#Darna plays DD2

[lehdenlaulu]

Speaking of the DD2 pawns and their personalities...

TRISTAN! 😭

My poor boy has separation anxiety.

Also, he's been bringing up the time he fell in battle (or, to be fair, off a cliff) and how much it bothers him that he failed me, and the other pawns are trying to console him and tell him not to dwell on the past. 😭

And honestly, I love how much pawn banter there is and it pays to switch up the party just to hear all the different possible voice + inclination + vocation + circumstances combinations.

Anyway, look at my girl Indrid, isn't she majestic? (And yes, Tris is lurking in the background, naturally.)

(The Vermundian armor rather fittingly does add to the majesty, hah.)

[lehdenlaulu]

Oh damn, DD2 is the first game that I can think of that avoids the No Periods, Period trope by acknowledging they exist. In a major cutscene, no less, not just in some random item description or whatnot. They could have gone the 'not tonight, honey, I have a headache' route, but no. Nice.

Also, it's been interesting to watch Tristan's dialogue, and on occasion, behavior, change as the plot and his affinity level progress. It's pretty subtle but noticeable.

A while ago this was introduced in his repertoire:

I mean, not dramatically new, but it already humanizes him a bit more: admission that he struggled learning his craft and pride in his current abilities.

Then, while talking to him at my Battahl apartment he said this:

Then this happened:

Which, granted, might not be super unusual, but has never happened to me before. Him just going 'guess what, I'll chill with you in the oxcart instead of walking like the other Pawns'.

And just now, again at my house, he said this:

And I'm honestly a little verklempt. You'll be a real boy yet, my love. 🥺

[lehdenlaulu]

I installed an affinity tracking mod because I was curious about how the affinity system works, and apparently, there are certain thresholds for both NPCs and Pawns, though from what I've seen so far, I can't say I'm much wiser.

My boy Tris here, though, evolved from "Normal" state to "Love" (awww) during the short period I've been experimenting -- quite naturally, too, just from talking and hanging out and exchanging high fives, apparently. Which is nice.

At 644 points, it seems my boy loves me but is too cool to blush about it? Legit. He has a calm demeanor, after all.

At 655? Loves me, still too cool to blush about it (unless you count that tiniest flush on his cheeks but with his coloring, it's difficult to tell if that's affinity-related or not.)

657, though? Now we're full-on in silly, blushy, drunken smile territory. Go figure.

Anyway, you think the Sphinx will accept him if I present him to her as my Most Beloved? Would be easier and more humane than to seal poor Glyndwr in a bottle and haul him up the mountain, at least. 🤭

Would also be interesting to explore the whole Arisen/Pawn dynamic a bit in writing because the themes of free will, servitude, personhood, and consent especially in relation to something as delicate as love are pretty heavy stuff. The premise of this game alone, I mean? Because due to the whole enforced amnesia thing, you don't really know who you were before them any more than they did before you. Hmm.

[lehdenlaulu]

Hell yeah, the sexy armorer guy has started to like me just because I shop with him consistently and sometimes wave hi to him (and maybe for fighting off some goblins in the city? I'm not 100% sure what all affects the affinity). 😎

He left me some hella rare metal as a gift, too. Damn.

[lehdenlaulu]

Today I learned this can happen if you chill in the camp long enough. 🥺

[lehdenlaulu]

Remind me to write the proper impressions post about DD2 when my head is less full of snot and more full of coherent thoughts, but the affinity/romance system is so funny.

First Sven and Ulrika started leaving me letters and gifts outside of my door after I'd only talked to them a couple of times, and now I apparently have a whole-ass accidental harem with Brant, Glyndwr, and his bloody dad (and probably sister too, soon, lbr) joining in. And what's extra funny is the bright red anime blush on the characters' faces that apparently indicates maxed affinity, but honestly rather makes them look like they're very drunk. 😂

Glyndwr also randomly showed up at my door when I happened to be in town and wanted to go on an adventure/date to show off his new bow skills so I wouldn't think I'm out of his league, basically. Bless. I do wonder if this time I have more choice in my so-called beloved than in the first game where my Arisen first accidentally seduced the Duke's wife and then ended up with Selene kind of by default, apparently. Ah well, guess I was luckier than those who were assigned the annoying court jester. 😆

I guess that's the frustrating charm of this game: you only have the two autosave slots so you can't go back and do things differently, so the consequences of your actions -- or lack thereof -- are very real.

[lehdenlaulu]

My beautiful boy got back from his adventure with another player, and got a good review and a sexy new cloak from them. Unfortunately, they also saw fit to give him lower armor that is basically shoes and undies, so he ended up looking like a flasher in that robe. 😂 I mean, that armor was better than what he'd had, but I promptly gave him back his boots and leather pants. You know, for propriety's sake.

I don't remember his ID off the top of my head, but if you want to borrow him, he's Tristan, a sorcerer and a very good boy.