I’m rarely making choices in this game

[Dr. Octagon]

This game has so much going for it. The art, music, lore, characters, and story are incredibly engaging.

But I’m in chapter 4 now and I’ve noticed that my ability to actually make choices is becoming more and more nonexistent because I usually don’t meet many of the requirements. So when four or so choices appear, I can usually choose only one because the other three are often locked.

I understand this is somewhat my fault for choosing choices that didn’t build up the requirements it’s asking for, but it’s leading to an incredibly unsatisfying playing experience where I’m considering just quitting. If I essentially can’t change outcomes because I’m being railroaded into one choice (or maybe two possible choices out of four, if I’m lucky) then it doesn’t really feel like a CYOA.

It felt like the game in the beginning was teaching me that willpower was an important mechanic and was often an option. Now, willpower is rarely an option. What makes it worse is the choices I’m getting railroaded into give more willpower but I can’t retain more of it because I’ve been at the 30 cap for a while now. I often look at the high requirements to make choices that are locked for me and it baffles me how it’s even possible to meet many of them (I’m nowhere close to meeting many of them). And the areas I am high on seem to rarely be one of the requirements.

I’m just starting to get disappointed in what has been a good experience up till recently because it now feels I’m being railroaded into certain outcomes that I can’t control because I rarely have the ability to actually make choices due to the requirements.

Basically, the game doesn’t feel balanced in its requirements. Removing the ability to CYOA in a CYOA game seems like an odd game design choice.

[Dragon Master]

Are you playing with consequences hidden?

I personally find satisfaction having them on and at the start of a chapter to look at the destinies page and see the requirements to achieve a specific ending and then try to do that.

It's a lot harder than you'd think, even with consequences on, but it definitely feels like your choices matter because you're working towards a goal.

[tmb48]

In general, after a certain point, having your stats too low tends to do that. I still remember the time in my third commoner run where I died for 1 Scheming point in chapter 4 because I had overspecialized in Manipulation.

[Dr. Octagon]

Originally posted by Dragon Master:

Are you playing with consequences hidden?

I personally find satisfaction having them on and at the start of a chapter to look at the destinies page and see the requirements to achieve a specific ending and then try to do that.

It's a lot harder than you'd think, even with consequences on, but it definitely feels like your choices matter because you're working towards a goal.

I don't have the consequences hidden, but I'm not looking ahead at the destinies page, so I guess that's my mistake. I'm just reading the story and picking choices as they come up.

I guess I overspecialized in certain areas and I definitely saved up too much willpower thinking it would come in handy later. I'm going to finish the game, and I think it's good overall. It just sucks that lately there have been a bunch of times where there are 4 choices, but I can only choose 1 (maybe 2, if I'm lucky) because I don't meet most of the requirements. It has taken the fun out of it. I'm not saying the requirements system is a bad system, but it does feel like the requirements are maybe too high and willpower isn't used nearly enough.

[Dragon Master]

Originally posted by Dr. Octagon:

Originally posted by Dragon Master:

Are you playing with consequences hidden?

I personally find satisfaction having them on and at the start of a chapter to look at the destinies page and see the requirements to achieve a specific ending and then try to do that.

It's a lot harder than you'd think, even with consequences on, but it definitely feels like your choices matter because you're working towards a goal.

I don't have the consequences hidden, but I'm not looking ahead at the destinies page, so I guess that's my mistake. I'm just reading the story and picking choices as they come up.

I guess I overspecialized in certain areas and I definitely saved up too much willpower thinking it would come in handy later. I'm going to finish the game, and I think it's good overall. It just sucks that lately there have been a bunch of times where there are 4 choices, but I can only choose 1 (maybe 2, if I'm lucky) because I don't meet most of the requirements. It has taken the fun out of it. I'm not saying the requirements system is a bad system, but it does feel like the requirements are maybe too high and willpower isn't used nearly enough.

Ah.

Yeah, it's actually better to be a little more balanced in your stats in the first two chapters, with the second having the stat being the focus on the playthrough you want to do, but you still want at least 2-3 in either perception or determination (your weakest) and at least 4 in your strongest attribute in chapter 1 and 6-8 spirituality, nobility or ingenuity in chapter 2.

That will give you 6-7 in your weakest skill for your career and 8-11 in your strongest at the start of chapter 3, and you should easily get your attributes up higher over the course of chapter 3 and 4.

[Iso Koala]

Well, I feel the same. The game has "choices have consequences" aspect in it for sure, but most of the times, you really dont have a choice. Even if I study hard the Destiny options, they really arent achiavable to me, since to get that +1 to some needed status, I would need to have 14+ in some other skill that I didnt know was necessary, and then the option is locked from me, and I just gotta roll with whatever I am given.

Most annoying was at the very end of the game, there is one stat which is capped at 3, and I had it 3+++++ all the time. If meter had allowed, it would have been like 7 or something. But there it was, stuck at 3. And then game asks me to throw everything away, or get -1 to that 3/3 stat. And by getting -1 to that, I cant get the good ending. It was pretty middle finger moment to me and I felt like not doing second run due to that. The actual control is so low actually that I can just press the buttons and see story go on, withmy actions really having no control at all.

