Title: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: hereno on December 06, 2022, 07:21:26 pm Here is the flow of the game, to the best of my knowledge. Happy to modify/update this as people figure out more stuff / prove me wrong. This won't have every option or option-set included; I'm focusing on the ones I think a) I understand and b) have a big story impact.
1. A PHONE PINGS What do you do? This sets whether your primary focus is on your girlfriend Allison or your ex-wife Annie.
NOTE: This, the very first decision in the entire game, seems to have a major impact on whether or not you are currently having an affair with Lorelei, an old flame you will encounter later. I don't think it's the only determinant, and I'm still not exactly sure how it works, but it's definitely a big influence. I'll update this later if/when I figure it out more. And then... This will set whether, and how much, mind control (MC) you are doing to Allison. It also influences how horny/nympho you and she are.
GENERAL NOTE: While you might think you always want to maximize Allison's and your horniness/libido, the game is more nuanced than that. It appears to have a spectrum from "prioritize sex" (high libido) to "prioritize control" (low libido). In other words, if her libido is high, she'll want to have sex with other men besides you; and if your libido is high, your character will like that idea. On the low libido end of the spectrum, the game is much more about your character trying to control the people around him. So if you're ever given the option to NOT have sex, you actually might want to take that option! "Well, in that case," you say... This is the option-set you get after choosing "Stop" above. This is you MCing Allison. Your choice picks what kind of person you're turning her into.
What do you do? This is a choice to finish with a blowjob or missionary. Sounds harmless, but it seems to have some major consequences.
Replying to Annie's text This will set what kind of character you, yourself, are playing.
GENERAL NOTE: Where most multi-path stories are "choose forwards," in that your decisions affect what happens next, Starter Marriage is also "choose backwards," in that your decisions determine what has already happened. So making decisions consistent with "mind controller" will mean that certain other characters are already under some level of your control, but making decisions consistent with "good boyfriend" will mean that these characters are not under your control (yet). This "choose backwards" characteristic is true throughout the text, across a range of things. The next morning... If Allison is horny, she'll fuck you awake; no options here. If not, you will have an option to sleep in or not:
2. MEMORY LANE You find one that reminds you of... I think this sets what your character is most interested in. Not sure.
So, you... This sets a couple of your relationships. You can only select two of these.
You reply... Your first text conversation with Annie. THIS SETS THE TYPE OF MC IN THE STORY. (Though it can be reset later.) This includes multiple option-sets. Too many options here to list out, but you're really looking for the picture that appears on your phone. These do appear to nudge Allison's character in these directions, meaning the story will (so far, only very slightly) alter based on these choices.
Then you... This helps determine how open/transparent you are with Allison.
Time for... This will help determine Allison's path... I think.
What do you do? This scene gives you some options to set your relationship with Annie, and possibly get a brief trance scene with Allison.
The next morning... Whether you get the trance state or not, Allison will "murmur" something towards the end. Bunch of possible options here.
Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: jwik01 on December 06, 2022, 09:52:29 pm 1) Pretty sure that calling Lorelei or not doesn't control whether you're having an affair with her, it's the "nothing important" vs "my weird ex" that does that. If you tell Allison it's nothing important, but then don't call or text Lorelei and this don't meet with her, then later on at Dante and Renee's there's an amusing bit where somebody mentions her and then the narrative does a quick aside about how oh, by the way, it hasn't come up but you're sleeping with her on the down-low.
