I'm going to disagree about the MC having no agency:
* When MC sees Eric getting too comfortable with his wife, he can either watch and see what happens Or he can go over, effectively prompting Eric to take his arm from around Sarah.
The photoshoot is something being paid for by work, so the photographer is very much within his rights to tell Alex where he can watch from without disturbing the photoshoot.
As far as the relationship points taking a hit for some of these choices - this is the mechanic the dev uses to determine how these new activities are impacting Sarah and Alex (you might not agree with how the dev does this but there needs to be some mechanic to define the impact of new stresses on the relationship).
Alex has plenty of agency, but not always without cost, which is a lot closer to RL than many AVNs trying to tell the same kinds of stories.
On the trust/faithful path where Sarah and Alex are both actively invested in maintaining their relationship, there are also choices both can make to add relationship points, keeping it at or near 50.
The path(s) each of us choose for Alex and Sarah determine the trajectory of their relationship and the increasing impact others are allowed to have on their relationship.
We decide how to exercise agency for both Sarah and Alex.
The path(s) each of us chooses for Alex and Sarah determine the trajectory of their relationship and the increasing impact others are allowed to have on their relationship.
Both choices you quote confirm exactly what I stated earlier: if you read the options you realize, that both options, negative and postive are decided on the grounds of Sarahs wellbeing: The husband NEVER decides because HE doesn't want something or wants something. He doesn't stop Neil because he is jealous or uncomfortable but beause SHE might be. Same with Erik: because SHE might be uncomfortable.
So: regardless of the choices the fundamental relationship between husband and wife is always the same and his character is always the same.
I'm going to disagree about the MC having no agency:
* When MC sees Eric getting too comfortable with his wife, he can either watch and see what happens Or he can go over, effectively prompting Eric to take his arm from around Sarah.
The photoshoot is something being paid for by work, so the photographer is very much within his rights to tell Alex where he can watch from without disturbing the photoshoot.
As far as the relationship points taking a hit for some of these choices - this is the mechanic the dev uses to determine how these new activities are impacting Sarah and Alex (you might not agree with how the dev does this but there needs to be some mechanic to define the impact of new stresses on the relationship).
Alex has plenty of agency, but not always without cost, which is a lot closer to RL than many AVNs trying to tell the same kinds of stories.
On the trust/faithful path where Sarah and Alex are both actively invested in maintaining their relationship, there are also choices both can make to add relationship points, keeping it at or near 50.
The path(s) each of us choose for Alex and Sarah determine the trajectory of their relationship and the increasing impact others are allowed to have on their relationship.
We decide how to exercise agency for both Sarah and Alex.
Sure, yes you can have thoughts about wanting it to stop, or you can make some choices thay way, but that is immediately after you are thrusted into the voyeur role in the first place. I never mentioned this, cause at the end of the day you are put into thus passive role, and when given a choice, it ultimately doesn't make much of difference, imo.
The MMC whole thing is to revolve around Sarah, she is everything. Photoshoot, you mention that it makes sense, dev could of wrote that into a different way, didn't have to write it that way. So on with other things like dance, oh you can stop it before we ever allowed it, just turn it down right away. Have more proactive roles for us. These things individually are not bad, but all added together, is when the problem arises.
But look its clear that you and many others actually want passive/cuck Mc, which is fine, but I and many others want a mc that actually does something, that feels like he has control, that feels like he matters, but at the end of the day, right now, all he is, is an extra in Sarah's story.
I am not going to argue you or anyone else, its not worth my time, people can reply all they want, I got better things to do. So I will just hope the dev actually shows he cares about MMC and gives him something next update or two. Have a good one.
I'm going to disagree about the MC having no agency:
* When MC sees Eric getting too comfortable with his wife, he can either watch and see what happens Or he can go over, effectively prompting Eric to take his arm from around Sarah.
The photoshoot is something being paid for by work, so the photographer is very much within his rights to tell Alex where he can watch from without disturbing the photoshoot.
As far as the relationship points taking a hit for some of these choices - this is the mechanic the dev uses to determine how these new activities are impacting Sarah and Alex (you might not agree with how the dev does this but there needs to be some mechanic to define the impact of new stresses on the relationship).
Alex has plenty of agency, but not always without cost, which is a lot closer to RL than many AVNs trying to tell the same kinds of stories.
On the trust/faithful path where Sarah and Alex are both actively invested in maintaining their relationship, there are also choices both can make to add relationship points, keeping it at or near 50.
The path(s) each of us choose for Alex and Sarah determine the trajectory of their relationship and the increasing impact others are allowed to have on their relationship.
We decide how to exercise agency for both Sarah and Alex.
I'm going to disagree about the MC having no agency:
* When MC sees Eric getting too comfortable with his wife, he can either watch and see what happens Or he can go over, effectively prompting Eric to take his arm from around Sarah.
The photoshoot is something being paid for by work, so the photographer is very much within his rights to tell Alex where he can watch from without disturbing the photoshoot.
