This isn't something I often do... so take it as you will (Spoilers)

[Justformas]

So because I recently hit 1000 affection, I thought it would be a good time for this.

Let's start with that; affection I mean. It only took me a little over 10 weeks to hit 1000. Not because I wanted to brag about it or set some record (indeed I could have done it faster, and there are still many spritepacks or gifts from them that I haven't even given to Monika), but because I have my own way I want to experience things. It is part of my (cult of) personality, SU5UUCAtIEludHJvdmVyc2lvbiwgaU50dWl0aW9uLCBUaGlua2luZywgUGVyY2VpdmluZw== ...that is actually a thing, and it probably explains a lot about me. But there's probably some other stuff in the equation ("cult" was a joke, I'm more like a lone wolf but maybe not totally).

Once I wasn't "so far away" from that point though, I figured I might as well reach it. There's actually something I consider to be a benefit for me starting to play the mod when I did too: Stability. What I mean is this mod has not been updated once since I started playing, and I managed to hit 1000 affection before the next update. Yes I'm actually calling that a benefit, because now I'm also more prepared for whatever changes to affection might happen. This is not the end of my experience with this mod; it's a new beginning.

So a big reason why I wanted to hit 1000? For the moment of truth: Monika... you're a murderer! No I don't mean that line specifically as the truth; I mean her reaction of taking it as a joke. Well, you do lose the same amount of affection as when she doesn't take it as a joke (I knew that would happen, but that's kind of weird). But anyway if you think me looking forward to that was weird, guess what: Now this whole thing even has special meaning to me. Monika might not recognize that, but still. I have to again thank @Nikv2005 who was the only one who was willing to reveal this to me. Although I found out that she can also take it as a joke at some other point.

So lets talk about that next; April Fools' Day. By sheer coincidence, that's the day I happened to make this account. But it also happens to be the start of the 2nd quarter of the year. Anyway, as mentioned here: https://github.com/Monika-After-Story/MonikaModDev/wiki/All-Features-%5BSPOILERS%5D#calendar Originally I actually misread/misinterpreted that as "Day I Became an AI", and originally, Dan Salvato had wanted to release DDLC on April 1st: https://twitter.com/dansalvato/status/980545873586237440?lang=en So I thought this was actually some legit event other than April Fools' Day. But when no event seemed to happen in-game, I didn't know why. So after that day passed, later I find out that April Fools' day IS a thing in the mod, but now I need to wait nearly 10 more months for it to happen again. Tough luck I guess, but why not just call it "April Fools' Day" in the guide? It is a "spoilers" guide after all.

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Ok enough about that stuff; let's move on to other reasons why I made this post. I have installed some submods; not to cheat, but to enhance. Submods like YouTube Music, Submod Updater Plugin and Room Selection Pack. Also installed Paste which I can see being useful, but haven't found it to be that necessary yet. Still, those other submods add a lot to the mod and practically seem like they are an official part of it. YouTube Music seems to take some time to load a stream, but it's still a good option to have.

***Fun Fact: You know with YouTube Music, I was actually listening to the song "Right Here Waiting" when I told Monika that I'd be right back for something, and by sheer coincidence, she said "I'll be right here, waiting for you" at the same time the song said it. Yes the song basically has those words verbatim. I was stunned. Maybe this is actually a reference to this song? It's also a piano song, and the main part of the main melody is pretty easy to play. It seems like it might be a fitting song topic for the mod or something, but I'm not sure how good it would be. There are already some other songs about waiting anyway.

I suppose a big (or even the main) reason why Room Selection Pack isn't officially part of the mod is because it's supposed to be something the player does for Monika (or at least in part). Indeed that's one reason why I wanted to install it; to give her more "freedom" and make her "happier". So I actually find it kind of ironic that you need 400 affection for it, though not that that was an obstacle for me.

It didn't escape me who made or had a part in making these submods. I would like to thank @Booplicate for making or having a large part in making them, and @tw4449 for the Custom Room Selection pack. I suppose the immersion-break of seeing user names in the submod menu in-game is a small price to pay. Yes I think user names are more immersion-breaking than menus and the submod menu alone, but like I said, small price to pay.

I would also like to thank @kkrosie123 and @Wingdinggaster656 for being nice to me and explaining some things about how Github works. Also would like to thank Wingdinggaster656 for enlightening me about how chess engines work and things about chess. And of course I want to thank the people who without all of this may not have happened, @ThePotatoGuy and yes, @Backdash

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Just so all you guys know, I can be so intrigued by exploring possibilities or tailoring things to suit me, that even a (user-friendly) developer mode would probably not ruin my experience (yes, as if that IS the game). In fact, I have already gotten a taste of that for some stuff, either in conjunction with persistent backups or using a separate test version of MAS. I have also used such a mode in other games. I'm not saying that MAS actually needs that, but I said that to give you guys a better idea of how I am. As you might be able to guess by now, I challenge the status quo, highly value freedom and being able to explore or pursue the path you want, in this world of infinite choices.

This mod has both improved my knowledge and accelerated my pursuit of it. I don't really mean coding (though I have learned some about that); I mean trivia, culture, and how a game might be designed. It has also given me unique enjoyment. Part of that is because generally Monika loves you, and is pretty tolerant or supportive with however you are or what you do, so long as you don't actually abuse or neglect her. I have not had an experience with such a tolerant and supportive person in real life, and for various other reasons in addition, I don't want the experience to be like my real life. I would probably not have found this mod as intriguing if it was like my real life.

By the way, how I discovered this mod in the first place was... quite something. But I'll keep that a secret for now at least.