VN Ren'Py The Neverwhere Tales [v0.6.0.2] [Ceolag]

[HogRocket]

The MC isn't stupid, but he is stubborn and frustratingly passive, and that hasn't really changed yet. Even the most recent chapter - where the MC starts taking an active role in events - is still him unquestioningly following sketchy advice from characters he doesn't know particularly well.

Personally I think the game is still very good overall, but if you *hated* the MC before you might still be unsatisfied.

It's only been a ~week since the start of the story(discounting the elven adventure), and going from office worker to demon killing "Hero" takes a bit longer than that. What other way to broaden the MC's horizons than actually dive head first into the unknown for him?
If he became a Doom slayer from day 1 then this story could only continue for a few chapters.

I dont expect him to be a "Doomslayer" or any hero, but anyone who has been chased and shot at and had family members kidnapped who thinks he can ignore it all and just go back to work isn't very smart. Clueless is fine, he's in a new situation, stupid isn't. Playing the initial release, he hadn't made it to any level of comprehension yet, I asked if he ever did.

If he can pull his head out of his ass and realize he's in danger and needs to get his shit together - woohoo! brainpower.

Thank you for responding to the actual question.

 

[Wolfram99]

I dont expect him to be a "Doomslayer" or any hero, but anyone who has been chased and shot at and had family members kidnapped who thinks he can ignore it all and just go back to work isn't very smart. Clueless is fine, he's in a new situation, stupid isn't. Playing the initial release, he hadn't made it to any level of comprehension yet, I asked if he ever did.

If he can pull his head out of his ass and realize he's in danger and needs to get his shit together - woohoo! brainpower.

Thank you for responding to the actual question.

Wanting to return to normalcy ASAP is a valid response to trauma.
The MC is a son of the main Templar, he always was under similar threat, its just that this time it has managed to get itself to his doorstep.
The main girl is a traitor, parents are "instrumental" to making the traitor a traitor, the ginger is Sus AF. The workplace might be the last refugee of normalcy in his life, even that should come to an end if it comes out it's been a templar front all along.

 

[HogRocket]

Wanting to return to normalcy ASAP is a valid response to trauma.
The MC is a son of the main Templar, he always was under similar threat, its just that this time it has managed to get itself to his doorstep.
The main girl is a traitor, parents are "instrumental" to making the traitor a traitor, the ginger is Sus AF. The workplace might be the last refugee of normalcy in his life, even that should come to an end if it comes out it's been a templar front all along.

My understanding from the story was that he knew nothing about the Templars or the danger until it happened. I get why he's pissed, but not the "head in the sand" attitude. I have been in (less extreme) situations like this ( yes, involving guns and my possible demise) and didn't think I could just wander back through the trouble area like nothing happened. I guess I just expected more sense of self preservation, especially since his father was supposedly "training" him without him knowing it.

Even if we disagree, I appreciate a reasoned response.

I can see my thought processes are different than most here and will let you all return to your former peaceful status.

 

[Krytax123]

The MC isn't stupid, but he is stubborn and frustratingly passive, and that hasn't really changed yet. Even the most recent chapter - where the MC starts taking an active role in events - is still him unquestioningly following sketchy advice from characters he doesn't know particularly well.

Personally I think the game is still very good overall, but if you *hated* the MC before you might still be unsatisfied.

Its debateable, imo the mc acts rather annoyingly stupid in the first 2 chapters especially. It was my only problem with this avn too. As the user wrote, he gets hunted by an entire army, there are world-shattering relevations and for him its only about him being betrayed (while his dad is in life-threatening danger). Too much of a whiny self-centered crybaby.

BUT i think he got better, a lot actually over the last chapters.

I dont expect him to be a "Doomslayer" or any hero, but anyone who has been chased and shot at and had family members kidnapped who thinks he can ignore it all and just go back to work isn't very smart. Clueless is fine, he's in a new situation, stupid isn't. Playing the initial release, he hadn't made it to any level of comprehension yet, I asked if he ever did.

If he can pull his head out of his ass and realize he's in danger and needs to get his shit together - woohoo! brainpower.

Thank you for responding to the actual question.

He's actually on his way to become a doomslayer at least when its about developing his skills at the moment. He still takes partially reckless decisions without much thinking (and too much trusting) but he can at least somewhat back it up now.

