^^^ A billion times this. I hate it that even the “forward” ROs sit around waiting for the MC to make a move. The closest I’ve seen to this is in the Supernatural in New York WIP, where, in a couple of spots, you can choose how your LI responds to what you’re doing (with Grey, anyway, because I’ve never tried a different route). I would like it a step further, though, where the RO just makes a move and the MC can decide what to do with it.
Agreed. I love Breach. One problem with the whole stat-based idea is that, a lot of times, I think an answer should affect a stat one way, but the author has it affect it differently. The author’s definition of a ‘fighter’ may not coincide with the reader (example: in Wayhaven’s book 2 demo, “running away” adds a point to the combat ability, while standing your ground does not, and that makes zero freaking sense to me).
A lot of the things affecting stat abilities end up being completely subjective to the author’s definition, which may or may not match reality or the player’s perspective. To me, this causes a huge problem with immersion, because your MC becomes something other than what they should be. So we either need a way around the stats with cheats, an “easy” mode where you can flat out choose your MC’s personality/skills (as in an RPG or D&D where you can add the points as you wish), or the author needs to put a note next to the choice so you know wtf stat you’re affecting and whether it fits your MC (even if it’s something like the old BioWare games, where the top choice is nice, the middle is smart-assed, and the bottom is asshole).
And I might have said this before, but it bears repeating: for God’s sake, if you’re going to make a RO that is sex-driven, physical, and into flings, LET THE MC BANG THEM! Don’t sell us a RO with the promise of FWB or fuckbuddies that builds into an actual relationship, then suddenly have the RO turn into a prude. That’s the plot driving the characters rather than the other way around. And if the author is too uncomfortable with such a relationship, do us all a favor and don’t write it in the first place–it’d be better than teasing something you have no intention of giving us.
Edited to add:
While we’re talking romances and stats–I’d love to see an author who finds a way to divide certain stats. Some MCs are sexually bold but emotionally shy, while others are emotionally bold but sexually shy. I’m not sure how you’d name those stats (maybe I just did?) but it would be nice to have that division, especially in games that are supposed to be romances. It’d even be helpful in games where relationships just play a significant part in things, because it would help flesh out the MC and make it easier for the author to auto dialog when necessary, instead of throwing us out of things by autoing it wrong for the MC.
