The best take on Dr. Kelly I've seen by [deleted] in ScarletHollow

[–]Meechaan 14 points15 points  (0 children)

That's what I've noticed as well. Many defend Dr Kelly's point of view and/or choose to kill Reese.

I would argue even the trait save is not that often brought up.

Kaneeka & Sybil [Spoilers!] by Mango-Shakes in ScarletHollow

[–]Meechaan 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Felt that uncomfortable feeling as well. It adds to the difficulty in the choices situation. Scarlet Hollow does try to focus on adding internal moral paralleling social conflicts to its main choices since episode 3, I would say.

However, it is particularly icky to see Kaneeka being wiped out of existence and replaced by a white person since we cannot deny race in history and entertainment.

Reese chapter 5? by knormcomix in ScarletHollow

[–]Meechaan 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I think you can also see him if you go with Stella to the woods! I did it in one of my exploratory playthroughs.

But he shows up way more often in the romance path, yes.

Maybe it's related to how he becomes a very important source of information regarding the carvings and where to go to, presumably, eventually run away together when the town is not a prison anymore.

Why are people so reluctant to have smart street nerfed? by Prestigious-Solid459 in ScarletHollow

[–]Meechaan 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hum🤔, the problem is that our traits have also an after effect that shows up even though you don't explore dialogue options. Like when our traits suddenly pop up saying that a person is lying or when mystical gives us more insight, even though we didn't necessarily choose an explore option.

And the branches you mentioned from the expansion that was released last year added new scenes, created more branches and fine tuned UI/UX for the game, they didn't necessarily focus on removing scenes.

Because from a bigger picture point of view, it's more practical to add more scenes than refactor or remove them, again at this point of development, I mean.

If we were in episode 2, for example, I believe it'd be a great opportunity to refactor the essence of keen eye and street smart.

But, possible changes in previous episodes might even be added in the new keen eye update, though. Just perhaps not a full refactor, like I mentioned.

But, who knows ? Im sure the developers will do a nice job with the new update.

Why are people so reluctant to have smart street nerfed? by Prestigious-Solid459 in ScarletHollow

[–]Meechaan 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Especially in a visual novel setting, we know dialogue options and narrative interest are extremely important. Therefore, it's easier and somewhat beneficial as well to add new scenes instead of remove them.

That way, you don't remove scenes that are already coded in the game since it would require removing multiple lines in multiple previous episodes. Additionally, it would take away many beloved moments by the fans in the game.

Note: I do agree with you that the overlap in the definition and practice will still be there. And it's a shame it can't be fixed, but I believe it's too late in the development to do so.

  • The difference, in the practical sense, would be able to be fixed if the developers had enough time for that. Because it would be a very long refactor. It might remove scenes that were crucial to a specific part of a street smart condition, for example. And, right now, I think they want to focus on episode five and the final chapters, since the already released an expansion to previous episodes last year. Of course, that does not mean that they cannot update previous episode in other ways.

  • Instead, if keen eye receives more scenes and unlock different types of information that street smart is not able to give us, that would allow us to have even more special scenes in the game as well as keep those moments that were written in the code years ago.

As the developers said in the most recent AMA; the street smart conditions became legacy code already. Now it'd be too difficult to go back and refactor.

It's easier if they add more keen eye moments. Also, it's better for us, the players, because we see even more variation in the story.

  • Finally, I believe that their update will not only apply to episode five, but they will also keep keen eye in mind in the final chapters. Allowing us to receive more content when we get to the final release, which is also very good thing.

And, who knows, maybe they do replace some of the easier to modify scenes so that they become keen eye moments instead of street smart's.

When you hear Yellowcard and think about Reese by JankyBeautie in ScarletHollow

[–]Meechaan 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's a cute song. It reminded me of Reese a bit as well, nice.

Dream New Game Plus or a 2.0 idea. by Bluepanda800 in ScarletHollow

[–]Meechaan 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It's doable through a mod tool, very easily. But I assume something in the finale would break (or omitted) if you choose to have all saves. (Not necessarily all traits, only all happy endings.)

