Guide on Novels and Games - VIDEOGAME CHARACTERS - PART 5 - DS

Dating sims games... I'm not an expert of this type so is possible that I'll make a blunder... surely more than one, so don't judge me for that.

* **Multy Choice** DS are basically "relationship point" grinding games using mainly dialogues with the targats and normally the gialogues give to the player 3 options, one option that increase it, an option that low it and an option that don't alter it. In novel the system work the same way giving 3 options but change how the user "see" them in fact they can appear in front of it, but only the user can see, or they appear in the user's mind BUT don't give feedback like that their relationship went up or not. A way for boost it is made so that once reached certain conditions the system say to the user which option have beneficts or not using colors or a specific order. I need to note that in certain games, despite the dialogue is between two people, the influence is extended to the ones that are around too, for this reason the system will make the options so that can influence more people at once and mainly the interlocutor.
* **Menu** This is the common term for refer to all the various window that I'll list here. If used in a novel than try to keep it more simple as possible.
* **Stats** Dating sims have stats too but contrary to RPG the stats in dating sims are different and with this list you'll understand what I mean:
	+ *Body*, in games imply all the physical abilities... yes, all of them into a single stat and can be increased doing any type of physical exercise (jogging, weight lifting, etc.). In novels is quite OP for the simple reason that any type of exercise increase all the performance of the body, for example, with my arms I can lift 15 kg but after done a week of jogging the weight increase from 15 to 50 without done any exercise for the arms... if this is not OP than how you'll call it then? Contrary to what some people can think, the max this stat can give in a not fantasy story is that the user can achieve only the max possible that a human can do so forget about lifting a train or hop over a 20 floors building like is nothing. If used in novels than the user will not become a bodybuilder but its body will reach a balance (not to muscular and not too skinny)... this if the author decide otherwise... but mainly I think that is better use "bodybuilder strenght but normal appearance" than "a living muscle". This stat basically don't need any power up since it's good on its own.
	+ *Scholastic Skill*, in games indicate how good a character is at school and how good is at teach to others and can increase doing activities that make possible learn something that can be considered academic and is teach in a school so learn some gossip is basically useless while learn to cook is good and work. In "real life" it influence not only the ability to learn and use what one have learned but too the abilities of calculate and understand mathematical formulas. Give the nature of this stat, there is no real need of make an upgrade or whatever since at the best is possible use it as requirement for success some kind of actions like "for do this action INT must be 60 or more" or something similar.
	+ *Artistic skills*, since art is something that is teach at school than this stat work on it's own and involve all the artistical aspect of a character and this mean play an instrument, sing, dance, draw anything and so on and obviously can be increased doing that actions that. Like the scholastic skill, this stat don't need any type of power up but I want to notice that a character can make a living using it like writing novels, make a manga or whatever... eventually if supernatural is in the story than can be used for draw runes or for spells where a draw is need.
	+ *Energy/Stress*, I'm not very sure about this stat but I'll list it anyway, this stat can be used for make a game more "realistic" making the player organize too the health of the character so that don't collapse for overworking and similar things, just in case I want to give my opinion that eventually such "collapsing" can trigger events and encounters like the MC collapse and this trigger an event with friends that pay a visit to the hospital or at home while resting. In novels this type of stat is useless because a writer don't really need it so anyone can avoid on is it. Since this stat is both body and mind connected, if used just the normal physical exercises and the academic training are enough for increase the resistence or the energy.
	+ *Charisma*, in games this is a very important stats because imply the ability of the character to attract the targets, for example for start a relationship with character X is need 20 of charisma and if it is less than is impossible begin it. In novels is basically the ability of obtain the trust, loyalty and love of people plus if "charisma" influence the appearance then is too a stat that identify the ability of attract the member of the opposite sex... in other words make the user handsome or beautiful... as a way for increase it any charismatic action like make a speech work but charisma is not something gave only by the personality but from the appearance too so part of it increase with the body stat. Aside all of them is possible add other stats at will BUT this depend all from the story where they are used, for example if the story provide supernatural elements than is normal that supernatural related stats like Magical Power or Mana will appear... but is better make them appear not at the beginning but in another moment granting like this an "evolution step" for the character.
* **Relationship** In games this section show the relationship of the MC with the targets and eventually some friend too plus this sections show certain information about the characters that the player discover like birthday or the food they like and dislike. For what concern on how make more strong this function in novels then I think that make something like unlock an info once reach certain affinity level can work.
* **Inventory** In DS games the inventory normally have inside only key items or gift for the targets, the reason of this is that contrary to rpg games a DS have less items to manage. In a novel the best upgrade for the inventory is that of expand it so that can contain any type of item BUT in a limited number.
* **Map** This function in dating sims in similar and different from the one of the other type of games. In dating sims we have a static environment with a map that is limited to the locations we can visit, for example the game take place in a city than the map will show only the city with extra locations that have just an icon for move fast there, then the map is used for move between the various locations. In novel this function can be modified so that the user can use it for teleport in locations it know, like from home to school, obviously the locations must bu unlocked before the teleport can be used.
* **Log** In ds games the log have the function of show again dialogues between the main character and another character but normally don't show all the dialogues that one have but only a limited part of the last dialogue. In a novel can work the same way but record entirely every single dialogue.
* **Save & Load** In games this function is the same like any other, the player save its progress so that can turn off the device or console and do anything else but this function in novels is even more OP of the body stat... just think this... see the number of a lottery and then load for win it. After considered all of this, there is no need to do a power up but instead what an author need to do is weaken it in some way, the best things that is possible do is mainly give a limited number of slot where save and make the user with a mind setting that use the load option only in situation very dangerous or sad like for prevent the death of someone

Putting aside what I listed here is possible add various things at choice like a point earning system with the points that can be used for unlock abilities, info or buy gifts and items.

As last note I want to tell that I know at least a single chinese web novel that have more than 700 chapter that have the neet MC that use a dating sim system power... its quite nice and personally I like it but this is a personal opinion... search it if you are interested.