QnA for September! (Patreon)

Alright, QnA time again! Sorry for being late, I needed to do some real life and other project updates after the demi. Now I am back on the wagon again. There is also a small VIP QnA now, with questions reserved for the demo to avoid spoilers.

You ever feel afraid to write a book? Not just "I don't want to accidentally offend someone", but also "I'm worried if I don't get this right, someone's gonna walk away with a poor understanding of [mental illness issue goes here]." Fallen Hero got a lot of things right that I don't normally see. And, well, thank you. Would you mind telling me what it was like when you wrote your first serious story? Something where you said "I'm not sure if I'm able to tell this story well enough"? I mean, I know everyone's got the "Oh god my work is awful" bug. But, you know. When you're talking about things like mental issues, that's daunting. And one that's not exactly a happy story doubly so.

Yeah, I have. I don't think I've ever talked about it in detail here on Patreon, but the reason why I never finished Fallen Hero - the novel two decades ago, was because of that fear. Writing about a telepathic villain puppeting a braindead body? No worries that's just SF. Blowing things up? Everyone does that. Manipulation and lies and all my own mental issues amped up to eleven? I can handle that. And then I reached the point of the story where Sidestep got stuck in the puppet after the crash. The Sidestep in the book was a man, and the puppet was a woman. I loved writing that. Such delicious angst. And then I wrote a scene where Sidestep has a breakdown in the bathroom, basically defacing their previously perfect vision of womanhood to look more "male." I did continue to write after that, but the scene stuck in my head and I eventually stopped. At the time I was worried that this might be seen as offensive and that I was writing about things my cis-self did not know anything about. Funny in retrospect. I think how people might see the story wasn't the issue. It was that I wasn't cis, and that scene has hit waaaay too deep.

But, I digress. I still do that. I'm still afraid. I have not included much on either religion or race in this story. I don't trust myself to do that, and above all, I don't think I'm the person who should tell such a story. I can read up all I want, but I can't feel it. I write about things I at least feel some form of connection to, where, even if I'm not factually correct or perfect, I can tell myself that I am true to my feelings on the matter. That is one reason why I have avoided mentioning names when it comes to mental issues, because to name a thing immediately makes people assume things about it that might not be what I am trying to portray. I portray feelings and emotions, and if those are from trauma, other mental issues, telepathic bleedover or the fact that Sidestep was grown in a jar and implanted with an AI chip doesn't matter. I am using the science fiction shield to separate story from reality here. Plausible deniability.

I think when it comes to telling stories about things you are worried about if you don't get them right is to realize that you can't. There is no one view of these things. No one truth. No single correct way of portraying serious matters. All anybody can do is to try to be true to the story. That, and to listen to people. Diverse people. I really, truly, hate the term "sensitivity reader" because I feel it gives the wrong impression of what it is about. I have had so many readers point out things in my text that could be read as offensive that I didn't even know could be seen as such since I don't have the classic US context to certain matters. Most of them were easy to change because I didn't intend to offend, and having people see things that way would detract from the story. In some cases I kept it because I felt it was part of the story. Did I feel uncomfortable during this process? Hell yes! It's never nice to feel that you have messed up, even if you never intended it. Especially at those points where you feel that the complaints come from a place of genuine concern, but are so... oddly specific that they feel more personal than anything.

In a way it was easier when I started out writing. Then my point was to offend. I wanted people to react in disgust and anger. I wanted to upset the status quo, and if people got hurt, eh, that was their problem. I hated the "safe" stories and games that I felt "coddled" people and hid how horrible reality actually was. I've mellowed since then, but I also feel that it is important to point out that at that time there was no real social media where people's views could reach you directly. Just in person, at game conventions and the like. And there I could handle it. Social media has changed the entire dynamic for authors, both for the better and the worse. The fear is here now, all we can do is to make sure that when we offend people it's for things that we can stand for. Someone IS going to be offended and write to you about it. That is the only truth here.

First off, I'm back! Hope you and yours are doing well! As a Metalhead it pains me that I've never thought about it before but what's the music scene look like in verse? I was six when I first listened to Rammstein(Feuer Frei), and Metallica's One is my first memory, plus my brother named me after Van Halen. So Metal has been one of my oldest & dearest friends throughout my life. I slowly drift off to sleep when I listen to the Doom(2016) & Doom Eternal soundtracks, especially the BFG division. Which is very weird. Listen to basically anything from those soundtracks and you'll see. Do any of the main cast have similar odd choices for relaxation or rest?

Ahaha I often say that I can't write about character's musical taste because I am a metalhead and that's what I filter everything through. I get you completely about using the "wrong" music to relax (Rotting Christ is so soothing, same with Nile) but I can't really assign any of the cast to be a metalhead. Chen would be the most likely one, but I think he has fallen off listening to music. He should get back to it.

As for the music scene, metal and punk is still going strong. I have a project coming up where we might get a bit more into that, so I won't detail it right now. By the way, here is a link to the playlist for the latest demo! I forgot to post that, will do it again once I update.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/403KGkg3HVL1uQRK6WZCPV?si=94932cde429b480c

Would it have been possible for Sidestep to contact Ortega or any of their former allies after their second escape? And if so, would they have been safe?

Of course it would have been possible. All it would have taken is a phonecall. But whether it was safe? I think we can safely say that it would not have been. Ortega was most likely under heavy surveillance there for a while to see if Sidestep would go back to their friends.

Hypothetical; we Lock all the main cast in a room and force them to play table games together. (Dominion, carcason, checkers, poker, werewolf... anything!) What games do they each enjoy? and who do you see winning what? <3

I think Ortega would enjoy poker, and other games that have limited rules and a large element of social interaction and adrenaline. Chen is more into chess and boardgames that includes a lot of thinking and strategy. Argent would enjoy games that were more about having fun, like Cards against Humanity. She's not the competitive type when it comes to those. Daniel would love resource managers and build games of various sorts. Dr. Mortum likes the long ones, like Civilization, while Ben would go and play poker with Ortega. Vera... huh. Is she a gamer? I feel like she might be. She's got the competitive edge for it, and more patience than Ortega. As for who is winning, no idea!

Pairing my two favorite old latino man super hero but would it be accurate to compare Ricardo Ortega aka Ex-Marshal Charge = Pedro Pascal aka Mr. Fantastic/Reed Richards ? 🥺 lol, srry I had to

I know a lot of people have! But I have no face canons, due to some face blindness...

If the movie existed in the FH universe, what would Ortega think about such comparison?

"I don't look -that- old, right? Right?"

Back in the day, were chargestep relationship seen by other heroes as " sidekick/heroe partner goals ✨" or was it more like "yeah, their codependency is slightly concerning.." ?

The former. Few people were close enough to spot any codependency. Chen however might have other views...

Also considering Sentinel was there when Ortega was just starting, what was their thoughts at Ortega's sudden codependacy with the new strange vigilant? And when their relationship became complicated?

I think it is seen as natural to become close to the people that you work with, especially since you risk your life with them. I think the only worry that Sentinel had was that Chen and Ortega was already best friends, and that this might throw that relationship, and thus the team dynamic, off.

In very old asks, people discussed Ortega's thought on a Step that wanted more of their relationship when Ortega was still insecure but in a more realistic approach, could we play as a Step that pushed Ortega towards other people in hopes they would fall for somebody else and forget their thing? Because let's be real, Step is more of a masochist than a romantic.

