Your gripes with CoC II

[redlightnin55]

If I may posit my own theory, I would suggest the reason is as stated--to be annoying. It seems quite clear that they don't want you to cross the pantheon, and doing so even in the small ways they let you, is intended to be punishing in at least some form.

Now this may make me sound dickish, but I'll say it anyway. It's like a dungeon master in D&D or whatever that creates an item for a player and points them to a set path for them to use it, and then the player says no and goes to use the item for their own gain. In retaliation, the DM punishes that player through indirect methods/sheer inconvenience.

I've seen it before and hell, I even did something similar myself in my earlier years of DMing at 16 or so. It's just salty DMing, and a pretty minor form of it at that. It's quite literally one of the most common occurrences in tabletop gaming, and even though this isn't literal tabletop, it's got damn near every element of it. Only makes sense that it'd include the more common downsides from time to time, too.

Though please note, I'm not intending to say this is malicious treatment by the devs, but rather mostly just a dismissal of the subject. Dismissal, by definition, is "the act of treating something as unworthy of serious consideration." I'd certainly say "no and no" qualifies, but as I understand it, the explanation has already been given before. Dismissal may be justified in this case. I'm not here to judge on that.

Even if it's as simple as "you better take that sword off first or I'll mess with it," a punishment is still a punishment. I've seen it said that it's because she refuses to let you walk around with her relic in a corrupted state, right in front of her eyes. If that's their justification, that's it.

Though I don't agree with it, it seems to be something they're set in stone on. I'd just relent and let it be. If you have her corrupted sword, you clearly aren't a Lumite? Lumiatite? Lumi'ite? Whatever. You clearly don't RP her as your patron goddess, so how often are you really going to go see her and have to worry about it? Sure it's tedious, but it does seem to be making a mountain out of a molehill a little bit.

 

[Kingu2]

I'm not really making a big deal out of it. I just wanted to see the new content with my dark knight character and I can't help but find annoying, inconvenience inconvenient and annoying and I feel it deserves to be called out.

 

[Animalistic]

If I may posit my own theory, I would suggest the reason is as stated--to be annoying. It seems quite clear that they don't want you to cross the pantheon, and doing so even in the small ways they let you, is intended to be punishing in at least some form.

Now this may make me sound dickish, but I'll say it anyway. It's like a dungeon master in D&D or whatever that creates an item for a player and points them to a set path for them to use it, and then the player says no and goes to use the item for their own gain. In retaliation, the DM punishes that player through indirect methods/sheer inconvenience.

I've seen it before and hell, I even did something similar myself in my earlier years of DMing at 16 or so. It's just salty DMing, and a pretty minor form of it at that. It's quite literally one of the most common occurrences in tabletop gaming, and even though this isn't literal tabletop, it's got damn near every element of it. Only makes sense that it'd include the more common downsides from time to time, too.

Though please note, I'm not intending to say this is malicious treatment by the devs, but rather mostly just a dismissal of the subject. Dismissal, by definition, is "the act of treating something as unworthy of serious consideration." I'd certainly say "no and no" qualifies, but as I understand it, the explanation has already been given before. Dismissal may be justified in this case. I'm not here to judge on that.

Even if it's as simple as "you better take that sword off first or I'll mess with it," a punishment is still a punishment. I've seen it said that it's because she refuses to let you walk around with her relic in a corrupted state, right in front of her eyes. If that's their justification, that's it.

Though I don't agree with it, it seems to be something they're set in stone on. I'd just relent and let it be. If you have her corrupted sword, you clearly aren't a Lumite? Lumiatite? Lumi'ite? Whatever. You clearly don't RP her as your patron goddess, so how often are you really going to go see her and have to worry about it? Sure it's tedious, but it does seem to be making a mountain out of a molehill a little bit.

First -- why Bring RP into equation when a corrupt champ can still interact with her sect and even the Goddes herself if they so chose.

Second, -- everyone dislikes bad DMs.

Third -- yeah, that is there decision but it still one that people will have a gripe with

Fourth -- it is just unnecessary inconvenience for the corrupt champs. And unlike other game with inventory systems, for you to get rid off your sword without loosing it requires you to go out of your way to store into your storage. Not just simply unequping it , throwing it onto the ground and picking it up later. So if the sword is the main part of your build, it is more than annoying -- it is tedious.