Anyway you should keep playing, i had similar problems with the MC like you but overall the AVN is awesome and the MC gets better.

 

[xapican]

I have been in (less extreme) situations like this ( yes, involving guns and my possible demise)

It is the day to day in many country's even if you're not involved in shaddy business, for all I know that happens in US as well you just have to work nightshift in a gas station.

 

[nitkonikic]

Personally, I love "I am not interested in this shit" type of MCs.
Not everyone wants to be savior of the world, hero fighting crime and injustice. Some just want to live normal and quiet life.
Find a girlfriend, go out for drinks with friends, travel the world...simple stuff.

Being "vigilante" type is, to me at least, similar to soldier type. It's dangerous shit, any day can be your last.
Sure, some are up for that, but what's wrong with not being interested in it?

Can't remember which book series it was, I do remember protagonist dealing with everything simply because antagonist had a hate boner for him, but once everything was done and he was told by his allies he should now "take active role in this world", his reply was to laugh and leave.
I loved it.

Sure, if there's inevitable danger that needs sorting, well what choice is there? Act because you must. But once done? Goodbye, I never want to hear of this bs ever again.

 

[Elduriel]

Personally, I love "I am not interested in this shit" type of MCs.
Not everyone wants to be savior of the world, hero fighting crime and injustice. Some just want to live normal and quiet life.
Find a girlfriend, go out for drinks with friends, travel the world...simple stuff.

Being "vigilante" type is, to me at least, similar to soldier type. It's dangerous shit, any day can be your last.
Sure, some are up for that, but what's wrong with not being interested in it?

Can't remember which book series it was, I do remember protagonist dealing with everything simply because antagonist had a hate boner for him, but once everything was done and he was told by his allies he should now "take active role in this world", his reply was to laugh and leave.
I loved it.

Sure, if there's inevitable danger that needs sorting, well what choice is there? Act because you must. But once done? Goodbye, I never want to hear of this bs ever again.

I like this take, and mentioned before that I wouldn't mind an early ending with a nice girl like Kate that has nothing to do with all the bullshit

 

[Deleted member 6503042]

I like this take, and mentioned before that I wouldn't mind an early ending with a nice girl like Kate that has nothing to do with all the bullshit

Was Kate the barmaid? If so, she is involved with it, is she not? Her uncle is really part of everything?

 

[Elduriel]

Was Kate the barmaid? If so, she is involved with it, is she not? Her uncle is really part of everything?

don't think herself is actually involved, the uncle most likely

 

[nitkonikic]

I like this take, and mentioned before that I wouldn't mind an early ending with a nice girl like Kate that has nothing to do with all the bullshit

In theory (wouldn't be much of a game though), as soon as MC got his dad back, he could have just said "fuck all this shit", burned bridges with family, move city and move on.
Granted, since we knows there's 3rd party involved, it would have been bad choice (he's still potential target for them), but in my opinion, perfectly valid one.

His dad needed saving, he was involved because of that, did what had to be done, now he goes back to normal life. Neverwhere is incredibly dangerous place, so no reason to wish to know more about it or get involved with it.

And the whole potential war thing? Not his problem.
Templars and Alfar existed for hundreds of years before, battled sometimes.

Why should he, a normal civilian, be responsible for bringing peace?

 

[Elduriel]

In theory (wouldn't be much of a game though), as soon as MC got his dad back, he could have just said "fuck all this shit", burned bridges with family, move city and move on.
Granted, since we knows there's 3rd party involved, it would have been bad choice (he's still potential target for them), but in my opinion, perfectly valid one.

His dad needed saving, he was involved because of that, did what had to be done, now he goes back to normal life. Neverwhere is incredibly dangerous place, so no reason to wish to know more about it or get involved with it.

And the whole potential war thing? Not his problem.
Templars and Alfar existed for hundreds of years before, battled sometimes.

Why should he, a normal civilian, be responsible for bringing peace?

agree with all of that, and the answer is the plot requires it

 

[Maviarab]

I like this take, and mentioned before that I wouldn't mind an early ending with a nice girl like Kate that has nothing to do with all the bullshit

Still spelling Anissa wrong....*le sigh*

 

[Wolfram99]

Why should he, a normal civilian, be responsible for bringing peace?

