SoS: The Mortal Coil (WIP)

Like someone else’s hand orrr

Nope. Your own hand. You just bitchslap the shit out of your opponents xD

10 Likes

OMG I think this is probably the best WIP game I’ve played. Not to say one of the best choice book. The characters are all well built and it brings a sense of realism.

Spoiler

The pain I felt when Ramiel showed me “the mother of his child” was so real that the option to turn away reflect exactly how I was feeling, it made it all so real. And I can’t wait to take care of Daniel, hope to be as close as a mother to him as possible.

13 Likes
All replies to posts

@LordOfLA
I had been resisting this as I rather enjoyed the scripted background change and color fade of the original version. However, I have decided to go ahead and update so that menu will now be available (as well as doubled the amount of saves). The only time I plan on making dashingdon the ‘main’ version of the game is for the official beta testing. Both sites are updated together, but I prefer not to use dashingdon as primary.

Shouldn’t appear anymore. If it does, well, something is possessed. It did not pop up when I played through that scene after ‘fixing’ it but you never know.

@GuardsmanTheMad
Should be fixed now! Thanks for the catch.

I mean, to a certain extent, it’s supposed to be suspicious. It’s also a dream, and dream logic isn’t the same as waking logic. At this time I’m not inclined to change it, but I will take it under consideration.

The Council wouldn’t let you be quiet, so if I offered that choice it would just circle back to the same previous four. I’ll consider adding it, but it would be two-three sentences different at most. However, I’m curious if your Gab is more candid or deceptive? The answers vary depending on how inclined to telling the truth your character is.

That has always been one of my attempts. There are several options in the initial scene with him that revolve around having already saved him that your work here is done. We’ll see more of the choices for setting the tone of interactions with him in the future though, so please let me know if you feel this is not be addressed.

Also, thanks for all the typo catches! Those should be fixed now.

The Council is entirely made up of Watchers. As for how they are selected, one assumes by a set of criteria based on their performance and quotas, much like archangels. More on Watchers and the Council can be found in the game’s glossary, but if you still have questions, please ask away!

Seelie and UnSeelie courts are often treated as, respectively, light and dark fae. Neither one is good/evil. Seelie fae tend to be more blood purists and focus on aesthetics. They are haughty, arrogant, and believe that no boon they offer should be refused. They are quick to take insult, and will react to such. UnSeelie don’t focus on outward appearance as much, and are less interested in blood purity compared to the Seelie Courts. Typically they need less provocation to act against someone, but they can also be helpful if you know how to deal with them. Different species of fae typically are considered Seelie or UnSeelie, but may appear at either court, though an UnSeelie at the Seelie court is almost certainly a servant, at best. Seelie at the UnSeelie Court are likely exiles or former member of the Seelie Court, for one reason or another. They are unlikely to share.

Those are the primary differences.

It’s all in the Glossary. If you have further questions, please ask! It’s also been brought up in the past here at the bottom of the post. There’s also a bit in this post here, though it mostly focuses on the hierarchy of hell.‘’

As for Ramiel

I love choices where the player character knows less than the player. We know no matter what Ramiel Falls, but we can still make choices hoping against hope that we can save him. Or we sit back and watch it all burn.

I’m still playing around with ideas, though I’m not super fond of the ‘enter a code’ function. It’s very easy to get around that. If I went that direction, I think I’d do something with Achievements, where based on having the completion achievement you can see the extra scenes.

@Torahammas
Yep! Thanks for the catch! Should be fixed now.

There are no restrictions on types of Angel Blades when it comes to lore. For practical reasons, you get to pick from the 8 I give you at the start. In book 2 there may be an opportunity to change/upgrade your weapon, though you’ll lose some skill points versus gaining an expertise bonus by remaining with one of the base 8.

@Sailendranath_Murmu
Angels are naturally genderless, so official documents list preferred sex as what physical form you choose to take for yourself. I’ve changed it from Preferred Sex to Physical Sex Characteristics to clear that up. Heaven doesn’t care who you’re attracted to; that’s not in your file, and it won’t be brought up in that scene (especially as it hasn’t been set at that point.)

There are two different stats because gender identity and physical sex attributes aren’t always the same. Angels can change their bodies however they like, so they often are the same, but not always. I have revamped the first scene where these choices are made to make it clearer.

There are two separate stats for attraction, one for romantic and one for sexual. Neither of them are set until the first flashback.

