[7:36 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Hi, I’m Fiona Shade (Stories)! I’m a freelance writer, editor, and sensitivity reader, specializing in game design. I write and edit for both mechanics and non-mechanics sections of game books, especially for 5e D&D. During college games, I realized that many of my friends want to include relationships and romance in their character stories. People play games for all sorts of reasons: simulation, escape, even identity exploration. Dating and love is a big part of life for many people, so it would be awkward to cut those parts of life off from player characters. And yet, I was woefully unprepared. Thus, I decided to ensure that you don’t have to be!1
[7:37 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Dungeons & Datemates offers three super cool things: 1) 12 Romanceable NPCs, each richly detailed with:
- backstory, roleplay tips, and physicality tips (how they move in space and interact physically),
- romance guides that challenge the player character to develop in tandem with the Datemate!
- 5e stat blocks that scale with the player level and emphasize powers which help PCs shine!
- Original human artwork!
- In Session 0, it’s important to have conversations like, “May I kill your lover?”
- In “Round 0” (Alana Deitrick), it’s important to reaffirm and be ready to adapt these boundaries at the start of every session.
- In real time, sometimes we can’t predict the way a game goes or what will emotionally impact us, so we need to be ready to react and adapt.
- When a PC has a positive Confront Baggage scene with a Datemate, they unlock their choice of 1.
- When the PC has a Commitment scene, they unlock their choice of a 2nd.
- These can be swapped out at the end of a long rest to give the player an active way to express their love mechanically! Go shoulder-to-shoulder for an Armor Class bonus, deal extra damage against someone who hurt your lover, etc.
[7:39 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): ((done))
[7:39 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Thanks, @FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she)! The floor is open to questions!
[7:39 PM]Eric E: I saw the kickstarter pop up. It seems interesting for sure.1
[7:39 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fionashadestories/dungeons-and-datematesKickstarterDungeons & Datemates: 12 Romance NPCs – System Neutral & 5ePursue your D&D dating desires! Queer friendly! Full backstories, roleplay guides, art, 5e CR-scaling stat blocks, & more!
[7:39 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Is this specifically for D&D?
[7:40 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): All of the character design elements can be applied to any game. Since I know my audience loves 5e, I’m including the following specifically for 5e:
Stat Blocks that scale with the party’s level
Signature items or animal companions for each Datemate
Heartfelt Devotions
[7:41 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): The second bullet was unlocked via our first stretch goal and yes, that means the “Cerberanian” on the cover!
[7:41 PM]Eric E: One of my occasional players (aka unreliable) wants to do more RP with her character getting drunk and picking up girls (but not for fade-to-dark scenes) than dungeoneering, which makes for an odd session quite often. These might help with that.
[7:41 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): How do you include design elements that can fit any genre?
[7:43 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): The majority of the booklet is system neutral, i.e. it’s focused on creating 12 rich NPCs to insert into your game and system of choice. The character chapters are divided into Overview: backstory, general roleplay tips, physicality (how the character moves in space and interacts with others casually), Romance Progression: Flirting -> Baggage -> Dating 5e Mechanics
[7:43 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): The romance requires shared character growth to progress, rather than simply a Charisma check to get those pants off
[7:44 PM]Eric E: So you have 2 PDF products in this kickstarter, right? The 12 characters, and then another supplement (Adventure College)?
[7:45 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she):
@Eric EOne of my occasional players (aka unreliable) wants to do more RP with her character getting drunk and picking up girls (but not for fade-to-dark scenes) than dungeoneering, which makes for an odd session quite often. These might help with that.[7:45 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Oh yeah, you could either take the Character Overview section and use these as more salacious characters (ignoring the slow-burn romance progression that’s designed for more of a character arc story), or you could try to entice her to be more reliable by having to progress the romance slowly!
@Eric ESo you have 2 PDF products in this kickstarter, right? The 12 characters, and then another supplement (Adventure College)?[7:46 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Yes! I actually interviewed here about Adventure College last April, my first kickstarter. I’ve added that as a higher reward tier for folks who missed it! It’s a 60-page magicpunk setting with character creation options (5 species, 7 backgrounds, dozens of magicpunk items, a reputation system with three samples, a social gameplay phase, 2 full page maps, and more!)
