How does this even work? (spoilers)

This post contains spoilers for future builds and indeed the direction of the game as a whole, so if you don't want to know what I have planned for that, don't read this post :)

V - SPOILERS

V - SPOILERS

V - SPOILERS

V - SPOILERS

V - SPOILERS

V - SPOILERS

For the rest of you. SO.

It may appear that LOTM is a regular sort of dating VN that plays out over a handful of consecutive days, with the player able to take actions on each day that are exclusive with one another to pursue a specific character or goal. This is very much by design, and is why I made the period of time of the holiday two weeks.

In reality, this is intended merely to set the stage for future events. Flax will get exactly three days (the first of which we have already seen) with which to indulge his holiday attitude. He will meet further characters, get to spend more time with specific ones as he chooses, and basically do his best to have a good time and start building up towards that sexy sexy sex.

Then it all changes.

I won't say exactly what happens yet, to preserve a little mystery, but Something happens, and it throws the town, the ugazi, and the manor itself well out of their comfort zone. The whole region abruptly becomes a more charged place to be hanging around (but not in any tiresome sense...it's still meant to be a fun game, not a hardcore drama), and Flax finds himself right in the middle of it. He is asked to help, and when he inevitably accepts, the introduction is over, and the game can really start.

It becomes apparent that the game's timeframe is not merely two weeks, but three months. And rather than playing out with consequent days, the time unit of choice is the week: twelve weeks to spend truly getting to grips with everyone and everything. Despite the manner in which you become involved in things, you still have the opportunity to then treat the game as a regular dating sim and ignore the core storyline; it will play out without your involvement just fine, although the conclusion is no longer yours to decide, of course. But who cares about that if you can get some sweet tail :3

The reason for this approach is simple: two weeks is not enough time to really get to know someone. There is simply no way I could have the story play out over two weeks and end any of the romantic options in any state other than "I kinda know you, and I'd like to hang out more". The game is not set in a high school, nor are all the characters teens; a forty seven year old horse is not going to profess undying love for a twenty-something in fourteen days. He may never do so. But maybe if...well, now I'm getting distracted. We'll see ;)

To do anything deep, anything I intend to be meaningful and (more importantly imo) believable, I need more time. Three months (actually a bit more, but close enough) is enough time for me to develop things to my satisfaction. It's all worked very precisely into the story to make sense with the game world, because that's how I do be with my stories, but the driving reason is to give the player a length of time long enough that they can actually learn about - and see change in - the character(s) they choose to keep interacting with.

Each week's activities will vary, and some might see a huge number of things happen all in one day, while others have a few things taking place on two or three days. The details of that will become clearer closer to the time, but trust me when I say that the game's calendar is awfully busy - and it all builds to a single moment where all your choices come home to roost...

Unless you just ignore it and do your own thing :P

Anyway, I hope this has been an interesting and intriguing insight into the near future of the game :) My expectation is to spend about 60k words on the remaining "normal days", which will both introduce all remaining characters (there's still TEN to meet!) and fill out the world of Paardenrust Valley some more. That's 4 months of writing, which means end of December. I am still planning to take December off in order to uproot my entire life and move, so let's say end January.

If you're ever curious about even more spoilerific details, feel free to shoot me a DM here on Patreon or on Discord. I'm happy to explain my goals for things, as long as you don't spoil it for others ;)

Finally, I know things have been quiet on the art front lately, but it looks like soon I'll have a bunch of new stuff to show in that department. Maybe even the first sketches for some sprites! And thanks to the incredible support I've received (hello, all new patrons!), the custom-music goal is actually coming within reach! Unbelievable! I did not imagine that happening for at least a year yet, if at all, so I'm blown away. I've begun poking around to see what could be done about that :)

I can't wait to give you all more of this world :D

Zaggy