A Light Among the Stars (space opera)

[linamae]

What are the poly routes in this game?

[kckolbe]

I guess the confusion stemmed from 2 things. 1) A comment about how in demand those fields were, and 2) the stuff you addressed about similarity but not qualification. For the second, it sounds like you have a fantastically-reasoned plan in place. I look forward to playing this out. My only suggestion might just be a comment about how the MC lacks ship time to qualify for an apprentice program, which is a significant investment for a captain to make, as well as a general statement of knowing theory, but lacking familiarity with ship systems/equipment.

Basically, it’s not that I object to the way things played out so much that I, as a player, want to be sure the decision I made (to pursue a degree in general, and skilled labor in specific) wasn’t being overlooked and could benefit me down the road.

[Jenna_V]

Yeah, I chose plant sciences for my degree because I had this romanticized idea of being a ship botanist that maintains plants on the ship to aid in cO2 scrubbing and oxygen production. I realize adding specific jobs/tasks for three different degrees would add a lot of writing to the project, though.

[Freja]

I like the idea of what you’ve got so far, it’s seems interesting. It’s true that there’s is a lot of info to read in the beginning and a few choices but, to me it’s not that important if what is told is significant, so I’ve read it without complaint. It’s true there’re readers that doesn’t like to much info or to much story without choices.

I’ll keep an eye to future updates. There’s a lot of work for all the paths that are waiting to be written so, good luck!!! And patience.

[essay715]

@kckolbe
I’m glad you brought it up, as it definitely can be shored up in story. Maybe even options to add to interaction with Ren too. As the junior deck division officer, Ren’s the training officer.

@Jenna_V
In my maybe pile is the possibility to add hobbies for the MC, since they spend a lot of time in space. Some of the degrees would play well to a hobby system. I had considered a greenhouse or hydroponics system for the ship as well.

@linamae
At this time, I have no set couples for poly, so it is somewhat open ended. There are some combos that would be less likely and thus harder to achieve, and a few that just won’t happen. Age and rank differences would factor in with the captain and chief engineer.

With Captain Jules, they are very aware that any relationship with anyone on the ship has a potential power imbalance. Rather than venturing into spoiler territory, I’m going to list the captain as “limited poly” in that they would not enter a poly relationship with any of the sub-30 NPCs (Ren, Logan, Harper, Izumi, Rory, and the non-spacer NPC coming in Chapter 3).

Age is a lesser factor with Chief Engineer Michi than rank/chain of command, so no poly with their engineering staff (Rory, Logan, Izumi).

[Lan]

@essay715

I couldn’t figure out a true way to indicate Michi’s physical gender. The selection is important - as it sets Michi’s non-public pronouns - so in that scene, the MC is just a bit psychic, I suppose. If people feel that was handled sensibly enough, I could remove the disclaimer.

Michi is the one NPC whose pronoun variables will not be used except in private and only then if in a romantic relationship.

Why not set the variables when the player enters a romantic relationship with Michi? Since it seems like that’s when they’ll learn the information in-game.

I found the scene where the player meets Michi and then immediately tries to guess what genitalia they have pretty off-putting.

Overall, you’ve got a very promising start and I look forward to seeing future developments. c:

[essay715]

@Lan

Why not set the variables when the player enters a romantic relationship with Michi?

I am having a moment where I want to physically face palm myself for missing the obvious solution…

You. Are. Awesome.

[druidcandy]

@essay715

I have the same problems with the chapter but was afraid I was sinking into a super-critical stage, so this is great input that the characters I do have more information do stand out from the info-dump level of introductions. I hate introduction chapters (and I suspect it shows), so there may end up being an overhaul on this one, maybe a breakdown into smaller “bites”, or even two chapters to make it less overwhelming and more individualized. Since they’re sitting in dock at the moment, it isn’t like the entire ship tour has to be dropped on the MC on day one by Harper for fuzzy-logic safety reasons.

I mean, same on introduction chapters, just because the pace is always kind of slower than the rest of the work just by nature of explaining everything. Maybe have the main bit of the tour come after everyone gets back on the ship, just for like, iunno, security reasons or something? Like, break it into two and dedicate most of one to people and most of two to the ship and life on the ship, as kind of like a living tour while people get to work.

@essay715

• Potentially removing any designation of romantic/sexual orientation and allowing players to decide that with choices further down the line. In a game with the ability to set all the genders of the NPCs, MC orientation seems redundant really. Thoughts and inputs?

I think that makes a lot of sense, honestly. I’ve played a few games where women have shown interest in my for all purposes gay character, but I still got options for either letting her down or accepting her advances, because sexuality is weird either way. It kind of made the narrative feel more real and interesting, I guess?

[furyleika]

I think this makes sense. Even with an engineering specific degree, you’d have to pass a nasty exam and get multiple years of experience under a liscened professional IRL before you could become a PE.

But that isn’t common knowledge necessarily, so I see why it’s not intuitive for a lot of people.

[kckolbe]

For me, I think it’s also the result of playing bad CYOA games/WIPs that whenever you see a choice that appears ignored…you panic.

[essay715]

@fisheye
Good catch on the Ioria glitch.

