Post by starrynight in Introducing the Transient One (Tell me about your MC)

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I'm quite happy with how you executed the MC!
Their personality is bland (which is a good thing in this case) enough so us players can imagine them just the way we like.
Since i'm a visual novel nerd, i went through all the different dialouges from the choices you provided and i'd like to say that the way you wrote each of them is commendable! For example : there was a 3-option decision laid out for the players in one of the unit's tavern meeting where we could choose wether we have a wealthy upbringing, a poor one or something in between. It made me feel included!
As someone who had taken a liking to 'blank/insert' protagonists, i'd like to thank you for it.
You did a splendid job at displaying the different ways the MC could be molded into according to us players' personality choice.

Of course, there's always room for improvement, so keep up the good work <3

Best Regards, Star

(P.S. My 'OC' is literally just me but in the ADW Universe XD, Self-Insert go brrrrrrr)

coffeedripstudios164 days ago(+1)

Hi Star!

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts and take on the MC. I was hoping that the player had enough choices to self-insert without feeling too frustrated so I'm really glad to hear it worked for you. I'm not sure why there seems to be a slight stigma around "self-insert" in some circles? but I actually find it really whimsical and endearing to think of someone being able to directly immerse themselves into a story as I think most people read stories/play games to escape reality a bit. Maybe the whole premise of isekai has a stigma for being too self indulgent, with certain themes being somewhat over reiterated in some animes/manga/light novels as of late. However, I remember 'isekai' stories before I even knew the term for it (like Escaflowne, Fushigi Yuugi, Peter Pan) and I just think there's something really fascinating about the premise. Perhaps as a transracial adoptee, who has always felt a bit out of place and thrown into this world, it connects with me on a deep, subconscious level.

My copy editor sometimes makes notes in the margins that I sometimes give options to "kick" the companions (I think of it more like being blunt, opinionated or teasing? LOL) Like maybe no one would take those options (I'm a recovering people pleaser myself) because they don't want to read a potentially upset response from the character, but I wanted to make sure there were options that weren't all centered around telling the characters what the player would think they'd like to hear. I think it also opens up to revealing more about the character when you can listen to their disgruntled side or coping sides as well. Also I don't want to condition people (even if it's just a game) into thinking you need to agree with people all the time or they won't love or like you LOL.

I'm actually someone who tends to over empathize with characters to the point of 'dreaming' of hovering over other people's shoulders and observing them rather than being the 'main character', so if I were to try and self-insert, I'd probably make an OC instead. I hope I'm not being too noisy, but I'm very curious, do you prefer to self insert over a defined protagonist when possible? What are your opinions on the isekai genre in general?

Best wishes and sincerely,

Jen

starrynight163 days ago(+1)

Hello Jen! <3

From my point of view, the constant dislike that self-insert protagonists usually get probably stems from the growing fandom of people who use the Isekai genre as a way to somehow live in their 'questionable' fantasies, resulting in most media nowadays getting too self-indulgent.
Subjectively, i have no problem with such individuals as long as they can differentiate between fiction and reality. Objectively, however, those people often find themselves being frowned upon due to said fantasies and self-indulgence by others who find it strange.

As for YOUR media... I think it's a great move to give the player a choice on how they talk to characters, be it nicely or bluntly.
It adds more depth to each character when we're able to see their not-so-composed side, i agree with you!

Anyways, i'm glad you asked for my own opinion regarding the genre!
I'm someone who daydreams a lot and muse on various stories and poetry that my mind somehow manages to conjure, with each story either containing me as a whole or a part of me in certain characters and writing. So yes, self-insert is my go-to.
For the next question, Isekai is a great way for people to entertain themselves and that applies to me as well!
The genre is something i've adored ever since i was a youngling, so to say i love it would be an understatement tee-hee.
It may not be everyone's cup of tea but hey! We all have our preferences~

Sincerely, Star

itch.io

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