NVL-mode script for The Question — Ren'Py Documentation

# NVL-mode script for The Question

Take "The Question" from the Ren'Py distribution, and replace the contents of the `script.rpy` file with the following code.

    # Declare characters used by this game.
    define s = Character(None, kind=nvl, what_prefix="\"", what_suffix="\"", what_color="#c8ffc8")
    define m = Character(None, kind=nvl, what_prefix="\"", what_suffix="\"", what_color="#c8c8ff")
    define narrator = Character(None, kind=nvl)

    define menu = nvl_menu

    # This is a variable that is True if you've compared a VN to a book, and False
    # otherwise.
    default book = False

    # The game starts here.
    label start:

        # Start by playing some music.
        play music "illurock.opus"

        scene bg lecturehall
        with fade

        window show

        "It's only when I hear the sounds of shuffling feet and supplies being put away that I realize that the lecture's over."

        "Professor Eileen's lectures are usually interesting, but today I just couldn't concentrate on it."

        "I've had a lot of other thoughts on my mind...thoughts that culminate in a question."

        "It's a question that I've been meaning to ask a certain someone."

        window hide
        nvl clear

        scene bg uni
        with fade
        window show

        "When we come out of the university, I spot her right away."

        window hide
        show sylvie green normal
        with dissolve
        window show

        "I've known Sylvie since we were kids. She's got a big heart and she's always been a good friend to me."

        "But recently... I've felt that I want something more."

        "More than just talking, more than just walking home together when our classes end."

        menu:

            "As soon as she catches my eye, I decide..."

            "To ask her right away.":

                jump rightaway

            "To ask her later.":

                jump later

    label rightaway:

        nvl clear

        show sylvie green smile

        s "Hi there! How was class?"

        m "Good..."

        "I can't bring myself to admit that it all went in one ear and out the other."

        m "Are you going home now? Wanna walk back with me?"

        s "Sure!"

        nvl clear

        window hide
        scene bg meadow
        with fade
        window show

        "After a short while, we reach the meadows just outside the neighborhood where we both live."

        "It's a scenic view I've grown used to. Autumn is especially beautiful here."

        "When we were children, we played in these meadows a lot, so they're full of memories."

        m "Hey... Umm..."

        window hide
        show sylvie green smile
        with dissolve
        window show

        "She turns to me and smiles. She looks so welcoming that I feel my nervousness melt away."

        "I'll ask her...!"

        m "Ummm... Will you..."

        m "Will you be my artist for a visual novel?"

        show sylvie green surprised

        nvl clear

        "Silence."

        "She looks so shocked that I begin to fear the worst. But then..."

        show sylvie green smile

        menu:

            s "Sure, but what's a \"visual novel?\""

            "It's a videogame.":
                jump game

            "It's an interactive book.":
                jump book

    label game:

        nvl clear

        m "It's a kind of videogame you can play on your computer or a console."

        m "Visual novels tell a story with pictures and music."

        m "Sometimes, you also get to make choices that affect the outcome of the story."

        s "So it's like those choose-your-adventure books?"

        m "Exactly! I've got lots of different ideas that I think would work."

        m "And I thought maybe you could help me...since I know how you like to draw."

        m "It'd be hard for me to make a visual novel alone."

        show sylvie green normal

        s "Well, sure! I can try. I just hope I don't disappoint you."

        m "You know you could never disappoint me, Sylvie."

        jump marry

    label book:

        nvl clear

        $ book = True

        m "It's like an interactive book that you can read on a computer or a console."

        show sylvie green surprised

        s "Interactive?"

        m "You can make choices that lead to different events and endings in the story."

        s "So where does the \"visual\" part come in?"

        m "Visual novels have pictures and even music, sound effects, and sometimes voice acting to go along with the text."

        show sylvie green smile

        s "I see! That certainly sounds like fun. I actually used to make webcomics way back when, so I've got lots of story ideas."

        m "That's great! So...would you be interested in working with me as an artist?"

        s "I'd love to!"

        jump marry

    label marry:

        window hide
        nvl clear

        scene black
        with dissolve

        "And so, we become a visual novel creating duo."

        nvl clear

        scene bg club
        with dissolve
        window show

        "Over the years, we make lots of games and have a lot of fun making them."

        if book:

            "Our first game is based on one of Sylvie's ideas, but afterwards I get to come up with stories of my own, too."

        "We take turns coming up with stories and characters and support each other to make some great games!"

        "And one day..."

        window hide
        nvl clear

        show sylvie blue normal
        with dissolve
        window show

        s "Hey..."

        m "Yes?"

        show sylvie blue giggle

        s "Will you marry me?"

        m "What? Where did this come from?"

        show sylvie blue surprised

        s "Come on, how long have we been dating?"

        m "A while..."

        show sylvie blue smile

        s "These last few years we've been making visual novels together, spending time together, helping each other..."

        s "I've gotten to know you and care about you better than anyone else. And I think the same goes for you, right?"

        m "Sylvie..."

        show sylvie blue giggle

        s "But I know you're the indecisive type. If I held back, who knows when you'd propose?"

        nvl clear
        show sylvie blue normal

        s "So will you marry me?"

        m "Of course I will! I've actually been meaning to propose, honest!"

        s "I know, I know."

        m "I guess... I was too worried about timing. I wanted to ask the right question at the right time."

        show sylvie blue giggle

        s "You worry too much. If only this were a visual novel and I could pick an option to give you more courage!"

        nvl clear
        window hide
        scene black
        with dissolve

        "We get married shortly after that."

        "Our visual novel duo lives on even after we're married...and I try my best to be more decisive."

        "Together, we live happily ever after even now."

        "{b}Good Ending{/b}."

        return

    label later:

        "I can't get up the nerve to ask right now. With a gulp, I decide to ask her later."

        nvl clear
        window hide

        scene black
        with dissolve

        "But I'm an indecisive person."

        "I couldn't ask her that day and I end up never being able to ask her."

        "I guess I'll never know the answer to my question now..."

        "{b}Bad Ending{/b}."

        return