>>149291599
That's why you bring it down to the basics that started it all
>starts with Octavia at her 18th birthday party
>Stolas isn't there, because he's busy training (you)
>Octavia breaks and starts going by 'Tav', subconsciously trying to be the son Stolas clearly must have wanted judging by how he replaced her with you
>Octavia is a romance path, as is Loona
>game is about balancing relationships with Stolas as your master and Octavia/Tav as your friend and/or lover
>endings are dependent on whether you find common ground with Via and grow a friendship with her, mend her relationship with Stolas, or antagonize Octavia further down her path as your rival, etc.
Helluva Boss has been said to be about relationships, so naturally the VN should be about them too. I'd say these are essentials and everything else is just extra stuff to take or leave. And if this isn't focused enough, slim it down further.
>>149291713
This is also a good point.