I can absolutely see that has happening. Sidestep can be a hedgehog.

Will we get Armadillo, Our team and Hollow Ground reaction to our selected RO? Im tremendously curious about Armadillo's impression of each RO.

That is something that will happen in the book, yes. You know I want to have that gossip about people.

If the Catfiend wasn’t released in Retri will there be any possibility of the Catfiend never being released?

No, I want my Chekov's gun fired!

Has there ever been a hero who worked for the Rangers, not necessarily the LD team, who quit being a Ranger but kept being a full hero? Not retiring but still helping out like Sentinel, maybe as an independent or corporate hero?

Hmmm. You know what? I don't think so.

Not sure of the wording on this; If all of Five Pennies pennies were destroyed would that basically make them a non boost/regular person with the health impacts of the boost drug?

No.

In the mob boss route the crew refer to Hollow Ground by their correct pronouns before you do the auction or interact with HG in any way back when you still don’t know for certain they are a real individual instead of a vague title or myth. Have any of the crew met HG before and been made to forget them?

Ooops. I think that is just my code going to the HG pronouns by default. That being said, one of the crew has.

IIRC Pyroclast is going to become more relevant in the next couple books. When we see Nazar are we going to be getting any of the other SF Rangers team with them?

Yes.

Have there been any instances of hero’s and villains being known friends with each other? I’m thinking like Perry the platypus and Doofinsmurtz, were the hero and villain stuff is just a work formality and as soon as they are done fighting they go for drinks?

Oh yeah. I think that is more common than people think. It is, however, handled delicately and on the low. Nobody wants to show off such a relationship, they might risk not being trusted by their own side again.

IIRC in a very early version of the pre IF book the equivalent of Mortum would kidnap/hold the puppet against their will to keep them safe, or something to that effect. Is this something our current IF version of Mortum is capable of?

Capable, yes. But not something that is planned in this book. Sadly that path is something I have stepped away from for now, in order to get a more functional story and game with all the paths.

I wasn’t sure how to word this as I don’t want to upset or offend anyone on the gender queer spectrum or imply these identities are not valid (I am nb myself) but for nb/gender questioning Step’s will there be the option when discussing gender related stuff that their stance is tied to their lack of humanity and their alienation from human society. Was thinking about when discussing Arde about how Regenes don’t have gendered pronouns and how some Step’s might not think of themselves in binary terms despite being trained as a cuckoo or viewing gender as something for people and not thinking of themselves as people.

I am planning to have a talk about that, yeah. Arde will let me bring up more of Sidestep's "upbringing."

Did Dr. Mortum ever want to be a hero? Or did they always know they'd end up on the side they're in.

Heroes have too many limitations, if Mortum wanted limitations they might just have stuck to academia.

Is it possible for Sidestep to have lost friends back at farm; either from memory reset or recycling or is that more of headcanon territory?

I think that is headcanon territory. It might come up in book four, but right now I have no plans.

Whats the villain/hero scene outside of los diablos?

Less intense. Los Diablos is the hotbed for that. San Francisco is almost as close, but is focused more around the strong Ranger presence rather than independent heroes and vigilantes. Seattle is trying to preserve a sense of normality, it is the city most like the east coast, where life is more "normal."

What is the schools like in los diablos? Government funded or more locally run? Does it depend what area you live?

It depends on where you live. Most schools are locally funded, either by the company in company neighborhoods, or by various community organizations. The city itself has no public school system, and there is no law that requires kids to go to school.

How are the Native American tribes doing in the FH universe?

That would vary greatly I think, but they have become more important in the Free Western territories, since they were already operating as their own entities before the Big One.

Can we learn Armadillo's regene name?

Probably.

What made Shroud choose their current name?

She liked the name, and wanted something that was less "mummy" related.

Regina is pretty obsessed by getting Sidestep back; was she always so focused on them or only after their capture?

Only after their capture. Before that, Sidestep was just a blip on her radar.

Sidestep can become pretty rich in the game. Any change that will come in to play in the future? Either by preparing for something or for their plans?

Yes, there will be a use for money in the game. That being said, it's not a stat where you need to have a lot of money to succeed, it will just be another asset to use to solve certain problems.

What kind of missions Shroud had while in the farm? I can imagine their powers made it hard to do some missions.

Oh that is spoilers!

Sidestep calls other regenes their family and siblings and Armadillo calls Sidestep their family. Do actually most regenes view other regenes as their 'family' even when they might not know each other or get along? Is it part of regene culture?

Yes. They see themselves as one big extended family.

What's Sweden's superhero scene like?

Not very active I think. The ones that do exist are mostly mods, the main target are not criminals but USSR spies and influence. This is cold war times, and patriotism is embraced.

In the next books are we gonna see more of the crew in the path of Mob boss?

When it makes sense!

Could MC have a romantic relationship with nocturne or Jake?, or get one of them to betray HG?

No for a romantic relationship (I think), but yes to get one of them to betray HG.

At the end could it be a router were You can retire with your RO of the hero and villain business?

Yep, that is one of the endings I have planned.

How do the ROs see themselves after they quit?

I don't know yet. A lot will depend on what has happened in the story at that point. That will influence a lot.

Have You thought of making other books with other protagonista, for example of locus, other Re-genes or others teams of super heroes?

I am constantly tempted, yes. There is no lack of ideas.

Could You adopt an animal or a child in the next books?

No. I originally had plans for Sidestep to get a pet in book two, but then I realized that if I gave Sidestep a pet, that would fix them. And by fix them I mean that the responsibility of having a pet would mean people would not do the kind of self-destructive and out there actions I want them to do. They would be busy planning on who would feed their cat if they got arrested.

If You lose the trust of someone in books two , could You regain it in the next books?

Yes. There are very few points when a relationship might not be at least a bit salvageable.

If Steel hadn’t survived or for some reason couldn’t make the call himself, would Ortega have made the call to airstrike the HB building after Sidestep went through the window? Would they have even been able to think of that after losing Sidestep?

No. Ortega would not have.

What would HG’s older brother (the original HG) have thought on them taking his villain name? I'm sure it was probably variable for the youngest sibling's opinion but did their mother have any thoughts about the name stealing/inheritance?

I think everyone would agree that was the smartest choice. No hard feelings.

Will we get to know the Re-Gene names of other named Re-Genes (and any that might show up in the future)? So Shroud, Armadillo, someone I don't think I can name here. I feel like Shroud might not have a very nice name considering other Re-Genes didn’t like her.

I plan to get into this eventually, yeah.

Not sure if this question is appropriate (so sorry if I break any rules or anything) since I've never participated in one of these before, but do the Rangers have a favorite Pokemon?

I know too little about Pokemon to answer that, but I do know enough that Ortega in my held "No, I am -not- Pikachu."

What would Dr Mortums adopted and biological family think of a sidestep who's in a relationship with the Dr?

Probably be a bit scandalized.

What martial arts does Hood and Pyroclast usually favor and/or lean into?

Hood was very self-taught. A brawler and a fist-fighter. Pyroclast probably trained karate. He feels like a karate guy.

What would Rat King think of Hood?

Friend!?

What would Hood think of a Sidestep that punched Ortega when they didn't have their powers? What about Tia Elena?

Neither of them would he surprised or particularily scandalized. Ortega has that effect on people.