[7:46 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): The same artist and I are working on Datemates!1
[7:48 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): So having looked over those sample characters, they seem pretty fantasy-centric. When you say “system neutral,” do you mean “setting neutral” as well, or are they just for any fantasy game?
[7:49 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): They’re definitely intended for a fantasy game! For our next stretch goal, we would make sci-fi variants. That would mean adapting their backgrounds, art, and more!
[7:49 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): We are really hoping we get there, honestly. Both the artist and I would love to do that
[7:50 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): What fantasy species are represented in the 12 characters?
[7:50 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): We’ve got some other familiar ones, such as this fella (minotaur)
[7:52 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Other recognizable ones include half-orc, aasimar, genasi, and one that Adventure College users will be familiar with – the pookah! We also have a lamia, although we are flipping that narrative / trope on its head a little by making them transmasculine and nonbinary rather than the traditional half-snake half-woman
[7:53 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Another fantasy species that I’m excited to include is this nymph! She’s connected to the land where she comes from, where natural resources are scarce. Everyone there dresses in black to soak what little sunlight exists, and corpses are ritually composted for their nutrients. Recently, her pet awakened rat suggested an intriguing job to her: Why not counsel the soon to depart and recently departed spirits, in exchange for being able to later call upon them and channel their skills, instincts, or powers?
[7:53 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): What is a genasi?
[7:54 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Genasi are a species recently opened up for use, which I only just realized, invented for D&D originally
[7:54 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): They’re the descendents of efreets and similar elemental creatures, a touch elemental themselves
[7:55 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): I’ve also invented a species I’m calling Companions. We have a character who is a sorta Robin Hood of Socialites, manufactured as a machine-human hybrid to age with and take care of a princess.
[7:57 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Can you say a bit about how the romance guides work?
[7:57 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): I’d love to! ^-^
[7:58 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): So, the main point of this supplement is to help players and Game Masters tell interesting character stories. I want everything to fall behind the mission statement of sparking interpersonal drama and player character growth
[7:58 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Folks can also find a free sample here FYI: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ffrEXhVHHB3MP815xj0XKiNYpT5_6il2/view?usp=sharingGoogle DocsFSS_DungeonsDatemates_FreeSample.pdf
[7:58 PM]Oneion: These drawings look great!11
[7:59 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): I am blessed by Ellie Erhart’s talent https://www.ellieerhart.com/Ellie Erhart Artellie11
[7:59 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): So, for the romance progression
[8:00 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): The guide starts us out at Flirting, which follows from the backstory, roleplay tips, and physicality nicely. During this first phase, the character is available for the player and/or their character to grow fond of, and this part of the guide focuses on how they like to engage in a flirtatious manner. However,
[8:01 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): The Baggage phase offers the main thrust of these romance guides. It is divided into an exploration of what major commitment hangup this character has. For Luca, his family was exploited by a charming and generous fellow, so now he struggles to take any charity or kindness as face value. He’ll assume salacious, not romantic, interest. He will attempt to repay someone, in gold or in-kind, for healing potions or other resources. He does not relax at camp, at least not until contributing some foraged food or collected firewood
[8:03 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Flora struggles to let herself slow down, viewing self-indulgence as a slipper slope. She loves the thrill of battle, so why should she need a break from adventuring? She worries that if she stops to indulge in her feelings for another person, she’ll want to indulge in feelings that lead her to compare herself not to the people she aids but the villains she fights.
[8:05 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): The Baggage section begins with an overview of the baggage, then moves to Noticing Baggage. This is a guide for cueing in the players and giving their characters a chance to then progress through the Confronting Baggage stage and ultimately, into the Overcoming Baggage stage. The confrontation stage suggests how to catalyze a scene where the player character has the chance to help the Datemate process something and become available, and then the Overcoming stage explores what that looks like. Finally, Dating offers a Sample Romance Scene – the likes of which you might see in popular games like Baldur’s Gate 3 or Dragon Age – and a Gift Guide. The Gift Guide explores what the Datemate might give to the player character, gifts possibly able to be tailored to a specific game system.
[8:06 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Apologies for hard info dump there!
[8:06 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): How are these NPCs introduced into the game? Do the players choose them ahead of time? Does the GM just add them and see if they entice any of the PCs?
