Episode 4 has been INCREDIBLE! (obviously, SPOILERS)

[Kurozora Konoi]

This entire thing is spoilers so I won't be tagging any of these.




I just couldn't help myself, had to play as soon as I got home.
This was such a wild ride. Honestly, it was by far my favorite chapter. I don't even have words to describe how I felt about it.

I guess now I'm REALLY glad I've decided my first, canon and possibly only playthrough will have Reese as my MC's love interest.
It was so strange...
From the very start, I "trusted" the doc - but I basically didn't think she was poisonning her son at all. It surprised me a lot when I discovered she did! I felt so confused since I trusted her so much. Then well... we learned WHY, and suddenly my feelings made sense all over again, but obviously it was hard to look at it the same way anymore.

This is also the first episode since episode 1 where I didn't know the "mechanics" of the game in which I have NO idea on my own about how and where the situation could have been "salvaged" by a trait of the MC. Either I didn't have the needed trait (likely), or I took decisions that entirely locked me out of a path where I could have gotten a "golden ending" to the chapter (if that's even possible). With that being said... While I do have regrets about the doctor dying (is that the thing that could have been prevented had I had the "right" trait?), I can't say I would necessarily want the ending of the episode to change. It was incredibly satisfying in a tragic way.

My poor MC feels more and more guilty about things, sadly - first Tabby losing years of her life to protect him because he wanted to make things right, and now the doctor dying because he wanted to do things right and protect her son and give him a chance at a better life. I really opted for making such a nice guy, so this hurts as hell. But I guess despite the guilt, he himself wouldn't necessarily change his actions either - in the end, he always tries to help and do the right thing.
Honestly, I'm glad I went for that kind of character. Brave, selfless and kind beyond measure. Which isn't... necessarily ideal in such a situation in general. But makes for such an interesting narrative.

I can't wait to read about other ways this chapter could have unfolded and the other ending/s it has. It seems the "situation" at the end could have ended in many different ways, but maybe some actually regroup...

Also, I had my doubts about Sybil from the start, but now she's officially the freakiest character of them all to me.
Heck, her... thing... - whatever her compulsion deal is, really - is way more scary than what the carvings do! She's terrifying.
Interestingly, I think the moment that really made me sweat was the outcome of trying to accuse her of being the cat. The fact we can't even go on with that reasoning, and the way the MC's thoughts are clearly "redirected". Brilliant! And, again, terrifying.

And then there's Stella's past... that one was the nail in the coffin, at the very end...
I felt so bad for actually chosing to tell her about the happenings of the day while she was already distressed but... at the same time, I couldn't imagine my MC NOT needing to confide in someone after what happened and... well, she quickly became someone he considers to be one of his greatest friends. He really needed that.


Yes, I'm rambling as hell!
But well, this chapter left me with so many strong feelings! I adored it! It was so worth the wait!

[RollieOllie]

In my play through the doctor didn't die, and Reese was tranquilized and locked in the safe room. I don't think I had any specific traits that helped me with that outcome though, I have talk to animals and street smart.

[phimseto]

Hot worked for me in that he escaped into the wild but no one died.

[adog733]

I am ashamed of my deductive skills. My first thought was Avery is the cat, after all, he seemed to enjoy being a puppet and he played the part of the entity in the haunted house. As the episode unfolded, it immediately went to Reese but since he's the monster of the week I thought back to Tabitha, she's clearly still hiding something.
But it wasn't until my second world state, who is romancing Kaneeka, that I realized I can't let my guard down. Kaneeka was ready to leave with me and go to the hospital when we were stopped by Sybil, insert eerie music. The pose, the look that she and Miles give us, the way she watches us as we leave her house without her daughter.
I was hoping this be the episode we find out what she is and now I'm terrified because we still don't know. If she's a witch, she's using Jedi mind control on her daughter. Also when I asked the Doc about the ricin, she mentions a woman, and then I blackout for a moment. The only difference besides not having Booksmart, I didn't drink her tea. There is no doubt that Sybil is the cat, but between all the secrets in this town, trust no one.

