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bly-re · 6 days

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Next up on the list of analyzing the code is how Cove becomes Studious/Mixed/Sporty in the transition from Step 2 to Step 3, plus a bonus for how the game decides where he works!

Refresher for anyone who doesn't remember the last post where I talked about this:

Cove's interests fall somewhere in a studious-mixed-sporty spectrum, studious favoring bookish activities and sporty favoring athletic ones. Cove is mixed during Step 1 and can either continue doing so or lean in either direction during future steps.

It works very similarly to the warm-moderate-cold spectrum, being a points system based on the things you say to/do with Cove, but simpler. Cove will gain studious points and/or sporty points over the course of a step, which will be calculated at the end to determine which Cove you got. The game will focus on whichever you have more points in and the others will be "thrown away." Having not enough in either will give you a Mixed Cove.

A potential Sporty Cove should be encouraged to do more physical things whilst leaning away from bookish things, and vice versa for getting a Studious Cove. Likewise, if the MC makes it clear in their choices that they are more studious/sporty than Cove, he would gain points in the opposite direction (an example being saying that the MC is good at [insert athletic activity] when the option to say that both the MC and Cove are good at it exists). A Mixed Cove should avoid either one.

Cove's appearance has nothing to do with him being studious/mixed/sporty, barring the rare case where a choice in-game might happen to overlap with it.

Things do change a bit from how Step 1->2 worked though. If you read my post on Step 3 Warm/Moderate/Cold Cove, things change in a very similar way.

Whereas in the transition between Step 1 and 2, I'd stated that Studious and Studious-Mixed were the same as well as Mixed-Sporty and Sporty (the game only checks if your Cove is at all studious/sporty or not), now Studious-Mixed, Mixed, and Mixed-Sporty are all the same in the Cove Creator: all three options will give you a Mixed Cove with no studious or sporty points attached.

Outside of the Cove Creator, having 3 or under in either studious or sporty points will give you a Mixed Cove, whereas 4 and above will get you a Studious/Sporty Cove. Also, similar to the Step 3 Warm/Moderate/Cold Cove, the "coin flip" to break a tie has been removed. In the case of a tie, the game will only check the studious points and run with that.

How this plays into Cove's job (specifically during Late Shift) is simple: if your Cove is in any way Studious, he'll work at the library. A Mixed or Sporty Cove will work at the tropical place. That combined with what I stated above means that, if you use the Cove Creator, the only option that gets Cove to work at the library is Studious. Studious-Mixed won't work.

As for the options that add studious/sporty points to Cove, here they are:

Step 2 Intro

After Derek celebrates if the MC chose to run away from Elizabeth with the boys:

"Exactly, but we should keep moving." [sporty +1]

"Yeah. For now, at least." [studious +1]

"Victory!" [no change]

"My moms are gonna be so mad when Elizabeth tells this story." [no change]

When the MC realizes that Cove has stayed the night in their room (Fond/Crush only):

"Cove!" [sporty +1] {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

You laughed out loud. [sporty +1] {note that this will give Cove cold +1}

You jumped out of bed. [studious +1]

You froze. [studious +1]

After Cove tries to sneak out back to his house (Fond/Crush only):

You wished him luck. [studious +1] {note that this will give Cove cold +1}

You rallied him to keep going. [sporty +1] {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

You suggested he sneak out the door instead. [studious +1]

You urged him to hurry up. [sporty +1]

Wave

all points given in Wave are from Fond/Crush routes only

If the MC brought a board with them to the beach:

"Cove, I'm not that good at surfing." [sporty +1] {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

"I borrowed this board, but I don't know how to surf..." (if the MC is inexperienced at surfing) [studious +1] {note that this will give Cove cold +1}

"I'm ready to get in there." [sporty +1] {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

"Wanna have a competition?" (if the MC is experienced at surfing) [sporty +1] {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

"Will you give me some tips?" [studious +1] {note that this will give Cove cold +1}

If the MC didn't bring a board with them to the beach: [sporty +1]

(following above choice) After Cove offers to teach the MC how to surf, or if the MC brought their board but said, "I borrowed this board, but I don't know how to surf...":

You would rather just watch Cove surf. [sporty +1]

You accepted the offer to hang out on the beach. [studious +1]

You wanted to try surfing. [studious +1]

After Cove asks jokingly about a draw if the MC went surfing with him (not for competition) and got into a splash fight with him:

"Nah, I totally won." [studious +1]

"Yeah." [no change]

"I'd say you won." [sporty +1]

If the MC chose to stay on shore and watch Cove surf:

You continued to watch quietly. {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

You started cheering him on after a really cool wave. [sporty +1] {note that this will give Cove cold +1}

