Ren'Py Superheroes Suck [v2.015 Public] [Solace]

[cxx]

How's there a harem tag when there's multiple penetration? That's no longer a harem if you share.

simply: he will end up with all girls and maybe with other more side femmes too.

 

[DavyDaoist]

Hey everyone, I apologize in advance if my English isn’t perfect, but I’d like to share a couple of thoughts about this game. It’s a cool game, but what really bothers me is the pace of the updates. I understand they’re laying the groundwork for the future, but come on—monthly updates feel like an insult to those who pay for Patreon.

Do you know why DS2 is the weakest in its trilogy? It’s because of its slow pacing. But honestly, this doesn’t even feel slow—it feels stagnant, like when Naruto started bombarding us with filler episodes. Waiting a whole month just to get four poorly executed scenes is disappointing, especially when, in reality, there are only two scenes. The rest are essentially the same but rewritten with minor tweaks. For example, Veronica’s training scene is almost identical to the previous one, just with a couple of changes.

The main story should be the top priority. Otherwise, the game risks becoming like The Simpsons—each update leaving the game in the same state, as if it’s just additional content for a completed game. It’s frustrating, to say the least.

I know this probably won’t interest anyone, but I have a tiny hope that the creator might read this. If not, that’s okay—I just needed to vent a little. For the record, I don’t and won’t pay for this game’s Patreon. I’m not foolish enough to throw my money away like that.

Thanks for reading, if you’ve made it this far. This is just my opinion—unsolicited, but I felt like sharing it anyway.

I completely understand you, but as a fellow DS fan I can assure you DS 2 slow pacing is the one amongst many many problems. Don't forget this game isn't made on a AAA budget. Little devs can't afford to disappear and this game slow but consistent updates is great pacing for this website. I'm not saying your wrong that the story isn't making big steps, but what I fear even more is a burnt out, blank page syndrome dev letting go of everything and never coming back to gem like this game.

 

[Knight of Solace]

Look I don't know if the Dev read stuff on this forum, but if they do, look, its been five years now, its time to fucking move on with this story already, finish the main story and add some fluff for the relationships with the girls later, but for the sake of all that is Holy FINISH THE DAMN MAIN STORY ALREADY, Missus Powell as been missing for years at this point, Hell even in game she has been missing for an insane amount of time considering the seemingly nonchalance of the characters, I mean sure they had a fit about it, but than moved on and now its getting ridiculous for that subject to not have been resolved.

Let's be serious here, if my Mom / friend / favorite teacher, went missing, I wouldn't be able to have sexy time until she'd be back, I wouldn't be able to sit on my ass for weeks seemingly in game while Gods know what happens to her. What should have happened at this point is that problem get solved, and either their is a massive epilogue where the relationships with the girls get developed and settled, or have all of that happening during the 'Summer Break' in between the current crisis and a future new crisis, not fuck around DURING a crisis.

At this point its been five years, and its been literal real life years since the main story was properly advanced, instead its just more and more events with the various LIs while noting concrete happens, this has to change, from our point of view the extreme lack of advancement in the main narrative is likely at this point frustrating for all the people that have watched and played this game for years.

This seems to be a common sentiment, but I will address this comment because I think it's closest to the raw expression of community discontent.

The game is progressing as fast as it can. That's all there is to say. I'm not happy about the pace either, but I can't write faster than this. The story is enormous, easily twenty hours long, with over half a decade of development. It's so large I needed to create my own personal wiki to keep the writing on track. You can consider it a kind of "technical debt." The more involved the story, the more time I need to spend making sure nothing becomes invalidated or repeated.

Also, the render quality has evolved tremendously, as has the consistency of the writing, the animations, and everything else. The game has improved in every area since its creation. I am still improving it.

How much is enough? Twenty hours isn't enough? For free? I don't understand the anger. You all know I'm doing this alone, right? When was the last time I went on hiatus? Never? I've missed my deadline twice in six years, and they were both for funerals. I took my first vacation last year and you still got three events because I decided to sit down and grind through the jet-lag. You get content every six weeks like clockwork. I'm supposed to feel, what? Ashamed? Guilty?

How many games have you played that were abandoned in the past six years? How many developers just took the money and ran off? Not mine. Not me. All I asked you to do is invest your time and I know I paid that back.

You want faster? How? I could finish the story this year if I cut Josie, Miranda, Artemisia, Lovestruck, and the other villains from it. I could start rendering the finale tomorrow. I won't, though, because I know people care about those characters and I know that because I care about those characters.

This is what you signed up for. I don't know who has been gaslighting the populace into believing that at any point my story was fast. It's not and never has been. It's always been slow because I want the players to spend as much time with the characters as possible. This won't change. Ever. And if that frustrates you, then you should leave. Put a reminder on it and check back in two years.

The main story will be finished when I deem it's ready. When all the characters have had their spotlight. When you've pushed through Riley's insecurities. When you've helped Valentina understand who she wants to be. When Harper forgives herself and Chrys can see what a relationship is supposed to feel like. When Josie can stand on her own. When Miranda can learn to lean on someone else. When Lovestruck can believe in more than what's in front of her. When Artemisia can be part of the world she protects.