In regards to taking juice to Logan, that’s separate from whether or not you’re interested in the issue. While,the ship isn’t military rigid, I suppose my assumption in not offering a choice there is that Alex outranks the MC, so is going to have them run errands when Alex is busy. That’s likely to happen again, to be honest.

I’m looking at the interaction with Logan and don’t see anything that really goes against someone wanting to be disinterested, but I’ll mull it over.

Some of the options in the chapter 1 revision will give the MC other things to be doing than be in the galley all day.

@kckolbe
I’m always happy to see if something’s underdone and needs fleshing out. Usually my problem is giving too much info!

[essay715]

@fisheye
I’m still not entirely sure I’m on the same page with you on the Logan interactions, but that said, I revised the scene as part of the revamp to make the Chapter One introductions less overwhelming. Let me know if it resolves the issue or flows better. There’s even an option now where you might not even be present in the galley at that time.

~~~~~
In general… it’s a mini-update, since I went ahead and uploaded my current chapter one as part of working on the Logan scene. While the word count itself hasn’t changed that much in total, that’s because I scooped about 5k out and dumped it into my “work it back in later” file.

So… more variety of options instead of a long, linear bit (I hope). In addition to the stray first mate, the three barely introduced crew members from the original chapter one have now gone on the lam with the elusive first mate to give me time to flesh out the other NPCs more. Average play is about 3k higher now too.

I don’t know if there will actually end up a full chapter two for the introductions, but those four NPCs will at least wait til day two and let the poor MC go sleep a bit before tackling meeting the remainder of workmates.

[IvoryOwl]

When talking to Logan and choosing the bottom bunk, the text is repeated.

Summary

“I’m fine with the bottom bunk. Probably quieter for my shift anyway.”

“No sense in missing your first ship’s dinner on my behalf. I’ll finish up and then use the iris portal to get to crew quarters to wash up and change.”

You’d delivered the juice as Alex requested, but didn’t want to get involved further. “I’d better get back in case Alex needs me.”

“No sense in missing your first ship’s dinner on my behalf. I’ll finish up and then use the iris portal to get to crew quarters to wash up and change.”

[SourPeaches]

When I click this option, the game redirects me as if I’d chosen my birthing parent to be alien.

Summary

[VioletHikari]

Sooooooooooo, this happened after I chose the "orphaned birthing human" option thing...

[essay715]

Fixed the birthingparent bug - again.

@fisheye
Good idea. I also added in options for the MC to either ask questions or ignore things if they weren’t in the galley at the time Logan returned.

[joe_g7]

Being able to play a half-alien with different characteristics for each is a really nice change of pace from the usual human player characters. Also, older ROs ftw!! I’m really excited to see what the romances are gonna be like and if our half-alien nature will play a role in any of the relationships.

I found this bug btw:

Bug

[Jeeshadow1]

Very interesting WIP! Being a steward on a spaceship seems really interesting and all the crew seem fun and it will be great to interact with them.
Overall good, my only complaint would be that the lore at the beginning is a bit overloading, but I believe it can all be referenced later so it is not really a problem!

[kckolbe]

On the intro page it says you can be up to 55 years old, but the limit is actually just 50. Naturally, this is a game-breaking problem and killed all enjoyment. ~grins~

However, I was surprised at how age didn’t affect any starting abilities. Maybe a minor boost to academics and charisma, and a penalty to health for every decade?

[essay715]

@joe_g7

if our half-alien nature will play a role in any of the relationships.

The short, non-spoilery answer is “yes”.

There is an interaction with Harper in chapter one that does hint a little if your MC is Yolancian or has a Yolancian adoptive parent.

I squashed the bug… of course I’d upload the incomplete version of chapter one right before haring off on vacation…

@Jeeshadow1
It is definitely a fine line to walk on too much info-dump at the beginning. Hopefully the reference materials will at least make it easier later, since you can’t just thumb back a few chapters in this format.

@kckolbe
Technically… the limit is still 55. When you select age at the beginning, it’s the age you applied for the visa to go to Tagoth. So whatever age you select, it’s five years later before you end up on the ship.

I did add some clarification to the age selection.

As for age affecting starting abilities, that’s a very good point. I’ll drop that into the To Do List to work on while I’m completing chapter two (which is about 30% complete right now). Rather than starting health though, I’m likely to make it effect ongoing health (workout effect varies based on age).

Which actually brings me to “pick everyone’s brains” moment.

The schematic of the game is not to have to micromanage too much once we get past the introductory level chapters. Since the game is meant to go through 2 full years (24 months), at the end of each chapter, I am intending to have screen where the player decides what their MC is spending their free time doing during the “off screen” moments… socializing, studying for ratings exams, working out more than the bare minimum, etc. Sort of a boring daily routine that takes place in the background of the larger interactions and activity choices, and that allows you to not have to use all your “on screen” time grinding any abilities/etc if you don’t want to.

That said, one issue is to add hobbies. What sort of hobbies would you like to see available, keeping in mind they are on a ship, so obviously some things wouldn’t work (like swimming or archery)? This is probably an area where some of the not-so-useful degrees might apply too, as one option I have currently is for a potential hydroponic farm for the botanist MCs.