New Hosted Game! Samurai of Hyuga Book 4 by Devon Connell

[Mutantbeth]

Is that the case? I thought it was when they have an outline or something . Not sure

[Rickym30]

Hmm i recently read wayhaven book 2 and at the end it something about the next book needing to be like 80% complete before they allow the save function, but i could have my facts totally wrong on that, i just no that hosted dont let you save until the next book is close by, just not sure how close, does anybody no how long the save feature has been available for book 4?

[AChubbyBlackCat]

For any game, you won’t be able to save until the next game is published, so as to prevent you mass hoarding all the “trial and error” saves before you finalize your canon play through. So until Book Five is close to being published, you’re not going to have a save option.

[MultipleChoice]

Regarding the save feature for Book 4:

I’ve recently gotten email confirmation from @jasonstevanhill that it’s been implemented. I didn’t want to give a public announcement about it until I could be more sure that it’s active across all regions and platforms. That said, I definitely don’t want mixed messages from readers either!

The milestone Jason and I agreed on was 50,000 words and a confirmation that no additional changes to Book 4 would be needed. The latter is especially important in making sure saves transfer smoothly across books. For SoH Book 5, this milestone has been reached.

This milestone makes sense to me and also spares readers from having to wait a year or longer before the game is officially in the publishing queue to get their saves in. If you’re an author and in a similar situation during your sequel, by all means point to this post and say “the samurai guy got to do it”!

[Rickym30]

I finished book 4 today and i was able to save the game thats why i thought maybe there had been a development

Edit: the post above

[Rickym30]

Thanks for clearing that up obviously still a while to go but progress

[varada_naveen]

Finally!!! Some freakin update!

[Chaneyi]

Finally saved my game, which has been sitting at the last chapter since the Book came out. For once in my life, perfect attunement!

Now, Devon, to get Jun back…

[dark_haze]

I liked the first three books, but this one was disappointing. I didn’t like Jun at all so spending an entire book with him was FAR from pleasure. And it felt like my MC was forced to feel a certain way no matter what I choose.
I played till the end because I hoped that there will be some way to fix things with Toshio, but no such luck. It feels like their relationships are ruined.

Now I cautious about Book 5 and don’t care what’s going to happen next. Why should I care? It’s not like my choices matter at all.

[ghost3337]

Replay the first 3 games and tell me if your choices are any more diverse than it was in this game.

It is a character experience, the ronin has their own opinions about everything and they always have. I think people are just realizing this because they ran into a character they dislike and the ronin feels differently. I understand, I personally am immensely suspicious of Tosh and the Emperor and wanted to put Tosh in their place for what they did to you in book 3. The ronin doesn’t share this feeling however.

The quality hasn’t changes, only who you’re made to assiociate with.

[Chaneyi]

Very true and well said!

SoH was always a relatively linear story, with main variations being flavor text.
I - for example - was very uncomfortable with Momoko and her behavior, but it happens anyway, because it’s the story that Devon tells.
For me, it doesn’t mean though, that I don’t want to know what happens next.

[ghost3337]

Yeah I agree, it is the story they want to tell, and I want them to do so as they intend.

There is something wrong with every romantic option that is put in front of the ronin. An aspect about their dynamic that is bound to make someone uncomfortable.

Masa: The age disparity between them and the Ronin.

Momoko: The unhealthy circumstances surrounding the romance at the time. Feeling like you are betraying a friend to pursue someone who has a interest in you that is ultimately to their detriment.

Tosh: The feeling that their “affections” for you aren’t entirely genuine, that your entire relationship is to manipulate you to fulfill the will of the emperor, their TRUE love.

Jun/ko : Their obvious toxic obsession with you and the abrasive and contentious dynamic you share. The underlying demons in both your pasts. The sad need they have to please your dead master.

[Rickym30]

Tbh i find myself reading this series more like a book anyway, i no my choices dont really matter, but it doesnt bother me cuz im just wanting to see what happens next, the story has me gripped

The only thing i think would let me down from here is if we dont get junko back, i found book 4 to be fantastic the best so far, i never thought after book 3 that i would come to care for junko like i do after book 4, but devon did some serious character development and now, i just want her back and to have her have a happier future, so thats where i am when it comes to book 5, BUT i dont believe junko will be coming back in this one IF she does at all

[Chaneyi]

Absolutely and you actually pointed out some characteristics that I didn’t fully see myself, so thanks for that perspective.

@Rickym30 Same for me. I read it mainly as a story and less as an interactive story and I know that it will go to it’s destination, no matter what I do. I do appreciate though, that I can change the flavor of it, while I do so.

And I also agree on J. I wasn’t a huge fan in the early books (I still liked the character and wanted to know more but wasn’t as obsessed as I am now) but the development during B4 won me over.

But this has been discussed a lot of times and many have a different opinion - which I respect. I am just not a fan of bashing characters, when those may be enjoyed by other readers. This is more general statement and not limited or specifically directed at SoH.