[Odeum]

It certainly was a trip. In my main playthrough, reese took a shotgun blast to the side of the head, courtesy of tabitha.
I don't know who the cat is. Honestly, I suspect maybe even that cat doesn't know who the cat is.

[wantacchi]

GOD ALMIGHTY. I love Reese with all in me, cannot even begin to EXPLAIN. This episode has to be my favorite one as well, and I gotta tell you I played most options from the closet-thing on haha... I just.... I really wanted to see what happened with every option, and let me tell you, he's so cute and sweet in all of them :'3. Now, as for the main choices regarding his ending, I'm extremely salty!

I just believe that there should be a way to chose to Romance him without that having to get his mom killed. From a writer's perspective, I hate how much that reinforces the "beauty and the beast" trope where the only solutions are to either fix him, indulge in his ""evil"" behavior, or completely oppress him by choosing to lock him up :( I played both choices, let me explain.

As you did, I as well always trusted the doctor, and was PRETTY certain Reese was a monster of some kind that his mom was trying to keep at bay by "medicating" him. I was surprised to know it was poison as well, but it made perfect sense, since he's a beast that can resist this sort of treatment. There's even a dialogue option that will trigger her saying "You're my son, I love you", which simply endorses my feelings regarding her and the fact that she's trustworthy and is doing everything she can to keep her son and the world safe. If she loves Reese and so do I, I'll roll with her saying. So I chose to tranquilize him. I just hated that that implied allowing her to continue locking him up, and even more so only allowing ME to be the one to visit him... That's just toxic, imo, and you don't even get to Romance him playthrough-wise, as in, locking your route. It feels like I made the wrong choice even when... Preventing him to kill his own mother and becoming an ACTUAL monster, is what someone who loves him would do :(

Then, I played again to see if I could not tranquilize him and instead convince him to not kill his mother, but it didn't work out as you know how that ends. It made me angry that THAT's the only way you get to lock your romance route with him, after you've let him do something horrible that judging by how sweet and kind he is, he wouldn't do in his normal state, and that in the end will also keep you away from him, because he escapes! (I mean, that makes sense after what happened, but what I mean is it doesn't feel rewarding in the slightest)

I hope there's an option to lock your romance with him later on even if you chose to tranquilize him, and in my ideal mind, that we do find a way to have him NOT be locked up for forever. This is because, simply put, I'd hate to think the only ways we get to romance Reese are through toxic behavior :(

In the meantime, I'll continue playing with other traits to see if a certain combination leads to said "golden ending", where you romance him and he doesn't kill his mother. I understand sacrifices must be made and from a storytelling standpoint I'd understand if someone needed to die anyway... Just not having him kill his own mom so that you can have a relationship with him, you feel me?

This might sound like a whole-lot of trash, but even with this all, I ABSOLUTELY ADORED this episode, it gave me EVERYTHING. I'm so looking forward to the rest of this thrilling story!!

[Cel-sius]

Originally posted by wantacchi:

GOD ALMIGHTY. I love Reese with all in me, cannot even begin to EXPLAIN. This episode has to be my favorite one as well, and I gotta tell you I played most options from the closet-thing on haha... I just.... I really wanted to see what happened with every option, and let me tell you, he's so cute and sweet in all of them :'3. Now, as for the main choices regarding his ending, I'm extremely salty!

I just believe that there should be a way to chose to Romance him without that having to get his mom killed. From a writer's perspective, I hate how much that reinforces the "beauty and the beast" trope where the only solutions are to either fix him, indulge in his ""evil"" behavior, or completely oppress him by choosing to lock him up :( I played both choices, let me explain.

