Well… I did! my notes in bold.
*Removed all typos you highlighted; thank you so much for that! I already took care of some (violently)
That was fun. Thank you so much again! ![]()
Well… I did! my notes in bold.
*Removed all typos you highlighted; thank you so much for that! I already took care of some (violently)
That was fun. Thank you so much again! ![]()
Hi everyone!
Dropping to say that a small-big update is coming out this week: a new prologue to the game + options to pick for your MC’s cause of death - which will later affect some responses and options you get in the game.
Have a great day!
Haven’t been active for a while due to work, but finally got around to reading the update (some of it), and damn it was awesome! Raven was as annoying as the first time MC met it and I read its dialogue with MC😂 while Death continues to prove they are the best companion one can ask for, either as a friend or as a partner. Things I’ve loved while reading it have been:
Bugs

Typos
happening
did you have
You know
buried
house
soon-to-be
drink
mentioned
So happy to hear you enjoyed it!
And the typos + bug feedback is super helpful. Thank you!
Lmk what you think when you reach Memoriam ![]()
Hey there, patrons of TBOTA!
Hope you are enjoying the new chapter-long update of the Memoriam quest.
If you’ve finished it, want to start a new playthrough, or are new to the game, now is the perfect time to dive into the abyss!
Introducing the Prologue—an overhaul that breathes new life (well, quite the opposite, actually) into the game’s opening scenes.
Choose your cause of Death from 10 different options, each influencing the story, or write your own reason for your demise!
New dialogue options with Death and The Raven! I’ve rewritten the beginning of the 1st chapter for a smoother flow, adding more dialogue choices, including an option to ask Death about how you died.
Lore consistency - I’ve corrected some previously half-baked plot elements.
I love the Memoriam. The problem, and the peaceful solution that I’ve managed to reach without turning it into a tragedy. I love the way it ended on a high note, and the solution is rather clever it its simplicity.
So happy to hear that! I had to hold myself and write that ending last because I was just so full of emotions.
That ending is all about listening to others - and realising there’s always a solution, even if it’s temporary one - especially when it comes to love.
At first I played from old saves so I totally missed the new deaths ah, ah. They all seem so tragic (Where is the good old death in your sleep ? Maybe it’s too simple and it could be a death without much consequences.) but I loved the diversity going from tragedy to no memories. I’ll say maybe by some mischieviousness (new word don’t worry) I typed the name of a certain god in the I only remember one word. Of course I got nothing but it was still fun to do it ~.
I loved the last two updates. First, the characters are well developped.
I still have my 3 big favorites : Raven his sarcasm is so precious almost like his poems but we’ll have to discuss about his secrets, Peisinoe (so much potential and the angst of his orb, I just wanted to hug) and Death so cute planting carrots because why not ah, ah. I totally wanted to see the garden and was happy when we did.
The big advantage is the relationships with and between the characters. It’s well written. Even though I tend to not like the sweet oh sweet personnality of Shelly. You made her endearing. It was nice talking to her and having a large choice of direct interactions and indirect (with Peisinoe). I loved to discover the actual relationship between Peisinoe and Hastur. I definitely want to know more. Specially with the last discovery about Hastur and He Without A Name in Memoriam. If it was only me I would totally push for Peisinoe and Hastur being more close. I want to know what will happen, I’m very curious. And it asks the questions about other characters. Do they know each other or could theure be some links between them we don’t know yet ? Even about Raven and Pepper (Pepper being more suspicious hum in the last update specially because of the orbs…).
Speaking of the orbs : Touching them will have some consequences in the future ?
Same for the “battle” with the priestress ?
Because I could find the third option in Memoriam. And I will agree with the comment on the cleverness of the solution but I only found out 2 options for the battle : fight or surrender. Pretty sure it’s another heartbreaking story. Probably cursed by the curse. My humor knows no shame. And where is the past owner ? Will we end up like him without even knowing how he ended up ? Maybe he is lost or trap in another realm or dissolved somewhere… We have at the same time enough and not enough informations, it’s a perfect teaser. Keep it like that it’s great !