If Hood and Sidestep were to fight without powers who would win? What about without powers?

Without powers, probably Hood. With powers, absolutely Sidestep.

Who for the most part trained Ortega on how to fight?

So many people. Ortega is a magpie who gets things from everywhere. Did martial arts (Jiu Jitsu) as a kid, and continued to learn and fight from everyone and everything that they could. Hood did a lot when it came to more superhero fights, teaching them to be prepared for anything.

What is ratkings opinion on crew/Marcia?

Friends!!!!

Does Marcia suspect Sidestep and the crew are doing anything illegal?

I mean, of course. It's Los Diablos!

What are Anathemas, Hoods, and Sentinels favorite foods?

Anathema loved sweets. Hood was very much a grilled meat guy, but grateful for anything because those were the times. Sentinel considered going vegetarian on several occasions, but was too fond of fish for that to work out.

In the next game will there be more development of Ortega's internal struggles (e.g., PTSD, loyalty, love)?

Ortega's fortieth birthday is coming up, which will be a catalyst for many things.

What personal insecurities drive Ortega to cling to connections, especially with Sidestep?

Ortega just likes people. There are so few they feel like "gets them" that when they find one, they cling. Most people bore Ortega.

What does Mortum give Sidestep that Ortega cannot — and vice versa?

That depends on the Sidestep.

Could Sidestep lose themselves entirely to their villain persona?

Oh yes. Things would be easier that way.

Why does Mortum seem so comfortable working in morally gray (or outright black) areas of science?

Because that's where things gets done, and they are good at shutting down their emotions and morals for the greater good. And the greater good is new discoveries.

What does Mortum admire most about Sidestep—and what secretly unsettles them?

Mortum has not gotten to know Sidestep much yet, but if they know that Sidestep is a regene that is the answer to both of those questions.

If you could hint at one secret about Ortega or Mortum in Revelation without spoiling it, what would it be?

Racing.

Will there be more moments in which Sidestep looses his cool and reacts violently around Mortum and Ortega?

Yeah, I don't think that is going to stop.

Will Fallen Hero Revelations dive more into Sidesteps different personalities (Puppet, Villian, Sidestep)?

That's the focus of the first half.

Did Danny realise his bisexuality before or after leaving home?

Before. But never did anything about it.

If Ortega did not have a thing with same-gender Sidestep in the past, did they hook-up/date anyone of the same gender as them post-heartbreak?

Not unlikely, but I think we might have a discussion about that in game so I won't define it folly yet.

I think you spoke about Argent's relationship to her gender before but what about her relationship with her sexuality? also does she identify as a cis woman?

I think Argent sees herself as a cis woman, and by that I mean she haven't really considered any other options. She's comfortable in her own gender (I almost wrote skin there, but heh...). I think she sees herself as pansexual, she's more interested in personalities than anything else. However, it is also very easy for her to see herself that way as she has never considered herself as being able to have any sort of physical relationship. To her, it's all theoretical, so why not enjoy the fantasies?

Is there a Real Housewives of Los Diablos (-esque) show? would it include partners of villains? (maybe masked or anonymous in one way or another) would rangers watch it for clues?

Ahaha. Oh boy. You know what? I bet there probably is, and Argent would hate-watch it and fill Ortega in on anything cool.

During the fight with Herald at the gala, you can get this scene: "Nearly leaving your own form behind, you touch Herald's surface thoughts briefly, fueling the jealousy smoldering under the surface. How dare you hog the camera? Be the one everybody wants to see? No, that is a direct affront to him, and you can feel your smile growing wider as he dives into action." Was Herald actually jealous, or did Step project these thoughts?

Sidestep projected those thoughts, though there was a hint there to build on. Daniel doesn't mind the camera. Not at all.

You mentioned previously that Danny usually has a small birthday party with his friends outside of the hero community (and that he tries to stop Ortega from inviting themselves to the party) - would he bring romanced Step to meet those friends? Or poly Ortega?

Definitely Sidestep. Not Ortega. Not even in a poly. Then he would rather avoid inviting Sidestep too, and have a separate one with them.

Will there be an option to acquire an additional vice in later games? I noticed that during the diner scene with Ortega, they can say that someone was asking about your drinking, even if alcohol is not your vice. Could it become a new one?

Not sure yet! I have been considering it. Either a new one, or changing the old one.

Will there be a possibility for a trans step to change their identity to be nonbianry/the other way around?

I plan for people to be able to adjust things like that in game, yes. Not sure how or when yet.

How would Danny react to discovering that Sidestep stole Norma Lee's paintings?/What if art thief Step gifted him Sunset no.4?

A big nono on stealing, but if gifted to him? Oh boy. Happy? Super guilty at having to return it. Unless it was owned by some billionaire that never planned to show it again. This might be a slippery slope down into crime for him.

Danny's opinion on graffiti/tag? would he ever leave something in a very hard to reach place just because he can? (or could sidestep talk him into helping them do something like that?)

Graffiti is art! Tagging is.. debatable. He gets it though. And would help Sidestep out.

did danny float when he got high?

Yeah.

its probably headcanon territory, but did step ever smoke weed/would they ever? im assuming no, considering their need to be in control etc. but damn, maybe they should try it... (i just feel so bad for my step with broken legs 😭)

That is headcanon, I can see it both ways. Just won't get into it die to Apple.

If Sidestep's four-story fall and subsequent recapture had had nothing to do with Heartbreak, would their second stint at the Farm have changed any?

Yes. Not saying what or how much.

What is Armadillo's fan club rating? How do they feel about having a fan club? What does Dove think of them having a fan club? Can we be part of their fan club?

Very low. They are too in the shadows for that.

Would Arde enjoy sparring? If so, how would they like sparring with each of the armor upgrade combinations? What combination (if any) would they have the hardest time sparring with?

Arde would enjoy that! They have missed having someone physical to spar with. They would particularly appreciate ones with Armor, because then they don't have to worry.

Has Marcia ever gossiped to her friends about Sidestep? Or did Sidestep put a telepathic block to make her unable to?

Oh she has gossiped.

If Ortega had been with Anathema instead of Steel during Heartbreak, what would they have said to Themmy to try to snap them out of it?

I don't know. And it might not have worked. Ortega didn't know Anathema well enough to have an easy trigger like that.

Is Sidestep's villain armor actually Mortum's finest work like they say, or does Mortum call every commission that?

... well... Mortum is proud of it. But that's also what they call most of the things they sell, that's just good PR to get the customer in the right mood.

If Argent gets her picture put on the fridge, was that the first time someone's picture has been on the fridge since Heartbreak? Was that the first time Argent's picture has been on the fridge? Why was she so upset about it? Do/would any of the other Rangers put someone's picture on the fridge, or just Ortega?

I honestly think it was the first time. I've been trying to figure out who would do it apart from Ortega, and drawn a blank. So I think that was one reason she was upset, she hadn't counted on it and took it the wrong way.

How does Mia feel about nanomods & killing Blaze (via flagpole, since blazeblaze has some (if not known as a telepath) plausible deniability)? Especially with those she sees as secretly a hero?

Spoilers. But as you say, there are some deaths that could be seen as accidents, or unfortunate events not involving Sidestep.

How would HG react if (after the initial meeting) Sidestep deliberately lowered their presentation (e.g., expensive->worn, or suits->casual) when meeting them just to spite them? Would a sibling!Step get a different reaction?

