Just a note that it can often be a headache swapping out characters in a scene. I only had one scene in Kiss from Death where you could choose different characters and programming it was a fever dream. I’m still in that hotel room hallucinating lines of code vividly.
3 Likes
I have quickly become well aware of how annoying it can be! Variables have helped but there are a lot of moving pieces and dialogue that change just in the first few choices based on your political party, Vice President, Cabinet, etc.
Certainly a headache but hopefully it’ll pay off in the end.
Me again, finally decided that I wanna write that fic I talked about a few weeks ago, If I Had a Heart, spent some time working on r/os and a plot, think I’m good with what I’ve got planned for rn.
SUMMARY
You were shot in the heart by an arrow, but thanks to that necklace you can’t seem to get off, you lived. Now your head is the prison of a god who was thought to have disappeared and they’re killing you, taking over and rewriting your mind until you’re gone and they’re all that’s left. You’ve only got one chance to live; find the Norn and change your fate.
SETTING(S)
Prologue, chapters one, two and a bit of three all take place in Norway, 8th century. Not gonna state a specific year because I’ll probably end up forgetting lol. Majority of the fic takes place in England, no specific kingdom. Planned side stories take you to Ireland and Vinland. You get to choose where you live the rest of your days in the good endings. Fic takes place over the span of three years.
ROMANCE OPTIONS
Odd Sokolfsson, the seer. M, 26, bisexual
Lives up to his name, that’s for sure. He said he was gifted with seidr at birth by Loki, which allowed him to see the future. Whether or not he can, there’s definitely something magical about him. 5’6”, dusty blonde hair, ice green eyes, freckled skin.
Loki Laufeyson, the prisoner in your mind. GF, 100+, pansexual
They were thought to have disappeared years ago, but instead they were imprisoned in your necklace. The moment you got shot with that arrow, they were released, saving your life - only for them to be imprisoned within your mind. 6’0”, ginger, green eyes, pale skin. (They switch between male and female, but you can choose whether they stick as one or let them keep switching. They’ll use he/she pronouns exclusively depending on what you chose.)
Frida Katladottir, the warmaiden. F, 29, heterosexual
A fierce woman, through and through. Odd told her her future which saved her life, so now she serves him as a guard of sorts. She is loyal, protective and a spitfire. 6’4”, ashy blonde hair, stormy gray eyes, rosy skin.
Ymir Styrdottir, the jarl’s daughter. F, 22, homosexual
A soft spoken girl who longs for adventure, but can’t even go past her village’s gates, thanks to her father. 5’4”, mousy brown hair, light blue eyes, olive skin.
Aedwulf/Alkelda/Aud, the saxon poet. M/F/NB, 27, pansexual
An angelo-saxon with a sharp tongue, a bow on one shoulder and a lute on the other. There’s nothing they love more than teasing you on your vikingness (or lack of it). 5’8”, Black hair, muddy brown eyes, almond skin.
Ubba Ragnarrson, the war chief. M, 31, homosexual
A gentle giant with a bloody and violent facade. He leads the Great Heathen Army, alongside his elder brothers Halfdan and Ivarr. 6”6’, inky black hair, green eyes, tanned skin.
Ivarr Ragnarrson, the king killer. M, 36, bisexual
A loud, firey and crazed man with a dream: to be the best viking to ever live. He’ll do whatever it takes to be remembered, even if it means leaving a trail of bodies behind him. 6’1”, salt and pepper hair, blue eyes, tanned skin.
Tufi/Thyri, the reincarnation. M/F, 30, heterosexual
The reincarnation of the god Freyja/Freyr, nearly a hundred years after Ragnorok. They’re sweet and gentle, though Loki senses something greater to them. 5’8”, auburn hair, brown eyes, chestnut skin.
