Ah, good to hear that it's just because it's early in the development .Entirely agree with the first point and it is the plan. Right now all the gates are open so there is enough content to enjoy while the game is still early. Once more of the planned events are ingame I will gate things off in a much more reasonable way.
Just to clarify where I'm coming from a bit - my issue isn't that she should be railing against the doctors who saved her life or suicidal or anything. It's more like if a person has their arm amputated to save them from death by gangrene - they would surely be grateful to whoever saved them, but life without an arm is still going to be painful for them, and they're going to resent their situation whenever they find themselves unable to do the things they once did.Both the male and female start will be bodyswapped (since I need Sammy to be in the body that can be modified easily by the institute for story reasons) and then the first week will be filled with Emile intro events that will expand more on what you are talking about. Adjusting to the new body along with the new world. But as discussed earlier in the thread, there will be no angst at all and even if you pick the most resistant options, the character will still be mostly accepting of the situation simply because the alternative was death.
...
Thank you for the points you have made. I will be writing the female start very soon and will also make adjustments to the male start alongside it with the feedback I have received. A lot of people have commented that she seems far too accepting so I think I really need to emphasise that the alternative was death. And I like to think there are no sane people out there who would prefer death over a perfectly good female body with an extended lifespan.
Honestly, I think I was being nitpicky here. I can think of plenty of reasons why she would respond that way - it's only when it's combined with nobody else expressing much concern about the situation that it comes across as odd to me."her sister seems happier about it than the fact that the main character survived her near-death experience "
I think here maybe I focused too much on the sibling teasing and left the actual topic of survival to the side. Although to be fair, she has had half a year to adjust to your survival but meeting you in your new body is new.
Ah, I meant more along the lines of dressing in a more masculine manner, or considering taking testosterone - things like that. I mean, she wouldn't be the first man in the world to be trapped in the wrong body. Of course, the point of the game is that she's a woman in a very flexible body, so I wouldn't expect anything to come of that (except dressing like a tomboy, maybe), but it's something that I'd expect a highly resistant character to consider." nor any thought given to how she might try to get back any of her old life. "
Maybe it's not explained as well as it should be, but old life is dead regardless of the body swap. They were fleeing the city where they lived as riots and chaos basically meant the city was in flames. Even if there was no crash and bodyswap, they would still be starting new again. I should maybe emphasise that a bit when I am doing the Emile into events.
Yeah this sort of stuff I think will be resolved with the Emile early game events. Much more discussion on the change and getting used to new things. I plan for some day outings to different places and in one example I have in mind will be the lake beach area. To hang out there she will need a swimsuit and how it is so much different now in the new body. People are looking at her, she needs to be mindful of her body in her small swimsuit and that sort of stuff (Its assumed that the female start she will not be a pretty girl so some of this stuff will still be relevant)Just to clarify where I'm coming from a bit - my issue isn't that she should be railing against the doctors who saved her life or suicidal or anything. It's more like if a person has their arm amputated to save them from death by gangrene - they would surely be grateful to whoever saved them, but life without an arm is still going to be painful for them, and they're going to resent their situation whenever they find themselves unable to do the things they once did.
Her life has just changed dramatically, filled with worries that she never needed to think about in the past, and in return filled with new opportunities that she may not even want; she just seems to accept the situation a bit too readily, when most people would likely be worried about something in their new life.
I'll keep this in mind when doing the femstart and editing the male start.Honestly, I think I was being nitpicky here. I can think of plenty of reasons why she would respond that way - it's only when it's combined with nobody else expressing much concern about the situation that it comes across as odd to me.
This one is unfortunately a sacrifice I made on purpose. I decided early on I didn't want to gate off or restrict wardrobe choices. The wardrobe is quite a big part of the game and I wanted it to be as fluid and seamless as possible and so I have been extremely forgiving with outfit options.Ah, I meant more along the lines of dressing in a more masculine manner, or considering taking testosterone - things like that. I mean, she wouldn't be the first man in the world to be trapped in the wrong body. Of course, the point of the game is that she's a woman in a very flexible body, so I wouldn't expect anything to come of that (except dressing like a tomboy, maybe), but it's something that I'd expect a highly resistant character to consider.