It would have been a single chuckle of "Oh, so you did dress up for me that first time. Cute." (The cute only for siblingsteps).

If Sidestep knows about Hollow Ground's red threads, are they at all worried about their henchmen/civilians having weak shields/minds?

Yeah, but once they know, they can spot them.

When Sidestep is telling Ortega (and potentially Herald) about the Farm, they mention that they were fixed up using "the good spare parts." What do they mean by "good"? What is the rating system of body parts? How are parts rated? Does it mean anything that the Farm gave an escaped cuckoo "good" parts? Are only organs used for spare parts, or are limbs also grafted on, Frankenstein-style? How is transplant rejection prevented?

The 'good' spare parts merely means that they were intending to make Sidestep functional again. There was no need for them to if they never intended Sidestep to leave the farm anymore, so for some reason they wanted Sidestep fit for fight again. Thus the good stuff. There's no official rating of parts, that's just Sidestep's way of expressing it. It's mostly whether they are combat rated or not. Both organs and limbs can be grafted. Many Re-Genes are close enough biologically that the chance of rejection is minimized, but if they belong to more of side-strain mods are often chosen instead. There are medications for transplant rejection, but that can also lead to an impacted immune system so it's not a good thing for combat models.

Could we get a rough catalogue of Sidestep's pre-Rebirth scars? Anything noteworthy that would be the same for all Sidesteps.

I think the only one I have defined is a scar on the hand from having their gun shot/blown out of their hand. And the one from when Psychopathor shot them. Other than that, there's plenty but I have no chart.

Did Sidestep once try to read the mind of a seagull? They are very specific about their feelings towards them.

It's hard to avoid reading the mind of a seagull when they are trying to steal your food. They are very loud.

Argent has shown herself willing to kill people that she thinks should be dead. However, in the path where Sidestep and Argent are fighting Shroud at the auction she will refuse to kill Shroud. Does she not know who Shroud is/how high a body count she has, or is there some other reason for Argent's reluctance?

She doesn't want to kill when other people can see it. That might reveal what she is.

In a previous Q&A you got a question about Step's AI chip and replied with: "And yes, the AI part was how Sidestep was able to interface with the nanovores, it is doubtful any other telepaths would have managed." How is Step's AI chip able to interface with the nanovores? Are they able to "talk" to the nanovores through the chip? If that's the case, where does Step's telepathy come in when controlling the nanovores?

The AI chip itself is not the thing that is causing Sidestep to be able to control the nanovores. Rather it is what the AI chip implies. Having that implanted means that the brain/mind has been taught/routed to connect and absorb memories from "the outside." There is a precedent of Sidestep interacting mentally with machinery and non-human sources. Not true technopathy, but rather having a more open mind about how other minds work. This is related to being to connect to animals as well. In short, Sidestep's mind/telepathy is not expecting other minds to work like humans do. If we contrast Locus, she works on an intrinsically human level. She might be able to sense animals or the nanovores, but could not make sense of them, let alone control them.

We know HG's mother blamed HG for the little sibling's death, but was it in a "it should've been you" sorta way? Also, why did she blame HG for the sibling's death? Corrupting them? Putting them in jail?

No, it was more of a "why didn't you protect them" way. She blames HG for not looking out for their younger sibling enough, and letting them make their own mistakes. At the time HG felt like it was important for their sibling to have their own life, make their own decisions and mistakes. This backfired badly, and is one of the reasons why HG is a bit of a control freak right now.

In Mia’s interview with Psychopathor it’s mentioned that pro wrestling fell out of popularity because superfights fill the same niche, did the same thing happen to actual combat sports?

There is a difference with sports I think. A lot of that is about personal achievement, not the audience numbers. But I would say it still took a bit of a hit.

Is there more interest in martial arts since there’s presumably a lot more people wanting to learn how to fight to be heroes/villains?

Yeah, it's a bit like the seventies that way, when martial arts grew big on the back of movies.

Do the X Games or something similar exist? If so did any of the cast ever want to be in them?

Yeah. And Ortega would have loved that. If they had the patience for settling for one thing, they would have gone into sports for sure.

Do henchmen/mercenaries have their own sub-culture with unique customs & slang like edge/shadowrunners in Cyberpunk/Shadowrun?

Probably. But I haven't explored it very much yet,

Are the implanted memories the same across regenes? If not is there a reasoning for the differences (IE a blugene gets a soldiers memories while a cuckoo gets an undercover agents, trying to reinforce/remove a specific trait or habit in an individual, etc.)?

I would say about 50% are the same, because they have proven to be a good baseline that works. The remaining 50% are of a handful of tested variations, to give Re-Genes variability and versatility. Occasionally new variables are introduced in the system, especially connected to certain power sets. That is where there is a slight variation between Cuckoo and combat Re-Genes, but it's not as much as you'd think. Most of it is training, the memories gives the starting point. Memories not used in the training fades fast, the other ones become personal. A theory at the farm is that many Re-Genes love of bread is a residue from one of the memories used at the baseline level.

Do cuckoo's who are part of infiltration teams share rooms with their other teammates, or are they separated like cuckoo's who work independently?

If they are made to work as a team, they share rooms.

What's Mortum's opinion on animal intelligence, including dolphins, rats and octopi?

An interesting subject, but not one of their special interests. Mortum doesn't think there is a line separating "intelligent" from "unintelligent" species. It's a spectrum.

What class is Lord Ember's pyrokinesis?

Alpha. He's powerful.

When did he debut as a villain?

I would say about two years before Sidestep did.

When he fought Sidestep and burned them badly, was he going by Emberfall, or Emberstorm? (puzzled by him going by Emberstorm at the Sidestep fought him as they say in Retri, and Emberfall in the Void postscript story set after the Green Sky compound assault)

That is just on me not being able to keep names straight. But now it has turned into a character trait. He's probably has had like three other names too, and changed them after he didn't like how they sounded in the media. Ember is the only thing that sticks.

Why did he move to Los Diablos to begin with, having grown up in San Francisco?

Los Diablos is the place to be as a hero or villain. Like going to Hollywood as an actor.

When did he move back to San Francisco?

I would say a year or so after Heartbreak.

Mortum only warns the Puppet about not doing any jobs for their boss and leaving town if they're at a frosty relationship, at 55+ friendship and attend the auction together, so in other instances where they're friendly/flirting/dating, is Mortum willing to protect them from impending fallout they see coming?

Absolutely!

How aware are regenes of the information given to them from the AI chip? Specifically in regards to skill-based information (like languages), rather than factual-based information (like general knowledge)? For example, if the AI chip transferred the ability to speak French, would the regene automatically know they could speak French, or would they have to be made aware of their ability either by Farm staff or by being placed in a situation where they could understand French speakers?

The latter. The skills needs to be "triggered" in order to be remembered and active, otherwise they will be forgotten and replaced by what is used, just like most of our memories and skills from an early age.

What were the circumstances of Sunstream's boosting? How old was she?

She was about fifteen, and mentally in a bad place. She viewed the boost drug as a win/win, either she gained the powers to be someone cool, or she wouldn't have to worry about it ever again.

Did Sunstream immediately become a hero/do vigilantism after taking the boost drug?

I would say within a year or so. She did train first.

