Yep, he is. Even though you can't start a fight with him, at least there are other ways to get even, haha.

Thank you very much! I hope you enjoy the rest of the game.

Well, the only time I tried to"get even" so far, the bastard lead us to a dead end. Still, tormenting him was SO worth it, no regrets!

@Lucky Thirteen

He sucks that way. But all hope is not lost when it comes that >:)

Stockholm Syndrom is not so bad. He's misundertood. Resenting him is unfair. He didn't force anyone to follow him, or to cross the lake, or to be nice to him, he clearly tell all characters what to expect from the start. I understand the frustration but don't understand the animosity some characters show him. Bemelle excepted — Bemelle never pretends to be logical.

He's not "misunderstood", he's a selfish a-hole

I mean, I can see why he's that way. He's got only himself to rely on and he does what he can to survive, but he just barely stops short of actively sabotaging the people whose lives depend on him. The dislike towards him is hardly unfair

Now that I've got all endings, I must agree on one point. He deserves to be punched all across the islands. Twice.
(Otherwise, he can die. Painfully.)
But if he let me punch him until I was satisfied, I might be understanding and forgive him almost -almost- everything, that bastard. (For diplomacy. Yeah, diplomacy, the future and all of that. Not because the way he carries that bouncing lantern around is hypnotizing. Stop judging me. XD)

...This game is brillant.

Have you completed his route and Lu's? I don't know if spoilers are okay for this thread...

Originally posted by 5ilvara 💫:

But if he let me punch him until I was satisfied(...)

I see we are of like mind

Seriously though, it's funny that you changed your mind. You see, now that I got (one of) his ending(s), I somewhat changed my mind about him too. He... might not be THAT much of an ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, after all. I take back what I said about him almost sabotaging the party.

I have to agree, the game is simply brilliant. And, much as I hate to say it, the Guide's character is very intriguing.

Originally posted by 5ilvara 💫:

Have you completed his route and Lu's? I don't know if spoilers are okay for this thread...

Personally, I don't mind spoilers at all. Edited the title to make it more clear that spoilers are to be expected, so please, go ahead if you want to share

I got what I learned was the bad ending for Lu ("Worth" achievement) and what I think is the bad ending for the Guide ("Empty" achievement). Apparently, I'm not very good at happy endings
Right now, I'm trying to figure out if the Guide is even a human, or if he's actually some kind of "creature from the Black Lagoon".
In one of the routes where Bemelle is involved, the Guide claims that "he has died". That could be meant both figurativelly and literally, and it would certainly explain his inability to express emotions, the fact that he is able to survive the trips across the lake and would to some degree explain the bad ending with him. Did he drown Kikka, or drown WITH Kikka?
But then, he does bleed and does feel pain. Hmm.

Plot twist: The Guide's name is Dilrt and he's actually the Nix from the bonus chapter. Suddenly, it all makes sense!

My feelings for the Guide are... complicated, personally. I totally understand the sentiment of anyone who hates his guts, or failing that, wants to punch him in the face repeatedly- but as a character, he's one of my favorites. I expect to be in the minority.

But yeah, to get all the information available on the Guide, you have to find a plot branch that's so well-hidden that the -acchivements- for it are also hidden.

I do reccomend looking for that hidden branch, Lucky Thirteen- it's a doozy.

Originally posted by Tellah:

I do reccomend looking for that hidden branch, Lucky Thirteen- it's a doozy.

That's what I intend to do Might need a guide for that, though (heh heh, get it? GET IT?)

Yeah XD No shame- I managed to unlock everything else by wildly flailing around- but I asked for and received a hint about that 'hidden' route.

I just completed what I think is the hidden route and jesus... It confirmed a feeling I've had since completing the Guide's routes.

I feel bad for both the Guide and Lu. I still want to punch both of them, particularly the Guide for trying to blame human nature for our reactions to /his/ attempts to kill people, but I /get/ why they were doing what they were.

The Guide essentially is doing what he feels is right and years of being stuck in a singular mindset, encouraging people to be at their worst and having it only re-affirm his bias against humanity. He might even be right about his conclusions regarding the chances of co-existence. Yet overall it definitely feels as if in allowing you to remain upon the lake, he's giving you and humanity a potential chance to change his mind under the guise of caring for Lu.

That said it does make me feel a touch better about the Guide's 'bad-ending'. I can at least pretend Kikka was also brought to the Island after she blacked out. Rather than drown or be torn to pieces by the waiting Nixi. Though after reading the bonus 'interview' it's highly unlikely.

I like the guide. He's an ass, yeah, but if you play through the hidden path, his behavior makes sense. It's kinda sad to me that he actually is telling the truth when he says he has given everything he has to the lake.

In Lu's route, certain choices lead to an ending that clarifies a bit more on what's happening. I love Lu and the Guide, but I feel that their routes are appropriately tragic. I mean, Kikka either willingly dies in one of Lu's routes or she deals with the Lu sacrificing Margaret to give her a chance to live. The devs did a good job of spreading hints around, though I'll admit that it didn't immediately occur to me that Lu wasn't human. I also understand why the Guide does what he does, though I have to wonder if some of the bad ends are from him and Bemelle butting heads.

Holy hell, Lu isn't human? That's surprising to me, had no idea! Is that explained/hinted in his good ending? Why must the good stuff be hidden so well, dammit

Originally posted by Kassie:

I like the guide. He's an ass, yeah, but if you play through the hidden path, his behavior makes sense. It's kinda sad to me that he actually is telling the truth when he says he has given everything he has to the lake.

In Lu's route, certain choices lead to an ending that clarifies a bit more on what's happening. I love Lu and the Guide, but I feel that their routes are appropriately tragic. I mean, Kikka either willingly dies in one of Lu's routes or she deals with the Lu sacrificing Margaret to give her a chance to live. The devs did a good job of spreading hints around, though I'll admit that it didn't immediately occur to me that Lu wasn't human. I also understand why the Guide does what he does, though I have to wonder if some of the bad ends are from him and Bemelle butting heads.

I think the one where you withhold his medicine until the absolute last minute is definitely a result of their anonymosity. He really, really did not appreciate being made to be infirm - and probably saw the whole thing as humans reaffirming their crooked nature. He pretty much says he intended to lead you to that dead end in that route, with the only variable between living and dying being whether or not you scold Bemelle and give the Guide his autonomy.

Plus given what we learn in the secret route and in the bonus interview, they don't have organs and I very much question whether or not the Guide can even lose cognitive function. In the wake of the hidden route, what appeared to be the result of the Guide's lack on inhibition due to the drug just came off as the ultimate '♥♥♥♥ you' to humans he didn't respect and saw better as dead.

For all that he has sacrificed, the Guide has assigned himself as judge, jury, and executioner of anyone who goes out on that lake. Having a mouthy charge likely makes the difference between whether only one person dies, or the entire party.

Don't get me wrong, I like how flawed the Guide is. But there's definitely an element of pride and anger there that Bemelle only exasperates.

Originally posted by Lucky Thirteen:

Holy hell, Lu isn't human? :cwat: That's surprising to me, had no idea! Is that explained/hinted in his good ending? Why must the good stuff be hidden so well, dammit :D:

The way to get that is detailed in the Hidden Achievements thread. ^^ Believe me that route is a /doooooooozey/.