Thanks for building a great game and story.
So many great moments, it’s one of my favorite stories in a long time. Great balance with understandable meterics, I always felt like I knew what would play to my strengths. I appreciated decisions felt like they have weight and matter through the game.
I played it through a couple times and thought I’d share notes if it helped at this stage.
- Great opening and pace for the opening chapters. Felt world building and character development.
- Love how individual relationships are developed and little asides are called back later on (Sang showing knots and than good in the Eye island approach in that spot). When it’s done, it’s so good.
- I chose no RO option. Izzy and Ailsing seemed destined for a couple. But after their kiss, that seemed a forgotten line. Gender choosing for other characters might open for stories for more people.
- Iosmher (Cine Captain that defected) seemed forgotten in the final battle. I expected to face them and have the drama of Cine on Cine fighting. Could they be more of a foil for a potential chief rival during the story?
- I killed the Captain in the first fight and then fought the sister to the death. This was never mentioned again and it felt missed. Didn’t seem to increase the Isom. fear of me or be mentioned again.
- Stats seemed low outside personal 2-5 ones. Friendship was often low and the Dip/Intmi/Int were all slow to raise. I appreciated I rarely seemed to misunderstand what you were testing. I just wasn’t sure what would raise them to higher levels. However, I also never felt trapped. Best example was losing the fight but still stopping the raid for being a leader in the right way.
- Some things seemed to matter and some didn’t. Pan and the night rafting event seemed to matter quite a bit in the end. But I brought the bandit back and it seemed to forgotten in the final battle. Just seemed uneven but that could also just be your authors choice in it all. If the bandit ended up helping Sag in the final battles, that would be a nice moment.
- (Sided with Empire) The general was a great character but they allow you to lead the final assault which makes no sense. Maybe have them lead another attack and they can get Sang the ability to make deals on their behalf. Their character was so strong and for the whole temple battle, I couldn’t understand why they would play 2nd fiddle in their own city.
Hope these are helpful. Overall, really great world and story. Thank you so much for building and sharing!