#about the game

[ravenstargames]

Is there a 'true' ending?

Hello! I'm new to the game and just finished it today. I'm so far going back and trying to get whatever I missed. I have also been exploring the tumblr a bit but I haven't seen anyone ask so far.

Is there going to be any 'true' ending to the game? If there is, is it for one individual route or will all routes have the same 'true' ending?

I know there will be different routes and when the game fully comes out - multiple ending for each. I am super excited for the full release and extended demos! But I was also wondering if the game will have a 'true' ending. I totally understand if you guys can not answer as it might be asking too much about the lore and overall end of story but I thought it was at least alright to ask.

✦ Will there be a true ending?

I hope you enjoyed the demo! 😭💜 Thank you so much for giving it a chance!

About a "true ending" or a "true route"—it's something that I, as the writer, am trying to avoid, but I think it's genuinely difficult or right down impossible with the kind of plot we have and how we are organizing it.

Our perspective is that there's no such a thing as a true ending or true route in LiL, but I know for certain you all will have your opinions and views of that once the game is finished. At the end of the day, some routes will be "heavier"* than others, and it's possible those routes give off that vibe of "true route", but that's not the plan or the intention! So, I'll work hard so every route has a feeling of "yep, this could very well be the one".

*Heavier as in handling heavier topics or things that can be seen as "more relevant" to the overall plot

[thelonelyshore-if]

Skill Changes

I've been thinking about making a little post about the new changes to skills, now that they're live in the demo. If you're curious, thoughts and explanations are below the cut!

A few months ago, I did a poll and asked folks their thoughts on numerical skills vs. trait-based skills. After a fair amount of thinking it over, I decided I wanted to switch from numerical skills that can go up and down to pure trait-based skills.

Currently I am up in the air on whether you'll be able to improve these skills over the course of the game. I think it's really going to depend on how the game goes and if I feel it is necessary.

Here's a quick overview of how I'm doing things now:

At the beginning of the game, when you're doing your flashback scene with Willow, you'll be able to choose your skills as normal.

Now, however, there are two strong skills, three average skills, and one weak skill. (Previously there was a 'best' skill and a 'good', rather than two equally strong skills)

Each skill picked will give your MC the corresponding trait. It'll be the presence or lack of these traits that will be tested during skill checks.

I'm a pretty big believer in "failing forward", and so most of the time my aim is that, even when a skill check is failed, it opens a path to different content rather than being a punishment or an instant game over.

My plan is to (occasionally) add potential benefits to having a low skill. A skittish (low composure) character might avoid a dangerous situation that any other character would rush into, that sort of thing.

I made this change for a few reasons. One, because I don't really want this game to be one where you have to pay close attention to your skills and have to try and min-max them throughout the game. There's nothing wrong with stat heavy games, but it's just not really my goal for this game.

Two, this just plain works better than numbers in my brain while I'm writing&coding.

I'm not sure if this is the system we'll stick with forever. I like it on my end, but it remains to be seen how it works for players! So I very well might end up switching things up again at some point, but for the moment I'm pleased with what I've got c:

And, to finish off, here's a look at what the new skills screen looks like!

[aoi1dee]

drafting a story for a game is the most stressful thing in the world (it’s not i just have anxiety)

[theoccultz]

The game is still open -slot1 completed

List of people that are in the game :

I.e they have followed all the rules and their ask is accepted (:

awriterwhorarelywrites- J.D

ANON L.P -👾

redwinewhiteroses

Imsodonewiththisskzzzz

Anon TM- 🩸

Lssndr- anon 🔥

Miawiraclz

S.F- ANON .

AR- 🔥

SZ-👾ANON

Marclwrld

SV- ANON 💌

Kiddotarot- 💌

Miraclekey97

Chryseis- lxve

Woowoobirdie

Dapingo

Kawaiifantale

Fortunesheet

>3

I'll keep updating so you're aware

[magicalwarriordiamondheart]

I made this for tikkytock, but you can throw it at people if you want too.

[worlds-largest-juice-container]

deltarune fans when the developer actively communicates with them and straight up says the year the game is releasing: dude we're so insane and schizo!!!! deltarune tomorrow dude we're going crazy waiting for this game!!!!!!! oh man toby dropped another cryptic hint!!!

lisa the pointless fans when ed decides to delay MU another year for more androgynous baddies in the franchise:

[semperintrepida]

This is the worst timeline. (x)

[chongoblog]

WAIT

I JUST REMEMBERED HEARING AN ELON MUSK QUOTE WHERE HE TALKS ABOUT HOW HE BELIEVES CHESS IS "TOO SIMPLE" OR WHATEVER AND HE SAID HIS FAVORITE GAME WAS A GAME CALLED "POLYTOPIA"

I JUST REMEMBERED THAT IVE PLAYED POLYTOPIA

It being Elon's favorite game (or at least one so important to him that his biographer dedicates a lot of time to it) is.....really really funny.

Basically, imagine Civilization, but as a mobile game. So like if Civilization Revolution was even more dumbed down (that's a Civilization insult. That's devastating. It's devastated right now). For what it's worth, it's not a bad game. On the contrary, from what I could tell in the little bit of time I played it, it's a perfectly competent game with good design. But it's not a deep game by any means. I played through it once, won easily on my first go, then saw that the other playable characters had barely any differences between them.

Like, not to imply you can judge a book by its cover, but here's what it looks like

I came across an article by Dave Karpf discussing this exact thing, and I think it describes it wonderfully

[blueeblurb]

a helping hand

[bluesky-out-of-context]

[archi-pelago]

maybe never forgive. but things are different now. so we'll use maybe.

[ravenstargames]

question about MC personality: are we able to get good endings with each LI no matter if we’re more passive/submissive or aggressive/dominant? like if i wanted to play a more submissive MC, would that lock me out of good endings for LIs who prefer someone more dominant in behaviors and flirting?

✦ Are we able to get good endings with each LI no matter our MC's personality?

And the answer is of course! The MCs personality only adds different kinds of flavor to the game and the romances, as well as to MCs character as a whole. River is not written to be a 100% blank slate but we still want y'all to be able to choose how their personality flows to a certain degree :^)

Bad endings will be determined by your Trust Points with the LIs (and sometimes with the side characters), as well as, y'know, some not so smart decisions you can make along the way :^)

[mariorsomething]

moments right before daisuke saves the day and gets all the love and praise he deserves and rescue comes just in time and everyone lives forever the end

[lessmouse]

task complete - sing karaoke

[theoccultz]

Guys pls follow the rules properly, some of you just never get it , I don't wanna delete your ask , I'll only inform you if you have joined THE GAME late !!!