And when I've finished the animation courses I'm taking so I can put some quality threesomes in.

Most importantly of all, the main story will be finished when I fucking say it is.

~Solace

 

[Niuul]

The main story will be finished when I deem it's ready. When all the characters have had their spotlight. When you've pushed through Riley's insecurities. When you've helped Valentina understand who she wants to be. When Harper forgives herself and Chrys can see what a relationship is supposed to feel like. When Josie can stand on her own. When Miranda can learn to lean on someone else. When Lovestruck can believe in more than what's in front of her. When Artemisia can be part of the world she protects.

I don't think update pace was ever the complaint, but rather the material of the updates.

Granted, that part of what you said leads me to believe that the ending of the story you envision involves finding Powell or close to the ending of it.

So I can kinda understand why we're in the character/team building phases right now but from a player perspective following the story it seems to be happening at an awkward time when a friend/mom has been taken but there's no urgency to find her. Although I'm sure the story will flow better when it's all said and done but right now players will have lost her on day 200 of their saves and by the time we see her again it'll say Day 1643 lol.

Personally I'll probably hold off on the updates until I see 2 or 3 with 'main story' in the change logs.

 

[Knight of Solace]

I don't think update pace was ever the complaint, but rather the material of the updates.

Granted, that part of what you said leads me to believe that the ending of the story you envision involves finding Powell or close to the ending of it.

So I can kinda understand why we're in the character/team building phases right now but from a player perspective following the story it seems to be happening at an awkward time when a friend/mom has been taken but there's no urgency to find her. Although I'm sure the story will flow better when it's all said and done but right now players will have lost her on day 200 of their saves and by the time we see her again it'll say Day 1643 lol.

Personally I'll probably hold off on the updates until I see 2 or 3 with 'main story' in the change logs.

These are the same thing, which is why I mentioned that, to go faster, I would need to cut characters.

None of these additions are superfluous. Each scene is building to a future scene. I need all of them in the game. For example, in the prior update, there is a kitchen scene with Riley and Valentina. I wouldn't need to write a scene like that if I cut Artemisia and Lovestruck. It lays the foundation for future content. Their content. And it also accomplishes pieces in Riley's and Valentina's stories. This is the cost of having such a large cast.

I have always been upfront that the rescue of Missus Powell will be very near the end of the game.

 

[Niuul]

These are the same thing, which is why I mentioned that, to go faster, I would need to cut characters.

None of these additions are superfluous. Each scene is building to a future scene. I need all of them in the game. For example, in the prior update, there is a kitchen scene with Riley and Valentina. I wouldn't need to write a scene like that if I cut Artemisia and Lovestruck. It lays the foundation for future content. Their content. And it also accomplishes pieces in Riley's and Valentina's stories. This is the cost of having such a large cast.

I have always been upfront that the rescue of Missus Powell will be very near the end of the game.

Ah, that's a complete misunderstanding of what the story entails on my part then.

 

[Knight of Solace]

Ah, that's a complete misunderstanding of what the story entails on my part then.

Hey, no one can blame you. I needed to make a wiki to keep all this together, remember? It's a lot. I know it's a lot.

 

[satirious]

These are the same thing, which is why I mentioned that, to go faster, I would need to cut characters.

None of these additions are superfluous. Each scene is building to a future scene. I need all of them in the game. For example, in the prior update, there is a kitchen scene with Riley and Valentina. I wouldn't need to write a scene like that if I cut Artemisia and Lovestruck. It lays the foundation for future content. Their content. And it also accomplishes pieces in Riley's and Valentina's stories. This is the cost of having such a large cast.

I have always been upfront that the rescue of Missus Powell will be very near the end of the game.

I am glad that your characters and story mean enough to you that this is the method chosen. Too many just slap shit together and lean far too heavy on narrative convenience and porn logic for how they got from point A to point F. It is making me side eye a certain character that knows things they shouldn't be privy to. At least now I know that explanation will show when it's ready.

 

[UchihaDDante]

Hello, Knight of Solace. I know that many people seem unhappy with the progress of your game, but let me clarify this from my point of view. The people who give constructive criticism are not 'haters'; they are simply fans who don’t know what’s going on. If what you say is true and the rescue of Missus Powell is near the end, you shouldn’t have created the urgency to rescue her, as it feels a bit strange and makes the progress of the story seem rigid or too fixed on that. I know you work alone, and that’s why you’ve earned my respect. If I didn’t like the game, I would simply ignore it, but I hold it in high regard and I enjoy it; that’s why I’ve completed it several times and will continue to play every update. Don’t take this the wrong way—it’s just an opinion. I know I might seem like a slightly annoying critic, but it’s not to make you feel bad or anything like that.