[8:06 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): That’s ultimately up to the GM and the players! I have a player who told me, “D&D is a dating sim”1
[8:07 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): So, I’ve started dangling attractive characters in my game because I know they want romance to be a central theme
[8:07 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): From the intro There are many ways to use this book. You might be a player presenting this to your Game Master (GM). You might be a GM looking for an easy, stress-free way to introduce a little romance to your campaign, or to a hopelessly romantic player. As a GM, you might tease all the Datemates in true dating sim fashion; those not romanced could still fill out a supporting cast of compelling characters. Alternatively, you might anticipate your players’ interests – or ask your players directly – and introduce the Datemates most likely to fit their fancies in roleplay. Depending on your table and your role at the table, you might want to only read some of the following sections.(edited)
[8:12 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Additionally, we’re also unveiling a new add-on next week of custom Character Sheets for players who want to play as these characters, taking their art and backstories c:
[8:15 PM]Azura: Heartfelt Devotions: I get the vibe that these are invocation-like rewards for progressing a relationship with an NPC. Are they exclusively designed for combat? Or can they be useful in roleplay, as well?
[8:16 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): I’m writing a mix! The original inspiration for them was to encourage relationships even for players who are all about the crunch. If romancing can be a part of minmaxing…
[8:16 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Since again, the romantic subplots progress through shared character growth!
[8:17 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Naturally, a lot of games are highly social, so I like offering a mix of social, exploration / downtime, and combat focused ones(edited)
[8:19 PM]Houseplant: You should give some examples of how the characters could be integrated into existing campaigns Especially long-running ones, since I know that for campaigns w super developed PC characters, having NPCs like these who have rich backstories must be super helpful
[8:21 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Mhm I agree! In my case, I love to provide a rotating cast of party helpers to my players, because they enjoy roleplaying with each other and with NPCs. My favorite way to introduce characters is actually through action or rivalry
[8:24 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Luca’s a wildlife researcher and cartographer. Perhaps he’s trying to chart a map of somewhere the PCs are tasked to keep people away from. The goth nymph counsels the soon to depart and the recently departed in exchange for temporarily channeling their powers, which means she hears a lot of secrets. She might have gotten herself drawn into a mystery that she needs help investigating. Bilford the minotaur hails from a labyrinth full of a number of traditionally “monstrous” species and might interrupt the players with an effort to solve a potential combat encounter not through violence!
[8:24 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Okay, my apologies — I have no idea what happened there for a bit. Discord just quit giving me new messages. Scrolling back to catch up…
[8:25 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): With Adventure College, I especially like the idea that they could be transfer students, members of clubs or frat organizations, or even members of rival student groups
[8:26 PM]Azura: Will these NPCs provide any utility to the rest of the party, or will there maybe be ideas for party interactions outside of romantic interest? I worry about dropping one of these guys into our party and suddenly spotlighting one PC and their relationship over the others and their relationships.(edited)
@AzuraWill these NPCs provide any utility to the rest of the party, or will there maybe be ideas for party interactions outside of romantic interest? I worry about dropping one of these guys into our party and suddenly spotlighting one PC and their relationship over the others and their relationships.(edited)[8:27 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Yes, I was going to ask that very thing. I can see it being like the romantic counterpart to decking in a cyberpunk game.
[8:28 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Mhmmm
[8:28 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): The decking comparison took me a second to process
[8:29 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): In my experience, romantic interests don’t do that in games. I think since these characters are fleshed out with general roleplay tips, backstories, and lots of room for story hooks, they should be even less likely to than a generic NPC who a player winds up pursuing for scene after scene of 1:1 shenanigans
[8:31 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Obviously, there is a time for characters to hog the spotlight or have 1:1 scenes! That said, it’s like turn-taking in combat. Everyone should get roughly the same opportunity, if not in a scene then throughout a session. These characters often include references to how they interact with a party and how their subtle interactions with other party members play into things like Noticing Baggage
[8:33 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Personally, I also prefer it when my partner and my friends get along. So, I don’t mind stepping back to let my partner take the conversational focus with my friends. If a player winds up wanting a Datemate to be all about them all the time, that could definitely lead to a sense of imbalance. It’s a good thing to make a note of in my intro to the book!1
[8:33 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): (But I also don’t think that’s a problem specific to romantic interest NPCs)(edited)
[8:34 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Do you offer any suggestions to deal with heartbreak? And to what extent do you feel like the GM owes it to have the NPC love interest be the PC’s soulmate for life?
