Devs - More emotion?

[hollys]

Hi there!
I have been following this game RELIGIOUSLY. Every update, every video, every post, discord, anything.
I really enjoy the demo! My only concern is that it (for me) fell flat emotionally. Yes, I had tension and stress as the player when scavenging, but I wanted to feel more for the characters.
Their stories were so cool but once they were in the house together...nothing. It's like they aren't those people from the intro description anymore.
Example: A therapist who can't do therapy to her client when the client is traumatized or has nightmares. No interaction whatsoever between characters. Not even able to provide therapy for herself. We just wait for that lounge area to be built and then moral is increased passively, without me as the player seeing anything impactful.

Another example, a coach who cant inspire and can't build moral. A dad who can't help his daughter build survival skills or comfort her.

There are a lot of ways to build that emotional depth here and I feel it was missed in this particular area. So much attention went into the zombie's stories or the initial description of the characters, that actual gameplay with characters just didn't feel...like anything.

Side note: I would love to be able to build relationships with characters. Maybe even romances. But I understand if that's not possible. What would be great with this is if relationships gave special buffs that provide hope or comfort naturally. Imagine the death of a father or loved one and how impactful that could be for the character. Maybe they're not able to scavenge for a day because they are held up in bed crying.

Thanks for reading. <3

[Annamatopoeia]

I dunno about the buffs, but it would be nice to have unique dialogue between and among the different survivors.

Right now, they appear to just say scripted one-liners over and over, which is a bit one-dimensional.

[Shadow]

We saw survivors talking to each other in a trailer

[hollys]

Първоначално публикувано от Shadow:

We saw survivors talking to each other in a trailer

true! But I'm not sure if that's just for the trailer. Hopefully we will see more of that in the game!

[Shadow]

Първоначално публикувано от hollys:

Първоначално публикувано от Shadow:

We saw survivors talking to each other in a trailer

true! But I'm not sure if that's just for the trailer. Hopefully we will see more of that in the game!

fingers crossed

[Willowlark]

To add to this, if you really wanted to amp it up, you could consider taking inspiration from Rimworld. Create a system that has the characters independently interact with each other in various ways based on their personalities, the situation, etc.

Now, obviously Rimworld is a story generator, and it isn't going to be practical to go THAT in-depth. You'd only need to scratch the surface-- what's important to them, what are they talking about, how is the environment affecting their interactions. Maybe a character is depressed, and another character tries to cheer them up. Or maybe while two characters sit down to socialize, they end up in an argument that impacts mood.

You have the start of that system in now with moods and morale--I just think it needs to be fleshed out a little bit more.

[Tomato Jockstrap]

Първоначално публикувано от hollys:

Hi there!
I have been following this game RELIGIOUSLY. Every update, every video, every post, discord, anything.
I really enjoy the demo! My only concern is that it (for me) fell flat emotionally. Yes, I had tension and stress as the player when scavenging, but I wanted to feel more for the characters.
Their stories were so cool but once they were in the house together...nothing. It's like they aren't those people from the intro description anymore.
Example: A therapist who can't do therapy to her client when the client is traumatized or has nightmares. No interaction whatsoever between characters. Not even able to provide therapy for herself. We just wait for that lounge area to be built and then moral is increased passively, without me as the player seeing anything impactful.

Another example, a coach who cant inspire and can't build moral. A dad who can't help his daughter build survival skills or comfort her.

There are a lot of ways to build that emotional depth here and I feel it was missed in this particular area. So much attention went into the zombie's stories or the initial description of the characters, that actual gameplay with characters just didn't feel...like anything.

Side note: I would love to be able to build relationships with characters. Maybe even romances. But I understand if that's not possible. What would be great with this is if relationships gave special buffs that provide hope or comfort naturally. Imagine the death of a father or loved one and how impactful that could be for the character. Maybe they're not able to scavenge for a day because they are held up in bed crying.

Thanks for reading. <3

I agree thats what made this war of mine so great.

[hollys]

Първоначално публикувано от Tomato Jockstrap:

Първоначално публикувано от hollys:

Hi there!
I have been following this game RELIGIOUSLY. Every update, every video, every post, discord, anything.
I really enjoy the demo! My only concern is that it (for me) fell flat emotionally. Yes, I had tension and stress as the player when scavenging, but I wanted to feel more for the characters.
Their stories were so cool but once they were in the house together...nothing. It's like they aren't those people from the intro description anymore.
Example: A therapist who can't do therapy to her client when the client is traumatized or has nightmares. No interaction whatsoever between characters. Not even able to provide therapy for herself. We just wait for that lounge area to be built and then moral is increased passively, without me as the player seeing anything impactful.

Another example, a coach who cant inspire and can't build moral. A dad who can't help his daughter build survival skills or comfort her.

There are a lot of ways to build that emotional depth here and I feel it was missed in this particular area. So much attention went into the zombie's stories or the initial description of the characters, that actual gameplay with characters just didn't feel...like anything.

Side note: I would love to be able to build relationships with characters. Maybe even romances. But I understand if that's not possible. What would be great with this is if relationships gave special buffs that provide hope or comfort naturally. Imagine the death of a father or loved one and how impactful that could be for the character. Maybe they're not able to scavenge for a day because they are held up in bed crying.

Thanks for reading. <3

I agree thats what made this war of mine so great.

That's what I'm thinking

[hollys]

Първоначално публикувано от Willowlark:

To add to this, if you really wanted to amp it up, you could consider taking inspiration from Rimworld. Create a system that has the characters independently interact with each other in various ways based on their personalities, the situation, etc.

Now, obviously Rimworld is a story generator, and it isn't going to be practical to go THAT in-depth. You'd only need to scratch the surface-- what's important to them, what are they talking about, how is the environment affecting their interactions. Maybe a character is depressed, and another character tries to cheer them up. Or maybe while two characters sit down to socialize, they end up in an argument that impacts mood.

You have the start of that system in now with moods and morale--I just think it needs to be fleshed out a little bit more.

Agreed! Love Rimworld.

[Shadow]

I'm making fan art for the game. I will post it soon.

[Btoad]

there is a DLC where u get to argue with people and after u finish u get a neat pop up saying ''' So and So will remember that..." :)