Sunday, June 19, 2016
So I've been thinking
When I went onto Patreon and switched to monthly releases, I decided to switch between major releases (main storyline progression) and minor releases (side quests and non-plot slaves). This was mostly done as I knew I couldn’t do a major every month and the minors gave me a chance to keep new content coming while simultaneously giving me the time to rewrite/code the old content.
Generally, we’ve been doing a major followed by two minors over time. Initially, this was done to buy me time more than anything else. As I’ve been developing the minor quests, something interesting happened. I found that I really enjoyed adding some breadth to the world. Exploring new territories, learning about the history of the world and getting to know the existing cast better. And of course, finding and enslaving new women.
As we go into Chapter 5 we’re going to be hitting an on-rails section. Some fairly big things will be happening with the plot and to make sure that flows properly and makes sense, I have to control the pacing. Once we hit that, we’re probably going to be looking at roughly 4 months of on-rails as we go through two months of Corsix and then 2 months dealing with the aftermath of what happens there. While there will be some new content there (Kathleen/Fiona mostly) most of it will be retreads of v1 content. And you won’t get back to Celee for months.
So the question is: Where to go next? I want to know what you all think. Would you enjoy starting the on-rails section, knowing that it’s going to last a few months, or should there be a 4m3 and explore some of the new content more? I definitely have more stories to tell about Fiona, Naitay, and Joan that really won’t get told for quite a while without a 4m3.
I want your feedback. Where you want to see Harem go? Your feedback will decide this. But just to be upfront, unless feedback is definitely in one direction or another, it will be decided by a Patreon-only poll.
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I remember v1, and the on the rails segment. On one hand, it seems like it will indeed be awhile before you get to go back and do more with the area specific slaves. At the same time, the ammount of side content seems to be widely outstrip the main story content in this segment. Would it be possible to add in another main story quest in Minor 3? Another issue is that the game as it currently stands lacks drivers to move people towards the side quests without access to a walkthrough or knowledge that the side quests exist. Would it be possible to add some kind of text in the first two towns with side quests tipping you off that side quests exist?
ReplyDeleteNo, with the plot of 4m2 the path to Corsix will be open. But the balance of side vs main content is a good point.
DeleteThere is a driver toward Vercin in Eliba the first time you enter the inn. The game directly tells you that Phoebe has quests for you when you capture her. The main arc tells you to go and find Fiona in Lesser Corsix. About the only questhub that doesn't have a driver is Gregory in Eliba. I'm not sure how much more I could add without completely shattering the 4th wall.
Well, I found Gregory’s comment about proving yourself in the mountains to be misleading. I don’t know what triggers him opening up for more but after the incident on the way to Vercin, I thought that was what he was looking for and went back to him. No dice. Since I did what I thought I was told to do and didn't get any more quests, I really didn’t have any idea what he was waiting for. I'd nearly finished Vercin by the time I talked to the guy in Eliba again so I don't know at what point the next quest opened up. (And the only reason I talked to him was that I looked through the walkthrough to make sure I'd caught everything before heading through the secret passage.) Maybe the archeology quest in the mountains are what triggered Gregory round 2 but, by the time I did that, so much time had passed I totally forgot about his promise.
DeleteIt never even occurred to me to check back with the Governor of Eliba to see if he had new work for me (statue bust). I'm not sure if I missed something he said but I got the impression he was "done with me". Maybe a comment from him about trusting the hero with more a more sensitive matter (after the collar is turned in) would be helpful?
Outside of those two parts and not realizing I needed to keep talking to the girls in my new, snazzy home, I think I found pretty much everything fairly easily
I'll work on improving the drivers, but most of that work will be after 4m2
DeleteI wouldn't mind it but also might minor things to spruce up the last section of the game maybe
ReplyDeleteI would love see 4m3 but you should mainly decide that based on your feeling if you enjoy the minors i don't think that anyone would complain even if you decide to do that til 4m5
ReplyDeleteMy personal leaning would be for a 4m3 update before the big chapter 5 slog, but that's me.
ReplyDeleteSidequests vote. The story's cool, and rails are okay, but I'd rather procrastinate.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the side quests and fleshing out of the world are not only really enjoyable but are what keeps the main story from feeling like it's essentially on rails anyway. Additionally, ANY content that lets me get to know any of the girls more is my preference. The more minor releases there are in the game, the more of those opportunities there will be in the end-of-game tally.
ReplyDeleteCompletely right plus if you do the work you enjoy we won't be risking another huge haiuts like the two that were before and after v1 0.6b
DeleteAgree with that!
DeleteI wanted to ask will this version of the game follow the same storyline to the letter? I wanted to ask because i really didnt like the court thing where the Pc is prosecuted
ReplyDeleteIt's going to get changed slightly, but by in large repeated. I've gotten a lot of feedback from players that they really enjoyed that sequence.
DeleteThis is a difficult choice and I haven't yet reviewed the arguments others have made, but after some consideration I would say that you definitely should do a 4m3. As I mentioned before, I'm very concerned about adding too many slaves with too little depth to each.
ReplyDeleteFiona, Naitay, and Joan are ALL amazing characters who absolutely deserve to be explored further before we start the wild ride in Chapter 5. 4m3 would also allow you to address any loose ends and lay groundwork for Corsix.
There is also a significant risk that if you go ahead with Chapter 5 then any plans you had for 4m3 will fall by the wayside and perhaps ultimately be forgotten as we push on ahead. If you want to get this content in then now is the best time to do it.
In short, I think that we need 4m3 very badly indeed. I hope you find that persuasive.
That risk is truth. There will be enough content post Corsix that I won't write much content which isn't in the current content time. So if a story would take place pre-trial it won't get written for much later, if ever.
DeleteThen write write write i don't care if it even will be until more than minor 10 i wanna know all that i can on this great characters
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DeleteI am really liking all this side quest. Fleshing out the main story with all the background has been a huge benefit IMO.
ReplyDelete-Dire
If you have the time and the ideas for a 4m3, you should take your time and do it. As far as I remember the Corsix trial was smooth and already up to any standard, so it can probably wait.
ReplyDeleteAlso, this is an RPG and those are side quests. If you don't keep the world on the brink of destruction while searching for the last insane collectible, you're not playing enought.
As much as i wanna see the game continue I don't wanna see people without enough content. I would like you to continue Side quests as well so all for 4m3.
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying how the game is progressing and I think adding more content to flesh out the world and some side quests to be a good thing so I say go for the 4m3.
ReplyDeleteI'm on board with 4m3 as well. i like side quest and all the addition
ReplyDeleteWill some parts of chapter 5 such as terra being taken away by the batan or Namuhist still be the same?
ReplyDeleteMost likely. It's a crisis point where the story chooses a path and the plot moves on.
DeleteI find that while its' important the main storyline be engaging it is the side quests, back history and lore that make or break RPG games. Keep writing ker and fill in as much as possible for the side characters! P.S. I'll be sad to see Terra go.
ReplyDeleteSo one thing I want to make clear when we get to chapter 5 and beyond.
DeleteYour slaves are NOT going away for good. The harem will be split up for a while so you can focus on specific things, but I have no plans to ever take a slave away once captured.
It is a collection game and pulling away characters once earned is anathema to those kind of games.