And fifth -- Corrupt champs are part of the playerbase that already gets bottom pile scrapes in terms of rewards and content. So just them getting boned for finishing up a quest line seems mean. It is not like pure champs get punished for dating a god damn demon that is trying to conquer a world.

Now admitedly, the last point is aimed at the game as a whole, but this does not help the cause.

 

[redlightnin55]

First -- why Bring RP into equation when a corrupt champ can still interact with her sect and even the Goddes herself if they so chose.

Second, -- everyone dislikes bad DMs.

Third -- yeah, that is there decision but it still one that people will have a gripe with

Fourth -- it is just unnecessary inconvenience for the corrupt champs. And unlike other game with inventory systems, for you to get rid off your sword without loosing it requires you to go out of your way to store into your storage. Not just simply unequping it , throwing it onto the ground and picking it up later. So if the sword is the main part of your build, it is more than annoying -- it is tedious.

And fifth -- Corrupt champs are part of the playerbase that already gets bottom pile scrapes in terms of rewards and content. So just them getting boned for finishing up a quest line seems mean. It is not like pure champs get punished for dating a god damn demon that is trying to conquer a world.

Now admitedly, the last point is aimed at the game as a whole, but this does not help the cause.

To reply in like format:

First: There's a difference between being corrupt in her presence and waving a corrupted thing significant to her in front of her face. Surely at least that much would warrant her reaction, right?

Second: Indeed. My focus was more on that this behavior isn't really that bad, not even the worst version of it that it could be, and is certainly not consistent from what I've seen. Maybe that tune'll change in the future, but for now I have no reason to think they're over in some private dev discord power tripping constantly.

Third: Fair. That is the purpose of this thread, after all!

Fourth: I'll concede on this front, certainly. It does seem a little extreme to go as far as forcing the player to stash the item entirely rather than just unequipping it.

Fifth: I've actually said what I think of this particular subject in my own thread here, so I'll refrain from reiterating my entire spiel from there. The tldr is that it seems very likely the kind of thing that's better done by working backwards rather than splitting development in half at this stage by focusing on both at once.

 

[Resawar]

This topic brings into question a rather prickly topic that being corruption is in the name but nothing feel very deep. What I mean by that is in the quest they give you the dawnsword if you are good or a bimbo and if you are dark knight they give you a corrupted version with bimbo being able to over ride dark knight, now on its own they is a very typical choice be good, be evil and on its own as it should be with player choice and all. But my grievances could be best explained with an example.

My best example I can give without being unfair the the writers or going on an unfair tirade about the writers character is Fable. As in Fable 2 vs Fable 3 and how your action felt and there impacts. In 2 you can be an evil malevolent monster to the whole game and I'm going to exclude killing because this is CoC2 not murder sim, most actions felt like you are the asshole or the devil like screwing over the towns with high taxes making them poor or stealing the grave keeps wife. While in 3 its feels more like what CoC2 is doing with its evil where they let you be evil but at the end of the day you are saving the world from a approaching darkness after all so you cant be that bad, while I cant remember the quests I did get a general feeling my evil was more performative then malicious.

If we try to go by 2's logic the dawnsword could be explained away that the sword was too tainted and you didn't help clean it so its now to far gone and it's stuck that way to Lumia's lament so she needs to get or make a new holy sword with her power, unless she can't but that brings up other problems. But with 3's logic its does somewhat follow what CoC2 is currently doing with the whole hush hush on the PC's evil and more so make it that the PC seems to other characters lacking the information of what happened or that they are clueless on what happened and need help, getting rid of the possibility that the PC could have been malicious and keeping it that way.

This can fix in any number of way any such people could want but the most friendly to the current system would to simply add a bad end locked behind being corrupt and refusing to give up the sword getting yourself smote in the process as a way to give players the choice to stick to their convictions, as is hinted in the line why you have to give it up.