As far as the relationship points taking a hit for some of these choices - this is the mechanic the dev uses to determine how these new activities are impacting Sarah and Alex (you might not agree with how the dev does this but there needs to be some mechanic to define the impact of new stresses on the relationship).
Alex has plenty of agency, but not always without cost, which is a lot closer to RL than many AVNs trying to tell the same kinds of stories.
On the trust/faithful path where Sarah and Alex are both actively invested in maintaining their relationship, there are also choices both can make to add relationship points, keeping it at or near 50.
The path(s) each of us choose for Alex and Sarah determine the trajectory of their relationship and the increasing impact others are allowed to have on their relationship.
We decide how to exercise agency for both Sarah and Alex.
Precisely. What it boils down to is some simply do not like one path and are trying to influence the Dev to make the game they want. You see this especially when a game flirts with or includes voyeur or Netorare (non-cuck) elements. Then it’s all about “agency” and “no choice” blah blah. It does no good presenting facts. Facts only run counter to the underlying motivation - emphasis on their preferred tag/fetish.
Currently the game is focusing on the wife's corruption. The husband has some choices that make him a bad husband and betray her, but this can also be used to justify the wife for cheating on him, so in the end its all around the wife as well.
One game tried to make both wife and husband controllable and being able to cheat on each other, but after a while, the husband side was dropped and its planned to be exclusively about the wife.
Another game started with the husband and he could flirt with a girl, but that was just a trap for the villain to damage the relationship. Afterwards, the game centered entirely around the wife and she is tempted.
In this case, maaaaybe Abigail can tempt Alex away from his wife, but considering her alliance with Neil, there is more reason to believe Neil orders her sooner or later to tempt Alex so that his wife has further issues and reasons to play into Neil himself. It's even more concrete with Eva.
Rachel may be interested in Alex, but neither of them were the focus at the gym: It's all about Sarah and Rachels fiance. Alex and Rachel are barely involved and if anything just join once the swinging starts.
In case of Jessica and Eric, the focus also lies on Sarahs interest in Jessica getting fucked by her not husband and her interest in Eric. Alex again plays second fiddle and may get some of Jessica if he behaves, but Jessica is unlikely to betray Sarah over him.
Emma is the only female love interest currently not attached to a man, but that can also change.
So yeah, this is Sarah's game. Alex can become a willing or unwilling cuck.
I'm going to disagree about the MC having no agency:
* When MC sees Eric getting too comfortable with his wife, he can either watch and see what happens Or he can go over, effectively prompting Eric to take his arm from around Sarah.
The photoshoot is something being paid for by work, so the photographer is very much within his rights to tell Alex where he can watch from without disturbing the photoshoot.
As far as the relationship points taking a hit for some of these choices - this is the mechanic the dev uses to determine how these new activities are impacting Sarah and Alex (you might not agree with how the dev does this but there needs to be some mechanic to define the impact of new stresses on the relationship).
Alex has plenty of agency, but not always without cost, which is a lot closer to RL than many AVNs trying to tell the same kinds of stories.
On the trust/faithful path where Sarah and Alex are both actively invested in maintaining their relationship, there are also choices both can make to add relationship points, keeping it at or near 50.
The path(s) each of us choose for Alex and Sarah determine the trajectory of their relationship and the increasing impact others are allowed to have on their relationship.
We decide how to exercise agency for both Sarah and Alex.
I understand everything you're saying, yet oddly I find myself arguing for the side I wouldn't normally argue for - since I think some of their points are valid.
Consider; is there a single choice in game made by Sarah which distances herself from others/is more guarded (towards characters other than her husband) which results in a relationship reduction between Alex and Sarah?
There isn't. Quite the contrary, Sarah's choices which lose Alex RP are all in the direction of pushing herself away from Alex, engaging with others, etc. So while I don't share the intensity of the critiques above and it's no biggy for me, I do think the core point is sound.
I understand everything you're saying, yet oddly I find myself arguing for the side I wouldn't normally argue for - since I think some of their points are valid.
Consider; is there a single choice in game made by Sarah which distances herself from others/is more guarded (towards characters other than her husband) which results in a relationship reduction between Alex and Sarah?
There isn't. Quite the contrary, Sarah's choices which lose Alex RP are all in the direction of pushing herself away from Alex, engaging with others, etc. So while I don't share the intensity of the critiques above and it's no biggy for me, I do think the core point is sound.
The new sources of tension and how the couple approaches them impacts their relationship.
It makes sense to me that Sarah wanting to spend more time with other men or choosing to side with other men (like siding with Neil that Alex should not have a say in the photoshoot) reduces her RP with Alex the same way it makes sense to me that Sarah choosing to keep up agreements with Alex - acting like they are a team and she and Alex make choices together, would increase her RP with Alex.
you said: is there a single choice in game made by Sarah which distances herself from others/is more guarded (towards characters other than her husband) which results in a relationship reduction between Alex and Sarah?
