There is no need to rush.
Life comes first.
…and will MC Marry?
I’ve thought a lot and had a few discussions with my editor about this. I feel it might take readers out of the historical setting to have a non-patriarchal, non-hetero institution of marriage in the story. But, I also don’t want to prioritize hetero pairings by giving them a marriage option that same-sex pairings don’t have.
So, right now, my plan is to only have the option to marry Enda, the enby royal. They are the most politically advantageous person to marry, and readers can picture the gender dynamics in whatever way they choose. Every other pairing can be romantic and/or sexual, but does not lead to marriage.
But I’m open to input. While I’m trying to maintain a high level of historical accuracy so that the setting is immersive, I know that it’s not fun for people to be reminded of homophobia or heteronormativity when they’re just trying to play a game. So, if you have strong feelings on this, let me know!
What if we take the “help the Romans” path? I don’t think Enda would switch sides. Perhaps another possible marriage between MC and some other noble who sided with them / some opportunistic Roman rich guy’s family might be the way to go if we take this path.
Maybe! Another major nonbinary character would probably be a good addition. Although I promise you I’ve thought through some interesting relationship dynamics if you take Rome’s side!
I would actually take this opportunity to explore the common Roman practice of “forcing allies” to their side with this situation.
This is just my perspective, but being an “alternative timeline branch” world with all factions and forces cut off from the historical sources of power and morality, this presents you with a way to create new and alternative (part celt-mythological) based sources of power and morality.
Celtic Christendom was among the last to adapt to and adhere to such tenants as celibacy… this is the perfect vehicle to explore what might have been different in the realm of marriage and gender norms in your world.
Yeah. It actually is possible for Enda to switch sides. They… go through some stuff.
Hmm… yes. I prefer to bend rather than break historical precedent, but I’m thinking there is space for gender norms to change as a result of the MC’s actions.
Or, without abandoning so much “historical realism”, you could just gloss over the marriage part.
Marriage as we intend it today (a law’s matter/a formal one) wasn’t perceived so in western Europe until early medieval times, when we have documents of many bishops lamenting that the commoners lived like husband and wife without having performed the proper rites.
Of course, on the contrary, the upper classes (and our protagonist is a chieftain), during all ages took particular care in formally recognising their own marriages.
So, no historical realism with gay marriage and no gay marriage with historical realism.
Also, it is now possible to save. Does anyone know if I adding or editing files on Dashingdon clears users’ save data? I’d hate to wipe out saves by fixing a typo.
There are! In fact, it’s already possible to hook up with one character in chapter 4.
But that reminds me, I meant to post this poll!
Which of these ROs are most interesting right now?
Africanus, the Roman envoy
Aoife/Eva, the chieftain
Eoghan/Owen, the Druid
Enda, the royal
Rionach/Raina, the “”“witch”""
0voters
I’m planning to build them all as options, but it would be good to know if there’s a consensus for or against any of them, so I can better spend my efforts.
In addition, right now, I’m not planning for Fergus or Macha/Raven to be an RO. But if you have strong feelings that it should be otherwise, let me know!
Thank you for the update! I found a slight error during my game play. When I chose to stay (saying that the danger will be everywhere no matter what), the game said that I chose to flee instead.
Hi, in Chapter 4, you can hook up with Eoghan/Owen by talking to him while he bathes in the lake. I’ll probably put the first love scene with Rionach in Chapter 5..
Games typically do their “hook up” scenes right before the narrative climax, but I’m spacing them out a bit instead. Because ancient Irish culture had a more casual approach to sex, the stereotypical theme of “We’ve been restraining ourselves for so long, but we might die tomorrow!” doesn’t fit as well. So there are various points where sex can happen, but the emotional climax of each relationship happens after the main conflict, where you choose to stay or not stay together.
The game’s demo abruptly ends after chapter 3,I believe you have not updated your demo yet.
The independent chapter 4 demo is full of bugs,there are many bugs in custom character creator and the remaining chapter.
Think I found an error. In chapter 3, after hunting the white stag, after I try to convince Eva to give up the throne, I can’t progress because the "play again " option pops up.
Also seems to happen when you accept that, Eva becomes the new queen