I loved Death’s office and other realms. Their descriptions allowed me to really imagine it. The descriptions of scenery are really good. I would actually love to see it and I totally want to discover and learn about more realms.
On the last two notes, I was a little disappointed to not be able to not touch the orb of Raven (one of my favorite characters) but I understand why and I was actually surprised about Morgan not being awake since Morgan can remember the curse I supposed naively Morgan would still be awake but maybe I’m advancing too much in my own hypothesis ~.
On the dates routes : Death is adorable. I love how sweet the story is taking the time to paint well their story. It was a natural flow. There is nothing bad to say, it’s easy to read and easy to be in the moment. I tested Damien in second and it was fun but either I missed one option either their love path is not detailed/started yet ?
To end : It was really nice the possibility to follow Hastur. You can feel how the MC can become closer of other characters. I had the same feelings in other scenes at the bar, including just before going to Memoriam.
Well but now we want to know more about the curse and this god except there is already many deities in our little merry bands. Not even talking about the ceremonies we need to know more about and still this mysterious voice being the abyss itself who knows ah, ah, ah.
Loved your feedback!! Lol, your insights are fun to read.
Thank you for reading and taking the time to write your thoughts on the game! Hope to see you soon in the abyss.
Thanks ~. As long as it can help ~.
Ok I’m definitely picking the I don’t remember from now ah, ah, ah.
Oh yes, I saved on the “orbs” so when I read them again I didn’t see Raven’s orb.
I’m not sure all characters will be pleased to know we “spied” their dreams. I guess we’ll have to be really careful on how to inform them. And maybe spying the exit just to be sure.
Yes, I was speaking of the one with the Pyriphlegethons. Ok, until then I only won and I’m planning to stay on a win. Back off our bar !!!
A shopping trip with Yaga. I don’t know for who it’s gonna be hell our MC or the sellers ? ![]()
Plot twist evreything has been a dream since the begining and all the characters including the ROs don’t exist
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Damn except if it’s the drink I missed it. I’ll have to replay his path ![]()
Great feedback actually! Your peeks into their dreams will definitely have varied reactions.
Yes! You have to share a drink with the devil to get their romance scenes. ![]()
Having played the update a few times, I’ve come to like a lot about it, though I still have a few issues here and there (nothing major, just mostly word choices I don’t quite agree with.)
Not knowing yet how much the different deaths will affect future plot, I’m a bit ambivalent about which to choose at this point. Aside from the initial conversation with the moth, I don’t see much difference between them. I did at first find Death’s initial monologue to be a bit too plummy, but as I replayed, it began to make more sense (as did his rather insensitive T-shirt) when you consider that it’s an entity that doesn’t have much contact with living, modern humans on a social level. Probably, that’s something that will bother very few players.
I still feel that some of what we’re asked to put up with, particularly when it comes to any discussion of prior bar owners and what’s happened to them being kept from PC, is getting to the point where the PC should be reacting a bit more to being kept in the dark. After the incident with the priestess and the dream spheres, PC should be less willing to let things go. Perhaps that is what looking up the book in the library is supposed to indicate, but there seems not to be any real emotional connection that makes sense. PC should feel at least a bit frustrated, maybe a bit angry with the Raven for consistently shutting them down over this. I also still feel that the check to get the book in the library is too opaque. It’s a “you don’t know what you’re looking for unless you know what you’re looking for” puzzle right now, and it doesn’t feel very fair.
Death as well is starting to feel more and more like a liability, although an unknowing one. The forgetting, the ceremony of remembrance, the unknown tolerances (really, Death doesn’t know how much to drink is too much?) should also be at least beginning to frustrate or worry PC, and right now…PC doesn’t seem to feel much of anything. If that’s purposeful (a consequence of being dead?) that’s fine, but if it isn’t, the character is beginning to feel a bit hollow in their own responses to their needs. With the others they are fine and do feel fully fleshed out, a good example is the interaction with Shelly the first night and with Shelly and Peisinoe when the knight starts flirting with her. Those seem natural and well rounded as interactions. But when it comes to how PC feels about the things that mostly only affect PC’s perception of the others around them…something just feels a little hollow. What is PC feeling for and about themselves? That puzzle piece feels like it’s still missing.
