JoeTheMC84

Well-Known Member
Dec 1, 2021
1,598
6,539
So you're saying that we should accept that there will only be one branch in this game?
There are a lot of games with multiple branchs on F95.

But if you want limited results to avoid making the game too complex with too many branchs, the trick is to give the illusion of a choice.
Exemple : at the end of the scene, there would be only three outcomes : 1. MC dies (game over), 2. MC complies, 3. (not in the game unfortunatly) MC successfully wiggles his way out of this situation (thanks X or Y stat check)... but is still trapped somehow. Emilia is impressed by his potential and eager to work with MC (or to force him to work with her).

At the end of the day, 2. and 3. would actually be the same branch (there would be some dialogues adaptations, but that's it). The big difference is... the player feels like their stats matter.
My apologies, I wasn't clear. I wasn't saying that branches shouldn't be in the story. In fact, this story will likely have several, my point was that the scene was there for one reason and branching the story at this scene makes little sense, because the reason for the scene is to show one thing, the MC is not strong enough yet. The scene fulfills that purpose.

I just played the update and wanted to share my thoughts on the Game Over moment:

Emilia is a possible centuries old psycho, she shouldn't be impressed by anything a new vampire did, and yet she even lets the two times you don't answer her right away slide before the choice is given at the third time she loosens her grip. That is more than someone like her normally would, she didn't rip out you heart the moment the MC started saying he didn't know what she was talking about. She allowed that much, in her somewhat psycho mind, disrespect of her power go out of curiosity. Her father even calls her fickle and tells you to ignore her mood changes, aka she is crazy.

Remember the scene, at first she even forgets to lose her grip so you can answer at all. If you don't cooperate with her then you are an uppity baby vampire whose stats are at the highest what? 20? Her stats are probably around 200. Thinking you should be able to have a chance to notice her sneaking up on you or overpower her (with powers the MC admits he doesn't know how to use) while her hand in already digging into your chest is like saying: "If that bandit's stats mattered he would detect my 100 Sneak Skill character," in Skyrim. You are the level 2 newb, she is the level 100 vampire lord.

Zoey also tells you there could be a spy in the Moghilas' clan, her and the MC speculate that the whole things is to get a sense of you as a character and if you are trustworthy or not, ignoring Emilia's threat (her two times of giving you a chance to tell her and not pretend you don't know what she is talking about) does not make you trustworthy. It makes you a lose end and an unknown quantity, and that makes you dead. Zoey says you have powers and skills and that she hopes they are enough to get you out of trouble, well the scene is there to show you that your powers and skills as they are, are not enough to get out. To which the MC says, "I don't even know what my powers are or how to use them." Zoey then says if you survive you can learn to use them. Then she gives a big piece of advice, "It's better to be paranoid then dead." Emilia says she is so powerful that that was why she was sent away. She says that other vampires, vampires far more powerful than you, are scared of her. The MC hits the nail on the head, better to live and hit back later then die now, and the whole reason Emilia comes after you like she does is summed up by Zoey, she was bested by you, a newbie, once already.

But pics or it didn't happen:

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This was the most obvious use of a game over choice I have ever seen, and it is there to set the stage, right now, you are a small fry and you need to get good son, or you won't last long.

Edit: I'm actually more pissed at Zoey keeping things from the MC, I hate when characters in games do that. Unless there is some magic that keeps her from telling the MC what she is doing then it is stupid for her not to just be upfront.
 
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madmate.games

Newbie
Game Developer
Jan 19, 2020
90
1,297
As much as I love a good lore...Is it just me or was the content so dry lately when it comes to sex scenes? Not even nudity, really is this a Disney show now?
(I was especially disappointed when I lured the redhead to the backalley by picking a dark option only to get disappointed by a boring biting scene, that could've been a little bit hotter seeing how big the risk the player takes to get her there)

Plot wise it's doing great I like the on going political warfare and the vampire leaders project a strong and intimidating aura which keeps the MC on his toes while dealing with them.
No rape in this game. I planned to eventually explain how MC doesn't find that kind of use of his powers or stature appealing, but I think I may have to somehow shoehorn it to be earlier in the game.
EDIT: Sorry, re-reading I see you were asking for it to be more saucy, and I was quite blunt in my reply jumping on the rape word.

