Would You's Play a Historical Visual Novel?

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I have always had this in the back of my mind as an idea, but just never had the talent in order to pull it off. I have however grabbed someone I believe has the talent to draw very well, and so I believe my ideas can go as planned. My idea is the have a historical visual novel, but have various factions which you can play as, and have various upgrades and endings, some which you could pay for. This would be a war story. Any thoughts?

How would you play it? Using cards like Dungeons & Dragons? A board game like Risk? A computer game like Sid Meier's Civilization? An actual book itself?

Um...I take it you don't know what a visual novel is. It's ok, most people don't around these parts. I'm not 100% sure the OP knows either, but if he does, it might make for an interesting indie title. Of course, visual novels can be, and often are, mixed with elements of other genres, but the visual novel aspect has to be prominent, or the game will simply contain visual novel elements as opposed to it being the main genre.

Anyways, a straight up visual novel is more or less a branching storyline with very little interaction outside of scrolling through text. It's a genre that's a lot more prominent in Japan, simply because people in NA prefer more action based games, and the visual novel makes point and click games look action packed. The main hook for this genre is the story, as well as the choices made throughout the story, which can take it in a completely different direction, which leads up to multiple endings. Other genres have tried to capture a true and proper branching storyline that meets my standards, but few have actually succeeded. Well, tbh, most visual novels that we get in NA don't succeed very well on that front either. Story is very important in a visual novel, because that's pretty much all it is. There's no gameplay to make up for poor storytelling, so it's a risky genre for the OP to take a stab at.

I think I'll vote yes, assuming the title of this thread is a rhetorical question.

I would play it.

Yes I do. I have played on, one that shall remain nameless, but nevertheless, I have played it. I am thinking about maybe having some power up elements where the story can get interesting (depending on choices and such). I was thinking of looking at an act that changed the 20th century, and play out a what if scenario, and how it would play out. I am thinking of aiming indie, maybe selling it on steam, although IDK if that would be allowed or not. And to answer another use, it would be multiple choice game, kinda like Zork, but with pictures. Like "Say hi to the bald man", "go to the tower", or some other options. But through your actions, you can tell a really great story. I think my artist would make great sketches from the little I have seen from him, but I would like a few sketches of the subjects, and maybe read up a little bit (I have on one, but the opposition is kinda sketchy for me). I was thinking marketing through social media like fb and maybe reddit, through steam, eventually through android, and maybe sell to Japan as an import eventually. Any ideas for marketing?

It sounds like a pretty cool idea to me. I've played a few games with actual real historical characters in them, and I've always found it entertaining when games do that (though they rarely do). And I've played visual novel games, and think the format would probably be very suitable for what you're thinking about.
If you made it G-rated, I'm sure you could at least easily convince elementary schools to buy it.

Thank for telling me about that sub genre ! This was actually a war game, nothing too violent or such, but maybe I could do that as well. I hope they don't mind a libertarian view or two lol.