Agility, no. A high affinity, yes. You could use your Angel Blade to direct a wave of Grace to cut through an object at a distance if you have enough control.

@lokidemon007
Nope. Just a generic Elohim.

@forestnymph
That is an excellent point! I’ve changed it to Physical Sex Characteristics for that scene. I’m assuming this must be where the confusion is happening.

Just wait until the scene in the cells is finished if you like a good round of angst :wink:

Were you playing the dashingdon version? Regardless, it should be fixed now. If not, let me know please.

Oh boy. Future warning: avoid the spicy scenes in public places if you get easily flustered.

In terms of the final game I think it’ll make a lot more sense, but we’ll see. I wouldn’t want to move it around until at least the first draft is completed, but it’s negotiable. Realize that the scope of this game is large and to give our characters some more background/deal with the way characters reappear in the current timeline the flashbacks have to occur at certain points.

Give them names, make it twice as bad.

You are all just going to have to wait and see. Suffice it to say that if they’re sane, you’re not going to be ordered to kill them. If they’re not… well, cross that bridge when you come to it, as they say.

I’m ridiculously happy someone noticed that was altered. It’s actually courtesy of a suggestion by @Lychee where it was pointed out that I might want to soften him a little there.

Happy early belated(?) birthday! I’m glad you enjoyed the update. I wanted to get this update out before my birthday, so all these comments are like my cake :smiley: ((The patch, on the other hand, took a couple more days :sweat_smile:

Honestly, I have zero idea why it’s working for some and not others. I’ve pushed the patch build to both sites; hopefully it works now. Let me know if it doesn’t and I’ll call a priest, cause I’m going straight for the exorcism.

Heh, just wait until we actually get to play through those events.

All I’m going to say is that there will be repercussions from choices you make during the second half of the fae flashback that are felt later. I already know what’s going to happen.

Israfel isn’t the one Ramiel went to, and therefore the Council holds you accountable (even if you wanted nothing to do with it.) Furthermore, Israfel would not appreciate that comment. He is an Archangel as well, and the assumption that he would be better at this because he’s often seen as gentler would make him resentful. Israfel also practices a very strong policy of neutrality and non-interference when it comes to the other archangels. While he doesn’t want Ramiel to Fall, he would be a poor selection to deal with Nephilim. Nephilim are also more of Gabriel’s area than Israfel’s.

Or, simply, because the Council said so :wink:

@eXwhYZee
Thanks for all those! They’ve been corrected now.

@rosemary_and_sage
Raphael has no idea Lucifer is Gabriel’s father. They think Gabriel, Michael, and Israfel are all incompetent fools for letting their nestmate run around and have, as far as they are concerned, Nephilim.

Mind giving me some more info on what route you picked? I don’t know that I’ll change anything, as I prefer to describe emotions rather than not, which can cause these ‘wrong’ moments, but I can take a gander at it.

Definitely going for heartbreaking in that case.

@forestnymph
Michael looks amazing there! I imagine Israfel as the nestmate with the best hair, so Michael’s self-consciously puts it in a braid because he can’t compete.

While I’m not a sword expert, one of the options is a longsword and shield. A longsword is a more generic category of sword; there is nothing to prevent it from being a hand-and-a-half sword.

Patch Notes:

Various typos

  • That annoying @ in the middle of a sentence because multireplace fail
  • Revamped choosing your gender/sex as an angel. This now includes a genderfluid option.
  • Fixed (?) the infinite loading screen into Heaven.
  • Fixed an improper stat issue in the GAO HQ.
  • Revamped 1 of the fae intimate scenes; rest are in-progress.

That last point: due to some feedback @pandaboi provided in another thread, the fae scenes are undergoing a bit of a revamp. Initially I was not inclined to do this due to scope and the nature of these encounters as a one-night fling, but pandaboi brought up was a very good point. It’s not a huge change, but it will make a difference for some characters. Currently the only modified route is Leochlan’s, some experience, Gabriel take the lead.

24 Likes

Oh, I meant something like unsheathing a sword, cutting through a demon, sheathing the swords and then the demon falls apart. The whole anime like sword master moves. I guess the gif was misleading, sorry

Just played through, no more infinite loading!

Thanks for updating - I really prefer using the light text on dark background and am not a fan of scripted background/text colour changes.

@Dae-kalina I would add that the dream would have seemed somewhat suspicious to a normal human. For an Archangel that actually knows that supernatural things exist, the dream would have seemed extremely suspicious. Some MCs are going to reject all of the choices not because the MCs are actually uninterested but because the MCs are too suspicious. I would prefer not to be locked out of such options merely for refusing to take the bait in something so suspicious.

