Here are some other useful effects. I have only used the second effect, but the other two sounded like some pretty basic features I've seen in many VNs.
Out highlight sprite (to better tell who's speaking)
https://wattson.itch.io/renpy-auto-highlight
Picture button template (for making menu buttons from images, check out the tutorial video with it)
https://zeillearnings.itch.io/visual-novel-renpy-tutorial
Side image (shows the character's face next to the text window)