I like the journey to Memoriam, but would like a chance to explore it a little more. I’d like to look at more of the gravestones, and I’d really like to be able to summon more and different books. Books on pyriphlegethon and the Council of Nine in particular seem like they’d be useful to PC and as if (current problems notwithstanding,) they should have been of interest to PC given that they were in a place where that information was likely easily at hand. So while it was nice to get the book on the Abyss, it would also be nice to be able to get books on some of the other aspects of the realms that our Bar connects to and issues that have already arisen would likely be the best way to go about exploring that.
Overall, it’s a very satisfying read in most respects, with a lot of variation and fun, but there are a few blank spots in PC that I think need to be addressed before you get much further and correcting or amending them gets more burdensome.
First off, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback ![]()
I have a ton of thoughts, lol! I’ll make a list to help manage my ADHD.
I plan to treat the player’s causes of death as an origins system, gradually unlocking unique dialogue options later on.
Your observation regarding Death’s introduction is fascinating! Many players perceive them as adorable and harmless, so your perspective is a refreshing take, which I actually really understand!
Totally agree on the need for more ways to actively seek answers! Going to add more options to be straightforward with the Raven and even get some early answers. The curse will also be refined in terms of how it works, to make it less clunky than it currently is (that’s actually my opinion on it but still had to mention it lol)
Regarding the book puzzle in memoriam, it was not intended to be a puzzle at all! Really sorry for any frustration caused. I just planned to lay the groundwork for future books, but it inadvertently became an unnecessarily challenging puzzle.
Regarding Death, yes, they are indeed somewhat of a mess
And they had never experienced alcohol before! Also agree that, just like with the Raven, providing more options for confrontation will give players more control over their character, and that’s a big focus for me.
I’m happy you enjoyed Memoriam! I was worried it might come across as “boring” due to its lore-heavy nature, so I aimed for a balance - but it seems offering more exploration options could only be a good thing
Writing the books and lore was incredibly enjoyable, so you can look forward to more in that chapter.
Your feedback was just spot on regarding areas I need to focus on (and in general), and you’ve REALLY helped clarify my next goals.
A massive thank you for your feedback - it truly was invaluable. Hope to see you again next update ![]()
You will, no worries there! I loved the chapter. If it hadn’t been what it was I’d probably have been begging you for a book-themed bar/cafe option!
Actually, it is an excellent idea ![]()
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Might actually do it, wanted to overhaul some of the less exciting dec themes!
Or, maybe have it as a “would you like to change anything” option after those two have came and gone? Maybe an add on rather than a full change, something to show that the people you help have an effect on you and your bar? (I said cafe because I don’t think there’s generally much acknowledgement still that many people don’t drink or have had problematic drinking in their past in IF. A lot of the time there will be only one nod to it, and that’s PC saying something along the lines of “no thanks, I don’t drink.” I know the option to have it be a dry bar or not a bar at all would interfere with a couple of plot points so don’t take this as a suggestion, it’s just a general commentary.)
Also…if we’re going to be hosting them for a vacation, they’re going to need somewhere to stay. How will that be handled? Will Morgan make another room? On many of my playthroughs, that’s the answer I give when s/he wants to stay, that we don’t have rooms to let.
That’s definitely going to happen as the story progresses!
Shelly is pretty good at making mocktails, and I think the bar itself is more than a place to drink anyway - It’s a place to meet, celebrate the afterlife and listen to Peisinoe, most importantly!
And maybe I should clarify it in the text, but the Librarian and Keeper will come just for an evening out - although they will do it pretty often:)
I mean, they’re Death and I’m already dead, it’s not like they can kill me again.
True, but there are things worse than Death! (the figure and the condition
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Yeah, but they can’t force me to watch Prometheus, either.