This Looks So Nice! Not Very Vibrant But Still Colourfull Palettes. Love This

"You don't know me. I'm not the same person anymore."

"That's okay. I'll get to know you again."

Wait One Goddang Moment

Image: Screenshot of an ask back in January 2024, with Red Spring Studios explaining the difference between Monsters and Soulless:

Caption: "How are Soulless different from Monsters?" "Though they come from the same world, Soulless are feral beasts driven purely by bloodlust. No one knows why Soulless lack sapience, but there are some who believe that they’re sinners reborn as punishment for their wickedness."

To contrast with today's loredrop:

Caption: "Does the curse have long-term effects?" When it comes to humans, MC’s touch results in the permanent destruction of the mind. Soulless are a different story. The curse seems to only pacify them for a short period of time.

SOULLESS WERE ONCE HUMAN/IS THAT WHAT'S GONNA BEFALL MHIN IF THEY CAN'T FIND A SOLUTION FOR THEMSELF?!

Please feel free to add to this y'all I am SCREAMING—

That is really interesting.

I saw many picture that Vere being a god, so he can basicalyy do whatever he wants and that now everything is more of a fun time, something to keep going while being trapped.

So when we dont give him enough of entertaiment or make him angry - he wont take it.

But Vere being an image of a farmer ? Thats new

So I was discussing with my friend about Touchstarved theories and shit. Most of which I makeup for funsies. But one of which that I don’t really have a basis for that I just think is a fun thought involves Vere and his route in the demo.

So yes, if you haven’t played the demo yet, spoilers ahead.

As I was saying, in Vere’s route at the end you make a choice in which determines whether he lets you live or he kills you. And I say “let’s you live” because let’s be real, if he had really wanted to kill you he still would have and been on his merry way to go see that lute player (lutist??). But if you choose that option to “distract” him he just moves on and lets you go. Which I thought was strange. Until I thought about it some more.

So someone may have already pointed this out but I’m gonna say it anyways. It’s hinted at that at some point Vere may have been revered as a god. And to a certain extent, I think may have really formed his moral stance on things.

So I say all of that to say, that I think when Vere sees you choose the option to just give up in his head he likely believes he has a right to mercy kill you. Like when a farmer comes upon an animal so sickly or injured that the choice becomes would it be more cruel to let it live and suffer or should I kill it and end the suffering? So when we make the choice to give up, Vere is just the farmer pulling the trigger.

Hope that made sense, love yall byeeee~ 💕

I just love reading about these long posts. They started a long time ago, ahlf of them is about the subject of the post, and the other half talks about post itself.

So nice. So simple.

Be cringe people. Hate for cringe comes and goes. But your interests and mameories of them stay.

Be happy about what you love.

Me every time But also sometimes I'm this

A never ending cycle

Touchstarved Origins

Okay, so there's been a lot of divisive opinions over the replacement of 'The Hound' background with 'The Exile' background. I have my own thoughts that I wanted to express on the situation, as well as the origin system as a whole.

TLDR: I'm not against 'The Exile' existing, but I do think it's the least interesting and the weakest of the four backgrounds. I'm also firmly against the replacement of 'The Hound'. I also want to talk about how I would add/fix the current backgrounds. Also these are just my opinions - I'm not speaking objectively.

Spoilers ahead!

What's the point of the Origin system?

There's two main reasons for the current origin system.

First of all, each background has a 'perk', which each background can gather different types of information about the world and the love interests. This info may effect player decision-making.

Secondly, the backgrounds allow for roleplay and MC creating. This aspect is a huge part of the fandom, and RSS encourages people to make OCs with the backgrounds as a 'guide'.

How well is Origin system implemented?

I think it's important to keep in mind that it's only a demo out right now. That being said, as of these demos, I do not think the origin system has been implemented very well.

The 'perks' the backgrounds give and the story/dialogue differences are pretty minimal. This means that the way the Origin system currently works, the don't really meet the intentions behind the backgrounds.

The Exile & The Hound

Welp, onto the issue that inspired this post. First of all, I believe that 'The Hound' shouldn't have been replaced at all. IMO it was the weakest in terms of implementation, but that doesn't mean it should have been removed, just made better.

People have been building their MCs/OCs for years at this point, and it's straight up not fair for people to have their backgrounds taken away for seemingly no reason. There was no communication from RSS or even a survey from RSS asking about changing up the backgrounds.

I've also seen people say the backgrounds are 'similar enough', which I can't fully agree with. They're both survivalists, but the contexts are just too different - One is survival in in a socal world, and the other is survival in 'the wild'. Also, I think the biggest appeal to a lot of people about 'The Hound' was the criminal edge and the social intuition, which in a game about character interaction, is a big loss.

