Locked out of quests at the end of cycles?

[pakoito]

I've triggered the end of the second cycle, now Boro has lit the idol. The problem is, the bat-like lady had just showed up and is waiting for a cuppa tea (the pomme one). I have the cuppa ready but I cannot interact with her anymore. Can you really be locked out of quests when these circumstances happen, or is it a bug?

[nehalennia 🌌]

I had the exact same thing. Wanted to fill in a bug report but the form mandates a Google account. But yeah, seems like the Bat quest overlaps too much with the end of that chapter. I made the tea for nothing :/

[thecreatorlynn]

Oh my god Im not the only one who experienced this. While I'm not entirely sure if it is a bug, it definitely feels like some kind of design flaw or oversight that they did

[ButchJack]

Same here, I was trying to load the auto-save, but I had no luck with that...

[Ramen Llama]

Same thing happened to me. Feels unintentional, given the fact the game gives you the option to progress. I hope it gets patched, though I'm already past that part now.

[AngelDormante]

Wait, I gave her the pomme tea for sure, but shortly after that I had to progress with the shrine. Was she supposed to have more quests after that? I was definitely thinking to myself how her storyline seemed weirdly short and unresolved :(

[Mijj]

Originally posted by AngelDormante:

Wait, I gave her the pomme tea for sure, but shortly after that I had to progress with the shrine. Was she supposed to have more quests after that? I was definitely thinking to myself how her storyline seemed weirdly short and unresolved :(

Sorry to spoi but for a vast majority of characters it seems that the quests stop at some point. I mean, the shrine is up to be used but you didn't have a final request for some characters...

[AngelDormante]

Originally posted by Mijj:

Originally posted by AngelDormante:

Wait, I gave her the pomme tea for sure, but shortly after that I had to progress with the shrine. Was she supposed to have more quests after that? I was definitely thinking to myself how her storyline seemed weirdly short and unresolved :(

Sorry to spoi but for a vast majority of characters it seems that the quests stop at some point. I mean, the shrine is up to be used but you didn't have a final request for some characters...

Well yes but usually they have like 5+ quests before they stop, I’m saying the little bat girl only had like 2 or 3 foe me before stopping and I’m asking if she’s an outlier or if there was supposed to be more

[zyrafowe_sny]

I'm playing on PS5 and also wasn't able to give her the pomme tea that I made once Ren stopped talking. :(

[bender]

I think that’s intentional. You’re not supposed to fully complete every single request — that’s not what the game is about. At some point, a new cycle begins, and you just have to let go of the unfinished tasks. I actually found that to be brilliant and humbling.

The game encourages players to let go of the need for perfection and accept that not everything can be completed—a concept that can indeed make one reflect on their own limitations and priorities. It frames the incomplete tasks not as failures, but as part of the game's deeper message...

[AngelDormante]

Originally posted by bender:

I think that’s intentional. You’re not supposed to fully complete every single request — that’s not what the game is about. At some point, a new cycle begins, and you just have to let go of the unfinished tasks. I actually found that to be brilliant and humbling.

The game encourages players to let go of the need for perfection and accept that not everything can be completed—a concept that can indeed make one reflect on their own limitations and priorities. It frames the incomplete tasks not as failures, but as part of the game's deeper message...

I sincerely hope that is not the case. I realize that this is the Stanely Parable devs so that may full well be, but I don't have to like or agree with it. You find it brilliant and humbling and that is your right. I find it irritating and against the game's OTHER message of slowing down and not over-extending. How does incentivizing me into doing things in a specific, undisclosed order facilitate relaxation and acceptance? What does it have to do with burnout? How does that teach me about priorities when I have absolutely no idea what to prioritize, just the sudden knowledge that I HAVE to prioritize SOMETHING or I will be rushed along to the next part?

I am COMPLETELY fine with not getting closure on everyone's story - it's not what I want, it's sad, but it's realistic. I like that design choice because it reflects my actual limitations - the limitations of Alta’s ability to connect with or help these people. But if locking me out of even talking to characters unless I do things in a very specific order is a design choice, it's not a reflection on MY limitations, it's a reflection of the game deciding to force them. It's putting an arbitrary ruleset and restrictions in the game for no real reason.

[Zadoen]

Same thing happened to me. I had exclamation marks above the bat an the mechanic(?)'s heard before i triggered the shrine by speaking to Boro.... I had only served one tea to each of them, never even learnt their names.

I know the game makes a point about impermanence and such, but forcing me to proceed seems at odds with the other game's message of "taking your time". Hopefully it's just a bug, but I've already moved on :/

[Neromishi]

I couldn't give the bat character the pomme tea because the moment I talked to ren, it triggered boro and wouldn't let me continue her quest.

[Orks87]

Same...

[Fluse]

I have the same issue. And the fact, that after lighting the shrine, I was still able to talk to Boro about the Miracle Pomme Quest makes it for me not part of the design, but a bug. Otherwise that talk also should not have been able afterwards.
So for now I stopped playing at that part and sent in a Bug Report. No answer to that yet, but I hope for a fix for that.