September 7, 2022 • 46 mins
Vampires, romance and murder, oh my! Anney and Samantha compare their choices and experiences playing the choose-your-own-adventure game, Wayhaven.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hey, this is Annie and Samantha. I'm not going to Steph.
I never told you production of iHeart Radio. And today
we are doing a revisit that we're very excited about
because recently on a Monday many you, Samantha, we're talking
(00:26):
about how you've really gotten into these Choose your Own
Adventure phone games, right, yes, kind of like it's called
Choices Ah by Pixel Berry, and yes, you determine like
the characters and what you do. We talked about the
problematic things, but how much I'm enjoying it and I
am still on it and I'm old still a bit obsessed. Yeah, yeah,
(00:49):
And we in that episode you were talking about, you know,
kind of the binary problems that might arise some of
these more misogynistic are are things God that might arise?
But when you were talking about it, I've remembered that
we had a listener who wrote in I think a
year ago named Amanda who was like, you've got to
(01:11):
play we Haven we Haven Chronicles because it's you know,
got vampires, it's got supernatural elements, it's got romance, all
of this stuff. And I had downloaded it then because
I was like, yes, I would love to do this
and then I never played it because I got distracted.
But this restarted the memory and we Samantha and I
(01:34):
have now played the first book. Yes, and I got
through it much faster than you because you were two
weeks ahead of me. And I was like, how did
I get faster than you? To be fair, when I
get caught up something in something, I get caught up
in something. I am a person for sure. Um. So
I finished it within a day. But I was like, wait,
(01:55):
you've been on that one decision for a week. What
I can't wait to talk about that? It was so funny.
I was just deliberating. Fact. I was like sending people
who had no idea what I was talking about. I
was like, here are the plus and minuses of going
with this person, and they're like, what it took me
forever to make the decision? Um? And I like that
(02:16):
you had a prediction. We'll come back and talk about
it about like who I should have done? Um, But anyway,
and I assume that it would be a specific person.
And then I was like, oh, you didn't not at all. Okay, okay, yes,
so we're going to talk about it. So this is
going to be sort of a lighter, more fun episode
where we talk about our experiences. But also we reached
(02:38):
out to a listener, Amanda again, and we just asked, like,
what was your experience, what did you like about it?
Can you send us just some general things that you
really enjoyed about the game and your experience with the game,
And Amanda delivered and sent as an audio file and
all of these questions. So, Amanda, one, you're amazing. If
(02:58):
you're listening to you, you are essentially interviewing us in
this episode. You are the interviewer because we're going to
give our answers to the questions that you wrote out. Yes,
you're a hero here to our attention. We enjoyed this
very much. Your answers were amazing. I'm so excited. Yes,
(03:19):
I think this is gonna be fun. And I can't
wait to compare our statistics because essentially, yeah, you choose,
You get a lot of options, and you choose something
and then that at the end or at any time,
you can check and see if like you're more charming
or more intimidating and all of these things in your
statistics based on the choices that you made. Um So
(03:39):
at the end, Samantha and I are going to compare that,
and I think it'll be very, very funny. But yes,
before we get into that, for anyone who's listening, and
it's like, what are you talking about? The way even
Chronicles are Choose your an adventure game that you can
play on multiple platforms including Steam, um by Miska Chink
(04:00):
Ends and here's the description from the Choice of Games website.
Your first case as a detective is forcing you to
open your eyes to a world bigger than you thought.
But maybe it's better to keep them closed. Knowing too
much doesn't help anyone sleep at night. Seems the supernatural
didn't get the memo that nothing exciting ever happens in
the little town of wey Haven. The wey Haven Chronicles
(04:21):
Book one is a thrilling four hundred and forty thousand
word interactive fantasy novel by Mr Jenkins where your choices
control the story. It's entirely text based, without graphics or
sound effects, and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of
your imagination. I did have very specific images in mind. Yeah,
we talked about this, like what did you think? What
(04:42):
did you say? Versus what I saw? We saw two
very specific, different things we did. Indeed, the description continues.
Experienced the big and small moments with a host of
characters throughout this exciting twist on the usual supernatural tail
a story which will take you through heart pounding romance,
smile filled friendships, and shiver inducing drama. Play as female, male,
(05:04):
or non binary, with options to be straight, gay, or bisexual.
Discover the start of distinct and lasting romances with the
vampires of Unit Bravo spoiler. Define and refine relationships with
a variety of characters from friends, family, xs, and enemies.
Decide how you will fulfill the job of detective through deduction,
combat science, or people skills. Discover the truth of what
(05:28):
awaits in Weehaven in a play style that suits your personality.
Indulge in true moments of romance, friendship, drama, and fun fun.
I love it so yeah. I mean, if I had
to describe it, I would say it is a shifting
p o V. But primarily you are playing this from
the point of view of a detective. UM I named
(05:51):
Mine Kira Kingston. Oh oh, we both chose so it
was like four or five names you could shoo us.
I went with Kara Kingston, who has started as detective
in this small town of wey Haven, where it sounds
like not a lot happens in general, but of course
when you first start, suddenly there are murders, bodies are dropping,
(06:17):
and you're not sure what's going on. And then your mother,
who you can change the relationship with the mother. You
can also shape of whether she's kind of estranged or
whether you're close. But it sounds like she's really busy
and you don't see her that much. Comes in and
she's got this. You know, you didn't Bravo from this
kind of secretive government agency. And yes they're all vampires. Yeah,
(06:41):
well this group, this particular group, Samantha is giving me
a very meaningful look. M and I did have a
lot of fun playing it, um I I was funny
how much I got so caught up in But what
if it's the wrong decision? Che and I contemplated the
(07:01):
decision for days, for days, and I would also, I
wonder if you felt this, Samantha. But I would get
torn between like this is what I would actually do
and this is what I hope I would do. And
I would try to be truthful to what I think
I would do, even if sometimes I was like, I
probably do that because that's part of the funds, like
(07:23):
doing what you think you should do and seeing what
would happen. I actually had a couple of incidents and
it may have just been me on the phone where
a couple of decisions were taken out of my hands.
It would just bypasses like, no, I didn't make that decision.
So I've had the been like three or four times,
I think, and I was like, how did that happen?
Soul feel like that if something goes wrong, if there's
(07:44):
a way to play this wrong, that's what happened. Oh,
you're gonna blame it on that. Yeah, it is because
those affects, those choices affect you. Clearly. I guess we
should have said not a sponsor currently by any of this.
We just wanted to talk about it because we had
a good time. Um right now game sponsors best Fiends
(08:05):
and yes, I'll still play that. Can't wait to talk
about that again. In our ad experience. If you haven't
heard it, listeners, Sapantha gets real real, come on, this
is how I make a nemesis. Yes, I love it.
And Amanda was kind enough to to answer these questions
in written format. But also to send us an audiophile
(08:29):
about why she really enjoyed Wey Haven and a little
bit about her experience with it, so we thought we'd
play that. What can I say about the Way Haven
Chronicles Well, first and foremost, it's a supernatural murder mystery
with vampire love interest, so it didn't take much to
sell me. I've been playing many of these text based
choose you own adventure stories for some time, and a
(08:50):
big draw has always been choosing a gender and sexuality
that matches my own and having reflected in the game.
But what really makes the Way Having chronicles stand out
is just a well written and plotted out the character
arcs and story are a love interest in particular for you.
Bravo has such distinct personalities that fit all sorts of
romantic tropes. Do you love slow burns with yearning aver
(09:14):
Adam is your best bet? Do you love falling in
love with your best friend for or Felix? What about
the angsty rebel pretends to hate everyone but has a
secret soft side morgana Mason, And of course the person
who almost seems too good to be true, but who
may actually have a secret hidden a way Nadally your name.
Each of these interactions is so unique and varies depending
(09:34):
on who you decide to ultimately romance, if anyone, which
is another fantastic bonus. You don't have to romance anyone
if you decide that's not your thing. Determining who will
be your best friend was just as interesting to me
as any potential budding romance, especially because of re prizy
to be kind and mesh with them. Not just anyone
will be able to match Aver adams gruff, no nonsense attitude.
(09:55):
This is in part due to the choices helping you
friend to detective personality, your surroundings and character interactions providing
an opportunity to reflect yourself within the character. Even the
little details, which is whether you drink coffee or tea?
And what about with the pastry? You always got to
get it with the pastry. Whether you're detective is a
direct carbon copy yourself, which fulfillment or neither. It's been
(10:17):
a fun experiment trying the different personality combinations. It's easy
in many games to play as a snarky a hole
without any repercussions or anyone taking notice. But I love
how in this game that truly dictates how the other
characters will address you and follow through in the later books.