[Rickym30]

Great post, youve just pointed out stuff that i didnt see myself but now i completely see it, especially tosh, im not trusting her any more, well her feelings at least lol

[ghost3337]

Thanks, I only started suspecting after playing the series waaay too many times, I went into more detail in this earlier post about the whole conspiracy lol.

@ghost3337

I WILL NOW CONTINUE WITH MY TOSH CONSPIRACY THEORY

I move that Tosh’s affection toward the Ronin is hollow if not somewhat manufactured. I believe their opinion of the Ronin has been tainted the status Satsuma has given them. Yes there is an attraction that developed eventually, but I believe Tosh’s claim of falling for them back when they first met was a purposeful exaggeration intended to manipulate.

Upon multiple playthroughs of the series I no longer believe the sudden whirlwind romance with Tosh wasn’t calculated on their part. They are the ones who admitted to taking advantage of Momoko as an attempt to manipulate you after all. Of course Tosh knew they wouldn’t fool the Ronin with a half assed attempt at seduction, so they set the stage for themself to be genuinely swept off their feet. By focusing on the aspect they admired most; the Ronin’s natural analytical skill- Tosh allowed themselves to fall for the Ronin.

Now what happend after the conflict between Tosh and the Ronin, when the latter discovered Tosh had been keeping the whole rebellion thing from them? The Ronin began to doubt Tosh’s intentions again, and how did Tosh respond? By orchestrating another act of manipulation: causing a scene with Daisuke/Keiko, which directed the Ronin to the truth of Sadao’s fate, which in turn led to the Ronin acquiring Sadao’s mind reading rings. They even punctuated the scene by foreshadowing with the declaration that the Ronin should consider them their enemy once the trial starts.

This whole self sacrifice act during the trial is bullshit of the highest order. As we established Tosh led the Ronin to the mind reading rings, which is why during the trial they were mentally speaking directly to the Ronin, and was sure to pepper in “kun” too in order to mislead further (more on this later). You can’t not use the rings for that moment, I have tried.

After Tosh’s hand holding during the trial, and when the Baron is defeated and everyone learns of that the Baron stole the Ronin’s memory of Junko; what did Tosh do in the face of a wounded Ronin? They sunk their teeth in.

Tosh, Masa and Hatch all agreed to deceive the Ronin by hiding the truth of their scar and the existence of Jun/ko. Now Hatch is simple, easy to fool. Masa is smart, but is a kid that doesn’t always think things through and is obviously jealous of the Ronin’s history with Jun/ko. But Tosh, Tosh knew EXACTLY what they were doing, best highlighted by a direct quote from them during book 2.

“Regrets. Grudges. Heartbreak. The inner chaos inside us is why we are human. It is a source of strength you know all too well. False harmony and hollow bliss. They will starve your spirit and blind you to your true self.”

Isn’t that EXACTLY the fate they allowed the ronin to suffer through? You see, initially I believed they were motivated by the same thing a Mass, however I no longer think that. I would like the records to show that after the Ronin lost their memory Tosh pumped the breaks on their budding romance by actively avoiding them. Only AFTER the ronin started asking questions about the branding on their stomach did Tosh propose the massage. What was it did they have to say when the topic of the branding came up?

“That demon is dead. And by forgetting, you’ve been relieved of the burden and pain it brought you, Ronin-kun.”

Then they go on to explain how much happier you have been and whatnot, in direct contrast to the wisdom they had imparted previously. After the massage served its purpose Tosh went back to avoidance. Shows that they only affectionate when they want to manipulate the Ronin. YOU ARE NOT REALLY A COUPLE. In fact that massage scene only proves the one they really are in love with is Satsuma.

Now I want to move ahead to after the Shima debacle, when we are first shown Tosh’s point of view, Tosh internally refers to the Ronin as ‘-san’, NOT ‘-kun’ like the Ronin was led to believe Tosh refers to them. Although there is someone they DO refer to as ‘-kun’ during that scene; SATSUMA.

I believe that Tosh is attracted to you but is not in love with you. They might even hold out hope for the emperor which is why they actively refuse to progress any potential relationship with the Ronin. Keep in mind how hostile they became after learning Satsuma was to be married.

So I beg you my fellow Ronin, do not let Tosh play with your emotions any longer, and see them as the snake they really are!

[riverleafing]

But I like snakes. :3
Anyway, I’m living for the Tosh drama & heartache
My Ronin will suffer for my curiosity~

[resuri08]

Same. If it is true then, we have a character development arc for Tosh right there. Who between the Emperor or the Ronin will they follow? The angst ia just too real.

[ghost3337]

Yeah the drama is turnt up. I think @MultipleChoice paces each relationship really well throughout the story, its never too much at once, and every one of them feels bittersweet.

[Rickym30]

Lol wow, this is so awesome, thanks for this makes total sense

I have this feeling that we are going to kill the emperor during book 5, at the wedding, so it will be interesting to see what tosh does about that IF my feeling comes true