2) The thing about being more honest with Allison leading to less "horniness/subbiness" I think makes sense if you frame it as how much you treat her as your equal versus control and manipulate her. Think of it as increasing your Dom stat, not increasing her Sub stat, and it hangs together. If you don't tell Allison more than the bare nonoptional minimum, it makes you dominant enough that then when you finally tell her (via text) that you're going to be spending the weekend with another woman, she simply accepts it without protest. Edit: this also clarifies why you lose the capacity to turn down Renee's blowjob offer if you didn't tell Allison about Annie: nothing to do with Allison directly, your Dom stat is just too high. Get it high enough and you can respond to the offer by commanding her "Drop." which I think is pretty good. 3) I'm unconvinced that horniness and subbiness are two separate stars, anyway. 4) The differences between the collar, apron, and alley options are pretty minimal in the extant content, though it might seem like there would be substantial differences between "love spell" and "brainwashing" Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: hereno on December 06, 2022, 10:33:40 pm 1) Pretty sure that calling Lorelei or not doesn't control whether you're having an affair with her, it's the "nothing important" vs "my weird ex" that does that. 3) I'm unconvinced that horniness and subbiness are two separate stars, anyway. They are definitely different. There are a couple of indicators around this; it became clear to me in The Girlfriend Experience, which I still need to write out the flow for.4) The differences between the collar, apron, and alley options are pretty minimal in the extant content You're correct... so far. I'm guessing they will have major ramifications down the road.Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: hereno on December 07, 2022, 12:24:47 am 3. THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT
This chapter is a DOOZY. It has about a bajillion permutations, so I'm going to try to keep this relatively high-level. You... Allison's message to you may or may not include a voucher for a free blow job (this is determined by EITHER 1. you got and then chose to shower with her at the start of Ch. 2: Memory Lane, or 2. you chose "Speaking of swallowing..." at the end of your first sex scene with Allison). If you get it, you can redeem it later; it will increase her connection to you. Depending on prior choices, you either must answer a text from Annie here, or you get a few other texting options. I'll focus on the Annie text first. You reply... This starts your next conversation with your ex-wife, Annie. The image, I think, depends on which type of MC you locked the story into during your first text convo with Annie. There are a lot of permutations here; I'm not going to list them all. Basically, you can use this to set your relationship to Annie. At least some of the options include:
And then you...
If you text Lorelei There are a lot of permutations here. I'll try to summarize. It's not clear to me exactly what these options do, since I think you can later talk to Lorelei about any of these options anyway. The image of Lorelei you get here I think indicates whether she's feeling dominant (kissing Annie) or submissive (a skull-pillow-thing, I don't know wtf this is) towards you or not having an affair with you at all (corset).
At your office This introduces Emma, a coworker. Basically this is a short scene to set your level of interest in her -- and her comfort level with you. But you can ask her to get coffee to try to start an affair/romance; sometimes some naked images of her appear (as a fantasy your character is having) if you choose certain options (these change depending on prior choices). Conversation with Lorelei This only occurs if you texted her earlier in this chapter. This sequence is, in my opinion, the single most complicated, convoluted, and confounding one in the whole game (so far!). There are more permutations than I can count on my fingers and toes, that's for sure. At a very high level:
If you do wind up having sex with Lorelei, she sometimes acts dominant towards you... but under certain conditions, she's more submissive.
While you're having sex with her, Lorelei will give you some indicators as to the nature of the story. She might talk about:
At home with Allison You'll be getting ready for your dinner at Dante and Renee's here. Options will depend on prior choices, but they ought to be some combination of:
GENERAL NOTE: This is where the voucher becomes an option, and you get a couple of chances to use it from here on out. It's not clear to me if it matters when you use the voucher; so far as I can tell, it will have the same effect regardless of when you use it. I will say that the "roadside blowjob" in Ch. 4: The Girlfriend Experience will expend the voucher if you have not already used it. At Dante and Renee's Two possible images right at the start: one where Allison is looking at Renee (meaning she's not interested in poly/sharing/hotwifing/swapping), and one where Allison is looking at Dante (meaning she is). Depending on prior choices, your options will be some combination of:
Conversation with Renee This can potentially begin an affair with Renee, but I think it's also potentially setting a few other things based on options. NOTE: sometimes, based on prior choices (I think if your libido is high), you will have no choice but to get a blowjob from the stacked blonde. Which, there are worse things in life. But it's frustrating to get forced into if you don't want it.
Dante's living room When you arrive, there are a few permutations on what might be happening. This will indicate where Allison's head is at regarding Dante.
As for your options here:
Outside Dante and Renee's You see an even more stacked, even more blonde woman than Renee in a window, naked. Again, there are worse things in life. Your character may or may not recognize this woman; I think this is tied to your libido (if it's high, you'll recognize her). The following decision will set whether this woman is actively in your thoughts or not.
PERSONAL NOTE: WHAT A DOOZY THIS CHAPTER IS. By miles the most complex of the bunch so far. I tried to cover the big notes here, but even then, I feel like I barely scratched the surface, and I barely understand it. Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: hereno on December 07, 2022, 01:42:57 am 4. THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE
This chapter is much shorter and simpler than the previous one, but it has a ton of permutations. This chapter is all about payoff for your earlier decisions: you more or less lock in what you are doing with Allison, and where your relationship with her is going. GENERAL NOTE: There are a lot of very subtle text indicators throughout this whole chapter. I'll try to note the ones I'm aware of. Keep a particular eye out for numbers... they change a lot from runthrough to runthrough. With Allison in the car Your exact conversation will heavily depend on prior choices, but broadly: you and she will have a discussion first about your other relationships:
After this, you and Allison might have a conversation about your own relationship. There are a number of indicators in this exchange: she might use phrases like "love you," "trust you," "want to be with you," "be your sex-slave"... or not, depending on her current state.
