SoS: The Mortal Coil (WIP)

[lokidemon007]

Skyfall could work for Ramiel as well.

[Victoriya]

I somehow just discovered this game, and when I first played I thought “I’m going to romance the hell out of lucifer,” later I found out he wasn’t romancable. When I found out why I wished I could have slapped by past self for wanting that.

[squarelyblue]

Maybe there should be a drinking game of wanting to romance old Lucy and then finding out why he’s not romanceable at this rate :))

[Djone1]

That would be 6k-14k shots you would be dead lol (got those numbers from demo and Tumblr link)

[lokidemon007]

@Dae-kalina

How soon after Gabe arrives on Earth, does Lucifer show up?

[Dae-kalina]

@Balrog_Demorgothe

can’t wait to see where it goes

Some interesting places, I hope

@Nyere

all the RO i aim for is not available silent cry

Ah, but the tears of disappointment are ambrosia to the muse.

@Nyere

i hope other characters are interesting as well

I certainly hope you find them to be.

@Nyere

some of the paragraphs are too long, need a break or two

If you can screenshot or type the first sentence of the paragraphs, that would be much appreciated. At this juncture, I am not going to spend time going back through the game hunting for too-long paragraphs. I’d rather focus on writing new content.

But if you post them, it takes about 15 seconds to go find them and break them up!

@VioletHikari
Maybe throw that in a spoiler tag? I’d like to catch one person unawares

@Phoenix_Wolf
That certainly conjures up some feels.

@Victoriya

When I found out why I wished I could have slapped by past self for wanting that.

And another person falls into my trap.

@lokidemon007
Asked and answered here, my dear.

@Dae-kalina

How soon after arriving on Earth do we run into Lucifer?

It’s a bit of a ways away. It doesn’t occur until after you run into Ramiel, but it is before the half-way point.

On a separate note, I’ve been considering adding other PoVs to the game. These would not be scenes you influence, and would be relatively short, but would take into account your choices. ((For instance, a scene between Israfel and Ramiel after the trial.))

Now, this is extra writing. It’s shorter than writing the main story (though I wouldn’t consider them to be exactly ‘short’), but it is an increase in scope, and not essential to playing the game. Because of this, I’ve been considering an option to put these extra scenes behind a paywall.

Not everyone’s favorite words, I’m sure. And I’m rather reluctant to suggest it, but it would help justify writing those extra scenes beyond simple my own interest in exploring what other characters are doing/thinking.

So please let me know what you think. ((Ignoring any concerns about scope creep, please. I’ll worry about that )) Feel free to elaborate in comments!

• I’d be interested, but only if it was free.
• I’d be interested, and I wouldn’t mind paying.
• I’d be interested, but I’m not sure how I feel about paying for it.
• I’m not interested at all.

If it were to be pay to read (and pay to read all of them, one unlock only):

• I’d buy it no matter the price (will not be more than $2.99)
• I’d buy it if it was $0.99
• I’d buy it if it was between $1.00 and $1.99
• I’d buy it if it was between $2.00 and $2.99
• I wouldn’t buy it.

[VioletHikari]

@Dae-kalina

Maybe throw that in a spoiler tag?

If you don’t mind me asking, but why? It’s not like mentioned who the father is, just the fact that I (unknowingly) tried to convince you to let me romance him… I’ll blurry it out anyways, but I just don’t think anyone will figure out who I’m talking about… unless they read all 1,670 posts (1,671 including mine)

[grimbutnotalways]

Honestly, if you do end up including these extra scenes I’d rather they add to the overall price of the game (If that’s something you get a say in) . It seems like this game is already going to be huge so I wouldn’t mind paying a fair amount more for it than most COG games.

[Nyere]

Ahhhh sorry, noted, I will try to be more helpful in the future xD.

[lokidemon007]

The MC will have problems of their own after the business with the Fey right?

