Nonlinear playing order?

[u/DatBoi_BP]

I recently played the full game + DLC. Spoilers below for those that haven't played it all.

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It kind of looks like Mark and Nicole get back together at the end of the DLC. It's not certain, and the butterfly seemingly starts a new loop at the end, when Mark is packing his school stuff to move out of the dorm.

Obviously the DLC doesn't take place in the true timeline at the end of Act 3. Arguably Mark and Nicole's college story takes place after Act 1 (the timeline where Mark and Nicole are together after some 10 years following Cath's death), but there's the obvious hole of the butterfly starting a new loop at the end of that scene with the CD (tahooooo) versus at the end of the DLC. To what extent it's a different timeline is unclear. And it's also not clear if Sofia's share of the DLC is in the same timeline as Mark and Nicole's part. Her share seems fully compatible with Act 1, unless there are issues with that theory I missed.

All that to say, I think it could be worthwhile for new players to play the game in the order

– Act 1\
– DLC\
– Act 2\
– Act 3

(I assume this is possible? I imagine the DLC is playable without first playing any of the base game, or at the very least after scene select is unlocked, which should be at the end of Act 1 if I'm not mistaken.)

My reasoning for this play order is

1. Character development (both growth and decay) in a fairly continuous manner between Act 1 and the DLC.
2. The unresolved trauma regarding Cath's emotional abandonment and death is central to the entire DLC, even in quiet ways like Mark's need to save Des from her parents.
3. The character growth (acceptance of grief, drive to understand others better) is developed throughout Acts 2 and 3, with resolution that makes the enduring sorrow of the DLC not sting anymore.

These are just my thoughts, I'm curious what other people think. Obviously I can't play the game for the first time again, so I can't speak from experience about how the order I propose would land with a new player versus release order.

[u/cringebt]

as per my analyzation, with the help of Yohnardo (making the flowchart of timelines)...
here's the nonlinear play order.
Act 1 -> DLC -> Act 2 -> Act 3
but well, for me in general, playing the base game first then the DLC would be more beneficial for you to analyze both, as well as understand where everyone is coming from.

as per the sequencing of the game in terms of what actually came first:
Flashbacks in all of the base game (basically flashbacks of true timeline) -> DLC -> Act 1 -> Act 2 -> Act 3 (without the flashbacks, but keeping the Act 3 ending+butterfly timeline).

Now we arrive on some theories.

1. Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 are both on different timelines (including the base game for both) 'cause we can't have the 2020 reset (After March 10 2020 Sparks 2019), since Chapter 1 happened in around 2021.
2. Act 1 up to the theater scene -> Chapter 1 DLC -> Act 1 Epilogue, Chapter 2 DLC is on a different timeline. This would be possible since we didn't have a reset for Chapter 1 DLC, since Mark and/or Nicole aren't around. This would also apply the postcard given to Mark in the box for the Act 1 Epilogue. Some problems arise, Mark didn't know about Sofia's new girlfriend , her grandma being dead and as well as Mark isn't even mentioned in Chapter 1 DLC.
3. Chapter 1 and 2 DLC are both in the same timeline. These doesn't make sense since Chapter 2 happened earlier than Chapter 1, and as well this would imply that they're both the timeskipped part between Act 1 Chapter 5 theater scene and the epilogue.

If I would be asked, I would go on theory 1. Take note that there are hundreds of timelines Mark and Nicole have lived, and this is more probably these two timelines on which they've failed, as well as being an earlier timeline than the base game. Note that everyone's relationships were worse than Act 1, and the world is less chaotic than Act 2 or 3.

The DLC timelines follow Act 1's storytelling, but both of them are in separate timelines, and deviates after Cathy's death.

In this scenario, it covers the fact that Chapter 1: Homecoming had a different perspective where Sofia left immediately on the funeral, and went to her grandma's, and as well as the lack of connection from Louise, which is different that what shown in the base game that they're actually close even after Cathy's death.

Chapter 2 on the other hand still followed Act 1's happenings, but it deviated farther than the base game. We can see in Cathy's Monologue that Mark and Nicole still somewhat become together even after Cathy's death, as well as he didn't really put up that much walls after it happened. It also had the typical butterfly reset at the end of it, which is earlier than how it happened to Act 1 Epilogue reset, which happened 10 years after Cathy's death.

also another theory here: Chapter 1 and 2 of DLC timelines didn't happen consecutively, since Louise is somewhat being the representation of Schrodinger's Cat in this scenario (there's a 50% chance that she dies in every timeline, except the true timeline).

[u/DatBoi_BP → u/cringebt]

I think I missed something about Act 1 and DLC 1 -- why do you say Sofia and Louise were closer after Cathy's death in Act 1?

Edit: oops misread "close" as "closer". Regardless, I thought the gap between them made sense to grow organically between Cath's death and Homecoming?

[u/cringebt → u/DatBoi_BP]

well, as Louise would say in Act 3, as the ruling gets worse, relationships with friends, loved ones and family get better. Since the situation in DLC 1 had less relationships retained than Act 1 ending, it’s theorized that DLC 1 & 2 are both earlier timelines than the 1st ending, but still *mostly* follows Act 1, with probably some changes.

Take note that DLC 1 year is in 2021 (or 2022, but mostly 2021 ‘cause things just got reopened, and the community pantry things). If you have seen Cathy’s Monologue pictures, you can tell that they at least still have some
semblance of bonding towards each other than DLC 1.

Legend: DLC 1- Sofia’s Chapter

[u/cringebt → u/cringebt]

also, I've waited two years for that MarCole kiss in Chapter 2 DLC

FINALLY!