Last week I got started on coding the expanded epilogue! It has been a trip sifting through the final chapter, which is 72,000 words of a lot complex, me not-thinking-I’d-need-to-revisit-it coding (most of the most fiddly bits are to do with figuring out which NPCs have been in your vicinity because there are a lot of different places everyone can be at the end). But really nice to revisit the characters and think about where they’re at a year later, even in code form, and I even figured out some new lore.
I’ve drafted the code, and have at least one bug to fix before I can confidently say the code is finished, but it’s nice to have made a start. My deadline is the end of November, so I likely won’t have a lot to report through October as I’ll be focusing on Honor Bound - but once I’ve sorted out the bug and any others, it’ll be in decent shape for me to start writing when it’s time.
Speaking of which, I love the choice when Domonique is introduced Beaumont is like “you two know each other?” and MC’s like “we kissed a few times.” Is that new?
I was p curious about the spinoff to CdLC so I’m glad it was neat to check out their rival boarding school this time. Also, I ended up liking Asher and Javi RO the best and it was great to see a ace option for MC too.
Mostly my MC would continue their education at different colleges or studied abroad for the future options. I’m usually not too into the idea of Royalty but a lot of scenes were relatable to a average reader like me. I look forward to the extended epilogue when it’s done. Thanks for writing this book.
Do I have to be on the student council to romance Dominique? I mean I’m not romancing Javi, but Drama was the only club I haven’t tried yet. I did Athletics my last play through and Student Council during the beta test.
No - you’ll get more time overall with Dominique if you join Student Council than if you don’t, but you can romance anyone regardless of which Leadership class you pick
I’ve been writing it this week and let’s just say that I always admired people who make sequels but I have renewed respect for them. It’s been two days’ work putting together all the pages and choices related to all the different configurations of what the PC and their companions are doing at the end of Royal Affairs - and that’s just for an extra epilogue, not an entire game with more to refer back to! Whew!
(Having said that, I’ve been really enjoying writing little snapshots of things like, for example, the PC hanging out with other characters at university.)
Thank you! I’ll fix that - it does the same for Hyacinthe as it uses the ${gallatin_name} variable before it’s been set. It shouldn’t impact the game itself, as it’ll be set shortly afterwards. If you do notice the Gallatin school name behaving strangely once the game starts, please do let me know!
For schedule-related reasons, I changed my mind about what I was doing this fortnight, so I started writing this rather than the next chapter of Honor Bound - I anticipate the first draft being done by the end of the month.
Royal Affairs expanded epilogue wordcount: 32864 Royal Affairs expanded epilogue fortnight’s wordcount: 23876
Writing this is involving an absolutely stunning amount of branching, which has been quite the challenge - not necessarily because it’s hard to keep track of, but because it means going through the chronological path is slow compared to when it’s more linear. I have said this before but I have renewed admiration for writers doing direct sequels because I can only imagine how intense the branching is.
I am loving writing the Royal Affairs characters again and I took a silly amount of pleasure describing how some of their hairstyles have changed, plus, more seriously, the ways friendships and romantic relationships have shifted after a year.
Late this week I found myself feeling a little overtired, so I took a quick break and spontaneously wrote something smutty about Fabien and the President of Teran which I will put on Patreon at some point for those who want it. The middle-aged rivals-with-benefits no one asked for and I did not know I needed in my life… anyway, it even helped me with some lore and characterisation which I did not expect from writing something so niche and self-indulgent!
It’s not likely, I’m afraid, although my WIP Honor Bound is the next in the series and your character will be mentioned there - but it shouldn’t be too long before the expanded epilogue is out so you will get a chance to revisit them and your favourite characters! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I finished drafting, submitted it, got it back and implemented my notes (as well as fixing some truly obscure bugs), and once I’ve sent it off (there is one last obscure bug I’m still tracking down related to Hyacinthe and possible breakups/whether you’re allowed to get engaged. Edit: and that’s now found and sent! That has to be one of the oddest and most elusive bugs I’ve ever encountered) the next stage is a limited beta test for continuity.
It’s planned to be released as a free update sometime in Q1 2024, along with the ability to save your Royal Affairs game for future Honor Bound import - I’ll let you know the exact date closer to the time! I’m thrilled to have done this! It was very joyful to revisit the characters and give them a little adventure.
It is also… twice the length I was planning. I have learned a lot about scope estimation from this, goodness me.
Royal Affairs expanded epilogue wordcount: 48700 Royal Affairs expanded epilogue fortnight’s wordcount: 24824
i adored creme de la creme, and once i found this game out, its an instant buy for me! splendid job, truly. i haven’t played noblesse oblige, and i think i will, soon. this game does feel lighter than creme de la creme, but it sure is in no way less intriguing. the conflict is rather still relevant (especially in my country since its election period hahah).
i love Asher and Trevelyan so much! each round i play, its so hard to resist romancing them. though i managed to romance the others beside them, i sometimes still slip and flirt with them a little bit. Asher is just too cute and precious, while Trevelyan attractive and intriguing (plus i love a spicy borderline forbidden romance). I’d say a great job at writing them! the others are well written and most importantly, the names are all beautiful. loved them. props for this one, and i’d be rooting for any of your upcoming projects!
Loved the game and like most games I loved I try to get all the achievements. And the one achievement I can’t get is ‘Patch It Up’. I follow the steps in the in-game guide but never get ‘The call’ so I can’t reject or lie to the ‘caller.’ In the end I still save Trev but I don’t get the option to get back together. Any tips?
Just checking, did you definitely speak against suffrage so Trevelyan breaks up you in Chapter 8? If you do those two things, you should get a phone call from Fabien about the kidnapping. If not I can take another look and check that the code is working correctly.
aww, I won’t be with Laurie anymore…
Can’t wait for the next one