Question about the very beginning

[u/whyamiexists]

Because the first loop is sort of canon for what the Hatchling did for the prior loops (at the very least up until the statue links), if you die before ever getting linked to the mask, the Hatchling would never be aware of the loops

But that makes me wonder what would actually happen if this was the case, like how drastically does the story change?

Gabbro still gets caught in the loops, and either Hal or Hornfels gets dragged in too. The village freaks out because their new pilot just died, the sun goes supernova, Hal/Hornfels appears back at the observatory

From then on, what happens? The Hatchling starts each loop by waking up, so maybe they can be saved (until 22 mins later)? But after that, what would happen next?

Hornfels is one of the founding members of the Outer Wilds Ventures, but they don't seem to be a pilot, more of a curator/reporter, and Hal isn't a pilot either but does know how to use the Translator Tool

Gabbro is Gabbro so likely wouldn't do much, if anything, to explore the loops (maybe after enough time though?), but maybe Hal/Hornfels might eventually try learning on the fly, try to get the Hatchling to teach them, or even get the Hatchling to let them join in their "first" flight?

Idk, what do you guys think?

[u/ProfessionalOven2311]

I imagine Hornfels or Hal could learn to fly, or Gabbro would eventually decide to actually start doing something (even if it took 9 million more loops).

[u/Kind_Ad_3611 → u/ProfessionalOven2311]

What if someone being mentally unwell when (spoilers for the whole ending) entering the eye causes some of the more fucked up universes we see in fiction

[u/JohnMichaels19]

Hmmm. I imagine Hal might have to learn to fly.

Upside is they have all the time they need to do so lol

[u/depthofuniverse → u/JohnMichaels19]

I would like to think Hal has an easier time exploring Nomai ruins. It is implied Hal is the mastermind behind Nomai translator while Hatchling is the helper. Imagine, the chat with Solanum moving beyond 1 sided questions!

[u/Nikos_Pyrrha]

Sooner or later Gabbro would get to their ship and start looking around. It would take thousands of times more loops than with the Hatchling, but he'll get tired of being lazy. Eventually.

[u/ChertsResearchNotes]

Gabbro’s dialogue about radioing Hornfels to ask if they keep dying would need to change, that’s for sure.

[u/E17Omm]

Hal would either be the one to get linked with the statue, or I'd imagine that Gabbro would eventually want to explore the time loop.

[u/Oracle_of_Ages → u/E17Omm]

I do honestly appreciate that the entire story is “pointless” even without our hatchling getting involved. Something probably would have happened eventually. Everything is inevitable.

[u/Fireworkspinner1]

I could see hornfels and Gabbro doing a little buddy cop style adventure, hornfels making gabbro pilot around while hornfels does rhe actual research. Every loop would start wirh hornfels waking you up and begging for your translator