Reports from Philomena (58K words, Now with a Discord Server!) Updated: August 29, 2018

Hey, hello, hi!

So I’ve been working on this book for a solid minute now and decided it’s high time I post about it. It’s a light-hearted sci-fi and much different from the dark fantasy I usually write, but I adore the plot and characters too much to let it go. Here’s the link to the demo if you’re interested in checking it out! I have 58K words including code so far. I write and update frequently, so that number is gonna get a lot bigger soon.

The game now has a Tumblr blog!!! Feel free to stop by and ask any questions you may have!

There is now a Discord server for the game! I’m more active on there so I’ll be around a lot! Feel free to join :D!

Plot of this book:

You’re a bartender on the planet Philomena’s major city, brilliantly named Philomena City. You run the Rabbit Hole, a fairly small bar near the city’s port, making it a frequented place for weary travelers fresh off shuttles.

Oh, and also for smugglers.

And pirates.

And the many, many, many other criminals who use Philomena as a base of operations.

Philomena is far outside the reach of the Empire or any organized government and has become a haven for the lawless. But word on the street is the Empire is trying to get the planet under its control.

And that’s where you come in.

You’re field agent A702, working for The Imperial Intelligence Agency and sent on a long-term undercover mission to Philomena. You’re stationed as a bartender and have been tasked with compiling reports on the state of the planet and on its many criminal inhabitants, many of whom frequent your bar. The most worrisome of these criminals right now is a smuggler named Jay Lacroix, who just so happens to adore getting drunk at the Rabbit Hole. So now you just have to figure out how to avoid all the trouble your patrons predictably bring with them while avoiding suspicion as you write your reports and carry on with your assignment…

RO's and main characters (spoilers!):

Please keep in mind that this is still very much a WiP and is being written as I go. Details, like who is romanceable and if certain characters even end up in the final game, are subject to change. And not everyone with RO status is gonna be a full blown romance, some might just be flings. I’ll point out who gets what status when I 100% decide.

Potential RO’s are marked with ❥, cause I know what y’all want :V

  • T684: One of your two handler agents on the assignment. Cinnamon roll and mocha enthusiast. Much smarter than they appear at first. Enjoys speaking circles around others in Arabic, has a soft spot for all small fluffy things, and will probably enable all of A702’s bad decisions.
  • T378: Your other handler. A sarcastic grump on the outside, but deep down he’s a great guy, and then deeper down he’s a bigger sarcastic grump. Not here for anyone’s bullshit. Likes classical music, Turkish coffee, and honey lemon tea.
  • A401: IIA sniper assigned as your backup. Made of 99% paranoia. All around badass despite their age, or maybe its because of all their experience in the field. Likes to bake despite not liking super sweet things, and doesn’t like espresso but would love a café au lait.
  • A887: A rival agent assigned on a different mission, but still works close enough to you that your paths cross. Fancies themselves a modern day James Bond, and insists people pronounce their code name as “double eight seven”. Secretly loves horror movies, especially the trashy ones, and has drunk six lattes in the past hour.
  • Jax/Jack/Jackie Lacroix: Human mess and trash fire pirate, here to charm you with nerdiness. Loves Old Earth history and antiques, especially the Golden Age of Piracy if it wasn’t obvious from that damn coat and flintlock pistol of theirs. Has a sweet tooth (will kill a man for some Turkish delights) and likes sweet cocktail drinks.
  • Orion: Lacroix’s second-in-command, a seven-foot-tall softie and the only thing keeping Lacroix and the rest of the crew from causing too much damage, to themselves or others. No particular hobbies, but is starting to grow fond of the old movies Lacroix makes him watch with them. Loves sushi and likes his drinks on fire.
  • Karriise: The tech specialist of Lacroix’s team. Wears heels and dresses 24/7 because she rarely has to set foot away from her computer to do her job. Thinks she’s the most level-headed of the crew (she is not) and just wants to retire on a mountain of credits. Loves video games and can drink way too much wine without getting drunk.
  • Jace: Another member of Lacroix’s crew. Demolition expert who walks around with enough firepower to level a city. A firm believer that enough explosives can solve any problem. Ceesixers can’t eat or drink, so they don’t have any favorite foods, but they do like weaponry of all kinds. The bigger it is and more damage it causes, the better.
  • Odysseus: Final member of Lacroix’s crew. The muscle of the team. No one knows his real name, introduced himself as “Nobody” and got settled with “Odysseus.” His species is telepathic and blind and he prefers to keep quiet and mostly speaks to Jace. Alcohol is poisonous to his species so he doesn’t drink, but he does like the nuts the Rabbit Hole serves.
  • Bijou: Your liaison with the IIA, has most everything you’d ever need. Runs an antiques shop even though it’s mostly a cover for her club and the very illegal, very dangerous merchandise she sells. A gossip who knows something about most everyone. Likes floral patterns and champagne.
  • Elliot Bane: Mercenary for hire and part of the mercenary gang “Amadeia’s Saints.” Loves the rush of a fight and gets into too many of them. Towers over most people at 6’3 and can most likely bench press them as well. Enjoys reading fantasy novels and loves the honey mead at the rabbit hole.
  • Vivian/Vincent Valentine: Information broker with a smoking and drinking habit. Had their heart, lungs and liver replaced with cybernetics so they can indulge without worry. Has too many tattoos on thier body and keeps getting more. Give them a bottle of whiskey and they’ll love you forever, even if they’ll deny it.
  • Morgan Winters: Another pirate and Lacroix’s biggest rival. Hobbies include picking fights with Lacroix, one-upping Lacroix, and playing cards, bonus if they beat Lacroix at them (which has yet to happen.) Wears an Imperial flight jacket despite never having attended any flight school. Likes drinking the beer at the Rabbit hole.
  • John Doe: ???
  • Jane Doe: ???
  • Lauren Mason: ???
  • Donovan Rhodes: ???
  • Lovelace: ???
Other features:
  • Choice! Lots of it! Too much of it actually, but who cares!
  • Character customization. So far I’ve included eye color, hair color and style, tattoos, misc stuff like glasses and freckles and the option to change all of those for a disguise. I also included prosthetics and I intend on adding cybernetic options in a later update.
  • I have at least 5 planned ROs for this, and I keep. Adding. More. So hey! Something for everyone!
  • Drinks system! A minigame of sorts where you mix drinks for customers. The house drinks system will let you make your own drink and add it to the menu.
  • More to be added cause this book is ambitious and I am filled with foolish human ambition.
Update log:
  • April 30, 2018: Original demo posted, woo! (27K words)
  • May 10, 2018: Updated! Added red hair, and a the option to visit the cafe. (33.5K words)
  • May 27, 2018: Updated! Bug fixes with the tattoo options and the scene before leaving for the shuttle station. (33.5K words)
  • May 28, 2018: Updated! More bug fixes and the drink system posted! (36K words)
  • May 29, 2018: Updated! More bug fixes and posted the house drink making system! (36K words)
  • June 7, 2018: Updated! More bug fixes and finished the prologue! (47.3K words)
  • July 17, 2018: Updated! Bug fixes, slight tweaks and edits, part one of the first day in Philomena. (55K words)
  • August 29, 2018: Updated! More bug fixes and update to chapter 1! (58K words)