My last point I will say about the series and
why I love it is again focus on how the
story draws you in with these elements and delivers are
(10:39):
really compelling narrative that truly does change with each playthrough,
depend on how you equip your detective socially and with
different skills. With no spoilers, I've never had two runs
be the same and can make it feel like an action,
romantic comedy or a thriller with a doomed romance, all
depending on these choices, and I think that's why even
after four years, I'm still replaying and eagerly awaiting the
(11:01):
third book. So yeah, thank you Amanda for sending that
in and for writing out in these questions also, which
we're gonna use throughout. We really really appreciate it. Okay,
So I think we're we're going to go through and
read Amanda's experience, and then we're going to give our
(11:23):
own experiences based on on what we experienced. I'm saying
I'll experience a lot, but based on what we chose
and oh, the deliberations, the deliberations and what happened. I'm
very curious to see if there were some differences in
what happened, because I've only played it once, so I
(11:43):
don't know if you can shift or if the ending
is kind of set. It sounds like you can get
multiple INDO play it just to see. Yeah, and we
both downloaded the second one, but we haven't started it yet,
but maybe a redo revisit, so I guess samthan I
(12:11):
already kind of answered this one, but Amanda wrote what
can I say about the Way having Chronicles? Well, first
and foremost, it's a supernatural murder mystery with vampire love interest,
so it didn't take much to sell me. I had
been playing many of these text based choose your own
adventure stories for some time, and a big draw has
always been choosing a gender and sexuality that matches my
own and having it reflected in the game. But what
(12:32):
makes the Way and Chronicles stand out is just how
well written and plotted out the character arcs and story are.
The love interest, in particular for Unit Bravo, have such
distinct personalities that it fits specific tropes. Do you love
slow burns with Yearning? Ava slash Adam is your best bet?
Do you love Falling in Love with your best friend
(12:53):
Fair slash Felix. What about the angsty rebel who pretends
to hate everyone but has a secret sauce side Morgan's
flash from Mason, And of course the person who almost
seems too good to be true but may have a
secret hidden away Natalie slash Nate. So if you're confused
by the names, I believe, and again I've only played
(13:14):
it once. And Samantha and I you both chose bisexual, correct,
I believe if you choose gay, maybe you get I
don't know, maybe you get only women's names. Um, if
you're a woman, I don't know. I have no idea.
This is just speculation because we did not have Samantha,
(13:34):
I did not have these names. Um maybe it's what
we were playing on. That is just a theory that
I have. But so we had two women and two men, Adam, Nate,
Farah and Morgan. So two men and two women, those
were the romantic interest for us. Um Amanda continues, Each
of these interactions is so unique in barries, depending on
(13:56):
who you decide to ultimately romance if anyone, which is
another fantastic bonus. You don't have to romance anyone if
you decide that's not your thing. Um so, yeah, this
is one of the funniest things to be I that
was the decision I got so hung up on. I
was like, who shall I rollmance? Because eventually I had
(14:17):
been flirting with everybody, right, yeah, you you you. But
eventually you get kind of towards the end this message
that says, all right, you need to lock down who
are you going to pursue and it's gonna you can't
change it later. You have to stick with it for
the rest of the game, and I did. I texted
multiple people screenshots of this and they're like, we don't
(14:39):
know who these people are, Like, we can't help you out.
I was so stuck in my head and I'm somebody
who yes, I identify as a sexual. Romance isn't really
my thing. But I do like flirting. I really actually
do like flirting. Um So I got all caught up
in it and it was fun. I did enjoy it.
I did kind of like, oh, I wonder what will
(15:01):
happen if I Yeah, I mean you and I talked
about this between this and our last book club, talking
about missing the flirting bit. I hate dating. I'm really
bad at it, but I'm really good at flirting. I'm
really good at flirting where there's no stakes, so essentially
like there's nothing there, but this is fun and I
can flirt with you. I'm really good at that. If
(15:21):
it's trying to be purposeful. I am clumsy like everything.
But I think I talked about our meet cute like
I am clumsy, clumsy, clumsy. So when I'm trying to
purposely flirt, uh, with no intention, I am great at
it and I enjoy it a lot. And then there
are the moments where you're like the beginning of like
does he like me? Do we reciprocate? Or is this
(15:43):
just it's just one sided? It's exciting and I've missed that.
And I feel like both of these things this and
the last book that we did, um actually really puts
that to the feeling. I'm like, Okay, yeah, here we go, big,
big surly really um moody dude, let's go. Yeah. I mean,
(16:04):
it was definitely it was very fun because I feel
like a lot of times when the flirting part happened,
there were maybe eight decisions, and there was like two
where you could have like outright flirt, and then one
where it was kind of more subtle, and I always
did the more subtle one because I was still kind
of feeling out who I wanted, and so I got
(16:26):
a lot of the like, oh, your your stomach feels
a little tight, but you're not sure why. Oh your
skin feels a little warm but you don't know. So
it felt very like, yeah, of what she was feeling,
but she was feeling something. Was that your experience. Did
you have more like outright flirting things. I'm pretty sure
it was the sparks because I wasn't being overtly tough
(16:50):
done um, because towards the end, it was all about
the looks. Yes, the looks. The looks and didn't remind
me as I mentioned a game series I love. Mass
Effects is like this where you have, like I don't know,
seven people, you can romance, can choose your gender, and
all that kind of stuff, and I played it enough
(17:11):
times to romance everybody, but it was almost like, again,
I do think it's fun. I think it was really enjoyable,
but I also just sort of wanted to know the
story of what happens if you romance this person and
what you can learn. So I was struggling with that too,
where I was like, but I really want to know
what's going on with Morgan. I wonder was making her
(17:34):
this way? Yes, I wonder if I romance or I
can find out. But I did like More. I deliberated
with everybody I was so for I assumed it will
be fair, how to be honest, that's honestly, probably the
one I should have done. I ended up choosing the triangle,
the Nate and Adam, shocking to me, well, because I
(17:56):
wanted to see more. I want to learn more, and
so I like, I told you, if I could have
had everybody but Adam, I would have had like a
probably amorous to be fair, I was Adam. Adam was
number one for me. That's so interesting. I thought those
(18:18):
were too nice. I'd like to argue with people. Oh no,
not me. I was like, just leave me be, sir,
let me do my job. Read over in the corner.
M hmmm, Um, I did. I wanted to. I really
liked More and I really liked Fair. I don't know again,
(18:41):
if I could have chosen like multiple people, oh gosh,
who knows, But that's why I chose them. And I
do like I I like a good tough guy. Oh
but I secretly am in love with you things, so
I'm sure I'll enjoy it in the second book, but
it was very much why can I have Nate and
(19:02):
this person? Right again, Nate would probably the one I
would have ended up with, So I can't imagine in
real life like being with someone who's or Fara like essentially,
but yes, I do in relationships. I've only been with men,
so that's the real life. But I did I payed
bisexual because I was like, you know what, this is
one of those like let's just take up because I've
(19:22):
always had moments of like, this woman is beautiful, not
necessarily attracted, but I acknowledge how beautiful they are, and
I cannot ever let that go. And I'm more likely
to complement a woman than I am a man. Yeah, yeah,
And I mean it's just more options. There you go, options.
I'm greedy, yes, exactly, exactly. Um. But something else that
(19:47):
Amanda talked about here's a quote. Determining who will be
your best friend was just as interesting to me as
any potential budding romance, especially because it requires you to
be kind and mesh with them. Uh, not just anyone
who'll be able to match with Avis slash the gruff,
no nonsense attitude. This is in part due to the
choices helping you frame the detective's personality, your surroundings and
(20:08):
character interactions providing an opportunity to reflect yourself within the character,
even the little details such as whether you drink coffee
or tea? What about with the pastry? You always gotta
get it with a pastry, of course, I think I
did that. Yet you also get friendship points. You have
flirting points and friendship points, and I had a lot
(20:29):
of I am just friendly, so I had a lot
of friends points. I only had the friendship points really
with Nate. Yeah, oh, I had a bunch. I think
everybody but Adam, but even adn't laugh. Everybody else had
three or one, three or one, and then at Nate
(20:51):
I had six. I had a bunch of Nate too.
I had a bunch of Nate, but there were a
lot of opportunities with him. I think to have those interactions.
Um and then Amanda wrote whether your detective is a
direct carbon copy of yourself with fulfillment or neither. It's
been a fun experiment trying the different personality combinations. It's
(21:13):
easy in many games to play as a snarky a
hole without any percussions or anyone taking notice. But I
love how in this game that dictates how the other
characters will address you and follow through in the later books. Okay,
my last point I will say about the series and
why I love it again focusing on how the story
draws you in with these elements and delivers are really
(21:35):
compelling at narrative that truly does change with each play through,
depending on how you equip your detective socially and with
different skills. With no spoilers, I have never had two
runs be the same and can make it feel like
a live action rom com or a thriller doomed romance,
all depending on these choices, and I think that's why,
even after four years, I'm still replaying and eagerly awaiting
(21:56):
the third book. Oh that's exciting, okay, because I thought
the third one was already out, So okay, Amanda, you're
making all these things just too exciting for us. Well,
and that's good to know, because like we said, we didn't.
