Ren'Py Whispers of Desire [v0.35] [Mr_Fable]

[blkcrow20]

You don't "need" to, but if you ask the question " What non doormat husband stays silent there?" I'm assuming you want to know. That answer is none. So that, of course, means that Alex is, (or is learning to be) in fact, a "doormat husband" i.e. a cuck. though a cuck is not necessarily a "doormat" as much as he is a willing partner in the use of his partner by someone other than himself.

What that means is, you're looking at the situation and asking your question from the perspective of a non-cuck. Kinda like
View attachment 5502740
which is completely understandable as it's outside your wheelhouse.
Make sense?

 

[tharsheblows]

Overall, GOOD GAME, the developer does a good job.

As a personal observation, I just think that interracial themes in these games are already SATURATED and don't bring anything new anymore. I know that game creators include BBC elements because it generates more profit, but it's already fallen into the same saturated situations.

I even like games with NTR or NTRS themes, hotwives, cuckolding, or swinging... but the way developers execute them has become quite PREDICTABLE.

I hope that in the future they create other games with these themes but in a more creative way that avoids the same old thing.

Black/White, Good/Bad, Man/Woman, In/Out... It generates tension and tension generates interest and interest generates money. So, yes, it sells. The thing I always try (emphasize "try") to understand is that, while I am "over" a certain trope, others may just be getting into it. What may no longer create that sweet level of tension for me may be the end all, be all, for someone else. You're just stating your preference, which is great. Others take it a step further and kink shame, which is not so great.

 

[CursedByAll]

Lot of responses lol, but I will start with the most recent first. Why would I need to assume or approach the mindset of Alex from that of a cuck? I thought the point of the paths is that such would not necessarily be the case? I may be missing what your explaining here though. Just sounds like you are stating that the male MC is automatically somewhat submissive/cuck, even if not fully, but that such is a part of his personality no matter what. Is that right or am I off base?

Jeez...dood...don't let others tell you how to feel about being a cuck or whatever. That's your call and your call alone.

And no, the MC in games are not automatically submissive or passive, unless you want to play them as a cuck/sub. Many games have dominant stats, just like this game has, meaning that there is an option to be dominant obviously. And not just this one, there are many.
Other dood is probably used to playing cheating/ntr paths, and submissive MCs are very usual in those paths. But even then, you don't have to play that way, if it doesn't suit you to. A submissive MC is only a factor in 2 of the 4 routes really, although the choices allow that to vary also.

My questions recently have been leaning towards seeking more dominance for Alex, but that doesn't mean he is a sub or a cuck, nor does it mean that he will be inevitably. There are two routes where he doesn't have to be sub/passive at all, and his level of character is a choice that you will make. There is nothing to say he has to be passive, at all. Even though we have yet to get to any major trigger points where he has to decide much.

But if being a cuck doesn't feel right to you, make choices to avoid it. I will be in my first playthrough. I never play as cuck, yet I am here, waiting for the game to complete, with anticipation of it being a fantastic experience, based on what I have seen so far.

 

[tharsheblows]

Jeez...dood...don't let others tell you how to feel about being a cuck or whatever. That's your call and your call alone.

And no, the MC in games are not automatically submissive or passive, unless you want to play them as a cuck/sub. Many games have dominant stats, just like this game has, meaning that there is an option to be dominant obviously. And not just this one, there are many.
Other dood is probably used to playing cheating/ntr paths, and submissive MCs are very usual in those paths. But even then, you don't have to play that way, if it doesn't suit you to. A submissive MC is only a factor in 2 of the 4 routes really, although the choices allow that to vary also.

My questions recently have been leaning towards seeking more dominance for Alex, but that doesn't mean he is a sub or a cuck, nor does it mean that he will be inevitably. There are two routes where he doesn't have to be sub/passive at all, and his level of character is a choice that you will make. There is nothing to say he has to be passive, at all. Even though we have yet to get to any major trigger points where he has to decide much.

