Ren'Py Desert Stalker [v0.17.1.2 2024-12-30] [Zetan]

[disC0rdia]

I prefer sandbox games which also have good stories

Sure, good sandbox games with good story are of course the top. (Leading us to desert stalker, on that I agree)

As I see it, a VN is always centered around the story - which means if the story is bad, the VN is bad - but it also means, that the 'sandboxing' has to fulfil the purposes of the story.
You can pass on sandboxing, but you can't pass on the story, as that is the core element.

That said, I think the differentiation between 'dialogue based VNs' and 'sandbox VNs' is in vain in regards to story aspects. Each of it needs a good story to work.
Being honest: I don't see a good way to implement sandboxing much more than optional
(in desert stalker you mostly use it to access harem, and some easy selections on the map, to show the next superordinate region - which is all in all fine, as there are no/not to many submenus/selections you have to(!) make)
Because if it gets too important for the story, the cumbersome handling of RenPy (in regards to sandboxing) will kick in at some point.
E.g. Having to click 10 times, just to get out of a house, just to recognize, that you are in the wrong place.... klick again 8 times... The time: you are at the right place, but have to recognize, that you have to wait a whole week to trigger the next relevant event for the main story, so you have to klick hundreds of times to skip through the following again and again repeating dialogues with at most insignificant variations.... 7 days. And then repeat everything for the next relevant story step. Or having to klick 10 times to find your way through a forest.... I don't feel more immersion, or more 'being in a forest' by that - in contrast, if I'm ready with that, I have already forgotten what I'm doing there

Yes, pure dialogue stories can be

pretentious and dialog bloated [...], in 99% of the cases, badly written with faulty plotlines, cringey/kitsch dialogues, bad characterization and cinematography

but if a story is bad, sandboxing doesn't help. Or in other words: Having sandboxing in the VN doesn't make a statement about the story quality.
And [and that is my point here:] if you have a good story, sanboxing is just an additional feature, that can(!) improve things, but also worsen things, if it doesn't serve the story &/or immersion.
(mater: story, slave: sandbox. If it's the other way round it's not a VN anymore. Then it's a strategy/race/fight/puzzle/[...] game with minor story elements)

PS: had a look at the 'Bright Past'-page.... well, maybe I will try it, but at least the page (description/pictures etc.) hasn't really drawn my attention to be honest....

If you meant any action (and not only sexual action) by 'being able to make her/him do xyz',

Well, I'm not entirely sure, as it was referred to what dolfe67 wrote, but I assume he/she meant it more with a sexual background

 

[IchWeißNichtGenau]

ayo dudes could someone help me and say how do i get these locked scenes unlocked?

 

[Sleeping In Pieces]

ayo dudes could someone help me and say how do i get these locked scenes unlocked? View attachment 1546782 View attachment 1546780

A Royal Offer is when you submit to the Queen when you first meet her. The other is if you take the opposite path.
The other I'm less sure but it involves the raider sisters and is some variation of Knowing Your Place.

 

[mrttao]

ayo dudes could someone help me and say how do i get these locked scenes unlocked? View attachment 1546780

The one here on the left of knowing your place is called "manhandled". During the knowing your place scene you have the option to "show her her place" (what you took) or to let her run to her sister and letting her sister sort it out (the one you did not take which results in manhandled)

 

[Cendash]

Finally a game with a hero who's not looking 14 years old !!!

What does the MC look like?
Is it the screenshot of the guy with the shaved head, neck and arms and bushy beard that is going for a smooch on the belly-dancer girl?

 

[Kellermann]

What does the MC look like?
Is it the screenshot of the guy with the shaved head, neck and arms and bushy beard that is going for a smooch on the belly-dancer girl?

Yes, that's him. I've heard people say they don't like his look or his beard, but I think F95 has them conditioned to only approve of a bald faced shota MC. Like the original poster, I'm thrilled to finally have an MC who looks like he is out of adolescence and in his prime. To me, the beard seems proper for the Egyptian setting (and looks badass), but I get that not everyone is a fan of it.

 

[Cendash]

Yes, that's him. I've heard people say they don't like his look or his beard, but I think F95 has them conditioned to only approve of a bald faced shota MC. Like the original poster, I'm thrilled to finally have an MC who looks like he is out of adolescence and in his prime. To me, the beard seems proper for the Egyptian setting (and looks badass), but I get that not everyone is a fan of it.

Thanks for the reply.

Ya, it does match the Egyptian setting I guess. I really don't know about the historical use of beards in Egypt. I also understand that beards are uber-trendy right now, so the look will probably be well received.

I have mild pogonophobia, that makes me itch if I look at a beard for very long. It is like the empathy feeling one gets when you see somebody cut a finger and flinch for them, only it slowly builds. So I guess this game is not for me.