I haven't played it twice. Samantha's and played it twice,
but I know now I'm like m but I am
(22:16):
such a I guess there is a slightly different It's
hard for me to be snarky. Oh I was. I know,
I have one percent. I was like, Samantha's going to
choose this one. Every time I would see a choice
like he's gonna be forgiving and loving, and I'll be like, no,
thank you. It's kind of I'm kind of notoriously. I cannot,
(22:42):
like in mass effect, I can't be the renegade. I
have to be the parent. I can't do it. And
like BioShock, I cannot do you like take the energy
from the chill. I can't do it. Um. Even if
I'd get like a different ending or a slightly different thing,
I just can't do it. So it would be interesting
for me. There were certainly a lot of choices. I
was like this one or this one, um, And so
(23:05):
I'm sure I could have a play through. I'm not
sure how different it would be. So I was more
stocky with the new new Bravo team and the mom
than I was with my co workers. I will say, yeah,
I want I'm cus. I think the thing I'm most
curious about is the last like the finale, I guess
because there was a lot in the kind of combat
section at the end where I was like I was,
(23:28):
I got really in my head about what would I
actually do? Um, So this this one was very much
met a reflection of me of what I would do.
This is me being about the Yeah, absolutely I'm a
badass and I'm not. Mine was very much like we
can't we all get a lot. Nope, that's interesting though,
(23:49):
So yours wasn't necessarily you like reflection of you. No,
it's what I want to be. Okay, okay, it's but
I mean it's an interspersed you know, you can't really
because I couldn't absolutely be a jerk the entire time.
Like so like with a mortician, I was very nice
(24:10):
and like the cside person was like in our very close,
the friend ex partner very close. Even the dude who
was the governor's whatever. I was still like, not wish
those buttons, but with like the team, if they pushed up,
gives me, I'm pushed back, Like that's kind of level.
The mom I was not as forgetting understanding but not okay,
(24:36):
I mean, yeah, you can't totally separate it out. But
mine was certainly me trying to figure out what I
would actually do. So it could be fun to do
one where I'm just like, I wish this is the
seeing the differences that's the next run. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay,
So Amanda continues first book rundown. Note. I chose my
(24:58):
romantic partner preference to only women, so the names below
will reflect the female variations for reference Eva Adam, Natalie
Nat slash Nate Morgan slash Mason Ferris slash Felix. Okay,
so if I say I'm hetero sexual, it would all
be men. Yeah, I guess. So. Oh that's interesting. Okay,
that's not as much fun. Yeah. I never do that version.
(25:23):
I'm gonna but that sounds so fun. Uh my first
play through back when the first book released back in
shout out to the recap feature in the second book
for reminding me how it went, and apparently I loved
it so much I made an immediate second one. So yes,
when you start the second one, it's like, do you
want to recap? How much details do you want? Um?
You can also import your game from the first one,
(25:44):
which is what we did. Amanda continues. My detective personality
the first time pretty much reflected my own at the time,
so if it's serious a little snarky and all about
getting the job done. I followed the rules, including throwing
away my precious coffee and pastry, and got along most
with Tina. I didn't let Douglas, who's the mirror son
who's also an intern, do whatever he wanted, and tried
(26:04):
to make him actually work to no avail. I had
a good but reserved relationship with my mother, respecting her
but slightly resenting her for being away much of the time.
And of course I had Bobby be an ex lover
from college because a snoopy reporter X and a vampire
love story is perfect for drama, agreed. And then Amanda
(26:25):
runs through major choices. One of them Uh okay, so yes,
I know we've already spoiled it, but at this point
get out now. If you were like I really don't
want any more spoilers, well yours is also going to
be different, so reminder of that. And you and your choices.
You don't know what your choices. But to be fair,
so for me, as we said, uh, Douglas, he him,
(26:49):
and my relationship was I ignored him, essentially, let him
do what he wanted to and did my own thing. Um,
not worrying about him. For me, Tina and I were close,
very close. Bobby and I were just acquaintances because I
wanted nothing to do with him. He just sounded like
a douche from the job, but I'm like, nope. And
for Rebecca the Mother, we weren't very close in relationship,
(27:11):
but I understood her absence, but she still arms length away. Yeah, Douglas,
I tried to get him to do work as well,
but I also was kind of like I felt like
my hands were tired because he was the marrison. But
I did try to get him to do work. Tina
and I were really close, and there's a scene where
you like go out to the bar together and we
had a grand old time. Not too much of a
(27:33):
grand old time, but a grand old time. Uh. For Bobby,
it says past relationship, acquaintance a reporter with bad morals.
For Rebecca the Mom, past relationship, very close relationship, even
with the absences. I knew it. Yeah. It was always
like do you reach out or and every other choice
(27:53):
was like ignore her or like acknowledged. But I was
always like, who are reaching you? We can do this, um.
But I knew that was going to be a big
I was like, so I can choose how this relationship
is gonna look. Okay, okay, uh so major choices that
(28:14):
Amanda runs through shoot ava first play through, I Pepper sprayed,
and that has been a theme throughout unless I decide
to let them go. I so this is early in
the on in the game, you kind of you run
into the vampires. You don't realize their vampires. I did
not shoot. Um. I think I was trying to be like,
(28:34):
we're gonna talk this out. Oh, Pepper sprayed Adam real hard.
I think I was like talking to them immediately, no question. Um.
And then Amanda rights reason for joining way Haven p
(28:55):
D best job to use scientific skills, want to help people,
pretty consistent throughout. I'm a cybersecurity professional in real life
and even consider joining the FBI early in my career,
so this choice has always been fairly easy. Skills wise,
I tended to focus on technical and people skills, basic
detective things. The three of us have something uncommon. You
wanted to be, uh. I wanted to be a diplomat
(29:18):
slash CI agent. So yeah, and then she she does
this and I was a state agency worked with the facts,
what with deparmajudical justice. I want to help people a
little different this obersecurity. But for a while I was
looking to do a job with gb I specifically working
with children. But yeah, absolutely on that same route. But
(29:40):
mine was there was no technological stuff. It was all
like people mm hmmm. I I believe because they asked
you kind of early on how did you become detective?
And I think because there was one choice that was like,
essentially you just had to do it because the last
person retired. I think I said something along the lines
(30:03):
of like I wanted to do it, but I don't
feel great about how I got it. I remember mine
was because I wanted to help you. I yeah. And
that was pretty much throughout when it would be like
why are you doing this? I consistently would say, we
need to help people of this town. We have to
prevent something like this happening, always kind of focusing in
(30:28):
on the town's people. My professional information, my people skills
is the highest seventy combat is zero percent, um science
technology deduction last knowledge seven percent, and then by the
book been the rules. Okay, yeah, because my people's skills
(30:49):
with sixty eight percent, my compast skills were my science
technology was nine deduction and by the book fifty been
the rules. I was pretty even on that. I feel
like you had a you were overall better. I feel
like skills wise, I was no because my science and
(31:11):
technology would were all the way down. I felt I
get challenged to by the way. I'm like I needed
I needed up it right right right right. Well, we'll see,
we'll see what happens. Um. And then Amanda continues went
out or stayed in, stayed in the office. As a
chronic of a worker, this made so much sense for
me to do, especially the first play through. Though I'm
(31:32):
not going to lie, the going out scene is so
much fun. I've worked on getting a better work life balance,
so later games I tend to go out, especially with
romancing Morgan for the fun interactions. Now I'm curious, I
did a little bit of both. I think I definitely
went out with Tina a few times. Uh, Nate and
I went out did our thing a couple of times.
(31:56):
That's all I got. I don't think I ever went
out with Nate other than a work thing, but I
went out with Tina and then they all showed up right. Um,
And I know there's that part with Tina asked you out.
You have to like pretty much directly asking you are
you going to be somebody who stays in or do
you go out sometimes? Oh? Yeah, yeah. And Tina even asked, like,
(32:21):
you know about romance and you can say I have
no time for romance, um, which I didn't. I think
I said the same thing. I think I said, like,
it's not a prior. Essentially, it's not a priority for
me right now, so I need to know. Because they
described the home, what kind of home did you pick?
I think I did. It was like cozy, clutter, clutter.
(32:47):
In the end, I was like, well damn it. Yeah,
and then like the whole team Bravo unit Bravo comes
over and they're looking at your apartment. I remember feeling
kind of like embarrassed, even though it's not a really
harm it's not real, but yeah, I was also embarrassed
because the options are like cheek or minimal or industrial
or cozy, and was of course I want to do cozy.
I was like, wait, I didn't mean grandma cozy. What
(33:12):
does cozy mean to you? What's happening? Enough? Blake is
around so that everyone can have one if they desire. Yes,
it's in a comfortable place to sit. Yes, I agree,
I agree, but that is certainly my apartment is what
I chose the closest thing to my apartment. And then
(33:32):
Amanda writes a reaction to vampire revelation, accepting pretty much
always choose this, especially after everything that goes down the story.
So this is like when you find out all there's
supernatural bigs, their vampires, how do you react? I think
I did the like what but okay with it? Eventually, Yeah,
me too. I think I did the okay and then
(33:55):
moved on. I'm like, I'm gonna need time to process. Yeah.
I don't think I was ever like oh I hate this,
I hate all of you. And I was just sort
of like, this is a lot, all right, well let's
keep working. Then we got things they do exactly. Uh.
