TBH I am less worried about sandboxing than maybe I should be? I do not like it as a rule, but then again, I think implementation has a lot to do with how I would receive it. Am I grinding faction, or am I simply able to go out and dine on whom and where I like. Both situations could happen in a sandbox environment. I think most of us would not object to the second, and most would object to the first. I could be way off base here, but again, in the implementation of a sandbox I think the purpose and context will influence my judgement.
Now another matter or three. Name-
I do not really get the whole inflamed argument over this. I do want to be able to name my MC what I want to name him. Beyond that, I could care less what his name was before the embrace. I do think both Zoey and the creepy credential guy should pretty much insist that he change his name though. It is stupid to retain the old name, as in STUPID. AS IN INVITE THE VAMPIRE HUNTERS. AS IN CONDEMN YOUR OLD LIFE FRIENDS TO DEATH OR WORSE. Maybe that is plain enough. As far as how to make this all so easy, the coding for implementing this is very simple, and will work throughout the game
whenever the name is needed. I can edit the code for the author if he needs someone or would like to make that happen.
Hairstyle. Beyond the already given examples, one which I really liked was if Zoey was part of the movement to popularize it. She clearly would not have invented it unless she is much older than she has already hinted at, which I do not believe she is.
Our Princess......... Clearly she needs some schooling in how to run a vampire city. I can think of several individuals on this site who are UP for that task, probably some would be more hands ON than others (looking at my bud
Ayhsel)
I can already see that I would have removed a limb or three just in that one meeting, unless that sword is a prop. Fuck it, I wouldn't have even bothered with the sword, but I digress..... Balance and playing one side against the other and all that good stuff aside, sometimes you just gotta kill a mother fucker..... or maim them... or both.... I am looking forward to her upping her game in future updates...
Love and the hapless blood sucker. This is a trope. Yes it has value. Yes it can drive a story. Yes Julie clearly needs to be saved from the murdering psychopathic boss. Weirdly the MC was largely not interested in Julie until the day of his doom. So here we have a problem. Cute girl, into him, he is dead now... sorta... and can not have her unless he similarly dooms her or otherwise makes her his pet. Plus there is revenge to consider, and this, as pointed out, is a dish best served cold, but since we do have Julie to think about, it makes the problem more immediate...... That is what favors/boons are for. If for once, a MC can be just a little smart, and Andy or whatever the fuck his name will be, is at least above average in smarts if he is planning out how much jack off time he has at work based purely on the size of the stack of paperwork, then Andy could surely ask Zoey how things get done in the vampire world if you need someone dead but can not be associated with it for the natural reason of blowing the Masquerade or whatever we will call it when we talk about it here in this forum.
I am hoping we can be at least somewhat intelligent as we move forward. The MC exhibited traits prior to his embrace that would make him a budding vampire. Replay and read his thoughts and actions from the bar with our hot blonde milf, through the scenes till he is gutted. Note that he was able to deny the Vampfu on the dance floor. Something she was not prepared for. Since the author reads this, please think about these things. I am not trying to tell you how to write your story. I am merely pointing out the story points you have made already that set the stage for something pretty unique and pretty great, (and yes some of the scenes were also quite familiar as I have already pointed out, but moving past that to the really good points is where I am going here).
Anyhow, Peace Bloodsuckers!