 

[arch99]

It has been stated so many times, that the name of the game is simply to establish continuity and connection to 1, and not a statement of the actual goals or intent of the game. I agree that there should be more options for corrupt or evil champs, regardless of whether or not I would take advantage of them (I would not), but cmon I have seen it said so many times. It is not a game about corruption like the first one was, the name is just establishing that connection.

 

[Resawar]

It is not a game about corruption like the first one was, the name is just establishing that connection.

I know that and in fact have seen that statement said but I have to argue that point other wise it feeds the more negative thought that they just took the name to get a following and or to pillage some thing while leaving it at open for them have all the creative liberty's in the world and that then brings up if the game would work if it had its own name and didn't use the CoC naming in its title and if they really even care about the what they are trying to present with such a name.

But that so wholly negative that I would rather not even fathom it and such argue if they are using fully what they have gotten.
I also basically fucked my self by accidently saying "corruption is in the name" when talking about something else mostly.

 

[redlightnin55]

It has been stated so many times, that the name of the game is simply to establish continuity and connection to 1, and not a statement of the actual goals or intent of the game. I agree that there should be more options for corrupt or evil champs, regardless of whether or not I would take advantage of them (I would not), but cmon I have seen it said so many times. It is not a game about corruption like the first one was, the name is just establishing that connection.

Not everyone has been around the forums for years and read a ton of posts. Hell, steam user's get almost zero interaction from the devs (perhaps understandably considering the temperaments over there...) so even those who have followed the game for years like myself may actually know very little about the meta/design intentions.

Just a word from past experience that attempting to dissuade repetitive commentary on the internet because something's been said before is more or less a waste of time.

 

[Resawar]

know very little about the meta/design

No no I fucked up even though I knew that fact and still screwed up by saying what would amount to a overused shit sling at the writers and I basically destroyed any valid point I was making by doing so.

 

[Cannibal Cravings]

I think I could accept their relationship priority more if it were properly portrayed that the player is enjoying being on the outside part of it. Or if it were properly shown that your character enjoys watching Jael bone Daliza. But there's this...strange sort of neglect to the player's part in most scenes, like it was written to be Jael and Daliza, and then the writer remembered last minute that there's a player character that has to be involved...

Hard agree. It felt really weird and out of nowhere both times it happens. The first couple saves I went through I stumbled into the Azzy/Liaden and Daliza/Jae scenes because I mean lets be real here, who doesn't want to spend their time between two buxom beauties? Sadly what I got instead was the boner equivalent to a slap on the wrist for trying to sneak my hand into the cookie jar. As you stated earlier I could completely understand if it was playing into some other clearly defined fetish but it just doesn't feel like it is.

Certain scene options have information text when you hover over them to more clearly spell out what the player is signing up for by clicking them and I think that's the perfect solution. Just like how you can get a warning about whether or not a scene is going to involve someone putting something in a place you don't want it to go we should get a heads up about what the Daliza/Jae dates and the Azzy/Liaden scenes will entail for the player themselves.

Something like "be the third wheel" is the perfect description in that case because that's truly how it feels. I mean correct me if I'm wrong here but isn't the player character supposed to be the main focus of the game? It feels that way with any 1 on 1 encounters with those NPC's but then the second any couple action starts happening suddenly the champion is only really allowed to participate out of pity.

 

[Kesil]

I mean lets be real here, who doesn't want to spend their time between two buxom beauties?

raises hand

isn't the player character supposed to be the main focus of the game? It feels that way with any 1 on 1 encounters with those NPC's but then the second any couple action starts happening suddenly the champion is only really allowed to participate out of pity.

As far as I know, writers attempt to avoid power fantasies. In the quest for creating a believable world, things happen outside of the Champion's reach, such as Kinu's life or relationships like these ones. I can understand why this can be read as reducing player agency or that one kink which name is censored on this forum.

 

[Cannibal Cravings]

raises hand

I mean okay yeah, fair enough. But you still understood what I was getting at so my point stands XD

As far as I know, writers attempt to avoid power fantasies. In the quest for creating a believable world, things happen outside of the Champion's reach, such as Kinu's life or relationships like these ones. I can understand why this can be read as reducing player agency or that one kink which name is censored on this forum.