And then Amanda writs agreed to agency blood test. Yes,
(34:15):
this one changes all the time as the story goes on.
I don't think there's a right answer, but I'm sure
it will come back down the road. I agreed to
do it too, But I was very like that when
I got stuck on for a long time. But I thought,
like story wise, life, I would want to know what's
wrong with me or what is happening? Immediately I would
(34:38):
be yes, mm hmm, that's a real life decision. I
was very, very torn, which is also me and my life.
I was like, but now they'll have my blood, Like
I was back and forth, back and forth, but I
did eventually I was like, Okay, I want to I
want to know and see what happens in the story.
And then Amanda writes romance Ava this was such a
difficult one, and I debated between her and Natalie for
(35:01):
a way too long. My second game. I actually ended
up romancing Natalie, and I found that I rarely romance
even now because the slow burning, hot and cold of
her personality has been not my cup of tea as
I have grown older. So Eva being Adam in our case,
I mean, yeah, that's the thing, is like, I want
to go back in romance, everybody, this is what's gonna
(35:23):
happen to me. Um that we're having real time revelation
that we're talking about my future. Thank you, Amanda. No, yeah,
I absolutely felt the same way. In like, I think
I was stick to Adam when it comes to like
(35:43):
romance novels. I'd like the build up of the fighting
through Also because I'm just a stubborn in real life.
But also it makes me there's something to just goating
a little bit in a good way, not mean mean um,
but yeah, Nate was my character. I try to flirt
(36:05):
with him, but in the beaning we're just friends. Yeah, yeah,
I mean he was a nice guy in a in
a nonlike internet meanway. You're actually nice guy. Um, at
least it seems. Who knows what happens later? I do.
I do love a good slow Burn. Um. I think
part of that is because I often catch myself reading
slow Burn fan fiction and I'm not in it for
the romance, but there's something kind of funny about it
(36:27):
to me where they neither of them realize that. I'm like, yeah,
you fools, UM, so that could be fun. And you know,
I'll see how this traangle plays out, maybe it will
be really interesting. But I did, You're right, you you
had it. You hit it on the head. I wanted
to be a fair so I guess I'll have to
(36:47):
go back. But I wanted to be with Morgan two.
Yeah you did. You try to tell me both and
I was like, yeah, but Fair I seemed to be
the one that would have gotten you yeah, yeah, I agreed, agreed,
(37:11):
and then Amanda continues Murphy bite the detective so dejective
being you um yes on the neck. First play through,
I was livid about this. I thought I had done
everything right, but it was one mistake in not trusting
my skills. I've had a few variations to this, and
some where there is no bite. I definitely got but
so I got me. I was mad too. It's like, no,
(37:35):
I am it was an overall like it has to
happen so we can play through it. But okay, apparently not.
Oh gosh, Now I want to know what choice? Where
did I go wrong? Don't happen to play back? Thanks
a lot of thanks a lot, Amanda, And then finally
Murphy's fate Amanda rights captured. Not gonna lie. I'm not
(37:55):
entirely sure how I managed this on my first play through,
but must have been ecstatic. Actually, after suffering a bite,
I feel like most of the other games I have done,
wind up with him running away. Oh I didn't know
he could. I assumed it wasn't automatic because yeah, I
captured him too. Did you sacrifice yourself? Yeah? Yeah, Well,
(38:17):
and the thing the choice I think I did incorrectly,
but I'm I don't regret it because it's totally true.
It was. There was like one where she the detective,
had the option of like healing herself and then because
she was pretty injured in my case, and then going
in and I ignored the healing and I was like, no,
we're going in, Like yeah, but I'm pretty sure I
(38:38):
should have taken that moment, but yeah, I captured him. Uh.
And then it sounds like we're going to be working together,
the detective and Unit Bramo in future projects because now
you're the detective is like a supernatural beacon and everybody
wants a piece of Well that's the thing. So yeah,
(39:03):
because you know, as the future. I'm like, oh, it
just abruptly ended what happened, realizing it is a three partner.
But I was like, I assumed it was still like
wrap up a little bit, and it kind of really didn't.
So I like, all right, what do I do with this?
But before we go there, I do want to know
because there's a part where you can get your personal information,
so I needed to know what your personality was because
(39:24):
I thought it was interesting for Kira Kingston. For Kira
Kingston alright. Personality sixty six percent charming, thirty four percent intimidating,
fifty percent impulsive, cautious, sarcastic, fifty seven percent genuine, friendly,
sixty two stock, thirty eight percent easy going sixty two
(39:45):
percent stubborn percent heart, seventy percent mind percent optimist sixty
seven percent pessimist, team player independent. Oh wow, that sarcastic
went through me. So my personality chap for Carolynn was charming,
(40:07):
intimidating because I'm not going back down impulsive percent while
being cautious at sarcastic, while being in genuine best. When
I was like, what friendly, I was forty percent friendly,
(40:28):
fifty percent stock, and then I was forty percent easy going, stubborn,
which feels about right, and the traits I'm eighty two
percent heart percent mine, So okay, thanks, I'm optimists being
(40:49):
the pessimist, and then fifty percent team player independent. Wow,
there are some surprises in there. Yeah, no, you're sarcastic.
Was a little surprising. I'm not gonna lie. Um, I
it was fun. I was like building it up. I
was trying to be stoic because I am an observer.
That is something I've always been told like, I will
not react intelity what the environment is doing. So therefore
(41:11):
i probably would be seen as a stoic because I'm
not gonna, especially in new situations, I'm not going to react.
I'm going to try to figure out what's happening before
I react and then go for it. And I'm gonna
be reading as many people as possible. So that could
be a little more personality. But I'm sarcastic as hell,
so that's quite funny. I think for me, I'm also
(41:32):
an observer, but I also and very uh. Once I
get to know somebody than my personality really adapts to
what they do. So I think I was not sarcastic
at all at the beginning, but then I was like, oh, Morgan,
seems like she appreciates sarcasm, maybe Adam, so I sort
of adapted based on their personality something I don't I think.
(41:56):
I'm oh, yeah, I was sarcastic with her, but I
was much more like bound with sarcasm and genuineness with her.
But so, I mean that is accurate. I think I've
kind of adapted since you have multiple characters in there
that appreciate sarcasm, that's where that came from I think
overall you were more balanced than me, but that you're
(42:18):
versus mine was a bit shocking because I was like,
quit being mean to these people. I would be mean
to the victim's mother, that's so ridiculous, Like it didn't
make sense. But would I be mean to Tina who
fills a connection to this family? No, I'm not going
to be mean to these people. What's wrong with you?
What is wrong with you? And then I feel like
(42:43):
looking through my because you can also look at your
relationship stats with the team. Yeah, I actually like it
was way more friendly with everybody and flirting was much less.
So yeah, so who are you? Who are you most
friendly with? Nate? But Farah was very close, Nate and
(43:03):
Fara very close. So they give you points. Who was
the flirt one? The biggest flirt I had was Nates Um.
I had six flirting points with him and ten friends
points with him. Okay, oh wow, so yeah, for Adam
I had six flirting points, four friends. Nate I had
(43:25):
one flirting point, seven friends. For Farah I had zero
flirting points and three friends. And from Morgan I had
zero flirting points and two friends. Oh Man, Morgan and
I had the least good relationship. I was flirting all about,
I was friends friending all about. All of mine are
(43:45):
like higher than that. Yeah, I'm like, oh, I needn't
do it more, which is actually fair. Nah. No, um, well,
next play through, we'll revisit. I am curious about the future.
What's gonna happen in the next book And it's, Amanda
fun for you because you already know. But what are
(44:06):
your predictions. I think there's gonna be some other stronger
supernatural force and maybe another opposing government force. Um, and
they're going to find out. I think the secret is
gonna get out of the bag about your very special
detective blood. I feel like they're going to synthesize our
blood for the team. M m mm hmm. I could
(44:29):
see that. I could see that. Well. I guess we'll see.
I guess we'll see. Yes. Well, thank you so much,
Amanda for this. It was so fun. Uh and you
were a hero and wrote these questions and you went
way above and beyond what we asked. So thank you.
Thank you for doing this, for sending this to us.
(44:51):
This is right up my alley as I'm discovering all
these new phone games because I'm downloading so many more
right now. I think I told any that I'm doing
um like Find your Object, Murder mystery. So come on,
I need more suggestions because I'm loving these, and after
I hit a certain point and I can't win, I'm like,
all right, I quite suggestions, noted new suggestions where she
(45:17):
won't quit, she can't wait. Yes, yes, please send those
are away because we do love them and this was
really fun and we hope that you enjoyed it as well.
You can email us at Stephanie your mom Stuff and
I hurt mea dot com. You can find us on
Twitter at mom Stuff podcast or Instagram and stuff I've
Never told you. Thanks, it's always to our super producer Christina. Christina,
have you done this because we need you to do this? Yes? Oh,
(45:39):
I would love a comparison of stats, Christina, And thanks
to you for listening stuff owner told you protection to
I Heart Radio for more podcast for my heart Radio,
you can visit the heart Radio app, Apple podcast, or
redul listen to your favorite shows.
