Lemma Soft Forums

• The player get to make decisions in the beginning and sees the outcome. Later on, they go back to the past. The story automatically choose different choices for them (i.e. you picked "Yes" in the beginning, so now the story now picks "No").

• The player doesn't get to choose in the beginning, and lives through the original timeline. Later on, they go back to the past. This time, they get to make the choices.

Inksword wrote: ↑Fri Sep 24, 2021 5:42 am I'd say if its a short loop, lead them on a single path the first time through, with some choices that change minor things but generally aren't anything huge. It's the character going about their normal life, not doing anything weird or huge because it's normal life. Once it loops they can start doing big/unusual things because the stakes are suddenly up and they are trying to get to the bottom of the mystery or end the loop or whatever. I think this really helps sell the change of status quo once the time loop asserts itself and mirrors how an actual person would act where they'd start doing more extreme things even if they were normal before the loop.

I wouldn't give NO choices the first time round. Just make them minor ones that maybe reveal a little different character or get to pick the order of things (go grocery shopping and then watch internet videos, or do internet videos first and then grocery shop or whatever.) That way they still get to engage actively just a little bit instead of just reading.

However, if it's a long loop, one that takes a long time to get through the first time, I'd give meaningful choices the first time around so the player isn't left without agency for too long. VN players want their choices to matter, and having them sit through a LONG period of pointless choices means instead of just building mood and character you'll be turning people off.

That's all just my opinion and how I'd handle it! Other people will probably have other opinions!