I guess the theme of the story is that with great power comes great responsibility(yuck).
The whole shenanigan with his spidey sense, and how favorably everything seems to happen to him.
If the story transitions more to the:

Great power does not come with great responsibility. Nobody can force you to take responsibility. Great power comes with fear. If there is someone stronger than me in the universe, they can take everything I hold dear. Living without that fear is real happiness.

Then it would be atypical to the usual hero trope around these parts.

 

[Dessolos]

lol this talk of the MC leaving to live a normal life makes me imagine him rolling a few D20's to check if he can haha

 

[ModiThorrson]

lol this talk of the MC leaving to live a normal life makes me imagine him rolling a few D20's to check if he can haha

That trope has always annoyed me, so many superhero types in media always whining that they just want a "normal life" screw that I want to be a ninja werewolf demigod thanks.

 

[Dessolos]

That trope has always annoyed me, so many superhero types in media always whining that they just want a "normal life" screw that I want to be a ninja werewolf demigod thanks.

can't find a good meme but close enough I think was looking for something with Matt Mercer

 

[MiltonPowers]

I want to be a ninja werewolf demigod

That's a lofty and worthy goal my friend.

I'm cheering for you.

 

[ename144]

It's only been a ~week since the start of the story(discounting the elven adventure), and going from office worker to demon killing "Hero" takes a bit longer than that. What other way to broaden the MC's horizons than actually dive head first into the unknown for him?
If he became a Doom slayer from day 1 then this story could only continue for a few chapters.

My issue isn't with the MC's lack of heroics, it's to do with his lack of basic curiosity. It doesn't take any "chosen one" credentials to want to understand what the hell is going on around him. What the fuck do the Templars do? How does that bring them into conflict with the elves? Who exactly is enforcing all this secrecy and why? How much danger is he really in? That sort of thing.

Yet the MC shows zero interest in any of that. Even after Kari convinces him to act like he's a chosen one, he still does so without trying to validate her advice, much less doing the ground work that might improve his odds of success. The MC very much goes wherever the plot points, and our main input so far is on how bitter he is at his parents (and Kaija) while he wanders over there.

I'm hopeful that now that the MC is getting more involved he'll also start asking pertinent questions, but I do worry that he's just going to be pointed towards bigger threats without any meaningful answers.

I dont expect him to be a "Doomslayer" or any hero, but anyone who has been chased and shot at and had family members kidnapped who thinks he can ignore it all and just go back to work isn't very smart. Clueless is fine, he's in a new situation, stupid isn't. Playing the initial release, he hadn't made it to any level of comprehension yet, I asked if he ever did.

To be fair to the MC for a moment, the morning after he learned he was in way over his head he was also assured (by his mother and the visiting Templar) that his safety was temporarily secure thanks to the elves promising not to act until they'd met to 'negotiate' their return of the MC's dad. Given that assurance - and how rapidly all of this was thrust on him - I can see why he might try to ignore it all and go back to normalcy for a couple days. It wasn't a great idea, particularly given how little trust he had in his mom and the Templars after the big revelation the night before, but it's not suicidally stupid either... based on what he knew at the time.

Now in retrospect, we've learned that the Alfar claim not to have had any plans involving the MC before they actually met at the negotiations; the Templars were either lying about the MC being safe or were just so incompetent that they didn't consider the possibility the elves might not have infiltrated Earth enough to hire human mercenaries. (The Shield of Humanity, everyone!) Learning this SHOULD have raised a ginormous red flag for the MC, but as I covered above, he's not one to rock the boat.

 

[Wolfram99]

I'm hopeful that now that the MC is getting more involved he'll also start asking pertinent questions, but I do worry that he's just going to be pointed towards bigger threats without any meaningful answers.

Ceolag mentioned that there will be a 2nd talk with parents about templar invasion into his private life.
Sweeping issues under the rug doesn't seem to be Ceolag's style.

 

[Yokanzo]

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View attachment 4155376

I wasn't all that motivated to go for Fiona. But you put a girl in "the pose" and have their soles all scrunched up with their panties caught between their toes like that and I'm fucking sold. Damn me for being so into feet.