Stories that left you disappointed for a reason

[Ireth313]

Y/n cannot be too outstanding so an average reader can relate to her

Yeah, but the 'ordinary character in extraordinary circumstances' formula is, basically, a premise of the whole realism and modernism writing school in literature. I know in the case of BoS and similar romances the goal is self-fulfillment, but it bums me that a tried and tested solution that allows you to develop plot and have sound character logic is basically half a step away, but it gets ignored

 

[AGoldenExperience]

Bit of a short comment here but I think this subject somewhat weighed down my chest recently so I have to get it off.


Why do so many books have stats and heavy stat checks only for them to be functionally useless to the plot or lead to the same outcome, or hell, have a specific event that you always lose despite having effectively the highest stats possible?, why even bother then?

 

[seneya]

but it bums me that a tried and tested solution that allows you to develop plot and have sound character logic is basically half a step away, but it gets ignored

Because the end result would be a completely different kind of work; almost a deconstruction, I think. My idea of a 'realistic' depiction of a soulmate bond, for example, is closer to horror than romance lol
I mean, imagine that... you meet a person. You don't know them. You're drawn to them. You feel bad without them.
They might not be a good person. You might even dislike them! But when you're next to them, you smile. You laugh. Everything they say seems just right. Then you are away, and... are these words really your? You remember saying them. They do not feel like they came from you.
You try to keep your distance. You're going insane. You can't sleep, you can't be away for long. You have to go back... and lose yourself. Again.
VERY ROMANTIC 11/10 ROMANTIC FANTASY

 

[BiscuitB]

Why do so many books have stats and heavy stat checks only for them to be functionally useless to the plot or lead to the same outcome, or hell, have a specific event that you always lose despite having effectively the highest stats possible?, why even bother then?

Same it's also the case if the stats matter. Cause then I start to focus on getting all my stats high for just in cases instead of reading the plot, as I don't want to miss out on anything. I get that it's a way to get people to play again but I want to get the most of game, then choose if I want to play again even for the small scenes I enjoyed

 

[silvermoonn]

ditch them both, team up with Kerach instead, and make a quick getaway with their only mean of transportation (Kerach).

Same here
This may be wishful thinking, but some scenes imply that Kerach is not so simple and is definitely more reasonable/ respectful. I bet the wolf has some kind of trump card, and he could be a future path for the MC, one that actually uses brains.

 

[Ireth313]

This may be wishful thinking, but some scenes imply that Kerach is not so simple and is definitely more reasonable/ respectful. I bet the wolf has some kind of trump card, and he could be a future path for the MC, one that actually uses brains.

Ok, as a former patron I will spill some beans: the author said that he is the only one of the three who would've taken in MC as a lover with her past disfigured self. I assume he'd be the only one willing to look past that? Which is actually a peak romance, imo, compared to all this soulmate stuff.

 

[seneya]

he is the only one of the three who would've taken in MC as a lover with her past disfigured self

Uhh, pair it with Valdricht's "No I see no other uses for you than ***" (peak romance), and yeah guys do run away with the wolf

one that actually uses brains

sorry, all the stat points went into Appearance, we had to dump Intelligence

 

[yourstalkeroutside]

And if seriously, this is clearly "smut with plot" written for fem players with sub/breeding kinks, so whatever. It's just about what I expected out of such a premise.

Ironically, I dropped this because I hated the lack of plot along with how wooden the LIs were. The smut isn't worth it. Unfortunate because it's one of the few IFs that have pregnancy and motherhood as a part of the plot. Most IFs avoid the topic.

 

[seneya]

The smut isn't worth it

hated the lack of plot

Meanwhile on tumblr:

(not BoS, but... priorities, man!)

 

[xeroxo]

Same it's also the case if the stats matter. Cause then I start to focus on getting all my stats high for just in cases instead of reading the plot, as I don't want to miss out on anything. I get that it's a way to get people to play again but I want to get the most of game, then choose if I want to play again even for the small scenes I enjoyed

IMO it's 'less of a way to make people play again' and more of the conventions of the medium. Early CYOA was gamebooks which you could cheat on but still die if your stats didn't match up to what you want to do. stuff like Fallen London is probably what you're looking for, one story but different ways to get there.

I'd rather have stats and have to balance my stats because it's more control for me and actually  feels like a game than read a novel I can click through (The Night Market stands firmly on this table). If I wanted to read a novel I'd go read a published book. I do agree that some stats aren't needed, specifically some personality stats. What's the point if we can only choose one option anyway or all answers lead to the same route and everyone treats MC the same, no matter how insulting they've been?