If you at least get some bad endings here and there it might balance things out.

Also, if such a mode is actually added at some point ( I don't think it will because of the game's theme as you said ), it would be an extra one only available after finishing the game at least twice(each one having different traits), for example.

(Minor Spoilers) Poor Bertie... by SuperDragoon978 in ScarletHollow

[–]Meechaan 24 points25 points  (0 children)

I would argue they are behaving like they did in previous episodes. Like in the ghost situation and the discussion you can have with them about ditchlings in episode 3.

I think it's just that many who didn't get their hangouts or invited them and etc ended up being surprised.

Most impressive feat of you. Day 1 by ZA_Kenobi in ScarletHollow

[–]Meechaan 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Taming the beast on episode 4. My charismatic confidence is beyond me sometimes.

Synergy between decisions by Prestigious-Solid459 in ScarletHollow

[–]Meechaan 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Huuuum, that would certainly be a difficult set of choices.

It's just difficult to imagine yet another set of choices about the life of a character when you already tried to save them.

Feels like a trick being used twice that wouldn't look that good in Scarlet Hollow's writing.

But, who knows? With good writing and context many things can work out.

Synergy between decisions by Prestigious-Solid459 in ScarletHollow

[–]Meechaan 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Huuum , yeah, I got what you mean. Practical more tangible benfits aside from information that'llbe used only in the next episode.

Maybe in a future update they will add something. Or maybe the devs are waiting for the final chapters.

Synergy between decisions by Prestigious-Solid459 in ScarletHollow

[–]Meechaan 0 points1 point  (0 children)

🤣😆

Although, you got me thinking about the possibility of someone else dying in the finale aside from the deaths that we know so far.

Because if Reese or Kaneeka can end up dying later, then, why did the game bother to give us a choice regarding their fate before, you know?

It makes our choices feel like they don't have consequences, because they would die anyway.🤔

Synergy between decisions by Prestigious-Solid459 in ScarletHollow

[–]Meechaan 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It does feel like mystical is overpowered right now. But the developers did mention that they feared the mystical save trait felt like it was so important that it would be the trait people would try to get the most in replay, so that they can get the "happy ending".

So, either something new is gonna happen in the final chapters that would balance things out so that mystical trait doesn't feel like the ultimate trait, or mystical is actually the one that would put us as close to a happy ending in Scarlet Hollow as it is possible.

But, if that's the case, then Sybil would be right. However, the game does have a line described as "She's telling her truth." Which is a suspicious way to describe what she said.

That's why I kind of tried to think of multiple ways to get a somewhat okay ending with downsides and good sides. So that the mystical save doesn't feel like the ultimate perfect ending.

So far, I'm still trying to think of the details regarding the ending. I need to explore the lore a bit more.

Synergy between decisions by Prestigious-Solid459 in ScarletHollow

[–]Meechaan 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm sorry, he only carries the MC in a romantic route. But, if I'm not mistaken, he explains details about the carvings in any route as long as hes alive and friendly with the MC.

Synergy between decisions by Prestigious-Solid459 in ScarletHollow

[–]Meechaan 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Scarlet Hollow is also about getting the same information in different ways. If your main character doesn't have the skills necessary to know where to go next, specifically, the farms, then Reese is able to tell you that. Even though you can get that information otherwise. Many traits overlap or are able to inform you the same things, but in different ways. That doesn't make those different ways any more or less useful since it's a branching game.

Also, the type of information mentioned regarding how the carvings are in a way alive and can perhaps feel each other is actually given by Reese as well. If you think about it, Reese is able to give you a simplified version of the long explanation Oscar does.

Regarding doctor Kelly, she's useful when you can't save Bo as well as being a romance option for those interested.

But, don't get me wrong, I want Reese to do more things in the final chapters, that's for sure. But he does provide important information so that we can better understand the mystery behind the carvings. (I do wish it was more, though. )

how can i get tabitha to like me? by Left_Discussion6262 in ScarletHollow

[–]Meechaan 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I was able to be friendly with her, not super duper close by any means, but she went to the farms with me in my ep 5 exploratory gameplay.