[Coffee Break Hero]

I actually feel the other way...
I would have had like 24 theology by now if theology wasn't capped at 20 and I'm in the middle-end of chapter 4.
I'm in the father mark scene and i have
18 14 20 17 14 13 two deaths.
I'm good with numbers though and I played a bunch.
Still, first playthrough I got a pretty good noble ending (united the family though. easier than getting ennobled by the sword)

I honestly feel the game is balanced perfectly to deliver the narrative impact of how hard a decision should be.
Defeating Otton, an Arknian who battles all his life should be a nearly impossible feat, and it being so serves as a storytelling device

[Dragon Master]

The way I see it, the game definitely has consequences, and when it feels like we don't have a choice it's because that situation is a consequence of our previous choices.

[ekRapid]

This game isn't about making choices. It's about meta gaming stats collection, Until you get the ending you want.

[Coffee Break Hero]

Originally posted by Erez Kristal:

This game isn't about making choices. It's about meta gaming stats collection, Until you get the ending you want.

maybe it's about the forces that limit a man's choice, and the forces that bind the consequences, and making you question "who really decides"

In history you rarely find those who made all the right choices and still failed. Nobody writes a book about them

[Doomsayer]

Your choices have consequences - this includes the choices you make earlier in your life. If you decided to play as someone lazy who made no effort in their early life, obviously they're going to be completely incapable in their later life, just like in real life.

[Coffee Break Hero]

Originally posted by Doomsayer:

Your choices have consequences - this includes the choices you make earlier in your life. If you decided to play as someone lazy who made no effort in their early life, obviously they're going to be completely incapable in their later life, just like in real life.

well, i worked very hard to better myself as a teen, and I'm still quite incapable as an adult. sad lol

[Stefan]

The game took a downturn after the first two chapters. Not only am I not allowed to choose, but what I get to choose is crap. Don't want to give away spoilers, but here's something: after you're with a girl as a priest, you can't even acknowledge what you did but have to choose that it was an illusion. The girl is supposedly in love with you but our relationship was at -1, now it's at -2 after the latest choice (distaste). You're in love with someone you don't like?

Another choice I was forced to make was the execution of a witch who made plants grow faster. I chose to support the New Faith and that's against my want, yet to save her, you needed to have a bunch of qualities that were off by 2 points. Useless.

And why did the inquisator Ultrich picked me instead of going for someone experienced and who is a zealot like him? He also picked Jeanne who is a freshman.

Luckly I bought the game on discount on Epic Games, otherwise, it's not even worth half the price. The writing becomes worse too, not that it was great to begin with.

[Coffee Break Hero]

Originally posted by Stefan:

The game took a downturn after the first two chapters. Not only am I not allowed to choose, but what I get to choose is crap. Don't want to give away spoilers, but here's something: after you're with a girl as a priest, you can't even acknowledge what you did but have to choose that it was an illusion. The girl is supposedly in love with you but our relationship was at -1, now it's at -2 after the latest choice (distaste). You're in love with someone you don't like?

Another choice I was forced to make was the execution of a witch who made plants grow faster. I chose to support the New Faith and that's against my want, yet to save her, you needed to have a bunch of qualities that were off by 2 points. Useless.

And why did the inquisator Ultrich picked me instead of going for someone experienced and who is a zealot like him? He also picked Jeanne who is a freshman.

Luckly I bought the game on discount on Epic Games, otherwise, it's not even worth half the price. The writing becomes worse too, not that it was great to begin with.

Your relationship with Jeanne was indeed not your choice, and was an expression of divine will. The game deeply and thoroughly explores the notion that the love of the twins is a violation of the will of humans.

You did not have what it takes to save a witch in a witch hunting empire. Which is a great thing to accomplish. Try again. Get good.

Ulrich, like many real life people like him, picks people they believe they can manipulate and control. He's a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ bastard that want (almost) everything to be bound to his will alone, and you clearly did not explore the routes of his character. He does not seek equals.

You are a man of poor taste and no culture.

[Stefan]

No need to insult.

And Ulrich didn't even investigate whether I'm on his side and after I sided with the New Faith several times, he did nothing to stop me. I did this until the inquisition power went to 0. So much for strategizing.

I also didn't speak about the relationship with Jeanne but about the reaction about the relationship afterwards. He was in denial, I couldn't pick anything else.

[Coffee Break Hero]

Originally posted by Stefan:

No need to insult.

And Ulrich didn't even investigate whether I'm on his side and after I sided with the New Faith several times, he did nothing to stop me. I did this until the inquisition power went to 0. So much for strategizing.

I also didn't speak about the relationship with Jeanne but about the reaction about the relationship afterwards. He was in denial, I couldn't pick anything else.

Ulrich doesn't care about the old ways being preserved. He cares only that he can subjugate others to his will. I highly suggest you play with the path of will and read what he tells you and try to understand his ideology. Also read what Jeanne says about the path of will.

Did you simply fail a stat check? Humans often interpret their actions after they do them. I think someone without sufficient insight or resolve would neither be able to comprehend that their actions were mandated by the superior will of the silver tree, nor be able to be sufficiently determined to be angry about it.

Regarding denial, I have literally met religious people who have done sexual acts they were so ashamed of they convinced themselves that someone forced it on them, even to the point of false accusations.

I remember mostly getting the option to choose a non-sexual relationship with Jeanne after recognizing you both love each other and that your love is divine so it must be good.

what is the option you wanted to get that you didn't?