V's Alcoholism/Vices: Will they be optional?

[SkylerModder]

I'm not sure if this particular point from the demo is as contentious for others as it is for me, but I really hope to find out about this: Is V's obsession with drinking (as shown in the demo) something that is optional, or does every V playthrough have that dialogue/etc? I know other people are into drinking and/or roleplaying a drinker, and I'm not knocking that; it's just not something I'm into, so I'm hopeful I'll get to at least choose whether or not that's part of my own Cyberpunk 2077 experience. :unsure:

 

[Garrison72]

I really hope we can get addicted to substances. It makes sense from a lore point and would add such a cool immersive element to the game.

 

[kofeiiniturpa]

Would be neat to have gamemechanics based on that.

Alcoholism as a lifepath choice with fitting mechanisms behind it, and stuff like that.

 

[EV-9D9]

I'd guess that the drinking references in the gameplay come up no matter what you do, probably to give V a little "grunge"...the character doesn't strike me as squeaky clean so it kinda fits but I see why you'd be bothered by it.

Personally I'd find it pretty neat if taking / not taking drugs had an effect on gameplay and maybe some conversations.
Some snarky or concerned remarks from your comrades here and there or NPCs being a little distrusting if you end up addicted and get withdrawal effects, for example.

 

[hallfing2080]

I really hope we can get addicted to substances. It makes sense from a lore point and would add such a cool immersive element to the game.

Also a neat way of getting the game banned in multiple countries.

 

[evilhippo]

Also a neat way of getting the game banned in multiple countries.

Very true, which is why this game needs to be modable, as that is exactly the sort of thing that can be left to the community

 

[hallfing2080]

Very true, which is why this game needs to be modable, as that is exactly the sort of thing that can be left to the community

Amen to that. I hope we get a proper REDKit like TW2.

 

[Maelcom404]

Also a neat way of getting the game banned in multiple countries.

You can get addicted to Jet or alcohol in Fallout, there's Cocaine, etc... In GTA, it doesn't stop those games from selling everywhere.

 

[Loostreaks]

Very old quote from one of main writers:

“The other thing is that you will have the chance to create your character’s personality. This is very, very important. The style and mood and atmosphere of this world, what you do at the bar, what do you drink, how you react with other people, what dialogue you choose –all these things let us keep the Cyberpunk atmosphere all the time.”

Honestly..I'm not so sure about this. Maybe they will let the players define V/protagonist more through actions, but from the demo, her personality seemed pretty "set".
I've asked someone from CDPR on twitter about it, with comparison to Alpha Protocol ( which always had three options: Aggressive/More dominant, Diplomatic, Charming/Non serious, and answer was something along the lines, how AP protagonist was more "flexible" as a character.
Those three childhood hero lifepath options seem more like something that can be used to define V better: in form of player ideals through three iconic characters of the setting/stereotypes.

 

[KakitaTatsumaru]

I really hope we can get addicted to substances. It makes sense from a lore point and would add such a cool immersive element to the game.

Actually in cyberpunk you don't become addicted to drugs if you buy the good ones.

 

[Tangsta]

...the character doesn't strike me as squeaky clean so it kinda fits but I see why you'd be bothered by it.

The character is meant to be as much of a blank slate as possible to better embody player choices.

 

[BaalNergal]

V's an American. A three-keg-a-day habit is just being patriotic. The problem comes when you get too drunk to fire your machine gun or you're swaying too much for the eagle to remain perched on your shoulder.

Okay, in all seriousness, I hope that it is optional. And that there's more than just the medicinal drugs and alcohol present. If I want my V to be hotboxing and listening to disco music (Stayin' Alive, just to be ironic) while firing a belt-fed automatic grenade launcher, then I should be able to. And should be able to purchase the weed in implantable injector form. It's cyberpunk. But if I want my V to be clean and avoid drugs, I still should be able to.

 

[Draconifors]

I really, really hope it will be optional.
I do not want a PC who is always into heavy drinking (or drugs, or other such vices); however, it's a path I would most likely try out at some point, because why not.

 

[Garrison72]

Yeah even the two times V talks about boozing it up is taking roleplaying out of the player's hands. Ideally we'll get dialog options in those instances and you can come off as a clean cut V if that's your thing.

 

[EMT-Fields]

Yeah, just like the man who woke up in V's bed; I want both things to be choices. I understand that V is suppose to be a "punk" but the idea of boozing it up and sleeping with random people doesn't fit how I'd like to play as V. I want to play a more serious character.

 

[Snowflakez]

Yeah, just like the man who woke up in V's bed; I want both things to be choices. I understand that V is suppose to be a "punk" but the idea of boozing it up and sleeping with random people doesn't fit how I'd like to play as V. I want to play a more serious character.

Yeah even the two times V talks about boozing it up is taking roleplaying out of the player's hands. Ideally we'll get dialog options in those instances and you can come off as a clean cut V if that's your thing.

Agreed with both of these posts, and others. Unfortunately, V definitely seems to have his or her personality set in stone. I doubt very much we will be able to alter it to any real degree -- that is not the type of game CDPR has made to date, and the gameplay we've seen so far doesn't suggest otherwise.

 

[Harthwain]

I'd like that, but...:

1) It has to either be a choice during character creation or an addiction you can develop voluntarily through heavy use of the stuff.

2) It needs to come with some benefits (otherwise, what's the point?).

3) It should actually impact the character. Not be just a debuff.

 

[vyvexthorne]

I enjoy playing squeaky clean characters.. or at least as squeaky clean as a game allows. Hopefully vices aren't something that the character requires but are optional.

 

[sv3672]

Yeah, just like the man who woke up in V's bed; I want both things to be choices.

It would not be unusual for a CDPR game if it was not a choice, although maybe it is there only in the demo. The dialogue related to drinking does seem to be unconditional, but I would not necessarily go as far as saying that V is an alcoholic.

 

[lord_blex]

I wouldn't expect too much in this regard. even if they hold back on the characterization, this is a downside of a voiced character. at some point they are bound to say something you wouldn't have. even if they are more fluid than Shepard, V is not a blank slate character.

although maybe it is there only in the demo

I think so. the "3 days later" after finishing the previous mission would be a bit weird, unless it's literally the intro mission of the game. and even if some aspects of V are set in stone, they probably wouldn't force a sexuality on us. (in the demos it was always a man you slept with.)