The first thing that would come to my mind for this would be hobbies, and social dynamics... But hobbies would be a bit difficult with how her memories of her old life are sort of washed out now.Yeah this sort of stuff I think will be resolved with the Emile early game events. Much more discussion on the change and getting used to new things. I plan for some day outings to different places and in one example I have in mind will be the lake beach area. To hang out there she will need a swimsuit and how it is so much different now in the new body. People are looking at her, she needs to be mindful of her body in her small swimsuit and that sort of stuff (Its assumed that the female start she will not be a pretty girl so some of this stuff will still be relevant)
Still not written the events with Emile though so ideas are more than welcome.
It's more a matter of presentation, in my opinion - the player can avoid dressing the character in a feminine manner, but the character isn't going to insist that she's a guy in dialogue, or scowl when people mention that she's a pretty cute girl. Which I understand isn't the story you want to tell, and that you don't want to spend a lot of time writing scene variants for "what if the main character rejects the core concept of the game?" - but that's why I think it would be better addressed by creating more of a reason for the character to accept the change so readily.This one is unfortunately a sacrifice I made on purpose. I decided early on I didn't want to gate off or restrict wardrobe choices. The wardrobe is quite a big part of the game and I wanted it to be as fluid and seamless as possible and so I have been extremely forgiving with outfit options.
But you did point out you picked the accepting choices in the prologue so you got the dress. You might not have noticed that if you resisted you would have got a t shirt and trousers instead. It of course doesn't stop the player from rushing to the shop afterwards and buying a thong and miniskirt but I think it kinda gets the point across.
With things outside of the wardrobe, I am not sure if the game will ever have anything that would be considered inherently feminine or masculine. I put Sammy in dance classes for story related reasons but other sports or activities would be up to the player to choose. Hormones, although they will never be ingame, if they were I would also leave up to the player.
So I think outside of the prologue and early game Emile events, this sort of thing is probably just up to the player to role play with.
I didn't see the planned updates document... What post was it in?Judging by the planned updates dokument linked on page 18, I figured that the MtF aspect becomes more relevant later in the story, if/when the sister does her own FtM and the MC helps her sister/brother adjust.
Just to be clear, I have no issue with the concept of the main character taking it in stride (and definitely prefer it to the common "let's torture the main character into accepting this" approach) - I just feel like there should be an explanation if that's to be the default. "The main character was transgender to begin with". "The brain transfer process floods you with so many endorphins that you'll accept just about anything for a week". "The main character is in deep denial, and is quietly reassuring herself that this last year has all been a horrible nightmare". Take your pick; it doesn't even have to be realistic, just enough of a handwave that the player can say "Ah, that's why she's not freaking out over this dramatic change".And speaking personally, I find the MC's 'Sure, why not?' attitude towards the initial change quite relatable and dramatically preferable to the usual.
Ironically, that one I found a lot more immediately plausible. No particularly unique skills, but an endlessly customizable body that lets you be a dramatically different person every day... It's well-suited to the role, and it's not like the main character has a lot of options for money when she's in a city under lockdown, and no non-Institute connections.Now, her attitude when the institute folks more-or-less tell her 'yeah, we made you like this because we needed a spy-whore.'... that's where I'd expect the MC to put up more of a 'Wait, what?' reaction. Though future updates covering the female orientation class & the MC's interactions with her sister & classmates may soften the impact on the basis of 'Ah... yeah, I noticed the world turned kinda shitty, I guess.'
... that's actually a pretty good idea that I rarely see, and should be relatively easy to implement in the dialogues (work as a waitress/school/sister events). I emphasise the 'Relatively', though, since there's always a risk of overloading the text part or missing the game's overall tone. I'm generally in favour of cutting to get something that fits together well, even if it's not 'Realistic', rather than trying to fit everything in.Social dynamics should be easy enough, though - things like going from being "one of the guys" joking around with his friends at the pub (not that he has friends, but that's the point of pubs, right?), to completely missing how several of the guys are trying to signal that they're interested in her. Trying to strike up a conversation with a guy who looks interesting, and having it be mistaken for a come-on. That kind of thing.
