Big load of questions answered! (Patreon)

Well, time for the questions again, this is a LONG one as I catch up!

This might be spoilers, but what do the SD do with the genetic "donors"? Are they used as well? Do they just take their DNA then get rid of them?

Honestly it varies. In most cases the 'donors' are just surreptitiously harvested from hospital dna data, but there have been times where that has not been possible and the donor has been put on ice more permanently, especially if that is people nobody would miss.

Also, how often has everyone had to get their teeth replaced? Thinking about Blaze spitting his teeth out when we fight him, and how this is probably a regular (?) issue.

Oh that is a regular issue. Teeth damage is the most common one, I think most people in the hero business have as many of their real teeth left as professional hockey players from the days before the good face protection helmets. Or boxers. Still haven't decided if the 'teeth regrow tech' they are experimenting today would be working in the FH world. Hmm. Come to think of it I think it does, BUT most heroes and villains would use teeth replacements anyway, because that is a lot faster and easier to fix. I bet people like Ortega already has replacement teeth molded and ready on storage, so the biggest issue will be if the fastening points are damaged and needs repair.

Does Riley still bother/harass Ortega?

Nah. That was just a past thing.

Will Mortum get their hands on that generator in Ortega?

I mean... that was a thing in the original novel, but unsure if it will be here. It will be such a side track...

Will we ever be able to attend one of Mortum's villain parties?

I would want that. Maybe book four. One party in each book.

If it's not too bad of a spoiler: Was Heartbreak's family still living in apartment 412 when Heartbreak returned there during The Incident?

Spoilers.

If they were, did Heartbreak's aura of madness get them too? Would Heartbreak even be capable of psychically recognizing they were there, or were they too far gone by that point?

That would have gotten them too. It wasn't a voluntary thing Heartbreak did, at that point it was an escalating chain reaction.

If they weren't, would it have made a difference for Heartbreak if someone from their family had been there when they arrived?

Sadly I don't think so.

Feel free to ignore if this has already been answered in a different Q&A, but do any of the Rangers have a "favorite" villain that they've fought over the years?

Hmmm. I think I might pass this one over for now, I don't have any on the top of my head, but it really is an interesting topic I would want to expand on. What makes someone a 'favorite villain?' Fighting style? Personality? Vibes? I am probably overthinking this, but it might be a lore post in the future.

How well known is the fact that sidestep stopped the nanosurge?

It is moderately well known within the hero community of the people that were active at that time, and somewhat known in the villain community from the same time as well. But it is not an open secret, most civilians have no idea Sidestep was involved as anything but another vigilante helping out.

Why is bennett afraid to look in the mirror?

You never know what can look back. Except he does. And it's him. Look. He's got issues. Or sees too much. Hard to tell at this point, I have a half-written lore post about him that might be finished one day when I feel inspired.

Did sidestep emit the same telepathic aura when the catfiend was being devoured by the nanovores as they did in 'ghosts' and if so did skyraider recognise it?

I would say a big spoilers about this. We might get into that in game.

Does Ortega, or anyone else, ever visit Sidestep’s grave?

Ortega did weekly (or more at the start). Chen does quite often as well, as does a surprising amount of people. That we WILL get into in game.

If they do, what type of flowers do they bring?

Ortega would always bring what was in season, and then whatever was Sidestep's choice vice.

what would happen if we managed to just... yoink Sidestep's chip out of their brain without killing them? would the chip memories fade? would it affect/damage their brain in some way? would they be the same, or irreparably changed? could it be taken out safely or would they die regardless? how dependent are they on the chip really?

Oh that is in book three! You might find out the hard way...

Why is Argent's ethnicity/race a secret to the readers, exactly?

It's not exactly a secret because it's mysterious, it's just that I have gone back and forth a few times of what it should be, and I wanted to save that reveal for when Argent (possibly) gets their own skin back and can see herself in the mirror for the first time in years. So basically I wanted to save it for the game, there's no deep dark secret there.

Will we be able to get Mortum/Sidestep/Argent poly in Book 3?

According to my plans, yes. Hopefully. At least the start.

