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Rape isn’t just defined as a sexually violent act. 

I didn’t come here in the interest of discussing what constitutes rape or a victim (which has little to do with any given country’s laws anyway), but since your question is easy to answer, here are the results of a cursory google search: 

Rape by deception, also known as rape by fraud, is a crime that occurs when someone deceives a victim into having sex by making false claims. The victim would not have consented to the sexual act if they had not been deceived. Rape by deception is recognised in the laws of many jurisdictions, including the UK and the US. 

I like your reference to Maleficent; it’s definitely a violation of more than one kind. I don’t know what else there is to say, I only wish it was handled better. 

As for player agency, I definitely think there’s a way to make the reader feel understood and seen, whilst still communicating that the main character is in an unfamiliar and helpless headspace. 

You’re right on the mark about the ‘canon’ MC feeling; I played it both angry (super unsatisfying with the exception of one choice), and then tried the more defeated/ cooperative options and was trying to put my finger on why the choices and outcomes weren’t jelling no matter what I did. I came away confused or resentful after every interaction.

If I’m playing a character that’s a “skilled infiltrator”, who is calm and unassuming, who didn’t brandish a weapon, then what about her would be so intimidating that everyone consistently turns on her? What would warrant immediate suspicion about a young woman saving a girl from the rubble and getting onto the last transport they can find? What about her would make other characters comfortable being witness to a man gloating about assaulting her? Why am I always getting the stink eye? Am I wearing a “make killing great again” company baseball cap or something??

In retrospect, it feels like there’s a broader perspective that’s missing from the writing, which makes it less interactive and accessible imo. 

You’re right, my bad, I made my own ✨fresh✨ one. 

The content warning should include rape, not just the word assault. 

This was a rough read, and I don’t usually go out of my way to make comments like this, but I think the sensitive nature of this subject matter can so easily be mishandled and it’s important to talk about it. If I had to hazard a guess I’d say that the WIP might benefit from some additional/ more varied sensitivity readers. 

Everyone seems to inexplicably single out the MC, patronising and antagonising them, or making inappropriate quips, meanwhile the MC is forced into, not only proximity, but conversation with their smug rapist multiple times. 

To each their own, but I cannot begin to fathom how this route would turn into a relationship of any kind. The MC can barely stand or see straight, but it’s apparently a necessary part of Rohan’s development to come back for seconds and needle their victim? That's pretty gross for a character that we’re supposed to grow to understand. What more do they want, a kidney? There is no plausible way a character like this can be redeemed. 

I thought we would get to know more about the protagonist, and I’m disappointed there’s been no deeper insight into their motivations or their past. As far as I can tell, the MC is almost exclusively reactive; excluding the violent removal of a character, they have yet to make much of an impact on the plot.

Any expression of anguish or anger is undermined, ridiculed, or judged by both the characters and the writing. If you choose to confront your rapist there’s multiple pages describing how pathetic and pained they look, and everyone treats you, exclusively, with extreme prejudice. And I get it, there needs to be a restriction on full throttle violence in order to get the character interactions rolling, but satisfactory dialogue options are very sparse. 

I found that many of the standard responses were odd, the tone and dialogue frequently undermining anything approaching a somber or sensitive depiction of darker themes or trauma. I don’t want to start arguments, I don’t want to be sassy and waggle my eyebrows, or giggle at a joke, I’m dead inside Nash. MC doesn’t even get a moment to themselves to sit with their feelings or cry. And the reader doesn't get any insight into what’s going on with their psychology. It’s like they're a blank slate. 

On the other hand, if you wanted to play as the hardened character type, there’s a distinct lack of options to be callous, aloof, or calculating. I'd take cynical, gallows humour over letting everyone know how I'm feeling at any given time. MC’s tumultuous emotions are (embarrassingly) on full display at all times, the scenes constantly serving up our innards as fodder for the other characters to react to with either amusement or irritation. It’s so frequent that it starts to feel like a cheap shortcut to character interaction, and just made me resent not only my own character, but everyone else for acting like insufferable vultures. Is this what serves as entertainment in space? Don’t they have anything else going on? (Playing a game of cards with a rapist maybe?)