Presumably Sam_Tail said:This will bring a lot more life to your sister. You will have a lot of flavour events with her as she tries to help you adapt to your new body and life.
This one.05841035411 said:I didn't see the planned updates document... What post was it in?
I mean, the game does go with 'I'd be dead if not for this.' Strikes me as plausible enough. At the end of the day, half of the human species is afflicted with the female condition and copes. It can't be that terrible of an experience.05841035411 said:Just to be clear, I have no issue with the concept of the main character taking it in stride (and definitely prefer it to the common "let's torture the main character into accepting this" approach) - I just feel like there should be an explanation if that's to be the default. "The main character was transgender to begin with". "The brain transfer process floods you with so many endorphins that you'll accept just about anything for a week". "The main character is in deep denial, and is quietly reassuring herself that this last year has all been a horrible nightmare". Take your pick; it doesn't even have to be realistic, just enough of a handwave that the player can say "Ah, that's why she's not freaking out over this dramatic change".
It's one thing to go '... well, guess I'm not spoiled for choice', another thing to go 'Oh yeah, that's fine. Makes sense.' Even recognising that she has little choice, a bit of sass or sarcasm over the matter might not be wholly amiss. Though admittedly, the MC does seem to lean a bit on the passive side. Maybe not saying it to the Institute folks' face, but some introspection later, or while chatting with her therapist. Though actually... I think this may already be covered by that last part (it's been a while since I read that dialogue), and it'd make sense for her therapist to steer her towards an accepting attitude.05841035411 said:Ironically, that one I found a lot more immediately plausible. No particularly unique skills, but an endlessly customizable body that lets you be a dramatically different person every day... It's well-suited to the role, and it's not like the main character has a lot of options for money when she's in a city under lockdown, and no non-Institute connections.
Perhaps, but Sam_Tail said that specific ideas in this area were welcome since the events hadn't been written yet, and I would have felt it rude of me not offer some suggestions after saying that this area could use more work.... that's actually a pretty good idea that I rarely see, and should be relatively easy to implement in the dialogues (work as a waitress/school/sister events). I emphasise the 'Relatively', though, since there's always a risk of overloading the text part or missing the game's overall tone. I'm generally in favour of cutting to get something that fits together well, even if it's not 'Realistic', rather than trying to fit everything in.
Also, to an extent, this already exists, as seen in the initial peptalk by the MC's sister, who is exasperated with the MC's careless attitude about staying outside and alone. I give it fairly good odds that what you're asking for is largely already planned for the sister content. Not the least because this literally pops up in the document linked in the post linked below:
Thanks! I'm not sure how my eyes skipped over that post twice...
But like I said earlier, if you have your arm amputated, you're not immediately fine and dandy with it just because it was necessary - it takes time to learn to adapt. And not to get too morbid here, but there have been many transgender individuals denied assistance who chose death over feeling trapped in the wrong body; there's nothing wrong with being a woman (or with being a man, for that matter), but it really is a terrible experience to be in a body that you're not suited to.I mean, the game does go with 'I'd be dead if not for this.' Strikes me as plausible enough. At the end of the day, half of the human species is afflicted with the female condition and copes. It can't be that terrible of an experience.
As I recall, the topic is first broached with her Institute handler before she talks to the therapist, and she immediately said that she thought her new body was part of a sex toy project when asked what she thought the purpose behind the research was. She just kind of jumps right into her new role in life, honestly.It's one thing to go '... well, guess I'm not spoiled for choice', another thing to go 'Oh yeah, that's fine. Makes sense.' Even recognising that she has little choice, a bit of sass or sarcasm over the matter might not be wholly amiss. Though admittedly, the MC does seem to lean a bit on the passive side. Maybe not saying it to the Institute folks' face, but some introspection later, or while chatting with her therapist. Though actually... I think this may already be covered by that last part (it's been a while since I read that dialogue), and it'd make sense for her therapist to steer her towards an accepting attitude.
