kircholm
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Let's talk about Robert (and Bimbo-Pauline)
🕑 Added 2021-04-24 06:07:11 +0000 UTCI've planned to talk about Martha, but as Robert won the poll, I want to talk about him. I have to admit, I don't understand his constant popularity. ;) First PMs I got about the game were about him. Still, some people keep asking about his role in the plot and they seem to be surprised that he's not the main character with the sexual bonds with Pauline.
Robert is my play with the high school bully trope from King's horrors. King creates high school bullies as psychopathic murderers. He rarely gave an explanation why they are so insane, but personally, I like giving the background, so you can see his road to madness during the game. I plan no good endings for him, but I'm quite open to the various events as a story follows.
Robert is the character that will be crucial in the election's path, and if you play him well, he could support you in re-electing Pauline's mother (which is one of the most important decisions in the game, determining the ending) or even in changing Pauline back into Paul, so he's a switch to the plot in many key points. He shows also the dangers of Auntie and the diving path - so his fate will discourage the other members of the cast to help you if you chose the diving path.
So, as you see, for me, an author, Robert is rather a tool to tell a story, not an independent hero. So I gladly hear about your expectations about this path. ;) I predict that Robert's path could be the greatest disappointment for many of you, so, as I am aware of it now, after 8 chapters, let's see if we can cut our losses. :)
I've got some suggestions that I should add the "Bimbo" tag on TF Games. But I won't do it, as The Parity is not a bimbo story. Of course, Bimbo-Pauline is an interesting character, and I really enjoyed her Pennywiselike's lines during chapter 8. Of course, writing this game caused that I wrote some scene first time (for example, I've never written the scene of lesbian sex before), but personally, I've never understood the phenomena of bimbos in TG fiction. I'm a traditional, liberal feminist, and reducing the female character to sex craving bimbo is strongly against my beliefs and I simply don't like to write such content. I judge nobody, it's easy to find plenty of such content on the web. Of course, The Parity is a horror, and many tropes from bimbo stories fit, so such things will be present.
I believe that Robert's path is popular because of lacking the other "fall for a bad boy" path in the game. I think that it could be my biggest mistake as a storyteller (but, well, it's my first game xD). As the possibility of changing Caroline back into a boy will be around chapters 11-13), I'm very curious how you will react to the possible hate-love-rivalry relation between Carl and Pauline. I introduce some elements in chapter 9, as Dorothy could tell Pauline how manipulative she was as a boy and that Paul's friendship with Justin and Olivia was based on his advantage.
But writing this game is a dialogue with my audience. I try to write something I enjoy writing and something that you enjoy reading. So, what are your expectations? I can't promise I fulfill them all, but at least I can try if you tell me. :)
