RPGM Onhold The Libertine Conundrum [v0.31] [Dxasmodeus]

[dxasmodeus]

This is interesting because I personally don't really see the lack of a central story as a strict negative. There are some good things you can do with a stronger core story, like a more natural vehicle to introduce characters or giving the game a proper "end" eventually... but I also enjoy the Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons-esque "freedom to do whatever you want for the day" feel that this game has (or maybe "had" is the proper term now?)
Of course, I am still interested to see what kind of narrative direction the new version will take, though! Just thinking I'd put in my two cents on this subject.

It is a personal preference for me. I have always preferred good stories.

I don't remember any kind of "erotic combat" in the game myself (though I also haven't played in a good while either), so I guess I'm not really lamenting its loss? Maybe it was just something planned but never implemented, but if it was actually a thing, and things are going to be cut, probably good that it apparently wasn't a memorable-enough aspect of the game.

It was a planned feature. I had it all laid out in the backend, which required a LOT of coaxing to get going without scripting. At the end of the day, all of that work for a functional minigame just for ONE NPC's storyline was overkill.

Sounds like the biggest hits to fetish content will be hyper and the body mod stuff, which... I'm perfectly fine with as well, since I'm not really into crazy big anatomy or surgical grafting of new penises or whatever.

It required even more work on the backend than the combat. I could easily get it working without scripting, but the amount of change to all of the NPCs and the core gameplay to account for all possible combinations was overwhelming. If I ever found an artist, it would increase the number of required artwork in spades.

Besides hyper/body mod, are there any other fetishes you can otherwise-guarantee will be dropped at this point? There wasn't really too much implemented in the game by this point even if there was a decent handful of things included in the fetish menus, but I also have to wonder if some of the stuff in said fetish menus were going to be implemented alongside the ero-combat like the tentacles or bugs. (Personally I'll be sad if the planned inclusion of anthro/furry characters is dropped, because human + furry dickgirl-on-dickgirl is a firecracker of a combination.)

Medical play is out the door. Much of what I had planned can be folded into other fetishes. BDSM will most likely go too. There are enough games out there that handle it to where there is not too much I can add to it. Like it or not, the tentacles and bugs and xenos are staying. I AM the guy who wrote the infamous worm encounter in Corruption of Champions, after all.

Mel becoming a major character sounds great, especially considering in the game's current (old) state she's mostly a tease of something more, what with her whole "get involved with the Resort's currently-not-implemented more freaky stuff to get involved with me" deal.

Mel was, and still is, central to the plot.

Overall, I'm interested to see where the game ends up, even if it takes another couple years by this point to get the ball rolling again. The only advice I can think of is maybe consider sharing small previews and updates on the game's reincarnation-in-progress to possibly retain/build up interest, but if that's too much work on top of the actual development (and various other life factors) then it'd probably be best just to work on the development itself.

I plan previews as they come. Right now, I am reorganization and revision mode. I already have an idea what direction to go in and create a cohesive story and world, but I am still in the planning phase. Once I get far enough, it is a matter of writing it down and building the new project.

 

[Porn Pleb]

Just discovered you, glad im not going have to wait as long as everyone else but i can certainly say I'm just as excited...once you get the ball rolling again are we allowed to make suggestions or request some fetish stuff?

 

[dxasmodeus]

... are we allowed to make suggestions or request some fetish stuff?

Right now, I am focusing on rebuilding the game from the ground up. I will worry about requests after I am past the rebuilding and rewriting stage. Even then, I cannot make any guarantees.

 

[Porn Pleb]

Right now, I am focusing on rebuilding the game from the ground up. I will worry about requests after I am past the rebuilding and rewriting stage. Even then, I cannot make any guarantees.

Well you seem to have a good grasp on what you actually want so, understandable.

 

[dxasmodeus]

Because of its length, I am including a link to my latest development log post on the game's itch.io page. I plan on coming out of hiatus soon. The devlog has extensive screenshots showing the state of the game. I am hoping to have the next release ready by the end of the year.