How was Sunstream picked up as a corporate hero?

She looked good, had flashy powers and was soft-spoken and feminine. She was seen as a good fit because she was deemed unlikely to do something weird or loud. She could be representative and even regal once dressed up and with her mask on. She genuinely wanted to help people, and jumped on the opportunity to get funding.

How long was Sunstream a corporate hero for before she was recruited to the Rangers?

About three years or so. The parting was amiable.

Hope this hasn't been asked in recent days, but can Step bodysnatch someone subconsciously— eg. would those fun and funky brain backpackers of theirs be able to possess someone while Step was asleep/ KO'd?

Good question, you don't get an answer.

There's a variable called honest in Rebirth that can be toggled on or off depending on your interactions with Ortega (the diner reunion, the park scene, and the gala monologue) but doesn't actually have any effect on the story (yet?) - do you remember what you were originally intending to do with it?

I had forgotten it even existed. I think I originally planned it as either an achievement, or a relationship thing. A bit like I did with the "look" variable, whether you look at or turn away from certain things. There are a few variables like that, I simply forgot to remove them when I decided to go with another way of recording interactions.

Will we get a chance to see Ben and Vera be worried about an injured Step?

Oh yes.

Was Mortum aware of Vitruvian's boost supremacist background when they first met?

Nope, not a clue.

Why did Mortum tolerate Vitruvian stealing their research? Did he do it towards the end of the partnership, or did they find out after killing him?

He found out towards the end, and it was a big point of tension between them. Vitruvian saw it as "sharing" research.

Why did Mortum stay with him for as long as they did, despite their gradually widening differences, and him stealing their research?

I think partly because Mortum was lonely. And it was easy to be caught in an essentially abusive relationship. They were getting ready to leave when things took a turn for the worse and Vitruvian ended up dead. Also, let's not forget that Mortum learned a lot from Vitruvian too, and was genuinely impressed with his intellectual achievements, and wanted to figure out how certain of his inventions worked.

Was part of the reason they stuck with Vitruvian to begin with was because they were new to the villain community, and hadn't made many contacts before then?

A bit, yeah. Mortum was also worried that they'd be an easy target on their own.

Would they still have teamed up with him if they met later into their villain career and been more established?

No. Maybe a project or two together.

When Mortum says they never liked him to Hollow Ground during their interview with them, was this something they felt while working with Vitruvian, or just recency bias that tinted their memories of him?

The recent bias. It was not bad at the start. Mortum felt they had found a kindred spirit in weird science. A research partner to spur them on to new discoveries.

By the stuff Mortum can tell a formerly friendly Puppet in Chapter 26 after the reveal ('"I don't do friends. Not since…" / "Vitruvian?" you guess. / "Yes."') did they actually consider Vitruvian their friend? What they tell the Puppet seems... kind of at odds with the supplementary material, which gives a slightly broader view of things rather than the limited view Sidestep gets as player character, so, acknowledging that there's still a lot of stuff left to uncover with their relationship in Revelations (and Revolution?).

Mortum did not consider Vitruvian their friend. And it is not Vitruvian they are referring to there ;).

Has how you've seen/written their relationship changed or evolved at all over the writing process, answering QnAs and the Patreon lore stories?

Yeah, it has evolved. A lot of the QnA is forcing me to think about characters in ways I had never planned to because it wasn't important to the book. I knew the core facts about Vitruvian, and how they intersected with Mortum, but how things fitted together in more detail is something I've had to explore as I go. But that is also how things happen in game, ideas come as I write, blank spots gets filled out.

Has Ortega ever accidentally used their lightning when they've had a nightmare?

Yes, that's why they often hook themselves up to systems to take care of unplanned surges before going asleep.

What's the smallest amount of force Snowball can project? Can she work as a masseuse?

Snowball has one setting, and that is 100%.

Could Snowball theoretically work similar to a reactor for a power station??

No. She wouldn't be able to do it often, or regularily enough.

If Chen breaks Step out of the hospital, will there be a scene where Step returns the hoodie? Will there be an option for Step to keep it >:)?

Oh no I need to add a variable for that now, don't I? It's too cute.

Does Snowball suffer any physical counterforce when she explodes stuff? Could she fly in one direction by "hitting" in the opposite direction?

No. There is no recoil.

Does snowball like rolling down hills?

No, but she likes climbing on tall things. Occasionally those tall things are horses, who tolerates it.

Did the tracker on Jake go dark because it ran out of power, or did he discover it on himself? If the latter, what was his reaction to it?

It short-circuited when Jake phased.

How big of a concern is being tracked by a tracker for the HG trio? Is it something they have to worry about every time they go out?

I mean, things like that are a worry for any important person.

What date was Snowball brought to the ranch? Was this before or after the Void raid, or the Nanosurge?

Dunno the details. It was between the Nsnosurge and the Void raid.

Does Elena celebrate the anniversary of Snowball's arrival at the ranch?

Snowball needs a birthday!

What happened to the re-genes (& their handlers if they were there) that were involved in the Panama scandal?

A massacre of what was later determined to be civilians. It was blamed on the Re-Genes going out of control, but in fact it was an order given. Just based on bad intel. And this is where my dystopia is nicer than the world today because people actually cared.

When did Mortum begin referring to themself as a mad scientist? Was it at the advent of the villain career, or once they retired to making tech for villains (and vigilantes) instead?

It was from the start. Mortum took an insult and made it into their brand.

What do they consider the hallmarks of a mad scientist?

Going deep into weird science, not considering things like morality and feasibility. To be able to think freely, and consider ideas too unorthodox for most.

do regenes baby teeth fall out in the tank? Do they filter out or does a scientist have to go in with one of those little fish nets?

The things you people make me have to consider. But yes, they do fall out in the tank. They get filtered out like all other waste.

Why did Vera’s family move to LD?

They have lived here since the Big One, just not in this exact neighborhood. They banded together with other survivors to settle that area and make a nice community for themselves.

What’s Elena's opinion on telepathy & telepaths? Is it any different IRT Sidestep specifically?

Sidestep is the only reason she has an opinion. It's just a thing, just like x-ray vision or super hearing. The government can do surveillance just as well.

What's Argent's opinion on remakes of old movies?

99% of them are bad, and then there is the Thing.

does ortega think they coulda take on a gorilla/bear/lion no powers no government-funded spine?

I really want to say no. I really do. But this is Ortega. So... sigh... yes.

Extremely silly question but no gadgets, no powers who’d win in a fight between HG, Ljungstrand, Mortum, & Regina?

Ahahahahahha oh thank you for that mental image. I think Mortum.

What classification is Snowball as a boost?

Beta, close to alpha. The lack of fine control lowers the classification slightly.

Could she ever graduate from splitting molecular bonds to splitting atoms? If so, would that make her an Alpha boost if she isn't already one?

Who knows? But there is precedent in Vimana, the atomic woman.

Why did you decide to have the Puppetstuck paths in the same chapter as the epilogues for Retribution, rather than have the epilogues in a seperate chapter?

I dunno. It was not something consciously planned, it was just space for them at the end so I didn't feel they needed a new chapter of their own.

If you had a fresh dose of Void blood, and got Mortum gunned, would you be able to "walk" your way out with the higher dimensional perspective?

See that is a very clever question.

Mortum seems to have gotten a PhD very early, given they had it by the time they were a villain in their late 20s! Did they start university very early and finish their program faster than usual?

