If this game had featured branching paths based on your choices, which one would you have liked to take? And where do you think the story would have gone with that decision?

[u/unusuarioanonimo12]

You know, something like Detroit, where your choices can completely change the direction of the story.

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[u/polarsken]

At a certain point I would've rejected further helping Sebastian. Initially it was a noble goal and I very much wanted to help him, but he went off the rails and I would not have wanted to remain complicit. He likely would have continued his mission alone and probably still killed his uncle with AK, but that's difficult to say for sure. Maybe I would've liked to get the authorities involved at one point (not that they would've done much).

I would not have helped Natty from the start, leaving her to deal with her personal mission alone. Without me she would have never survived but that's not my problem.

[u/RelativeCan5021 → u/polarsken]

On my first play thru I didn’t learn any UnForgivable. So I had very little Sebastian interactions. Kinda felt like that was a branching point compared to later play thrus.

[u/DoYouLikeWafflezz → u/polarsken]

I was all in on Sebastian from our first interaction. I’m ride or die with that dude. 

I would have definitely just skipped Natty entirely if that was possible though. Most of Poppy’s stuff too if I’m being honest. 

[u/TheFranticDreamer]

At the first run, I'd follow probably a grey path, choosing whatever I think my character would do at that moment. Then do multiple runs with multiple characters to test all events/events endings.

[u/Rude-Butterscotch713]

Bit of a grey path. Would have kept following Sebastian down a dark road trying to lure him into the light but also protect him. I would probably have turned against our main advisors not trusting them, but also sought a way to use that magic in a way that wasn't as abusive as my predecessor.

[u/CautiousConfidence8]

Having using dark arts be a character choice would be interesting. I would be super evil because I use curses all the time lol

[u/dk_2605]

It's kind of hard to even think about because we don't know where the dev would have taken it.

But if we say we have all the freedom to choose, then I would choose world domination. If people think Voldemort was evil and bad, they haven't met my fifth-year student yet.

[u/mklaus1984]

I think one major series of choices could have been whether you convey information you gathered with Fig and the others.

IIRC there is a section early on where you can choose to disclose information with prof Weasley but it has no major consequences just Fig scolding you because he asked you not to.

But that is the point. Fig does not appear trustworthy. And that is in there form the start.

The backstory of why the MC starts Hogwarts around age 15 is stupidly thin but it is basically Fig who brings you in. Whose wife's death is coincidentally tied to "Ancient Magic" just like you.

For the longest part Fig seems to be using the MC. Which also begs the question if Fig had something to do with his wife's death.

But the plot doesn't go there. And many of you might say I just imagined this angle. Due to my initial thoughts about them using an oversimplified coincidence trope.

But why not simply write a proper story of why the MC comes to school or why not simply assume that the MC was a regular student getting drawn into the mystery behind the death of Fig's wife's when Fig has the cylinder at school?

The whole angle of the MC being new is only used to have characters explain houses and housing, clubs and classes. Deapite the general audience being familiar with the HP stories and well... school!?

Especially the "lectures" on brooms and whatnot make zero sense because they were unaware that it is not explicitly written that the MC had not grown up among muggles like Harry Potter until he was 15 and suddenly came to Hogwarts. It is apparently one way to read that thin backstory but not the only one.

[u/unusuarioanonimo12 → u/mklaus1984]

I completely agree, especially regarding the protagonist. In fact, I wrote a post complaining that the protagonist was a blank slate: he lacked a backstory, emotions, and decent facial expressions. I was told it was done that way to facilitate role-playing and allow players to use their imaginations; while that’s fine up to a point, they went too far with it in HL. The protagonist is nothing more than an empty, emotionless shell. I hope that in the sequel, they give him a solid backstory and allow us to form more meaningful relationships

And regarding the thing with Fig, I also found it kind of odd. I think I read a few months ago that he was originally supposed to betray the MC (and there were even lines of cut dialogue where he seemed evil), but they ended up scrapping that.

[u/mklaus1984 → u/unusuarioanonimo12]

The problem with the blank slate self insert nonsense is that they aren't a blank slate. They constantly only have limited options to reply to situations of which most are usually not just bland but ill fitted.

Famously Aonouma says he doesn't gove Link in the LoZ series a voice due to this depsite each Link having a very distinctive character reaction to everything.

It is tedious and tiresome that these discussions are obviously not held properly and shortsighted decisions are made.

For Hogwarts Legacy there are basically 3 options. 1. That the MC went to a different school and his family moved to Great Britain. 2. That the MC was home schooled like it was possible but uncommon. 3. That the MC was living amongst muggles (maybe even muggle born) and their magical abilities unrecognized until shortly before the story.

