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riding-the-sunset-bird · 2 days

Note

I also forgot to ask you in my previous message if it's true that the gift Cove gives you in Happiness after your date is related to the objects we choose for the bedroom?

No worries that you forgot! I like having asks separated like this anyway~

I imagine you're referring to the second gift that Cove gives you? Because if so, then yes, you're correct! In fact, all three gifts that Cove gives the MC over the course of the three outings are based on your choices throughout the game on at least some level.

The first gift, for example, which is given after Cove arrives at the door on the morning of your first outing with him, is dependent on multiple factors. If you've told Cove your favorite flower in Long Day, are at Crush/Love with Cove, and are not dating Baxter, Cove will give you that flower. If instead you're Fond with Cove, dating Baxter, and/or didn't pick a favorite flower in Long Day, then Cove will give you a gift based on your hobby. The hobby chosen is whatever you picked last when talking to Kyra in the Step 2 intro, or whatever you picked last in the Step 3 intro if you chose that you were into new hobbies rather than sticking to the old ones.

The second gift - the one you mentioned - that's given after Cove arrives at the door before the second outing is indeed based on what objects you have in your bedroom. Some objects also take priority over others, with plants and framed paintings being near the bottom.

The third gift that's given after Cove sneaks through the window before the third outing, regardless of if the MC planned a surprise in return or not, is based on your plans for the future. Specifically, if you applied anywhere, are planning on staying local, and if you told Cove or not.

I put below the break what gifts Cove will give the MC for anyone who wants to know/plan ahead:

First Gift (whichever hobby the MC picked last in the Step 2/3 intro if the MC did not tell Cove their favorite flower in Long Day, are at Fond, and/or are dating Baxter)

if Reading - a new book you'd been waiting for

if Fashion - an accessory

if Sports - exercise shoes

if Music - a poster of a band you love

if Games - a new game you'd been waiting for

if Writing - a writing journal

if Media - a physical series collection of a show you love

if Art - a mix pack of new art supplies

if Ocean - a rare shell

Second Gift (depending on the MC's choices for their room; I've listed them in order of the highest to lowest priority, and I've also marked in parentheses which room colors allow for them)

if Ukulele (blue/green/purple) - a ukulele case

if Teddy Bear (any) - a stuffed animal

if Telescope (any) - a telescope lens

if Galaxy Cloth (blue/green) - a star map

if Volleyball (green/yellow) - a volleyball bag

if Candles (purple) - a candle

if Photos/Corkboard (green/yellow) - a photo collection

if Vase (purple) - a vase

if Plants (any) - a potted plant

if Framed Paintings (any) - a painting

if Foot Stool (blue/purple) - a throw pillow

Third Gift (based on plans for the future; note that if you applied for schools and jobs, the game will prioritize school)

if applied for School, are not staying local, and told Cove - a t-shirt with the logo of the college you'd applied to

if applied for a Job, are not staying local, and told Cove - a t-shirt with the logo of the company you'd applied to

if made plans for Travel, are not staying local, and told Cove - a thick pack of postcards and stamps

if other (meaning you either didn't tell Cove your plans, hadn't begun to do anything/only started to prepare for the future in general, or simply planned on staying local) - a mug matching Cove's, stamped with Sunset Bird's town symbol

#((Sorry for hijacking the post to ramble about the Happiness gifts as a whole instead of specifically what you asked about kjfgjdgf))#our life #our life: beginnings & always #olba #cove holden #step: 3 #moment: happiness

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riding-the-sunset-bird · 2 days

Note

Thank you again for taking the time to answer my question about Derek and Baxter's Moments! I've just finished Step 2 completely and having read your post about Cove's post-high school plans if he's studious, I'm again pleading for your help: can we choose to go to the same college as him? And later do the same job (natural resource technician)? Not knowing at all how American (or any other English-speaking country's) school education works, I don't know if potential bad choices would prevent me from having these options, or if there's simply no possibility of having them...

You're welcome!

To answer your question though, no, you can't go to the same college as Cove, nor have the same job as Cove considering the narration.