Both. Dr. Mortum was a prodigy and a workaholic.

Did they finish their PhD in the Free Western Territories, since they came over around 2005, or did they finish it before moving west?

Hmmm. I honestly haven't decided that. I think right before, because it would make sense, but that is subject to change like anything including dates.

Did Vitruvian also have a doctorate?

Of course. Probably had a copy of his diploma on the wall of his lab too.

Approximately what age was Vitruvian when he died?

Hmm. Middle aged? I genuinely haven't thought about that. About the same as Mortum, or slightly older.

Do the Rangers ever get panic attacks? What about Sky Raider and Mortum?

I am choosing to answer about legitimate panic attacks, not just those moments of deep anxiety that most people have, especially in stressful environments. I don't think either of the Rangers, Sky-Raider or Mortum has that. Ortega tends to channel their anxiety in acting out (drinking, fighting, working out until you drop) and surf that adrenaline wave. Argent would not be alive if she did. Chen I think has been the closest, a few times after his accident while he was still in the military, but he was taught ways to deal with it. Daniel might be anxious, but he has always remained on the right side of control when it comes to that. Sky-Raider is not the type, and Mortum has never experienced something like that.

Did Regina put any of her own memories into Sidestep's chip?

No, that's proprietary information.

Has spoon met snowball before?

Yes, when Chen has been visiting the ranch. They are not especially close.

What’s the cast’s favourite salads?

Oh no. I am not going to answer that. That is such a trick question. American salads are a thing I can only vaguely comprehend, they are as frightening to me as I suspect Swedish pizza must be to the rest of the world (outside Brazil).

RO reactions to sidestep falling asleep on/beside them?

Comfort. They would all know that's a hige expression of trust.

On a scale of 1 to about to implode, who's freaking out the most if they woke up from unconsciousness and found out that they're captured in the villain's lair (rangers + villain ros + hg) Bonus: internal thoughts/how they process a captured and alone sitch with revealed villain romanced vs unromanced step

Now, see, that will enter spoiler territory because that is something that might happen in game, and thus I don't want to preempt those scenes.

Is there anything that you're surprised no one has asked you about?

No. You are... frightening and amazing in that respect. The number of things I have never even considered, thought about, or have any opinions about are frightly impressive.

Since Themmy used to tag team with Step to tease Chen, how would they react to them ending up together?

Heart eyes, applause and possibly a high five.

Since there’s less interest in space does that mean zero gravity simulators don’t exist?

I think they probably do somewhere, because even when there's less interest it doesn't mean that there is none. Just that it is not on the top of the list of scientific focus.

if the rat king could eat cheese, would the girls have a favorite?

Whatever is the favorite of the person whose taste-buds they are listening into right now. They have no concept of taste or texture other than what is filtered through other people's minds.

What's going on in Ortega's head when non-pastflirting step kisses them in the hospital?

404 - Not Found.

Is Vera's community more centrally located in Los Diablos or on the outskirts?

I would say on the edge of the more central parts. Close enough that it is a part of the continuous renovated city, there are no ruined areas between it and downtown anymore.

Since Chen hasn't noticed Step deconditioning Spoon, how would he react if he found out about it?

Disturbed but also grateful. It would be impossible not to ponder if the same could be done to a person, and if they ever would notice.

How long would it take each of the ROs to realise they were stuck in a timeloop? Who would be the quickest? Who would only realise after several go-arounds?

Daniel would be the quickest on the uptake, Ortega the slowest.

It isn't detailed, but in the hosptial kiss does Ortega kiss Sidestep back at all or just sit there like ??🧍 ?? Do you plan to add variation to the kiss in the update?

I always did see it like ??🧍 ?? but who knows what I will add? There are already some tweaks done.

Have all of Ortega's past relationships been with cis people? Have Steel's?

I would say probably not for Ortega. And probably yes for Steel. But since I won't get into it in the book (most likely) that can be headcanon.

Do you have a colour or palette in mind for what the Revolution cover will be?

Not yet. I kinda used my original idea (back when it was just three books) for Revelations. I have some tentative ideas for black and orange, but I won't know until later.

Will there be time for Sidestep to pull pranks on (a friendly) HG in game?

I don't know! It will depend on if a scene like that would make sense and move the story forward.

Does the fact that Step was mythologised and puffed up by Ortega improve Danny's first impression of Step? Or would going in with only his own preconceptions have been more faourable?

I genuinely don't know. They both had pretty inflated views, so I don't think the difference would have been that big.

Has the emergence of a villain with a legacy name like Sidestep or Anathema led to an increase in vintage or new merch for those heroes?

Yeah, I think there has been a renewed interest, and some fandom wars.

Would Sidestep or any other Alpha level Telepath be able to broadcast sounds into people's brains?

No, but they could make the brain think it hears sounds.

Like could Sidestep make everyone around him hear a smoke detector beep and drive other people crazy?

Oh yes.

Side question: could Sidestep theoretically help a deaf person hear by telepathically sending the sounds directly into the brain?

I think with some fiddling and testing, that could be done.

considering the medical advancements of the fhr world against the corporate interests of los diablos, is it easier or harder to get medicine and disability aids in LD than in modern day LA? or roughly the same difficulty as in our world?

I would say that in some ways it is easier to get medicine and disability aids, with the caveat that if you want the good and legit stuff that still costs money. There's no free healthcare. However, you don't really need a prescription or anything, you can just buy the stuff over the counter as long as you can pay up.

How's the hero/villain shipping fan scene in LD? Thriving or obscure? What are the more common pairs the fans make?

I would say that it is thriving! As for what obscure and common pairs, well, just look at your average tv-show on AO3. There's a great variety, and a lot of them will include Charge.

Not many characters follow the classic hero/villain naming conventions like [Adjective/Noun] (Wo)Man, [Color] [Noun], or [Military Rank] [Noun]. Is that just a coincidence or do people actively avoid them?

They still do exist. Marshal Steel (Sergeant Steel) for example. Or Lady Argent in a way. I think it might stem from my urge to try to avoid classic names I already know are taken.

Out of curiosity, why is it possible to only lose 10% relationship between Step and Chen if Argent scars you vs. the 30% you automatically lose with him if you give Argent the regenerator? Is it because he feels responsible and therefore guilty for Argent's actions, or is there something else?

Yes, that is absolutely guilt and the feeling of responsibility talking for Chen. Sidestep turned into a victim in his mind, and that lessened his anger.

Hypothetically, could Sidestep use their telepathy to trick the Rangers, except Ortega, into believing Sidestep stole their noses?

Hypothetically yes.

Will repentfailures get another chance to try & stop killing in future games? If so do you plan for to have an achievement for a Step that fails in Retribution, Revelations, & Revolution?

I plan to have one in every book, and it is indeed a funny idea to have a final achievement for that. "Third time wasn't the charm" or something.

What would happen if the puppet took numbers while sidestep is still inside/possessing them?

I don't think anything would happen.

Is it possible for Sidestep to possess someone on Numbers at their current strength?

No.

Were they able to during their second escape from the Farm?

No.

When did the Marshal position for the SD Rangers pass from Thunderhead to Vaquera? What were the circumstances?

Thunderhead stepped down, she was getting old. She was still in an advisory position for a while before disappearing from the public limelight completely.