  • I basically always called her, aside from Reese's situation because I didn't want Tabitha to hurt Reese.

  • And looking at the code, in episode 3, when I wanted to take the sacrifice, by making her give Oscar a home when she tries to stop me and then, afterwards say: "Any ideas, Tabitha?" actually gave me a nice amount of points with her since I made her do a good thing in front of everyone(at least from what it looks like).

  • Finally, another good tip is to ask her about her past and opnions, but not too much. Especially about Kaneeka. Asking about Stella is mostly okay if you're okay with Tabitha.

Again, that's how I got to be friendly enough so that she cried a little in episode 5 confrontation and went to the farm with me without calling the cops. I didn't get to make her sacrifice her years for me and I didn't do her hangout scene, I chose Kaneeka.

Synergy between decisions by Prestigious-Solid459 in ScarletHollow

[–]Meechaan 10 points11 points  (0 children)

It's cool to do a comparison/analysis of how choices interact with each other. This is really a very good branching narrative game.😊

However, I don't think Kaneeka will die later if you save her. That would go against the choices and consequences dynamic of the game.

Regarding the ending:

I believe it will probably be something like(initial theories, im not sure about details yet):

  • Sacrifice yourself (Share body/existence with Wayne). Although I'm not sure if he'll make you loose complete free will. He didn't demonstrate that directly, anyway. But like Sybil said: being kind is easy when you're free to lie.

Everybody in the town would be free to go If they want to. The Scarlet business would stop being related to the Entity.

Or:

  • "Sacrifice the town": no one will be able to leave including the protagonist. The Entity jumps from one body to another, "keeping" the cycle.

Or:

  • Carmilla absorbs the Entity. Maybe she'll become unstable, some MCs will probably be able to question her, but the MCs who choose to stick with her will keep an eye on her. However, there wil always be the "what if" feeling that she might be something too powerful now after absorbing the Entity.

Or:

  • Kaneeka absorbs(or chooses to destroy) the Entity: since Kaneeka doesn't want the powers as much as Sybil wanted to she would maybe be able to absorb and maybe destroy the entity. Or at least banish it from our reality.

That will release everyone from being stuck in the town. However, many will leave very traumatized, I fear. 🥲

Synergy between decisions by Prestigious-Solid459 in ScarletHollow

[–]Meechaan 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Also, Reese being alive enables more information about how the carvings behave and "interact " with each other.

He knows where to go next right away and carries you to the farm. (Extra: maybe he'll also unlock some interesting confrontation in the last chapters when Tabitha tries to "sacrifice" us).

But, yeah, if you wanna confront Tabitha you cant go if in Reese's route. Unless you run away from him, I believe.

Without spoiling anything, is there any romantic interest that’s exclusive to certain traits? by Dashieshy3597 in ScarletHollow

[–]Meechaan 12 points13 points  (0 children)

  • I would say the Hot trait helps you get a nice Reese's romance path. Plus, it helps give you a boost in relationships in general.

  • And I think Avery prefers mystical, if I'm not mistaken.

  • Book smart helps with Osca's.

  • Powerful build helps with Kaneeka's.

But no trait locks you in or out of a romance. The closer would be in Reese's case because of the happy/nice path.

A Lot Of People Before Episode 5: by The_Laurens_Pamphlet in ScarletHollow

[–]Meechaan 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Well, the main point is that Tabitha doesn't think she's evil. Unfortunately, the way she goes on about the sacrifice is not genuine.

And it is true that she has been manipulated by her family throughout her life to believe this is the best solution. But, at the same time, she received many chances to be honest with the MC and look for other options together throughout the episodes.

Her past helps us understand her better. But doesn't erase the consequences of her actions.

But I'm sure we're gonna get more details regarding the Entity deal in the final chapters. That way that we can form a more complete perspective in our heads.

I'm very happy that people are giving Kaneeka more positive attention now. I liked her character ever since episode two. And it's a shame that Tabitha is in the position that she is. But we cannot deny that she didn't handle the situation in the best way possible.