You can have the same Step 3 job during Late Shift, but in order for the conflict in the Step 3 ending to work, the MC and Cove's plans won't line up perfectly even if you want that. It's the same reason why you can't make plans to share an apartment/house with Cove to solve everything altogether.

If you choose to share a business with Cove, it's separate from Cove's own job, so there's very little you can do beyond saying that you have a job and trying to get it as close to Cove's as possible, if you can.

You could technically headcanon that Cove tried to apply for the same college as you, but it would stick to headcanon only.

On the plus side though, you didn't do anything wrong! It's just that the overarching plot of Step 3 is that everyone will be going in different directions at the end, so there's unfortunately nothing you can do to prevent it.

#our life #our life: beginnings & always #olba #step: 3 #step: 4

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riding-the-sunset-bird · 3 days

Note

Hello! If you have access to the images, can you tell if left wrist 2 in Step 3 is a wristwatch? It's really too small in-game to tell. Thank you!

This one? This is the largest size it comes in (they were very sneaky in the Step 3 CGs so barely any of the artists had to draw the bracelets; only the one from Drive does and it's the ones on his right wrist).

Good question, honestly? I called it a wristband just because I wasn't sure if the white bit was a watch or simply a neat design, but it probably is a watch.

#our life #our life: beginnings & always #olba #cove holden

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riding-the-sunset-bird · 8 days

Note

Thanks for the quick reply! It reassures me that I didn't just imagine this bracelet and that it exists in the images of the game. Too bad they took it out of the script, as well as the one with the candy, they were interesting bracelets... I've read several posts in your masterpost and it's really very helpful and informative! I have a question though: I have the dlcs for Derek and Baxter but I'm just planning to do the friendship route with both and romanced Cove. What would you advise me to do for the moments with Derek and Baxter? Do I do all the Cove ones in the step and then the Derek/Baxter ones, or play them between the Cove moments?

You're welcome for the bracelet thing! Glad I could help with it. :D

As for the idea of doing moments with Derek and Baxter...

I do think it comes down to a lot of personal preference, though narratively I also think Baxter's Planning should come late due to how heavy the moment is. I'm also going to assume you've read this post since part of it is about what Cove moments might come up in Baxter's (such as playing Happiness before Baxter's version of Hang, though keep in mind that the code is broken and you won't be able to beat Baxter in arm wrestling in Boating if you play Baxter's version of Hang even if you meet all the requirements).

Summerwork also references Responsibilty, Boating references Mountain/Sightseeing (either work and do the same thing), Late Shift references Drinks and/or Planning (depending on how you interact with Baxter), and Hang (either version) references Planning (partly since Miranda and Baxter have already met by then).

I might be missing some since I'm mostly familiar with how Derek's and Baxter's moments react to Cove's than vice versa, but to make it simpler:

Responsibility before Summerwork

Mountain/Sightseeing before Boating

Drinks and/or Planning before Late Shift

Planning before Hang if you want Miranda to be more comfortable with Baxter in Hang

I acknowledge the silliness of suggesting that you play Planning late and then pointing out that there are multiple moments that reference it. :P

I've yet to really play Cove's and Derek's/Baxter's moments consistently with each other (when I did Derek's route, I just did his moments, and likewise with Baxter's), but if I did I would imagine that finding a balance is nice.

I explained in my personal Cove moment order that I prefer to pace out moments that feature particular characters so I'm not on a drought of them (note to self: move Mall/Family around because of Lee), so I'll suggest the same here: a nice balance of playing two-ish Cove moments and then a Derek/Baxter moment, then going back to Cove, with obvious exceptions if Derek/Baxter were already in the Cove moment (like Mall/Summerwork for Derek and Boating/Late Shift for Baxter).

#type: moment order #type: ask

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riding-the-sunset-bird · 9 days

Text

It's time for Step 4 Cove's posts, and first up is what choices change his look!

As before, my first post on Step 2 Cove's appearance modifiers will tell you a lot of what you need to know if you haven't already read it, but to summarize:

The things that your MC notices/favors/picks up/focuses on influence Cove's look, though there are some exceptions.

In some cases (though there are none in this step), a choice that changes Cove's appearance may also affect his coldness/warmness as well as his studiousness/sportiness. This is coincidental, so Cove's personality doesn't largely impact his look.

