I understand that I haven’t seen the whole message yet from that anon yet, so I’m sorry to you and them if I’ve completely misread this, but please, please don’t feel pressured into making whatever these changes are.
It’s the first chapter and I feel like it’s a little premature for people to be commenting on the way the mc acts. As you say, you were planning for the mc to come into themselves in the next chapters (and I personally feel that there were a range of ways to react to the mc’s lack of control which would no doubt be developed further). The MC has just become the Harbringer, and whether that was by their choice or not, they have been sheltered, and they don’t have control over their life yet. Key word there being yet. From what I’ve gathered from your answers to asks etc..MC is going to have the chance to gain that control through their investigations and through their new role as the Harbringer and future king/queen/royal.
As for Anna and MC’s relationship, personally I really loved it. I’m not entirely sure what anon didn’t like, but if it was how close they were despite the difference in status, then as you said, they’re childhood friends and Anna seems as though she will end up being their sister-in-law eventually anyway (barring any incidents). On top of that, the MC wasn’t even the heir most of the time that they’ve know each other, and there doesn’t seem to be much emphasis on status within the kingdom anyway considering how chill the Queen is.
Again, I haven’t seen the full message and I’m sorry if I interpreted anything incorrectly, but ultimately this is your story and I would be pretty sad to see you overhaul it because one anon was being nitpicky about the first chapter. Unfortunately, this actually seems to be a trend in royal/medieval IFs where people get upset if it’s not completely historically accurate or people are actually nice to each other. Please tell your story the way that you want to otherwise you may find yourself falling out of love with it. You’re a great writer and I love your IF !!
hey...🥹 thank you (and everyone else who has shared their opinion, including the original anon).
I’m not going to lie, I do feel pressured but NOT because of the anon, but because one of my inherent flaws is to try to please people. Again, I realize this is impossible especially when it comes to writing and sharing that with others. But, I pressure myself into trying to do better, be better. It’s due to the way I was raised but unfortunately, it has stuck to me as an adult.
I think it’s fair to say my initial response was too emotional. I admit that I should have waited to post what I did because I’m a firm believer of stepping away first. But I felt embarrassed and hurt due to my insecurities. Which is really fucking stupid on my part 😅 And I was just like “I’ll take the demo down next weekend and do it all again.” However, I’ve been looking at the game and I’ve been reading and responding to yours and others thoughts, and I don’t plan to do a massive overhaul. I’ve spent all of my free time for months, almost a year on this game and it’s world. I also skipped a lot of meals and sleep (not intentionally) but because it’s something I care about a lot.
I agree that if I give into too much, I will lose my passion and this game will die like many WIP. I don’t want that. Especially since this game is how I’m healing from my own loss. I need to write this game, for myself if no one else. That said, I will still consider the anon’s feedback as I work on my game. And I’m still open to other people’s feedback. Always.
Some of the rest of their message, which I will still address on Friday, does have some fair feedback about making more choices available, especially in reference to F. And this is feedback others have given me as well- and I’ve said I do plan to add more choices/reactions.
But, you are right. The demo covers two days. The other chapters are meant to be a month of events/activities and there will be way more opportunities to shape MC. They are not a blank slate and neither are their relationships with certain characters. There are games that allow that though.
I’ve also tried to emphasize that my game is not meant to be historically accurate - it’s just a world I built with elements of history that fascinate me. But I do think I see what you mean about the trends.
Thank you for your message - it does mean a lot. More than I can express through this black hole of a blog.