I don’t know if I’ve missed something, or was in an outraged haze, but I’ve had minimal interactions with the other characters, and struggle to remember anything about them (apart from the nice moment where K gives the MC a jacket, a pretty much isolated act of non-intrusive kindness). The relationships feel like they haven't even begun, despite the time we’ve spent in close proximity with the group. My impression of the time spent on the ship so far is the MC just wandering from room to room, contemplating their physical discomfort whilst being intensely scrutinised by everyone they occupy space with. Ironically, the only relationship that feels like it evolves in any capacity is with Rohan, for “better” or worse (STOP watching me dude). Nash is just sort of there, a vaguely judgemental room divider. 

As for Nash, they’re perhaps one of the only people who might be in our corner, yet when the MC first wakes up, after they ask how we're doing, ‘good guy’ Nash’s next inclination is to indulge their petty jealousy over their crush getting intimate with someone else, never mind that it was actually rape! Thanks mate 👍🏻

Not to mention, if the MC is the best operative on offer, what are the rest like? Will the MC ever best their second arch-nemesis: hard surfaces? Despite being a highly trained agent, they spend virtually every interaction on the back foot, unable to school their expression or suppress their emotions, let alone demonstrate skill or expertise (except when K said I did a good job tightening a pipe or whatever, thanks K 👍🏻).

They've yet to have a chance to demonstrate their capability at all, kicking off with a bad streak right from get go, and are further reduced to a stumbling, raw nerve of a person. Which, ok, fine, I can roll with the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, but I was constantly left wondering why, despite a lifetime of training, brutality, depersonalisation etc., there is so little to show for it? Would their experiences not have desensitised them somewhat, or provided interesting mechanisms to fall back on? I wanted to know more! Instead it’s like the character is experiencing the world afresh, without any internal context or history for the reader to grip onto. The one moment where my MC pulled their head out of their ass and said something to smooth things over with the pick up crew was so uncharacteristically practical that I had to re-read to it to confirm it was actually me speaking. I was gnawing at the bars of my enclosure to experience some shred of cool-action-agent content at least once, or to say something stinging or observant at least once.

I do wish the MC had more opportunities to flex their skills and force of will, but the one time the reader gets any modicum of sweet catharsis is when you pull a trigger/ throw a punch, something anyone could do, and which is swiftly followed by a narrative slap on the wrist for being a meanie (not in front of the CHILDREN! :O) and 15 pages of “look what you’ve done they’re still bleeding :( now they’re scared of you“ Ok? Good? What reason have I been given to care about what any of them think of me? 

It's frustrating that there’s no hard edge to the character and their thoughts, and no grey area to occupy for any length of time as a reader. There’s a punishing undercurrent of persecution to everything, and some of the writing is positively indulgent in its attempts to make you feel like a piece of crap, page after page, the message couldn’t be any clearer. I felt like I was reading the historical account of a villain’s life, as written by an evangelical monk. There’s a lack of context for the reader, subtle or otherwise, to bridge this huge chasm between how we view the MC and how the other characters view them. I suspect it isn't intentional, but it felt like I was playing a fallen character in a morality play, just waiting for some big moral lesson to rear its head, except I haven’t even had the personal pleasure of sinning yet.

Can't a girl have some villainous fun before being condemned to a life of atonement? :(

Lastly, I never signed up to be a spy-parent, so no stern talking-to necessary K, you can have ‘em, congrats on becoming a father! I’ll be paying my child support in kidneys. Also, sweetie, don’t hang out with the rapist. 

Yeah… except for the part where Nash is immediately more concerned with their own feelings about MC “choosing” someone else over them rather than how their friend might be faring emotionally after being violently assaulted. That reaction made my stomach turn and I had no interest in the character from that moment forward. 