I totally understand that they're trying to make the world feel more realistic and I can't really fault them for that but in that same hand we're literally playing a game where its possible for the player character to have 10,000ML ejaculations and multiple dongs if they so choose. In my opinion the whole game itself is a power fantasy, you're literally some rando adventurer that shows up and starts sexing anyone you can while popping out babies left and right with 0 repercussions. Using the "but realism!" argument in this case is kind of a moot point in my opinion lol

I think it'd be better if the tone of the writing was changed. Like with the Kinu example you brought up; The fact that I was mostly an observer to her story as it progressed was made clear in the way the scenes were written. Occasionally you may get a little event to help shape her into either Inari Kinu or Hime Kinu but beyond those small decisions her existence in the story is mainly being fluff as well as a convenient plot device for all the potential Kiyoko children the character has. To me it felt more like Kinu was the main character in those scenes and we just happened to be present for them.

I did notice that a majority of the 1 on 1 content written for those characters was actually written by a different writer though so that's probably why the couple scenes feel so strange. Most of the talking and interaction scenes with Daliza, for example, are written by Savin but to the best of my knowledge the Jae date scenes specifically are written by SKow. Its hard to make sure that the feeling of a character is captured correctly in different scenes when multiple writers are working together to create the content and I totally acknowledge its possible that could be the reason for me not really enjoying those scenes. They just didn't jive with the mental image I had built up for those characters y'know?

 

[Kesil]

Using the "but realism!" argument in this case is kind of a moot point in my opinion

Their game, their arbitrarliy applied rules and their writers' prerogative. ¯\(ツ)/¯

To me it felt more like Kinu was the main character in those scenes and we just happened to be present for them.

I guess that's because she was, alongside her mother.

They just didn't jive with the mental image I had built up for those characters y'know?

Way too much

 

[Cannibal Cravings]

Their game, their arbitrarily applied rules and their writers' prerogative. ¯\(ツ)/¯

Indeed. I'm not asking for change or anything, just expressing my own opinions. I'm totally aware that at the end of the day if there is content in the game I don't enjoy I don't have to play it. I do enjoy the actual discussions with other folks who enjoy the games though, hence why I decided to show up on the forums.

I guess that's because she was, alongside her mother.

Yeah and that's my whole point. If the writing for the other scenes in question changed the perspective just a bit I think it'd be much more enjoyable for people to stumble into rather than what we have now. As I stated previously though I'm not actually asking for a change to anything. I'm just enjoying having a place to discuss my thoughts on the game with other like-minded folks.

 

[redlightnin55]

As far as I know, writers attempt to avoid power fantasies. In the quest for creating a believable world, things happen outside of the Champion's reach, such as Kinu's life or relationships like these ones. I can understand why this can be read as reducing player agency or that one kink which name is censored on this forum.

Writers are a vast and diverse group of people that certainly do not all try to avoid writing the same thing. Just as an example, almost the entirety of the Isekai genre is a power fantasy, and there are many, many, many writers within that space.

As for this, specifically, their point is that when the champion is in a sex scene, they're supposed to be more involved and their part written more about, unless the kink is focused on them not being involved in which case they're still written about. Again, prime example being when you watch Brint bone Elthara. Your character is described frequently enjoying the sight and much of the scene focuses on it as a fetish from the player's perspective.

In this case, it doesn't really try to be anything, so it becomes a sort of neglect as far as the player's role is factored in. And the player is supposed to be the main focus, yes. Even in your example, the fox stuff is some of the most widely criticized content and one of the common complaints is about how you have no agency, unlike the rest of the game. Regardless of where you personally stand on it, it is factually true that many more people criticize that portion compared to any other parts of the game.

I'd advise reading the discourse about this particular threesome subject over the last few pages of this thread if you'd like more info and examples. I and others have been talking about it plenty.

 

[Kesil]

And I'd advise not assuming that those characters are not two of my faves ones in the game, meaning I have tried to proc every available scene involving them That extends to Daliza and Jael'yn as much as it does to Azyrran and Liaden. In fact, I have often wondered if I was the only Jael'yn fan around!
Or, better yet, assuming I'm not getting a point I actually agree with. Being a third wheel is not a kink I like, and similar situations in the game that restrict player agency are not my cup of tea either. It was an explanation as opposed to a justification.

