Wait …Is the stuck in puppet route already in the current demo(s)?? I’m trying everything and can’t seem to trigger it.
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Nope
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When you say that, do you mean for specific end states at the end of Retribution?
Until I’ve tried it myself¹, I’m not completely sure this is the method, but I think it is dependent on a couple different factors. Going to hide this because this relates to choices at the end of Retribution.
What I suspect is going on:
The end of Retribution is a little twist-y, but from what I have guessed there are two major choices that flavor how things go.
The first factor (pretty obvious for everyone here) is who you’re in at the time of the crash. This one determines who needs to be in medical care. Crashing as Step is the only way to put Step in this situation.
The second seems to be the “fun house mirrors”… Because I’ve had a playthrough recently where I crashed as the puppet, then picked Step in the mirror this may be why I was Step at the end, rather than the puppet.
I’m just guessing, but what you do with the second choice may have more far-reaching consequences than just who you end as, since there’s a third choice there after puppet and Step, and I definitely haven’t tried that one, yet. It may just be a coin flip between the two, though.
¹I took a long-ish break from Fallen Hero to refresh for a good, immersing read of Retribution.
Edit: And I’ve just realized that I should definitely be resting. Leaving this here anyway in case anyone actually does need this info. 
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It probably has some effect, yes, but it’s definitely not the only deciding factor.
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Not exactly, it’s rather the opposite.
You only end up stuck in the puppet if you feel more comfortable in their body rather than in your original one (or more specifically if the pcv variable is > 50). So, if you choose to break the mirror where Step is, it gives a boost (+30) to said variable. What in theory should help you end up stuck in the puppet, but depending on how uncomfortable Step felt while using the puppet’s body (or if they see them more as a tool than anything else) you would still be Sidestep in the end.
It’s the same if you choose the mirror with the puppet, only that it decreases your level of comfort instead and increases your chances of staying in your original body.
The third one depends. It will either close a gate (if you opened at least one of them) or decrease your scar level if you didn’t.
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That does make sense. It’s also in character to end up staying as Step in my MC’s case: he’s not too fond of himself (current rival), but also somewhere between uncomfortable-to-neutral about his puppet mask, so it must’ve been really close on the backend of things. 
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What is a gates? How do I open them? Thanks in advance
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Gates are hidden stat that started in Retribution and they are blocking something in Sidestep mind. They open in respond to telepathic trauma. Here is all the ways to unlock them in Retribution though if you unlock more then 8 or more it gets set back to 7 along with giving you an achievement for nearly driving Sidestep even more insane 
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You toss the glass aside, it bounces off the couch but doesn’t break. The carpet is too soft.
For some reason, that annoys you even more.
Idky but this makes me chuckle out loud. I think it reminds me of how, when something bad happens and then everything ruins your day afterwards. Even small things that quite frankly shouldn’t cause you such frustration.
Like being annoyed because the softness of the carpet, ruined your chance to break something is silly.
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Oh yeah, so I ended up playing the stuck in puppet route last night…I hate it. Lol I don’t think it even crossed my mind of what that would entail- so when it happened, it left me siiickk lmao.
POTENTIAL SPOILERS
I didn’t realize Our character, Sidestep, would still wake up as well. I assumed it only happened with the puppet. The situation left me sitting there like “ohhh, I don’t think I like this” because I can’t even fathom what that would mean for MC and whoever they were romancing in our body. Like, will the new Sidestep continue playing the part, being in a relationship with our RO? or Will they not be interested? Which will be quite sudden, likely heartbreaking and confusing for the RO?
I also thought about how MC would get their body back, IF they wanted it. That would mean we’d probs have to tell/convince the rangers or at least whoever our RO was (excluding the Mortum route we kinda already know they’d believe us) that, not only, is the puppet actually the MC, but MC is what…being taken over by our puppet? Which would then raise the question “why were you controlling a random comatose body”, which would then lead to us having to utterly shatter our friends/RO even more because, now, we have to come out as the Villain; i’m betting that’d be 1000x worse for us coldblooded killer players.