My Gabriel starts off the trial at 65% deceptive.

There could also be an option then to simply speak the facts impartially.

Alternatively, I would note that there is a difference between lying and being deceptive. It is possible to deceive with nothing but the truth (such as the Aes Sedai in Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time or evading truthreading in L.E. Modesitt Jr.'s Magi’i of Cyador and Scion of Cyador). We already have the option in numerous places to bend the truth, but in my opinion the MC choosing to lie at the trial is just sloppy. Bending the truth instead of lying at those points would be safer.

Thank you.

2 Likes

oh, im aware. :wink: Im already imagining different scenarios and may or may not be crying about it. :new_moon_with_face:

2 Likes

Yeah! That jerk guy and his jerk site! :laughing:

But seriously, I’m digging the demo. I do have a question… when I choose to identify as female with female physical characteristics, I’m given the following choices without any information as to context of the choice or why I am involving Lucifer in this particular choice at all:

  • I think I can figure it out on my own.
  • I’m not sure I understand what more needs to be done for the physical alterations.
  • Lucifer is experienced with choosing a physical form other than the one we grow up with. His help would be useful.

So I’m confused on the decision itself since Lucifer didn’t say anything after the previous decision?

Also on the first note please let me know if something with dashingdon.com is not working correctly or not to your needs. I am currently in touch with CJW as to the save plugin issue and hopefully we get that sorted, though I know CJW is hard at work with the CDE and impending integration with the API so I am hesitant to press on it just now.

Look forward to the next update! Keep the pen on the paper / fingers on the keyboard! :wink:

2 Likes

Hi! I’d like to report this. I chose rapier as the Angel Blade and to use Grace to strike for the strategy.

The next page after that talks about the longsword and shield combo.

1 Like

Brb sobbing

I didn’t intend to cause more work for you with what I said :tired_face: which is why I didn’t say it directly on this thread. Since the fae thing is a one-off thing and still seems complicated in its own right and I feel like I saw you say before sex scenes with the actual ROs would be a lot different, I figured it was fine since I can avoid the encounter with Leochlan all together and just wait for my boys to show up in the story. (What I care most about is letting Charleston know I love and appreciate him… well, anyway) it was really just me trying to express a somewhat esoteric feeling ;o;

Also you mentioned in the virgin scene, Leochlan just wanted Gabby to try both to see what he likes himself, that’s something that I totally get! It makes a lot of sense, but I don’t know if that was really communicated in the scene itself and since I, as the player, already know what I like, that’s probably why I was taken out of it at the time :sweat_smile:

But!!! Having said all that, I did play the revamped scene and it’s really, really good! I felt more involved in the scene and it was a lot more comfortable for me with the new options. I hope it can have the same effect for other players too, because I really appreciate it! You didn’t have to, but still thank you for taking what I said into consideration :grin:

7 Likes

Okay, so I’ve stumbled upon something that might or might not be a bug.

Summary

At the “interview” with Sabriel, when you choose that you don’t really care about casualties, you get this:

It says that ruthless has increased, but when you look up at the stats screen the Merciful/Ruthless bar remains the same:

I’ve tried it multiple times, and it still doesn’t change. A code error, perhaps?

Err…" you glance up from your file to the archangel and give her a sheepish smile. “I mean, you’ve seen my file.”
Sabriel sighs. “Yes, I have. Now the AROF stamp is starting to make sense,” she adds, taking a sip of her tea and shaking her head.

this is from when you sit on Sabriels chair,I remember Gabriel being wittier, does this change with status that are other besides emotional or stoic (I tried both they have the same dialogue) or maybe I’m going crazy and imagining things

Without manipulating time, no.

Great!

I’m not going to be changing the scene for the time-being.

I wanted to have fun with that scene, and I have. The MC has to play along as there is no exit here button, so I recommend choosing what you like and moving on. There’s no neutral choice, as even ‘not trusting’ the host of your dream will still lead you to selecting at least ace/aro. I’m not against revising it at a later time, but that is not an area I feel is currently worth it. There is too much yet to come for me to want to focus on what is essentially a ‘setter’ scene for some variables. It’s not a plot essential point, just a variable one.

I am well aware of that. I like to think I communicated that by basing most of the ‘lies’ or deceptions in truth when you choose to have a personal opinion different from your public opinion. However, without adding an absolutely obscene amount of choices to an already very broad scene, what you get is what you get for choices as far as feelings on the Nephilim.

