VN Ren'Py Being a DIK [v0.11.1] [DrPinkCake]

[jd8097619]

Well, yes, but only if you ignore a bunch of things that have alraedy been said (not just by me). So first off, the interlude wasn't just to introduce Zoey, it was for legitimate technical reasons (so I saw - again, I wasn't around at the time to hear first hand). Introducing Zoey's backstory and allowing you to shape her character was just a handy way for DPC to do this, while also having a change of pace from the main story (which you'll notice had a different look and feel, other than just in the characters/setting).

In storytelling, you don't always get all of the characters introduced at the same point. It's only natural that some will come along later (and some might fall away, poor Mona...). That doesn't mean that the author has made a mistake. Maybe it was already decided from the off that Zoey would be a later addition, because you know what that would do? It would add conflict later down the line. You get to know your expected LIs, and then you get something blindsiding you just when you're getting comfortable. That's not a mistake, that's just something that doesn't work for you, because you don't like the new option that has been brought in. It's probably no surprise then for you to see it as "wasteful".

You keep ignoring the counterpoints people put forth about the choices, so I won't bother pointing them out to you again.

Except those counterpoints aren't great. If there are technical issues then those could still have been worked out for Episode 9 rather than an interlude. If the purpose of the Interlude was to flesh out Zoey as a character and allow you to shape her then why does DPC undercut all that by reducing her to a single variable come episode 9.

And sure you don't introduce all your characters at once but as I mentioned that was already done with Josy being properly brought in with episode 4. The issue with Zoey is that introducing her properly at Interlude/Episode 9 is that it's so late (halfway through the story essentially) that if they're meant to be a proper romantic spanner in the works then she's still at a standing start as a character while everyone else is essentially moving towards the finish line. And if DPC's intent was to have her be a spanner in the works romantically, again this is immediately undermined by the ability to go "nah, sorry" within minutes.

It just feels like there's a draft of this where DPC meant for her to be a "Main Girl" but got sidetracked by everyone else and it's too late to properly integrate her. And rather than go "that's a shame, but I have all these characters already" instead they tried to flesh her out with the Interlude but because none of the variables can be retroactively integrated back into the main narrative they don't actually exist to shape the character because, again, it just ends up kicking into Episode 9 with "is Zoey a DIK or CHICK".

 

[jd8097619]

If he didn't make the Interlude, he'd have to insert flashback scenes to flesh out Zoey, use more present narrative time to flesh out Zoey, or do nothing beyond what we get in Episodes 9 and 10 then people would complain she's underdeveloped.

Those are all still better options than to have an interlude where all the supposed permutations within it are ignored when you get to Episode 9.

 

[jd8097619]

But, as I said, what you say is not entirely true. Its only if you skip it, otherwise its not the only meaningful choice.

Did he made it user friendly, by that you only have to answer 1 question if you decide to skip, instead of 20 or something, ? Yes.

otherwise you likely would complain that you have to answer 20 questions whenever you want to skip, and you might not even remember all of it

or if there is no choice to skip it and it's mandatory to play every time for a new path, then that would be the problem for some folks.

so how he implemented this " system " is not a problem, he did a good job with it.

Whether the Interlude was necessary from a narrative standpoint, that is a separated issue.

No, if there were even half a dozen variables from it that fed into the main game I'd have been happy, because at least then the various choices and decisions we make for Zoey in the Interlude actually mean something in the main game. Instead it boils down to "DIK or CHICK" because that's all DPC can realistically integrate at this point.

It's not "you can skip it" that's my problem (I hit tab to skip what I've already seen when setting up various runs after I've played through the episode the first time). It's that the skip boils down everything to a single variable that could've been set via a flashback scene in episode 9 (whether you remember Zoey as DIKish or CHICKish in personality).

 

[urmumsbestie34]

YO MANNNNNNN MY FINALS START ON MARCH 7 FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

 

[jd8097619]

YO MANNNNNNN MY FINALS START ON MARCH 7 FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

To be fair, at least you can do your finals first and then by the time they're done all the special renders and vault code will be posted.

 

[Elduriel]

If he didn't make the Interlude, he'd have to insert flashback scenes to flesh out Zoey, use more present narrative time to flesh out Zoey, or do nothing beyond what we get in Episodes 9 and 10 then people would complain she's underdeveloped.

so what, then make a flashback or two with the important (eh, nothing really important happened there but whatever) bits. Or just a somewhat extended meeting with her where she tells why she is back, rather than dedicating a full episode to shit many people don't care about. We could be a quarter way into episode 12 development by now

 

[urmumsbestie34]

BRO CAN 46 CHAPTERS BE PREPARED IN 4 DAYS?

 

[ChipLecsap]

No, if there were even half a dozen variables from it that fed into the main game I'd have been happy, because at least then the various choices and decisions we make for Zoey in the Interlude actually mean something in the main game. Instead it boils down to "DIK or CHICK" because that's all DPC can realistically integrate at this point.

It's not "you can skip it" that's my problem (I hit tab to skip what I've already seen when setting up various runs after I've played through the episode the first time). It's that the skip boils down everything to a single variable that could've been set via a flashback scene in episode 9 (whether you remember Zoey as DIKish or CHICKish in personality).

to be fair, the enter game is basically a flashback .