If you want a different Cove without using the Cove Creator, try choosing different aesthetic/taste-based options.

Specific to Step 4, however, there are a few key things to note.

Firstly, similar to Step 3 where some earrings would not be visible on Cove depending on what hairstyle he has, the same applies here. The black stud earrings will not be visible with the fluffy hair and the silver huggie earrings will not be visible with the tied-back hair. Ergo, Cove could be wearing earrings in one of your playthroughs if you have either hairstyle on him, but you just might not see them.

Also, the dark raspberry sleeveless shirt with the white anchor symbol and the yellow shirt with the orange flower pattern hide the silver ring necklace, so that's another thing to keep in mind.

Secondly, and I'll have to rip off the bandage for any poor person who wants their Cove to have a tattoo, but there are no choices that will give Cove a tattoo. It's something you can do only with the Cove Creator, which I imagine may be because one of Cove's tattoos can trigger people's trypophobia.

Third, it appears that the modifiers for Step 4 Cove's pants in Step 3 are not the ones actually used in Step 4. In all of my tests, Cove's pants always defaulted to the tan shorts with the gray trim and blue polka dots. If anyone has any evidence to the contrary, then I can test them out, but it appears that the plan was originally for Cove to have six different pairs of pants rather than four - with two of the pairs having color variation like Step 2 and 3 Cove have - but it was changed by the time Step 4 was made.

Below is what you would get if what I presume to be the original intent was kept in place:

Hang (Cove's Version)

If the MC decides to have a drink:

base flavor

An iced green tea. [Pants #4]

A black tea. [Pants #2]

A milk tea. [Pants #2 (Alternate Color)]

An iced coffee. [Pants #1]

A strawberry smoothie. [Pants #2]

A banana smoothie. [Pants #3]

A mango smoothie. [Pants #4]

A coffee frappe. [Pants #1 (Alternate Color)]

A vanilla milkshake. [Pants #1]

A chocolate milkshake. [Pants #1 (Alternate Color)]

mix ins & toppings

You chose to add whipped cream. [Pants #2 (Alternate Color)]

You chose to add chocolate syrup. [Pants #4]

You chose to add caramel syrup. [Pants #1]

You chose to add boba pearls. [Pants #3]

You chose to add condensed milk. [Pants #2]

There are two other types of pants - an alternate color version of both Pants #3 and #4 - but these aren't attached to any choices so they may have been scrapped even earlier.

In addition to this, though this is nothing the player themself needs to worry about, there is unused code in the game for Step 4 Cove's swimming trunks. This may have been for the scene where Cove strips down to his boxers to take a swim in the ocean, though he would've had swimming trunks on instead.

These are the choices that would've changed them:

Boating

If the MC was sick/scared and was brought downstairs by Cove, who asks if they want a drink (if non-Indifferent):

"Water?" [Swimming Trunks #2]

"Juice?" [Swimming Trunks #1]

"Seltzer water?" [Swimming Trunks #2]

"I don't want anything." [Swimming Trunks #1]

"I don't want you to go." [Swimming Trunks #2]

If the MC stepped up to make drinks for the group:

if the MC put only one ingredient in the drink

[Swimming Trunks #1]

if the MC's drink is "berry dominant" (meaning either the drink has two ingredients and all are berry - grape/cranberry/strawberry/mixed berry - juices, or if the drink has more than two but less than six ingredients and more than two are berry juices)

[Swimming Trunks #2]

if the MC's drink is "common" (meaning either the drink has two ingredients and all are common - apple/orange/pineapple/mango - juices, or if the drink has more than two but less than six ingredients and more than two are common juices)

[Swimming Trunks #1]

if the MC's drink is "uncommon/mixed" (meaning either the drink has two ingredients and there is only one or zero each of berry juice and common juice, or if the drink has more than two but less than six ingredients and there are no more than three each of either berry or common juice)

[Swimming Trunks #2]

if the MC's drink has more than five ingredients but less than ten

[Swimming Trunks #1]

if the MC used all the ingredients in the drink

[Swimming Trunks #2]

There are additional unused articles of clothing for Step 4 Cove, but these weren't attached to any choices (similar to the two pairs of pants mentioned above): two pajamas shirts and two pairs of pajama pants, as well as two formal shirts.

