IF Seal: How should I reveal aspects of the MC's past?
hello! I have a silly questions, please don't mind me.
do you think it's better to reveal everything that happens to the mc in the past in the prologue alone because there's one route in particular that heavily affects relationships with different characters (but I have also thought of a way in case plan B is better) or should I drop hints and reveal everything gradually? what would keep people more immersed?
Dear Deep-Past-Writing Friend,
My personal feeling is that dropping hints and revealing gradually can feel fun and intriguing for players!
It's something to balance carefully, because too much mystery can veer into confusing territory, and though many people enjoy unfolding mysteries, it can get repetitive or frustrating if the MC is constantly thinking things like "oh, if only things had been different-- but I can't think about that now..."
Prologues and flashbacks can be fun, but I caution lingering on them for too long, especially if they do not include choices within them. They can feel railroaded and gets in the way of one of the big things about IF that's special: the interaction and ways that the player can engage with and change the story.
I'm also wondering: why does one route/background in particular affect the characters' relationships? are there ways in which the other routes can affect them too, in other ways? I enjoy allowing players to lay foundations for MC backstories, but it can feel strange if it feels like one background is more developed or impactful than another. Not that I'm suggesting this is necessarily the case here, but I'm curious whether the others could have equally big impacts on things.
Thank you for your question, friend! May your unfolding pasts be always exciting and compelling!