It makes no sense to me that Sarah, rejecting the influence of other men/women trying to drive she and Alex apart, would then give Sarah - RP with Alex.
If she and Alex are in a loving supportive relationship, Sarah's rejection of the above would give never drive her further from her husband.
It would be her actively choosing her relationship with Alex instead, giving her +RP (part of the faithful path if chosen consistently throughout the story).
The only way your argument would make sense is for a different story (or for us to be Much farther into this story):
One where Alex Wants Sarah to cheat/have sex with others and Sarah, rejecting Alex's desires for her to cheat, causes -RP with Alex.
We are nowhere close to this level of change in the Alex/Sarah relationship dynamics in this story.
Now - at this stage in the story, Sarah has had more story time with other potential male partners:
In this area, Sarah currently has more content But... we are in the early stages of the story, setting up the relationships, their drivers and there are still more characters to meet.
We are, effectively, reading the early parts of an incomplete story so I expect an imbalance in content as some relationships get another 'chapter' then other's follow in future releases.
I treat myself as an editor, reading a story and commenting on what is currently present.
If there are imbalances present (and there should be, especially with how early in the story we are), I have to trust that the dev will address them in time.
I'll stay and enjoy a compelling story; I will at least step away for a time if the story loses its way or becomes too muddled for too long a period of development.
At this point in time, I have no reason to believe that the current plot lines/characters (and the new characters that the dev has already mentioned in posts here) will not continue to see development that passes my 'makes sense' test.
Whether it passes the 'makes sense test' for everyone else is an individual assessment that I will not say is right or wrong, only that I agree or disagree, then move on to other discussions.
you said: is there a single choice in game made by Sarah which distances herself from others/is more guarded (towards characters other than her husband) which results in a relationship reduction between Alex and Sarah?
It makes no sense to me that Sarah, rejecting the influence of other men/women trying to drive she and Alex apart, would then give Sarah - RP with Alex.
If she and Alex are in a loving supportive relationship, Sarah's rejection of the above would give never drive her further from her husband.
Correct, I agree that's logical. And that's the issue - the difference between them. In general,
Alex loses RP by mateguarding and being clingy/controlling. In only 2 cases can he lose RP for interest in others.
Alex gains RP by being supportive of a less conservative Sarah and supportive of a "free spirited" lifestyle.
Sarah loses RP by lying/betraying Alex and pushing him away.
Sarah gains RP by affirming their relationship and pushing others away.
Do you see the issue here? Picture a real world couple where the complaints the guy has about his girlfriend are "She's too flirty with others" and the complaints the girl has about her boyfriend are "He's too clingy with me". While that doesn't sound like a good relationship for either side, it definitely describes a specific archetype of relationship.
Correct, I agree that's logical. And that's the issue - the difference between them. In general,
Alex loses RP by mateguarding and being clingy/controlling. In only 2 cases can he lose RP for interest in others.
Alex gains RP by being supportive of a less conservative Sarah and supportive of a "free spirited" lifestyle.
Sarah loses RP by lying/betraying Alex and pushing him away.
Sarah gains RP by affirming their relationship and pushing others away.
Do you see the issue here? Picture a real world couple where the complaints the guy has about his girlfriend are "She's too flirty with others" and the complaints the girl has about her boyfriend are "He's too clingy with me". While that doesn't sound like a good relationship for either side, it definitely describes a specific archetype of relationship.
I would encourage not to be too critical of how the RPs change with each individual choice but rather see where the RP scores lie after each update. Because when you analyze each interaction you only consider if that conforms with the type of relationship you are going for. But as the dev I have to consider all the possible paths. For example loosing a RP point when Alex interrupts a Sarah and James for example doesn't make sense if you are going for route 1 or 2. But it doesn't matter because if you playing route 1 or 2 future choices would give you back that point and you will still be with max RP points. But if you are going with route 3 or 4 then you would have lost a RP point which makes sense for the path. Now why it's the same ? This early in the game I don't have enough information to know exactly which path you are going. But later as the game progress i will have a better idea ( with some hidden variables i am tracking) and how the RP points change would match more with the type of relationship you have. So rather than analyze each point in the early chapters I encourage to look at the final RP points. Because the points will tally out. If you are going route 1 and 2 you will have high RP points and low otherwise.
Same. I have Alex and Sarah going down the hotwife/exhibitionist path, keeping the relationship strong while avoiding Neil at every turn. He's too much of a creepy weirdo
Although, I suspect Neil is there specifically for a cuck/cheating path. Still very early in the game and it seems like it's going to be a very slow burn.
Same. I have Alex and Sarah going down the hotwife/exhibitionist path, keeping the relationship strong while avoiding Neil at every turn. He's too much of a creepy weirdo
Although, I suspect Neil is there specifically for a cuck/cheating path. Still very early in the game and it seems like it's going to be a very slow burn.