Hey, this is Annie and Samantha. I'm not going to Steph.
I never told you production of iHeart Radio. And today
we are doing a revisit that we're very excited about
because recently on a Monday many you, Samantha, we're talking
(00:26):
about how you've really gotten into these Choose your Own
Adventure phone games, right, yes, kind of like it's called
Choices Ah by Pixel Berry, and yes, you determine like
the characters and what you do. We talked about the
problematic things, but how much I'm enjoying it and I
am still on it and I'm old still a bit obsessed. Yeah, yeah,
(00:49):
And we in that episode you were talking about, you know,
kind of the binary problems that might arise some of
these more misogynistic are are things God that might arise?
But when you were talking about it, I've remembered that
we had a listener who wrote in I think a
year ago named Amanda who was like, you've got to
(01:11):
play we Haven we Haven Chronicles because it's you know,
got vampires, it's got supernatural elements, it's got romance, all
of this stuff. And I had downloaded it then because
I was like, yes, I would love to do this
and then I never played it because I got distracted.
But this restarted the memory and we Samantha and I
(01:34):
have now played the first book. Yes, and I got
through it much faster than you because you were two
weeks ahead of me. And I was like, how did
I get faster than you? To be fair, when I
get caught up something in something, I get caught up
in something. I am a person for sure. Um. So
I finished it within a day. But I was like, wait,
(01:55):
you've been on that one decision for a week. What
I can't wait to talk about that? It was so funny.
I was just deliberating. Fact. I was like sending people
who had no idea what I was talking about. I
was like, here are the plus and minuses of going
with this person, and they're like, what it took me
forever to make the decision? Um? And I like that
(02:16):
you had a prediction. We'll come back and talk about
it about like who I should have done? Um, But anyway,
and I assume that it would be a specific person.
And then I was like, oh, you didn't not at all. Okay, okay, yes,
so we're going to talk about it. So this is
going to be sort of a lighter, more fun episode
where we talk about our experiences. But also we reached
(02:38):
out to a listener, Amanda again, and we just asked, like,
what was your experience, what did you like about it?
Can you send us just some general things that you
really enjoyed about the game and your experience with the game,
And Amanda delivered and sent as an audio file and
all of these questions. So, Amanda, one, you're amazing. If
(02:58):
you're listening to you, you are essentially interviewing us in
this episode. You are the interviewer because we're going to
give our answers to the questions that you wrote out. Yes,
you're a hero here to our attention. We enjoyed this
very much. Your answers were amazing. I'm so excited. Yes,
(03:19):
I think this is gonna be fun. And I can't
wait to compare our statistics because essentially, yeah, you choose,
You get a lot of options, and you choose something
and then that at the end or at any time,
you can check and see if like you're more charming
or more intimidating and all of these things in your
statistics based on the choices that you made. Um So
(03:39):
at the end, Samantha and I are going to compare that,
and I think it'll be very, very funny. But yes,
before we get into that, for anyone who's listening, and
it's like, what are you talking about? The way even
Chronicles are Choose your an adventure game that you can
play on multiple platforms including Steam, um by Miska Chink
(04:00):
Ends and here's the description from the Choice of Games website.
Your first case as a detective is forcing you to
open your eyes to a world bigger than you thought.
But maybe it's better to keep them closed. Knowing too
much doesn't help anyone sleep at night. Seems the supernatural
didn't get the memo that nothing exciting ever happens in
the little town of wey Haven. The wey Haven Chronicles
(04:21):
Book one is a thrilling four hundred and forty thousand
word interactive fantasy novel by Mr Jenkins where your choices
control the story. It's entirely text based, without graphics or
sound effects, and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of
your imagination. I did have very specific images in mind. Yeah,
we talked about this, like what did you think? What
(04:42):
did you say? Versus what I saw? We saw two
very specific, different things we did. Indeed, the description continues.
Experienced the big and small moments with a host of
characters throughout this exciting twist on the usual supernatural tail
a story which will take you through heart pounding romance,
smile filled friendships, and shiver inducing drama. Play as female, male,
(05:04):
or non binary, with options to be straight, gay, or bisexual.
Discover the start of distinct and lasting romances with the
vampires of Unit Bravo spoiler. Define and refine relationships with
a variety of characters from friends, family, xs, and enemies.
Decide how you will fulfill the job of detective through deduction,
combat science, or people skills. Discover the truth of what
(05:28):
awaits in Weehaven in a play style that suits your personality.
Indulge in true moments of romance, friendship, drama, and fun fun.
I love it so yeah. I mean, if I had
to describe it, I would say it is a shifting
p o V. But primarily you are playing this from
the point of view of a detective. UM I named
(05:51):
Mine Kira Kingston. Oh oh, we both chose so it
was like four or five names you could shoo us.
I went with Kara Kingston, who has started as detective
in this small town of wey Haven, where it sounds
like not a lot happens in general, but of course
when you first start, suddenly there are murders, bodies are dropping,
(06:17):
and you're not sure what's going on. And then your mother,
who you can change the relationship with the mother. You
can also shape of whether she's kind of estranged or
whether you're close. But it sounds like she's really busy
and you don't see her that much. Comes in and
she's got this. You know, you didn't Bravo from this
kind of secretive government agency. And yes they're all vampires. Yeah,
(06:41):
well this group, this particular group, Samantha is giving me
a very meaningful look. M and I did have a
lot of fun playing it, um I I was funny
how much I got so caught up in But what
if it's the wrong decision? Che and I contemplated the
(07:01):
decision for days, for days, and I would also, I
wonder if you felt this, Samantha. But I would get
torn between like this is what I would actually do
and this is what I hope I would do. And
I would try to be truthful to what I think
I would do, even if sometimes I was like, I
probably do that because that's part of the funds, like
(07:23):
doing what you think you should do and seeing what
would happen. I actually had a couple of incidents and
it may have just been me on the phone where
a couple of decisions were taken out of my hands.
It would just bypasses like, no, I didn't make that decision.
So I've had the been like three or four times,
I think, and I was like, how did that happen?
Soul feel like that if something goes wrong, if there's
(07:44):
a way to play this wrong, that's what happened. Oh,
you're gonna blame it on that. Yeah, it is because
those affects, those choices affect you. Clearly. I guess we
should have said not a sponsor currently by any of this.
We just wanted to talk about it because we had
a good time. Um right now game sponsors best Fiends
(08:05):
and yes, I'll still play that. Can't wait to talk
about that again. In our ad experience. If you haven't
heard it, listeners, Sapantha gets real real, come on, this
is how I make a nemesis. Yes, I love it.
And Amanda was kind enough to to answer these questions
in written format. But also to send us an audiophile
(08:29):
about why she really enjoyed Wey Haven and a little
bit about her experience with it, so we thought we'd
play that. What can I say about the Way Haven
Chronicles Well, first and foremost, it's a supernatural murder mystery
with vampire love interest, so it didn't take much to
sell me. I've been playing many of these text based
choose you own adventure stories for some time, and a
(08:50):
big draw has always been choosing a gender and sexuality
that matches my own and having reflected in the game.
But what really makes the Way Having chronicles stand out
is just a well written and plotted out the character
arcs and story are a love interest in particular for you.
Bravo has such distinct personalities that fit all sorts of
romantic tropes. Do you love slow burns with yearning aver
(09:14):
Adam is your best bet? Do you love falling in
love with your best friend for or Felix? What about
the angsty rebel pretends to hate everyone but has a
secret soft side morgana Mason, And of course the person
who almost seems too good to be true, but who
may actually have a secret hidden a way Nadally your name.
Each of these interactions is so unique and varies depending
(09:34):
on who you decide to ultimately romance, if anyone, which
is another fantastic bonus. You don't have to romance anyone
if you decide that's not your thing. Determining who will
be your best friend was just as interesting to me
as any potential budding romance, especially because of re prizy
to be kind and mesh with them. Not just anyone
will be able to match Aver adams gruff, no nonsense attitude.
(09:55):
This is in part due to the choices helping you
friend to detective personality, your surroundings and character interactions providing
an opportunity to reflect yourself within the character. Even the
little details, which is whether you drink coffee or tea?
And what about with the pastry? You always got to
get it with the pastry. Whether you're detective is a
direct carbon copy yourself, which fulfillment or neither. It's been
(10:17):
a fun experiment trying the different personality combinations. It's easy
in many games to play as a snarky a hole
without any repercussions or anyone taking notice. But I love
how in this game that truly dictates how the other
characters will address you and follow through in the later books.
