Kiyoko content makes weird assumptions

[Decanter]

I'm fairly used to Fenoxo games, and erotic games in general, assuming I'm generally into whatever fetishes they're about, on the basis that I'm playing their game. Which is fine. When CoC waxed rhapsodic about medial rings or rubber skin or some other thing I was not particularly into I just nodded along absently and moved on.

Kiyoko's content in CoC2 (or is that CoCII, pronounced "cocky"?) appears to take a different approach.

While her slight, petite build and boyish hips suggest that a stiff breeze might be able to knock her over, you know that Kiyoko is made of sterner stuff than that. It's just... oh well. Maybe the local ladies of the Frost Marches have left you spoiled for choice.

When she's described it's generally with this air of condescension, like not only am I not into this, no one could really be into this. Because she has... a slender build, and A-cup titties? There's literally nothing wrong with that, and this insistence that I'm disappointed when I'm not is rather jarring, especially in comparison to the usual approach. What's with the sneering attitude? And why project it onto my character, without even a narrative justification like mind control?

 

[The Observer]

When she's described it's generally with this air of condescension, like not only am I not into this, no one could really be into this. Because she has... a slender build, and A-cup titties? There's literally nothing wrong with that, and this insistence that I'm disappointed when I'm not is rather jarring, especially in comparison to the usual approach.

You're reading far too much into a throwaway line.

And why project it onto my character, without even a narrative justification like mind control?

You're playing a character, inasmuch as Half-Life has you play Gordon Freeman or Mass Effect has you play Shepard. This is not a blank slate; the champion has a history and personality.

 

[Stemwinder]

I wouldn't say that's reading too far into it, you were definitely injecting something into a line like that (namely that the beginning state of her body was something to be improved upon; a promise that you fulfill later in the content). That's not a bad thing, though. Your content is written to a specific idea and the prose supports that idea. It might not mesh with a player's tastes but that's not nearly as important as some readers would like.

Though in the first place it's less an issue of the champion having specific tastes and more that this content in particular is written to specific tastes. That's going to color how the champion acts more than choice of history that might or might not be acknowledged.

 

[coldmonkey]

Well, she's specifically a pregnancy fetish character, and most people who're into that are into the fertility symbol thing, with the wide hips and milky mommaries and stuff like that, so she's not built to meet the expectations of the majority of people who're interested in her pregstuff. Or porn in general, given that big tits and curves are by far the most popular.

 

[Decanter]

I did get the idea that there might be incoming preggo from the murals that show up right before taking the orb/amulet. That doesn't really signpost this weird body-shaming stuff though.

You're reading far too much into a throwaway line

It's an example, not a throwaway line. If I were going to quote every line that evokes the same thing it would start with posting half of Kiyoko's (initial, I guess) "appearance" page.

This is not a blank slate; the champion has a history and personality.

The game starts by asking you about the character's background. You actually get more control over who your champion is than who Gordon Freeman is - Freeman is always a white male human physicist, not one of five professions and however many species and genders... Obviously some things are predetermined for the story to work, but those things don't include unquenchable and exclusive thirst for thiccccness. And it's a weird thing to bring up for Kiyoko when we apparently don't mind, say, Etheryn.

 

[Sifen]

That doesn't really signpost this weird body-shaming stuff though.It's an example, not a throwaway line.

If Kiyoko's content is such a sore spot for you, then avoid it. Or if your feeling particularly productive, you could write your own content instead of whining about a character that was made to appeal to fetishes that not everyone has.

 

[The Observer]

If you want to read malice into my words where none exists and take offense anyway, you're more than welcome. Go and use your mind-reading powers for the good of mankind.

Much as in CoC1 and TiTS, it's worth remembering that you are not playing your original character; you are playing the Champion of Hawkethorne. While that character has a great deal of customisability, much as you might play Captain Steele or Commander Shepard, you are playing a specific individual created for this story. The choices you are presented are there to direct the story and your character's development, not to reflect your head-canon.

I'm done here.

 

[Decanter]

If you want to read malice into my words where none exists and take offense anyway, you're more than welcome.

If there is no malice intended in your words, then that's good... but then the point becomes that your words can be read in a way you didn't intend.

Generally, if your writing is communicating things you didn't mean to communicate, that should be something you want to know.

I am sorry if this all came off hostile or something, but I really do not see why pointing these things out warrants this level of defensiveness and sarcasm.

 

[Dark67titan]

If there is no malice intended in your words, then that's good... but then the point becomes that your words can be read in a way you didn't intend.

Generally, if your writing is communicating things you didn't mean to communicate, that should be something you want to know.

I am sorry if this all came off hostile or something, but I really do not see why pointing these things out warrants this level of defensiveness and sarcasm.

we’re on the internet without tone of voice anything you say can reread in an unintended way. It has nothing to do with How observer writes thier work, for example some people will read what I just said as pissy and aggressive while others will see as trying to be calm and reasonable

 

[Ghost58]

If there is no malice intended in your words, then that's good... but then the point becomes that your words can be read in a way you didn't intend.

Generally, if your writing is communicating things you didn't mean to communicate, that should be something you want to know.

I am sorry if this all came off hostile or something, but I really do not see why pointing these things out warrants this level of defensiveness and sarcasm.

People reading hostility in your words is the same as you reading condescension in Observers. And I'd say there's justification in being defensive if someone is inserting a motive into your writing that isn't there. Having a grievance with the writing is fine, nothing is perfect, but people WILL get defensive and angry when their words are twisted. I'm sure you didn't mean to communicate hostility, I'm just making you aware your words can be taken as such.

 

[BubbleLord]

This thread is going in circles -- it isn't going to change because it seems very heavily opinionated on interpretation.

Unless someone has some miraculous mind-changer, move on and find a better topic to discuss. There's plenty of writing to give feedback on that may provide a better, more productive gain for all parties/the game at a whole.