MC is conditioned, should take the hint to starve to hone his skills. MC is under more and more supervision,
more and more eyes are watching his antics, playing human horn dog would be such a satisfactory way to
proove all his detractors wrong, alas he goes into feeding frenzy in the places where he himself was gutted,
by a human no less. MC was supposed to get into mind tricks so as to not arouse suspicion,
acting like his murderer does not seem as the logical step for MC at all.
I think the motivations matter in this comparison. One act was done in a fit of drunken rage and jealousy, the other rationalizing one's addiction. I do however appreciate you mentioning the parallels, gives something to think about.
The walkthrough gives you the points, but it doesn't give you the [checks].
Is there a way to see all the [checks]? So that we know what stats we should target to see scenes/dialogues?
Because I don't like missing scenes or dialogues...
Yeah, I was never satisfied with the way I implemented the walkthrough, and a lot of the times I low-key asked for input on the matter but sadly didn't get any ideas back (or just ignored them subconciously). I think I'll probably have to re-do the whole thing from the scratch and keep your feedback in mind.
Do american coffee shops really serve you soda cans from the supermarket if you order club soda?



You can use something like URM to see hidden choices and their requirements.
Couldn't find applicable bottles in my assets (or maybe didn't look enough). And who says the story is set in America? :D
Thank you for the game, love vampire themes. One thing I dont like - red blood font, it is uncomfortable to read, maybe add as option in preferences? And did not find gallery, will it be implemented?
Hope to see MC interactions with his old coworkers and strange vampire lady.
Hope you luck :)
Do you mean when making choices? For some reason outlines don't show up when making choices, but unless I'm mistaken there should be an outline providing a nice contrast to normal dialogue otherwise. I'll check it out anyway, see what I can do.
I have to side with you on this one, that was clearly an illusion and not a choice, the MC had to either impersonate Tekashi69 and hit rat town or die horrifically by getting his heart ripped out of his chest like a puny upstart which he is but where's the plot armor at? That was a joke..But in all fairness you can't expect all the players to have that submissive mentality where you always crack under pressure, in real life if vampires existed and I was living in the shoes of this MC I would definitely pick the mind control option and I don't think she would kill me tbh. That game over scene should have been stat dependent otherwise the dialogue choice is just an illusion and it forces you to be a pet for this daddy girl.
The thing is, I know most people don't find themselves comfortable in a situation where they, or their character is in dire straits and when stakes are so high that their choices may have devastating effects and that sometimes there simply isn't a good option to pick from.
The three quests should ground the player in this world and show them they can brute force through the challenges, abuse their powers, use cunning and deception or play nice, but whatever the choice is, they need to know this world doesn't revolve around MC and while his influence on the story may be great, the world still moves on with or without him, and his choices can result in wins, losses or both.
When dealing with Claire the power differential is clearly slanted towards MC. Not only is she infatuated by his presence, but he is also a powerful predator and can pick and chose how he wants to deal with her without any difficulties or repercussions.
When dealing with Emilia the opposite is true. She is in this case the powerful predator and MC is the pray that needs to figure out a way to get out of the situation with his head still on his shoulders.
Papers please will put MC in a different kind of situation with another set of choices.
How do you leave your apartment after reading your emails?
You should be able to see a "back" arrow appear when in the main room of the apartment (the one with the couch and all the doors).
This is why Sandboxes are a pain in the ass.

"Get the guest room key"
Guest Room: "Not yet implemented"
Then why did you make the Guest Room quest available instead of doing the Violet Lips quest.

Makes no God damned sense...
The Violet Lips quest was the least favorite in the survey so it remained to be done last. The room doesn't have much of anything in it, as Shevaun said, I was just too lazy to build the room and do programming, that's all.
 

WastedTalent

Active Member
Dec 11, 2020
953
1,524
This is why Sandboxes are a pain in the ass.

"Get the guest room key"
Guest Room: "Not yet implemented"
Then why did you make the Guest Room quest available instead of doing the Violet Lips quest.

Makes no God damned sense...
Agreed and honestly the story is good enough to stand on it's own without all the gaming features. I would prefer a more kinetic or just choice based driven story. For me gaming elements hurt the immersion because I'm worried about some pointless thing I have to do to trigger the next conversation or complete the "Mission". However it is the dev's to do with as they please so seems like it's an unfortunate thing that being said it's better than most I just hope it doesn't turn into pointless grind and all that.
 