You must be registered to see the links

 

[Porn Pleb]

looks promising

 

[icollectsouls]

Everything sounds good from that update post there! I do have a few questions mostly pertaining to some specific text, though.

Libertine City has multiple districts that focus on either gameplay elements, such as the Promenade Districts shops, office buildings and Mel’s bar, as well as districts for generic encounters with NPCs for experience gaining and developing Jordan’s physical attributes.

Will the districts for generic encounters have anything to do with like... certain types of NPCs? (e.g., is one area like "here's where all the goblins are, this other area has all the bugs and stuff, etc.) Or is it more of a gameplay function, like "oh go to this area and all the women here want Jordan's dick so it levels up her dick stat, but this area they want to play with her tits and it levels that stat instead?"
One thing that always interested me despite not being accessible in the old versions was the "Furry Forest" area (because like I've said before, human + furry/anthro futa-on-futa sounded pretty hot). With the map being completely reworked, is there an equivalent to the Furry Forest or are furry/anthro characters no longer segregated to a specific zone? Are furry/anthro characters still planned for the game or are they dropped completely? I know some of the other fetishes were dropped like the hyper and medical stuff (and again, I was fine with that because I'm not into it.)

One of the biggest changes is that dateable NPCs can now be recruited into the party and become necessary for advancing character quests and other events. Some combinations of party members may even lead to hidden events, depending on who is tagging along with Jordan. They also have stats and attributes to tell the player more about the individual NPC. This is important when considering the outcome of some events and even whether an NPC will participate or not.

Is there a planned ratio for repeatable vs. non-repeatable events? If you bring one NPC along and get outcome "A" for the event, would you have to do a full save + reload to try it with a different NPC and get outcome "B" instead, or would it be possible just to retry that at a different point of time in-game? If you hit a certain point in the story, like going from one chapter to another, do you get locked out of specific events? (So like, if there's a hidden event in a theoretical "chapter 2" that requires you to bring the clown trio to a certain area that's only available for that chapter, do you become unable to see that hidden event once chapter 3 starts?)

The old origin story was overhauled and rewritten. I wanted something a bit more grounded and believable.

This has me curious, because the starting cutscenes admittedly felt long-winded and just a step too much for "scientist woman ends up in immortal debauchery realm with new penis." I have to assume the overhaul is pretty extensive, because the itch.io update also makes mention of stuff like "if the island took standard currency, Jordan’s absurd wealth would let her steamroll through many mechanics" (meaning she technically has access to her wealth but can't use it) and "clashed with the storyline that the resort operates outside government jurisdictions in the game world." I could be wrong because it's been a while, but I don't remember the old versions making reference to Jordan still technically having access to her vast capital or if there was even a government (beyond the "Hotel Staff").

 

[dxasmodeus]

Everything sounds good from that update post there! I do have a few questions mostly pertaining to some specific text, though.

Will the districts for generic encounters have anything to do with like... certain types of NPCs? (e.g., is one area like "here's where all the goblins are, this other area has all the bugs and stuff, etc.) Or is it more of a gameplay function, like "oh go to this area and all the women here want Jordan's dick so it levels up her dick stat, but this area they want to play with her tits and it levels that stat instead?"

The districts are a combination of things. Yes, it is a place for finding random encounters for stat boosts and experience, but it is also part of the worldbuilding. People of all stripes go to the resort. While the game is and always will be primarily about dickgirls, they are not the only patrons. On a more farsighted note, it also opens the door to other partners much later down the road if there is sufficient demand.

One thing that always interested me despite not being accessible in the old versions was the "Furry Forest" area (because like I've said before, human + furry/anthro futa-on-futa sounded pretty hot). With the map being completely reworked, is there an equivalent to the Furry Forest or are furry/anthro characters no longer segregated to a specific zone? Are furry/anthro characters still planned for the game or are they dropped completely? I know some of the other fetishes were dropped like the hyper and medical stuff (and again, I was fine with that because I'm not into it.)

For now, I have furry content on my DLC list. I have space in the code and backend to include it, but to be frank, it is a very low priority at the moment. If you are waiting for it, the wait will be very long.

