Missed Content if You Don't Save Your Friend?

[PaulGR]

Possible spoilers up until that point. Only those who finished the game playing both options should probably read on.

Their childhood "romance" seems so forced and cringe that it feels canon to lose your childhood friend. It also makes little sense being already married/about to marry another villager and suddenly the forced childhood romance comes back and the MC acts all smitten, shy and jealous (I understand they were married before? So what the hell)?

I temporarily decided to not save him because it made the most sense based on what Woolby said about risking Azuma (might reload though). I also got Subaru's Hairpin Accessory which feels even more canon. I mean, losing Subaru and wearing his hair accessory to remember him as you move forward feels right. This also allows you to start fresh on your future romantic options and pushing to save Azuma since he/she is no longer in the picture keeping your character background "hostage." It is more poetic losing them and using this as fuel to save Azuma and start new. As opposed to saving them and basically having your ex-lover (who you are married to and is still in love with you) stay around while you romance and have babies with another villager. What a slap in the face...

On the other hand, saving him/her is laughable at best. They make it seem like it is some huge sacrifice (and it should be) yet you only sacrifice either one Bond level, a few character levels or some pocket change for his soul. All of which you can make back in 1-3 in-game days with little effort. After taking the deal with the Black dragon, why is the dragon not back wrecking havoc and stealing runes? It just takes your 5.016 Gold and leaves? Aren't you now also bound to the Black dragon like you are with the White dragon? Make it make sense.

My main concern is how much content is lost after that decision. Do you miss side quests, dialogues, achievements etc. if you don't save Subaru/Kaguya? Is it affecting the ending or your relationship with other characters? Does Subaru/Kaguya do anything of interest if saved? Do they live with you at the temples? Do they take part in the main story or the side stories of other villagers? I play as Kaguya now and I do not have any interest to marry Subaru. I hate forced past romances in such games so it only feels right losing him.

What kind of content is missed if you don't save Kaguya/Subaru?

[VertVentus]

Q: Do you miss side quests, dialogues, achievements etc. if you don't save Subaru/Kaguya?
A: You're locked out of 100% since marrying them (via Rewoven Fates) is an achievement.

Q: Is it affecting the ending or your relationship with other characters?
A: They do oversee your final marriage vows, but I think Rin replaces them if not present.

Q: Does Subaru/Kaguya do anything of interest if saved? Do they live with you at the temples?
Kaguya lives next door to Murasame in Spring Village, Subaru is Summer village aligned.

Q: Do they take part in the main story or the side stories of other villagers?
A: They'll participate in the final battle alongside one other character.

It's more relevant with player Subaru since you can unlock Kaguya's Pauldron via Bond Lv. 5. Either way, you need them alive at Bond Lv. 12 for a Life-Sized Cutout decoration of themself, then Bond Lv. 15 for a cutout of yourself (both Max HP+5 and Max RP+3 and can be placed in each village, so +24 RP).
NPC Subaru's questline is more involved with the Black Dragon Nubatama than NPC Kaguya, so there's a reason why the sacrifice choices are so lenient.

[PaulGR]

Originally posted by VertVentus:

Q: Do you miss side quests, dialogues, achievements etc. if you don't save Subaru/Kaguya?
A: You're locked out of 100% since marrying them (via Rewoven Fates) is an achievement.

Q: Is it affecting the ending or your relationship with other characters?
A: They do oversee your final marriage vows, but I think Rin replaces them if not present.

Q: Does Subaru/Kaguya do anything of interest if saved? Do they live with you at the temples?
Kaguya lives next door to Murasame in Spring Village, Subaru is Summer village aligned.

Q: Do they take part in the main story or the side stories of other villagers?
A: They'll participate in the final battle alongside one other character.

It's more relevant with player Subaru since you can unlock Kaguya's Pauldron via Bond Lv. 5. Either way, you need them alive at Bond Lv. 12 for a Life-Sized Cutout decoration of themself, then Bond Lv. 15 for a cutout of yourself (both Max HP+5 and Max RP+3 and can be placed in each village, so +24 RP).
NPC Subaru's questline is more involved with the Black Dragon Nubatama than NPC Kaguya, so there's a reason why the sacrifice choices are so lenient.

