2502

I mean, Manerkol is always going to be one of those very divided ROs. I enjoy him, in his toxicity and all, but that is because there is a space for enjoyment of him. Obviously I would never want to date a man like Manerkol in real life. I don’t think he is a ‘popular’ RO though to be sure, moreso split.

However, there is an appeal to someone who is unbelievably more powerful, older, and also confusingly to them interested in you. I think that Manerkol could be more interesting though if we got to understand why he hates dragons so much before the end of the second book. (As I recall he just never fully explains that? Why does he want to massacre the dragons?) Like, he shifts to me between being comically evil and also having a glimmer deep in the void that is his heart of something deeper? Though maybe that is just the optimism talking.

4 Likes
2503

Manerkol in theory is all a villain lover could ask for (powerful, sexy, powerful and sexy), but sadly he falls terribly flat because ?? Does he even have anything going for him? He just stands there. What are his motivations and what’s the point? I don’t know if he’s popular tho. I see people gush about the other ros more.

4 Likes
2504

I think Menerkol fits a certain conquerer/king ruler cliche. A dominant lead, usually intimidating, who forces an arranged marriage (or concubinage, or a soulmate bond I guess) on the protagonist. I wonder how that would fare in IF space - romance genre had a lot of fun with it, swapping roles and dynamics.

But I get the impression, from this thread at least, that it would be very… split :joy:

2505

(Looks at thread. Damn what happened here?)

I do like Manerkol but he is a bit… I don’t want to say boring but he really is just sort of there. We don’t really know anything about the guy.

(Also, what’s the deal with werewolves and vampires in the game, I don’t remember anything about them because they really weren’t talked about that much.)

I feel like maybe he could have showed up a bit more in the second book? Idk, I gotta read Soul Stone Wars, it’s been a while.

5 Likes
2506

I mean he was more or less locked to dream sequences, and you meet him for brief moments. Other than that he is pining for you but in a shallow “you are far beneath me and more like a pet” way than anything else. At least, that was the impression I had.

I am curious how Manerkol will pan out in the long run, since from what I read of the new demo… It seems that he is slowly developing a respect for you, even if he is enraged at your betrayal. He is slowly learning to see you as more of an equal, I believe. I hope that the author lets him… Be a person. You know? Like, let him be the evil tyrant but also let us see what his aspirations are and why he believes brutality and war.

4 Likes
2507

Exactly!

1 Like
2509

Book two has an optional side story where it’s revealed that Manerkol was groomed to be a sex slave to a dragon god before he became a warmongering tyrant, but it doesn’t really go into too much detail other than just that.

But what about powerfully sexy or sexily powerful?

2510

I feel like that’s the sort of thing that should be mentioned in the story and not included as a separate purchase because that’s never revealed at all. Like, I had no idea that happened to him until I read your comment.

9 Likes
2511

Thank you! That is entirely intentional, I worked hard as hell at making Ortega not perfect! I get so happy every time someone goes “actually, what an asshole…”

43 Likes
2512

It’s available with the rest of the story, you don’t have to purchase it separately, but you do have to read it separately from the main story - you have to select it from the main menu when you first load up the game, and there’s no choices, it’s just a couple pages of background lore and then it’s over. There’s stories for Manerkol, Daelynn and Eledwen, I believe.

Daelynn’s story is largely about how the elves think dragons are cool and humans are dumb for not liking them.

Eledwen’s story is about how she’s constantly on the run because of who she is, and it makes her sad that people can’t just accept her and not be so afraid.

And yeah, past that, literally nothing else about it has come up in the actual narrative.

Oh, whoops, well, my bad, then. Admittedly, I haven’t played the second one in a while, so I forgot about having to spend an extra dollar for the side stories, I thought I just had them from the get-go.

1 Like
2513

Reading all this hate on Seven, my first reaction was "You guys don’t like Seven - but she’s one of my favourite character in all of … Oh wait - not Seven of Nine from Star Trek. Nevermind :man_facepalming:

I speak up. In the Defiled thread they know I want to stab Marcus in the face for killing the MC’s family. I just get shouted down because apparently killing your family makes him prime RO material.

You crack a coconut with a hammer? I use a machete. In a pinch I’ve found the blunt edge of a cleaver works too.

Not an IF, but I really did like Rosa from Brooklyn 99

4 Likes
2514

hides as a Marcus-romancer haha but in all honesty I can see why people don’t like him. He’s arrogant and rude and a murd*rer and a lot of mc’s want revenge for their family.

I don’t hate her, but I just find tinsae kind of boring as a RO but I understand the appeal of a sweet gentle RO.

I kinda forgive some things that Marcus does as with the Ancient Rome setting and his position lol but idk maybe I’m bias. Either way like I said, he can be an assh*le haha

14 Likes
2515

I hope your Seven is better :+1: I think the name “Seven” will probably always trigger me and remind of that disgusting bastard…

At least he’s a funny asshole! More than once, Marcus made me first stare blankly at the text for a moment and then burst out laughing. And it felt good. Totally different from toxic assholes like Seven.

10 Likes
2516

Whilst it might be era-appropriate for Marcus to act the way he does, that doesn’t mean we have to like him. He did what he did, and deserves to die because of it. In the most embarrassing way possible, hence why I repeat he needs to be stabbed in the face.

15 Likes
2517

I don’t know anything about Marcus or that game, but I wish people wouldn’t get so defensive over their boo they pile up against different opinions. It’s fine to like/dislike different things, (wouldn’t it be boring otherwise?), but sadly some people live and breathe on the internet just to argue. :skull_and_crossbones:
Like personal example: I like Leon for xyz reasons, but not only I understand why people fucking hate him, I would never shout at someone to defend his nonexistent fictional honor. :sob:
Fiction is escapism, so I understand why people get overly attached, but it’s slowly turning into “no criticism against my boo, or even the slightest unflattering word, because imma take that personally” and uhhh don’t want to repeat the cycle, but bestie that’s not healthy. Turn off the computer, my friend.

21 Likes
2518

But I do, I have the game, I bought it when it first game out but the side stories I have to buy for like, a dollar.

1 Like
2519

Well I agree with everything you said above , I heavily disagree with this, the Night Market Author absolutely should have made a book. And I stand by that. That shouldn’t be seen as an insult, the world and characters she has created have a lot of depth and motivations, I would have loved to read it as a book. Just take the main character out and replace them with Malcolm.

The only thing the main character participates in is the romance and those are lackluster due to the blandness of the main character.

And as someone thats pretty lenient with just about everything when it comes towards IF and other creative mediums , all I ask is to make it interesting and engaging in one way or another. As such the only thing I won’t let slide is a boring and blank main character.

All of Hideo Kojima main characters are compelling and engaging. Even with the lack of choice I want see what happens to Solid Snake, Raiden, and Sam. I love being and playing them because Hideo able to lock my eyes on them.

I don’t know why asking for a main character with some drive is ludicrous.

40 Likes
2520

Yesss I agree with all of this

2521

I’ve been replaying some of the older stories on the Choices app, specifically book 1 of the Freshman, I remember why I hadn’t read it in years, it railroads the MC into being into Chris no matter what, can never say she’s not interested & automatically acts sad if you don’t take romantic choices with him.

I’m glad the series got better from book 2 onwards.

3 Likes
2522

Idk bout y’all but i seem to have developed a special dislike for that arrogant Royal Intelligence RO from the Infinity Series,I mean sure…you gotta do what you gotta do to keep your identity secret and be a patriot for your home and all that but gaddem …is some humility just too much to ask for?

2 Likes