Dev log: Tribute! (Patreon)

Hey folks,So I hope you enjoyed the demo of tribute. If you haven't tried it, feel free to give it a spin here:https://www.patreon.com/TonkatsuCHAN/posts/tribute-demo-is-171421419That said, the demo only showed some basic mechanics, some characters, and a general mood.Here I'll get a bit more in debt with what's to come with the first actual 1.0 update.So let's start at the beginning with:- CREATING YOUR OWN CHARACTER -So first things, first... Who are you playing? Well, that depends on you and several key choices.When you start the intro, you play as the guy from the demo, but this isn't really the actual character you'll play past the intro. Once the intro is over, the character's body is destroyed, and their brain is placed in a full cybernetic body called "Sleeve"! At that point, your new life as the actual character begins, and you are owned by Calypso (who owns your body; therefore, you are literally her property at that point! Emphasis on at that point. You can be claimed by a different domina or character later down the line.)The point is, your body is modular, resilient, and customizable. Like a doll, really.Sleeve cybernetic body:

From there, two choices are offered to you, the player.A) Keep the memories of the "previous life" (when you were that loser dude) intact. Your character remembers all events in the intro and the other NPCs don't hesitate to remind you how pathetic you were (despite your new improved body, they still will treat you with disgust). In short, this is more of a "pseudo" isekai where you get to serve beautiful doms in extreme shame and humiliation as the loser you were and still are.And you will be permanently branded with a pre-selected name going forward: Trash, ATM, Slut, or Loser! You can only choose one of those 4 names, which will be permanently tattooed on your face. Your past life and perverted nature are fully exposed and constantly reminded to you. This is the original intended experience, leaning very heavily into humiliation for what you used to be (and still are) from the Intro.

B) Chose a total memory wipe!You can also choose a total memory wipe. If you do this, everything that happened in the intro is erased and never mentioned again. For all intends and purposes, the character's life STARTS at character creation. You do not get branded and can even type in the name you want for your character.Calypso and the others will make no mention of you from the intro; your journey, as I said, starts here.This path leans less on full-on humiliation at the start and gives you a more flexible character if the entire "Isekaied loser" angle isn't your thing.

For the most part, this choice is purely narrative. It gives you the option to either continue from what was established in the intro and keep referencing it or go "fresh" with your character. It won't affect the main story. (Think of choosing between Street Kid, Corpo, etc., in Cyberpunk).Once this choice is made, we get to the first cosmetic choice of your improved body: The choice of genitals!Option A: PenisPermanently locked in chastity and denial.

More chastity options can be unlocked if you progress enough with certain doms and don't really affect the story. Just gives you a different flavor of torment when you get stimulated.At the start, you have the very extreme flat chastity cage of Calypso. But you chose to "Buy the key" to get it removed, which offers the option to wear the chastity of a different Mistress. Note: Buying the key will be REALLY expensive, and you do have the choice to ask for the cage to be permanent. (Destroying the key.)Option B: VaginaIf you chose a pussy, "toys" to keep it plugged will replace the chastity cage, while the Null cap will keep it "out of reach" to maintain denial and stimulation:

Whichever you choose, the genital part will be a permanent choice at character creation, and it will remain mostly "out of reach" thanks to the "Null cap" securing it away. X-ray pop-ins will show what's going on down there when appropriate, depending on your choice.Now that you chose that part, you have:Breast options.

At character creation, you will get the options between flat chest and small natural female breasts. This choice is not permanent; you can modify it at a "Handler."Larger breast options become available later on (tied to the Bimbo-themed Domina that has not been introduced yet.) So at the start, you will have two breast options, but the two bigger options will be added later.Past that you have:8 Hairstyle options:

The game will offer you these 8 hairstyles options in total. You'll start with 3 options, but the "handler" will sell you the remaining 5 (giving you something to grind money for).Of course, you can also chose between these hair colors:

The hair color options are available from the start (not locked behind quests, characters, or price tag).Note: Since Calypso "owns" you, by default she will want to change your look every week or so. You have the option to pay tribute for the privilege to keep the hairstyle you want or let her choose for you like a good doll (you'll keep the hair color you selected; she will just change your hairstyle). The tribute to keep the hairstyle you want won't be crazy high though, so if you really want to keep the haircut you prefer, don't worry, you can. It will just cost you a little bit ;).And lastly, you can choose your preferred pronoun. And you're done with the character creation.Past that, I want your character to "transform" through accessories (bondage or fashion). For example, unlock a hobble skirt if you progress enough with Mistress Naito (the lady in red), which prevents you from running but gives you a money bonus in certain activities.- What happens after the intro and character creation? (Progression) -You live with Goddess Calypso in her basement (which you can decorate into a dungeon, a feature that I will add and talk about at a later time). But yes, you can customize your new dungeon home.Every day, you go out there to "earn your keep". Make money and please your owner. Who, in turn, will do "things" to you as a reward. The activities will be varied and mostly conveyed through sprite work (think the boot-liking scene in the demo, but now you are the one doing the "work".) There will be dancing, acting in porn streams, and of course giving people Blowjobs, etc...Serving Goddess Calypso is your main "vertical progression" to unlock new map areas, which in turn unlock new NPCs to interact with. At first you meet Calyspo, your new owner!