After this, you might get an option for a roadside blowjob.
Back in the apartment How Allison greets you here is another indicator of her mental state; I think it keys off of her horniness, but I know there can be some very angry permutations in here. Your options are:
In the bedroom It's been a long game. You deserve a reward. This scene is where you get it.
"I have something I want to do to you" If you pick this option, you will now attempt to program Allison. Good old-fashioned red-meat mind control. There are a ton of possible options that may or may not be available here, based on a million prior decisions. They will be some combination of:
Success or failure of programming This can get a little nuanced. Basically: every option (except the fantasy) has four "levels" of programming you might step through with Allison. She may accept the programming at any level; the higher her subbiness, the sooner she'll accept... although this does mean you won't see any of the further "levels" or their associated images, which sort of sucks. If she hasn't accepted by level four, she will reject. No idea what the consequences of acceptance or rejection are. Afterwards, you'll (usually) have an option to either fuck her or come on her.
"With pleasure" This option will skip all the programming, but unlock some other avenues.
In bed Ah, bed. Finally time to relax... or is it? A number of indicators on this page. They include:
Dream sequence A big part of the fun of this chapter. At the end, you might have a dream in which several images, with captions, will appear to you. These are indicators as to where the story is going now. There are a lot of these (seventeen that I remember), but you will never see more than four, and you may see fewer than that. SPOILER: Try not to get the one where Allison gets fucked by a space snake; you will never unsee that. Game end If you rejected Annie completely and have done little or no MC to Allison, the game will end here. And it's... sort of a sweet ending, or at least it can be. Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: jwik01 on December 07, 2022, 03:12:43 am I could be wrong but I do not think your potential assertions to Lorelei and Renee about brainwashing Allison are meant to be taken seriously. :)
Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: jwik01 on December 07, 2022, 03:48:04 am 1) Pretty sure that calling Lorelei or not doesn't control whether you're having an affair with her, it's the "nothing important" vs "my weird ex" that does that. I know that calling Lorelei at this point absolutely locks it in that you're having an affair.This doesn't match my experience. Telling Allison "my weird ex" and then calling Lorelei yields this: Quote "As always." There's a pause. "Any progress about negotiating us with Allison?" "Not yet. I haven't found the right moment." "I am, fortunately, a very patient woman. But I do miss playing with you tremendously." Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: hereno on December 07, 2022, 10:18:40 am 1) Pretty sure that calling Lorelei or not doesn't control whether you're having an affair with her, it's the "nothing important" vs "my weird ex" that does that. I know that calling Lorelei at this point absolutely locks it in that you're having an affair.This doesn't match my experience. If you find a way to have that first call with Lorelei and then not end up having sex with her, let me know! But I just did "My weird ex"... and we still ended up fucking. Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: jwik01 on December 07, 2022, 07:30:46 pm Oh, I misunderstood you, my mistake.
What has to happen to get the brief fantasy of Emma giving you a blowjob at the end of your conversation with her, and is it the same thing that's needed to get Lorelei to agree that Emma seems potentially interested when you tell her about Emma, and is that the same thing that gets Emma included in the list of women you can, at the close of chapter three, either bring up as part of your ersatz sex-slave quiz, or mesmerize Allison into accepting as another woman you will make into a slave (a list which seems to always include Annie, almost always include Lorelei, can but does not always include Renee, and one time I managed to get to include Emma)? Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: tods1976 on December 07, 2022, 07:47:47 pm I’ve found there is more to first choice. If you sneak a peak at the phone, Allison is less subby, permissive, and pliable throughout.
In my normal run, Allison is super subby and agrees to your first sexual request the first time, asks for pix of you with Annie, you play with Renee’s boobs before the blowjob, Allison responds to Renee’s blowjob by complaining you didn’t invite her or asking for a picture next time, she asks to be your sex-slave and gives you road head after leaving D&R’s, and any final option you choose (questions or the technique) works. I did a few comparisons and the special technique doesn’t work the first try, Allison is simply tolerant of you with Annie, you get the “technical virgin” lecture about Renee’s blowjob, Allison just wants to “give up some control”, and the special technique only works for two of the four options. Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: tods1976 on December 07, 2022, 08:21:24 pm To set the type of MC:
There’s a couple rounds of questions, but Being hostile to Annie in the texts gets you the collar and brainwashing option; simping for her gets you the alley and hypnosis option; the other choices lead to the love spell option. Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: Daphne on March 15, 2023, 09:11:26 am First, thank you for this, hereno! It's magisterial. I'm not going to comment on it in detail (for obvious reasons), but it's really an amazing amount of work, and it's incredibly flattering that you took the time. And thank you also to jwik01 for your explorations. Starter Marriage is a lot of (pretty fun) work, so I'm pleased that people are enjoying it.