 

[Knight of Solace]

Hello, Knight of Solace. I know that many people seem unhappy with the progress of your game, but let me clarify this from my point of view. The people who give constructive criticism are not 'haters'; they are simply fans who don’t know what’s going on. If what you say is true and the rescue of Missus Powell is near the end, you shouldn’t have created the urgency to rescue her, as it feels a bit strange and makes the progress of the story seem rigid or too fixed on that. I know you work alone, and that’s why you’ve earned my respect. If I didn’t like the game, I would simply ignore it, but I hold it in high regard and I enjoy it; that’s why I’ve completed it several times and will continue to play every update. Don’t take this the wrong way—it’s just an opinion. I know I might seem like a slightly annoying critic, but it’s not to make you feel bad or anything like that.

I know who the haters are and who they aren't. I'm not accusing everyone who dislikes aspects of the game to be internet trolls. I have taken feedback from this forum for years and I have implemented many changes to the game from that feedback. The initial hint system, removing the mandatory grinds, adding requested characters, tearing out the old slideshow animations, redoing the first three hours of content, and more. The biggest complaint I had received last year was how difficult the sandbox was to navigate. I have fixed that problem, and because I took time to do it, the next complaint is that there isn't enough content. Again.

It's a never ending cycle, I have accepted this, but if the main issue someone has is that the story is moving too slowly, I have stated the reasons for it. Making it go faster is impossible.

The urgency is where I want it to be. From your perspective, I should not have removed Missus Powell. From mine, it was impossible to keep her there. She upholds the status-quo. The trauma of her disappearance is what is welding the characters together. I know that is strange to see so many deviations, but at the same time I can't keep the tension steadily rising for three years. It has to flow up and down. I don't always hit the mark, but I am always trying to.

If Missus Powell were rescued too early, she would remove the protagonist from the Academy. There is no way she would condone the harem situation that is unfolding in her school. Part of the reason her story is at the very end is because so many specific things have to go "right" for a woman like her to accept an erotic relationship with the protagonist believably. In the end, I am forced to choose whether I want the main story to be better paced or the romances to be more grounded. I will pick the romances every time.

 

[UchihaDDante]

I know who the haters are and who they aren't. I'm not accusing everyone who dislikes aspects of the game to be internet trolls. I have taken feedback from this forum for years and I have implemented many changes to the game from that feedback. The initial hint system, removing the mandatory grinds, adding requested characters, tearing out the old slideshow animations, redoing the first three hours of content, and more. The biggest complaint I had received last year was how difficult the sandbox was to navigate. I have fixed that problem, and because I took time to do it, the next complaint is that there isn't enough content. Again.

It's a never ending cycle, I have accepted this, but if the main issue someone has is that the story is moving too slowly, I have stated the reasons for it. Making it go faster is impossible.

The urgency is where I want it to be. From your perspective, I should not have removed Missus Powell. From mine, it was impossible to keep her there. She upholds the status-quo. The trauma of her disappearance is what is welding the characters together. I know that is strange to see so many deviations, but at the same time I can't keep the tension steadily rising for three years. It has to flow up and down. I don't always hit the mark, but I am always trying to.

If Missus Powell were rescued too early, she would remove the protagonist from the Academy. There is no way she would condone the harem situation that is unfolding in her school. Part of the reason her story is at the very end is because so many specific things have to go "right" for a woman like her to accept an erotic relationship with the protagonist believably. In the end, I am forced to choose whether I want the main story to be better paced or the romances to be more grounded. I will pick the romances every time.

Hey, you want to add Missus Powell to the harem? That's interesting. Okay, I'll shut up. Get on with it. I'll wait for the next update.

 

[JJ1960]

I know who the haters are and who they aren't. I'm not accusing everyone who dislikes aspects of the game to be internet trolls. I have taken feedback from this forum for years and I have implemented many changes to the game from that feedback. The initial hint system, removing the mandatory grinds, adding requested characters, tearing out the old slideshow animations, redoing the first three hours of content, and more. The biggest complaint I had received last year was how difficult the sandbox was to navigate. I have fixed that problem, and because I took time to do it, the next complaint is that there isn't enough content. Again.

It's a never ending cycle, I have accepted this, but if the main issue someone has is that the story is moving too slowly, I have stated the reasons for it. Making it go faster is impossible.

The urgency is where I want it to be. From your perspective, I should not have removed Missus Powell. From mine, it was impossible to keep her there. She upholds the status-quo. The trauma of her disappearance is what is welding the characters together. I know that is strange to see so many deviations, but at the same time I can't keep the tension steadily rising for three years. It has to flow up and down. I don't always hit the mark, but I am always trying to.

If Missus Powell were rescued too early, she would remove the protagonist from the Academy. There is no way she would condone the harem situation that is unfolding in her school. Part of the reason her story is at the very end is because so many specific things have to go "right" for a woman like her to accept an erotic relationship with the protagonist believably. In the end, I am forced to choose whether I want the main story to be better paced or the romances to be more grounded. I will pick the romances every time.

I was one of those expressing frustration with knowing what the next event should be without stumbling across it. You did a great job addressing that and it really improved game play mechanics. One of the hardest and least-liked elements of sandbox stories is knowing what exactly to do to get the event to trigger (time, day, prior requirements, etc.) and it looks like you have that right. Thank you for the effort.

 

[cxx]

usual short and crazy update and plot going pretty much nowhere.

Spoiler: besties

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