Extended Writing Update

I mentioned briefly on tumblr that I split Chapter 12 in two, and that's because I want the "falling action" and epilogue to stand on its own. With that in mind, I'm excited to say I'm really close to finishing 12. I have a lot of feelings about this chapter - there's a lot of really cool scenes and moments, but there's also some potential for things to go darker than I expected. I'm proud of how I've handled that element - there's a huge amount of player agency around these things, with only two major events that can happen in a way that isn't directly chosen by the MC. And those things are well defined as "hey, this stat check will be difficult and has high stakes, so you should play to your strongest stat if you want to pass it." Aka you can still enjoy a normal playthrough where things are serious at the climax without straying into anything crazy.

I've always found the more brutal choice options to be fascinating in IF/RPGs. As someone who doesn't often do "evil" playthroughs, I still find value in being presented with the ability to choose something morally dubious. It makes the game feel fuller, more free, and like I have more of a say in what goes on. So even though some of the things I've written aren't choices I'd ever pick in the games I play, I still view them as worth putting in my game, with as much effort put towards writing them as other choice options. (All that said, I'm obsessed with evil playthroughs in BG3. What's up with that? It's the only game I've ever liked being the bad guy in🤔)

Anyway, Chapter 12's coming along nicely. What I specifically worked on this weekend was some interactions with a powerful character, and a lot of combat scenes. Technically they were all part of one big battle sequence, but there were multiple "parts" where different characters were in focus and different stages of combat were happening. I ended up writing two different characters' death scenes and I'm a little emotionally wiped from that, but dude, I'm so pleased with how creative they turned out and how well-suited they are for the scenes. I also got some work on Chapter 8 done, filling in choice options.

I'm going to put this week's preview here as well as tumblr, so you don't have to look for it in two places :)

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For a moment I panic, thinking it's going to kill me, instead. My voice stutters, and I stumble back on shaky legs. Then I feel Wren's magic at my back, steady and reassuring.