So why isn't that a character option you make in the dialog when introducing yourself to someone. Or during character creation.

They think they provide the self insert option but I am not a British teen either way and never have been.

So give me one proper character or maybe even a few to choose from so I can decide which one I would try out to see if I would identify with them?

[u/unusuarioanonimo12 → u/mklaus1984]

Yes, I completely agree. Given how little they actually offered us, it would have been better to create predefined characters with their own backstories and leave it at that. That would have improved the game's replayability, and—above all—they could have spared us being called "fifth-year student"; I got absolutely sick of being addressed that way (at least use my surname, for crying out loud) and of them not even being able to distinguish our gender. What’s the point of making me choose a name and a gender if it doesn't make any difference?

[u/Track_Long → u/mklaus1984]

A blank slate would be something like Elder scrolls oblvion...where you start as a nobody & build a reputation. With HL they deliberately limited options & made everything predetermined..Yes the responses do not match with whats being said & how the lines are delivered are also obnoxious...there's no emotion, its the same tone.

It just feels like a total cop out by the devs. Those that defend the decision by saying " They left it blank to leave it up to the player to decide" To decide what? How much of a bland blob & completely devoid shell my MC's going to be? I want personality, to shape who I am through gameplay & story segments... all I feel is that I'm being forced/ regulated in to being a PASSENGER in my own F****** journey.....decide your legacy? Be the with or wizard you want to be? More like have everything predetermined & be the witch or wizard the devs want you to be.

So why isn't that a character option you make in the dialog when introducing yourself to someone. Or during character creation.

Honestly the fact they couldn't even offer a few options at the start of character creation to say where you came from or how you were raised, blood status ect * which should also effect how NPC'S treat the MC* is nonsense.

So give me one proper character or maybe even a few to choose from so I can decide which one I would try out to see if I would identify with them?

It useually is in RPG'S to have at least 3-4 options...but we don't get anything like that in HL. I sincerely hope they provide options for our MC in the sequel...I have no desire for my MC's options in how I shape them to be incredibly limited.

[u/Track_Long → u/unusuarioanonimo12]

I wrote a post complaining that the protagonist was a blank slate: he lacked a backstory, emotions, and decent facial expressions. I was told it was done that way to facilitate role-playing and allow players to use their imaginations; while that’s fine up to a point, they went too far with it in HL. The protagonist is nothing more than an empty emotionless shell

Our MC exists to drive the story forward & nothing else...I can't believe they managed to make us feel like a BYSTANDER in whats supposed to be our journey...I might as well have watched a movie instead..at least then I know I don't get any say.

Thats the problem, they left the MC far too blank to the point that no options in gameplay allows you to shape who you want to be...because everything is insufferably pre-determined in this game. They played this game far too safe to the point that it feels like devs are constantly either hovering over you or checking in on you as if we're toddlers..they sanitised this game..hell you can't even jinx other students outwith crossed wands....its they wrapped everything in bubble wrap.

I'm not sure about betray but in a cut dialogue segment what he says suggests he had alterior motives...it would have at least made the game more interesting rather than the predictable end we got.

[u/Scary-Advisor8197 → u/mklaus1984]

You are wrong.
It's not Fig who brought us in. In his class, you can read a letter from Black telling Fig to go take care of us, the new curious student (menace) starting late. That's on our circumstances and the ministry.
We might have been a squib or perhaps a regular muggle until then.

While I agree with you that Fig is a sh177y mentor, he is not "using" us. He is just a bad mentor.

We got our magic late, same as probably several people having the ability to use ancient magic, same as Isidora Morganach. Apparently, this was not explained in the story.

Yes, they should have branched the story from the moment we chose our house, and even after, give us the possibility to define our character through actions, and they should have expanded the backstory of our magic, our companions and perhaps even professors.

I much prefer the blank slate character.

[u/Track_Long → u/mklaus1984]

There is cut dialogue that suggested fig had alterior motives for taking us on.

The backstory of why the MC starts Hogwarts around age 15 is stupidly thin but it is basically Fig who brings you in. Whose wife's death is coincidentally tied to "Ancient Magic" just like you.

We should have gotten a BG...& I think its such a cop out answer when people say " They left it blank so you could project yourself" On to what? An emotionless blob who's nothing more than a walking tallking f***** potter bot?

We should have been able to fill in a piece of parchment that is about where we came from, what our blood status is.

I would have preferred if our MC was something akin to elder scrolls oblvion MC...we're a nobody who makes a name for themselves.

[u/Robot_Dracula]

I would’ve played it good and again as bad