THEMES
As of this writing, the game is at version 7 (v. 0.07 in its nomenclature). I have mapped out the entire plot and at this point I estimate that there will be 24 version releases in total (give or take one or two). That means we have recently passed the quarter-way mark. So, how’s it going?
I have been thinking recently about my main themes of “corruption” and “training.” As I stated in the original manifesto released with this game, I chose the Prince and the Pauper trope, in part, so I could explore both corruption and training as separate, parallel paths.
This whole thing started with an abandoned corruption game called Valiant Warrior Astrid (RIP). I really enjoyed that game and even supported the dev on Patreon until they disappeared. After a pretty long period of mourning, I decided that if I wanted a corruption game that (a) featured a naïve but capable tomboy learning how to be a femme fatale (b) followed the perspective of said tomboy and (c) didn’t aim to turn the MC into a mindless sex toy (more on that later), I should do it myself. If you know VWA, you might see some reflections of it in Esther’s story. Certainly, you should recognize Cassandra’s hair, which is a direct reference.
At the same time, I was thinking about training games. Specifically, there is one extremely popular example, which involved a certain type of female royal (and corporate property) being ‘trained’ until she becomes a—let’s hear it again—mindless sex toy. While I enjoyed that particular game, I always found it frustrating that most of the actual training took place offscreen. I felt like I was missing all the good stuff. Also, it was grindy as hell, but that can be okay in moderation.
I decided to explore how these genres are the same and how they are different. I also wanted to avoid turning my MCs into the aforementioned mindless sex toys.
To start, I focused on the outcomes of these paths.
I chose to make the “corruption” story arc about empowerment. Esther starts out alone, afraid, and deeply suspicious of both men and sex. She feels powerless in a cold, harsh world. With good reason, I think. Through her training, she will learn that she can be powerful: she will learn to fight, she will learn the power of seduction, and she will learn to enjoy her outgoing, sexual side. She will also learn that she is a bit of an exhibitionist (basically, the polar opposite of her initial desire to “keep a low profile”).
I chose to make the “training” story arc about empathy. Brigitte is a spoiled, sheltered brat. She has rarely left the Palace and neither knows nor cares much about the lives of the citizens whom she will eventually rule. Her mother tried to provide her with some grounding, both with her teachings and by bringing in Cassandra as a steadying influence and Be’Keh as a “commoner” to counteract the High Noble attitudes of He’Thar and Deborah. It didn’t really work, alas, and when Amelie died, it all fell by the wayside. Through her training, Brigitte will eventually learn what it is like to have no power or control, how that affects your psyche, and how it affects the way you interact with the world. She is meant to use that understanding to empathize with those who have less than she does and to act accordingly. She will, as it happens, learn that she has a submissive side (again, the polar opposite of her initial expectation--exemplified by her confrontation with the gate guard--that everyone will simply do what she says).
(FUN FACT: My initial conception had these roles flipped. The pauper was going to be tough, streetwise, and somewhat mean. The princess was going to be sheltered and innocent. The pauper would be trained into obedience, while the princess would become corrupted and wanton. For several reasons—including the advent of the empowerment/empathy story arcs and the implications of the powerful ruling caste capturing and ‘training’ a citizen into obedience--I dropped that pretty quickly)
THE PROBLEM WITH OBEDIENCE TRAINING STORIES
There is another key difference, however, and I have found this one to be more problematic. Training stories, at their cores, involve a certain level of coercion. Corruption stories do not (though they may include deceit, as in VWA). This has made Brigitte’s training story a bit tricky for me. I decided early on that I did not want it to be r*pey. Enter Siobhan. In the original plan, Siobhan was going to be just another henchman and Bruno was going to do all the training. But that could get really dark, really fast. I decided I needed a foil for Bruno, to show how a dom-sub relationship was not simply just another name for an abusive relationship.
In the meantime, I came to like “bratty Brigitte” for her inner fire. That made me decide to let her keep that fundamental part of her personality, further complicating the classic ‘sub trainer’ theme, which in my experience maintains a certain ‘dislike’ of the trainee throughout. Sigh. I really should have kept this a nice simple BDSM game.
My attempts to strike that balance have led to what I will call ‘mixed’ responses. Some people think her story moves too slowly and want her to get to the subbing already. Some think it moves too fast and, well, fear it will get too abusive. I wonder if by trying to walk a fine line on this one I will displease everyone.
On the bright side, there is a lot more of Brigitte’s journey still to come. I hope I can do her justice.
I am finding Esther’s story a bit easier. I am enjoying watching her come out of her shell. My primary fear with her is that I will try to move her too fast. I probably shouldn’t worry too much about that, considering how long it takes me to create updates. I plan to get her onstage in the next version. What I’m really thinking about now is how to move her from toys to real-life partners without it seeming too abrupt.
So, all of that said…how are they different?
I still think of these themes as different because of their end goals (i.e., empowerment vs. empathy), but the day-to-day tasks can look pretty similar. That is probably the result of my decision to keep Brigitte’s coercion “light.” Bruno relies on humiliation rather than physical abuse. He has already stated that he doesn’t want to assault her but rather wants her to come to him. So, he sends her to the inn in a skimpy outfit or has her dance for the thieves. Motivations aside, I can see how that is similar to Esther going to the Golden Serpent. Though in fairness, Esther’ story lacks both dungeons and spanking!
Let me know what you think. What kinds of punishments/humiliations would really distinguish Brigitte’s story from Esther’s training tasks?