But if being a cuck doesn't feel right to you, make choices to avoid it. I will be in my first playthrough. I never play as cuck, yet I am here, waiting for the game to complete, with anticipation of it being a fantastic experience, based on what I have seen so far.

Honestly not trying to tell him how to do or be anything. He asked a question and I presented him with a perspective he might not have considered before. That's not telling him to do or be anything. I also have a life off of this site where these dynamics have been tangentially present so... it's not from just "gameplay."

Hopefully JB has had his question answered and now has a better understanding of how someone with those tendencies might derive some satisfaction from a lifestyle like that.

 

[JarrenBlake]

Jeez...dood...don't let others tell you how to feel about being a cuck or whatever. That's your call and your call alone.

No, that was not what my response meant or was asking. I was trying to clarify if "tharsheblows" was stating whether they thought Alex was indeed a cuck/submissive. And it seems like such is the case.

Honestly not trying to tell him how to do or be anything. He asked a question and I presented him with a perspective he might not have considered before. That's not telling him to do or be anything. I also have a life off of this site where these dynamics have been tangentially present so... it's not from just "gameplay."

Hopefully JB has had his question answered and now has a better understanding of how someone with those tendencies might derive some satisfaction from a lifestyle like that.

I am not of course approaching my play from the perspective that the character is a cuck. Hence why I find his answers to certain events matters. The Dev seems to be saying that Alex is not necessarily a cuck or doormat unless you play him as such. From your responses it would seem that you disagree with that? That Alex as presented has a built in leaning of being submissive?

Also note, I am enjoying the game as is, but this was a discussion of certain elements present in the game and my observations garnered some responses/discussion just before my 'nap time' :-D

 

[JarrenBlake]

I think redoubt27 and TonyMurray captured most of what I am about to explain. First of all most of the corruption will be focused on Sarah because at least in my mind Alex will get to that state of mind much quicker compared to Sarah. For example if Sarah tells Alex "hey let's ask Jessica/Eva/Emma/Rachel for a threesome" I think Alex will need much less convincing to go through. But if Alex says "let's ask Neil/Erik/Dwayne/Vincent for a threesome" Sarah will most likely turn him down unless she is exposed to these ideas first. Or at least that's how I picture the scenario.

And about Alex becoming a doormat, this only happens if you let it happen. Every interaction when Alex expresses his opinion on something Sarah has the option to follow it or ignore it. (This will be true with Alex events too like when Sarah says she doesn't like the idea of Alex having lunch with Emma, but he can still do it). So if you are playing route 1 and route 2, Sarah is supposed to respect Alex's wishes and respond accordingly (or vice versa). You have to work as a team. If Sarah (or Alex) are going to go against their partners wishes then they will automatically become a silent observer (or doormat). What is not going to happen is their partner pushing back leading to disagreement and fighting. Why not ? because this game is not trying to emulate the human condition, but rather allow you to follow one of the four routes based on your liking. So if an interaction is going to take a lot of development resources without advancing the game on one of these paths, they will be dropped. There can be disagreement or fighting but near the end of the game.

1) Alex have already mentioned his opinion. If you are playing route 1 and 2 Sarah should be on the same page. If Sarah goes against Alex's wishes you are making the choice to make Alex the silent observer. What Alex is not going to do is push back and argue (or go and fight Neil) because that will take a lot of development resources and make the game slow without advancing on the routes much.

2) Same thing. If you want to avoid Neil you will forget the video and move on with your life. Because going to the HR or cops would create too many branches in the story that will unfortunately cripple production.

3) I have explained why this happens before and how this doesnt affect Route 1 and Route 2

4) I think this is mostly answered.

I definitely understand all of the above. I also want to ensure that I understand this is your game and your development choices, you know best what the vision is and what is important to your development cycle. I enjoyed the game overall as is.

