Play order for the games

[EmilED385]

Hi!
So I bought the game a while ago, and was about to finally sit down and play it.
However, I did a little digging before that and saw that there are two more (expansions, should I call them?): Man and Elf and Dragon's Treasure.

As far as I can understand, those are sequels/expansions to specific routes in the main game, so they most likely should be played afterwards. Love the idea btw! but there are some things i'm not clear on...

1. First, I saw in the pinned discussions that there are plans for both a "second semester" and a SG2.
so, how does this work with the two "expansions"? As far as I can tell they should be played between the "second semester" (since that's what will lead into SG2) and SG2, right? will they be like "optional/extra content" or required to understand some SG2 plot points once it comes out?

2. Let us say there is someone that really likes one of the characters of the expansions, but has no interest in the other. Will they lose anything in SG2 if they only play through one of the expansions? (knowing myself I'll end up buying both the second I finish the game, but i'm still curious)

3. Not really related to the discussion's title, but since we are here...bonus question ;)
I didn't really understood how the "second semester" will work. In the pinned discussion said:
This addition, which I'm calling Second Semester (until I can think of a better name), won't be a new route. Instead, it'll be more of a wrap-up of the first game leading into what comes afterwards.

Second Semester will proceed along a merged route not possible to follow when playing through the game normally. ie. It will combine several of the game's routes, in part or in full."

So, it won't be a new route, but it will proceed along a "merged route"... how will this work?
Since it's not a "new route" i'm guessing we won't we able to "enter it" through a choice in game....so will it be from something like an option in the menu? or will it (hopefully not) replace the currently available routes? how will that work in relation to the "non-merged" expansions?

thanks in advance for the help!

[Zetsubou]

1. Play order shouldn't matter too much. Chronologically, they all start around the same time (end of first year), and they don't really cross over.

Still, if I had to pick, then I would say SG -> A Dragon's Treasure / Man And Elf -> Second Semester.

It's a weird play order, I know. But that's just my personal preference. Other people may feel differently once Second Semester is actually released.


2. Skipping one of the heroines' games before playing SG2 shouldn't be detrimental story-wise.

But it would mean a less complete understanding of some things (lore, insight into magic/the world, learning about particular characters) which you would have experienced in that game.

I guess it depends on what someone wants from the series. You probably wouldn't miss anything major by skipping one of them before playing SG2, but you might appreciate certain parts of SG2 more if you did.

There's only one thing which comes to mind from A Dragon's Treasure which will be particularly relevant in SG2. But it also comes up in Second Semester, and even then it's just a hint. So still not a big loss.


3. Second Semester will be an option from the main menu. So instead of starting the main game, you would start Second Semester.

Think of how some games have "after stories" available from an Extras menu. It'll be like that, where you start a story separate from the main game which takes place chronologically after the game has concluded.

It might help to think of it as an after story of all the routes except for Lisha and Drakan.
Lisha route -> Man And Elf
Drakan route -> A Dragon's Treasure
All other routes combined -> Second Semester

Things get more entangled between the three after that. I'll post details on that after Second Semester has been released.

[EmilED385]

Thanks for the info!