How many assistants has Mortum had over the years since retiring from active villainy?

Maybe three?

For the rival system, why did you code it to be a boolean/true or false value, versus the heartbreak scars and motivation being string variables? Were you planning to let us have multiple rivals?

I was planning on that originally, yeah. But I felt it diluted the thing I wanted it for, so I haven't used that yet.

What was the incident with Thunderhead that Sentinel and Chen discuss in the Void series? ("You think she will answer, considering what happened last time?" / "She's going to answer if I'm the one asking." Sentinel looked uncomfortable. "We're just going to have to be ready for the lectures.")

Sentinel and Thunderhead had a loud argument about Thunderhead's suspected passive manipulation of moods and people for the betterment of society. They have been at odds over that for years.

When was Thunderhead born? Her gray hair, the way she addresses Sentinel, and being a licensed hero prior to the Big One in Bones of the Land suggests she might've been born in the mid century (unless the former is premature greying, or she dyed it to be on theme), is that around the right place?

Yeah, she was older than most others, I would say she was born in the early sixties.

What is her ethnicity?

African american.

What were the circumstances of Thunderhead's boosting, given she was a licensed hero before the Big One?

She had faith she would survive, and circumstances proved her right. This was however very early in the boost drug's existence, so the strength wasn't as impressive as today, and the survival chances greater. She is unusual in that she is very powerful for an early boost.

What is her Ljungstrand classification?

T13578.

How did Thunderhead become a licensed hero?

She wanted to change the world for the better. Be all that she can be.

What was being a licensed hero like prior to the major cultural shifts of the Big One?

A new thing. An attempt to bring the budding hero/vigilante movement under some sort of government control by licensing individuals and providing them with assistance, therapy, medical care and monitoring. A bit like giving grants to non-profit organizations, if those were people out to make a difference in society. Fighting crime was not the focus in those days, many heroes were focused on things like community building, rescues, environmental action and the like.

How different in terms of quality & content are mainstream movies in FH US vs IRL?

Not going to get into that now, but you will get to know in the future! There's a project coming up.

If Argent talks about her destroyed gala dress at the casino what she says changes based on Steps civilian presentability. Is that just for the sake of comedy or was she able to clock how fashion-savvy the villain is?

I think that was just a fun thing.

If Chen suspects that Step is the villain & Blaze’s killer why does he agree to meet after the nightmare/therapy?

Because he's not sure. And the only way to be sure is to stay close.

Are there any heroic mercenaries à la Heroes For Hire?

Oh yeah. I think that is quite common. Even vigilantes got to eat.

when asking mortum out to the gala and explaining what the bombs they supplied would be used for, why does saying "it's for distracting everyone at the event" lead to a lower friendship increase than "it's for blowing up the museum"? is it because it provides a more specific explanation of what's going to happen? do they appreciate the faith sidestep has in their work? do they just like the theatricality of it?

It is the trust it implies. And also, because Mortum suspects something like that, and Sidestep is being forthright about it.

Did/Do Sentinel or Anathema attend Pride?

Yeah. Sentinel was a big fixture.

Is healthcare more or less accessible as a career path and field of study in universe, considering medical science has so much bigger a focus on it? Are healthcare workers paid better than in the real world?

I would say that healthcare workers are the engineers of the FH world. It requires a high degree of technical literacy, and they tend to be well paid. Of course people like hospital orderlies and apprentice nurses are still not very well paid.

What are ben and vera's swears of choice?

Still working those out. They haven't settled yet, and when they do I will go back and adjust what I have used so far. Speech patterns takes some time to build.

Were Shroud's powers always causing her to wither away from the time of her boosting, or did that come with her powers getting stronger?

There was always an effect, but it has gotten stronger the more she has used them. She is quite worried about that downward spiral.

Has rabies been cured in fhr? Is there any hope for Sidestep with treatments if not?

Not cured. The treatment of putting the patient in an induced coma and fight the disease every step of the way has survivors (around twenty percent or so), but it is still a danger.

did skyraider ever interact with sidestep in their hero days?

Not really, no.

Would armadillo and argent get along?

You know what? I really think they would.

How easily do vera and benjamin get sunburnt?

Not really for either of them.

if asked about her antennaes being silly does bumblebee get defensive about them or is she confident in her fashion choices?

Oh she is defensive as hell.

Could Jake and his powers KO the Catfiend?

Not for any extended length of time. Long enough to get away? Yes.

Would the catfiend survive being launched into space

For an unfortunately long time, yes.

Does ben dress as things other than a pirate for mortum's halloween parties or does he stay on-brand.

The temptation to stay on brand is strong, but he likes to vary. He's gone as James Bond, and once as a shark. That last one got too sweaty.

does dove like having her nails painted? does ben?

You know what? I think Ben would enjoy that more than she does.

The punk & rock scene have been mentioned in past Q&As & I’m curious what the goth subculture is like in FH since a lot of the foundations were set in the 80’s & theirs took a very different turn from ours. Is it roughly the same but with an even more morbid reputation due to that or did it take a different direction?

I would say that it is roughly the same, the morbidity just gets spicier with dark ashy skies, refugees and so many dead.

Any advice for avoiding plot holes and overly slow-paced scenes when writing stories? when i read fallen hero, i find that every scene just feels right and doesn’t need additional explanation for why events unfold as they do, and the pacing never feels dragged out. i admire it a lot!

Start in the middle and move forward from there! Anything you need to know can be handled in flashbacks. Don't write a scene if it doesn't move something forward, either people, motivation or plot. Rely on dialogue if you can, long descriptions and text can feel slow. Write as if the reader will automatically understand what you mean, a lot of readers are smart and doesn't need too much explanation or being talked down to. Even if things are not readily apparent, they should be from context in the next few pages or so. Above all, watch old movies (up to the mid eighties)! See what they show and don't show, how much they leave to the audience to interpret. Avoid doing what modern movies do and have people say a thing while they are doing it (I am hacking into the computer now) so it can be listened to while being on the phone at the same time, and explaining everything for the audience that doesn't pay attention. TRUST YOUR AUDIENCE. If your story demands they pay attention, they will. And if they don't? Well, I'm not writing for them. Another tip, write the minimum of scenes, the ones that would be an extended sequence in a movie. You can always go back and add more scenes for context and flow later, if you start with the "filler" scenes the chances are you and the reader will grow bored. You need less of them than you think.

what are some of the things you're most and least looking forward to with revelations, and the rebirth update?

Least: Implementing the save system in Rebirth. Cutting away some of my favorite scenes in Revelations because I am not sure they will fit anymore.

Most: Rebirth additions! I have some small ones, and one big one that I hope will work out and fix some things. Revelations... villain interactions! Telepathic shenanigans! Heartbreak! Ortega birthday!

what are vera and ben's general views on heroes? are they cynical, believe in true heroism, somewhere in between?

Vera believes in heroism, Ben is a lot more cynical.

the Farm looks into contacting Mortum in the epilogue if Step isn't a known telepath as the villain. Does this still happen in epilogues where Step's telepathy is known and the Farm investigates them instead of contacting Mortum?

Probably a lot lower on the list. And there are reasons for that.

What was the initial reason the Catastrofiend took the boost drug the very first time? How long before they tried it again? Was the first boost they got regeneration or something else?

Better than the alternative. And regeneration was the first boost they got, which is how they survived everything else.

