Thought

[Command]

This is just a thought I don't know if it's a good idea or not but would it be a good idea to have the main character have a set of traits as well.  Like his skills and personality would start changing as the game progresses. 
 
Like if a slave lashes out at him if his combat is high enough he could subdue her without having the guards to interfear or he could knock out a girl he finds while walking instead of talking her into the job.
 
This was just a thought I don't really know if it's a good idea for this type of game though.  It's an intreeging thought but I'm not sure.

[letmein]

I'm...  not sure what to think of this.  I guess my general feeling is always to make things simpler, so I'll have to vote "pass" on this.  It's kind of a neat thought, but under my same general criteria I don't think it would add enough to the game to be worthwhile.

[zodiac44]

The general idea was discussed before, but I don't think anyone has fleshed out the idea to determine what it would actually encompass.

Maybe have a system of stats which describe the player's character and skills which determine how good he (possibly have the option of being female too?  That would break some of the game elements, though - it's really tough for a woman to get another woman pregnant, for example) is at managing the different aspects of the operation.

Stats could encompass the character's strength, charisma, likability, fearsomeness, and would affect interactions with girls and customers or modify their stats when assessing how they react to the player (girls feel more at ease with a likable player, customers would be terrified of a highly fearsome player).

Higher skill in brothels, for example, might decrease the costs associated with running a brothel, increase the customer draw, and/or increase the efficiency of working girls (serve more customers per girl or reduce the gain in tiredness per customer served).

[letmein]

As I think about it more, I'm liking the idea less and less.  PC stats wouldn't really do much, since the important stats are (and should be!) the girls, followed by gangs, followed by matrons (who will soon be replaced with girls, as they should be).  All the PC stats would do would make the game *easier* as you kept playing, and create another balance consideration.

That's not to say PC stats can't be a good thing - look @ Slave Maker II.  However, that game was designed in such a way that PC stats should have probably been introduced to begin with; *this* game takes an entirely different philosophy and scale than SMII.

[trex]

I think it'd be hard to script or adjust each response and scenario in a similar manner to the sexual blurb responses according to PC Stats. Adding another layer like that (considerable) would also potentially add buggy functions in interactions as it has to check and respond accordingly to PC Stats. That in itself may not be an issue, but PC Stats isn't really necessary, it may make the game too easy if your an ubermench sex empire mogul, who could resist a 100% looks/combat/magic/sex god?!

[Command]

Good point.

[necno]

Originally this was going to happen but was canceled as it doesn't really add anything to the game. Adding player perks however (traits that add bonuses) is still a possibility.

[letmein]

I'm still leery about it.  There are just so many other things that could be done with better impact than worrying about the PC; all the PC has to do is be characterized enough to give a semi-coherent setting for the game.  Perks, or traits, or stats, or whatever you want to call them wouldn't really add anything to the experience, IMHO.

[Mehzerz]

Well... there's nothing to really strive for in this game. There's no real goal at this point. So yes, you can run gangs and whore out women, and sure you're continuing where your father left off.
But there's not really much to gain from it all. Everything is handed to you at the start nothing really improves besides income. In which case the only things that cost large sums of money are the casino and bar attachments.


I don't know about you but I really enjoy upgrades in a game. Whether it's upgrades to the PC or as you increase in Fame new things open up to you. Complete so many objectives and a black market opens up. Learn the location to a famous craftsman that's gone hermit. Who could build special buildings for you. Hell, the INITIAL buildings you start with can be upgraded to work more efficiently, attract more customers, what have you.
There's absolutely NOTHING to spend money on, and it comes in such an abundance you just play and play and play

[letmein]

That is, indeed, a problem;  but it's one that I believe is going to be partially fixed once the building update comes out.  The money issue is just one of balance, and again I think that'll be fixed sooner or later as well - once items are valued based on their effects again, we'll be a big step forward there too.

But, on the other hand, I do see what you're saying, and for the most part I agree.  I just don't want the 'advancement' of the game to be focused on the PC.  I'd stay with expanding your number of buildings - perhaps with better quality ones coming later, perhaps not - and doing something fancy with girls becoming matrons.  I don't want to focus on the PC, because frankly that's not the fun part of the game - plus, the scale of the game doesn't really allow it.  Slave Maker rightly introduced player stats, but that's because there are really only two important characters in that game (the PC and the girl s/he's training).  In this game, the focus is much broader, so focusing too much on one individual wouldn't make sense, to me anyway.  However, you really can't give a method of advancement to every girl, either - there are just too many to keep track of.  That means you have to compromise, and either focus on a special class of girl (a la SimBroII), or focus on something else entirely.  Or both.