Thanks.

About the achievement, I am playing on Switch so I do not care about them. Are these also a thing on Switch though or just a Steam thing? Does the achievement offer anything in-game?

It kinda feels weird them overseeing your marriage since at least up to the point I am playing it feels they are in love with each other and a cutscene specifically mentioned that they didn't intend to break off their marriage before losing the memories they regained back after all.

I don't mind much about the Life-Sized cutout. Can't think of any of my villages that it would look good on. As Kaguya I suppose you lose Subaru's Pauldron but you do get his Hairpin if he dies, right?

[VertVentus]

The achievements are also on Switch, in-game via Adventure Log > Seals of Approval. No otherwise tangible reward.

They'll be happy for your marriage as if it were their own, no jealousy/bitterness attached.

Subaru doesn't have a Pauldron recipe via Bond Lv., so player Kaguya only get Subaru's Plaited Cord if he dies.
Player Subaru gets to decide between Kaguya's Hairpin or her pauldron.

[PaulGR]

Originally posted by VertVentus:

The achievements are also on Switch, in-game via Adventure Log > Seals of Approval. No otherwise tangible reward.

They'll be happy for your marriage as if it were their own, no jealousy/bitterness attached.

Subaru doesn't have a Pauldron recipe via Bond Lv., so player Kaguya only get Subaru's Plaited Cord if he dies.
Player Subaru gets to decide between Kaguya's Hairpin or her pauldron.

So there is nothing to gain from Subaru in terms of items unless he dies and you get his Plaited Cord. These little "goodies" aside, do we lose something of considerable value?

Like extra side quests or dialogues (excluding those stock dialogues that happen between you and marriage candidates when you level up your Bond every day through chat and actions). I mean actual quests. Are you treated differently by other villagers if Subaru lives or dies? Or is it exactly the same?

Some threads mention that there is no real system behind him living or dying. It's just that you lose him as a romance option and everything else is pretty much the same.

From what you say, to me it sounds like his only purpose if alive is Bonding so you can get the two extra props and maybe marry him.

[DogVTF]

Literally why on gods green earth would you ever kill the other protagonist, I did this by accident on my first playthrough, LIterally just empty your villages bank account before the fight, the black dragon will take like 10 frickin dollars for their life, easy af. And if you're a damn mastermind you literally scam the black dragon so hard that you get your friend back and MAKE A PROFIT, by investing the gold before into weapons. You give the black dragon 2 cents, some gum, and a shoestring. And you get to keep the other protagonist, and be rolling in MORE than you started with.

[PaulGR]

Originally posted by DogVTF:

Literally why on gods green earth would you ever kill the other protagonist, I did this by accident on my first playthrough, LIterally just empty your villages bank account before the fight, the black dragon will take like 10 frickin dollars for their life, easy af. And if you're a damn mastermind you literally scam the black dragon so hard that you get your friend back and MAKE A PROFIT, by investing the gold before into weapons. You give the black dragon 2 cents, some gum, and a shoestring. And you get to keep the other protagonist, and be rolling in MORE than you started with.

I literally explained it in my text.

I hate forced romances. You can be married and pregnant to someone and Kaguya acts all smitten, blushing, stuttering and in love with Subaru. You can literally be married to one of the Gods you leave behind to die by the Tagesanbruch just to save Subaru. You are basically leaving your spouse behind for your childhood ex-lover. Weird.

All in all, there is clear chemistry between them which is confusing if you are involved romantically with someone else. Also they are betrothed (aka arranged marriage), a cutscene shows that they never intended to break off the marriage (aka they were in love) and they never did, meaning they are still married. Also, Subaru at some point mentions that he was "promised to you" as if he has a right to/owns Kaguya, which is disgusting.

[Endora]

Wich means that you prefer to assassinate than the divorce... Even if they were married, wich they were not, it's not the character fault you know. Besides, you're not been forced to marry anyone because if you choose to date someone else that means that your MC at least knows that they were keeping the arranged marriage because they did not know any better at that moment. The other will even preside your marriage with someone else and be as happy as you. Besides, if you're dating someone else some cutscennes will be cut off (like the one where Hina tease MC asking if the other is an "old flame"). In the post-game you can use the Rewoven Fates mechanic to marry someone else too, so there is no point on your argument.

