Since F95 Thread for this game can get swamped, i would like to give my thoughts and suggestions here, if you do not mind, @prostochel2002.
I do not want this to turn into another Corruption nonsense, or as i call it, "Excuse to NTR Genre". Just make the girls naturally just cheat, without all the Corruption part. And do not make it avoidable. Just make it unavoidable, a part of the whole experience, but hidden/secret from the MP (Male Protagonist). Being oblivious, too trusting and what have you.
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Suggestions
Mentor's Identity/Gender: Whether you want to give us the choice or what you want. Regarding Mentor's identity. Like Mentor knows Mystic Magic, but also several other Jobs. Mentor is obviously very big in all the areas and powerful. Ugly Bastard fatso who is a Mystic Mage, Elementalist and Dark Magician (form of banned Mage, except Mentor was allowed, due to the sheer Fame) or go the extremely rare case of a towering Dickgirl instead, being muscular due to being a Mystic Warrior, Sage and Demonoligist. Just a few ideas.
All the Characters in your party will support you, including the Mentor. The Mentor is both your and your girlfriends Mentor, but an asshole. Have not taught you useless stuff, however. They will support you much less when they are doing their "Activities", but in order to keep the MP from finding out, helps the MP.
The Content is centered around the Mentor, and your GF, and perhaps some Side-Character Girls. Or any Female Characters who your MP have a very close relationship with.
You have a Level-Up System and Skill System. MP start off like level 10 already, thanks to the Mentor teaching MP, and unique Skills tailored to MP and GF that the Mentor taught you. Lvl 10 in this world is considered pretty high, not that it is the highest, but based on average Levels, final being lvl 100. Which is your goal.
Equipment worsens after each Delve, success or failure. Another goal is to find Equipment that does not need to be repaired, sold or abandoned. Forcing you to deal with the fact Delves corrodes your Equipment. With the exception of Non-Metal objects. Taking and using Equipment not made of Metal works, but will never replace or work better than Metal-based Equipment. In case you ever run out of money or other reasons why you cannot use Metal Equipment, falling to Wood or something else, is a good backup plan. Something the Mentor also taught the pair.
The Use of Torches should be carefully used. Planning is essential. If you, the MP, notices the Room looking suspicious in any manner, using the Torch can reveal perhaps a Chest or something else. There are Risks and there can be Rewards. You see much less without it, but you can make out shapes in the fog in the Delve you move in. Your Characters never act outside of their Group, so they do not lose sight and contact with each others. Exactly the reason why no one should ever separate from relatively close proximity to each other. At least bare minimum within whisper distance. Not that it helps to hear behind you when you are the frontline Character...
These are some immediate suggestions and ideas. Let me know what you think. Take care!
Viewing post in THE PERFECT PAIR shall rise! comments
Wow! I can't thank you enough for this post! This is the level of brainstorm I could only dream of.
On Corruption: The point is that corruption was, is and probably will be my most favorite genre in eroges.
Making NTR unavoidable will basically make gameplay mechanics not worth learning - what's the point of trying to win in the game if ultimately it all ends the same, right? On the other hand, making NTR avoidable leaves you one of these two general choices:
1. Think, explore mechanics, get good and save Aster for yourself
2. Play the game of giveaway or lose naturally. Consequences of the latter option won't even be considered unexpected or frustrating - you know what genre of game you're playing.
I believe that the middle ground is not so unattainable - a game can respect players' freedom, give them choices, reward for their effort and "punish" for not playing it the way it wants them to play. If you put in your effort and succeed, you're satisfied. If you come just to get punished, you don't even have to put in that much of an effort and even then succeed - you got what you wanted, you're satisfied. This is how I look at it. In the case of unavoidable NTR - doesn't matter if you try or not - you always get generally the same result which wouldn't be defined as "success" by every player.
Also, I don't insist, but suggest you to read through my posts on F95. I hope you'll like my concept more.
Suggestions:
On Mentor's Identity: I thought of that too. He's already casting Dark Orbs. Maybe something like making him sort of an universal mage who also have mastered some sort of fantasy pagan/voodoo/forbidden magic which would be necessary for Aster's ascension. And, of course, he would be the last man alive able to share this knowledge.
On shared Mentor: This is a great idea. Honestly, I like my image of Mentor which doesn't really care if the Hero finds everything out. But I will think about making him just sadistic towards Hero. This can create some interesting situations for characters, that's for sure.
On side girls: I want Hero to be entirely loyal to Aster.
On level system: That's interesting, although regarding levels to be considered "final" or "high" - I think that the concept of levels is too abstract for a world which is not an in-game made-up VR MMORPG or isekai. If I make an implementation of character levels, it will be available just as an abstract metric for players to measure their progress and unlock new skills, not that the term "level" will ever gets voiced by characters.
On equipment servicing: Another great idea! I really like the idea of forced return to cheaper options. I think it fits well with the hostile nature of the world I plan.
On alternative use of torches: Sounds interesing too. I will think about it.
On being always too close: I actually want to give player an option to split up with party on forking paths. Ever since I started to work on this game. Of course player, as a Hero, must have reasons for that - which will be addressed later.