[8:34 PM]Houseplant: Ooh, that’s a good question1
[8:35 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): In my boundary setting introduction, I do address heartbreak and risk. In D&D, there’s almost always a sense of risk. Even if you aren’t rolling the die to determine something, your roleplay might not get you where you want
[8:36 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): In relationships and romance, the risk of rejection is present! If a character does not do well in their Overcoming Baggage scene, the relationship can collapse – some Datemates may even leave the party, costing them a powerful NPC ally
[8:38 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Loss and heartbreak can also be powerful motivators, themselves dramatic opportunities for character growth. An NPC might change or die as a result of the story. I think it’s important for a Game Master to have discussions with players up front about all this and then to customize the risks acceptable to their player.
[8:38 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): A good example would be that I had a player who was a Beast Master ranger but could not handle her animal’s death, so we decided that it was a spirit which simply dematerialized on hitting 0 HP. Her practice of getting a “new” companion just resummoned it.
[8:39 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Re the soulmate question, I’m leaving things open ended also as to polyamory or monogamy. I know soulmates are traditionally associated with monogamy, though I’m poly and still believe in them. The way that Heartfelt Devotions work, they do reward multiple romances occurring simultaneously – though you still have to put in the work!
[8:40 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Does that answer well?
[8:40 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): I think so!
[8:41 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): I can see running a romantic interest as a GM being hard for me, though, insofar as having the NPC behave in anything other than a loving fashion would feel like me just being mean to the PC love interest’s player.
[8:42 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): I think that’s why I rooted all the Baggages in something relatable and familiar, rather than one-note and villainous.
[8:43 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Though I feel like that might cause you problems with any sort of family dynamic in your games?
[8:44 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): The reality is that we often hurt people without meaning to, because we are afraid of what honesty and commitment represents. Brax does not mean to suddenly become standoffish, but they become more homesick as they realize that they are falling in love with someone from the mortal plane – where they would have to remain indefinitely to pursue the relationship1
[8:45 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): I love telling stories like these ^-^1
[8:46 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Do you offer any advice regarding romance when a PC is playing the opposite sex?
[8:47 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): For example, in a recent game, a guy was playing a female PC who (due to a game mechanic) would have gotten a bonus if the character had given in to passion with a male NPC.
[8:47 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): The GM was male, for the record.
[8:47 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): The player seemed to find the situation a little awkward.
[8:48 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Hmm, I mean, I think that’s a hyperspecific game mechanic which does sound a little awkward to me. Perhaps there was a need for some more boundary setting and clarity about what sorts of things could come up in that game before it got to that point?
[8:50 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): I think it’s similar to writing a character of a different sex or gender. As we play characters, we step into perspectives we don’t have. It’s often helpful to do a little research. As a sensitivity reader and nonbinary person myself, I’m super proud to have Dungeons & Datemates include 4 guys, 4 gals, and 4 nonbinary pals!1
[8:50 PM]GavinReadsWords: Speaking of, are there any safety tools or additional conversation to have in session 0 when thinking about/deciding to include romance as a theme at the table?
[8:50 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Perhaps so… To be specific, this was Torg, in the primitive reality where passions of all sorts tend to flare up.
@GavinReadsWordsSpeaking of, are there any safety tools or additional conversation to have in session 0 when thinking about/deciding to include romance as a theme at the table?[8:51 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): I’m unfamiliar with the setting but let’s answer this question in more detail
[8:51 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): I break the safety and calibration tools into three sections.
[8:53 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Section 0 includes an overview of lines & veils and the red / yellow / green alert system. I suggest a list of particular questions and subjects to bring up. These range from loss and death of a love interest, to when to fade to black in terms of sexuality, to even just what level of “screen time” should be devoted to an individual character’s romance subplot
[8:54 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Lines are things which should not appear in the game. Veils are things which should have a fade-to-black presence, if any, in the game. The color check-in is a variation on The X Card.