 

[redlightnin55]

And I'd advise not assuming that those characters are not two of my faves ones in the game, meaning I have tried to proc every available scene involving them That extends to Daliza and Jael'yn as much as it does to Azyrran and Liaden. In fact, I have often wondered if I was the only Jael'yn fan around!
Or, better yet, assuming I'm not getting a point I actually agree with. Being a third wheel is not a kink I like, and similar situations in the game are not my cup of tea. It was an explanation as opposed to a justification.

I never assumed you disliked the characters.

I couldn't have possibly known you agreed with anything because you never really stated an opinion on anything and just kind of devil's advocated an assortment of points I was struggling to figure out context for. I'm still trying to figure out how what you linked here

Their game, their arbitrarliy applied rules and their writers' prerogative. ¯\(ツ)/¯

contextually relates to what's been talked about. Is it that you, or... someone else wants to fuck Kinu and was told no, and now you're saying everyone should just stop griping about any other types of content? I feel like I'm missing the context there.

Either way the purpose of this thread is to gripe about the game, even if it's just going into the aether.

Regardless of all that, not making your stance known and then blaming or shaming me for not knowing it is odd.

I'm not sure if you've read some condescension from my previous post, it does seem like you might have, but I assure you there was none intended. My suggestion to read what's been written about this subject was just to save some time in my having to repeat the same points over and over. I prefer expounding on new angles.

 

[Kesil]

I never assumed you disliked the characters.

I felt you assumed I didn't know about their scenes and, therefore, didn't get what the conversation was about.

I couldn't have possibly known you agreed with anything because you never really stated an opinion on anything

Obviously I didn't because it was irrelevant.

I'm still trying to figure out how what you linked here contextually relates to what's been talked about.

Just a "writers are as writers do" link to show that, sometimes, they knowingly "troll" the players.

Regardless of all that, not making your stance known and then blaming or shaming me for not knowing it is odd.

I abhor the argumentum ad hominem. And, again, it was an explanation. Especially having noticed that you created an account a month ago and (unless having lurked around) you may not have read what writers have stated here or there, or know about points that have been brought over and over. That's why a certain common complaint from the CoC days ("furry futa femdom") is included in the CoC2 disclaimer, or why this certain kink name is censored on the forums
CoC2 is not a bubble created in a vacuum-it has been developed after previous events and circumstances, up and including CoC's Helspawn (which influenced Kinu's development), creator rights and mods issues, TiTS' TF elements and how they impact (or not) in a game's code or scenes, the very size of scenes themselves... All those moments have left a mark in the way staff manages its contents, for better or worse.

 

[redlightnin55]

I abhor the argumentum ad hominem. And, again, it was an explanation. Especially having noticed that you created an account a month ago and (unless having lurked around) you may not have read what writers have stated here or there, or know about points that have been brought over and over. That's why a certain common complaint from the CoC days ("furry futa femdom") is included in the CoC2 disclaimer, or why this certain kink name is censored on the forums
CoC2 is not a bubble created in a vacuum-it has been developed after previous events and circumstances, up and including CoC's Helspawn (which influenced Kinu's development), creator rights and mods issues, TiTS' TF elements and how they impact (or not) in a game's code or scenes, the very size of scenes themselves... All those moments have left a mark in the way staff manages its contents, for better or worse.

Just to wind out this conversation since it seems to be going nowhere and neither of us seems to enjoy the nature of it, I'd just like to say some little closing notes.

I don't think anyone but you was arguing toward a specific person or people. You literally by your own admission shared an opinion with us but still took an adversarial stance. Now sure, you admit your intention was to explain, but in that event, your explanations could have been handled much better as you came off like you're any other internet counter-pointer. As it stands, I feel it comes off more dismissive and trivializing than anything. And if the general nature of the criticism or even repeating things talked about before bothers you, my suggestion would be to unfollow and/or ignore this thread. It'll save you potential headaches.