I would like to point out that many transgender people and their high suicide rates exist as a direct counterpoint to "no sane people out there who would prefer death over a perfectly good female body with an extended lifespan". Having a body that doesn't fit you is more traumatic than you think, it affects everything from how people treat you to the sensations of your body to body chemistry that actually fucks with your brain because it's the wrong kind for that brain. All those things might not seem like much but they constantly add up when you live day after day after day as a person you don't want to be.Thank you for the points you have made. I will be writing the female start very soon and will also make adjustments to the male start alongside it with the feedback I have received. A lot of people have commented that she seems far too accepting so I think I really need to emphasise that the alternative was death. And I like to think there are no sane people out there who would prefer death over a perfectly good female body with an extended lifespan.
That's admittedly a fair point. But this being saidI would like to point out that many transgender people and their high suicide rates exist as a direct counterpoint to "no sane people out there who would prefer death over a perfectly good female body with an extended lifespan". Having a body that doesn't fit you is more traumatic than you think, it affects everything from how people treat you to the sensations of your body to body chemistry that actually fucks with your brain because it's the wrong kind for that brain. All those things might not seem like much but they constantly add up when you live day after day after day as a person you don't want to be.
... I mean, that's literally how the MC's being depicted.That said, I enjoy genderswap stories in general, even if they can often be unrealistic. After all, fiction doesn't have to be realistic. A simple fix if you want a little more realism, though, is to simply make your MC one of the more flexible ones who doesn't really care about their gender that much. People vary and have differing feelings about gender, after all. There might be a bit of dismay at the suddenness of the change and they might have to adjust certain inhabited habits they had as a man, but overall they would accept it basically. Less "I hate this body" and more "this isn't what I'm used to but I suppose I can deal". Because that body hatred? It simply doesn't go away.
Yeah, you're more or less fine there.That's admittedly a fair point. But this being said
... I mean, that's literally how the MC's being depicted.
Was me that said it.snip
Yeah, the sister story is planned heavily for if you went the M2F route and will have extra stuff for if you are still a virgin. Much like she helped you out, you will help her out getting adjusted to the situation. And depending on your relationship with her, there will be some silly/funny instances of her new little friend having a mind of its own.Judging by the planned updates dokument linked on page 18, I figured that the MtF aspect becomes more relevant later in the story, if/when the sister does her own FtM and the MC helps her sister/brother adjust.
Yeah this one might come across a bit better when the mission is time gated and the player/Sammy has had time to get used to living in her new body and living in the new world in front of her. I have also tried to make things a little more plausible by telling Sammy that she can refuse with no repercussions at all (But we of course know the player wont refuse).Now, her attitude when the institute folks more-or-less tell her 'yeah, we made you like this because we needed a spy-whore.'... that's where I'd expect the MC to put up more of a 'Wait, what?' reaction. Though future updates covering the female orientation class & the MC's interactions with her sister & classmates may soften the impact on the basis of 'Ah... yeah, I noticed the world turned kinda shitty, I guess.'
A social dynamic faux pas could be a good event. Something like joining a couple of boys at the beach for beers. In your mind you are just hanging out but in their mind they want to get you in bed. The confusion of the situation could lead to some funny dialogue with Emile.Social dynamics should be easy enough, though - things like going from being "one of the guys" joking around with his friends at the pub (not that he has friends, but that's the point of pubs, right?), to completely missing how several of the guys are trying to signal that they're interested in her. Trying to strike up a conversation with a guy who looks interesting, and having it be mistaken for a come-on. That kind of thing.
Some introspection could be good. I already added one part when he asks you to become the fixer and I had planned to add some after certain sex milestones. Could include something for your first offer.It's one thing to go '... well, guess I'm not spoiled for choice', another thing to go 'Oh yeah, that's fine. Makes sense.' Even recognising that she has little choice, a bit of sass or sarcasm over the matter might not be wholly amiss. Though admittedly, the MC does seem to lean a bit on the passive side. Maybe not saying it to the Institute folks' face, but some introspection later, or while chatting with her therapist. Though actually... I think this may already be covered by that last part (it's been a while since I read that dialogue), and it'd make sense for her therapist to steer her towards an accepting attitude.
