Arcanyx Studios - Sinister Serana X Vigilant - Road Mapping Serana’s Mind Across Four Acts
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Some may wonder: why not simply leave this to Marty?
For me, the answer comes down to a few questions I keep returning to:
What about players who don't use SDA?
What if his interpretation or writing goes in a direction I don't personally enjoy?
And perhaps most importantly: What if it simply never happens?
Rather than wait and wonder, I'd rather create my own interpretation. One built specifically around Sinister Serana and the character I want her to become.
If you've ever poked around the Creation Kit, you know that making a companion feel genuinely reactive across branching narratives is an absolute labyrinth. Here is a peek at how the backend logic is currently shaking out for the next stage of dialogue expansion.
To make sure Serana truly reflects where you are, and who survived, the framework is mapped across the Four Vigilant Acts factoring in Seven Serana states (I have to exceed the three Serana's):
Pre-Faction Choice (The early travel days)
Dawnguard Loyal
Volkihar Aligned
Post-Kindred Judgment: Dawnguard Victory
Serana Cured
Post-Kindred Judgment: Volkihar Victory
Harkon Diabologue Add-on Resolution (Is Harkon Enabled)
Sorry waifu state will not be here XD Serana is not a damsel in distress.
Though I may make an SSDAO Darkling and... I will need to do a lore patch anyways regarding the house of horrors lolz!
Oh, for Oblivion’s sake. Who let the poltergeist out? I thought we left you haunting that dreadful little house.
I rather preferred you when your greatest threat was poorly aimed telekinesis. Let me fix that.
Across the 4 acts and these 7 narrative branches, that totals 28 dedicated quest buckets purely to track contain the dialogue conditioning better.
Even conservatively estimating 10 lines per branch, we're looking at 280 lines of core blocking dialogue alone just so Serana can authentically react, process what just happened, and share her perspective without generic filler.
And then add in the multiple endings for Act 4 and the number of lines will increase.
And then... you better believe I will be adding location awareness and location based greets and farewells. I am Arcanyx and I don't go halfway. One reason I will be doing unique combat lines.
And thennnnn... beyond quest commentary, the plan is to do an evolving Q&A system that dynamically updates her conversational topics based onthe events in Vigilant.
And thennnnn........ It will be an ESPFE!
And thennnnnnnnnnnnnn... You best believe there will be post scenes between Serana and Harkon, Valerica and Isran. Serana deserves bragging rights!
And then...... No more and then.
... For now!!
Why does Arc go this far?
Replayability. Vigilant is famously bleak, but very little in it would truly break Serana. She's a Daughter of Coldharbour; she’s seen the dark corners of Oblivion firsthand.
Fun fact: in my own playthroughs, I usually head toward Dawnstar right after picking Serana up, which falls squarely under the "Pre-Faction Choice" bucket. So yes, there will be unique dialogue if you drag her through the Vigilant questline before you even decide her family's fate.
I usually join the Volkihar Faction after talking to the dude in Dawnstar though. So you better believe I will do Dialogue for that as well :)
Imagine dragging her all the way to Coldharbour in Act 4 when you were literally just supposed to take her home...
I have heard of taking the scenic route. Coldharbour is neither scenic nor, I should point out, on the way to my castle.
Of all the damn people.
Most escorts get lost in the woods. You somehow managed to get lost in Oblivion!
After killing a certain den of vampires
You seem remarkably practiced at killing vampires. Oh wait, you are a vampire hunter.
Should I be concerned, or is "One Thousand and One Ways to Kill Vampires" still only a working title?
I may start compiling a companion volume. One Thousand and One Ways to get Serana to the Castle!
Then again at the end you could annoy Serana if you are siding with the Volkihar...
A Volkihar. Carrying the Horn of Stendarr. Secret agent, you said. I should have asked whose. Father would have an aneurysm… Actually, keep talking. I think I’m having one now. Gods, I almost wish Father were here. Watching him try to comprehend this might actually help me come to terms with it.
Player: I am joking. We can destroy it if you want?
You were joking. You let me contemplate a Volkihar conversion to Stendarr for your amusement. Keep the damned horn. After what you just put me through, destroying it would feel like letting you win. Besides... I want the next person who questions your loyalties to suffer precisely as I just did.
More updates and script previews soon.
These were all random thoughts I have had while driving DoorDash.
