ZE: Safe Haven Content Questions
I'm writing more scenes where you are confronted by multiple romantic partners (those not interested in a poly/open relationship). Some have asked to have private conversations.
1. In the scene that follows, you discuss your relationship with one of your romantic partners. If you want to try to stay with them, do you think it should be based on their personality alone or a skill check? Or a combination of both?
For example, say you are dealing with Madison. She's a volatile, sometimes confident partner but she also shows moments of vulnerability. Do you think she can be persuaded to stay with you if she thinks you are interested in someone else? Do you think a Persuasion check would be reasonable?
2. Also, would you want to deal with a cheating scenario? Let's say that your partner may cheat on you. That can be a particularly difficult scenario for players. Do you think I should avoid writing them in the game? Or do you think there should be a warning, or that you should be asked whether or not such content is allowed in the game?
For those of you who need an example, say you walked in on Madison making out with Kevin, or Reilly making out with Gina?
Comments (15)
I think if you make a partner angry or disagree with you a lot them cheating could be a revenge thing against you that'd be cool
I think it should be on personality. I can't see Madison being okay with it even with good stats.
I think Madison would be the coolest one to deal with cheating. Cuz I remember you saying you plan to add more teenage romance options so the idea that when she cheats, if feels bad about it but you're already broke up with her because of it and are with a new romantic partner and yet she still constantly trying to get back with you even knowing you're in a new relationship would be a cool feature. But overall I think it should be a feature that you can turn on and off because I believe most people would not like that, at least for their main players it's just a cool feature but it can also lead to a lot of mistakes in the story people are making.
I LOVE drama, so having the "option" for partners to cheat on you is a huge yes for me. Maybe you can make it a choice based on your PC's intuition e.g. "Madison and Kevin have been spending a lot of time together, and it doesn't feel right" for a cheating route, or "Madison has been a good friend to Kevin. I'm glad she's able to help make him feel like a part of the group" for a loyal route. I'm already loving the jealousy aspect you can project on the relationship, so it'd be mint for it to taken further... Or perhaps it's just me wanting petty teen drama for one of my teen MCs to leave Madison (after being so loyal) and get with Allison/August just to make Madison jealous and regretful.
I think mainly it should deal with how much time you spend with them in missions and during free time. Additionally i think break ups and what not could happen based on if the MC isn't committed enough depending up the RO they are in a relationship with. As for cheating it's definitely an interesting mechanic especially if the MC is the group leader. I think exiling someone if they cheat shouldn't be something the MC could do unless it comes with big consequences. Maybe even a mutiny or a emergency election. A possible way they could die. On an unrelated note i feel that being tyrannical could be more flushed out without getting too dark. But most including myself probably wouldn't play that way. A series that covered breakups and divorce in a post apocalyptic situation was the metro books. Quite simply since everyone more or less is essential to the community so very little changes. People sleep different places. They move on, keep distance. Like no one is going to leave a relatively safe place if they simply break up or get a "divorce" Personally I hope there'll be opportunities to propose and get married. I realize it'll probably be in the epiloge, but most people do get both wedding rings in act 1.
Wait there are wedding rings in part 1? I think this is the first I'm hearing about it. Where do you get these rings?
Definitely would be more work for you on your end fixing bugs but I think the cheating aspect would make it more immersive and realistic adding drama to the story. I’d much rather leave that up to you to add, as it is your story.
I know I already commented but I would suggest being careful writing the code for cheating because it takes one bug in the system and your high relationshed romance is cheating on them in the middle of part 4 which destroyed all their progress up to that point as they try to fix their relationship but it keeps happening because of the bug. I think their maybe to many variables where bugs will pop up and destroy their progress with there romances, and you will be forced to keep updating it trying to fix the bugs. I'm not saying no to the cheating mechanic just dont want you too do even more work trying to fix these bugs that will agitate the players.
1) Mix of personality and stats. Some would be easier to convince than others. 2. No. No cheating on the PC please. That is not something I am interested in dealing with.
1. I believe it should be based on a mix of personality and stats. 2. It is an interesting direction to take but not a necessary one. In addition to that being cucked or cheated on in an IF has never really been popular (looking at you Ignis & Seeker from A Tale of Heroes) especially when it's set in stone. Personally I wouldn't want to play a game where I will be cheated on, especially since we are already invested in these character for three parts. If you want to incorporate being cheated on in the game it is my humble opinion that it should be based on your relationship stat with a character, or not be part of the story at all.
For the cheating part is should definitely be avoidable in some way. Like maybe only if your relationship with the RO is too low a max relationship character cheating wouldn’t necessarily make sense
I would say a combination of both and I think that cheating should be based on the relationship points for instance if its 75 and below there's a chance they will cheat. I have Jillian at relationship 93 when I ended part 3 I dont see her cheating on me but if she is in relation ship 65 I can see her making out with drake from the red mambas or sleeping around with other people however if she is having your baby I don't think she is thinking of other guys or girls she has other stresses now so maybe shes a poor example. Madison, Bailey, Kelly, Rachel could cheat on you if the relationship is low, and gina will cheat on you regardless so nothing new.
Maybe a talk with your partner about being with multiple partners and seeing if they are up for it and their stance on cheating to see the consequences that could happen.
I think it should be based on how you are as a partner, if you treated them awful then they may remember that later. As for the Cheating, I would say maybe have it as an option, like something you can select at the beginning. But I would also base the cheating on if you are and get caught, or if they suspect that you are but not cheating for no reason.
1. A combo of both 2. Absolutely Madison and kevin