Heidi O’Woulfe, the Irish flower. F, 25, bisexual
The steward of a king you meet in Ireland. She is feisty, hard-headed and has a special connection to nature. 5’2”, fiery red hair, amber eyes, rosy skin. (only available if you go to Ireland during one of the side stories)
POLY ROUTES
- Odd x Frida
- Frida x Aedwulf
- Frida x Tufi
- Ymir x Alkelda
- Ymir x Heidi
- Ubba x Odd
OTHER IMPORTANT CHARACTERS
- Sven (m, unknown) - the nomad who raised you
- TBA
FEATURES
- detailed character creation (hair, eyes, skin markings, scars, body shape, facial features, body features, war paint style + color)
- customize a pet, choosing between a dog, cat, bird and a fox, each having their own special abilities
- have serious heart-to-hearts with the voice (god) in your head
- let that same god take over your body for a few nights, despite the risks
- have one-off flings with unique characters (including a haughty norse poet and one of Ubba’s ex lovers)
- fight Fenrir, with or without Loki
- save the world, or focus on saving yourself
- die a hero, remove your connection with Loki and live, or let them take over your body
have lots written, mostly the prologue, and introduction scenes for the r/os, as well as other scenes for them. ngl it’ll probbaly take some time for a demo to come out, i’m a slow writer lol. gotta set up the tumblr too. anywhoozies, that’s it for now
34 Likes
The beginning of a great story.
I have to say, I just love Norse mythology. I am looking forward to seeing your story. I know this is a work of fiction, but I truly hope you will stay, at least somewhat, true to ecisting Norse mythology. I don’t have a problem with some story telling liberties being taken, but the Norse mythos is sich a rich and diverse source, I juzt want to see justice done to it. Good luck with with your saga, Skald.
Quick progress update for my WIP Presidential Sim Game!
After seeing the below comment by Valixon, I did a bit of digging and found another Presidential Simulation game titled “The Oval Office” by @Spyder.
That game can be found here if anyone’s interested in checking out their work:
Incidentally, we both quoted President Lyndon B. Johnson in our prologues!
Obviously, these two names “In The Oval” and “The Oval Office”, at least in my opinion, are far too similar. So, because of that, I’ve decided to take up the new working title: “The People’s House”!
I wanted to provide a quick update and thank everyone who has shown support and sent warm wishes and suggestions! (Especially @11110 who has given a lot of incredible suggestions on how to improve the involvement of the Judicial Branch later in the game).
Progress has been coming along really well, and I’m now at just over 10,000 words (!), only being at about 1,500 a few days ago. I’ve been able to go back and flesh out the opening prologue to the story much more so it feels less like a Q & A and more like a real introduction to the character you create.
Ideally, my next update will be with a demo released. I can’t say for sure exactly how long it will take as I don’t want to rush my writing and compromise quality to release a demo faster. In any event, thank you all again! Hopefully, there’ll be a functioning demo released in a week’s time.
12 Likes
I don’t know if anyone would like the idea, but I decided to write anyway. More news and future demo can be found here.
My Idea
Cut the Cord (working title, WIP)
Cut the Cord is a work-in-progress interactive science fantasy novel by Sparrow Agnello. Based on this idea.
Blurb:
On my eighteenth birthday I ran away from home. Why? Because my magic had awakened, and I had to register as a bearer of magic. But this is only the first reason. The second reason is that the people who I thought were my parents all my life turned out to be my uncle and aunt. I went to the capital to find out the truth, but who knew that in doing so I would become involved in political games.
3 Likes
What do you think about a book not telling you stats until the ending? Like, there’s secret variables that change with your choice but you have no idea other than “Hmm, this option sounds like x”. In the epilogue, it’s explained why you got the ending.
1 Like
Genre(s): Dark Fantasy, Horror, Romance, Antique Fantasy
Summary:
Every child accepted into patrician family struggles with burden of expectations. You might carry your father’s name and his blood flows through you veins…
Or does it? Perhaps your bloodline has been blessed - you wield a strange godlike power. And as far as anyone can see - it’s out of control.
On a recommendation from an enigmatic guest you’ve been quickly confined to a life in a temple of Janus Quirinus, on Ilva, where the attendants of the temple and augurs dedicate their lives to the scholarly pursuits and upkeep.
As you grow and learn, a student and a test subject you uncover the secrets of your bloodline and make your first terrible mistake. You will soon be forced to travel to reach the capital once again while your father’s ambitious nature causes trouble.
- Learn alchemy and discover the secrets of your bloodline.
- Converse with creatures beyond your understanding. Anger creatures beyond your understanding.
- Seek answers.
- Customize your MC’s name, personality, gender, appearance, skills
and their fatal flaw. - Form friendships, rivalries and more.
RO's
Larkspur | (gender-selectable) | Blessed by Flora |
A quiet person, with eyes full of secret mischief. They pulled you in trouble as a child and perhaps they’ll pull you in trouble as an adult. They’ve been with you since the beginning, raised in the same temple as you and assisted you in many trials - it’s up to you to decide what kind of relationship you have with them.