As you did, I as well always trusted the doctor, and was PRETTY certain Reese was a monster of some kind that his mom was trying to keep at bay by "medicating" him. I was surprised to know it was poison as well, but it made perfect sense, since he's a beast that can resist this sort of treatment. There's even a dialogue option that will trigger her saying "You're my son, I love you", which simply endorses my feelings regarding her and the fact that she's trustworthy and is doing everything she can to keep her son and the world safe. If she loves Reese and so do I, I'll roll with her saying. So I chose to tranquilize him. I just hated that that implied allowing her to continue locking him up, and even more so only allowing ME to be the one to visit him... That's just toxic, imo, and you don't even get to Romance him playthrough-wise, as in, locking your route. It feels like I made the wrong choice even when... Preventing him to kill his own mother and becoming an ACTUAL monster, is what someone who loves him would do :(

Then, I played again to see if I could not tranquilize him and instead convince him to not kill his mother, but it didn't work out as you know how that ends. It made me angry that THAT's the only way you get to lock your romance route with him, after you've let him do something horrible that judging by how sweet and kind he is, he wouldn't do in his normal state, and that in the end will also keep you away from him, because he escapes! (I mean, that makes sense after what happened, but what I mean is it doesn't feel rewarding in the slightest)

I hope there's an option to lock your romance with him later on even if you chose to tranquilize him, and in my ideal mind, that we do find a way to have him NOT be locked up for forever. This is because, simply put, I'd hate to think the only ways we get to romance Reese are through toxic behavior :(

In the meantime, I'll continue playing with other traits to see if a certain combination leads to said "golden ending", where you romance him and he doesn't kill his mother. I understand sacrifices must be made and from a storytelling standpoint I'd understand if someone needed to die anyway... Just not having him kill his own mom so that you can have a relationship with him, you feel me?

This might sound like a whole-lot of trash, but even with this all, I ABSOLUTELY ADORED this episode, it gave me EVERYTHING. I'm so looking forward to the rest of this thrilling story!!

I would suggest trying out the hot trait.

[Lazav, Dimir Mastermind]

Originally posted by adog733:

I am ashamed of my deductive skills. My first thought was Avery is the cat, after all, he seemed to enjoy being a puppet and he played the part of the entity in the haunted house. As the episode unfolded, it immediately went to Reese but since he's the monster of the week I thought back to Tabitha, she's clearly still hiding something.
But it wasn't until my second world state, who is romancing Kaneeka, that I realized I can't let my guard down. Kaneeka was ready to leave with me and go to the hospital when we were stopped by Sybil, insert eerie music. The pose, the look that she and Miles give us, the way she watches us as we leave her house without her daughter.
I was hoping this be the episode we find out what she is and now I'm terrified because we still don't know. If she's a witch, she's using Jedi mind control on her daughter. Also when I asked the Doc about the ricin, she mentions a woman, and then I blackout for a moment. The only difference besides not having Booksmart, I didn't drink her tea. There is no doubt that Sybil is the cat, but between all the secrets in this town, trust no one.

The in game, "That's ridiculous. Sybil is helping you. And if she were the cat, why would she warn you about herself? Pick someone else."
Is very suspicious. Real world, it's a healthy bit of skepticism. In game it's awfully concerning the universe doesn't even let you ask.
An enemy must get close (by stealth or trickery) to stab you in the back.
Alternatively; Jimmy. The Dog is the cat.

[Lazav, Dimir Mastermind]

Observation, with Street Smart and not drinking the tea you do get to ask her about being the cat. This is probably a trait based option. [That is to say I think it's the Street Smart rather than not drinking the tea]. Though narratively the tea makes more sense.

[Blackhawk]

Originally posted by Lazav, Dimir Mastermind:

Observation, with Street Smart and not drinking the tea you do get to ask her about being the cat. This is probably a trait based option. [That is to say I think it's the Street Smart rather than not drinking the tea]. Though narratively the tea makes more sense.

On the contrary, you were right the second time it is not a trait based option. It is based on whether you drink the tea. Just ask yourself:

Did your PC EVER drank tea in past 4 days?

If not, also consider having a conversation with the good doctor about the beans in the panic room

Absolutely love the storytelling!