Regarding the non sequitur-ness of the conversation in the living room with Dante, Renée, Allison, and the protag, it's working as designed. It was more or less an attempt to capture the kind of randomness of free-flowing conversations between friends... level of success for that left up to the reader. Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: Daphne on March 15, 2023, 10:32:40 am No one should feel bad about not finding every single option. The number of possible paths is already up to the "number of electrons in the universe" level.
Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: Vidor on May 18, 2023, 11:56:37 am I used the prompts above and got to
Quote "Tell me what you're thinking about right now" <- THIS IS THE BIG ONE and it's the hardest to get. Which was pretty great. Thanks. Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: Vidor on July 24, 2023, 09:32:58 pm I used the prompts above and got to Quote "Tell me what you're thinking about right now" <- THIS IS THE BIG ONE and it's the hardest to get. Which was pretty great. Thanks. Progress is saved in this story, yes? I hope to return to this point. Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: hereno on July 26, 2023, 08:56:14 am Progress is saved in this story, yes? The game remembers where you left off, yes. In addition, you can use the "Save" button at the bottom to create a manual save you can return to later. Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: Vidor on September 22, 2023, 01:42:26 pm Maybe I'm weird but I like the story better with hereno's prompts. I liked being in cheat mode and taking the story where I wanted to see it go.
Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: Sharque on December 17, 2023, 02:30:31 pm ... Would it be odd if I were to ask how to find the image with the snake? Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: hereno on December 19, 2023, 11:16:22 pm Would it be odd if I were to ask how to find the image with the snake? Yes it would be odd. Do not try to see the space snake. Here is the procedure:
What, you want more words? Ugh, fine.
Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: Bob42 on October 18, 2024, 08:10:51 pm For trying to see the snake incubus, a couple of notes.
I did the things that Hereno said and didn't see it, in my first several attempts. There seem to be two problems in showing the image. First is setting up Allison so it is what is going on. This means getting the right response of Lorelei during sex, which are the parts that Hereno idientified. But then I got the right response from her and didn't get the image. After some fiddling I think I figured out why, I was generating too many other dream sequence possibilities (max seems to be four) and the incubus was not being shown (either due to random chance or lower priority). So my suggestion is to cut out the other edge case things that can generate dream options. For me this included not pointing out the blonde in the window, not flirting with Emma, limiting options with Renee and Dante, not getting Allison's libido (exhibitionism?) so high that she's going to be a stripper (this seems to have a very high priority in images shown), etc. Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: hereno on October 19, 2024, 12:05:56 am For trying to see the snake incubus, a couple of notes. I did the things that Hereno said and didn't see it, in my first several attempts. There seem to be two problems in showing the image. First is setting up Allison so it is what is going on. This means getting the right response of Lorelei during sex, which are the parts that Hereno idientified. But then I got the right response from her and didn't get the image. After some fiddling I think I figured out why, I was generating too many other dream sequence possibilities (max seems to be four) and the incubus was not being shown (either due to random chance or lower priority). So my suggestion is to cut out the other edge case things that can generate dream options. For me this included not pointing out the blonde in the window, not flirting with Emma, limiting options with Renee and Dante, not getting Allison's libido (exhibitionism?) so high that she's going to be a stripper (this seems to have a very high priority in images shown), etc. You can only get one pendant image in the dream sequence, not more. (You could get none.) I believe the space snake counts as a pendant image for this purpose. So I suppose you're right that your character needs to be on an MC path (as opposed to a good boyfriend path) to get any pendant image, and then I guess you need to make sure the space snake has prio over any other pendant option (although I believe that it does automatically). Yes, you can only see a max of four images in the dream sequence, and you may see less than that, including zero. But only a max of one pendant image. Also: do not try to see the space snake. Title: Re: The Flow of Starter Marriage Post by: djv on November 18, 2024, 10:28:26 pm I don't know if the game has been updated but I have noticed a bunch of stuff in the last couple runthroughs that I didn't see before. One notable decision in Renee's bathroom in particular (on certain paths).
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