JoeTheMC84

Well-Known Member
Dec 1, 2021
1,598
6,539
I don't mind sandboxes that are about choosing the order you do things in as long as you can still do everything (on whatever path you're on if there are different paths, like factions and such). But I dislike gridding sandboxes. And ones with timed or mutually exclusive events that aren't that way for clear reasons (like different factions or something) can rot in a pit.
 
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FunFuntomes

Engaged Member
Mar 24, 2021
2,506
3,778
When dealing with Emilia the opposite is true. She is in this case the powerful predator and MC is the pray that needs to figure out a way to get out of the situation with his head still on his shoulders.
when was the choise to ask her to marry MC ? through the whole garden scene,I had Kenny Rogers sing "Can't help falling in love " in my head... hopefully Runah is cool with bigami
 
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bosp

Active Member
Jan 3, 2018
647
1,316
The MC is a neonate, he doesn't stand a chance face to face against an older and more powerful vampire right now. He doesn't know about his own powers and has zero trainning. Still he managed to K.Oed her by surprise during their first encounter. Now she's aware of the MC's hidden power and prepared to btfo him if he tries something, hence the game over if you try something in that scene.
I don't understand why some of you can't understand this. This is not a landlady simulater in which the mc beats people with his equine dick and bitches throw themselves at him just because porn.
How about a reality check question for you?

You get to a screen where you are presented with a simple choice like in this game:

1. press this button if you want to continue playing
2. press this button if you want a game over

Is this really a choice?

I mean, you have to be nuts to press the button NO. 2 unless... you think this fake choice screen is ruining the game and you want to end it and go and play something more entertaining. I did it and it worked for me. End of story.

As far as I know, nobody mentioned some landlady simulator, and footlong dicks were not involved so you kinda missed the point with that reference. Nothing in the whole discussion was about porn.

Is it so hard to fathom that unfortunate game design decisions like making a choice screen without an actual choice, i.e. button No. 2 leading to GAME OVER are not a very good idea?
 

JoeTheMC84

Well-Known Member
Dec 1, 2021
1,598
6,539
How about a reality check question for you?

You get to a screen where you are presented with a simple choice like in this game:

1. press this button if you want to continue playing
2. press this button if you want a game over

Is this really a choice?

I mean, you have to be nuts to press the button NO. 2 unless... you think this fake choice screen is ruining the game and you want to end it and go and play something more entertaining. I did it and it worked for me. End of story.

As far as I know, nobody mentioned some landlady simulator, and footlong dicks were not involved so you kinda missed the point with that reference. Nothing in the whole discussion was about porn.

Is it so hard to fathom that unfortunate game design decisions like making a choice screen without an actual choice, i.e. button No. 2 leading to GAME OVER are not a very good idea?
I think it is a choice, if it is there for a purpose.

That purpose? To show something to the player. You are not powerful enough *yet.* It is there to reveal something about the setting and the world, your choices have consequences, the consequence of this one is that you die, but the consequence of another might be that some one else dies. So, now you have learned that in this game you need to take people seriously. She has her claws in your chest, she has told you she will kill you, she has already let two attempts you made to lie slide, and she is a crazy person. You still can try to fight back, but here you die. So, now you may think later, if someone has a gun to Zoey's head and say do X or she dies for example, "Okay I should play along, and try to get over on them after she is safe." It is a real choice, and it teaches you something. You aren't the hero, *Yet.*

But we can agree to disagree here. I know it can be hard for people to reconsider ideas on the internet and I've been guilty of it myself.

Hope you have a nice day and I hope you find a game you enjoy. If you find a good alternative vampire game, please let me know, they are all too rare and I'd be interested in playing it if you do.

Vampires breathe?
Well, they eat so it stands to reason they need to breath as well. As far as I know, Twilight is the only vampire story where they don't still need oxygen in the body to transport the blood they drink to their brain.

Edit: Not to mention you need air in your lungs to speak... God Twilight was so dumb, "PreTEnD to bReATh and bLiNK..." sparkling vampires was just the start of that stories stupid...
 
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bosp

Active Member
Jan 3, 2018
647
1,316
I think it is a choice, if it is there for a purpose.