That’s all I have to say right now, and I’d love to hear what you guys think of this! Any suggestions, improvements, any options you think I should add, and anything you have to say I’d love to hear. Thank you for taking the time to read this!

316 Likes

Looking good so far!

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Glad you like it!:+1::+1:

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Looks intresting. Can’t wait to see more :slight_smile:

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Solid writing, interesting premise and has humour. Please do keep writing! :relaxed:

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Need some red head options really like everything so far.

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I’m happy you’re both enjoying it BUT I KNEW I WAS FORGETTING SOMETHING WITH THE HAIR OPTIONS :V

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Love it :heart_eyes:!who will the ro’s be? Love sci fi mwahahahahaha!!

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Oh, I thought that was a red herring… :smirk:

I’ll see myself out now. :sweat_smile:

9 Likes

Can people get banned on the grounds of terrible puns???:thinking::thinking:

Well the only planned RO you guys know of is gonna be Jay Lacroix, cause who doesn’t want want to romance Han Solo?

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Undercover bartender? Sounds fun.

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Ayep! I’m also working on a drink mixing system! Like the potion system from my other game, Planes, just less eye of newt and toe of frog. If anyone wants to make up a drink to be added, feel free! @anon86661845 made one called “Disaster Zone”, its a super sweet red drink with crushed candy on the rim and like a 90% alcohol content and it will 100% mess you up.:smile::smile:

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May I suggest a drink called the Atmosphere? It could be one of those layered cocktails where you pour different ingredients on top each other one by one.

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Oooooooooooooooooooooh!!! I love that idea! It could be white and blue like clouds and the sky, maybe! Or maybe a dark blue/purple one with like edible glitter stars! What about flavor? Is it sweet, fruity, sour? I love it tho and I am 100% adding it!

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Also, @MeltingPenguins made a drink called the “Molten Penguin”. It’s 6 shots of espresso, a shot of vodquila, and star anise liqueur. The cocktail is black on the bottom and foggy white on the top and very bitter. Also set on fire, thus the name.

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Definitely the second one because glitter makes everything better and I think a more nighttime-ish theme/vibe would suit a bar better. As far as flavor, maybe that could be layered as well? I’m thinking sweet to sour or the reverse.

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I LOVE IT. And I can use that first one too, call it Daylight or something. :smile:

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a draught of drought :stuck_out_tongue:

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I think I’d been banned the first day here then. :crazy_face:

A draught of [sudden] draft (airlock ‘accident’). :grimacing:

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A drink called Firesword. Part Fireball whiskey and part vodka.

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