But, no because How MC remember her is not the key factor of Interlude . What was the point is that the player have a feel for the character, instead of the " she is my best friend " deal with it.

The player get to know her , and in some extent even shape her to what kind of person she is.

I mean I do at least understand the intention, what he was aiming for.

I do agree that she should have never even return in the first place.

but I admit that by dong the way he did, it, instead of just a simple flashback, is better in a way, because I would even give less fuck about her than I do now.

 

[jd8097619]

to be fair, the enter game is basically a flashback .

But, no because How MC remember her is not the key factor of Interlude . What was the point is that the player have a feel for the character, instead of the " she is my best friend " deal with it.

The player get to know her , and in some extent even shape her to what kind of person she is.

I mean I do at least understand the intention, what he was aiming for.

I do agree that she should have never even return in the first place.

but I admit that by dong the way he did, it, instead of just a simple flashback, is better in a way, because I would even give less fuck about her than I do now.

I wouldn't have minded the Interlude if more from it was carried out. The fact when skipping it on replay it just goes "DIK or CHICK" means all the supposed "shaping her character" choices you make aren't actually choices that impact on her going forward, which makes it pointless.

 

[ChipLecsap]

I wouldn't have minded the Interlude if more from it was carried out. The fact when skipping it on replay it just goes "DIK or CHICK" means all the supposed "shaping her character" choices you make aren't actually choices that impact on her going forward, which makes it pointless.

and we're back to square one

 

[treechild1]

I wouldn't have minded the Interlude if more from it was carried out. The fact when skipping it on replay it just goes "DIK or CHICK" means all the supposed "shaping her character" choices you make aren't actually choices that impact on her going forward, which makes it pointless.

Again, Season 3 isn’t even complete yet. How do you know it won’t impact anything going forward?. Wait… are you from the future? Hero?!!

 

[jd8097619]

and we're back to square one

Which is exactly how I feel after doing the Interlude. "Oh, it didn't actually alter her character in any deep, impactful way".

 

[mpa71]

Im legit so scared we don't get a scene with her now because Rio decided to get fucking kidnapped

or... maybe she realize MC really care, and she got open eyes and soft for him as she can start to finally trust.
Boom, we have in love Quinn romantic sex with cuddles and sleepover.

 

[jd8097619]

Again, Season 3 isn’t even complete yet. How do you know it won’t impact anything going forward?. Wait… are you from the future? Hero?!!

Because it's already set the variables.

The only way it could be expanded is if let's say Episode 13 suddenly read different variables from the Interlude differently than the skip button sets them which would at best piss off a lot of players who'd have to go back and replay an entire season to fix saves, and at worst break saves completely.

 

[ChipLecsap]

Which is exactly how I feel after doing the Interlude. "Oh, it didn't actually alter her character in any deep, impactful way".

But, you don't really alter MC's character in any " deep, impactful way ", either.

 

[treechild1]

The mood right now:

 

[jd8097619]

But, you don't really alter MC's character in any " deep, impactful way ", either.

Other than how their alignment impacts a bunch of different situations, who they're dating, how certain characters feel about the MC regardless of dating or not, how previous events can impact future events etc. It all feeds through into future aspects of the game and can unexpectedly impact future decisions available to you. One interesting example is that if you chat up Cathy and get a blowjob from her on the car ride in episode 5 it actively fucks up your chances of dating Bella.

Meanwhile Interlude gives you a good dozen seemingly impactful choices but in the end it's the original Mass Effect 3 ending in how none of them carry forward outside of the Interlude.

If they carried forward, wouldn't have an issue with the Interlude. The fact they don't carry forward is why I find its existence frustrating.

 

[The Krogan Dude]

The mood right now:
View attachment 4602938

 

[treechild1]

I mean… only 5 or 6 days,right?!

 

[ChipLecsap]

Other than how their alignment impacts a bunch of different situations, who they're dating, how certain characters feel about the MC regardless of dating or not, how previous events can impact future events etc. It all feeds through into future aspects of the game and can unexpectedly impact future decisions available to you. One interesting example is that if you chat up Cathy and get a blowjob from her on the car ride in episode 5 it actively fucks up your chances of dating Bella.

Meanwhile Interlude gives you a good dozen seemingly impactful choices but in the end it's the original Mass Effect 3 ending in how none of them carry forward outside of the Interlude.

If they carried forward, wouldn't have an issue with the Interlude. The fact they don't carry forward is why I find its existence frustrating.

but MC is still the same, no matter what you choose, MC is still fully involved in the Maya loan story , he is by default BFF with all of the main girl no matter what.

and Zoey is not the main character, anyway.
but if you want a dik Zoey who still have friends left after her trip. it is not enough to just skip, and burn the bridges with once choice.
and whether that will have an impact later or not, we don't know that yet.

May be it will be important when MC will have to hide from the cops, for the accusation of Rio's murder, what Vinny blamed on MC. . and Zoey will have a chance to help MC, and he will hide with Zoey friends in San Francisco, or where it was.