Dear Diary, Hi! I was thinking about DDWCAPH again and in particular the whole trait system this game uses for developing the MC! I think it's really neat and not something I've seen in other IFs before. I was curious if this mechanic was inspired by anything in particular or if it's just something you came up with? Hope everything is going well for you!!
Hello there! I'm doing alright, thank you! I've taken a break for some self-care and to avoid burnout, but I'm mostly back to writing again!
History of the Traits System
Yes! It was indeed inspired by an old demo in Dashingdon (RIP) called Set in Stone. I liked how the adjectives in the customization choices in that game were bolded. It's just a simple formatting change that improves clarity, but to me that bold text feels like it was highlighting some important aspect of your character. I remember some planned stuff in the stats screen listing traits like if your MC was creative or attractive based on your choices, but it never got updated past the prologue.
The trait system wasn't in the first version of the game (back when it was still titled TILAEYO), but that's how the idea of traits started in the first rewrite. It was mostly physical characteristics at first, then some twin dynamics like the Leader/Follower Twin. It's mostly for adding flavor text, but somewhere along the way, I decided to put some personality stat bonuses to the traits. The idea is that if your MC is the Leader Twin, your Outgoing Personality will stay relatively high to reflect that, even if you pick reserved choices, and so you don't feel "forced" to keep picking outgoing choices.
From there on, I kinda got addicted to adding bonuses to all the other traits. It always annoyed and bothered me when IFs add all these customization choices which then get forgotten and never acknowledged later. The Traits system is my way of showing the player that YES, I keep track of the customization choices. That's why I also added the emoji markers, to show which traits specifically made certain choices (un)available.
That eventually led to more trait ideas (basically anything that could add potential flavor text later), until I fully embraced the RPG aspect of the game and added the Ancestry/Heritage Traits. It was mostly boring stat bonuses at first, but the introduction of the NP system allowed me to do more creative and flavorful stuff with them.
And then that culminated with the Locket Upgrade system that I'm adding in the next update, which allowed me to be more liberal with adding EXP bonuses. Think of the upgrades as unlocking "traits" for your locket. 😄
Other Mechanics
Since we're on the topic, the secrets mechanic in the game was also inspired by Evertree Inn, one of my favorite mystery CoG/Hosted Games. It has a clue system that keeps track of your discoveries, and the text in the stat screen would update whenever you uncover a new detail. Not all of them were particularly important, which is partly why some of the secrets you can discover in my game aren't always plot relevant. It also fits the diary theming, so there's that. Not everything in your diary is super important, although some of them could be foreshadowing later, hehe.
The Trinkets mechanic was partly inspired by the game 'The Binding of Isaac', which had trinkets you can collect for a minor passive bonus, although you can only keep one or two at a time. So that's why the random collectibles also give you minor bonuses. It didn't make sense for MC to only keep one trinket, but the idea sort of stayed now that I've added the Souvenirs.
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Anyway, thanks for sending in this question! I'm still very much alive, I just keep adding new stuff so that's why it's taking a while. 😅
It's been a few weeks now, since Mr. Spencer Sir put me in here. I feel like I should be freaking out more than I am, but it sort of makes sense, doesn't it?
I mean, I know it sounds like brainwashing or Stockholm Syndrome or something, but knowing he cares about me, loves me? It honestly makes everything else so much easier.
I know I should be scared and fighting back, but having all the responsibilities and pain and everything taken from my shoulders is honestly such a relief. I feel guilty saying it, but I don't mind being in here. I almost like it?
It's just so much easier, not having to worry about anything. He takes care of everything, and all I have to do is follow his rules and instructions. So basically what I was doing before, but easier and less stressful.
I was just so tired before, and now I don't have to worry anymore. He loves me and he'll take care of me. Isn't that all anyone could ask for?
Dear diary Mr. Patrick on one of the real bad days.
(I just love mr. Patrick! I like Brody getting a good ending)
9.3.20xx - note
Even after all this time, even after so many other memories, there are still things that hit me in the gut. A kid (god how old was he, 25?) in a suit jacket. He was probably going to a job interview, or maybe on a date.
Sam wouldn’t even be that young anymore.
But,
The time that I spent waiting for him to walk through the door, for something to happen, to just not be alone. It was like it all came crashing back, like I was 18 again and so, so fragile. Like if I didn’t bend to his every whim I’d be left alone in the silence again. Jenna’s a saint, I swear she can read my mind some days and we left.
note to self find her another pair of those socks she likes.
Videochatted with Aries for a little bit, invited them over for dinner. It helped.
Blake’s practice ends at 3:00, so I’ll pick them up and they need some new clothes so that’ll be fun.
God I feel old whenever I see Blake’s style. I’m so far out of the loop. Maybe they’ll explain.