Absolutely agree, I was really shocked it went there, and then really disappointed that such a serious topic was handled so poorly. And it’s an RO route?? BARF. 

Hi, I'm obsessed with everything in this demo and have been checking in for any updates for a while now, however it looks like this information is only available to kickstarter backers. I follow you on twitter, but is there anyway to stay up to date on how things are going/ your future plans? 

(ﾐዋ ﻌ ዋﾐ)

On my version the light backdrop behind the text and in front of the photo seems to be missing. Perhaps I should try to re-download it? I switched to the dashingdon version and it’s awesome so far, thank you ✨

Hi, I'm really enjoying the game so far - I especially appreciate all the informaion settings right at the beginning, it really cuts through a lot of what can sometimes be unclear when playing interactive fiction. Thank you!

Just one thing: in the downloaded version, a portion of the text isn't visible on the main screen or in settings due to the dark background, I don't know if this was just me?

So excited for this game; I keep checking to see if there's any news - where can we find updates on the game?

Thanks, I’m certain I will!

I just assumed the Nomad was way in over their head, or maybe new to the game, is it like that for the other routes as well? 

Poor Damon's taking a lot of heat at the moment lmao. I agree: I personally like his flighty, coldhearted decision - adds angst :3 - and I wouldn't expect any less from him, but that doesn't mean he gets to joke around and be all chummy with the MC afterwards. It was all sugar, no spice. If I had a say, everytime he tilted their head up to look at him he'd lose a finger :)

That was wonderfully put, you really put into words one of the things I’ve been worried about going forward. Only difference is I’m far less forgiving, and so far I’ve been keeping myself going by pretending that the MC is a lot more Machiavellian than they seem, and hoping that revenge is around the corner lmao. 

Yeah, I'm upset there isn't an option to be more upset. 

I can't imagine anyone in that situation being that polite, trusting, and empathetic. Gave me whiplash.

Tbh I couldn't even really take in everyone's sad backstory that soon afterwards, even the characters that were trying to be nice or lighthearted, I felt so awful for the MC - at best, the crew were being tactless and selfish, and at worst it made me feel like the MC may just be a very sad and meek person. Clinging to everyone's approval so eagerly immediately after experiencing such major anguish, being betrayed and then rejected on such a fundamental level, and then having people accuse you or joke around was very tonally uncomfortable for me. 

This is a character that has absolutely nothing as far as I'm aware: no family, no friends, no home, no skills or abilities, no knowledge or streetsmarts, and is tormented by these events, past and present, but only seems to have a couple of lines about being upset before someone talks over them about themselves/ smirks at them for being niave? Honestly made my heart hurt, I had to go watch baby ducks afterwards. 

Why can't we have romance AND revenge? :(

Exactly. Or like ditch everyone and disappear into the night, maybe go train with an old sage and begin your vendetta against those who wronged you, becoming the most infamous freedom fighter/  pirate/ assassin in the galaxy! Literally the only thing I would be interested in is revenge. 

Yes, mine says it can't open the .rar file for extraction on Windows.

The last update I can find is from July 2017, has anyone seen any news since? I think I played the demo two years ago but it was amazing - I sincerely hope the project isn't dead.

I second the second reproduction 

Started reading it - thanks! 

I love Adam too but I think I'd have to go with Nate, I'm a sucker for the charming guy with a mysterious dark past haha. Also, have you played Rose of Winter? That's a super cute little otome. Not to mention Agashi's other game, This my Soul, is very moving.

How about The Wayhaven Chronicles?

Have you tried Wilder? 

I know exactly what you mean: I log in everyday just to see if other people have commented, let alone to see if there’s an update. I agree that everyone just wants to see some news, ANY news, good or bad we’ll take it. 

antici-

-pation !

Thank you for the quick reply, and good luck! I know it'll be amazing!

Same, I just finished the demo and totally forgot it wasn't the full game - I was devastated! Can't wait for release, it's been so much fun, thank you!