"Ganbatte! Sensei" - preliminary planning for a VN

[BlackAnise]

So this is an idea I've been sitting on for a while, and now I think I'm ready to go ahead with it, but I'd like to know people's thoughts/suggestions/likes-and-OHGODNOs about it.

It's a visual novel called Ganbatte! Sensei, the plot of which centers around a first-year teacher named Yamato Shinji, who is assigned to teach a special "after school detention class" - which more or less means babysitting a bunch of ill-behaved students who proceed to walk all over him, for an hour and a half after school every day. Poor Shinji isn't too thrilled at having to deal with these "trouble students", and the feeling is completely mutual. At first, they basically torment him by causing all sorts of trouble imaginable. However, as the player progresses and gets to know the students, developing relationships with them and learning about their lives, it becomes clear that these kids aren't bad people; they have crappy circumstances in their lives that brought about the situations which landed them in detention in the first place. As your teacher, you're trying to learn about them and their lives and help them with their problems. It's a fine balance between mentor and friend.

On top of this general theme - of taking no one at face value and learning to get to know everyone as a person - we have a main plot, of course. However, this is a bit weaker than the characters and their relationships, so it might be subject to change, depending on what kind of response it garners: basically, each class has to put together a booth for the school festival in the spring, and Shinji's class (since it is technically a class) is no exception. The objective is to get everyone to work smothly together to build and man this booth, and the payoff is having a good time (and depending on how you build up various character relationships, a date) at the festival. Actually, this "plot" is kind of underlying to the various events in the characters' lives, but it does provide a general sense of specific purpose and timeline.

So there you have it. Of course, there are some opportunities for romance, but you can also ignore the temptation and play it straight as a simple teacher-and-his-students scenario (the Vice Principal, however, is a pretty awesome temptation). I'm currently pondering whether or not some of the older students should be romantic options, too; feedback in this area would be especially helpful - I'd like to get a feel for what everyone would like to see/feels is appropriate, as this is a tricky topic. The ages on students with romantic paths would be between 17 and 19.

I don't have images of the characters yet (lineart is done, but unscanned (I don't have a scanner, eek!) and uncolored), but here are character descirptions including physical attributes:

Yamato Shinji:

Age 26. Having just finished college, Shinji is pursuing his dream career as an English teacher at the school at which his mother served as Principal for nearly a decade. His illusions about teaching are quickly and harshly dispelled when he is assigned on his first day to a special "after school detention class", designed to provide guidance to troubled students. Shinji is a little bit of a pushover, and is more intimidated by his students than they are by him. He really wants what's best for them, but sometimes it isn't very clear what exactly that is. In addition, there is a certain incident far in Shinji's past which, if brought to light, could make him lose his job. This is an optional sub-plot to develop.

Physical characteristics:
Not seen (POV character).

Nanami Kaneko:

Age 18, Sixth Year. In detention for vandalism of school property and possession of contraband material. Kaneko is a sharp individual, used to getting her way and unwilling to brook any contradiction, either from her classmates or her teachers. Rumor around school has it that her father is a Yakuza boss. Kaneko seems to lead the other detention students in their various acts of rebellion against Shinji, but she is also the first one to take charge and make everyone start thinking seriously about preparing for the festival. Depending on what kind of relationship you build with her, a valuable ally or a very obnoxious enemy. [There may be a romantic path for this character.]

Physical characteristics:
Very tall (5'10"); long dark hair usually pinned back with two braids; pale complexion; green eyes; slender and with an elegant demeanor, almost as though she considers herself royalty.

Miura Shinobu:

Age 17, Fifth Year. In detention for cheating on exams. Shinobu is distrustful of seemingly all the teachers at the school, including Shinji. By the time the others have warmed up to him, she is still distant. She has an on-and-off relationship with a college student, who picks her up from time to time on his motorcycle. Shinji knows almost nothing about Shinobu's home or school life, even after multiple attempts to get to know her and get her involved with the group. [There may be a romantic path for this character.]

Physical characteristics:
Shoulder-length blonde hair; pale grey eyes; has a light tan; average height (5'5"); slim but curvy build.

