Visual Novel Mechanics (part 4)

Some variables that will influence the game have to do with choices you made at the very beginning, before you even began your mission. In role-playing games (RPG's), you typically spend time creating your character before you even start the game, though some games integrate this process into the story, which is the route I've chosen to take. Some skill choices that you make at the beginning will later become useful during the game, with choice options appearing that would not otherwise be available if you did not choose the requisite skill. For instance, a Solar Echoes skill is Discern Motive, which allows you to read between the lines of a character's speech and empathize with the character a little better. If you have this skill, sometimes a hidden choice will become available during a conversation. However, in this visual novel, you won't have the entire range of Solar Echoes skills available to you; at the beginning of the game you will have to decide between two options a few times rather than just pick out of a large pool like the Solar Echoes tabletop RPG. I made this decision because of the vast number of permutations possible and because some of the Solar Echoes skills won't be relevant in the scenario presented in the visual novel.