Community College Hero: Releasing Soon

@trollhunterthethird, yep I think I’m going with something like that. The brief description of your relationships is more fun and offbeat than just the numbers or percents. I like it. I was even thinking this afternoon of maybe having the characters break the fourth wall in the stats screen.

Examples:
*if(DG < 0) “You suck, Captain Powerless.”
*if (Origami < 5) “You’re such a paperwad!!”

Thanks @Havenstone, you are a gentleman and a scholar. I’ll definitely check out your code for ideas.

@MutonElite, the reason the upgrades make coding more complicated is because the subsequent upgrades don’t overwrite the old ones. It’s not like Choice of Star Captain where your ship’s weapons would just go from Basic to Intermediate to Advanced.

In CCH, your hero keeps the old stuff too. For example, the Tactician starts out with a listening device and thermal imaging goggles. If she gets the upgrade, the Tactician also gains a portable polygraph and smoke grenades. The Tactician is then coded as archtype “Tactician Level 2” which tells me from that point forward that the character has all four tools as her disposal.

@Everyone, the score is 5 votes for Brawler, Stinger, Tactician and 6 votes for Detective, Sharpshooter and Bullet.

@HornHeadFan Am I seriously the only one who keeps imagining mega cat as a neko and robot combined!?

I’ll have to vote 2 as well as tell you that I Archangel (My sharpshooter MC) is so in love with tress it hurts.

I think I’m gonna change my vote to 1 .

this is getting tense.

If you are still accepting votes, I’d like to vote for the #1 archetypes because these are classic classifications for combat styles and are clear to a wider audience. I also personally love being able to rely on my mind as the best weapon I have, Tactician ftw!

As for the game itself: this is one of the best WIPs I’ve ever played. The lighthearted writing breathes life into the characters and the premise of being a powerless hero has never been more appealing. The interactions and relationships develop naturally and the I actually feel like I’m playing a classic choose your own adventure story, but better.

The animal welfare scene with Mob was just perfect and my absolute favorite. It can be difficult to write about this topic without causing controversy, but you managed it without sugarcoating anything, it’s definitely worth bringing attention too as well. I can’t wait for the Beta test now, please keep up with your awesome!

@fox_vixen, I admit I never thought of that combo, partially because I didn’t know what a neko is. I think someone earlier mentioned a visual of a gigantic Godzilla-sized robot cat terrorizing a city. MEgggggga Caaatt

@everyone, I think the vote is now 7 to 6 with Ashlyn bumping the the first choice into the lead.

@AdamGoodtime, You can cut the tension with a moderately dull cutting instrument.

@Ashlyn1634, thanks! I wanted to go the lighthearted (but not outright silly) route because I’m not a big fan of stories that take themselves too seriously. And I’ve always thought some normal, almost mundane, moments help root a story and make it seem more realistic. I know a ton of folks loved the end credits scene of the Avengers with them eating the shawarma. It was a throwaway scene, but it confirmed what fans all wanted to see - hey they just hang out together and stuff! That is awesome!!

Anyway, that’s the kind of vibe I was going for.

First off, I think I might of found some errors:

  1. Mob glances around as if other Speck students are enthralled by your conversation. “Well, see in high school they talked me into playing on the football team. A few of my friends knew I was pretty strong, stronger than looked anyway, and they told the coach. So I was trying really hard to control my powers, but with so many people on the field, and all the people on the sidelines and the stands…” His voice trails off for a minute.

It currently says “stronger than looked anyway,” but I think you mean to say “stronger than I looked anyway,”.

  1. Over the next few study sessions, you practice more stealth techniques with Tress and Crook. Tress teaches you how to use social skills, including flattery and gossip, to gain information and spread misinformation to others. Crook teaches you how to move quietly and employ stealth to sneak up on others. (Your Shhh has increased by 1)

I am actually not sure if this is a bug or intentional behavior. When I played the Stunner and Dirty Girl (my two favorites btw) study group, it said I received both a POW and a ZAP point. Should I be getting a Shhh and a Hmmm point here? If it is intentional that is fine, I think it kind of makes sense as we were focusing more on stealth than awareness.

Second, I was looking forward to going on a date with Stunner (finally jaja) but even though he asked me out, I only had the option to watch Combat Wombat’s movie. From prior posts in the forum, I was under the impression that I should have instead had the date scene with Stunner.

Finally I just wanted to say how much I love the game, I love all the characters. My last play through I loved how Professor McCormick is soo lawyery about everything and the scene with Hijinx (who I will continuing seeing as Harlequin whether you like it or not XD) in the computer lab made me laugh. I look forward to trying to find out FB’s and Stunner’s secrets and I was wondering if you plan on letting the main character share their secret with certain people. I would be interested in seeing the consequences for doing that, whether it will help reaffirm the relationship or cause you problems with your secret getting out depending on who you tell.