That purpose? To show something to the player. You are not powerful enough *yet.* It is there to reveal something about the setting and the world, your choices have consequences, the consequence of this one is that you die, but the consequence of another might be that some one else dies. So, now you have learned that in this game you need to take people seriously. She has her claws in your chest, she has told you she will kill you, she has already let two attempts you made to lie slide, and she is a crazy person. You still can try to fight back, but here you die. So, now you may think later, if someone has a gun to Zoey's head and say do X or she dies for example, "Okay I should play along, and try to get over on them after she is safe." It is a real choice, and it teaches you something. You aren't the hero, *Yet.*

But we can agree to disagree here. I know it can be hard for people to reconsider ideas on the internet and I've been guilty of it myself.

Hope you have a nice day and I hope you find a game you enjoy. If you find a good alternative vampire game, please let me know, they are all too rare and I'd be interested in playing it if you do.


Well, they eat so it stands to reason they need to breath as well. As far as I know, Twilight is the only vampire story where they don't still need oxygen in the body to transport the blood they drink to their brain.
I completely agree that we can disagree on this. :p

This is a game. Its purpose is to entertain the players.

Actually, since it's in an early development stage it's more like a visual novel with an extremely quirky and clunky sandbox system that serves no real purpose atm.

The game has yet to gain some traction and popularity and if the author is so bold as to, among say a total of 10 choice screens in the whole game include the one that leads to GAME OVER to prove some point then kudos to him.
A bit extreme for a game in development but I really can't argue it's not a valid decision, just maybe an unfortunate one.
But, as I said in my previous post - I took the way out, it worked for me. End of story. :)
 
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Hildegardt

Well-Known Member
Oct 18, 2017
1,111
2,282
Vampires breathe?
I guess that depends on the type of vamp the dev is going for.
Maybe they don't need to breath to survive, but not breathing is still uncomfortable, especially if they're newly turned and still used to breathing their whole life.
Also, how would they speak without air flow?
 

longjohngold

Well-Known Member
Jan 22, 2020
1,215
1,905
This was really cool, I dig anything that give me VtM:B vibes.

A couple of hopes...
1) When choosing the "dark" path with the shy girl I hope that still means sex (of the rough, controlling, abusive kind) like rather than what looks to be a romance or bloodbag route I kinda want it to be a take anything and everything kinda route (hell get her to move into that guest room and then you've got a permanent outlet for a couple of urges).
2) If the MC can control vampires then he better turn the Arbitrator into a needy lovesick little girl that follows him around begging to have a baby put into her (and that also should be one of his powers), haha.

A couple of quibbles...
1) Given your step-mom has put her neck on the line for you, I was kinda miffed you couldn't be open and honest about knowing the landlady... I swear to god she better not get annoyed that you didn't tell her about it as I damn well wanted to... and I've got a feeling that landlady is going to turn out to be something... hunter/ancient/otherkin I dunno, but she's sus as hell.
2) The little sandbox set off my alarm bells... it kinda seemed pointless especially stuff like putting the blood in and out of the fridge. I imagine the response to it is "there's big plans for it" or something as usual... but it'll either end up being a bit of a ballache that distracts from the narrative or something that isn't ever used much... and in both cases it'd be better off without it.

Oh and I got a couple errors but they weren't a big deal.
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Ragnar

Super User
Respected User
Former Staff
Aug 5, 2016
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13,788
How about a reality check question for you?

You get to a screen where you are presented with a simple choice like in this game:

1. press this button if you want to continue playing
2. press this button if you want a game over

Is this really a choice?

I mean, you have to be nuts to press the button NO. 2 unless... you think this fake choice screen is ruining the game and you want to end it and go and play something more entertaining. I did it and it worked for me. End of story.

As far as I know, nobody mentioned some landlady simulator, and footlong dicks were not involved so you kinda missed the point with that reference. Nothing in the whole discussion was about porn.

Is it so hard to fathom that unfortunate game design decisions like making a choice screen without an actual choice, i.e. button No. 2 leading to GAME OVER are not a very good idea?
Pick 1 You're alive
Pick 2 You're dead
It looks like a choice to me.
 
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DIKnemero

Newbie
Dec 15, 2021
81
106
I just discovered the game and I think it's going great. There are some things I would definitely like to see in the future. I might have a few ideas about the story as well. As you know now, there are 2 clans in the game, why shouldn't we establish the third clan? And then let's recruit some powerful people and neutral vampires from other clans to our side. But we definitely don't have to make Emilia a bitch. (Her father is the other clan leader, but there is nothing to do) Otherwise, this crazy woman will be in trouble in the future. Arbitrator is also a very strong character, somehow we should not include him in our ranks. And let's not forget our mother who made us vampires. MC, Zoey, Emilia, Arbitrator, Mom... Look at the team... And then we must destroy the other clans and become the sole ruling power and king.. Just a dream... Maybe it will come true....
 

