The Porthecrawl Witness - Entering Beta

[XaosMinion]

Wow, you’re fast!
Tested this, and I’m happy to say that its work.
Thank you!

[Isabella_Taylor]

I can literally never find physical descriptions of the ROs on Tumblr ever, could someone link me to where they are? All I could find were the heights. I like my MCs to look significantly different from the ROs (and other characters if possible) and I haven’t played in awhile.

[Jeeshadow1]

Another great chapter! Also things are getting real crazy now. Not excited for some choices I think we will have to make lol

[respite-and-nepenthe]

@Isabella_Taylor I don’t think I have them posted anywhere, unless someone else has put something together. But I am working on some character boards today that should be an answer to this! They should be on Tumblr later today. I hope that’s helpful! I’ll be sure to include some more concrete details of their appearances

@Jeeshadow1 Thanks! Chapter 7 is the kick-off for a lot of things Good things. Bad things. Chapter 8 will probably be posted once I get the first route of the beta up and running.

[Mistral]

Hiya Sadie! I really loved Chapter 7 and how we get to spend more time with the ROs than ever before <3
I have two questions, though: are there any more encounters possible with Asher, apart from when he pulls us into OP and when the MC is on the bridge in Chapter 7? I know he’s introduced later in the story; and since he’s a RO option, maybe his route just takes longer to kick in?.. I’m just wondering if I’ve missed choices that make it possible. Also, will there be more options for our MC’s appearance, apart from picking their hair color? Stay safe and good luck with everything

[respite-and-nepenthe]

Hey there! Okay, so chap 7 just has the little cameo of Asher, but he’ll definitely be showing up again soon. I think you could safely say that Chap 7 or 8 is really the jumping off point for him. There will be one or two more options for the MC (at least in book 1). One of them might actually be in Chap 8, I think. Thanks and you take care, too!!

[slizard]

Hello! Was playing through and I got this error, it was a little bit after Talbot returned with the soaps and the last choice was the one that caused it. (: I have really enjoyed the demo so far (and did two other playthroughs without encountering any errors), I appreciate the depth of characters and the pacing at which the relationships with the MC are being formed!

[respite-and-nepenthe]

Beta Testing INFO

UPDATE: All beta spots are filled for the time being! Still getting back to some of you, but I’ll be in touch shortly! Thanks, everyone!!

It’s getting close to that time, y’all…

I’m finishing up getting Quinn’s route test ready! Now, the release is still a week or so out, but I wanted to get things ready to go.

So, the way it’ll be done is that I’ll basically upload the route to Dashingdon (same website as the demo) as its own story. That way I don’t have to worry about disabling the rest of the routes and we can all have a free-for-all with everything achievable in that particular route.

1) If you’ve already contacted me about beta testing - don’t worry. I got you. I’ll go back through my messages and send you a link to the route once it’s live. I would still prefer feedback via the email, however.

2) If you’re interested in beta testing and haven’t already contacted me, I’ll post the Extra Official Porthecrawl Witness beta testing email below. Shoot me an email there and voice your interest.

Now, obviously , if you want to be super shady, you could send the email, get the link, and just have access while providing no feedback. That’s possible. I can’t stop you. But just know that I see you and I’m shaking my fist at you to get off my lawn while grumbling into my coffee cup. You’ll also be claiming the spot of someone who wants to provide feedback.

I understand that beta readers are doing a MASSIVE service for authors and that you are doing this out of the goodness of your hearts. There’s zero obligation to do more than your individual lives have time and motivation to provide. Even a little feedback is a huge help to me.

What I Need:

( Short answer: everything. constructive feedback, continuity errors, coding errors, even glaring typos. A lot of this may seem familiar, as its what is regularly asked for by CoG/Hosted authors )

1. Screenshots or details of typos, grammatical errors, or coding errors/glitches.

2. Details on continuity that disrupt the narrative’s flow. Did something happen that shouldn’t have? Should something have happened? (Please note, this is not what you wish would happen. But if, logically, something should occur or be addressed)

3. Choices that should have been available but were not. Respectfully, I ask here that you keep in mind the limitations of the story and coding. But if something should be said or done by MC, but the choice isn’t there, let’s talk about it.

4. Balancing Issues. Does relationship progression seem to be triggering organically? Too fast? Too slow? Are stat checks too high/low? If you could keep track of your skills and relationship levels at important points, that info would be helpful.

5. For any LGBTQ+ readers (only ever if you are comfortable), please feel free to guide me in better tailoring scenes to provide fulfilling representation, rather than having to read a ‘blank slate’ character. This goes for the MC or in interactions with other characters. Should something be discussed or mentioned by characters, rather than glossed over in text? Would you rather something weren’t acknowledged? What will make this feel responsive and real to your experience?

What I Don’t Need:

1. Suggestions about the plot or characters. It is so, so very important that readers don’t (even accidently) put too many ideas into an author’s head. Things get very tangled, very easily. I’ve still got another book to write and I don’t want to be trying suss out whether an idea was mine or someone else’s.

2. Anything too vague. I can’t fix anything without knowing details.

Still Interested?

Excellent! My thanks.

I’ll be accepting 15 testers to start for Quinn’s Route. Again, if you’ve already contacted me, don’t sweat it. You’re golden. I’ll be in touch. Maybe 15 is too few, many too many. I’ve never done this before and because I’d like to be in contact with all of you, I don’t want to bite off more than I can chew at the start. I may ask for more later on though!