For your question, if I had to choose, I would choose 1. I like the 3 unique classes. But I am wondering, do success in your classes depend on your stats? If so, Brawler and Stinger have an advantage in Breaking People & Things and Basics of Defense while Tactician only has an advantage during Secrets 101. For the other option and three classes: Sniper (or whatever you decide) and Detective have an advantage in Breaking People & Things and Secrets 101, while Bullet only has an advantage during Basics of Defense. While I personally don’t think balance is important (I think its fun to sometimes play with a little disadvantage), you mentioned earlier in the thread that balance was important to you (I think?) and that was one of the reasons why you want to cut down on the number of classes because it was getting unruly trying to keep it balanced.

One thing I don’t understand is why you don’t just get rid of the classes altogether. It seems like most encounters have more to do with equipment than stats (however, I could be wrong). Maybe it was my play style but I didn’t see many areas where you coded if hmmm is greater than x goto success, if less than x goto fail. I did notice however many times where I read how I was using my listening device or thermal imaging goggles gave me more information or helped me get through a challenge. So aren’t when you are writing the scenes more focused on the equipment than the stats. Why not just code it if haslisteningdevice goto success, else goto fail. That way when you write the scene you just have a small list of equipment that you can go over and think, will a listening device help in this situation? and go down the list, if the character doesn’t have the needed item (or you can have them choose which item they want to use for added difficulty if you want), they take the fail path.

I apologize if this came off offensively, I meant no offense. You obviously know your game, the code, and where you want it going better than anyone else. I just wanted to offer a potential devil’s advocate opinion. I am not a coder, whatever way you want to do it, I am sure its the best option.

@fox_vixen
Actually, I think my vision of Mega Cat is even better, since meganeko is a Japanese word that means “girl with glasses.”

Hey, Hornhead; I’m loving the new content. Here are some typos I found:


“The Fall of Liberty”),

light ning (should be lightning)

(formerly Smuthers Hall).

I think we need to speak more directly and honestly, and I might involved at the press conference to make sure that happens. (“might involved” should be “might get involved”

(teleportation, gliding, etc).

Your dumb phone hasn’t picked up the instant news alerts (“dumb phone” should be “dumbphone”

promise with yourself (should be “to yourself” I think.)

It’s pretty hard dispute his reasoning. I’m even stating to agree with him. (stating should be starting)

Hell girl, (Should be “Hell, girl,”

"Yeah I figured you’d say. (I think that’s “say that”)

(defined as “inherently deadly weapons” in the policy),

“Alight you two, stay in the circle. If you leave the circle, you lose. Ready…” (Alight should be “Alright”)

“I mean, just being objective about it, isn’t this a waste of our time?” (“about it,” should be “about it;”

“Ten she folds herself into a small paper cube only a few inches wide, as if retreating from the world.” (Ten should be “Then”)

As it turns out, Tress actually does calls the meeting to order. (should be “actually does call”)

I don’t care about Savior right now. I’m still fuming about his referring to Tress as a "lovely young lady. What professor does that? That’s so unprofessional! (there should be a closing quotation mark after lady.)

(Punctuation goes inside the parenthesis.) Also, a quatation mark goes on the beginning of each paragraph of dialogue, or whatever is being quoted. Like this:

"Bla Bla Bla.

"Bla bla bla.

“Bla bla bla.”

So that would be the case here:

"Classes are right around the corner! Since most of you don’t know your classmates, I thought I’d whip up a few study groups to make sure everyone has the support they need. And since you just finished competing against another team of students in Capture the Flag, I said to myself, Meg, why not team those students up? You can go from adversaries to best of friends just like that!

In case you forgot your teams, study groups are as follows: Teams A and C, Teams B and H, Teams D and F, and Teams E and G. Take advantage of the next few days and get to meet your classmates, especially your new study buddies!"

Also, the only time a quotation goes on the end of dialogue, is if it’s the end of the dialogue. So here, the second quotation would be deleted on the first paragraph:

“Look Tress, it comes down to these three things. One. The Contrarian bombed that burger place the day of Orientation! That’s not just some random coincidence. So we’re already involved whether you want to be or not.”

“Two. She’s attacked two places now and the police can’t find her. I mean, we’re not dealing with the FBI here. This is the Speck Police Department. They just aren’t equipped for this sort of thing. And three. If we don’t stop her soon, someone is going to be killed. And that’s not happening on my watch. You agree, don’t you, Urban Ghost?”

Also, this seems to be an error: “Winning first prize in both a high school district chess tournament and a regional special effects make-up challenge are extremely impressive achievements.” I thought we achieved only one of them?

Also, this is probably nitpicky, but I think the letter you read in the very beginning should be in quotation marks.

I laughed my ass off at that this hero name. xD “Mugger Slugger.”

Again, this is a little nitpicky, but you may consider making your choices complete sentences when possible, or at least capitalizing them. (It just makes it feel smoother in my opinion.)