UncleFredo

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2020
1,937
3,666
First of all thanks for the update, always very much appreciated! I would have liked a little more action, but all in all foundations are laid for the future and that kind of think has to happen.

On the topic mentioned here:
Pick 1 You're alive
Pick 2 You're dead
It looks like a choice to me.
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Despite my comment I very much enjoy this game and look forward to the next update. Thanks for all your hard work.
 
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bosp

Active Member
Jan 3, 2018
647
1,316
Pick 1 You're alive
Pick 2 You're dead
It looks like a choice to me.
It looks like it, doesn't it?
Quite a conundrum.

Lucky, not for me.
My MC was a vampire.
He was already dead so I had no problem sending him to GAME OVER when I was offered that #choice#.
 
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Cigzag

Member
Feb 20, 2020
235
497
This was really cool, I dig anything that give me VtM:B vibes.

A couple of hopes...
1) When choosing the "dark" path with the shy girl I hope that still means sex (of the rough, controlling, abusive kind) like rather than what looks to be a romance or bloodbag route I kinda want it to be a take anything and everything kinda route (hell get her to move into that guest room and then you've got a permanent outlet for a couple of urges).
2) If the MC can control vampires then he better turn the Arbitrator into a needy lovesick little girl that follows him around begging to have a baby put into her (and that also should be one of his powers), haha.

A couple of quibbles...
1) Given your step-mom has put her neck on the line for you, I was kinda miffed you couldn't be open and honest about knowing the landlady... I swear to god she better not get annoyed that you didn't tell her about it as I damn well wanted to... and I've got a feeling that landlady is going to turn out to be something... hunter/ancient/otherkin I dunno, but she's sus as hell.
2) The little sandbox set off my alarm bells... it kinda seemed pointless especially stuff like putting the blood in and out of the fridge. I imagine the response to it is "there's big plans for it" or something as usual... but it'll either end up being a bit of a ballache that distracts from the narrative or something that isn't ever used much... and in both cases it'd be better off without it.

Oh and I got a couple errors but they weren't a big deal.
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I agree with everything except for the Arbitrator part (unless it was optional of course) I prefer the girls to fall for the MC without being tricked or maniuplated in any way. In the romance runs at least, but otherwise that would be a really fun path to take in a corruption/evil run.
 

WuzzyFuzzy

Well-Known Member
Jan 23, 2020
1,560
3,166
Edit: Not to mention you need air in your lungs to speak... God Twilight was so dumb, "PreTEnD to bReATh and bLiNK..." sparkling vampires was just the start of that stories stupid...
Having no beating heart and not breathing in oxygen doesn't make sense.
The cells of biological lifeforms need oxygen to produce energy.
I guess that depends on the type of vamp the dev is going for.
Maybe they don't need to breath to survive, but not breathing is still uncomfortable, especially if they're newly turned and still used to breathing their whole life.
Also, how would they speak without air flow?
heh...well let's see.

After a bit of research I find that Twilight was neither the first nor the last vampire-themed story to indicate vampires did not require respiration.

Yes, I understand the TCA cycle and how important oxygen's role is in physiological processes. However, this is a vampire story. Fangs extend magically, supernatural abilities, mind control, etc. So a reality distortion field is in place.

Yes, air is required to vibrate vocal chords, so movement of the diaphragm is in order.

Can vampires drown? In any of their stories I've read that possibility is not considered a threat, whether implicit or explicitly stated. They can sleep in sealed coffins or other similar constructs in some stories for thousands of years.

But it caught my attention when I read while our bone-headed, smack-talking MC was being accosted, the author used the term suffocate. That term struck me as being incongruous with lore. Not a biggie, however.
 
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Ragnar

Super User
Respected User
Former Staff
Aug 5, 2016
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First of all thanks for the update, always very much appreciated! I would have liked a little more action, but all in all foundations are laid for the future and that kind of think has to happen.

On the topic mentioned here:

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Despite my comment I very much enjoy this game and look forward to the next update. Thanks for all your hard work.
To me VNs are like CYOA books/stories, your choices can lead to dead or different endings. I like that style of storytelling but to each his own.
 
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