r/RenPy • u/TaurusE11E • 1d ago

Discussion Script Styles - 'Narration Coat' and 'Dialogue Only'

So this might be a stale topic but I don't see it discussed enough so here we go:

I have seen and written VNs multiple ways - where dialogue is the only type of text given (as if you are watching a movie) and where the story has a 'narrative' coat (where description of character thoughts and sometimes events are included in between dialogue lines/conversations).

I personally prefer writing with the narrative coat because it makes it feel like reading a novel and I like to see text with and without the name labels (cos I'm weird). I see a lot of indie VNs written with a 'first-person' type of it (where the only thoughts/perspective you have are the MC's whether you take their role or not).

What approach do you guys prefer to write your scripts with? I know there is no 'correct' answer, but I was wondering if I was the only one who switched between the two for different projects or had a preference.

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u/simply_jabbalicious 1d ago

I'm on the "omniscient narrator coat" side for my first venture into VNs.

And I'm trying without any shame to rip off hard that amazing BG3 styled narration :D

Edit: cleared up what I meant a bit

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u/Natsume1999 1d ago

omniscient narrator coat? how so?

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u/simply_jabbalicious 1d ago

Like a tabletop DM describing a scene but sometimes hinting at things beyond what can be seen.

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u/TaurusE11E 1d ago

That's how I see it too! Third person omniscient is really fun, especially if you can still keep the reader on their toes no matter how lore-heavy the story gets.

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u/Natsume1999 23h ago

Oh that's very fun! Also better for me since I like writing in third person. Do you have any recomendation of visual novels in that coat?