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Astra - Character Trait Details + Artwork!
🕑 Added 2023-11-09 16:32:37 +0000 UTCHello Patrons,
Hope everyone is having a great week so far!! What we have today to share is the Astra decision you will make regarding picking a character trait. Along with sharing the artwork that will eventually be in the game, we'll also briefly describe the advantages of each one along with some of the design philosophy.
So without further delay, let's get started!
What is a "Character Trait"?
The character trait is a decision that you as the player will make at the beginning of the game right after choosing a name. A brief descriptor will give a general idea of what the trait does.
Each trait has two benefits. There is a gameplay benefit and a flavor text benefit
- Gameplay benefit is something that will directly impact decisions that could happen in the game whether directly or indirectly
- Flavor text is something that will alter some scene dialogue or narration based on the trait. It is mainly non-gameplay impacting but to give you a little spicy variety.
Character traits were used in ACE Academy and it follows a similar DNA. One thing that we are currently thinking about is to add a little 'chime' SFX when your trait 'activated'. A feedback we got with ACE was it was very difficult to tell when a trait is doing something unless on a second playthrough you notice a difference! Speaking of traits, let's dive into the three you can choose from in Astral Ascension.
ATHLETIC
Athletic is the physical prowess of your MC along with how he also looks physically. Whereas the regular MC has a decent enough frame, the athletic is rocking a washboard 8 pack with toned obliques!!!!
Gameplay Benefit: You will automatically have twice long when a timed choice appears. Timed choices vary depending on the scenario, so for instance jumping behind cover being a 5 second choice or drawing a weapon being a 3 second choice, athletic will make the timer 10 seconds and 6 seconds respectively.
Flavor Text: A couple of flavor text benefits come athletic. In terms of the general path, anytime a display of strength, agility, or reaction time is relevant, you might get additional or even alternative dialogue. For instance, when your shirt is off, the waifu will see a much more toned body with athletic trait!
STRATEGIC
Strategic is your MC's intelligence, but also worldly and lore knowledge. On one hand, he will have much more of an insight when it deals with devices, tools, ships, history...etc. On the other hand, strategic MC is much better at coming up with tactics and plans for missions and improvising if things go south!
Gameplay Benefit: You cannot fail mission encounters that would lead to a bad / early ending. For example, while navigating through an asteroid field, if you keep picking the wrong choices it will eventually end with you crashing the ship. The strategic trait will automatically pass just enough choices so you don't run into a premature ending!
Flavor Text: The main flavor text is that MC is knowledgeable about all things. He can keep up with Vaela on her engineering and tech hobbies, Iris with her strategic moves in Annex, or even Luna and different medicines!
EMPATHIC
Originally, this one was going to be charismatic but the problem we ran into is that a bunch of fun choices might get locked out unless this trait was taken. What we decided to do instead is make it more of an empathic trait. MC can read people and understand social situations so he is better able to make informed decisions when it comes to social encounters!
Gameplay Benefit: The player will get 'warning' mental thoughts when he is making social decisions that could be poor choices. You as the player can still pick it if you want, it is just that the trait gives you that extra layer of protection so you don't accidently pick it.
Flavor Text: This trait has the most flavor text in the form on mental narration. Before choices come up when dealing with people, it will give a little flavor text of either how the person is behaving in terms of body language, or how something could be perceived. Empathic basically gives helpful hints and nudges for social cues!
That is pretty much it for what is a character trait as well as the three you will get to choose from in Astral Ascension! There is a poll below where you can vote on the trait your first playthrough will have. I'm interested to see which one is the most popular!
As always, thank you for your continued support, please feel free to leave your thoughts and feedback in comments. :^)
Cheers!
Comments
Garibuki
I really like the concept of MC traits, because it adds a level of replayability, which a lot of VNs could use. While I’d love the waifu to be like 👀 when the MC’s shirt is off, I think I’ll go for empathic since I feel that applies most to me IRL. It’ll be fun (and potentially cute) to see the descriptions in a romantic scene.
Daryl Sawyer
Probably going athletic first, for two reasons. First, I want to max out my chances of failure my first time through, and as timed choices are easy for me, the extra time should be the least valuable bit of help. Second, I actually did enjoy how Kaori (and Valerie?) reacted to an athletic Tristan Spade.