Cove also has code for a fourth pair of earrings, wristwear (for both wrists), and glasses, the latter two being connected to choices, but the game will simply change it to nothing. Cove's hair doesn't have an extra option exactly, but weirdly there are options to disable all of his hair (this won't give you a bald Cove, but default to the tied-back hair). I wanted to mark these just for the sake of being thorough, so if there's anything that says "[nothing]" rather than "[no change]" then just note that it's because the code is different for those options for the reasons above (so they might be calling for all hair to be disabled, for the fourth wristwear accessory, or fourth pair of glasses).

Keep all that in mind while checking out this list of chances you have to change Cove's look:

Step 3 Intro

After the MC's initial thoughts on Cove having to go away for a while almost every year (if not Indifferent by Step 1/2):

You sent him letters the entire time he was away. [rainbow shapes necklace]

Your moms helped you ship out care packages to him and his mom. [silver ring necklace]

You gave him special treasures to take with him before he left. [no necklace]

You kept an eye on his house for him while he wasn't there. [rainbow shapes necklace]

You were incapable of doing anything until he was back. [silver ring necklace]

If the MC decides that they want further education:

Attend a community college. [slim body type]

Attend a public university. [buff body type]

Go to a private college. [buff body type]

Join a trade school. [slim body type]

Take online classes. [slim body type]

If the MC decides that they want to work:

Find a company to work at. [buff body type]

Work online. [slim body type]

Do contract work. [slim body type]

Start your own business. [buff body type]

If the MC wants to do something that isn't school nor work:

Work on self-improvement on your own. [buff body type]

Take some time just to relax. [slim body type]

Try to figure out what you truly want. [buff body type]

When the MC can decide where they want to go when they move out:

Stay local. [buff body type]

Go to a different part of the state. [slim body type]

Go out of state. [slim body type]

Go abroad. [slim body type]

Travel around to different places. [buff body type]

Hang (Cove's Version)

If the MC decides to have a crepe:

base flavor

Plain. [white stringer shirt with purple pocket]

Strawberry. [blue flowery button-up over a white shirt]

Chocolate. [white stringer shirt with purple pocket]

Green tea. [dark raspberry sleeveless shirt with white anchor symbol]

Lemon. [yellow shirt with orange flower pattern]

fillings & toppings

Whipped cream. [yellow shirt with orange flower pattern]

Condensed milk. [dark raspberry sleeveless shirt with white anchor symbol]

Cream cheese. [white stringer shirt with purple pocket]

Chocolate chips. [blue flowery button-up over a white shirt]

Chocolate syrup. [blue flowery button-up over a white shirt]

Caramel syrup. [dark raspberry sleeveless shirt with white anchor symbol]

Powdered sugar. [white stringer shirt with purple pocket]

Strawberries. [yellow shirt with orange flower pattern]

Mango slices. [dark raspberry sleeveless shirt with white anchor symbol]

Mixed berries. [yellow shirt with orange flower pattern]

Banana slices. [blue flowery button-up over a white shirt]

Errands

When the MC spots a fudge stall at the market:

You got closer to the stall. [no change]

But soon your gaze drifted elsewhere. [sideswept hair]

(following above choice) If the MC chose to approach the fudge stall:

You didn't want to get any. [nothing (this will default to the tied-back hair in Step 4)]

You wanted to get yourself a box. [no change]

You wanted to get a box to share with everyone. [no change]

You wanted to get a box just for Cove. (if non-Indifferent) [no change]

And that was all. [no change]

If the MC chooses to get fudge for anyone:

Milk Chocolate. [sideswept hair]

Dark Chocolate. [middle-parted hair]

White Chocolate. [fluffy hair]

Cookies and Cream. [tied-back hair]

Caramel swirl. [fluffy hair]

Chocolate Peanut butter. [fluffy hair]

Dark Chocolate Mint.

○ (if buying for self/everyone who isn't Cove) [tied-back hair]