[Jackdaw Mask]

I had Tabitha come to rescue with shotgun :'D

[hayakumanul]

im speechless! so intense! aaaaah!
as for Doc - i wasnt gonna let him do it. no matter how pretty this boy is as himself or as a freaking... something. amaizing art, i legimately felt horror. so good! I sertanly can understand her AND him. i saw in comments that hot trait will help me out, but you see i dont really like to see him roaming around freely
also i think that thing that posseses Wayne's corpse is sorta relative to us? unbreakable bond, guardian... eh. or maybe this something is looking for the way to earn our trust.

About romances - i was really hype in the very beginning of this game, few years ago. but now the person i want to spent my time is our cousin. Seriosly, people, try cuz bounding time. But also be ready for others to be not so happy with you, Kaneeka esp.
Still worth it. im not sure how to fell in love with other characters now :D i do find her sus sometimes, but still this girl will give away her years for you if you were simply nice enough with her. its heartbreaking.

[john doe]

i liked and trusted sybil UNTIL NOW. Now i know she is an evil witch that controlls kaneeka she is 100% the cat she was referrring i hope we can save kaneeka from sybil in the next episode.

[Jackdaw Mask]

sidenote, checked the cat thing ye mentioned and to be fair her mind redirect power does have a point, why is she warning about herself :p Like I think its kinda too easy to jump into "Sybil is evil!" while it would be fitting with her description of what the cat is, this game seems to like its twists and that seems to include stuff like making you think Reese's mom is doing something wrong. So Sybil is definitely having some sort of creepy mind control powers, but maybe its less of her being evil and more her being radical means for good end in her opinion. Or she is playing with you like cat :p

Thing also is that she is implying cat is either your friend or family member, is Sybil really close enough to MC personally to be either? If she is "evil", she is clearly trying to make you doubt who you can trust rather than talking directly being coy by talking about herself

That said, if you actually check every single option for cat Sybil refutes every single option except Tabitha. On every other one she basically says "That person wouldn't make sense" but with Tabitha she is like "You should question her motives".

So that kinda explains what she is actually doing: she is annoyed at you doubting her when it doesn't make sense, but she is actually trying to warn you about Tabitha. TBF Tabitha's actions are suspicious even if you manage to get her to like you and there is foreshadowing of her knowingly hiding something. But whether she actively knows anything supernatural is going on is the hard question

That said, there is one extra thing that is creepy if she has mind control tea powers, she has been supplying Tabitha tea :p So perhaps she could make Tabitha betray you

[adog733]

Originally posted by Jackdaw Mask:

sidenote, checked the cat thing ye mentioned and to be fair her mind redirect power does have a point, why is she warning about herself :p Like I think its kinda too easy to jump into "Sybil is evil!" while it would be fitting with her description of what the cat is, this game seems to like its twists and that seems to include stuff like making you think Reese's mom is doing something wrong. So Sybil is definitely having some sort of creepy mind control powers, but maybe its less of her being evil and more her being radical means for good end in her opinion. Or she is playing with you like cat :p

Thing also is that she is implying cat is either your friend or family member, is Sybil really close enough to MC personally to be either? If she is "evil", she is clearly trying to make you doubt who you can trust rather than talking directly being coy by talking about herself

That said, if you actually check every single option for cat Sybil refutes every single option except Tabitha. On every other one she basically says "That person wouldn't make sense" but with Tabitha she is like "You should question her motives".

So that kinda explains what she is actually doing: she is annoyed at you doubting her when it doesn't make sense, but she is actually trying to warn you about Tabitha. TBF Tabitha's actions are suspicious even if you manage to get her to like you and there is foreshadowing of her knowingly hiding something. But whether she actively knows anything supernatural is going on is the hard question

I see your point. That's exactly why I said you can't trust anyone. But for the moment, Sybil is at the top of my kitty cat list.

[Jackdaw Mask]

sidenote, wow I'm wowed by all buttlerfly effects in this chapter.

Like if Roseline lost her leg, the strike isn't going so smoothly because Tabitha now has good rep ._.; Which means the two less serious police officers are at their office and thus ignore your concerns about Stella being missing completely. Also Oscar refuses to check out basement because he doesn't want to take anymore risks.