Devlog - 1 [Story, Love & Depravity Path]


Hello There!
I hope you are all having a great week!

Today I have decided to create a new post, since lately I have been asked a lot about a new feature that Lucky Paradox will have, and if you have been reading the weekly posts then you probably know what I am talking about.

I also take the opportunity to inaugurate this new section called "Devlog", where we will see some features that will be added to Lucky Paradox :D

My intention is to make this as clear as possible, as I wouldn't want to generate false expectations, either for good or bad.

I think it will be best to start describing the system in a general way, then explain the "Why" and finally go a bit deeper.

Currently I have been working a lot on a remake of Lucky Paradox, along with this and many improvements in the code, I have decided to add three paths for each girl: Story, Love and Depravity.

My intention with this is to be able to separate the content in a more interesting way, as my goal is to give the most freedom to the players when deciding what to do in Argleton, but also I want natural reactions from the characters and a natural development with the corresponding consequences too. This way the three main pillars of each character can be easily distinguished. It is also more consistent with the puzzle narrative that makes up the Lucky Paradox universe.

Each "Path" should not be mistaken as a route in a typical visual novel, but as alternative paths. Imagine that the Story path is the trunk of a huge tree, while the Love and Depravity path are small branches that make the tree more beautiful and lusher.

A similar example of this would be the stories with the secondary characters in games like Mass Effect, which allow you to get to know each member of your group better in different aspects. This gives a greater narrative depth, as the characters don't just feel like puppets driven by the plot, but like people, who outside of the main story, have their lives, their conflicts, their likes and dislikes and things that make them happy.

To finish the Lucky Paradox story from beginning to end, the minimum requirement is to have finished at least one of the complete Story Paths. You can go through more than one of these paths if you want, which will also have consequences on what will happen at the end of your adventure through Argleton. As I explained once, Lucky Paradox is like a board game, and the cards you draw on the last move will shape the ending you get. Something similar to this happens in games like Fallout New Vegas, for example. There are no good endings or bad endings, they will simply be consequences of what Argleton has gone through.

Timmy: But Mr Stawer does that mean that I can go through all the paths in a single game, including the Love and Depravity path?

Stawer: That's right Timmy.

Even if you are not interested in the story and you only want to stay in Argleton indefinitely, you can simply ignore the Story path and play the other two paths that will be available.

The question is... How all does this work?

The answer is in the new interface. Each girl now has a detailed profile and to this are added two attributes: love and depravity.

The love points are represented with red hearts (similar to games like Stardew Valley) and the depravity points with purple hearts. This is a consequence of a redesign of the old relationship points, as they were too abstract, and it was difficult to understand the impact of them within the game.

By getting love points, we will unlock new events with a more "wholesome" approach, deepen the relationship with each of the girls and see things from different perspectives. Similar happens with the depravity points, although here we will explore fetishes and go deeper into the sexual part.

Timmy: I see, then is it corruption system?

Stawer: Similar, but I would not like to call it that way.

Sometimes a corruption system requires the girls to lose part of their characterization, going to exaggerate cases where they are mentally destroyed, it becomes almost like an excuse to have a sex toy, destroying the character completely.

I want to avoid that, since what I like most about Lucky Paradox, is to respect the characterization of each of the girls and appreciate how different they are in their way of being. Let's say this would be like experiencing new experiences with a GF, but all consensual and no extremes. This means that the events achieved with Prim or Mary will be softer than what might happen with Maxy or Charlotte (kinky girls).

Shower events would be an example of this, the only difference is that we will now earn purple hearts when performing these types of actions with a girl. If we get a certain amount of depravity, more actions will open and also more options. For example, having one of the girls sleep naked with you or not wearing clothes when they are in their room.

Love and Depravity path are optional content, even if you complete all these events the story will not end until you have completed at least one or more of the available Story Paths (Currently there are 7, one for each girl).

Finally, there is a new feature, I have called it the "Best Match" (reference to Kamen Rider Build lol), these are perfect combinations between two or more characters.

Be careful here with Spoilers XD

*SPOILER ALERT*

For example, if we get enough love points with Prim and Layla, the "Best Match" would be an event where you can help them to improve their relationship with each other. If we get enough depravity points with Maxy and Charlotte, we will get an interesting trio. We can even get a "Best Match" through the story, because if we advance the Story path of Yui and Charlotte, we will be able to unlock a new storyline where we will learn about Lissete's past, the secret of the golden dragon and all the past that has conditioned them both to be what they are in the present.

An example of this system at work in Lucky Paradox were the Role-playing events with Mary. Through achieving certain progress in the Story path of Mary, Prim and Layla, new interactions have been unlocked. The only difference is that from now on, we will be shown an animation on screen, explicitly showing that we have unlocked this type of content.

I really think that with the "Best Match" the story will connect in a much more natural and organic way. There will be more communication between the girls and everything will have much more life, and the best thing is that without forcing the player to play parts of the story that he doesn't want: If you like only one of the girls, you can play without relating with the others and you want to form your harem, you can also do it (although it will be more work xDDD).

I hope that with this long post, it will be possible to understand all this in a better way. I know I've written a lot right now, but I like to be as transparent as possible and not generate false expectations.

I will be attentive to your questions, I know this can be a big change in the game, but I promise it is much simpler than you think.

If you want me to explain how routes and game endings work, that would be an interesting topic to cover in another post, but I think this one has been long enough for today.

I'll say goodbye for now and see you soon with more news :D
Take care <3