Lastly, why shut down or just give up on potential feedback? If you made your opinion on this known at this point of so many other people sharing it, it might actually lead to some changes. I may not have been around the forum long, but I've already seen that Lia and Azzy's relationship is getting at least a dawnsword-adjacent rework in the future. I'd bet that was probably due to feedback people gave a while ago, and if so, it can happen again.

Dissatisfaction with the previously mentioned thrupples doesn't seem terribly rare considering, well...this thread for the last month or so. Mine and others' comments about the subject have garnered more attention and likes from individual people than any other subject brought up in this thread for roughly the last 10 pages, and the more I've talked about it, the more different people seem to have shown up to address it or at least note something adjacent to a shared opinion with a like. 6-8 people doesn't seem like a lot on paper, but compared to the average 0-3 supporting voices most other sentiments get in this thread, which most forum users probably don't even come to, it paints a slightly clearer picture. I think it's worth discussing still, and if you feel a particular way about it, I encourage you to make it clearly known while the conversation is once again fresh due to new voices joining the forum.

 

[Kesil]

Just to wind out this conversation since it seems to be going nowhere and neither of us seems to enjoy the nature of it,

Says you I do agree that it'd be best to end it for the sake of the thread itself. Now, if you feel like contacting me via private messages, go ahead!

you came off like you're any other internet counter-pointer.

Which is what I am at the end of the day - a regular forum user.

my suggestion would be to unfollow and/or ignore this thread. It'll save you potential headaches.

There's no reason to play that card here. Quit with the personal remarks, please.

Lastly, why shut down or just give up on potential feedback?

Because, even if staff may be willing to listen (this is a pinned thread, and I am especially grateful for Alypia's forum interactions!) it won't change anything, smutty scene and character development wise. Of course, this is what the thread is about, but this is not one of these issues that may get solved by submitting content or suggesting QoL changes (e.g. the Dawnsword one). Trust me if I said I wish was proved wrong, but that has rarely happened for CoC, CoC2 or TiTS.

and if you feel a particular way about it, I encourage you to make it clearly known while the conversation is once again fresh due to new voices joining the forum.

I may have done it out of frustration here or there, but knowing it meant beating a dead horse regardless of how old or new these voices are. Or loud, as all the "murderboner"-deemed users or those that want Etheryn to get a vulva-and-vagina system enthusiasts can attest. You can't TF your pals in a major way, you can't get a wonky lower body or more than four arms. And so on and so forth.

 

[MarcoPolo121]

You can't TF your pals in a major way,

Minor quibble, but we can turn Brint into a cowgirl and Berwyn into a girl or herm through their sidequests. Some would consider that a major transformation. Especially since Brint becomes almost a whole new person.

 

[Kesil]

Without the "almost", I'd say. (I'm biased there, though...) But it's not something that happens on the regular due to the many issues it'd cause. There are reasons why you can't access the cursed armour for Brint once you get on your way to Khor'minos.

 

[redlightnin55]

Alright, I certainly did not intend to delve back into this, but I just can't help myself after seeing these two gems.

There's no reason to play that card here.

I would argue it is appropriate simply because you are in the complaint thread telling people to stop complaining, when it is an ongoing, actual conversation. While I've certainly been involved heavily in it, I've been talking about it with other users in the thread as well and we're sharing our own perspectives as well as possible ways it could be solved. It doesn't have to be directly addressed by devs if they don't want to, but the conversation will naturally peter out on its own regardless. You coming in and trying to shut it down is petty, pointless, dismissive, and depressing. If it has already been addressed by the devs, at least in regards to the Jael and Daliza stuff, feel free to link to a dev post about it. Or anyone else too. I'm sure if it exists, it'll be in someone's counter-point index cards. If not, we can talk about it until the conversation dies naturally or it does get addressed by someone of authority on the matter.

And this

Because it won't change anything, smutty scene and character development wise.

is not only pointlessly defeatist, it is also factually untrue. Even as far back as page one of this thread--which you were on, I see--there are direct dev responses to things. A few pages back you can find a post from Savin addressing someone's suggestion and agreeing it would be a good thing to incorporate at a later date, regardless of how minor it is. Alypia has a very frequent presence here addressing things too. There are also an absolute shit ton of posts all across the CoC2 forum where someone requested something, a scene or alteration, and it was heard and addressed, if not right away then eventually, as long as it wasn't literal shit or completely incoherent. Just now I skimmed a basic, nonspecific search and found a number of posts where Savin or another dev or writer addressed feedback directly and said either "this is why this is what it is" or "we're working on it." They are listening and willing to act on things on a case by case basis.

