So, basically what happened is I started writing the game with the thought that everyone would be interested in becoming a warrior-mage. I was instructed to insert opportunities to be reluctant/resistant to the idea in the beginning as not everyone would be into it, which I did. I also included chances later in the game to express that the PC doesn’t feel at home in Ra’zai, that they’re fed up with all the initiations, and other chances to generally not be thrilled with how things are going. So yes, there are opportunities to show that you’re not thrilled about becoming Kitherin, or that you’re slowly coming to embrace it over time, though perhaps not as many as you’d like.
There is an element of fate here, and I understand how some would want to fight that and I’m sorry if anyone feels forced into it, but I don’t see how becoming Kitherin is anything akin to slavery. Especially since, once Kitherin, there are many choices regarding what you want to do with the rest of your immortal life. It’s not like every Kitherin is forced into the same path, and every Kitherin is shown deep respect. It also comes with a lot of perks (kindred, immortality, belonging to an elite clan of warrior-mages, saving worlds).
This whole discussion kind of baffles me a bit. I guess I could’ve written more choices to fight the process, to be ornery and resentful or plan to try to rebel against the Kitherin way, but I really don’t see the fun in that.
To me, the world of the Kitherin is one of wonder and incredible possibility. I really thought, after a lifetime of being in service to the king, that becoming Kitherin represents freedom. Once you get through the initiations, you get to choose to do whatever you want, for the most part. Many Kitherin go off exploring different worlds and never come back to Ra’zai. It’s not like you’re forced into one role forever. It’s worth mentioning that becoming Kitherin is an honor sought out by people all over the nine seas, and in many other worlds besides. Countless people come to Ra’zai hoping to hear the call.
Also, this is a romance, and the ROs are all Kitherin. The premise is you go to a magical island and become a warrior-mage. So… yeah. That’s what the story is about. I really did try to provide a wide range of choices and I apologize if I didn’t cover the ones you wanted. I hope you’ll find other options that work for you and enjoy the story nonetheless.
Interesting. So you were “instructed” to include those options to be reluctant, but that wasn’t your initial instinct? That does explain why they feel kind of token. Personally I think the game would have been better without them (or even without the spy angle altogether), because I agree, being an immortal warrior-mage would be awesome and that is what the story is about. But please don’t think I’m trying to tear your work down; this is a very small thing that’s turned into a far bigger debate than I intended, and like I said, all it took was playing a different sort of character and it all fell into place.
I was instructed by my editor to include as many opportunities for player agency as possible, and I did my best to do that. No, it wasn’t my instinct to be reluctant—it was my instinct to fly full-bore into becoming Kitherin and embrace it with my whole soul. I’m sorry if they feel token. I definitely don’t want to minimize your opinion and I appreciate you adding to the discussion here.
Thank you for this. I really just want people to have fun with the game. I hope you do!
At risk of beating this poor dead horse even further, perhaps if you have an intended experience for the player (e.g. “immerse yourself in an exciting world of magic and romance as you become a badass immortal warrior”), instead of asking the player if they want to do that, “player agency” could take the form of a diverse range of options for why they want to do that - because after all, if that’s not an experience they find compelling, why pick up the game? Maybe something to think on for future projects, I don’t know.
I do sort of agree with this. There was an uncomfortable element in the “hearing the Call” scene for my first character - she would’ve been quite weirded out by the whole thing and resistant to what felt like external mental influence. But it was a ‘risk’ of the job she’d already accepted, and it was obviously going to be useful one way or another, so I had no problem carrying on from there.
I just finished my first playthrough of this game since its release, and I strongly urge anyone who hasn’t played it yet to grab it today while it’s still on sale. It feels a little like visiting a luxury resort with a group of friends you wish you had, and yet there’s no shortage of intrigue and action as you uncover corruption in high places and support the toppling of an evil regime. There’s also plenty of romance both sweet and spicy with one of my favorite casts of ROs in any HC game. Ink and Intrigue is just … such an experience of joy.
So I’ve finally finished the game, and I feel like I should give my thoughts on it. Maybe my previous comments gave the impression that I didn’t like it much, but that’s not true at all. In fact, I loved it.
I would say that I enjoyed Their Majesties’ Pleasure a fair bit more. The plot and worldbuilding felt more focused, and the ROs were more directly involved in the story, whilst here they feel more peripheral to the main character’s journey. However, I will say that I enjoyed my romance with Rae much more than that with Princess Lissa in TMP - I love them both as characters, but with Rae I had a real sense of camaraderie and mutual support, whilst with Lissa I kind of felt like my character was just a welcome distraction for her at times.
Another thing I absolutely adored was how, for want of a better word, sensory the game is. Every sensation is so lovingly described - not just the feel of a lover’s touch, but of the clothes the character is wearing, the ground they’re walking on, the wind in their hair or the water they’re swimming in. The smell of the air, of food cooking nearby, of sacred herbs burning in the temples. It really makes the world feel alive.
I’m looking forward to future stories in this world, seeing what new parts of the world they take us to and who we meet along the way.
I really just want people to have fun with the game. I hope you do!