Sato Kimie:

Age 17, Sixth Year. In detention for failure to maintain a C average. Kimie is a cheerful, talkative high school girl who loves playing the cello. She is immensely protective of her baby sister, and suspicious of Hiroko's motivations by default, though she's also glad Miho has one friend who doesn't obviously try to take advantage of her. Kimie sometimes helps Shinji grade his papers, as she is exceedingly well-read and a good student, though her grades don't reflect it. [There may be a romantic path for this character.]

Physical characteristics:
Shoulder-length lavender hair; dark blue eyes; rosy skin tone; average height (5'6"); average build.

Sato Miho:

Age 12, First Year. In detention for skipping more than ten days of school. Miho has a gentle and softspoken personality; however, she is not in the least gullible or overly naive. Rather than face problems or even turn the other cheek, Miho tends to turn away entirely, seemingly incapable of acknowledging conflict. In addition, her small stature makes her the butt of her friends' jokes. Only Hiroko doesn't tease her about it, because she knows what an area of sensitivity it is. Miho is the one who finally comes up with a theme for the festival booth on which everyone can agree.

Physical characteristics:
Below-the-waist pale blue hair; dark blue eyes; pale skin; tiny and whispy build coupled with a tiny stature (4'9").

Sakamoto Hiroko:

Age 13, First Year. In detention for fighting and verbal abuse of another student. Hiroko is best friends with Miho; the two are practically joined at the hip. Hiroko has a personality which comes on rather strong at times, and is extremely stubborn. The only person who can make her change her mind about anything is Miho. (Hiroko seems to be rather infatuated with her, actually.) Loves kittens and is always trying, in her own subversive way, to convince Miho to wear cat ears to school (Miho remains firmly oblivious/resistant).

Physical characteristics -
Reddish brown hair usually in two pigtails; burgundy eyes; average complexion; thin but with a solid frame; 5'1".

Inoue Mamoru:

Age 15, Fourth Year. In detention for possession of contraband material (he can thank Kaneko for that one). Mamoru seems fairly average on all accounts: he plays sports, gets decent but not great grades, and generally does nothing to stand out. However, he has two secrets, one of which is a crush on Hiroko which he is constantly trying to convince himself will go away, and the other which is only to be revealed in the game (ahahaha *cackle*).

Physical characteristics -
Dark brown hair; black eyes; relatively tan skin; scrawny but muscular build; 5'9".

Vice Principal Katsura Hanako:

Age 29. She acts as guidance for Shinji and answers questions about school policy and custom, as well as helping out with any other needs he might have. Hanako is cordial but friendly at first. Shirokawa Academy is her entire life, and even though she sees detention as necessary for any students who break the rules, she also sympathizes with and cares about them. [There is a romantic path for this character.]

Physical characteristics -
Blonde air in an upsweep/bun or which she lets hang to mid-back; brown eyes; pale skin; slim build; 5'7".

Takeda Ayumu:

Age 27. Second-year English teacher with whom Shinji shares an office. A bubbly personality who is very intellectual but rather obtuse when it comes to dealing with people. She likes to gossip with Shinji about the teachers and students at the school, which he is rather reluctant to participate in. [There is a romantic path for this character.]

Physical characteristics -

Coppery, curly hair; blue eyes; average complexion; average build; a diminutive height of 5'4".

Hirase Remi:

Age 19, Sixth Year. Shinji's student aid, and the senior class president. Despite being highly intelligent and fairly popular, Remi feels very self-conscious and shy about her age, thinking it makes her inferior to her classmates. She is cheerful and always tries to be as helpful to Shinji as she can, but her natural clumsiness (only compounded by her crush on him) sometimes make her more of a hindrance than a help. [There may be a romantic path for this character.]

Physical characteristics -
Black hair worn in a braid; hazel eyes; has freckles; slender but only 5'7".

--

Well, that's all I have at the current moment! Please let me know your thoughts and ideas and such. ^_^

[Mistik]

Great Teacher Onizuka comes to mind hard.
I would play it. The option not to focus mainly on romance, but the problems the students face can create the opportunity to make a powerful story with deep characters that could get a person all emotional. If you do it though, I would recommend reading up on psychology. counseling/therapist techniques and juvenile problems.

Good luck

[sciencewarrior]

I suggest you make Shinji Sensei younger. If he's fresh out of college, he's around 22 or 23, not 26. It makes it easier to imagine him falling for a 19-year old, too.

The VP is promising. I'd make her helpful but stern and a bit cold at first, until she gets to know Shinji better and (literally?) lets her hair down.