I don't know what exactly you went through to make you feel like your voice or the voices of others don't matter, and whatever it is, I'm sorry it made you feel that way. Even so it doesn't really give you carte blanche to try making others feel the same.

 

[Animalistic]

I don't know what exactly you went through to make you feel like your voice or the voices of others don't matter

They wished for substantial male content.

 

[redlightnin55]

They wished for substantial male content.

Oof. Well if true I suppose I understand more about the why now, but it still doesn't justify pushing that negativity on others.

 

[Animalistic]

Especially since Brint becomes almost a whole new person.

"Almost"? What would it take for Brienne to be considered an entirely different person from Brint?

 

[arch99]

I would say that I am not an entirely new person from who I was before I transitioned, and on a superficial level I seem less similar to who I was before than Brienne (who carries over several personality traits at least) does.

 

[Animalistic]

You are not, but Brienne certainly is. All her similarities with Brint are skin deep at most.

 

[arch99]

I don't even have those skin-deep similarities. Fuck, my skin is entirely different these days, estrogen does wonders. Gender is a big thing, changing it changes who we are to a pretty deep degree. I think of Brienne as just a trans woman who discovered that by accident, and she seems exactly like what happens when buff, aggro dudebros (even if Brint is a pretty chill version of that trope) get to stop doing overcompensatory masculinity. It's very freeing. You should try it.

 

[Savin]

A few pages back you can find a post from Savin addressing someone's suggestion

Yeah I do read every post in this thread. I try and catch up a couple times of week at least.

It's uh, difficult to RESPOND to lengthy arguments/debates/discussions like this when I peek in 3 pages too late though XD


While I'm here I will just address the Corruption issue (again) since that's actually a pretty worthwhile point:

Corruption is important thematically. It's also something we try and be more subtle about than just "you struggle cuddle [NPC name] 20 times and break her mind." Turning the innocent forest dryads into absolute turbohorny sluts is a good example. Demons, including the Demon Queen herself, are literally able to just seduce you at any point in the game and you press the [yes mommy] button for exactly the reason they want you to: they're hot.

There are definitely a couple of points in the game where you can make major Corruption-oriented decisions and then that's kinda it. Hornet Hive is probably the ur-example, where you just get lots less content than if you hadn't done the thing. It's important those decisions be there (even if some, like the Hive, aren't necessarily the smoothest example), but not... really important that those immediately be graced with full, equally-weighted bricks of content behind them.

Would I like to expand the Corrupted Hornet Hive to have a bunch of extra content behind it? Sure. Is it worthwhile as compared to using the time it would take to write and code that to work on content the majority of players will actually engage with? Not really, and certainly not right now. To use Mass Effect as a quick datapoint, ~92% of players went full Paragon. And you don't have to engage with fetishes most people go "ew" at to be a Renegade; just be an asshole. Those numbers vary but predominantly hold true throughout gaming: the vast majority of people will always go the nice route.

When you're playing a game that is an active Work In Progress and has obligations to actually make some measure of forward progress every once in a while (on Companions, the Main Story, or new Dungeons) putting a huge amount of work into something a tiny fraction of players will actually even want to experience once isn't really a wise use of limited development resources (ie, time). When a new decision branch comes along, the nice version will always get preference because that's what 90% of players would choose anyway even if they thought there was an equivalent mass of content on the other branch.

Time and resources permitting, we'll eventually circle back and work on expanding the Corruption side of things. We've also certainly learned some lessons about how to better manage those branches in the future; something like Hornet Hive probably won't happen again because it does just create a black hole. But for right now in the middle of primary development, if I have to choose between using my time to write a 300 page quest/dungeon/sexpansion for one of the game's most popular characters or write 300 pages of Corrupt Hornet Hive for ~10% of the playerbase, the one that virtually everyone playing the game is going to go through on every playthrough is the one that gets development priority.