Until then, I’m just here on the porch, listening to Kate practice her drums. For the first time, I’m happy for the noise.
Dani and Rickie are so cool. If I was 12 and friend's with Lily I would def have a crush on 1 of them
Oh wow. I guess it's understandable, but I totally wasn't expecting Lily's parents to be on the crush list! Not sure how Lily would feel about that though. 😅
I'm not gonna mention any spoilers, but believe me when I say that their cool factor will be much higher in the later volumes (especially Dani). 😄
Anonymous asked:
do Roselyna and Wayne enjoy romance movies?
Of course! Well, Rosie especially.
It definitely won't be Wayne's first choice and you'd have to rope him into it first, but chances are he'd like it well enough when he actually gets to watch it, especially if it's a romcom. If it's mostly drama without any action though, he'd probably get bored of it.
what are the crush options' type romance-wise (like appearance and personality)? and will we get to choose mc and twin's type as well?
Hey there, thanks for sending this in!
I was originally going to reply with how I calculate MC's chemistry score with each crush option, but it was getting too long/complicated, so for now I wrote a condensed summary. I'll share that post instead once I'm finished with the update.
I want to make it clear that it's NOT necessary for MC to meet the crush options' preferences, whether it's gender, appearance, or personality. The game will have at least 6 volumes, so there's plenty of time to build up your chemistry score with each of them even if you have the opposite of their preferred traits or started with a low relationship.
If you ask him, Wayne would make up a poem about "How there's something beautiful about every girl", but if he had to choose, he prefers tall girls with very long and colorful wavy/curly hair. Wayne wouldn't go after boys, but he wouldn't reject them either. He'd return the favor if a boy told him he's cute or handsome.
But really, he just wants someone who's funny, likes spending time with him on his many hobbies (singing/dancing/baking/drawing/taking care of birds), and willing to go on fun adventures (or dates) with him around the world.
Wayne's preferred personality stats in-game are Silly and Headstrong, and his favorite genres are High Fantasy and Adventure (plus Fairytales, courtesy of Roselyna). It also helps if MC is romantic (or have halfling/dwarf/draconic/amphibious fae ancestry), but if there's one thing he dislikes, it's someone who gets jealous easily. Before getting together with MC, he'd ask them if it's okay if he can still tease or play-flirt with others (he wouldn't mind if MC does so as well), but of course he'd still try to respect MC's wishes if not.
It's probably not a surprise, but Roselyna's ideal crush is someone who's sweet and romantic, loves cuddling, and enjoys food (especially sweets) as much as her. Her dream job is to be a teacher, so she also admires someone who knows a lot of things. Oh, and just like Wayne, bonus points if they also like dancing, music, and animals. She also prefers boys, but her first crush is a girl, so gender isn't really a big deal for her.
Rosie's preferred personality stats in-game are Emotional and Altruist, while her favorite genre is Fairytales (and High Fantasy by extension). Appearance-wise she prefers someone tall and chubby (and maybe someone with halfling/fae ancestry or nephilim/werewolf/vampire heritage), but it's not a big deal for her either way (unless they have cambion/unseelie fae heritage). The only other dealbreaker for her (more than not liking hugs and being stoic) is someone who dislikes playing with little kids and not interested in having a family in the future.
Lily isn't really interested in crushes, but hypothetically… she'd want someone honest (unlike herself who likes keeping secrets), independent, and not childish or clingy. She's not a big fan of cuddling (or romantic acts in general), so acts of service as a love language speaks a lot to her. She prefers girls more, but on some level, she also understands why someone would like boys like Wayne. Other than that, she has no big preferences when it comes to appearance.
Besides having an interest in sci-fi and mystery, she'd also vibe well with someone competitive—and not strictly in academic terms. Unlike Rosie though, she has little to no interest in having a family, although she could be persuaded.
JM also isn't interested in crushes, but that's mostly because he's too focused in his studies. But if he is, he admits that he'd like boys like Wayne—minus his silliness, stubbornness, and troublemaking tendencies. That's the one thing he dislikes the most. As with Lily, he also doesn't have any big preferences appearance-wise, though he wouldn't mind if a girl liked him either.
JM's preferred personality stats in-game are Disciplined and Sensible, and his favorite genres are Mythology and Supernatural, so he'd like someone who shares his fascination with the creepy and the supernatural (and thus MCs with divine/supernatural/unseelie fae heritage), especially if he can be competitive with them… but maybe not too much. JM's love language is words of affirmation, so nothing motivates and cheers him up more than a compliment, reassurance, or praise telling him a job well done. You know, things he never heard from his father.
Unlike the other members of F6E, Brandon/Beatrice doesn't really have any gender preferences when it comes to crushes. They also don't have any big preferences regarding appearance, but that might change as the story develops. It does help if MC is the creative and competitive sort, especially if they're also great at swimming and loves giving gifts.
