, to have diversity in the scenes and choices that a new playthrough still seems rewarding.
First thought... Slowburn. I couldn't torture myself right now. Then the second thought: lesbianism, sharing and prostitution. Optional always raises anger in these games and fetishes meaning they are ONLY SKIPABLE NOT AVOIDABLE as they should be. Someone wiser has said that skipable is like it's happening in front of your face because shit still happens in the background and it's never acceptable. That skipable only causes one effect and that is NO NO NO for this game. Then also the LI who needs to be kept on a leash so she doesn't go banging other guys is also a big fucking turn off.
If these assumptions are wrong, then it should also be corrected in the OP to say that EVERYTHING is AVOIDABLE. Skipable is essentially a curse word when it comes to these fetishes and its use should be banned. That skipable word in itself drives people away from the game, when it shouldn't just be skipable for certain fetishes which is completely pointless.
Yes, Avoidable is the goal for most if not all things, especially if your character would be engaged in the actives. Just like the scenario with Caleb and Kaela. That scene also is more defining Branson's personality versus what your character would do. When I wrote out the tags I was trying to think of what was possible in the story so players are not surprised if something came up during gameplay. Many of the tags are a very small part of the game and put there more for awareness and not to try and lure anyone in.It seems like it is avoidable though? Already you can have Caleb molest Branson's sister (a future LI) or you can have Caleb immediately intervene and save her. It's not as if she gets molested either way it's your choice whether it happens period. Maybe it will be different in the future but I wouldn't be so off-kilter.