virorbmaster

[virorbmaster]

みんなと𝐡𝐮𝐠

[virorbmaster]

A Late Look Into "Bait Theory"

So, with deltarune coming out in less than a day, I decided to finally share with others my special theory as to Spamton's true purpose. I've been working on this for a while, but only now have I decided to share this with others before chapter 3 and 4's release.

Be warned, massive wall of text/images under cut.

How IRL Spam emails work.

Spam emails IRL are often characterised by poor grammar, obvious spelling mistakes, completely outlandish claims, and other rather obvious tells. It's no stretch to say this likely inspired Spamton's speech patterns and appearance, that of a sleazy, untrustworthy salesman.

(from deltarune.wiki)

People often attribute this to a lack of proficiency in english, low effort put into the scam, general stupidity, etc.

However, these myriad errors aren't there out of stupidity. They're part of the scam. These errors are a test.

You see, studies in cybersecurity have shown that spam emails are filled with these errors as a sort of in built screening process: a person who likely wasn't going to fall for the scam anyway would instantly clock the myriad errors and simply not bother. Scammers are looking for people who are willing, for one reason or another, to ignore such suspicious activity, to ensure they're left with only the most trusting marks.

My theory, in short, is: what if Spamton's not just inspired by scam emails in the obvious ways? What if his weird dialogue, his sleazy persona, are all a test as well? For the player?

2. Spamton's many red flags.

Spamton is a very, very ominous character, and no better place is this exemplified than in his shop. As soon as you enter, you're greeted with a very ominous place.

(from shay's deltarune chapter 2 stream)

Every thing about this screams "wrong" in some way. The brick wall painted with a cartoon sun, reminiscent of something a prison or other equally nasty place would implement in an attempt to keep people happy. The glitches, revealing an ominous phone that rings in time with the depressing music. Even the shop is telling you to escape in the menu.

And if you decide to ignore that, you get treated to a secret, extra spooky part of queen's mansion and an extra hard teacup minigame.

Every part of Spamton's shop and quest is sending you a very loud message of "if you help this guy, nothing good is going to come of it". So, why would you? Why exactly would you help him?

Easy. To figure out what's going on with him. Spamton alludes to a lot of interesting things, from his own backstory to a mysterious "Mike" character, to hints at involvement with the mystery man himself, Gaster. It's easy to want to find out, especially if you're lore focused.

Which, might be exactly what's being exploited with Spamton.

3. The meat of the theory, and parallels to the previous game.

My theory is that whatever corrupted Spamton into what he is today, did it on purpose. Their goal was to create a sort of "litmus test", a character that is so offputting and ominous, yet stuffed with interesting lore and mysteries, that only people who are willing to specifically ignore "something bad will happen" signs will help him.

Jevil, the secret boss of the first chapter, is quite out of the way. You may be likely to skip over him entirely if you don't talk with Sean or visit the bottom of the castle. As a contrast, Spamton is a mandatory story encounter. I feel this is on purpose, as a way to force people into taking his test. An average player may fight him once and forget about him, perhaps visit his shop once and be put off. But a secret hunter or a lore fanatic is liable to do his quest. Like how a spam email is looking for specifically people who are willing to ignore errors, Spamton is made to sort out people who are willing to do whatever it takes for a good mystery. People willing to push the game's world to the limit to figure out the lore.

Remember what the theme of the previous game's "Genocide/No Mercy" route was? That you, the player, did all this just because you wanted to see what would happen.

(from undertale.wiki)

That you weren't satisfied with just playing the game and making everyone happy. You just had to see what would happen when you tore the world apart.

(from undertale.wiki)

I feel this mysterious entity is counting on players like that. Players that are willing to walk headfirst into it's trap, or do it's dirty work, just for answers. It may not be necessarily a total murder route, it may be simply collecting all the shadow crystals for it, or making a specific choice later.

But speaking of No Mercy parallels, guess who makes the "Snowgrave" route possible in Chapter 2? Who sells you the special item you need to make it all happen?

(from merg's playthrough on youtube. note the very specific tree commonly associated with a very specific, mysterious character.)

That's right, Spamton.

And for more undertale parallels, I may bring up the player/character relationship which is explored again, only this time as a more central theme through the more rebellious teenage Kris.

What if Deltarune aims to deconstruct this relationship in it's usual very 4th wall fuckery action via having a character know this, and exploit it? Kris wouldn't be so easily manipulated, but they're not in control, are they? The player is. So if this being can manipulate the player...

And as a few asides:

Who knows Kris's name at his shop, without even being told?

Who has massive puppet theming?

And who is implied to be surveying us, the players? Through a very special "survey_program"?

In conclusion, my theory is that much like his inspiration, Spamton is a secret test for a mysterious being (possibly gaster?) to find players willing to do it's dirty work (shadow crystals/a possible later choice) for it with the promise of lore/mystery solving, being aware that the player is actively controlling Kris so it decides to manipulate them instead.

[virorbmaster]

more tinyfrins

[virorbmaster]

Cute little Siff I needle felted recently ~~

Their shape

is

SO CUTE 😭💀

[virorbmaster]

I've never played isat actually, but I think the little guy in the white wizard hat is really cute, I think they deserve a head (hat?) pat =D

pfft it's okay! but yes, this little guy's name is siffrin!! they do in fact deserve many headpats i can highly reccomend this game to you if you have the time/money to play it!! the characters are super well written and have given me brain worms for like 5 months atp

[virorbmaster]

two mimir

[virorbmaster]

original by shen comix

[virorbmaster]

(you cutely bat your eyes.)

[virorbmaster]

[virorbmaster]

They're so fun to draw

[virorbmaster]

i think im back in the tar pits (crosscode obsession) again

[virorbmaster]

Drawing ENA is cool bc none of her body is attached. So you can just put her limbs wherever you want

The full page of drawings:

[virorbmaster]

doodles

[virorbmaster]

feeding a slugcat a snickers bar with total confidence and a lightened heart

[virorbmaster]

lovely

[virorbmaster]

girl idk

[virorbmaster]

Bros he makes me smile so much. I decided to do a redraw of one of his sprites cause I wanted.