There's also the 'balance' of the original three backgrounds. While I don't think the OG backgrounds were the epitome of character building, they were different in the 'right' ways. For example: 'The Hound' is street-smart and familiar with lowtown's entertainment district, 'The Alchemist' is book-smart and somewhat familiar with lowtown's entertainment district, and 'The Unnamed' most likley has some education and isn't familiar with lowtown's entertainment district. They've also all been betrayed, which adds on to their desperation. This also means they learn different information that is relevent to the LIs (eg, 'The Unnamed senses familiar about Kuras, but 'The Alchemist' notices no magic from the reattached limb).

So, what about 'The Exile'? Backstory-wise, there's the isolation of 'The Unnamed' and a parental figure of 'The Alchemist', but no 'betrayal'. It does take some the the social intuition stuff from 'The Hound' (eg. "I've learned to recognise a leader when I see one" about Ais) but for a character that's described to live away from other people (apart from the hermit), it doesn't really fit or make sense. The 'perk' of an 'uncanny intuition' is very similar in flavour to 'The Unnamed' - I can't see why 'The Unnamed' wouldn't also have the red choice to 'move immediately'. 'The Exile' is also fluent in multiple languages, but that seems like something 'The Alchemist' would know.

In short, 'The Exile' feels like a mish-mash of the original backgrounds, lacking a strong identity - both storywise and gameplay-wise. It has qualities that already belong to a background or qualities that should belong to another background. If the goal was to have more 'cohesive' backgrounds, we ended up with a redundant background.

That being said, I do think there's a place for 'The Exile', but as it is right now, it needs a major rework.

Sidenote, blind/new players of Touchstarved aren't going to know what soulless are when selecting the backgrounds, so making it a 'selling point' of the background isn't a great move.

Things I Would Add to the Backgrounds

These are just some moments I could see happening with events that happen in the demo + feel in-tune with the background.

'The Unnamed':

I'll note it's hard to think of moments for 'The Unnamed', since we lack information on how their religion and temple function.

I think 'The Unnamed' should be the weakest fighter out of the backgrounds. Should probably never feel comfortable in altercations.

Should be the most 'aware' on what their curse does to people. Could come with different dialogue during Mr. Chocky's scene or Leander's 'hold back' scene.

Just more references to 'The Unnamed's' old faith. It was such a big part of their life, that it feels wrong to know so little.

Less knowledgeable of 'normal' society. They say the entertainment district in unfamiliar to them, but we don't actually see them go about the place much differently. For example, they shouldn't assume Vere is a sex worker because of the 'parted pink curtains'.

'The Hound':

I actually don't think 'The Hound' needs to be some super proficient combatant, but they should be the most compatent when caught off guard and general 'physical' situations. For example, they don't get knocked to the floor by the 'lowlife' in the bar, and/or their escape from the soulless is more skilful (not just trying to open a door and failing). Mhin would still show up of course.

Let. Them. Steal. The best moment I can think of is after they left Kuras's clinic, they pickpocket someone and use the money to buy food. I think it would make sense because they're already thinking about money in that scene.

Related to the last point, but 'The Hound' should be the most 'comfortable' finanally. Unlike the other backgroudns who have likely not been finanally responsible for themselves, 'The Hound' is used to poverty and low spending power (since most of the money they did have was for a cure). And of course, they have the means to steal. Maybe alter MC's lines about being worried about money.

'The Alchemist':

Not a great physical fighter, but as they get more settled in Eridia, having 'The Alchemist' preparing things such as protection enchantments. If taken off guard, they'll be weak, but if they can prepare for an encounter and such, they'll be in a better condition. That's to say, I don't mind them being 'weak' in the demo.

Some more general history stuff. For example, 'The Alchemist' thinking about how old Eridia is.

'The Exile':

I think if you're going to add a choice to fight the soulless, and a new backgound that's 'familiar' with soulless, I think it's fair to say the MC should have lived in the encounter. It's not like Mhin wouldn't have swooped in to kill the soulless anyways.

Final Thoughts

I do hope RSS come out and explain why 'The Hound' was removed, since I doubt they can add it back in without adding a lot more work the finished game. This also isn't made as a dig at anyone who likes 'The Exile', I just have a Thoughts™.

Also, please tell me if I've missed anything I should have mentioned or if I've said something incorrect!

born to be a highly desirable vampire that every immortal is pining for in a fucked up gothic romance but forced to watch & read about it instead

the old cistern beneath the flood control system

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