Thursday, March 20, 2014

Progress

I was thinking of asking a question here - what kind of cliffhanger would be best to end Chapter 2 with? But I think I shouldn't be asking that. xD It has pretty much been decided, anyway.

What's left to do is tie some more loose ends inside the module (like partially finished conversations), track relationships through variables, and a lot of testing.

The relationships are still confusing me, since Brash seems to have an unfair advantage as the pushy been-everywhere bastard he is. If there are going to be big romance conflicts, I'll leave them for the next module. It's true that you can drag Brash everywhere with you before ending this module (which was a pain to make and I might have missed some places where he would comment), but I don't want to put big romance conflicts at the end of the module. They are a lot of work and they will be needed in the next module anyway. If there are going to be exclusive relationships, I like having more time to decide. So, we have a strange situation in which, if you were trying to romance Arana and Brash at the same time, they would kind of ignore each other and only talk about it later. This might change, but it's something I'll have to decide on soon.

49 comments:

  1. Where Arana and Brash noticing the other coming onto the demonheart are concerned, maybe they don't register on the other person's radar as a threat?

    Arana: Brash raped the demonheart, so there's just no way the demonheart could ever like him!

    -You could have Arana tell Brash off if she notices him hitting on the demonheart, but not because she's jealous, because she thinks its disgusting that he won't leave the poor demonheart alone or something, of course I don't know these characters as well as you do so it might not be something Arana would do-

    As for Brash, well he doesn't strike me as the type to feel even remotely threatened by Arana. He might hate her, but threatened by her? He was wary of Rivera, but I don't think he would be that wary of Arana. He too might make the occasional comment, although I would think more to make Arana feel like crap then because he's actually concerned.

    Alternately if you don't want to deal with it at all you could just play the accidental subtlety card, where they just happen to not notice when the other person is hitting on the demonheart.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are right about Brash not seeing Arana as a threat. He is the kind of pig guy who will tell two lesbians that they are only "playing" and that they need a d*** to have a real relationship. Come to think, I wrote some conflicts/cheating that might be used later (who knows), in which Brash didn't give a damn that PC was with Arana. But of course he minds if PC refuses him because of that.

      As for Arana, I guess she would be confused for a while (at least until chapter 3).

      She felt very bad about what she and Rivera did to Brash, so if Brash is alive and in the group, she feels less guilty about all that. So, in that way, she's glad that Brash is with them.

      On the other hand, she will see if there is something going on between Brash and the girl. This would make her confused.

      Arana is not possessive like some other people in there. There are too many buttheaded idiots willing to openly fight for the girl already. xD I see Arana more as PC's best friend who might get close to the girl since they share everything and their fates are similar, and they rely on each other so much (not to mention they are both insanely beautiful).

      Another thing I remembered is that Arana seems more jealous around Sinallion than around Brash. O.o I guess that's because Arana and Brash are so different, it seems weird and unlikely that one would take the other's love interest. If PC chooses Brash, that, to Arana, would mean she was into men all along. But since both Arana and Sinallion are civilized, she sees the bard as a threat. Weird...

      Delete
    2. I think EoS pretty much summed up my feelings as well.

      I got to think Brash doesn't feel threatened at all by Arana. In fact, I think he would be more amused than anything else. If either the PC or Arana mentioned their feelings about each other at one time or another, I can just see Brash laugh in their faces. He would think it would be one big joke, I'm sure. And that I'm sure he feels HE is the only one who can please the PC. In the meantime though I can see both Arana and the PC having confusing/conflicting feelings about their relationship. And both of them too feeling a bit awkward around Brash. Especially my PC who kinda enjoyed her little revenge on Brash earlier. Would make for an awkward reunion, I would think. :)

      I'm sure it can be difficult to write romance conflicts into this game. But I would welcome them at some point. Though it certainly doesn't have to happen in Ch #2. It can wait until further into the story.