Is there a planned ratio for repeatable vs. non-repeatable events? If you bring one NPC along and get outcome "A" for the event, would you have to do a full save + reload to try it with a different NPC and get outcome "B" instead, or would it be possible just to retry that at a different point of time in-game? If you hit a certain point in the story, like going from one chapter to another, do you get locked out of specific events? (So like, if there's a hidden event in a theoretical "chapter 2" that requires you to bring the clown trio to a certain area that's only available for that chapter, do you become unable to see that hidden event once chapter 3 starts?)

The simple answer to this is, "yes". However, I plan on having post-game access to all events. I haven't completely worked out the details, but for the most part, there is little that I have planned to be locked out or permanently missable. The fetish settings do more to lock out content than anything. Some characters will be locked out completely depending upon the settings. If Xenophilia is turned off, Vee never appears because she is clearly an alien.

This has me curious, because the starting cutscenes admittedly felt long-winded and just a step too much for "scientist woman ends up in immortal debauchery realm with new penis." I have to assume the overhaul is pretty extensive, because the itch.io update also makes mention of stuff like "if the island took standard currency, Jordan’s absurd wealth would let her steamroll through many mechanics" (meaning she technically has access to her wealth but can't use it) and "clashed with the storyline that the resort operates outside government jurisdictions in the game world." I could be wrong because it's been a while, but I don't remember the old versions making reference to Jordan still technically having access to her vast capital or if there was even a government (beyond the "Hotel Staff").

The overhaul is that I scrapped the original story and started over. In the new build, Jordan is already a dickgirl and always has been. Her machine doesn't work and she needed a break from the stress of working on the thing. A far more grounded and believable plot. Jordan's wealth is Bruce Wayne/Elon Musk tier. Having access to that is gamebreaking. Therefore, considering the island resort is essentially extra-territorial and is flying under government radar, it makes more sense that they would have their own local currency that clearly does not exchange directly with the standard coin of the realm.

 

[icollectsouls]

The districts are a combination of things. Yes, it is a place for finding random encounters for stat boosts and experience, but it is also part of the worldbuilding. People of all stripes go to the resort. While the game is and always will be primarily about dickgirls, they are not the only patrons. On a more farsighted note, it also opens the door to other partners much later down the road if there is sufficient demand.

Interesting! I'm always a sucker for the more casual, minimal-attachment sexual encounters in (dick)girl protagonist stuff, especially with other (dick)girls. If I've read that right, sounds like that's exactly what to expect! (Alongside some other things but that's fine lol)

For now, I have furry content on my DLC list. I have space in the code and backend to include it, but to be frank, it is a very low priority at the moment. If you are waiting for it, the wait will be very long.

Ah, no worries. While it does sound hot, it's also nothing I necessarily just have to see either. (I am also patient enough to wait for the possibility of its inclusion, too.)

The simple answer to this is, "yes". However, I plan on having post-game access to all events. I haven't completely worked out the details, but for the most part, there is little that I have planned to be locked out or permanently missable. The fetish settings do more to lock out content than anything. Some characters will be locked out completely depending upon the settings. If Xenophilia is turned off, Vee never appears because she is clearly an alien.

As long as there's a way to access everything eventually without having to replay through the entire game for specific events, I'm good.

The overhaul is that I scrapped the original story and started over. In the new build, Jordan is already a dickgirl and always has been. Her machine doesn't work and she needed a break from the stress of working on the thing. A far more grounded and believable plot. Jordan's wealth is Bruce Wayne/Elon Musk tier. Having access to that is gamebreaking. Therefore, considering the island resort is essentially extra-territorial and is flying under government radar, it makes more sense that they would have their own local currency that clearly does not exchange directly with the standard coin of the realm.

Well, on top of being more believable and grounded, I do like the way that Jordan's new backstory has more tangible effects, even if she can't access her money. With the old story, all of the plot set-up about her being a crazy-smart scientist and all of her accomplishments just... didn't really matter, because she was in a completely different world/dimension and the only thing that really mattered from her old life was her crazy libido. (Like a bad isekai light novel where the MC's past life as a generic Japanese teenager has no bearing on what he does in the fantasy world.)