[Dae-kalina]

@VioletHikari
It’s more than likely heavily erring on the side of caution, but there’s not a whole lot of non-romanceable characters. And given that there’s really only one character we’ve even been introduced to who could be your father, I’d rather any mention of Gabriel having a father be in spoiler tags. Technically Gabriel doesn’t even know they have a father at all, much less who it is.

@grimbutnotalways

Honestly, if you do end up including these extra scenes I’d rather they add to the overall price of the game (If that’s something you get a say in

You mean just one up-front price? I’d rather cut it in two to try and prevent a lot of balking upfront at the price. Then again, I hate the psychology and balancing behind pricing anyways

@Nyere

Ahhhh sorry, noted, I will try to be more helpful in the future xD.

I know they exist, and I try to catch them but I speed through early scenes when testing so you’d really be helping me out here if you let me know

@lokidemon007

The MC will have problems of their own after the business with the Fey right?

Without getting into spoiler territory, suffice it to say yes.

[grimbutnotalways]

I know two low prices seem like less to the human brain, it just feels like way too many big companies are using that tactic for content that should already be in the game so that makes it feel really scummy to me. I know that you aren’t that type of person but if I just stepped right up and started playing your game (when it was finished) and found out I needed to pay extra for the “full experience” I’d be pissed.

[lokidemon007]

@Dae-kalina

A problem that’ll take a few months to become apparent?

[Torahammas]

@Dae-kalina
I found a typo, I think, so thought I would let you know.

“I cannot believe—” Israfel mutters, before glancing around and noting your audience. “Host, dismissed!” he orders. There is some hesitation, and Israfel’s wings half-spread, his Grace rising to the surface of his skin. “I said, dismissed!” This time the angels heed his order and spring up into the skin, winking into different planes on their respective ways back to Heaven.

I think skin is supposed to be sky in this setting?

[LewisGraham]

I absolutely love the demo, absolutely amazing stuff. And all the choice and freedom you have in this is almost mindblowing.
But I’m wondering if I’m missing something, because people keep talking about characters and romances that I can’t for the life of me find in the demo no matter what choices I make. No matter what I end up at the same of two situations where the demo ends. Am I just blind or what?

[Phoenix_Wolf]

@LewisGraham /Whisper/ Tumblr for more stuff. There’s personality overviews linked in the first post. But don’t post a lot of stuff from tumblr cause it has some spoilers others might not want to see.

[lokidemon007]

The Tumblr for this is fun!

[Jeremy_Stumbaugh]

wow just playyed this and its fantastic!

[rosemary_and_sage]

This was funnier in my head, and isn’t actually possible, but… I thought of it earlier and couldn’t stop laughing to myself

Ramiel: I want to be a parent
Gabriel: …I mean that’s cool I guess
Ramiel: You don’t understand- I WANT TO BE A PARENT SO BAD
Gabriel: alright man, chill

Daniel Appears

Gabriel: …
Ramiel: …
God: Look Gabriel, I’mma need you to do me a solid and parent this kid.
Gabriel: …K
Ramiel:

[Dae-kalina]

@grimbutnotalways

I know two low prices seem like less to the human brain, it just feels like way too many big companies are using that tactic for content that should already be in the game so that makes it feel really scummy to me. I know that you aren’t that type of person but if I just stepped right up and started playing your game (when it was finished) and found out I needed to pay extra for the “full experience” I’d be pissed.

Thank you for your feedback. It’s definitely something I’ll keep in mind, and one of my reservations. But, frankly, I wouldn’t want players seeing most of the stuff the first time around anyways. Just a thought, though.

@lokidemon007

A problem that’ll take a few months to become apparent?

You’ll just have to wait and see, won’t you?

@Torahammas
Yes, it most certainly is! Thanks for the catch

@LewisGraham

But I’m wondering if I’m missing something, because people keep talking about characters and romances that I can’t for the life of me find in the demo no matter what choices I make. No matter what I end up at the same of two situations where the demo ends. Am I just blind or what?