My main issue that I have and didn’t think about with this route is, will the “new” Sidestep continue their reign of villainy, now, making us nothing but a Sidekick? Or will the Puppet MC get the chance to become their own Villian (if they want)? OR Will new Sidestep come after us in revenge (if it is what i’m assuming the mind of the puppet)?
I played the Killer Hero Hunter Villain, so my take is leaning towards all the possible what ifs for that route and none of the ones i’m thinking of are good, and not at all what I want. But maybe i’ll end up surprised lol. I mostly just don’t want to become a Sidekick to our Villain persona nor do I want Herald with a Sidestep that is not Sidestep. 
I’m just assuming everything- but in the end, I truly don’t know what problems this route will bring and it makes me uneasy.
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I love it. It’s exciting that MC will be NPC for a while… I mean, not literally them but their body controlled by Someone. I can’t wait to see what happens.
Some things I noticed about Impostor. These are minor things and don’t explain much, but
Summary
#1 they mentioned that there is a lot to do (or something like that), so apparently they have some plan, they’re up to something.
#2 They are not surprised when they receive a text message from Ortega. There is a sigh, which probably means impatience like “what do they want again?” So this person recognizes Ortega. Maybe they could successfully play Sidestep.
#3 They want to talk to MC or just get them. There was one ending where it looked like Impostor was trying to telepathically control PuppetMC. Or maybe it was just a 'puppet’s fear? Idk.
Overall, they make a rather disturbing impression. Those sharp smiles…
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“They’re up to something” Sighhh and that’s what worries me lol. What the heck are they about to do?! It’s like I want to be excited but I’m nervous. The anticipation of what is coming, is killing me.
I hate it so much, But i’m still going to give it a try. Because I too, am honestly curious to see what happens. Things are getting interesting.
Do you think there’s going to be some sort of crazy plot-twist? For some reason I have that feeling.
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At least this case will be explained in B3 and it will be possible to get the body back…
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Oh I would be hunting them down for sport if they ever think about doing this lol but I think it would make sense depending on what exactly their plan is (and they certainly could find a way to use this to their advantage, especially if they could use Step’s powers)
This makes me curious to see if the ROs would notice something is wrong and how long it would take (or if they would believe us if we told them). In my Step’s case, Ortega and Steel are paranoid enough that they would probably notice that something seems off… Unless the imposter is really good at impersonating, which would complicate things further.
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Daniel would probably notice the details, he is perceptive, but I don’t think he would have some crazy theories.
Ortega is the problem 
Maybe it will be in Impostor’s best interest to assure the Rangers that everything is OK and continue the charade. I hope.
I don’t think my MC would want to convince the Rangers that it’s really them in other body. As @Shenice said it would reveal ugly secrets.
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I wonder if a ruthless Puppetstep would be petty enough to consider sending the Special Directive against the imposter. Obviously it is not a viable solution for a myriad of reasons.
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The SD is definitely wondering how Book 1 Sidestep got their number in order to tip them off to Psychopathor’s location. A “second” mystery caller would raise even more alarms…
But Sidestep doing that has precedent.
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Right, there’s this as well. Though for my MC it wouldn’t be that much of a problem, I think? He never killed anyone and mostly just steals things. And if they can’t deal with this then I think it would be better for him to try to resolve this mess on his own (it’s worth a shot, though)
But still Ortega and Herald are making a great drama that you are a criminal xd
Oh no, I can hear the arguments already (they could certainly learn one or two things with Argent and Chen, that’s for sure lol)
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But still Ortega and Herald are making a great drama that you are a criminal xd
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Ortega is just bitter you’re stealing something other than their heart.
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Part of me wants a scene where Ortega tries to argue with a thiefstep only for them to reveal that they have already secretly cleared Ortega from their debt.
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