      As for a cliffhanger. Hey, how about a group of molesting pirates taking our PC away from her companion(s) for their evil pleasures? Hey, someone still has to carry the torch for this option! :P

      Thanks again for the update.

      Delete
    3. I know how everyone would be happy: demon pirates. xD

      (But unfortunately, that doesn't happen.)

      Delete
    4. I'm kinda surprised that Brash doesn't actually care if the PC gets with Arana, considering what he said in the lodge scene.

      Delete
    5. It's complicated... Arana isn't a very dangerous witch (for him) so he doesn't hate her that much. She isn't so sex crazed that she would start doing *those* things with the PC immediately, so that's less reason for Brash to worry, for now.

      Delete
  2. I advocated from the start that there should be a possibility of a revenge on Brash by using a huge dildo on him and seeing how he likes it. Freakin' rapist, misogynist bastard.

    As for cliffhanger, it would have been hard to say unless we knew what happened prior to it. I'll trust your judgement.

    Do you have an estimate for a public beta?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm afraid of making guesses. I can say in 10 days, but that would be without taking breaks, and I can't really know if I'll be held back from the module for a week or two. Also, I don't really know how long the private testing will take.

      I might need more private testers, cause there are some things I need opinions on before releasing, and it should be more difficult for one person to test all the dialog choices than the previous time.

      Delete
    2. If you need more private testers I will be more than happy to help!

      Delete
    3. I'd help with the testing if you decide you need help. Just drop me an email.

      Delete
    4. I would love to help with the whole private testing thing. Please let me know!

      Delete
    5. I'm definitely available for private testing as well.

      Delete
    6. I will inform you if I decide to make a private testing. :)

      Delete
    7. I also want to help so feel free to inform me if you want a private testers ;) And thanks for your hard work!

      Delete
  3. Cliffhanger - difficult without knowing what actually happens in Chap 2, but..

    1) I'd bring back the original demon from the prelude to 'interfere' on its terms with how the mainstream story is developing, Or
    2) The assassin's guild were hired to perform something?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hm, well, my original question (which I've decided not to ask xD) wasn't meant for inventing something new, but rather for picking among the available events which I've more or less planned. Like, if PC is traveling somewhere, should I cut the module before or after she arrives. I guess it's better to cut it before she arrives there, to leave me more time to change that place if I later see it necessary. There are some things that should happen with that demon, but they don't have a fixed point in time, and I'm really tempted to spoil the story now... so I'll stop.

      Delete
  4. We are talking a lot about Brash/Arana jealousy/conflicts, what about Raze and Sinallion? With how I played the PC, Arana should feel more threatened by people not being like Brash. :)
    Btw Lamb, how much will we be able to let the rape affect the PC? I played her as a sweet and polite (virgin) girl and after the rape she would probably develope a dislike of being touched, which could be a romance conflict in itself. Of course if it's all spoilers you don't have to say anything and I'll just have to wait and see. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, when writing, I don't really have the rape in mind (maybe I should pay more attention to that). I guess it's always possible to refuse someone's advances, but I don't know if there are enough options to express her feelings about it. Always feel free to suggest that I add more options to some dialog, if they don't lead to having to change the whole dialog or module.

      Now that I think of it, even the good/neutral characters try to get touchy with her, but in a non-sexual way.

      Gods, I even have to think about romance conflicts with herself xD

      Delete
    2. I know it would be impossible to write every possible explanation for why the PC would act as she does. :)
      If I had a suggestion to dialogue it would be that IF you refuse advantages from a LI you can do it without outright rejecting them. I've played too many games where the options were kind of "jump into LI's arms, then make out/sexytimes" or "shove LI away (end romance)". It would be nice with some kind of "hey I AM interested but slow down a bit" option.
      Anyway in the end it's your mods, and from what I've played so far I've loved the dialogue so keep up the awesome work. :D

      Delete
  5. Poor Lamb. The work never ends.