No stuff in-game, yet. A lot of spoilers and character previews/questions on the tumblr. There’s also a discord where some of us hang out and chat, sometimes about SoS, sometimes about random things like drop bears.

@Jeremy_Stumbaugh

wow just playyed this and its fantastic!

Glad you’re enjoying it!

@rosemary_and_sage
This was great for a laugh! Thanks for sharing it

AHEM.

The Update as of 8 August 2018
First of all, you may have seen some of these changes as I sneaked some of them in at earlier times. However, this is a comprehensive list of changes since the last official update.

CLICK HERE FOR THE CURRENT DEMO

Also, while I updated the game on dashingdon.com, I could not use the compiled version. I recommend using the link above rather than the dashingdon version for the full effect and more save slots. Overall wordcount now spans 300k+ The trial scene, which is the main addition, is over 90k words with 256 total variations.

As always, if you spot a typo, bug, or there’s something that flows funky/weird, or you have another suggestion, please let me know! This is only a first draft of the game.

Plot updates :

Summary

We’re almost done with part one of the fae flashback. This includes both the village route, the skipping route (which is not a route of equal length intentionally), and the trial. Still to be done to finish it is a conversation scene with Ramiel in his cell, and then part one will be officially complete.

• All of Laniwynn’s solo branches are complete and available

• All of Leochlan’s paths have been revamped to fit better with the style and length of Laniwynn’s (each scene more than doubled in length)

• The trial scene has been completed. There are 3 primary branches based on if you went to the fae village and returned with Ramiel, if you went to the fae village and returned without Ramiel (and know his secret), and if you have no idea what is going on (skipped the fae village completely or left right away).

• The dance with both option is now available. No, this does not lead to a poly scene with the fae twins.

Scene edits :

Summary

As a player pointed out in the forums, the choices made during the first scene picking your combat proficiency was not well-reflected in the pre-battle text of the second scene. This is undergoing revisions (and will finish with 200+ new little combinations for how the scenes can play out)

Due to some variable changes (see below), the scenes revolving around choosing sexual and romantic attraction have been revamped.

• You can now choose to be asexual and aromantic (NOTE: This will not allow for any variation of romantic paths, but includes platonic paths)

• You can choose to be asexual and romantically attracted to people–this will effect relationships, though you can still choose to be physically intimate/

• You can choose to be aromantic and sexually attracted to people–this will effect relationships, some more than others, and may change the availability of some characters who require romantic feelings for a serious relationship (TBA).

• You can choose to be romantically and sexually attracted to people.

• 2/32 combinations from Scene Two: A Host of Hunters have been revamped to fit better with earlier choices. These are currently sneaking behind the enemy with either a morningstar or a staff. Each weapon tactic combination will have eight new variations that support the eight choices you can make during the first scene (four initial skill choices, then two trait choices). The rest will be rolled out as they are completed.

Under the hood :

Summary

The stats screen was heavily revamped to provide a cleaner flow. New things (listed below) were added to it. More variables were created.

• For those interested in having a more-than-strictly-platonic relationship with a character, there are now two components to that: a sexual attraction and a romantic attraction.

• In the same vein, there are now more variables for tracking how those relationships are proceeding. Yippee!

• The stats screen now includes a character description, just in case you forget what you look like.

• The stats screen also has more sub-menus so the first page doesn’t look like a bomb went off.

• Skills now include a verbal description for all the different variations of Angel Blades. Also, you have some higher skills to better reflect your rank as an archangel. Level up! ((Rank 5 does not have the text yet, but you can’t reach that rank quite yet either ))

• You will have a base wing color of white and an Angel Blade of a spear if you feel like looking at yourself in the stat screen before you can choose these.

• There is now a romantic relationship sub-menu if you are interested or possibly interested in someone. This also includes aromantic relationships that are more than platonic.

• Your traits now come with a verbal description.

• Your characteristics now come with a verbal description.