Brandon/Beatrice's preferred personality stats in-game are Honest, Emotional, and Silly, while their favorite genre is Superheroes. But the most important part? You need to accept B's sidequest no matter what, or else they will never have a mutual crush on MC. B would also have considerably more interest in MC if they don't have a bestfriend, but if they do, they'd prefer if it was Roselyna or Wayne instead of JM or Lily.
When it comes to crushes, Cordelia prefers girls (and non-binary individuals) much more than boys. And ideally, a bit chubby and much taller than her with long braided hair—the beauty standards in her culture. Speaking of, she'd be slightly more interested if MC has dwarven or halfling ancestry, or at the very least, has elven/gnomish/goblin/draconic/woodland fae ancestry.
Cordelia's preferred personality stats in-game are Warm and Altruist, and her favorite genre is Adventure (as well as High Fantasy, considering her origin). Given her work, she'd also like someone who shares her interest in animals, cooking, healing/helping people, gift-giving, and especially music. Music is a big part of her culture, so look away if you pick the Musical Averse Trait!
Cham struggles with the concept of crushes, but it'd be a lot easier explaining it to her if you are romantic, and bestfriends or mutual crushes with Wayne. That said, they don't have any preferences gender or appearance-wise, although she'd find it interesting if MC is also genderfluid, have nephilim heritage, or short like Wayne.
She loves hugs (although it's more tackle hugs than cuddling), but when it comes to love languages, she's much more receptive to words of affirmation (receiving) and quality time (giving). They also struggle a bit with other human concepts, so they'd feel less awkward if MC has the Needs Improvement Trait.
Cham's favorite genre is Adventure (and Mythology given her origin), and their preferred personality stats in-game are Silly and Altruist—not Discipline though. She's a troublemaker at heart, and although they have a pet hellhound, that doesn't mean she doesn't retain her aversion to imps and demons (or Cambion/Unseelie Fae MCs) since that got part of her wings torn off.
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As for the other two crush options… you'll just have to wait for now! But for MC and Twin's types...
I'm not planning on a choice like that for MC as you can just choose whoever they are interested in, but if you confess to your twin about your crush(es), you will get the choice of what you like about them the most. And in the next update, you will also get the choice of what you think about their appearance after accepting their crush sidequest.
As for MC's Twin, I've already mentioned in the FAQ that if they do have a crush, it will most likely just be a minor character as that's not something I want to explore (I'd rather leave that to headcanon). But now that I think about it, I might give the MC the choice to tease their twin about what their type is, which the Twin will jokingly deny (of course, MC's Twin having no interest in crushes is always an option).
Do you know what D&D (Dungeons & Dragons) alignments are? If you do, then what alignment would you assign to everyone?
I think I'm familiar enough. I don't think there's a set definition for each of the alignments that everyone agrees about (?), so I'll just go with my interpretation of them.
Anyway, this is going to take forever if I actually do everyone, so I'll stick to just F6E + B.
Chaotic Good no question. Wayne just wants to have fun most of the time, but he always tries to make sure no one gets hurt when he does his shenanigans. He might lean a bit closer towards Neutral at times when he tries to bend the rules, but if he does something stupid, it's almost never with bad intentions (especially with Roselyna around).
Even after what B did, he doesn't want to outright hurt them (even though he might joke about it), but he's not afraid to do it.
Rosie's probably somewhere in the middle of Lawful Good and Neutral Good. Ideally she'd want to stay nearer to the lawful side (especially since she's an altar girl), but it's not very hard to sway her opinions when it comes to certain things. Case in point: MC telling Rosie how to deal with B.
She might also be unaware that she's being manipulative at times, but that'll happen less as she grows older.
Lawful Neutral. Well, at least at the beginning of the story. Okay, this is probably the most confusing to me because lawful could either mean following the actual law or having a strict moral code, but either way, I can't explain it properly without spoiling anything.
But True Neutral wouldn't be exactly wrong either. Or maybe Chaotic Neutral depending on your choices later in the story. I dunno, all I'm sure is that she'd stay mostly neutral.
Lawful Good, but shifts towards Neutral Good when we finally visit his story world. I mean it's pretty obvious why he'd be Lawful Good, but again, explaining the shift would be spoiler territory. And the reason is probably not what you think it is.
Hmm, this is a bit tough, but like Lily, I'd say they're anywhere between the neutral axis. You might be correct if you say B is somewhere between True and Chaotic Neutral, but it's not that simple, especially when you finally discover the real reason B got exiled from the group. And it's not just me being indecisive or misunderstanding the alignment system. It's just really hard to talk about without ruining the reveal.
