Same. I try to do something. Last few days it’s just been small design work as I was too sick to honestly get myself in a writing headspace where whatever I produced wouldn’t be shit.
As I continue to work on development and specifically the writing, I’m making strategic choices for where to ‘cut’ so to speak. While the personality type system will still be in place in a pseudo-backend iteration, I’m choosing to create three personality paths.
Gentle, Sarcastic, and Serious.
Choices in dialogue that you make will ultimately add points to each of these three categories. The dominant category is what will be triggered in conversations for how other characters may interact with you.
I’ve settled on this tri-path because I want to ensure that I can hone my resources into producing good writing instead of trying tto hammer out 10-20 variations for different scenes which would be far more scope than I want and that’s saying something given how scope-creeped to hell we are.
I wanted to take a moment and ask how you feel about this change in approach via poll, as well as how you felt about the writing in the example I provided in the previous post. I will repost that example below in a dropdown - and it’s specifically tied to an answer the player chooses from the ‘sarcastic’ path.
Minor Spoiler (Sarcastic Path)
His grin widens, though it’s seasoned with a sharp, knowing edge. Leaning back, he lets out a gruff laugh as his arms cross over his chest.
“Make a living, eh? That’s a dangerous ambition in a place usually trying to kill ya,” he says, chuckling. He tilts his head toward a vacant anvil tucked into a corner, its surface unusually clean compared to the oily workstations around it. “Well, luck’s on your side, such as it is. A trial spot opened up just last month. Runt we had in here before couldn’t quite time his breathing with the exhaust. Poor sod’s lungs turned to glass before he could even finish his first dagger. Shame, really, kid had a decent swing.”
Your eyebrows shoot up. “Glass lungs. Lovely,” you repeat, eyeing the ashen air with a sudden, sharp distrust. “Suppose I’ll just try and hold my breath. Wouldn’t want to drop dead on the floor and make a mess of your shop.”
Kaelen just snorts, amused by the sarcasm. “Pay can be good if you bust your arse, but it comes at a price. Keeps the weak from clogging up production.” He picks up a pair of heavy tongs, turning them over in his hand like he’s weighing your worth. “We don’t just hand out hammers to anyone with a pulse. Everyone here flies under the banner of the Guild of the Forge. Most walking in for a job have a sealed recommendation, but I like to test for skill on occasion.”
His voice drops an octave as he steps into your space, the smell of burnt hair and sweat clinging to him. “So, tell me true before you waste my time. You ever held a hammer for more than a minute, or are you hoping that lady luck does all the heavy lifting for ya?”
- I love the writing, and it’s clear that it’s a more sarcastic/banter-like path.
- I think it’s solid, but it could definitely use some room for improvement.
- I’m pretty neutral on it, overall.
- Honestly? I’m not feeling it that much, and I think you could do much better.
- Hate it. Hate it. HATE IT.
Poll 2, on the change in style to focus on the three paths (gentle, sarcastic, and serious).
- I think this change is an excellent idea, and it’ll allow you to focus your writing-resources.
- It’s an okay change, though you could’ve widened the scope more.
- I’m pretty neutral overall. Not one way or the other.
- I’m not feeling the change, honestly. This feels like a mistake.
- Screw the 4th option. This IS a mistake.