    8(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. as it ever ends for anyone...

      Delete
  6. I just find it funny that nearly all the poll options are close to being tied at ~35%. Gonna be hard to make everyone happy :).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The purpose of the poll was more like "if Brash gets 0% I'll stop writing him" xD

      There will be a new poll after C2, because I like polls.

      Delete
  7. Is there a conflict with Brash and Raze? I don't see them to accepting of DH romancing one over the other.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think Brash even knows Raze exists. And if Raze notices Brash hitting on the demonheart I really doubt he'd care, since he would probably see Brash as beneath him and not worth his time. As for once Brash knows about Raze, yeah I could see some pretty vicious arguments once that comes out in the open.

      Delete
    2. They will all react to each other sooner or later, except if someone really isn't possessive enough or doesn't care. But in chapter 2, you decide when you want to leave the city in the end, and by that point you can have Arana and Brash as companions, Sinallion waiting for you and Raze spying on you as always. There isn't much to do in the city, but you could stay for days, theoretically, during which time no special companion interactions will happen, since I'm saving them for later (and giving myself time to decide what exactly will happen).

      Some comments and other things will happen in chapter 2, though, but those are spoilers.

      Delete
  8. Just replayed Prelude +Ch 1 yst- and its funny, some of the decisions in the mod took me at least 5 minutes to make (ie, which conversation option to pick)- I do think its because everytime I come to read the blog, I find another take on a situation that I haven't thought about previously.

    Eg, when DH girl asks whether Brash can escape the gas chamber, and Arana asks "Why, do you care?"- previously, the thought about *caring* for Brash would've not even crossed my mind. For some reason,I read it differently this time- DH girl doesn't care for him (in a romantically interested way), but she did care about his well-being; after all, he was someone who rescued her time and again throughout the whole way (despite it being for his own nefarious purposes), and I don't think its easy as that to not care about whether Brash survives or not after hours of him having to take care of HER.

    Does that make sense? I guess to an extent it also depends what choices you make through out the journey that shows off how Brash does act as a protector. This time I managed to pass the Dex check and "escape"- only to be rescued once again from the horde of wild wolf-dogs. Not quite knight in shining armor carrying gentle maiden away on horseback (rather, carrying her like a sack) but I think it was probably the height of chivalry, at least for him. Of course, if you play a rough and tough fighter DH girl, I suppose you wouldn't need much rescuing at all- though I think that's pretty hard to achieve, personally.

    Anyway, can't wait for Ch II- all the best, Lamb!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, not to make people hate Brash more than they already do, but you can also look at it this way - he had to bring the girl to Rivera in one piece, or she would have taken it out on his heart. He didn't know that his time had come anyway. Still, he had his (chaotic) feelings about it all, and I guess each time he had to rescue the girl, that made him feel something for her.

      Delete
  9. To anyone who likes characters similar to Brash (like I do), I wanted to mention I'm working on a sex mod where the majority of the game has a tough, arrogant, (and handsome) NPC who is an asshole to your female protagonist.

    I'm striving for a high production mod with custom portraits, multiple endings, and at least 10+ hours of content. It's about 80% story and 20% combat, so it perhaps caters more towards the visual novel community. There will also be some detective story elements, as I've always been a fan of mystery challenges. I don't want to give away too much as I'm still ironing out the script.

    I'm sharing this here, since some of you are my target audience and Lamb's mod inspired me to make it. I'll have a blog open for the mod when I eventually get something more substantial for public release. I'd like to eventually get some beta testers too, but that is far off.

    Just wanted to wet people's appetites a bit. Carry on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do you intend to make your module class-specific? I mean do you want to restrict the class-selection for the pc?

      Delete
    2. To an extent, but I do it out of lore friendliness. In my mod, "dark magic" is not tolerated by your faction. Your character is tasked with hunting magic users.