My last point I will say about the series and
why I love it is again focus on how the
story draws you in with these elements and delivers are
(10:39):
really compelling narrative that truly does change with each playthrough,
depend on how you equip your detective socially and with
different skills. With no spoilers, I've never had two runs
be the same and can make it feel like an action,
romantic comedy or a thriller with a doomed romance, all
depending on these choices, and I think that's why even
after four years, I'm still replaying and eagerly awaiting the
(11:01):
third book. So yeah, thank you Amanda for sending that
in and for writing out in these questions also, which
we're gonna use throughout. We really really appreciate it. Okay,
So I think we're we're going to go through and
read Amanda's experience, and then we're going to give our
(11:23):
own experiences based on on what we experienced. I'm saying
I'll experience a lot, but based on what we chose
and oh, the deliberations, the deliberations and what happened. I'm
very curious to see if there were some differences in
what happened, because I've only played it once, so I
(11:43):
don't know if you can shift or if the ending
is kind of set. It sounds like you can get
multiple INDO play it just to see. Yeah, and we
both downloaded the second one, but we haven't started it yet,
but maybe a redo revisit, so I guess samthan I
(12:11):
already kind of answered this one, but Amanda wrote what
can I say about the Way having Chronicles? Well, first
and foremost, it's a supernatural murder mystery with vampire love interest,
so it didn't take much to sell me. I had
been playing many of these text based choose your own
adventure stories for some time, and a big draw has
always been choosing a gender and sexuality that matches my
own and having it reflected in the game. But what
(12:32):
makes the Way and Chronicles stand out is just how
well written and plotted out the character arcs and story are.
The love interest, in particular for Unit Bravo, have such
distinct personalities that it fits specific tropes. Do you love
slow burns with Yearning? Ava slash Adam is your best bet?
Do you love Falling in Love with your best friend
(12:53):
Fair slash Felix. What about the angsty rebel who pretends
to hate everyone but has a secret sauce side Morgan's
flash from Mason, And of course the person who almost
seems too good to be true but may have a
secret hidden away Natalie slash Nate. So if you're confused
by the names, I believe, and again I've only played
(13:14):
it once. And Samantha and I you both chose bisexual, correct,
I believe if you choose gay, maybe you get I
don't know, maybe you get only women's names. Um, if
you're a woman, I don't know. I have no idea.
This is just speculation because we did not have Samantha,
(13:34):
I did not have these names. Um maybe it's what
we were playing on. That is just a theory that
I have. But so we had two women and two men, Adam, Nate,
Farah and Morgan. So two men and two women, those
were the romantic interest for us. Um Amanda continues, Each
of these interactions is so unique in barries, depending on
(13:56):
who you decide to ultimately romance if anyone, which is
another fantastic bonus. You don't have to romance anyone if
you decide that's not your thing. Um so, yeah, this
is one of the funniest things to be I that
was the decision I got so hung up on. I
was like, who shall I rollmance? Because eventually I had
(14:17):
been flirting with everybody, right, yeah, you you you. But
eventually you get kind of towards the end this message
that says, all right, you need to lock down who
are you going to pursue and it's gonna you can't
change it later. You have to stick with it for
the rest of the game, and I did. I texted
multiple people screenshots of this and they're like, we don't
(14:39):
know who these people are, Like, we can't help you out.
I was so stuck in my head and I'm somebody
who yes, I identify as a sexual. Romance isn't really
my thing. But I do like flirting. I really actually
do like flirting. Um So I got all caught up
in it and it was fun. I did enjoy it.
I did kind of like, oh, I wonder what will
(15:01):
happen if I Yeah, I mean you and I talked
about this between this and our last book club, talking
about missing the flirting bit. I hate dating. I'm really
bad at it, but I'm really good at flirting. I'm
really good at flirting where there's no stakes, so essentially
like there's nothing there, but this is fun and I
can flirt with you. I'm really good at that. If
(15:21):
it's trying to be purposeful. I am clumsy like everything.
But I think I talked about our meet cute like
I am clumsy, clumsy, clumsy. So when I'm trying to
purposely flirt, uh, with no intention, I am great at
it and I enjoy it a lot. And then there
are the moments where you're like the beginning of like
does he like me? Do we reciprocate? Or is this
(15:43):
just it's just one sided? It's exciting and I've missed that.
And I feel like both of these things this and
the last book that we did, um actually really puts
that to the feeling. I'm like, Okay, yeah, here we go, big,
big surly really um moody dude, let's go. Yeah. I mean,
(16:04):
it was definitely it was very fun because I feel
like a lot of times when the flirting part happened,
there were maybe eight decisions, and there was like two
where you could have like outright flirt, and then one
where it was kind of more subtle, and I always
did the more subtle one because I was still kind
of feeling out who I wanted, and so I got
(16:26):
a lot of the like, oh, your your stomach feels
a little tight, but you're not sure why. Oh your
skin feels a little warm but you don't know. So
it felt very like, yeah, of what she was feeling,
but she was feeling something. Was that your experience. Did
you have more like outright flirting things. I'm pretty sure
it was the sparks because I wasn't being overtly tough
(16:50):
done um, because towards the end, it was all about
the looks. Yes, the looks. The looks and didn't remind
me as I mentioned a game series I love. Mass
Effects is like this where you have, like I don't know,
seven people, you can romance, can choose your gender, and
all that kind of stuff, and I played it enough
(17:11):
times to romance everybody, but it was almost like, again,
I do think it's fun. I think it was really enjoyable,
but I also just sort of wanted to know the
story of what happens if you romance this person and
what you can learn. So I was struggling with that too,
where I was like, but I really want to know
what's going on with Morgan. I wonder was making her
(17:34):
this way? Yes, I wonder if I romance or I
can find out. But I did like More. I deliberated
with everybody I was so for I assumed it will
be fair, how to be honest, that's honestly, probably the
one I should have done. I ended up choosing the triangle,
the Nate and Adam, shocking to me, well, because I
(17:56):
wanted to see more. I want to learn more, and
so I like, I told you, if I could have
had everybody but Adam, I would have had like a
probably amorous to be fair, I was Adam. Adam was
number one for me. That's so interesting. I thought those
(18:18):
were too nice. I'd like to argue with people. Oh no,
not me. I was like, just leave me be, sir,
let me do my job. Read over in the corner.
M hmmm, Um, I did. I wanted to. I really
liked More and I really liked Fair. I don't know again,
(18:41):
if I could have chosen like multiple people, oh gosh,
who knows, But that's why I chose them. And I
do like I I like a good tough guy. Oh
but I secretly am in love with you things, so
I'm sure I'll enjoy it in the second book, but
it was very much why can I have Nate and
(19:02):
this person? Right again, Nate would probably the one I
would have ended up with, So I can't imagine in
real life like being with someone who's or Fara like essentially,
but yes, I do in relationships. I've only been with men,
so that's the real life. But I did I payed
bisexual because I was like, you know what, this is
one of those like let's just take up because I've
(19:22):
always had moments of like, this woman is beautiful, not
necessarily attracted, but I acknowledge how beautiful they are, and
I cannot ever let that go. And I'm more likely
to complement a woman than I am a man. Yeah, yeah,
And I mean it's just more options. There you go, options.
I'm greedy, yes, exactly, exactly. Um. But something else that
(19:47):
Amanda talked about here's a quote. Determining who will be
your best friend was just as interesting to me as
any potential budding romance, especially because it requires you to
be kind and mesh with them. Uh, not just anyone
who'll be able to match with Avis slash the gruff,
no nonsense attitude. This is in part due to the
choices helping you frame the detective's personality, your surroundings and
(20:08):
character interactions providing an opportunity to reflect yourself within the character,
even the little details such as whether you drink coffee
or tea? What about with the pastry? You always gotta
get it with a pastry, of course, I think I
did that. Yet you also get friendship points. You have
flirting points and friendship points, and I had a lot
(20:29):
of I am just friendly, so I had a lot
of friends points. I only had the friendship points really
with Nate. Yeah, oh, I had a bunch. I think
everybody but Adam, but even adn't laugh. Everybody else had
three or one, three or one, and then at Nate
(20:51):
I had six. I had a bunch of Nate too.
I had a bunch of Nate, but there were a
lot of opportunities with him. I think to have those interactions.
Um and then Amanda wrote whether your detective is a
direct carbon copy of yourself with fulfillment or neither. It's
been a fun experiment trying the different personality combinations. It's
(21:13):
easy in many games to play as a snarky a
hole without any percussions or anyone taking notice. But I
love how in this game that dictates how the other
characters will address you and follow through in the later books. Okay,
my last point I will say about the series and
why I love it again focusing on how the story
draws you in with these elements and delivers are really
(21:35):
compelling at narrative that truly does change with each play through,
depending on how you equip your detective socially and with
different skills. With no spoilers, I have never had two
runs be the same and can make it feel like
a live action rom com or a thriller doomed romance,
all depending on these choices, and I think that's why,
even after four years, I'm still replaying and eagerly awaiting
(21:56):
the third book. Oh that's exciting, okay, because I thought
the third one was already out, So okay, Amanda, you're
making all these things just too exciting for us. Well,
and that's good to know, because like we said, we didn't.
