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(+4)

I like the meat of the writing of the MC a lot when you take basically any scene he's in individually. It's the portrayal of his morals and ethics overall that strike me as a bit off. I feel like the main game's protagonist is a hyper-idealized individual, who's far too competent and not particularly human. In truth, if anyone was going to secretly turn out to be a god, my money might've been on the MC if not for the clear characterization telling us otherwise, and the contract.

Even in the Ruthless route this gets turned on its head in the worst way rather than the MC actually being base in some way. His reasons for going off the deep end are specifically because of delusions of moral superiority. Even as a monster, he is evidently not capable of doing what he thinks is the wrong thing. That feels particularly alien to me. 

There's a lot of talk about him putting aside negative thoughts or impulses for the sake of Asterion in the main route, but what I find odd is that he simply doesn't have those thoughts expressed at any point. And like someone said prior, when he's put into difficult situations he responds with not just the patience of a saint, but the competence of a trained psychologist, in most if not all circumstances, such that he never actually feels like he has to deal with Asterion's clear trauma in the way that someone normal probably would. There's no accidentally triggering him, or just even being around him when he's triggered. He shows sadness, but not anywhere near the shaky, aversive, shut-down he does in the ruthless route for instance, and sidestepping that sort of thing completely isn't something someone easily does.

(+3)

I've kind of thought that maybe Athena's ichor (since he seems obsessed with the glory of Athens) might have had an influence in making the masters cruel which explains why you have the options that lead down the Ruthless route however that is the easy way out of holding the MC accountable for his actions. Even if there is an influence on him, it wouldn't explain why the MC has those thoughts of ordering unhealed Asterion around or thinking that it'd be ok to send Asterion to see Argos when merely hearing the flute gives him a panic attack just because Argos promises something that's clearly easily misconstrued so he could harm Asterion psychologically. That is the MC not being perfect, even in some innocent interpretations if he actually believes Argos' promise. We also do see the MC in some high-pressure situations like when he gets attacked by the Effigy, he panics at the situation and has the option to run away. If MC knows Argo's true identity, he's clearly angry at Jean for wanting to kill Argos; I interpret his order with anger. I also feel like a hyper-idealized MC wouldn't have needed to punch Jean to snap him out of his delusion. There are also his responds he could say to Luke if he is the first guest when he's hitting on Asterion and his responds to Luke and Kota budding heads when they first meet. He could be less professional or not want to step in like a leader should.

There's also another factor that I think you're forgetting when it comes to the MC's ability to be competent as a leader, the hotel is pretty much a post scarcity haven for anyone that isn't Asterion; a lot of the pressures of leadership come from allocating limited resources and the difficult choices that come with it. There is a lack of time and manpower during Argo's trial but that's a special circumstance. At any other point, why wouldn't the MC be a patient person? He's the owner of a magical hotel with adequate staff; he's likely not going to have too much difficulty meeting guest and staff needs. Altan even alludes to this when he talks about how it's easy for the MC to consider being accommodating towards Khenbish if his curse was an issue while working at the Hotel. As for keeping his head cool and not getting triggered during conflict resolution situations, that suggests that the MC having previous leadership experience (regardless of the player's chosen background). I would probably argue is something that does need to be established better as a part of any MC and in a way that doesn't make that seem like it should be limited to just the Leadership background (like rename the Leadership background to Business Manager?). As someone who has been in a leadership position, you learn to keep your cool otherwise you won't last long in those types of positions. Though personally, dealing with dangerous animals and unrealistic workloads was much easier for me as a leader than dealing with people and I no longer am a leader, having and using those skills I picked up still has people turning to me as a leader and looking to me even if I don't want it. It's why most leaders are charismatic even if they're not the most knowledgeable in their fields, which is why charisma is another trait you could infer of the MC.

Though one point you do have, and I hope we do see, is the MC reflecting with Asterion about any stress he's feeling about running the hotel. Especially after what happens at the end of chapter 18. Give the MC an option to reflect on that incident with Asterion rather than asking Asterion just his thoughts as he reflects on the events.

(+5)
Though one point you do have, and I hope we do see, is the MC reflecting with Asterion about any stress he's feeling about running the hotel. Especially after what happens at the end of chapter 18. Give the MC an option to reflect on that incident with Asterion rather than asking Asterion just his thoughts as he reflects on the events.

I really like that idea, I'll try and explore it.

(2 edits) (+1)

I like the idea of Athena's influence somehow being the cause, it would explain why the two characters of the different routes feel so at odds. Though I would contend essentially all of the things you put forward as signs of imperfection: None of those are imperfections, they're just character traits, and ones that don't cause the MC any real direct and personal stress. And I would point at that as far as I can tell there is no middle ground or friendship route at the moment - From my attempts at playing through it there's no recovering Asterion's trust once he's sent out so the point of him sending him out innocently is moot given that he then goes full Athenian Archon.

But yes, I think reflection is the issue as well. He doesn't have the opportunity to ever express doubts and fears, which makes it seem like he simply doesn't have them. My mind immediately jumps to all of the decisions where he does have the opportunity to go down the Ruthless route, where the choices are presented almost completely neutrally - If you choose a good option, it is not presented as if the MC had a choice there, it's presented as if the MC was always going to act that way, and never had second thoughts. 

Honestly, the gold-and-leaden arm-rings thing grates me here as well, because at that point it isn't a choice for the MC. It's fine that it isn't a choice, but it's clear what it tells the player about the MC: He's so saintly he's not even going to put forward any real argument against wearing something that can and quite probably might sever his arm at some point. The contract as put forward only requires Asterion to be bludgeoned over the head before he can say "I want to go out into the valley" and then be dragged into the valley and the MC either dies of shock and bloodless or is an amputee. I wouldn't have agreed to this contract, personally, at all. For someone who clearly has the malevolence of otherworldly entities following him around I actually think it's strikingly foolish of Asterion to suggest in those words - It begs to have the gods punish him directly for his hubris by setting up a torture he designed.

(+1)

That is why I'd like to see the MC reflect and maybe feel a bit of doubt in his current predicament following Chapter 18. While he's been in some danger before with needing to go out into the Valley for Argos' trial and the Effigy, the realm does bend to his will, and he's had the safety of the hotel to fall back on. This time, however, there was a threat inside the hotel and was a Greek god, a creator of said realm, so that would make more most people new to the existence of magic pause and wonder if they're in over their head. There's also room for the MC to doubt his leadership skills since Asterion takes control of the situation smoothly; more so if you didn't figure out Jean's identity. This would be a good opportunity to get support and reassurance from Asterion.