I’ve probably already told you this, but Dean Tolly’s joke is easily the worst and best joke I’ve ever heard. So bad. xDDDD

I have a suggestion for the hero stats like hmm and whoosh: if they’re gauged with small numbers, could you give them names like “Basic, intermediate and advanced?”

“(dictated by not read) Dean Meg Tolly” I think something is missing there.

Also, this is just a general comment, but I think the fake_choices should be a little less obvious. I’ve grown to appreciate them more, but I think they could be implemented more smoothly.

Also, you may consider balancing a lot of the stat effects out, so there isn’t a “right” or “wrong” choice. (Like with many of the choices that effect your relationship with others; one knocks down your relationship, and another boosts it, so clearly one is “right” and the other is “wrong.” It would make it more engaging, in my opinion, if they also effected other attributes.)

Like, for example, how choosing to leave DG at the party drops your relationship with her. That definitely makes sense, but I think it should also slightly increase “hmm” or something.

“Only he doesn’t look like a little boy. He has the face of a seventy-year-old man with bulging eyes and a few wisps of hear escaping from his cap.” Just curious: is this meant to be progeria?

Lol, I wrote that right after I read it, then the next sentence said he had progeria. Ninja’d be the author. xD

“A pregnant pause follows.” This seems like a typo or something, but I may be wrong.

“This is God’s country.” That could be “God’s city” or something that reflects Speck more accurately.

“Mob nods appreciatively at you when you refuse to join in the laughter. The Hedonist arches his brow and then narrows his eyes at you. For the first time, you sense some hostility from your professor.” He’s so creepy! I vow to get him one day.

'“Okay soldiers, who wants to stay alive?”

Hands fly up. Even Stoic’s.

Downfall nods. “Well that was a softball question.”’ lololol

“Mystery creates fear. Protect your secrets. Relish the fear.” O.O he’s so creepy…I like it. xD

‘Origami grins and floats down to the grassy island. “This is going to be so fun! Ooooh! I think that cloud looks like Combat Wombat! It’s big and lumpy!”’ LOLOLOL

I ask Crook, “Why don’t you hit on someone your own age, like Dean Tolly?” OHHH! and I love how he actually takes it positively xD

"like a lifeguard on one of those cable television shows where the lifeguards run around in slow motion and still manage to save the day. " hehehe.

Also, I’m assuming you wanted to change all the notifications about your stat effects from numbers to words, so I thought I’d point out that when I talked to Mob after just joining the public relations team, it said “(%+ 10 relationship with Mob)”

Also, I think a good opportunity to effect your relationship with Tolly is when you go and meet with her about your grades.

"I’m putting my feet up and watching a science fiction movie called “Colonising Kepler 62e.” :smiley: thanks for the Easter egg.

@Samuel_H_Young I don’t think I’ve ever seen ‘dumbphone’ as a single word before. It’s an adjective, then a noun - ‘dumb’ and ‘phone’.

Also, about this statement:
Also, this seems to be an error: “Winning first prize in both a high school district chess tournament and a regional special effects make-up challenge are extremely impressive achievements.” I thought we achieved only one of them?

You achieve both. You just pick the one you’re most proud of (it’s a fake choice that does nothing).

@Othergrim
He calls it “dumbphone” all the other times. And iphones are called smartphones. I know what I’m talking about.

@HornHeadFan (gasp) you don’t know what a neko is!? Well basally its a anime or manga character that has a lot of cat characteristics but the most obvious is that they have cat ears and a tail

“And if we happen to run into that Contrarian, well she’d better give her heart to Jesus, cuz her ass is ours.”"

This. This is the most beautiful line ever written. I want to shower it with kisses. I want to worship it and offer it my soul. I want to hold on it while I sleep.

Nothing hurts anymore.

Link please?

LINKREMOVED

Here you go.

Whoops; I tagged you incorrectly, @OtherGrimm.

@trinnie, okay I tweaked some code I played through as a gay hero and flirted with no one other than Crook, and I received the correct text from DG, so that is fixed now.

@wire and everyone else mentioning they couldn’t access the Stunner date. It is fully accessible now. I just played through with no problem. The issue was just a misnamed variable.

@CabelleroDeAndromeda and anyone else saying they ran into an error on line 2031 on the Uni “what to do about Contrarian” group trip to the school? Is that working okay now that I’ve put in a real *choice for when Stoic pushes her way into the school?

@ceecrab, I’ve fixed all the typos and I even added a “lead Hedonist on and then diss him” option in his “assessment” scene. I’m working on adding tougher choices to the story and plan to add a consequence of some sort for MCs who choose to make out with him to get an A. I also want to factor in the previous two or three interactions with him when it comes to your grade, so that hopefully the final product of CCH has Hedonist “adjusting” your grade a bit depending on whether you have publicly agreed with all his statements and assertions in class (of course that requires you to laugh at Mob and something else that I’ll add)

Hey. xDDD