The Ramblings of a Recluse

Unfortunately, many games require the player to make a heroine choice very early (sometimes even before everyone is introduced!) so I have to start pondering whose route I should go for quite quickly and make my choices accordingly, which I suppose would put me under the first category. This is such a shame, too, because it prevents me from doing the choices that I would actually like to. It's all, "Punch this girl in the face" or "Do nothing," and I won't get my heroine route unless I punch some girl in the face. -_-

I've also noticed that you can differentiate VNs based on what sort of consequences your choices have. In some VNs nothing changes based on your choices (or very little, like whose H-scene you get at the end (looking at you, ML:U), in some VNs all of the changes are direct consequences of your choices (Katawa Shoujo is a good example, the only difference between the routes is who you spent/spend the most time with), and VNs where your choices affect which route you'll get, but not in a way that would make much sense outside of a VN environment (the first one that comes to mind is FS/N, pretty sure Shirou's actions aren't what cause Heavens Feel to happen instead of Unlimited Blade Works, though I may be mistaken).

I've also noticed that you can differentiate VNs based on what sort of consequences your choices have. In some VNs nothing changes based on your choices (or very little, like whose H-scene you get at the end (looking at you, ML:U), in some VNs all of the changes are direct consequences of your choices (Katawa Shoujo is a good example, the only difference between the routes is who you spent/spend the most time with), and VNs where your choices affect which route you'll get, but not in a way that would make much sense outside of a VN environment (the first one that comes to mind is FS/N, pretty sure Shirou's actions aren't what cause Heavens Feel to happen instead of Unlimited Blade Works, though I may be mistaken).

i think i see your meaning, perhaps i will cover this in a follow up a few months down the line.

For me, the primary priority is always getting the heroine I want.  Everything else is secondary.  Otherwise, I use a mix of roleplaying and my own discretion to make choices.

 

School Days is an example of a choice system I really liked.  They're "grey" choices in a lot of respects that don't really fit any of your categories.  Any given choice could have moral, character connection, and strategic elements to it.  On one hand, you want to favor the girl you have your heart set on.  On the other hand, doing so might be morally problematic (it seems like a jerk move).  On top of that, one of the choices might appear to lead to a better outcome.  And on top of THAT, Makoto's fancy seems to seesaw back and forth from girl to girl in a very human way as events transpire and he becomes closer to or estranged from one girl or the other, and as a roleplayer I allowed that to influence my decisions.  It's a really beautiful system.