It’s on a first come, first accept basis. If you don’t get in, you’ll be the first to know if the tester pool is expanded or when the next route becomes available.

I will update here when all spots are filled.

Please email me here if you’re interested:

theporthecrawlwitness [dot] beta [at] gmail [dot] com

• Sadie

[Mistyleaf123]

dang xD
little late this time >->
maybe there’d be more chances later then?

[Trazen4]

Is there a reason why reporting Talbot’s likely theft of the bookto the police isn’t an option?

I enjoyed the game, just don’t get why my character wouldn’t resort to that or other means to get it back.

[Meira_Litch]

Considering you stole it in the first place? Not the cleverest idea mate

[Trazen4]

Wrong actually, the police have zero way of knowing that and it’s extremely doubtful there’s more than 5 people in the whole town who might recognize that specific book, if that.

And getting it out of the hands of an outsider would take priority over all else for a traditionalist/secretive player character, personal consequences be damned.
Really having my character either just basically glare, grumble, beg, or plead to the same result while Talbot acts like a generic school thug about it was just really jarring to me.

[respite-and-nepenthe]

@Mistyleaf123
Yes! Definitely plenty more chances later! I’ll accept new beta testers with each route that opens up. This round is sort of a test run, so I hope to get the process ironed out for next time. I’ll be sure to post each time new testers are needed.

@Trazen4
The main reason for this is that MC doesn’t have any proof. MC may have a suspicion, but there’s not much the police could do, given that outside of MC’s word, there’s no evidence a crime was even committed.

There was meant to be an implication that one or two alternative causes may have been responsible. I’ll go back and have a look to see if I can’t add a little expansion on that point! Talbot isn’t intended to be the only suspect, just the most obvious one. I will also say that is something of a domino/butterfly effect situation, depending on how it’s handled.

[Meira_Litch]

A book as rare as that one in such a small town? Prothecrawl really gives the vibe of being one of those places where everyone knows everything (everyone being the founding families, in this case). Also, I don’t know about your country, but in mine, if you can’t prove the stolen thing is yours, the police will do nothing about it.

In this case in particular it would seem reckless to me to go to the police considering what a small town it is. You do have a point on the traditional thingy, but at the same time, nothing guarantees that the mayor won’t report his stolen book to the police too, and in my opinion, I don’t think it would require a lot of thinking to put one and one together.

[Trazen4]

Fair enough, but I feel that I should point out a thing or two.
Purse snatchers have been arrested based more or less solely on the words of the victim, and Faye can confirm that Talbot was both present in the building and upstairs around the time it likely went missing. Talbot is someone at least known to police and possibly has a criminal record. Getting a search warrant would be far from impossible here, and would almost certainly go through if one involved the Old Families (and screw oneself over too)

@Meira_Litch
In the US you can file a report for any lost or stolen item. Having photos and serial numbers and such is important but you can make a report just from what you remember. Police might still do something even if you can only verbally recall it, it’s more the case that nearly all stolen goods are either discarded or sold which makes them hard to find.

[Neneka]

This combines so many different things I love mystery and fantasy, so I can not wait to see it all finished.

[Gloomcat]

The story hooked me up right from the beginning. And I love Staci! Can’t wait to see how the rest plays out.

[JBento]

I’m pretty sure there’s something missing here, namely more dialogue from Clemmons. Even if she overheard the conversation (which seems strange), there’s no mention of “chatter” anywhere except for that third option.

Slight grammar hiccup. By “they” in “They stand in silent vigil” you mean the trees, but due to the previous sentence it’s actually referring to the MC’s hands.

I have now learned the word “decedent”. LEARNING!

“Very Lestat.” as a description is chef’s kiss.

“known to take place”

There’s something very odd with that last sentence. Feels like there’s a couple of bits missing here and there. I like Aunt Eleanor. She’s funny.

Bonus points for chapter replay option. I don’t feel it’s as important as it would be in other games of a more mechanical bent, but it’s always nice to have.

I think that’s supposed to be “reflexes”, not “relaxes”.

“If what happened”

This part feels weird. My MC doesn’t have to wonder if it was just them, because they saw Darnell falter at the bar. I don’t know if other routes have similar indicators.

It didn’t actually need a miracle for me to not vomit a meal over Quinn’s shoes, because I went out with Staci and we only drank.

Should that be “shouldn’t chuckle” at the end of the last paragraph there?

You have pretty much the same sentence (“It had no doubt been one of the Old Family members who was so bold - and careless - enough to confront Staci so directly.”) twice in this screen, once at the start the other at the end.

“au revoir”

I’m not sure what I’m insisting against here, since Aunt Eleanor never answers the proposition.

“You wish you knew the answer”

I’m very glad Staci is keen to do things to my shirt, but she shouldn’t use two verbs in a row.

Yer killing me here. JUST KISS, YOU INFURIATING BUFFOONS!

Aaaand that’s the end of the demo. I really like this, and I’m curious to know where it’ll all end up.

@Gloomcat Staci really is the full package, ain’t she?

[SpanishBrEaD]

Uhhmm is it just me cuz the link of the demo is dead? I cant access it (ಥ_ಥ)

[Empress_Nightmare]

@SpanishBrEaD

the link of the demo is dead? I cant access it

I can’t either… I think it’s in private for the testing.