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Getting Started with Gem Choices

The most flexible gem feature for adding unique experiences into your story is Gem Choices. You get to determine what content you want to put behind a gem option, and how many gems your reader would use to read it. Stories with the gem features that perform the highest see the majority of their gems spent come from unique gem choices that provide their readers with fun and engaging content they can't get anywhere else!

That said, because Gem Choices offer you the most creative freedom, they can also be the most challenging to brainstorm. 

This guide is specifically aimed to jumpstart you on your journey towards creating gem choices that hook your readers and keep them coming back for more. We highly encourage you to read other Episode stories to explore what other creators are doing and learn from them!

 

Common Types of Gem Choices in Community Stories

  • Relationship-based Bonus Content
    • Points System
  • Outfit / Dressing Games
  • Support the Author

More details on each of them are below.

 

 

Relationship-Based Bonus Content

Relationship-based bonus content gem choices are among the top performing across Episode, and they’re rising in popularity among creators.

These choices focus on helping your reader deepen the main character’s relationship and interactions with another character in the story, usually (one of) the love interest(s).

 

 

Bonus content gem choices can come in the form of extra scenes with love interests, sneak peeks at the next chapter, or even what could have happened if the reader made an entirely different choice. If you haven’t created gem choices before, this is a good place to start since a lot of these choices don’t have to be worked into the main story. 

 

Here’s an example of the choice itself. Remember—you’d still need to add in the set up leading to the choice, and also the payoff separately. 

 

label bonus_menu

         ARRATOR
    Ready for some bonus content?

choice (bonus_content_fact)
<GEMS:12>"Experience the carnival date from Alex’s perspective."{

goto alex_pov_carnival

}"I’m all set!"{

}

 

If you have a points system in your story, this is a great gem choice to apply your reader’s points towards! 

 

For example:

  • The reader can use gems to unlock a special moment or scene if they don’t have enough points at that the choice moment
  • The reader can use gems to earn more points at the end of an episode so that it sets them up to unlock future choices more easily

 

Here’s an example of how to set up a gem choice using points. Remember—you’d still need to add in the set up leading to the choice, and also the payoff separately!

 

        ALEX (talk_handsonhip_loop)
    What do you say? Sneak out and see what my dear sister is up to?

choice (points_sneak_out)
“Investigate together so you learn more about Alex’s sister.” if (ALEX > 8) {
goto sneaking_out_sister
} <GEMS:12> “Investigate together so you learn more about Alex’s sister.” if (NOT [ALEX > 8]) {
goto sneaking_out_sister
} “Hold off and let Alex’s sister keep her secret.” {
goto stay_in
}

 

 

Outfit / Dressing Games

Outfit and dressing game gem choices are also among the top performing choices on Episode. These are fairly popular with creators as well since they’re more standardized than the other types of gem choices listed here.

These choices focus on giving your reader an opportunity to customize the outfit of the main character. Frequently, the options are also story-driven, so that the upcoming scenes provide the motivation for the main character to want to change their look.

Here’s an example of the choice itself. Remember—you’d still need to add in the set up leading to the choice, and also the payoff separately. Feel free to experiment with how to best show off the different styles you’re putting in front of your reader! 

 

        TAYLOR (talk_handsonhip)

    This is my chance! With the right outfit, I can give a 
    great first impression at my interview.


choice (outfits_interview)

<GEMS:8> "Glam pants suit." {
@TAYLOR changes into TAYLOR_suit

        TAYLOR (talk_squeal)
    Is this too girlboss? Or just girlboss enough?

} "Blouse and dress pants." {
@BECKY changes into BECKY_interview1
} "Blouse and dress skirt." {
@BECKY changes into BECKY_interview2
}

        TAYLOR (talk_excited)
    I look great and I’m ready to rock that interview!

 

Support the Author

Support the author gem choices act like a tip jar for your story. Readers can contribute as much or as little as they’d like! If you haven’t created gem choices before, this is a gem choice that doesn’t require you to come up with new content for your story in some way. 

This is probably the most popular gem choice with creators since it’s the least time consuming to add—but, on average, readers use fewer gems on these types of gem choices.

Here’s an example of the choice itself. Remember—you’d still need to add in the set up leading to the choice, and also the payoff separately!

 

        NARRATOR (AUTHOR)
    Would you like to support me and my story? It would mean a lot to me since every gem helps my story get a better ranking!

choice (support_the_author)
<GEMS:5> "Yes, I’d love to support you with 5 gems." {

        NARRATOR (AUTHOR)
    Thank you for your support!

} <GEMS> "Yes, I’d love to support you with 15 gems." {

        NARR
    OMG! Thank you for your support!!

} <GEMS:35> "Yes, I’d love to support you with 35 gems." {

        NARRATOR (AUTHOR)
    WOW!! Thank you so much for your support! You’re amazing and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it!

} "Not today." {

        NARRATOR (AUTHOR)
    No problem! Thanks again for reading my story.

}

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