[8:55 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Round 0 is an overview of how to check in with players before a particular session
[8:56 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Reaction in Real Time refers to how to handle surprise emotional challenges in the moment
@GavinReadsWordsSpeaking of, are there any safety tools or additional conversation to have in session 0 when thinking about/deciding to include romance as a theme at the table?[8:56 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Essentially, yes, but then I also don’t want people to think that Session 0 excuses ongoing consent to these themes and elements1
[8:57 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Also might be worth noting
[8:57 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): As a sensitivity reader, I use my sociology degree and life experience to suggest ways that products can be more inclusive of queer, trans, neurodiverse, and disabled peoples, and represent us well (when an author already wishes to but isn’t sure how or knows they may accidentally include toxic language, tropes, etc.). One of my biggest projects as both sensitivity reader and editor has actually been Kinks & Cantrips, an NSFW 5e D&D supplement1
[8:57 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): I wound up also as an additional writer on the project, most notably for the introduction to safety and roleplay
[8:59 PM]GavinReadsWords: I see that Dungeons and Datemates provides many options and characters, but is there a guide for storytellers and dungeon masters for how to craft a custom datemate, or a template to easily build from should a player have preferences not already covered by the choices, or to even ground the datemates into setting specific situations?
[8:59 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): (brb)
@GavinReadsWordsI see that Dungeons and Datemates provides many options and characters, but is there a guide for storytellers and dungeon masters for how to craft a custom datemate, or a template to easily build from should a player have preferences not already covered by the choices, or to even ground the datemates into setting specific situations?[9:02 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): While a template is not the thrust of this project, I hope that the project will give plenty to work with for Game Masters who do want to create something else! Each of these Datemates has a highly specific 5e stat block, the scaling elements of which could certainly be tailored to new characters.1
[9:03 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): The actual flow of the Character Chapters is highly structured, with the Heartfelt Devotions being universal rather than character specific and coming at specific times (Overcoming Baggage; Commitment Scene). So that system, yes, could be tailored to new characters or any NPC dating(edited)
[9:04 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): (back)
[9:05 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Have you seen a player have difficulty with a situation in which they know that their character would behave unpleasantly towards the object of their affections?
[9:07 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Oh yeah absolutely
[9:07 PM]GavinReadsWords: On a more personal note, what drew you to the craft of writing and more specifically into the industry of TTRPGs?
[9:07 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): To which I say, bring on the drama2
[9:09 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): I graduated college less than 2 years ago with dual bachelor’s in sociology and creative writing. I want to help hearts and minds. RPGs have let me explore, experiment with, and affirm my identity. For example, as a young gamer, I first realized my aversion to kissing a guy as I recoiled when one of my characters was given the opportunity. I also unlearned a lot of black-and-white thinking while playing a Paladin.1
[9:11 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): I thought I was going to be a researcher or social worker until the pandemic, during which time I first created Adventure College (previous kickstarter, available as higher reward tiers for those who missed it). It was an outlet for my pals, as we missed and mocked our educational institution. When I got back to college, I wrote an award winning poem that was a horror fantasy inspired by an abusive ex. I found I could write in ways which provided catharsis and perspective not only for myself but also for others. I knew this was my way to impact the world. I hope that eventually I can do less freelance work and focus on my own games to this end, but I also love editing in and of itself c:(edited)1
[9:12 PM]GavinReadsWords: You mention that your audience loves 5e and that’s why you’ve included the stats and mechanics for such. Do you love 5e as well, or do you have a preference towards a different system?
[9:12 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): I will always have a fondness for D&D. However, in recent years, my palette has been expanded
[9:13 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): In particular, I’ve become fond of indie roleplaying games and more narrative focused games
[9:14 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): I’d say it’s like how my mom taught me to make superb pie, so for years that was all I’d have for birthdays, holidays, etc. Now, I still want to eat pie, but I’ve learned about cobblers, buckles, cakes…
[9:15 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): I also worry that after 5e, we won’t have a good 3rd party publishing option for D&D.
[9:15 PM]GavinReadsWords: Can you tell me what each little mascot friends on your icon is and what their significance to you, if any, is?
