Why your VN Characters feel Wooden (and How to Fix it!)

Writing for Video Games is different from writing for Books, Comics, and TV, and you need to treat your story accordingly! This video teaches a design methodology for your player to interact with your characters, and how to make story beats for your Visual Novel, Interactive Fiction, or other Narrative games hit HARDER!

[wren]

First off, can I say how much I appreciate that this wasn't just a regurgitation of the Hero's Journey format? I love how you've laid it out as more of a cycle, which makes more sense for an interactive, branching narrative. Your choices can affect a character's whole path, and sets off another cycle. I've written/illustrated comics, short stories, and worked in AAA games, and somehow creating my own visual novel now is so much more complicated. But I like the challenge! Keeping tabs on where characters change (and, as you've pointed out, WHY they change) is a whole beast of its own. You really do have to follow through, while adapting the story to flow around those choices regardless. Great video!

[Yggdrasilincarnate]

I have definitely played some games where it’s felt like an exercise in lockpicking rather than feeling free to get to know the character just to avoid a bad ending… you put into words exactly why that was annoying!

[ShadowoftheMask]

This does reminds me of how Scarlet Hollow made me realize how much more immersive it is when each interaction with character isn't followed up with "+5/-5 affection" :'D

[XX-sptt]

If you have a game that centers on interaction... then having a cut scene where the player can't do anything is all the more powerful.

[flowerbloom]

This is so useful even for stories cause character action is important .

[Barbieronpa]

Just wanna say, this is one of the most underrated channels I’ve ever seen. I’m currently planning my first original visual novel and nearly every video has helped in some way or another. Really hope you get the recognition you deserve and thanks for the amazing vids!! ❤

[miserablepumpkin]

Huh, so that's why certain VNs and Dating Sims feel super frustrating! I never understood why before this video, thanks for clarifying that

[Musashi]

Could you please do a video about "How to make a VN as solo developer" - Focusing on the overwhelming amount of work that needs to be done and how to handle it

[fireball-]

The fact that I was already doing this shocked me, but also caused me to start over my VN because of how unengaging the choices and consequences were. I currently working on scripting my VN so this mistake doesn't happen again.

By the way, your content is engaging and really helpful. I'm glad I found this channel since it has made me think differently about choices and consequences in VN's. Thank you so much for making this video!

[bambzld]

Cannot put into words how helpful it is to have resources like this. Screenwriting was my major in college--mostly with a professor who was extremely strict about how every word should matter and anything that isn't driving the plot forward should be thrown in the dumpster. While story structures like The Hero's Journey are still commonly seen in visual novels, I have always struggled to make any player choices feeling meaningful. The chart you show here for having meaningful interactions/choices in a VN will no doubt be helpful with my work.

Anyway, your videos are very helpful and each one I watch is reducing my anxiety about the Winter VN Jam bit by bit.

[ArentEchidnasCool]

This was an easy watch with great info! I really like how you made up simple example scenarios with the bookworm girl. It helped me visualize (haha) what I could do with my own characters and story with that reference as a guideline.

[KigyoDev]

Excellent advice. Thank you!
I also appreciate you pointing out that a decisive moment doesn't always have to be a branching "good VS bad" choice. Just having one choice can be enough, since setting it apart as a choice already makes the player feel more involved.

[zeemmy]

This video is really helpful and well edited, I have no idea why the channel isn't more popular

[ttlbrh]

6 months ago I took my first try in a novel jam, and you were the one who taught me everything
Tomorrow I will start my new jam, more experienced than earlier, and you're still the one who guides me
Thank you so much!

[superstarben]

God DAMN I love it when a new video of yours pops up! Always so excited to sit down and watch them. Keep up the great work, you've got some fantastic insights!

[ZohGaEri]

omg this makes so much sense!! it feels like something i've known all my life but didn't have the ability to think and put to use consciously!! thank you so much!!

[aidenb]

I've been binging you're videos. There's so helpful, easy to understand and fun to watch. Thank you!

[InkyIsScared]

I'd be interested in looking at how stat raising games do/do not fit into this formula. They aren't my cup o' VN tea so I haven't played a lot, but to me it feels like they often fall into that lockpicking problem and I haven't seen one that does it exceptionally well. Partially I think it's because they fumble the consequences side of the equation. Yes choosing to run after school every day does eventually unlock Athlete-chan's secret cutscene, but what it FEELS like you get in the moment is it has very little consequence because your immediate feedback is just "+1 Speed!" Also maybe it ends up dividing the weight of the consequences between all those little ones so if you have to run 100 times to unlock the special scene the scene feels 100x less important? IDK. I'm just talking out loud haha.

I've heard Scarlet Hollow does really interesting stat raising stuff, where it's more determining your character's perceived by the npcs due to what YOU do in the establishing character phase.

[IndigoNorthstar]

I want to say thank you for making this videos as the best tutorials on the subject. I am writing a VN in Ren'py and learn as i go. Your movies are so inspirering, creative and still gets the message across. I hope we will see more in the future. Lots of luck!

[rickityrox]

I just discovered your channel, but thank you for all the tips for Ren’Py it has been a major help!