      Right now it's restricted to Paladin only, although I removed the alignment restriction on it. I may open it up to Fighter and Barbarian too, but that's about it.

      Delete
    3. I want an exclusive preview of these bad guys you speak of :C
      Now I wonder exactly how Brash-like he is and what you're planning for the story.

      Delete
    4. Nice. From what you've mentioned your project ought to be fun. Tons of work though. If you need or want help just ask.

      Thanks for letting us know about your project.

      8)

      Delete
    5. Thirdpres - you've helped on a few mods - have you tried making your own?
      (curious really, as I suspect it would be very good to play)

      Delete
    6. Apologize to Lamb if I shouldn't be commenting here on another person's game...if she's angry at me, I guess she can send those groping pirate gangs after me. After all, they don't seem to be doing a lot lately. ;)

      But I am definitely interested, ReMeDy. Is it going to be using the NWN engine? Regardless, sounds like a good concept to play.

      Certainly keep us posted. Either on the game or your blog or both. Thanks!

      Delete
    7. I'm definitely interested as well, update us when you have a blog going so we can track you as mercilessly as we track Lamb ;)

      Delete
  10. Just one male romance? Aww :( options are always nice.
    But am definitely looking forward to your mod as well! More Brash-like characters to sass!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. At the mod's beginning, my Brash-like character will be the focus, but mid-late the story can branch into other male possibilities based on your tolerance for the initial Brash-like character (you can be assertive or submissive). However, despite different male romance options, they're all jerks in their own special way :D.

      Delete
    2. Will there be female romantic options?

      Delete
    3. sounds interesting ReMeDy - good luck with your project :)

      Delete
    4. "Thirdpres - you've helped on a few mods - have you tried making your own?
      (curious really, as I suspect it would be very good to play)"

      In the first year of NWN module building I came sort of close to finishing a mod but it was lost in a HD crash. I had a copy but it was a few weeks out of date at the time (lots of work). Back then there were so many problems with the toolset (for me and others) that finishing that module just wasn't in the cards.

      So I ended up helping Aulslime and HP Polsa on their modules then others, like ADK, Zeorn Warlock, and Valine and most recently Love Lamb. 8)

      I guess I just have fun helping people out.

      While I do have ideas about making modules I've never gotten close to really doing much other then building areas and laying out base quests, minor dialogue, and a few odds and ends.

      Thanks for the thought. 8)

      Delete
    5. I did write a ton of stuff (260KB I think) for Celeritas Eos but I don't know if they will actually use any of it. I sent Lamb copies of everything I wrote for them in case they don't use it so she has it to use if she wants to.

      Delete
  11. Sounds good, I always wanted to make a NWN module but it just seems way too difficult.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Has anyone who uses the toolset ran into an issue where an NPC no longer wants to follow scripts, despite the scripts being correct? In one area, I have an NPC who doesn't respond to any of my scripts. In a different area, the same NPC follows all my scripts! None of my usual scripts work, including walking to waypoints, starting conversations, etc. yet a different NPC in that same area responds to all my scripts correctly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The thing I can think of when an NPC "stops responding" to commands it used to respond to... is that I've duplicated it and there is more than 1 NPC with the same tag, and the commands are actually being assigned to the other NPC in another area. Depends where your scripts are and how you're getting the NPC. If you are getting it by tag, it could be that. But every time you're having problems, it's not the engine gone insane, it's something you've done...

      Delete
    2. Awesome, that worked! So basically, every painted NPC needs a unique tag for every area, which is annoying. I thought the engine would only look for tags in the currently loaded area to avoid conflicts :(.

      With that, I should have everything I need. Thanks, Lamb. I'll credit you in my mod btw for the help.

      Delete
  13. this is...not really a place for tech problems.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'd just like this to be finished soon, the wait is killing me. Any kind of cliffhanger would be okay with me so long as it means this comes out quicker!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad to know I'm not the only one on tenterhooks here!

      Delete