I haven't played it twice. Samantha's and played it twice,
but I know now I'm like m but I am
(22:16):
such a I guess there is a slightly different It's
hard for me to be snarky. Oh I was. I know,
I have one percent. I was like, Samantha's going to
choose this one. Every time I would see a choice
like he's gonna be forgiving and loving, and I'll be like, no,
thank you. It's kind of I'm kind of notoriously. I cannot,
(22:42):
like in mass effect, I can't be the renegade. I
have to be the parent. I can't do it. And
like BioShock, I cannot do you like take the energy
from the chill. I can't do it. Um. Even if
I'd get like a different ending or a slightly different thing,
I just can't do it. So it would be interesting
for me. There were certainly a lot of choices. I
was like this one or this one, um, And so
(23:05):
I'm sure I could have a play through. I'm not
sure how different it would be. So I was more
stocky with the new new Bravo team and the mom
than I was with my co workers. I will say, yeah,
I want I'm cus. I think the thing I'm most
curious about is the last like the finale, I guess
because there was a lot in the kind of combat
section at the end where I was like I was,
(23:28):
I got really in my head about what would I
actually do? Um, So this this one was very much
met a reflection of me of what I would do.
This is me being about the Yeah, absolutely I'm a
badass and I'm not. Mine was very much like we
can't we all get a lot. Nope, that's interesting though,
(23:49):
So yours wasn't necessarily you like reflection of you. No,
it's what I want to be. Okay, okay, it's but
I mean it's an interspersed you know, you can't really
because I couldn't absolutely be a jerk the entire time.
Like so like with a mortician, I was very nice
(24:10):
and like the cside person was like in our very close,
the friend ex partner very close. Even the dude who
was the governor's whatever. I was still like, not wish
those buttons, but with like the team, if they pushed up,
gives me, I'm pushed back, Like that's kind of level.
The mom I was not as forgetting understanding but not okay,
(24:36):
I mean, yeah, you can't totally separate it out. But
mine was certainly me trying to figure out what I
would actually do. So it could be fun to do
one where I'm just like, I wish this is the
seeing the differences that's the next run. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay,
So Amanda continues first book rundown. Note. I chose my
(24:58):
romantic partner preference to only women, so the names below
will reflect the female variations for reference Eva Adam, Natalie
Nat slash Nate Morgan slash Mason Ferris slash Felix. Okay,
so if I say I'm hetero sexual, it would all
be men. Yeah, I guess. So. Oh that's interesting. Okay,
that's not as much fun. Yeah. I never do that version.
(25:23):
I'm gonna but that sounds so fun. Uh my first
play through back when the first book released back in
shout out to the recap feature in the second book
for reminding me how it went, and apparently I loved
it so much I made an immediate second one. So yes,
when you start the second one, it's like, do you
want to recap? How much details do you want? Um?
You can also import your game from the first one,
(25:44):
which is what we did. Amanda continues. My detective personality
the first time pretty much reflected my own at the time,
so if it's serious a little snarky and all about
getting the job done. I followed the rules, including throwing
away my precious coffee and pastry, and got along most
with Tina. I didn't let Douglas, who's the mirror son
who's also an intern, do whatever he wanted, and tried
(26:04):
to make him actually work to no avail. I had
a good but reserved relationship with my mother, respecting her
but slightly resenting her for being away much of the time.
And of course I had Bobby be an ex lover
from college because a snoopy reporter X and a vampire
love story is perfect for drama, agreed. And then Amanda
(26:25):
runs through major choices. One of them Uh okay, so yes,
I know we've already spoiled it, but at this point
get out now. If you were like I really don't
want any more spoilers, well yours is also going to
be different, so reminder of that. And you and your choices.
You don't know what your choices. But to be fair,
so for me, as we said, uh, Douglas, he him,
(26:49):
and my relationship was I ignored him, essentially, let him
do what he wanted to and did my own thing. Um,
not worrying about him. For me, Tina and I were close,
very close. Bobby and I were just acquaintances because I
wanted nothing to do with him. He just sounded like
a douche from the job, but I'm like, nope. And
for Rebecca the Mother, we weren't very close in relationship,
(27:11):
but I understood her absence, but she still arms length away. Yeah, Douglas,
I tried to get him to do work as well,
but I also was kind of like I felt like
my hands were tired because he was the marrison. But
I did try to get him to do work. Tina
and I were really close, and there's a scene where
you like go out to the bar together and we
had a grand old time. Not too much of a
(27:33):
grand old time, but a grand old time. Uh. For Bobby,
it says past relationship, acquaintance a reporter with bad morals.
For Rebecca the Mom, past relationship, very close relationship, even
with the absences. I knew it. Yeah. It was always
like do you reach out or and every other choice
(27:53):
was like ignore her or like acknowledged. But I was
always like, who are reaching you? We can do this, um.
But I knew that was going to be a big
I was like, so I can choose how this relationship
is gonna look. Okay, okay, uh so major choices that
(28:14):
Amanda runs through shoot ava first play through, I Pepper sprayed,
and that has been a theme throughout unless I decide
to let them go. I so this is early in
the on in the game, you kind of you run
into the vampires. You don't realize their vampires. I did
not shoot. Um. I think I was trying to be like,
(28:34):
we're gonna talk this out. Oh, Pepper sprayed Adam real hard.
I think I was like talking to them immediately, no question. Um.
And then Amanda rights reason for joining way Haven p
(28:55):
D best job to use scientific skills, want to help people,
pretty consistent throughout. I'm a cybersecurity professional in real life
and even consider joining the FBI early in my career,
so this choice has always been fairly easy. Skills wise,
I tended to focus on technical and people skills, basic
detective things. The three of us have something uncommon. You
wanted to be, uh. I wanted to be a diplomat
(29:18):
slash CI agent. So yeah, and then she she does
this and I was a state agency worked with the facts,
what with deparmajudical justice. I want to help people a
little different this obersecurity. But for a while I was
looking to do a job with gb I specifically working
with children. But yeah, absolutely on that same route. But
(29:40):
mine was there was no technological stuff. It was all
like people mm hmmm. I I believe because they asked
you kind of early on how did you become detective?
And I think because there was one choice that was like,
essentially you just had to do it because the last
person retired. I think I said something along the lines
(30:03):
of like I wanted to do it, but I don't
feel great about how I got it. I remember mine
was because I wanted to help you. I yeah. And
that was pretty much throughout when it would be like
why are you doing this? I consistently would say, we
need to help people of this town. We have to
prevent something like this happening, always kind of focusing in
(30:28):
on the town's people. My professional information, my people skills
is the highest seventy combat is zero percent, um science
technology deduction last knowledge seven percent, and then by the
book been the rules. Okay, yeah, because my people's skills
(30:49):
with sixty eight percent, my compast skills were my science
technology was nine deduction and by the book fifty been
the rules. I was pretty even on that. I feel
like you had a you were overall better. I feel
like skills wise, I was no because my science and
(31:11):
technology would were all the way down. I felt I
get challenged to by the way. I'm like I needed
I needed up it right right right right. Well, we'll see,
we'll see what happens. Um. And then Amanda continues went
out or stayed in, stayed in the office. As a
chronic of a worker, this made so much sense for
me to do, especially the first play through. Though I'm
(31:32):
not going to lie, the going out scene is so
much fun. I've worked on getting a better work life balance,
so later games I tend to go out, especially with
romancing Morgan for the fun interactions. Now I'm curious, I
did a little bit of both. I think I definitely
went out with Tina a few times. Uh, Nate and
I went out did our thing a couple of times.
(31:56):
That's all I got. I don't think I ever went
out with Nate other than a work thing, but I
went out with Tina and then they all showed up right. Um,
And I know there's that part with Tina asked you out.
You have to like pretty much directly asking you are
you going to be somebody who stays in or do
you go out sometimes? Oh? Yeah, yeah. And Tina even asked, like,
(32:21):
you know about romance and you can say I have
no time for romance, um, which I didn't. I think
I said the same thing. I think I said, like,
it's not a prior. Essentially, it's not a priority for
me right now, so I need to know. Because they
described the home, what kind of home did you pick?
I think I did. It was like cozy, clutter, clutter.
(32:47):
In the end, I was like, well damn it. Yeah,
and then like the whole team Bravo unit Bravo comes
over and they're looking at your apartment. I remember feeling
kind of like embarrassed, even though it's not a really
harm it's not real, but yeah, I was also embarrassed
because the options are like cheek or minimal or industrial
or cozy, and was of course I want to do cozy.
I was like, wait, I didn't mean grandma cozy. What
(33:12):
does cozy mean to you? What's happening? Enough? Blake is
around so that everyone can have one if they desire. Yes,
it's in a comfortable place to sit. Yes, I agree,
I agree, but that is certainly my apartment is what
I chose the closest thing to my apartment. And then
(33:32):
Amanda writes a reaction to vampire revelation, accepting pretty much
always choose this, especially after everything that goes down the story.
So this is like when you find out all there's
supernatural bigs, their vampires, how do you react? I think
I did the like what but okay with it? Eventually, Yeah,
me too. I think I did the okay and then
(33:55):
moved on. I'm like, I'm gonna need time to process. Yeah.
I don't think I was ever like oh I hate this,
I hate all of you. And I was just sort
of like, this is a lot, all right, well let's
keep working. Then we got things they do exactly. Uh.
And then Amanda writs agreed to agency blood test. Yes,
(34:15):
this one changes all the time as the story goes on.
