Sandbox mode will be optional right? or will you be changing the entire game to sandbox mode, like no visual novel mode/linear mode?
Sandbox would be better, though more to code IMO and is partly the reason I supported in the first place. As long as it's done right meaning not done like LiLs "sandbox" but more like HHGs sandbox and doesn't have stat grinds people shouldn't really complain about it, having repeatable scenes and other things to build up the story and characters could only help. A classic VN is pretty much face value on everything and majority of them struggle with pacing everything out.