That was a bit of a joke since in one of my earliest drafts of the story, it was what they were for.As I recall, the topic is first broached with her Institute handler before she talks to the therapist, and she immediately said that she thought her new body was part of a sex toy project when asked what she thought the purpose behind the research was. She just kind of jumps right into her new role in life, honestly.
I was thinking about this, and it occurred to me - perhaps being concise here might actually make it easier to address? These things are often easier to address if we just step back and give a blanket answer, leaving the details to the imagination.That the topic of trans is a very complex and deep topic. And I feel that, despite the game having a gender bender theme, doesn't really fit well with the story. Most of the info I give generally tends to be on the concise side of things so to introduce such a complex topic would, I feel, be counter productive to the overall story and would leave so many more holes to pick at.
You know, I've always found that odd, personally. I can think of a half-dozen games about forcing or tricking the main character into becoming a girl (and, like, one about becoming a guy) off the top of my head, but none about actively trying to become one - the closest I can think of is a game about a guy crossdressing to improve his magic power. I'd think at least some games would be more inclined to embrace their genre rather than treat it as something they hate.(Mostly because I dislike gender bender stories that have so much resistance/angst despite it clearly being what they player wants)
Possibly . . . . If one had actually read that "Doc", as I stated, I had just read the "last few pages of postings", (to catch-up on what was being discussed), after-which of reading them, posted.When the dev's 'planned updates' .doc literally states 'player gets the choice between lesbian, genderbent and dead paths for the MC's sister', one might consider trusting the dev on that?
I think early game Emile stuff will probably be enough to smooth over all those details. But if it's not I will look into a more direct solution like you mention.I was thinking about this, and it occurred to me - perhaps being concise here might actually make it easier to address? These things are often easier to address if we just step back and give a blanket answer, leaving the details to the imagination.
Yeah, I have played so many games where clearly as a player you want to gender bend the MC but the game does everything in its power to prevent you or draw it all out. While at the same time it has so little content for those who full on resist transforming. Bit of an odd juxtaposition.You know, I've always found that odd, personally. I can think of a half-dozen games about forcing or tricking the main character into becoming a girl (and, like, one about becoming a guy) off the top of my head, but none about actively trying to become one - the closest I can think of is a game about a guy crossdressing to improve his magic power. I'd think at least some games would be more inclined to embrace their genre rather than treat it as something they hate.
Then again, I can also think of ten games featuring female protagonists that involve harassment or assault for every one that lets the main character enjoy the game from the start, so... I guess I'm the weird one for not wanting to feel miserable when I play a game?
I should have maybe prefaced my comment with "If you choose to gender bend Emile". There has always been 4 planned outcomes for her story. Dead, FF relationship with MC, MF relationship with MC or finally just a friendly relationship with MC while she follows one of the flatmate branches you were locked out of.After reading the last few pages of comments, my greatest fear about the game now, is that the player, will be forced to "gender-bend" Sammy's sister, Emile, into a male, instead of having the choice of her, Emile, to stay female, or, being encouraged to, (or that, the idea/suggestion/possibility of, never even being brought about at all), as the player's choice .
This would literally, ruin the game for me, as the way I'm playing Sammy, is as a bi-sexual person, (to cope with the situation, as they find themselves in now), who when "he/she", was a guy, really wanted to have a "closer" relationship with his sister, ("Emile"), but didn't know how/if she would except him then, so, never got the chance to approach her about it, out of his Love & Respect for her, and waiting for the 'right' moment.
But, now things are different, and she even said, she always wanted a sister, and how they could be closer, and have fun together.
So now, "he/she",(Sammy), feels they can approach her, about "their" feelings, and Emile may be more "open" to a "closer" relationship, as the situation is now.
I may, or may not be alone, with having a choice about, "gender-bending" Emile, but I think it should at least be considered . . . ?
(I'm fairly sure , I read a few postings, "similar", to a desire , of having this choice for Emile, by others ) ?