Setting & Lore:
Waitsu
A post-utopian medieval country under religious rule. Animals (including humans) of different species once coexisted, but in combination with increased hybridization, disease swept across the lands and left behind conflict, poverty and desolation.
The dominant religion, ("Cosmolicism"), is based on medieval Catholicism, and has many similar elements (e.g inquisitors and animosity towards sinners and heretics such as pagans). The world contains magic, which was used by the pagans to establish and maintain connections between different species and uphold peaceful relations and tranquility. Following the cosmologists' prevention of magic, several ecologically prominent species have gone extinct which in turn caused instability among others animals that used to rely on them, now reverting to other means of restoring that peace or drive the separation further. (For example, the sheep and wolves are at war, while at the other extreme, individual humans have adopted bestiality much to the contempt of the church, leading them to exile in constant fear of the inquisition).
mock-up map
Main cast:
Player (Loc)
The main character, a classic peasant son who's trying make ends meet.
Little is known about the rest of his family nor his background
, except that he had a grandfather who used to tell blasphemous stories
. This is to put more focus on the other characters of the cast, quite a few of which are getting their own routes (a planned 6). I'm planning on having a few RPG-like elements like a map, an inventory and cash, allowing the main character/player to buy/sell stuff and get a job to earn money. This won't be for some greater purpose of "winning" the game or beating a boss, but rather an influence for story-progression. (E.g money can be used to help another character to get the route with him/her or an item can be used to get a certain scene or ending).Sheep-girl, Ovilia
The tsundere sheep-girl that refuses to realize she's an outcast.
The other sheep are jealous of her not having to contribute to society by paying taxes. She also doesn't get sheared as often because of her limited amount of wool, which they see as unfair, especially during the winter. They also find her hybrid form (which suggests bestiality) to be disgusting and immoral. Underneath her cold surface however, the sheep girl feels insecure and inferior to the normal sheep. After all, she wants to be normal, but is constantly under attack and forced to build up a facade of personal strength and independence.
Woodcutter, BettiChops trees to earn her income, lives alone in the forest. Got her job because of the fallen victims of the plague that opened up many vacant positions and demand for goods on the marketplace. ...She has a cool axe.
Gravedigger, Morty
Another young worker who took a job at the monastery as a gravedigger for pragmatic rather than religious purposes. (He's more interested in economics than religion.) He's blunt and straight to the point, which could make him come off as clumsy or get him into trouble, as well as being a strength in certain situations.
Sick villager, Malissy
As the youngest character in the main cast, she is an orphan on a quest to search for medicine for her ill sister. She's naive and ignorant, doesn't know much about how the land is governed,
and the fact that her sister works at a brothel doesn't put her puzzlement at ease
. Nonetheless, she has a very strong will and loyalty.Aspiring mage, Demoire
Studies volumes of grimoires at an abandoned barn turned library, at which many of the books were supposed to be submitted for burning, but being a stealthy thief, she managed to get hold of them, along with a few jewels which adorns her hat. However, at risk of being caught by witch-hunters, she has to hide all her activity and become a complete recluse. This is probably the character with the most personality development planned.
Trying her best to shut everything out of her secret chamber, she can be very suspicious and manic at times, but also in complete lack of understanding of the outside world. Out of the cast, she's probably the most insane person, and even prone to hallucinations which she probably gets by consuming a certain type of mushroom. Her main purpose with learning magic is to find out the true will of the Originator and help restore peace between different species.
Nun/Maiden, GloriaAn old friend of the MC, who spends her time at the monastery, growing herbs in the garden, trying desperately to study and interpret the scripture in the correct way, and does what she can to help people in need. She's kind to the point of being overly caring and protective, but also a very helpful and reliable friend.
Adventurer, Amy
A cousin of the MC, with a curious mind and a wish to study. Being that her family is in debt, she can't afford to pursue that interest and wants to set off on a journey instead. Her personality is playful, a bit silly and with a childish curiosity to find out both useful and useless information.
I am still at the idea-development and early writing stage, but felt the need to make a post and ask a few questions to avoid getting stuck. I might return later to ask for help, especially with the programming and/or writing aspect since i'm not confident in adding game-play or interactive elements like a map (although i think it could be done with imagemaps), and neither do i trust my patience with writing, although i enjoy it once i actually get into a story...
Questions
1. Does the idea seem interesting/would you play it if it were made?
2. Would you still play if it featured monster-girls or furries? (no rape)
3. Would you like some of the specific endings (one per character-route) to be romantic and/or erotic?
And note that this would imply one BxB route, one furry, one loli and probably a monster girl as well.
4. I hope this question makes sense; how to balance the story and interactive elements in a way that retains focus on the characters and their back-stories, but still lends some control to the player..?
(At first i was thinking of just making this into a full-scale RPG, but then realized i'm more interested in story-based games, but i still don't want to abandon the idea, so the map-system, money and items are kind of a compromise.)
Lastly, if you have any questions, suggestions or other feedback, feel free to comment in this thread or via PM.