You shouted at him to remember to pace himself. [studious +1] {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

You did an impression of a sports announcer. [sporty +1]

You made a silly face when he looked back at you. {note that this will give Cove cold +1}

Growing

During the third pause of tic-tac-toe or hangman when Cove wonders where the game's name came from:

"Maybe they named it that because people played it with tics and tacks."/ "Maybe it's what they had instead of real court trials back then." [sporty +1] {note that this will give Cove cold +1}

"I've always wondered about that..." {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

"I'll have to look it up later." [studious +1] {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

"It's a really old game. No one's sure where the name came from." {note that this will give Cove cold +1}

Family

[NONE]

Dinner

After the MC looks around Cove's room (only if they haven't been in Cove's room before):

"Are you trying to make your own beach with all this sand?" [sporty +1] {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

"It's nice." [studious +1] {note that this will give Cove cold +1}

"Thanks for letting me come over." {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

You weren't sure what to do. {note that this will give Cove cold +1}

Road Trip

[NONE]

Mall

When the MC notices Cove and Derek in conversation:

You decided to keep listening. [no change]

You decided to join in with the conversation. [studious +1] {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

You couldn't resist teasing the boys." (if Relaxed/Direct) {note that this will give Cove cold +1}

If the MC decided to buy Cove a windchime that...:

Had a dolphin charm. [sporty +1] {note that this will take off Step 3 Cove's left wristwear}

Was a simple design of just silver poles. [studious +1] {note that this will give Step 3 Cove the black wristband on his left wrist}

Had crystal strands. {note that this will give Step 3 Cove the chain bracelet and beaded wrap bracelet with the jewel on his left wrist}

As the group is debating on what to do about their lack of quarters:

"Why don't we all get on one ride?" [sporty +1]

"Couldn't we exchange dollar bills for more quarters at a store?" [studious +1]

You didn't offer up a suggestion. [no change]

Birthday

If Cove wins pin the tail on the donkey: [studious +1]

If the MC chooses to participate in the gummy bear toss with Cove and makes it to the final round:

You tried your best. [no change]

You threw it casually. [sporty +1]

You messed up your throw on purpose. [no change]

When Miranda offers to launch someone in the bounce house (Cove will ask to be launched if the MC turns her down):

"Ok, launch me." {note that this will give Cove cold +1}

"Not me!" [sporty +1] {note that this will give Cove cold +1}

"I'd rather just watch." [sporty +1] {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

You remained silent. [sporty +1] {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

After Cove confirms with Miranda that she didn't know what happened with Jeremy:

You got up and started bouncing again. [sporty +1] {note that this will give Cove cold +1}

You laid back and closed your eyes to rest. {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

You changed the subject. [studious +1] {note that this will give Cove cold +1}

You told her about the ordeal. {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

Summerwork

While the MC, Derek, and Cove wait for their rides:

"I wish our assignments were more exciting." [studious +1]

You stared into space. [no change]

"Got any plans after this?" [sporty +1]

Escapade

As Cove panics over the papers flying out the window:

Amused, you helped. [studious +1] {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

You helped frantically. {note that this will give Cove cold +1}

You watched him struggle, entertained. [sporty +1] {note that this will give Cove cold +1}

Soiree

(obviously, all Soiree points require that the MC is going to ask Cove to the soiree)

After Cove surveys the potential food (if MC went to eat with him):

"I don't." [no change]

"Gross." [sporty +1]

"And only some of it is any good." [no change]

"This is good stuff." [studious +1]

If the MC chose to go watch the band with Cove: [studious +1]

If the MC chose to dance with Cove: [sporty +1]

After Cove steps out of sync with the music if the MC asked him to dance (Fond/Crush only):

"We should have stuck to the Hokey Pokey." [studious +1] {note that this will give Cove cold +1}

"It's okay." [sporty +1] {note that this will give Cove cold +1}

"Dancing is harder than I thought." [studious +1] {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

"I'm signing you up for dancing lessons." [sporty +1] {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

You quietly took a break. {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

Step 2 Ending

After Cove, Derek, and Elizabeth start speculating about the misprinted globe:

You wanted to side with Cove. [studious +1]

You backed up Derek. [no change]

You agreed with your sister. [no change]

"No, it's Australia." {note that this will give Cove warm +1}

You stayed out of it. {note that this will give Cove cold +1}

During the moment where the MC can ask Cove for a piggyback ride (Fond/Crush only):

You asked Cove to carry you back to the house. [sporty +1]

You nodded at him. [no change]

I always find the sporty/studious points to be fun to take a look at because even if I can come up with reasons for all of them, some still catch me off guard because I simply don't think of making Cove more studious/sporty when I'm picking most options unless it's obvious.

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