Caelia Tertia | F | Domina Incognito
Mysterious, knowledgeable and yet awkward about things such as titles, decorum or what’s considered a proper taste. For starters, she prefers raw meat to figs. She wears her hair down. She sometimes wields a longsword. She introduced herself as a Domina , and with the air of authority she carries and her perfect latin it seems to be true but who is she, really?
Rubens | M | The Freedman Bodyguard
Caelia’s only servant and bodyguard. Rubens will be the first to tell you he’s here because he wants to be - even though he can barely look at his employer without open hatred. He doesn’t seem to care for anything but his goal - but what is his goal?
??? | (gender-selectable)
Perhaps a friend? Perhaps a foe. They are eager to tell you that they need you. Can you trust them?
Shiny (nameable) | M | Crow Companion
He was once a young soldier revelling in trickery and slaughter. Now he’s cursed to be a crow. He wryly remarks that the one who cursed him made sure his punishment was appropriately ironic.
Have to say the research side of this is kicking my ass 
The setting is fantasy but very close to Imperial Rome - I’m not eager to call it ‘low fantasy’ just yet. I will include a codex, as well as a journal in stat menu, don’t worry I’m not just going to drown you guys in setting specific terms and leave you googling 
35 Likes
It’s got a Tumblr now 
Now about my progress: I have enough material for 4 chapters, it’s all in rough drafts. I’ll manage to get Prologue + Chapter 1 this month I think. Coding the journal and influence system will probably be the biggest challenge, it’s going to be very lean on stat checks for now but I want to establish a system.
The influence system will be a way for companions to change their behaviour, learn different lessons (within reason ofc, we ain’t Bioware but we also kinda taking the inspiration) independent of having a high relationship with someone. That might also extend to non-companion characters, though it’ll be way more shallow.
Journal will serve to keep track of what your characters learns and it will store hints. You might need those hints later, but I won’t lock any dialogue options - the only ones locked will be locked behind a stat check. I’ll have to include cheats in the final I think I’d have RNG but choicescript doesn’t seem to be able to do random + 10 for example. Unless I’d do rand + a stat check and an if but that sounds too experimental for my blood.
Alright, that’s about it - I hope I’m not spamming this thread See you guys later!
4 Likes
This is an idea for anyone that can actually write one of these things, but yall know the Maleficent movie that Angelina Jolie is in. Well do what you want with it i just what Maleficent as a RO and war
6 Likes
I’ve posted many times here, none of them happened and I lost interest. But this one, Chapter 1 is like 20% done. I feel confident I’ll at least release the Chapter 1 on WIP section. In fact, I think I’ll release it on Hosted Games (assuming CoG accepts it) even if literally no one shows interest. Without further ado, let’s see if it’s interesting or not.
Name: Fantasy of a Hero (Spoilers: Hero is not you)
Genre: Utopia, Dystopia (I know those two contradicts each other, please bear with me), Sci-Fi.
Summary: Humanity were able to create the ultimate AI, Chairman. He led humanity to an utopia where every single issue of humanity were fixed and found ways to terraform planets for human life. It sounds and feels like a dream, until an event changes your life. Hopkins (surname), your character, is the pretty much chosen one. They excel on everything they do and join the Alpha Team, best of the best that Chairman Law Forces can offer. They go to missions that everyone else thinks it’s certain doom and succeed.
It feels… too good to be true actually. What will happen when your chosen one learns the truth? Will they change the course of the future, or decide current order of things is fine? Who knows, maybe they will do something stupid or anger the wrong person and get a bad ending instead.
- I think it’s pretty much standart here and should go without saying, but you can choose gender and sexuality of MC
- A secret (unless you do some reverse engineering) stats system where you don’t know which ending you’ll get.
- A book that will try to interact with the person who’s playing it.
- A “chosen one” who can fail actually. I am a man of extremes, so both success and failure will have extreme consequences.
- Romance too, I guess.
I never dated before so it’s probably going to suck or have unrealistic elements. - A book that mixes reliable and unreliable narration so you’re never sure what’s right.
- A Chapter 2 that changes depends on your class, yes, I plan to write 3 different chapters for 3 different class you can get.
Currently 2 romance is coded, which at this point used for determining sexuality of MC but will have their usage and endings at the end. Their personality is not decided as of now.