My post was in response to posts that stated the MC lacked personality. Your post, confirms that or at the least, does not dispute such. Another poster provided that option that perhaps the MC should be viewed from the lens of a cuck/submissive, which would give the character a personality, but mayhaps one that I do not have much natural understanding of. Either way, your statement provides a reason as to why the personality of the MC is not a focus. As the 4th item I listed stated, the range of responses that could be had to many NTR situations are too numerous to portray. But when they are not portrayed, or even a small range given, they can paint the MC's personality for the reader as inaction is its own choice. Do I feel there is a balance that can be struck in this? Sure, like I entered the MC could make a singular statement born from a simple menu option set or determined by the current "Route/scores" that lead to the same outcome. There for future branching is not affected, just a momentary showing "personality".

In recent gaming I would point to something like "Dispatch" as an example (And no, you do not have their development budget, staff, etc..). But in standard dialogue you often get 2-3 response options. Those options often change nothing about the narrative paths or branching. Sure at the end of the game you can get multiple endings but more dialogue choices never feed into it. They are just singular moments to build the personality of the MC in the way the player envisions. They would at most get a single response from an NPC (If that) before all collapsed back onto the same path.

But you would know better than me on what works for both your development style/cycle and narrative choices. I liked the game that I played, this was just a convo about a specific observation that does not make or break the game for any that were discussing it.

 

[tharsheblows]

No, that was not what my response meant or was asking. I was trying to clarify if "tharsheblows" was stating whether they thought Alex was indeed a cuck/submissive. And it seems like such is the case.



I am not of course approaching my play from the perspective that the character is a cuck. Hence why I find his answers to certain events matters. The Dev seems to be saying that Alex is not necessarily a cuck or doormat unless you play him as such. From your responses it would seem that you disagree with that? That Alex as presented has a built in leaning of being submissive?

Also note, I am enjoying the game as is, but this was a discussion of certain elements present in the game and my observations garnered some responses/discussion just before my 'nap time' :-D

No, I agree with the Dev 100%. He is what his decisions make him out to be. Your question was " What non doormat husband stays silent there?" My response was none, BUT, a Cuck (or Cuck-in-training) would because he's getting something out of being silent. In other words, there is a payoff to his acquiescence. So, in essence, he's not a doormat either, but a willing participant in the situation. IF, you make the decision for him. So, what I AM saying is that equating Cuck and doormat is incorrect.

 

[JarrenBlake]

No, I agree with the Dev 100%. He is what his decisions make him out to be. Your question was " What non doormat husband stays silent there?" My response was none, BUT, a Cuck (or Cuck-in-training) would because he's getting something out of being silent. In other words, there is a payoff to his acquiescence. So, in essence, he's not a doormat either, but a willing participant in the situation. IF, you make the decision for him. So, what I AM saying is that equating Cuck and doormat is incorrect.

So are you saying he was a doormat or not? Just trying to ensure I understand your response here, I do not want to put words in your mouth/text.

 

[okupator95]

Great fucking game! Renders look amazing. There are so many possibilities and options to shape the way the story goes with the amount of choices you are given. Cant wait for the next update! Hoping to see some cheating sex scenes added.

 

[tharsheblows]

So are you saying he was a doormat or not? Just trying to ensure I understand your response here, I do not want to put words in your mouth/text.

Not a doormat. A cuck will CHOOSE to be passive in certain situations just as a sub holds all the power in BDSM but chooses to submit nonetheless.

 

[Mr Fable]

Did you all find the path tracker in the game to be accurate ? The path you wanted to take should have the highest score.

 

[blkcrow20]

Not a cuck on my playthrough.

 

[NewGuy2022]

Obviously, there's previous choice and chosen path to come into it as well, as I can only see the silence being an issue if you've been staunchly against anything Neil (and perhaps anything with other men, too) and then Sarah is looking like she's thinking about doing it.

THIS

 

[Pyrrs]

it doesnt open it doesnt even make a crash report or nothing

 

[JarrenBlake]

Did you all find the path tracker in the game to be accurate ? The path you wanted to take should have the highest score.

So far so good on my side. I do not have a Betrayal PT yet, but the ones I do have reflect correctly. Love and Sharing are fairly close together on my Sharing route but Sharing does hold the slight edge.