 

[Ireth313]

(not BoS, but... priorities, man!)

Listen, I might want to know the deets, but first the author needs to get me interested in the person attached to the goodies. Like I don't care about the curvature, productivity or whatever other characteristics they'd describe if the character is cardboard flat...

 

[seneya]

curvature, productivity

Legit question: what does it matter? Like, if the author states that a character has a micro dick, would you reconsider romancing them? Or, if we assume that no author would be troll enough to do that to their ROs, then one can assume the answer would be "average to big" - does the exact number down to millimeters matter?

 

[AGoldenExperience]

Legit question: what does it matter? Like, if the author states that a character has a micro dick, would you reconsider romancing them? Or, if we assume that no author would be troll enough to do that to their ROs, then one can assume the answer would be "average to big" - does the exact number down to millimeters matter?

If you're a hyper gooner it does matter actually

 

[Ireth313]

Legit question: what does it matter? Like, if the author states that a character has a micro dick, would you reconsider romancing them? Or, if we assume that no author would be troll enough to do that to their ROs, then one can assume the answer would be "average to big" - does the exact number down to millimeters matter?

Well, If the game has nsfw content, it's the matter of physical attractiveness/unattractiveness, idk. And, if the game has nsfw content/is nsfw-heavy, it's probably kind of a spoiler without spoiler. I don't ask these kinds of questions, but I think out of all nonsense questions I sorta resent the 'what if a (very specific description) MC farted? got really sad? sang a really pretty song?' kinds of questions more. And pregnancy asks that always quickly veer into some very bizzare territories.

 

[yrendu]

Am I the only one disappointed? If not annoyed with Pon Para? The characters felt generic, and the MC is a blank slate, and I mean that literally because almost every choice we get is either about how we want to resolve something, or which stat we want to use to succeed. We have no agency in this game even if it pretends to be with all the "important" choices being given to you, but the minor ones that actually defines your character being sidelined or deliberately ignored. In almost every interactions, we are left out—and don't even get me started with Tamur who literally should just be the protagonist at this point by how much of a chatterbox he actually is. That's personality, meanwhile us? We have none except action. No way to show our frustrations, sadness, and as such. We become an emotionless robot with no way to do anything about it. It's really frustrating to be stripped of autonomy especially with your own character. Even the customizations feels ignored. We don't get to set the hair, skin color, height, and etc. The companions we get, are stuck forever with no way to kick one of them forever, regardless if they are annoying or not. I really hope that by the second book is a whole lot better. Because as it is right now, it feels like a game more than a story.

 

[spacestation]

I just finished Golden Rose, and it feels like I played through a million-word nothing burger. The story takes place over the course of 4–5 days and only really has one moment (exploring around town) with any sort of real difference in the story. When you do make a real choice (one of the few you get to make) and kill the kid in the beginning, the game proceeds to haunt you with it until the very end. Beyond that, I truly felt like I’ve played longer IFs with a quarter of the word count and I distinctly remember being so disappointed when I realized that I had just read nearly 3 pages about the details and intricacies of the pavement.


The detail was nice but extremely unnecessary for the game and made me feel like they were just trying to achieve 1 million words for the sake of it. From what I can tell, the author has talked about this and actually did call Book 1 a “prologue,” which is extremely concerning—that they had a million-word prologue and cannot see an issue with that.


Despite all of that, I did enjoy the game, but it felt more like a prologue than a Book 1, and my eyes often glazed over the paragraphs they would use to describe something as simple as a cat. I had high hopes for the game, so it really frustrated me when I came in expecting a game about experienced mercenaries and ended up getting a sightseeing simulator with the occasional scuffle or disagreement. When it did start to show some of its details and storyline at the end, it hits you with a “to be continued.” Of course, the sequel will come out in 20 years and be 50 million words (2 hours in story).


If the word count of this game went into things other than fancy (albeit good) prose and instead focused on building up more of the story, it could’ve really been something nice. So far, though, it was just an exhausting experience to replay after the first time and makes me worried for Book 2.

 

[Embarrasing]

I don't know if all books are like this, I'm just getting into interactive fiction, but I was really disappointed by changeling charade.
It proposed a lot of interesting prospects but I don't think it properly delivered on any of them. The political conflict is easily resolved with the good ending being too naive, it was promoted as a romance but there isn't actually any romancing. If you simply pay attention to the ROs they fall for you, I had everyone in love with me and I had barely talked to them! But what I disliked the most is that the trial conflict the game proposes is determined by your RO.