If I understand correctly, however, your issue lies earlier, with the defense of Ramiel. I will look into incorporating subtle vs. blunt check into the response that checks your deceptive stat to give it a more refined or less refined touch. I.e. a blunt deceptive person would be more of a straight-up lie, a subtle deceptive person would bend the truth, a blunt candid person would ruffle a lot of feathers, and a subtle candid person would try to impart their opinions without making a big deal of it.

I believe my muse subsists entirely on tears at this point.

Oh, gosh, I didn’t mean it that way!

I just like having 15 save slots and prefer uploading a compiled version (it’s too big for dashingdon now, and manually selecting each scene file is prone to errors on my end). I’m just special like that. Your site is amazing and all the work you put into it is incredible. With some scenes having 256 different variations, the more saves I have the easier it is to test some of them without having to go back to the start. ((There’s also a small issue where-in I changes scene names and while it’s not technically an issue to have old files under the wrong names up there, it does create a small itch that I can’t scratch by deleting it. Unless I missed an update that allows you to do that, which is entirely probable :sweat_smile: ))

I, uh, may have revamped the structure of that scene and inadvertently forgotten to go back in and add some dialogue transitions >.> That should be better now. Might just be 1-2 lines, but there’s shouldn’t be any sudden “Here’s a choice block!” and preceding lines of text.

Weird! Wasn’t caught with random or quicktest. Should be fixed now!

No stressing over that! Let me deal with that :wink: I’d rather have people tell me when something bothers them, than leave it unsaid. I’m not always going to make major changes or alterations, but there are plenty of times when I can do so and it makes sense to do so. In this case, it’s more tweaking an underlying structure than entirely redoing the scene, so it’s fairly straight-forward.

These are the most important feelings to express. Everyone has a unique perspective, and I’m not always able to identify areas where I’m unwittingly trampling on someone’s comfort zone. One of the great aspects about CoG/HG is the privledge of creating games for people that mainstream games may not address, or fail to do so in a proper fashion. So please, tell me. Like I said, I can’t promise to always make changes (I do have to keep scope in mind) but I can endeavor to make changes for the better wherever possible.

I’m glad! The other Leochlan scenes will be getting a similar treatment in terms of the choice structure; Laniwynn’s may not, due to her nature, but that’s still pending. There’s a reason Laniwynn gives you a choice to back-out, as she’s a more intense character when it comes to those scenes.

That was absolutely a bug! Nice catch. It was correct for flatStats, but for the non-flatStats the wrong stat was put there. Fixed now!

Those responses set a mood–chagrin, nervous, pissed, or calm. Each of those moods create a variation for how you respond to Sabriel.

15 Likes

Well I went with him to the fae village, got arrested, joked around as we got escorted, held his hand because he needed comfort, defended Ramiel with the “No law was broken because there is no law against having children with the fae.”

I don’'t remember what other options I chose,

But it was jarring for the game to tell me I wanted nothing more to do with him as I was holding his hand and defending him in court.

Without a better understanding of what you chose, I’m afraid I can’t do much at this time. As far as I can see, that shouldn’t happen. There’s no variation of holding his hand where you say you want nothing to do with him (at least if everything is working as intended, which is always the question.)

Are you friends with him? Which of the relationship definitions did you pick? Most of the variations are based around your initial feelings for him. And if you can remember any exact phrasing, that would be helpful. There’s no spot where the word ‘nothing’ occurs in the path where you spent the night at the fae village.

Sorry to keep pestering you, but I just can’t see where the game is giving you this dissonant information, and I’m not sure if it’s a code error directing you to a wrong variation of if its the variation itself that need tweaking.

4 Likes

@Dae-kalina I apologize if I offended you. Offending you was neither my intention nor my desire.

I was not suggesting removing the dream scene. I was suggesting removing the host of the dream scene and letting the dream scene happen naturally the way selecting preferences happens naturally at the Fae village. I suggest that the scene to set such variables should be about setting the variables rather than whether or not the MC trusts the host.

Thank you. I reread the scene I had in mind and I think another option that might be easier would be for Ramiel to simply add the words “in advance” to his claim that Gabriel knew nothing about the children. It would actually be true, but it doesn’t look that way currently when Gabriel gives a detailed speech about that Fae tribe. In other words when Ramiel’s defense of Gabriel is that Gabriel knew nothing, Gabriel showing detailed knowledge of the situation is a bit awkward.