It is interesting that you (and the majority of people lately) think beards look "badass", even as a kid I always assumed men with beards were hiding weak chins. Not sure where I got the idea. I mean, I am sure a lot of guys with small jaws beard-up to balance their look, but just as many guys probably do it arbitrarily.

 

[Kellermann]

Thanks for the reply.

Ya, it does match the Egyptian setting I guess. I really don't know about the historical use of beards in Egypt. I also understand that beards are uber-trendy right now, so the look will probably be well received.

I have mild pogonophobia, that makes me itch if I look at a beard for very long. It is like the empathy feeling one gets when you see somebody cut a finger and flinch for them, only it slowly builds. So I guess this game is not for me.

It is interesting that you (and the majority of people lately) think beards look "badass", even as a kid I always assumed men with beards were hiding weak chins. Not sure where I got the idea. I mean, I am sure a lot of guys with small jaws beard-up to balance their look, but just as many guys probably do it arbitrarily.

Interesting, I've never heard of anyone with such a visceral disdain for beards, but to each their own. Don't know and never thought about chins, but I know in many Middle Eastern cultures the beard is rather important and can even be considered Wajib. That's why, to me, it makes sense to see some beards in this game setting.

Anyway, just note that a majority of the shots are from the perspective of the MC so you aren't staring at his beard at all times. Also, you mostly interact with women or masked men or monster men so it's not like you're overwhelmed with beards. You're really missing a great game, but I understand if you can't tolerate some of the visuals.

 

[Cryptist]

I don't know about you guys, but I am asking Santa Claus to bring that day with just Ain that Z promised a while back.

 

[Sleeping In Pieces]

I really don't know about the historical use of beards in Egypt.

In a nutshell, the ancient Egyptians tended to prefer them trimmed or shaved. As Islam took over the area, the cultural preference shifted towards fuller beards.

 

[Kellermann]

I don't know about you guys, but I am asking Santa Claus to bring that day with just Ain that Z promised a while back.

Maybe you'll get it while Shani is off in the zone for her Stalker trials. It would be the perfect time for them to have some one-on-one "interactions." Got to do something to pass the time, eh? I think his wife said they would have some alone time too...but I believe she said it would be after Shani returned. So until then, it's the Ain show.

 

[Paz]

I don't know about you guys, but I am asking Santa Claus to bring that day with just Ain that Z promised a while back.

So until then, it's the Ain show.

And Kateryna, and Fairy, and Emilia, and Zahra, and..and.. (probably). MC has a really big heart. Loads of love to give.

 

[Kellermann]

Loads of love

Indeed!

 

[Cendash]

Interesting, I've never heard of anyone with such a visceral disdain for beards, but to each their own. Don't know and never thought about chins, but I know in many Middle Eastern cultures the beard is rather important and can even be considered Wajib. That's why, to me, it makes sense to see some beards in this game setting.

Anyway, just note that a majority of the shots are from the perspective of the MC so you aren't staring at his beard at all times. Also, you mostly interact with women or masked men or monster men so it's not like you're overwhelmed with beards. You're really missing a great game, but I understand if you can't tolerate some of the visuals.

That is helpful info. If a lot of it is from first person, I might be okay. I'm gonna give it a try. The game does look like it is very well done & I hate to miss out just because of hairstyles that I imagine are itchy. haha!

 

[Chagatai Khan]

In a nutshell, the ancient Egyptians tended to prefer them trimmed or shaved. As Islam took over the area, the cultural preference shifted towards fuller beards.

Mostly true, though one shouldn't forget the 900 year period of first Greek and then Roman rule, during which time most, but not all, Greek rulers were shaved. From Emperor Hadrian onwards many Roman Emperors (who were considered Pharaohs by their Egyptian subjects) had beards, including the last one to rule Egypt, Heraclius. Whether rulers shaved themselves or not doesn't necessarily say much about what was popular in society at large. It's difficult to say anything about the larger population because of a lack of sources, but we do know that scholars in the Greek speaking half of the Empire (to which Egypt belonged) during that period tended to have beards as they were to some extent associated with age and therefore with wisdom. Also here's a picture I found from the Ptolemaic era with a bearded man:

You must be registered to see the links

 

[Cynicaladm]

I will be honest... most other games that I know of don't have debates of this nature in their dedicated threads.
this pleases me.

 

[SummerCar]

I will be honest... most other games that I know of don't have debates of this nature in their dedicated threads.
this pleases me.

I actually get all my historical information from porn forums

 

[Chagatai Khan]

I actually get all my historical information from porn forums

You ought to start playing CK3 then, you'll be amazed!

 

[tarzan999]

You ought to start playing CK3 then, you'll be amazed!

CK 3 sucks. HOI 4 has the same exact map, but with tanks and planes.

 

[Sleeping In Pieces]

Whether rulers shaved themselves or not doesn't necessarily say much about what was popular in society at large.

I would contend that it does, since monarchies of that era, and Egyptians in particular tended to be personality cults. And everybody wants to copy whoever's in charge.