Amy: Your school crush if you like women, imagine the most beatiful woman ever for you. It’s her. She will be a governor of some sorts.
Chris: Same as Amy but for people who like men. He will be an actor.
A non-binary option: Their name could spoiler stuff so not saying it, they will be available near the end of book and if you romance them it’ll override the ending you’ll get.
Your roommate: They will be available only if you prefer same or both sex relationships, it is a “secret” relationship as place you stay forbids romance of all kind. They… have their own reasons.
I think adding more options, but as of now it’s four. Let’s talk about classes!
Commando
This brute employs a direct approach. They can blow stuff up, use heavy weaponry to annihilate everything in their path, even use a tank! Or, they will just use their fists. In any case, they’re your person if you want a fight.
Saboteur
Even though they’re seen as support to Commandos, they’re actually have their own purpose. They might not use a tank, or kill a target in front of thousands of people without being seen, but they can collapse entire organizations. Be it hacking a private database, or simply rigging a bomb to enemy’s armoury. If you need a group and organization to go away without bloodshed, they’re your person.
Assassin
Sometimes brute force will not be enough. Sometimes you need to cure the disease from source instead of fighting it’s symptons. Assassins are specialized in infiltirations and… well killing. Some organizations are too dependent on their leader and/or high ranked memebers, Assassins will silently eliminate them like a master surgeon.
Sorry for taking your time, really.
19 Likes
G-Man, don’t ever apologize for your story or ideas! It sounds like a really fun concept.
Writers do this all the time. Rough drafts and drafts that never see the light of day allow you to practice writing and maybe some ChoiceScript… important skills to have! Write for yourself! If you think it’s a fun story, more than likely, someone else will as well. (Like me.)
I personally love stories that deal with AI and our future. (Will AI make humanity’s future bleak? Will artificial intelligence remind humanity that they are human (compared to being Gods)? Will AI outlive and outsmart its creators? Many possibilities and the list goes on and on.) I love that even in this concept, you have brought in some nods to this. So, there is an interest from at least one person.
2 Likes
I think your yelling courtroom game sounds like a lot of fun!
Hosted Games has published puzzle games before - in fact, most of their early games were puzzle games, and some of them still hold up pretty well.
5 Likes
Honestly, if most other people started a WIP with this premise, it wouldn’t excite me too much, but your execution so far is fantastic. The three languages contrast each other in really interesting ways, and I liked the challenge of picking through the options and trying to influence everyone the way I wanted. Looking forward to more of this!
2 Likes
It’s time for another progress update for my WIP Presidential Sim, The People’s House!
In my last update, about eight days ago, I brought up my hopes to deliver a functioning demo by around this time. Unfortunately, it will take another few days to release a demo.
This first chapter has proved to be very coding-heavy as I wanted to provide the player with as many choices as possible to shape their Presidential Administrations including their spouse, Vice President, Cabinet, and even their relationship with big business. I’m also working on code to allow you to choose actual policies to implement in terms of legislation and Executive Orders! All with their own impact on your approval rating, your relationship with each party, and with consequences later down the road.
While I’m very excited about the progress so far, as a first-time Choicescript author, I’m running into a lot of bugs as I begin to test out the code I’ve written so far. Still, I’ve been hammering out a lot of these bugs (thank God for the Choicescript forums!) and am getting closer to being able to release the first Chapter (roughly 15,000 - 20,000 words) as a demo!
This is proving to be an incredibly exciting and fulfilling experience, and I hope that my short posts will help to prove to anyone else looking to author a book with Choicescript that anyone can do it!
Thank you all for your support and kind messages,
R. F.
16 Likes
I am looking forward.
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can I get some help to produce simple world building, plots, and features?
like most of you here, I too have brainstormed myself to find magnificent stories, but as time goes by I feel that it’s too complicated for first timer, too heavy for the non-experienced.
that’s why I ask for guides for a simple story yet fun to play, I just want to make sure it is released and I got experiences about production process from scratch to release.
thank you
My advice as an experienced writer is to start with writing stories on a smaller and intimate scale first. Basically, instead of writing a massive epic about a world under attack by an eldritch entity, focus on a story about how a group of friends encountered malevolent forces in a cabin in the woods instead.
I haven’t started on my own Hosted Game yet. Well, not yet, but that’s a general advice. Hope it helps.
4 Likes