If smooching a villain is hot to our hero ros, is smooching a former hero hot to the villain ros?

I mean... there's a reason why it's a big romance trope!

Is there an appeal to our villain ros to smooch another villain(step) or is it more "eh, that's basically kinda sorta my coworker, whatever"

Look, "let's kiss while the world burns around us, and also we threw the firebombs" is a very valid character motivation.

Is anyone on the villain team clocking the mcs similarities to Hollow Ground in 4.1?

No.

How much do Sentinel's children know about his hero career? Do they ask him about it a lot?

I am torn about that. Part of me is wondering if they are not more like "come on, daaad, stop with all these boring stories!" You know, like dads who used to be sports heroes and now have kids who thinks they are lame because they're not a pop singer or something.

Does he ever take them flying or are they too young for it currently?

I think he does. That part IS cool.

Would it be possible for Arde to be threaded by HG in their transformed state? (Assuming HG would be brave enough to shake any of those hands lol)

Yes.

Is there any chance Logarithm will appear in a book or is he simply a background character?

Background character for now. Might change, I like him, but no plans for now.

Do Vera and Arde train together? If so, what would that involve?

Timing and teamwork. Their powers don't compliment each other, but they need to know what the other plans to do. So a lot of that, picking up cues, developing new hand signs and so on.

Did Ortega graduate early from highschool, for them to have had their accident at 17? How did they manage that?

Bold of you to assume Ortega graduated from highschool.

Had Ortega not been suggested in the direction of the Rangers by Chen, would they have stuck to their corporate hero gig/sponsorship by a military subcontractor?

Probably. I can see that working out for them with the right handler.

Does Mortum mind when Sidestep/the Puppet drops Dr. from their name when referring to them, given how testy they get with the casino guard about not using their title?

Not if they have a good relationship. But that is something I need to have a look for.

Is Sidestep/the Puppet dropping Dr. when they think of/refer to Mortum a sign of closeness to them, similar to them going from Steel to Chen?

Absolutely. Also I might occasionally be tired of writing Dr. all the time and wants to change things up.

Per suggestion by glitchy, can we lose friendship with Mortum as frosty/business associates if we don't use Dr. on purpose?

I like this idea!

Could mobility aids be an option for crashed Puppets and non-selfcrashed Sidesteps?

Probably, I am still torn at how much time I want to spend in that stage. Expect a lot of fiddling back and forth once the first draft is done.

What was Ace's sexuality? Were they (not the Puppet) attracted to men by that one choice they can have regarding Herald at the gallery, or is this an up-to-the-player hc thing?

I have no idea, and won't specify. That is entirely up to the player.

What does Argent think of no kill villainsteps buying a gun at the auction? Or is she too preoccupied with her own plans to notice?

She is way too busy with her own plans to notice or care.

in rebirth, did ortega ask sidestep to get coffee with them to check if sidestep was a hallucination?

Yes, anything to make them stick around and interact with someone but them.

How much money did Vera make on the Sidestep rescue? If not in a numerical value, how much relative to her other odd jobs or relative to her normal fee? How much does it increase when she gets double or triple paid overlapping requests from separate parties?

It was lucrative, but I have no idea what inflation has been in this world, so prices are not something I will specify. Not the most high paying job (unless she gets paid by several) but the temptation to stick one to the rangers was to great to resist.

Is this still true? (The name Catastrofiend being picked for it as a callsign)

Yes.

And this? (Catfiend being an active villain before it was named the Catfiend)

Oh yes!

What was the context of Themmy and Catfiend meeting? Was it while Themmy was still in the cult?

Yes, that was when Anathema was still part of the Green Sky. The Catastrofiend had dealings with them early on, and many has theorized that it was a member originally.

Does it consider itself to have a gender, if at all?

No. It has shed its humanity.

Does it use it/its pronouns on purpose?

Yes, it likes being seen as a monster.

In a game of truth or dare, which are the rangers picking? And do they follow through? Would they if it meant that Sidestep would?

Dare: Ortega, Argent. Truth: Daniel, Chen. Of course they would follow through!

does ortega get nervous when sidestep is near a ledge or a window?

On bad days, yeah.

Would Ortega tackle Step out a window like Blaze can if circumstances were similar?

Oh yes.

is there a reason that sidestep only gets the livestock dreams when they're physically alone?

I needed more content for those paths since you don't get any interactions.

does Ortega cook often for their friends or the other rangers nowadays?

Yep, Ortega loves cooking for people.

where/from who did the rat king learn to communicate through kaomoji's?

That's just my representation of their psychic impulses! I wanted something cute that wasn't text or dialogue, and I saw a kaomoji rat and got inspired.

In an earlier demo, Arde's secondary arms are described as vestigial when they are human-form, are they able to move or use those arms at all in that form?

Yes, but they are very weak.

I know it's unlikely considering Boosts have fertility issues, but what would happen if Vera turned into a pigeon while pregnant?

That would be bad. Very bad. Most likely....

What type of mod is Ben? Type C like Chen?

Yep, their base enhancements are very similar.

What's Arde's and Dove's enhanced classifications?

Arde would be considered a strong beta level boost, close to alpha level. Dove is considered a strong gamma level, just for the weirdness of it. Not much combat power though.

Is the old man a boost?

Yep.

Is Hollow Ground's oldest brother (the original HG) for sure dead?

Yes.

When are regenes introduced to their handlers?

As early on as possible, they need to be stable first, and the AI chip having started to integrate. It's a little bit like ducklings imprinting on the first thing they see moving. It's easier if the handler is there from the start.

Has Herald shared his interest in the paranormal with any of the other Rangers? What kind of reaction did he get? Or if he didn't, why did Mr open book avoid it with the others?

Oh he has tried, he really has. But after the look of disbelief and disdain Chen shot him down, he has decided that some things are best kept private.

Did Anathaema ever try to achieve neutral buoyancy by breathing in water?

No, that feels horrible.

did anathema’s nails grow?

Not really, no.

How does sidestep appear to chen in his mind-dive scene? younger, older, as they are? similar to their file photos?

I think it would depend on the scene, in some they might look like back in the days, in others closer to the current form. Mostly the latter, because that is when Chen started getting close to them. So any suspicious circumstances might code them younger.

Did Ortega ever ask Argent to see if she could dig up data on heartbreak? To see if she could find someone for Ortega to blame.

No. Ortega was trying to get over things at that point.

Does ortega ever feel guilty for taking credit for some of sidestep's accomplishments, like killing the Void?

I mean a little, but also Sidestep tended to avoid the limelight, and it would be a shame to let that go to waste.

If the rangers/mortum/vera/benji had the option to have sidestep pick a truth or dare and sidestep had to follow through with the truth/dare, what questions/dares would they ask?

I genuinely have no idea! It would depend so much on the circumstances.

Would herald like it if sidestep took him on a cryptid-hunting date/hangout?

Absolutely! That sounds like a great date!

I remember there being a lore post about a terminal cancer patient in Belgium who took the Boost drug in an act of desperation and turned into a city consuming tumor. Would that tumor meat be tasty to Shroud or Catfiend?

I... sometimes I look into the mirror and wonder what I have wrought. And then I look at the question again and realize that the most disturbing thing is that I do have an answer. It would be tasty to the Catastrofiend but not to Shroud. She'd still eat it though.