@GavinReadsWordsCan you tell me what each little mascot friends on your icon is and what their significance to you, if any, is?[9:15 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Oh yeah those are the species from the Adventure College Student Handbook!!!1
[9:16 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Oh wait you mean Marble and Sega
[9:16 PM]GavinReadsWords: I’m familiar with an axolotl and a unicorn. But the other things look more unique!
[9:16 PM]GavinReadsWords: Except I recognize the tea kettle. I’m pretty sure we can all enjoy a good cup.(edited)
[9:17 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Do you offer any suggestions regarding matters of alignment when it comes to romance?1
[9:17 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): So around the border are the species. Starting top-right clockwise, they are the
- Those who wash ashore on the River Styx and live close to the dead, the hels
- Magically rebuilt upon-death reebies
- The snakelike Nagandr
- The humanoid tree-alien arborstars
- The shapeshifting, tailed protectors of beasts, the pookahs
[9:17 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): So, I haven’t played with anyone big on alignment in at least 3 years
[9:19 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): In my opinion, it’s an oversimplification. I am very proud in my current game of my players finally confronting an antagonist and realizing they could perfectly relate to her motivation for awful actions she perpetrated throughout the first ten sessions of the game, and they’ve now decided to work with her.1
[9:20 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): So, rather than focusing on alignment, I think players should focus on compatibility in terms of what kinds of flirts they enjoy roleplaying off of and the motivations of their characters.
[9:20 PM]GavinReadsWords: If you were to choose, who is your favorite or most dateable datemate of the 12?
[9:21 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Weeeellllll
[9:22 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): I can answer who I’d most like to date1
[9:22 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): If these were real characters, I think the spirit summoner would make me feel safest. She comforts the dying and recently departed, plus that rat loves her!
[9:23 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): I tend to go for emotionally supportive partners ^-^
[9:25 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): That said, I’m probably most stricken with my Companion human-construct character. She’s quite driven, cunning, and talented, now infiltrating aristocratic circles and liberating from them using the talents she practiced as a personal maid to her Princess (tailoring, makeup, disguise, stealth, etc.).
@FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she)If these were real characters, I think the spirit summoner would make me feel safest. She comforts the dying and recently departed, plus that rat loves her!
[9:28 PM]GavinReadsWords: Do you have any recommended reading, watching, or listening for people wanting to prepare a session?
[9:28 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): (I have to wrap up this interview soon but am super happy to answer more questions in my server – link in my profile)
[9:28 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Hmm, I think definitely the introduction to the book!
[9:28 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): That’s going to have a lot of safety and calibration tools
[9:29 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): No problem, @FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she)! Is there anything we haven’t covered that you’d like to bring up?
@GavinReadsWordsDo you have any recommended reading, watching, or listening for people wanting to prepare a session?[9:31 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): I’d be curious for your thoughts on this as well. I feel like for people first getting into RPGs, there should definitely be some answers to this I prepare1
@Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe)No problem, @FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she)! Is there anything we haven’t covered that you’d like to bring up?[9:32 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): I think we’ve covered quite a bit! The only thing I’d add is the add-ons
[9:32 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): We are offering VTT icon packs, coloring pages, and everything that was an add-on for Adventure College!1
[9:33 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): You can check out the graphics on the kickstarter page for more information! We also are super excited to get this out to backers around the end of May, assuming kickstarter delivers the funds on time XD(edited)
[9:33 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Thanks very much for joining us, @FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she)!
[9:33 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Thank you for hosting!
[9:33 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Usual reminder: If you’ve enjoyed this Q&A and would like to treat me to a coffee or two, you can do so at https://www.ko-fi.com/gmshoe. Anything’s appreciated! Ko-fiBuy Dan Davenport a Coffee. ko-fi.com/gmshoeBecome a supporter of Dan Davenport today! ❤️ Ko-fi lets you support the creators you love with no fees on donations.
[9:34 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): If you’ll give me a minute, I’ll get the log posted and link you!
[9:34 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fionashadestories/dungeons-and-datematesKickstarterDungeons & Datemates: 12 Romance NPCs – System Neutral & 5ePursue your D&D dating desires! Queer friendly! Full backstories, roleplay guides, art, 5e CR-scaling stat blocks, & more!
[9:34 PM]FionaShadeStories (ze/zir/she): Thank you! ^-^