Mind Blind 2.0: Chapter 15 Update (Patreon)

Chapter 15's final form is over 80,000 words.😐

That’s the size of a whole novel. I’m both proud of and annoyed by my inability to curtail my ambition. I’m making good progress, though, and am still aiming to release all the endings by May! All are written (albeit not coded), except for the two where a certain vigilante ends up to jail (I need to emotionally brace myself to write those, I think).

(Ideally, I’ll release the Vengeance endings first as planned, but it’s a tangled spiderweb of code and I’ve been out of adhd meds for the past two month. It’s incredible how much better track I can keep of the branching narrative since my pharmacy got my prescription back in stock last week.)

(Warning: Spoilers for Chapter 15 ahead! Link at the bottom of post.)

Chapter 15 is pretty different from its original version! Mostly because there's a lot more to it. Initially, all pathways ended up attempting to break into Vengeance’s safehouse. Now, the chapter begins one of three ways:

1) The original version, with Button and gang on route to the safehouse. This version plays out if Button accepts Shard’s help and learns where/how Nick is being kept. There are also multiple new options on how to get into the house, including using Glitch’s drone and calling Sally’s dad for ideas. This route also includes shiny new blueprints of the house (please let me know if the images don't show up for you).

2) Should Button NOT accept Shard’s help, there’s no heist to enter the safehouse. Instead, half the chapter is spent interrogating either Caleb or Isaiah (depending on your decisions in earlier chapters).

3) A third variation plays out should Button initially accept Shard’s assistance only to reject it (either by giving up or attempting to turn the tables) midway through their weird-psychic-brainmerge-thingy. While this branch ultimately connects to Path #2 (the interrogation scenes), it includes additional variations of the Chapter 14 scenes with Gray and Sally.

Regardless of which path you pursue, you always end up at the mansion (albeit with minor changes like Caleb being your creepy cheerleader over the com). The house investigation has been reorganized, however, so that your choices are more impactful and have payoff in future chapters.

Should you break into the house quickly (or with the assistance of Caleb/Isaiah, because they know the alarm code), you have more time and can find all the clues: it doesn’t matter whether you examine Reese’s bathroom or bedroom first. If you don’t manage to turn the alarm off in under seven seconds, the information you gain depends upon order of investigation. Pick the bedroom, and you won't have time to find Reese's hair dye, but you will discover a clue which you can gain further insight . . . provided you pick an option that matches your stats OR an option which correlates with how Button passed the ASE back in Chapter 2 (Buttons that got into fights and the beard-disguise Button don’t have this extra option, but they get other opportunities to shine in Chapter 16). 

Perhaps the most important change is that you now have a choice whether or not to follow Kenzie down the dark passageway. Choose not to follow them to Crazy Town, and you can instead escape by yourself. (Warning: Glitch won’t be happy should you take this second option.)

I’m still fixing the code for the second and third routes of Chapter 15, as the inclusion of Caleb/Isaiah has ripple effects for most endings. That being said, I wanted to at least release the expanded version of the heist this month. To play through this version of Chapter 15, accept Shard’s help in the previous chapter and don’t pass out.

It’s also very possible that some Chapter 15 scenes may be a little wonky transition-wise—Path #1 alone is a 114-page document, so I’ve probably mislabeled at least one scene. If you discover a sentence that randomly breaks off mid-adjective, please let me know. I honestly have a love-hate relationship this chapter because there’s so much variation (although my hope is that makes it fun to play!).

The rest of Chapter 15 should be ready for public consumption in a few days, but if you have time to play through the heist and provide feedback, I’d love to hear your opinions. Button’s B&E can play out a LOT of ways, and I haven’t yet been able to personally playtest the more obscure routes.

Semi-Interesting Factoids:

1) Innovative and Insightful Buttons have multiple advantages during the heist (scores usually need to be above 50), whereas Interpersonal Buttons shine during the interrogation scenes with Isaiah/Caleb.

2) The “Genius” option for passing the ASE (“I’m smart, pure and simple.”) lets you bypass the most Innovative/Insightful/Interpersonal stat checks in Chapter 15.

3) Interpersonal Buttons still have some bonuses in Path #1, such as the ability to call Sally’s dads without needing to pass a high relationship check with Sally.

4) Only female mosquitos bite.

5) Insightful Buttons should try the new IC-U2 options. Ignore Glitch’s protestations—you won’t take too bad of an affection loss.

To play through this version of Chapter 15, accept Shard’s help in the previous chapter and don’t pass out:

https://dashingdon.com/play/wildelight/chapter-15-update-part-1/mygame/