I don't think there's a right answer, but I'm sure
it will come back down the road. I agreed to
do it too, But I was very like that when
I got stuck on for a long time. But I thought,
like story wise, life, I would want to know what's
wrong with me or what is happening? Immediately I would
(34:38):
be yes, mm hmm, that's a real life decision. I
was very, very torn, which is also me and my life.
I was like, but now they'll have my blood, Like
I was back and forth, back and forth, but I
did eventually I was like, Okay, I want to I
want to know and see what happens in the story.
And then Amanda writes romance Ava this was such a
difficult one, and I debated between her and Natalie for
(35:01):
a way too long. My second game. I actually ended
up romancing Natalie, and I found that I rarely romance
even now because the slow burning, hot and cold of
her personality has been not my cup of tea as
I have grown older. So Eva being Adam in our case,
I mean, yeah, that's the thing, is like, I want
to go back in romance, everybody, this is what's gonna
(35:23):
happen to me. Um that we're having real time revelation
that we're talking about my future. Thank you, Amanda. No, yeah,
I absolutely felt the same way. In like, I think
I was stick to Adam when it comes to like
(35:43):
romance novels. I'd like the build up of the fighting
through Also because I'm just a stubborn in real life.
But also it makes me there's something to just goating
a little bit in a good way, not mean mean um,
but yeah, Nate was my character. I try to flirt
(36:05):
with him, but in the beaning we're just friends. Yeah, yeah,
I mean he was a nice guy in a in
a nonlike internet meanway. You're actually nice guy. Um, at
least it seems. Who knows what happens later? I do.
I do love a good slow Burn. Um. I think
part of that is because I often catch myself reading
slow Burn fan fiction and I'm not in it for
the romance, but there's something kind of funny about it
(36:27):
to me where they neither of them realize that. I'm like, yeah,
you fools, UM, so that could be fun. And you know,
I'll see how this traangle plays out, maybe it will
be really interesting. But I did, You're right, you you
had it. You hit it on the head. I wanted
to be a fair so I guess I'll have to
(36:47):
go back. But I wanted to be with Morgan two.
Yeah you did. You try to tell me both and
I was like, yeah, but Fair I seemed to be
the one that would have gotten you yeah, yeah, I agreed, agreed,
(37:11):
and then Amanda continues Murphy bite the detective so dejective
being you um yes on the neck. First play through,
I was livid about this. I thought I had done
everything right, but it was one mistake in not trusting
my skills. I've had a few variations to this, and
some where there is no bite. I definitely got but
so I got me. I was mad too. It's like, no,
(37:35):
I am it was an overall like it has to
happen so we can play through it. But okay, apparently not.
Oh gosh, Now I want to know what choice? Where
did I go wrong? Don't happen to play back? Thanks
a lot of thanks a lot, Amanda, And then finally
Murphy's fate Amanda rights captured. Not gonna lie. I'm not
(37:55):
entirely sure how I managed this on my first play through,
but must have been ecstatic. Actually, after suffering a bite,
I feel like most of the other games I have done,
wind up with him running away. Oh I didn't know
he could. I assumed it wasn't automatic because yeah, I
captured him too. Did you sacrifice yourself? Yeah? Yeah, Well,
(38:17):
and the thing the choice I think I did incorrectly,
but I'm I don't regret it because it's totally true.
It was. There was like one where she the detective,
had the option of like healing herself and then because
she was pretty injured in my case, and then going
in and I ignored the healing and I was like, no,
we're going in, Like yeah, but I'm pretty sure I
(38:38):
should have taken that moment, but yeah, I captured him. Uh.
And then it sounds like we're going to be working together,
the detective and Unit Bramo in future projects because now
you're the detective is like a supernatural beacon and everybody
wants a piece of Well that's the thing. So yeah,
(39:03):
because you know, as the future. I'm like, oh, it
just abruptly ended what happened, realizing it is a three partner.
But I was like, I assumed it was still like
wrap up a little bit, and it kind of really didn't.
So I like, all right, what do I do with this?
But before we go there, I do want to know
because there's a part where you can get your personal information,
so I needed to know what your personality was because
(39:24):
I thought it was interesting for Kira Kingston. For Kira
Kingston alright. Personality sixty six percent charming, thirty four percent intimidating,
fifty percent impulsive, cautious, sarcastic, fifty seven percent genuine, friendly,
sixty two stock, thirty eight percent easy going sixty two
(39:45):
percent stubborn percent heart, seventy percent mind percent optimist sixty
seven percent pessimist, team player independent. Oh wow, that sarcastic
went through me. So my personality chap for Carolynn was charming,
(40:07):
intimidating because I'm not going back down impulsive percent while
being cautious at sarcastic, while being in genuine best. When
I was like, what friendly, I was forty percent friendly,
(40:28):
fifty percent stock, and then I was forty percent easy going, stubborn,
which feels about right, and the traits I'm eighty two
percent heart percent mine, So okay, thanks, I'm optimists being
(40:49):
the pessimist, and then fifty percent team player independent. Wow,
there are some surprises in there. Yeah, no, you're sarcastic.
Was a little surprising. I'm not gonna lie. Um, I
it was fun. I was like building it up. I
was trying to be stoic because I am an observer.
That is something I've always been told like, I will
not react intelity what the environment is doing. So therefore
(41:11):
i probably would be seen as a stoic because I'm
not gonna, especially in new situations, I'm not going to react.
I'm going to try to figure out what's happening before
I react and then go for it. And I'm gonna
be reading as many people as possible. So that could
be a little more personality. But I'm sarcastic as hell,
so that's quite funny. I think for me, I'm also
(41:32):
an observer, but I also and very uh. Once I
get to know somebody than my personality really adapts to
what they do. So I think I was not sarcastic
at all at the beginning, but then I was like, oh, Morgan,
seems like she appreciates sarcasm, maybe Adam, so I sort
of adapted based on their personality something I don't I think.
(41:56):
I'm oh, yeah, I was sarcastic with her, but I
was much more like bound with sarcasm and genuineness with her.
But so, I mean that is accurate. I think I've
kind of adapted since you have multiple characters in there
that appreciate sarcasm, that's where that came from I think
overall you were more balanced than me, but that you're
(42:18):
versus mine was a bit shocking because I was like,
quit being mean to these people. I would be mean
to the victim's mother, that's so ridiculous, Like it didn't
make sense. But would I be mean to Tina who
fills a connection to this family? No, I'm not going
to be mean to these people. What's wrong with you?
What is wrong with you? And then I feel like
(42:43):
looking through my because you can also look at your
relationship stats with the team. Yeah, I actually like it
was way more friendly with everybody and flirting was much less.
So yeah, so who are you? Who are you most
friendly with? Nate? But Farah was very close, Nate and
(43:03):
Fara very close. So they give you points. Who was
the flirt one? The biggest flirt I had was Nates Um.
I had six flirting points with him and ten friends
points with him. Okay, oh wow, so yeah, for Adam
I had six flirting points, four friends. Nate I had
(43:25):
one flirting point, seven friends. For Farah I had zero
flirting points and three friends. And from Morgan I had
zero flirting points and two friends. Oh Man, Morgan and
I had the least good relationship. I was flirting all about,
I was friends friending all about. All of mine are
(43:45):
like higher than that. Yeah, I'm like, oh, I needn't
do it more, which is actually fair. Nah. No, um, well,
next play through, we'll revisit. I am curious about the future.
What's gonna happen in the next book And it's, Amanda
fun for you because you already know. But what are
(44:06):
your predictions. I think there's gonna be some other stronger
supernatural force and maybe another opposing government force. Um, and
they're going to find out. I think the secret is
gonna get out of the bag about your very special
detective blood. I feel like they're going to synthesize our
blood for the team. M m mm hmm. I could
(44:29):
see that. I could see that. Well. I guess we'll see.
I guess we'll see. Yes. Well, thank you so much,
Amanda for this. It was so fun. Uh and you
were a hero and wrote these questions and you went
way above and beyond what we asked. So thank you.
Thank you for doing this, for sending this to us.
(44:51):
This is right up my alley as I'm discovering all
these new phone games because I'm downloading so many more
right now. I think I told any that I'm doing
um like Find your Object, Murder mystery. So come on,
I need more suggestions because I'm loving these, and after
I hit a certain point and I can't win, I'm like,
all right, I quite suggestions, noted new suggestions where she
(45:17):
won't quit, she can't wait. Yes, yes, please send those
are away because we do love them and this was
really fun and we hope that you enjoyed it as well.
You can email us at Stephanie your mom Stuff and
I hurt mea dot com. You can find us on
Twitter at mom Stuff podcast or Instagram and stuff I've
Never told you. Thanks, it's always to our super producer Christina. Christina,
have you done this because we need you to do this? Yes? Oh,
(45:39):
I would love a comparison of stats, Christina, And thanks
to you for listening stuff owner told you protection to
I Heart Radio for more podcast for my heart Radio,
you can visit the heart Radio app, Apple podcast, or
redul listen to your favorite shows.
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If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.