Thank you all for fueling the caffeine and late-night CK and brainstorming / daydreaming sessions!
Some may wonder: why not simply leave this to Marty?
For me, the answer comes down to a few questions I keep returning to:
What about players who don't use SDA?
What if his interpretation or writing goes in a direction I don't personally enjoy?
And perhaps most importantly: What if it simply never happens?
Rather than wait and wonder, I'd rather create my own interpretation. One built specifically around Sinister Serana and the character I want her to become.
If you've ever poked around the Creation Kit, you know that making a companion feel genuinely reactive across branching narratives is an absolute labyrinth. Here is a peek at how the backend logic is currently shaking out for the next stage of dialogue expansion.
To make sure Serana truly reflects where you are, and who survived, the framework is mapped across the Four Vigilant Acts factoring in Seven Serana states (I have to exceed the three Serana's):
Pre-Faction Choice (The early travel days)
Dawnguard Loyal
Volkihar Aligned
Post-Kindred Judgment: Dawnguard Victory
Serana Cured
Post-Kindred Judgment: Volkihar Victory
Harkon Diabologue Add-on Resolution (Is Harkon Enabled)
Sorry waifu state will not be here XD Serana is not a damsel in distress.
Though I may make an SSDAO Darkling and... I will need to do a lore patch anyways regarding the house of horrors lolz!
Oh, for Oblivion’s sake. Who let the poltergeist out? I thought we left you haunting that dreadful little house.
I rather preferred you when your greatest threat was poorly aimed telekinesis. Let me fix that.
Across the 4 acts and these 7 narrative branches, that totals 28 dedicated quest buckets purely to track contain the dialogue conditioning better.
Even conservatively estimating 10 lines per branch, we're looking at 280 lines of core blocking dialogue alone just so Serana can authentically react, process what just happened, and share her perspective without generic filler.
And then add in the multiple endings for Act 4 and the number of lines will increase.
And then... you better believe I will be adding location awareness and location based greets and farewells. I am Arcanyx and I don't go halfway. One reason I will be doing unique combat lines.
And thennnnn... beyond quest commentary, the plan is to do an evolving Q&A system that dynamically updates her conversational topics based onthe events in Vigilant.
And thennnnn........ It will be an ESPFE!
And thennnnnnnnnnnnnn... You best believe there will be post scenes between Serana and Harkon, Valerica and Isran. Serana deserves bragging rights!
And then...... No more and then.
... For now!!
Why does Arc go this far?
Replayability. Vigilant is famously bleak, but very little in it would truly break Serana. She's a Daughter of Coldharbour; she’s seen the dark corners of Oblivion firsthand.
Fun fact: in my own playthroughs, I usually head toward Dawnstar right after picking Serana up, which falls squarely under the "Pre-Faction Choice" bucket. So yes, there will be unique dialogue if you drag her through the Vigilant questline before you even decide her family's fate.
I usually join the Volkihar Faction after talking to the dude in Dawnstar though. So you better believe I will do Dialogue for that as well :)
Imagine dragging her all the way to Coldharbour in Act 4 when you were literally just supposed to take her home...
I have heard of taking the scenic route. Coldharbour is neither scenic nor, I should point out, on the way to my castle.
Of all the damn people.
Most escorts get lost in the woods. You somehow managed to get lost in Oblivion!
After killing a certain den of vampires
You seem remarkably practiced at killing vampires. Oh wait, you are a vampire hunter.
Should I be concerned, or is "One Thousand and One Ways to Kill Vampires" still only a working title?
I may start compiling a companion volume. One Thousand and One Ways to get Serana to the Castle!
Then again at the end you could annoy Serana if you are siding with the Volkihar...
A Volkihar. Carrying the Horn of Stendarr. Secret agent, you said. I should have asked whose. Father would have an aneurysm… Actually, keep talking. I think I’m having one now. Gods, I almost wish Father were here. Watching him try to comprehend this might actually help me come to terms with it.
Player: I am joking. We can destroy it if you want?
You were joking. You let me contemplate a Volkihar conversion to Stendarr for your amusement. Keep the damned horn. After what you just put me through, destroying it would feel like letting you win. Besides... I want the next person who questions your loyalties to suffer precisely as I just did.
More updates and script previews soon.
These were all random thoughts I have had while driving DoorDash.
Thank you all for fueling the caffeine and late-night CK and brainstorming / daydreaming sessions!
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