(Note: To clarify a misunderstanding some people have, no, Calypso is not the "MAIN" and only dominatrix. All the other dominas can claim ownership of you if you progress with them enough. Calypso is your starting point and Anchor for new content. But the point of the game is that you can "serve" whichever domain you choose to serve. So if you prefer Kurushimi over Calypso, you can focus on serving Kurushimi. That's the idea. Calypso doesn't you lock into only serving her.)Other Dominas exist in this world and are the main "horizontal" progression. They have their own storylines, quests, and rewards. Alone with their own "endings" if you focus on them long enough.They are "horizontal" because they are in fact "optional" progression. Something you actively chose to engage with or not. While Calypso is required for "Main progression".After becoming Calypso's slave, you are acquainted with your handler: Lu

As I said, each domina has her own fleshed-out storyline, quests, scenes, and rewards.However, progression with these dominas may be paused with the requirement of progressing further with Calypso first. This allows me to pace the story and also keep better control when it comes to adding new content. So while you may be introduced to a new Domina in Chapter 1, progressing her quest further may require you to get to "Chapter 2" first through progression with Calyspo.After completing her first quest, the second quest to progress with Lu might not be available until clearing Chapter one with Calypso:

But as you progress with the main storyline, you can continue these quests with the other Domina and unlock new ones.Enter Chapter 2: New region "the Club" unlocked. With a New Domina: Naito Hime! While new quests with Lu are unlocked.

However, there is a "point of no return" if you pursue another character long enough. Reach that point, as implied, you are "locked" into that storyline until the conclusion. Access to other characters will be locked out permanently. (You will get a warning when you reach that point and an autosave, so you can go back).

That's it for the narrative progression aspect.The TLDR:I use Calypso to control the pacing of the game and story (and patch releases).Other NPCs that have their own progression, and this format allows me to add as many as I want. It's very flexible (Like 3072AD).Speaking of progression:- Levelling up your Character -While there is no combat in Tribute, you can "level up" your characters into specific kinks:Latex, blowjobs, bondage, isolation, humiliation, feet, pain, you name. Note: At the start of the game, you will have the option to toggle more niche kinks such as toilet slavery and Ugly bastards "On" or "off". if that not your thing.Doing so increases your performances when doing "work" activities that align with this kink. And some dominas require a certain level of Kink to progress in their storyline. You level up the kink simply by engaging with them. The more you do something, the stronger your character gets into that kink. Simple.However, you can just level up all the kinks. That would be too easy. So, I'm using a "max capacity" limitation (Inspired from Nier Automata.)This system is already done (and ported and modified from Squeal little piggy).And here are some screens of how it works.Your cyberbrain has max storage capacity and nods. Each nod is a specific kink that you can click and zoom on for more details.

Select the Latex kink, and you'll see you have one level in latex (the white filled square); the progression bar under it shows how far you are to get Level 2.Note that each level in a kink takes a slot of your maximum data. That's why the previous image shows data storage: 1 out of 10.

Leveling up latex!

Consequences: You reach the limits of what your cyberbrain can handle!

As I said, each time you increase the level of a kink, it takes data storage capacity. Eventually you get entered "Critical" status. Which applies a debuff (which are a few perks on you). Keep leveling up the kink past that, and you may overload your brain, and it's game over.This forces you to make choices. You can't just level up everything. But there are two things you can do to manage this:- A) Pay your handler to delete some data to make room and level up other kinks. It's gated by money, but it allows you to keep the data capacity problem under control.- B) As you progress through the game, your brain can receive upgrade chips sold by your handler. These can flat out increase your maximum. Data storage capacity, or they can increase how fast you can level up a kink.So you're never "locked" out of anything with this system, but at the same time, your choice of kinks is to pursue as much weight and consequences as possible.Conclusion:That's about all I have for you now. My main priority at this moment is implementing the character customization feature. Which will be necessary to get patch 1.0 (Into + a bit of chapter 1) in. It's the main hurdle to clear as everything else, I got the basics in.And I look forward to share more in the future (Like the dungeon "sims" like customzisation feature, how what you wear changes how you play, etc...)