On a different path at the trial, Gabriel having actually met the mother claims otherwise during testimony. An alternative would be to state that duties as Fae ambassador involve meeting many Fae without ever addressing whether Gabriel met the mother or under what circumstances. Implying that any knowledge Gabriel has of that Fae tribe is due solely to Gabriel’s duties as Fae ambassador would probably be safer.

Anyways, these are just my suggestions hopefully phrased in a way that is not too far on the blunt candid scale of things. I like the idea for those differing approaches though.

1 Like

Hello!

I just found this WIP and after playing the demo I am hooked! Really excited to see where the story goes :grinning:

If I may offer some feedback, I found the part just after Lucifer smites the large beast to be a little strange. I’m guessing he shifts planes and then arrives just in time (maybe Gabriel can speculate on his sudden appearance), and that why he showed up when he did will be explained later. The conversation after I thought was a little out of place because it happened while the battle was still raging. I’m not sure if it’s possible to move it to after they escape the collapsing plane, but it could be something to consider.

While reading the skirmish at the warehouses, I was a little confused to as how the angels can fight the demons out in the open without anyone noticing. It was only when Micheal was angry at Gabriel for telling Israfel to use his Grace that I induced normal mortals can’t see angels and demons. Perhaps Gabriel could make a mental comment about that while preparing for the fight.

Apologies if this has been brought up before, I haven’t read the entire thread.

1 Like

You know I love this. But I was just thinking, I still think a scythe would be nice for a weapon. But that’s just me. Because there aren’t enough scythes as weapons now a days.

1 Like

Before I elucidate on the update:

Long still in the earliest stages of angel dating sim Miraclr, and I am delighted that I cannot unsee the crossover with SoS… except there Michael is such a Sabriel and Lucifer can be oh so brimstone warm for MC’s form.

Such as:

Dynamics...

Imagine...

Mood...

Screenshot_2018-01-29-08-54-26-1-1

Also, the SoS Tumblr. Twirling through and I stop at NSFW tags because hello, hi, sensualist, and sometimes I need to laugh a little on a Tuesday. Alas, since social media is akin to me staring into the sun, forgive me for bringing #Sinday within these hallowed halls, but I am wrecked–

{spies SoS fan attempting to insert tentacles into the narrative}

wrecked

blessed that I will rarely be there to participate in live asks. Truly though, most answers were good for my soul.

So, thoughts and baubles…

Here is yours truly happily sailing on the good Vee Rami/Mickey polyship

all very la la la

except @Dae-kalina approaches under darkening skies

Vee polyshipwrecked!
{wilts}

inching towards that triad are we, fellows? {flings a tomato at Ramiel’s square derriere}

even if inching is Michael’s forte

{wilts}


Now, here we have

Mm, the last book me and my Gabriel read was Stephen Hawking’s biography…

still…

always lovely how all characters have become rich and full-bodied the more we learn via Tumblr, even as many yet exist outside of the game, far more dear and delicious to me are some, whilst surprisingly soured slightly on others who I imagined were to be once bright celestial bodies within Gabriel’s galaxy.

Most of all to grow dear and delicious with in my good graces is Aelius whom I unfairly placed in a black-hole purgatory with his low verve for acts of physicality and perpetual world-weary state–not one I tend to gravitate towards–and yet, I dare say the little devil has horned his way into my second most beloved of ROs.

Speaking of my number one, ahh, recently viewed that the song Kiss With A Fist from my centuries old Mybriel playlist is nearly official for the Michael pairing and, well, my small heart grew three sizes that day.

Of course the melody for MyMy and Gabby’s early nesting in a rocky romance now leads me passionately, emotionally, melancholically here:

Onwards to the update. Glorious update.

More Leochlan bits about his bits, spoiling those of us with a fetish for inked up, pierced down, heartlessly violet men.

Now, no need to revamp a thing for me, only curious if during the trial scene judgment we are able to internalize and/or express that we are concerned for Ramiel’s fate and his fate alone. I couldn’t quite find a path which completely seperates the desire to keep him safe without viewing the children as innocent, (as in succor him, spite the spawn), which I believe exists, but then again I am hazily amidst a sugar high. And the upcoming cell scene will shatter all glass hearts, yes? Yes. Gorgeous.

Happy birthday, queen. I do hope the posts of dessert linger sweetly on the palette. :hugs:

15 Likes