[PaulGR]

Originally posted by Endora:

Wich means that you prefer to assassinate than the divorce... Even if they were married, wich they were not, it's not the character fault you know. Besides, you're not been forced to marry anyone because if you choose to date someone else that means that your MC at least knows that they were keeping the arranged marriage because they did not know any better at that moment. The other will even preside your marriage with someone else and be as happy as you. Besides, if you're dating someone else some cutscennes will be cut off (like the one where Hina tease MC asking if the other is an "old flame"). In the post-game you can use the Rewoven Fates mechanic to marry someone else too, so there is no point on your argument.

You do not assassinate anyone. Subaru dies as a result of being the Black Dragon rider and being attacked by Tagesanbruch (talk about not understanding the story... did you play the same game?). If you attempt to revive him you are explicitly informed that this action can bring ruin to Azuma since you are already bound to the White Dragon and can't bound yourself to another - possibly bringing catastrophic results. The fact that if you go through with this you can trade his soul for pocket lint is just a major plot issue and a terrible development decision.

Both Kaguya and Subaru were married and intended to keep their marriage arrangement based on several cutscenes. So you were probably not paying attention to the story. The fact that your ex-lover and still spouse is there to marry you with someone else is weird. I was married to someone else and Hina STILL did the "old flame" dialogue so I have no idea what you are talking about. This is the reason I reloaded and let Subaru die. It was so weird seeing Kaguya blushing and giggling like a little school-girl in love with Subaru when being married to someone else.

The Rewoven Fates is just a gimmick mechanic to let you experience other options without going through another 60-hour playthrough just to see another candidate. It is not normal gameplay. How it somehow "invalidates" my argument is inside your head, same as when you thought Kaguya and Subaru were not married when it is stated multiple times that they were betrothed (aka arranged marriage) throughout the game. Next time pay better attention to the story.

[Seeker]

You know the word "Betrothed" doesn't mean they are officially married, right? It just means they were engaged to be married by their parents. They were never married to begin with. It was just an engagement they wanted to keep for sentimental reasons when they left their village at the time. If they were married then they would have used that word instead of betrothed which is an old word for engagement. It be weird to have the protag cheat on their supposed spouse if they really were married. I don't believe they would write the story like that

[PaulGR]

Originally posted by Seeker:

You know the word "Betrothed" doesn't mean they are officially married, right? It just means they were engaged to be married by their parents. They were never married to begin with. It was just an engagement they wanted to keep for sentimental reasons when they left their village at the time. If they were married then they would have used that word instead of betrothed which is an old word for engagement. It be weird to have the protag cheat on their supposed spouse if they really were married. I don't believe they would write the story like that

It is CLEARLY mentioned (not implied) that Kaguya and Subaru were happy with this arrangement and never intended to break the engagement. As I said, being married to someone else while the "old flame" dialogue shows up and Kaguya acts smitten, stuttering and blushing is weird af.

[FatChicckPlays]

to be fair, the three options could've been more harsher. i tested all three of them, and it was pretty dang easy to get back on your feet. wonder if there's a mod to make it even harsher like losing your resources along with the money, resetting your levels to MORE than half, like three-quarters if not back to square one, along with the skill tree being reset to zero, and losing more than one or two bond levels while the bond points being reduced for every activity for a while. (heII, even the bonding activities are too easy to exploit, even tested that by NOT leveling up my social skills and only talking to the NPCs with ten-minute convos every now and then).

personally, i'm a sucker for experiencing ALL character stories if possible, and if the Major Character Death tag wasn't anxiety-inducing enough, it's the idea of having to replay to not make the mistake again lest your save file is now sans other romance option. foolish of me to have feelings for a bunch of fictional low-to-mid-polygon count character, i know, but IRL sux rn.

i get your reasoning on letting your old flame pass on, since it IS character growth in some aspect, but what if you were MC-ing as Subaru instead of Kaguya? i assume that piece of rope thing next to his ear is enough memento...