tbh sounds normal for that type of game. I find you get distracted by a lot of side content early/mid game then blast through story missions in bursts in games like that.

If I'm writing a character who is motivated by regret, it ain't just gonna be "I wasn't there to protect my family." (when it was literally physically impossible for them to be) weak ass shit.

Its gonna be something that is properly fucked up like "No yeah YOU SHOULD REGRET THAT, like. FOREVER."

Also real talk, my biggest pet peeve with the "character who has regrets over past mistakes" archetype is how often their regret is misplaced and they actually made the right call every time because our main cast can't be /too/ flawed.

Sure, people can regret things irrationally, but its so tired.

Okay but I am giving them this tattoo.

tbf

The setting predates the game itself so it kinda can't earn any points from it unless it utilizes it well.

AI overview has become a fucking PLAGUE online, people keep citing it as a source, posting the entire generated wall of text to support their argument as though its gospel.

Its gotten INFURIATING to deal with any communities even more. Now the confidently wrong guy has a confidently wrong machine.

(especially when that message is coming from a fucking missionary trying to convert them to his religion.)

But while I certainly have nothing to praise, I've never heard anyone outright call it dogshit.

Though I always roll my eyes at the "its more pure and innocent to be a ignorant superstitious tribal" message.

Interesting to hear.

I have always considered Honest Hearts to be one of the two "weak" DLC's where I just don't care at all about the core conflict or characters (other than Graham and his monologues).

But I did really like the story of the survivalist (Of course that was John Gonzales work.)

Like the DS3 playthrough where they relentlessly called pat out for being "overleveled"

Like a extra 10% health was going to make a huge difference in a game where bosses kill you in 3-4 hits.

How dare you grind in a RPG.

Fromsoft players are like... damaged. Speaking as someone who loves the games, the community is insufferable in their attitude that the game has a "right" way to be played. (Probably born from the "Its so hard!" circle jerk early coverage/marketing of DS1 spawned)

Basically I made it way more complicated than it was originally supposed to be but I'm really hoping the end result shines because of it.

I just can never bring myself to use half measures on a story except in rare occasions when I realize I HAVE to cut down what I am doing or it will run 2-3x long

ye

Like hot damn thats A LOT of BBQ sauce on utensils that have never seen BBQ sauce in their lives.

Like my man, the mayonnaise on your knife did not turn that color in the dishwasher.

So probably a little Terry Pratchett in there too.

I find it so fascinating that he is a Tolkien analogue but his son is like, the opposite of Christopher Tolkien.

Also he'd probably be more generous/supportive of other peoples takes/adaptations of his work than JRR/Christopher would have been/was. Lol.