During Heartbreak, Ortega saves Chen and because of it arrives just slightly too late to help Sidestep. The same Chen who Ortega knew froze Sidestep out and made them feel like an outsider and an intruder. How did that affect their friendship?

Oh that was a big fallout for a while. I think it was part of why Ortega was so messed up, because Chen was their oldest friend, they had joined the Rangers together, so there was no regrets there, but yet if... that dreaded if. Complicated feelings. A lot of hurt. They have talked things out at this point, but for a while there it was raw and hurtful for both of them.

On the topic of Heartbreak, if Ortega knew it was one or the other, would she have let Chen die?

No. Ortega refuses to accept one or the other. It has to be both.

If yes, is there anyone she wouldn't have left to save Sidestep? Would either of those answers change if she had future knowledge equivalent to having read Fallen Hero: Retribution?

I think this is one of those dreaded what-if mindworms that still haunts Ortega's dreams on occasion. But they are also very practical. In the end the fact is that they did what they could. Their oldest friend almost died in front of them. There was no way they could have done anything different.

Do you have a version of Sidestep that you prefer to write for? Either because of the enjoyability of their scenes or because they are more likely to get into interesting places narratively.

It depends on my mood. I am very fond of the caustic jokester that banters with Argent and Ortega (and Vera). That dialogue is very fun to write, and coul go on forever. The other one is the deeply depressed, angry, alienated hateful Sidestep because it feels so good to get it out of my head and on paper. But I haven't written a Sidestep I didn't enjoy, all the facets are interesting to me! It's just that some are easier than others.

What about when you are re-reading or playtesting, any particular path, personality or RO you find yourself gravitating towards?

I mean my personal Sidestep (Charlie) is deeply fucked up in ways that I think most people don't do. Angry hateful loner who wants to see the world burn. But most of the time I re-read/Playtest with choices made randomly to generate a text I can read. I don't want my choices to influence a good story, I want the text to read well regardless of choices. I might tweak general variables to test various versions, but I don't do individual choices until towards the very end. Of course this also leads to hilarious discoveries because I don't always remember what choices leads to what, so I can be legitimately surprised when things happen. Like when Herald saved my Sidestep during the Museum heist in Rebirth. I had completely forgotten I put that in there. How I swore.

What does the mind of someone who has dementia/Alzheimers feel like to a telepath?

Stuck in a snowstorm seeing glimpses of your surroundings. Trying to eat starch and swallow it. Walking with feet that has fallen asleep. Opening buttons when your fingers are stiff from cold. Everything is so hard.

Giggling and kicking my feet after reading that you're working on the Chentegastep poly. By far my most anticipated branch, it's gonna be so peak fiction

It is fun and way too complicated. Through that initial part now though, so the hard part is done! Chen demo is getting closer.

Does Danny ever float around aimlessly and have "air time" to decompress (the same way some people need "floor time")?

OH yes. It is very cleansing. I am looking at my floor right now.

What was going through redcut!Jake’s mind when Sidestep turns down HG?

Oh Jake is reeling at that point, the notion that someone COULD say no to HG is so new. Wait. Could -I- say no?

If an Omega level Sidestep were to join the Rangers on the condition that the media/PR team is forbidden from mentioning them on anything (official advertisements, news, or even that they joined the Rangers, no obligatory events/celebrations, etc), would it be possible to arrange?

Not joining, no. But as an associate might work.

Would Argent be interested in a dramatic movie about secret identity villain Sidestep… where all the other characters are humans, and Sidestep is the only muppet? Inducing their own villain persona? And this isn’t mentioned by the cast at all at any point? (E.g ‘I wonder who’s the mysterious villain…’ Sidestep: [The only muppet on cast, in and out of armour.])

Ahahahaah. That is funny. But she feels it would be funnier the other way around. Because that would mean more muppets on screen.

Will we have relationship variables for the Guardians as a villain? I want to make them afraid, too 🥺

Yes, the guardians will have a team stat and relationships too (not as individuals.) You'll get to fight them in book three!

Does Jake ever regret turning down a hot encounter with a cool!Puppet that propositioned him and his date?

I mean... a bit, yeah.

Given his superstitious nature, especially with Filipino monsters, how would Jake feel about an exact 1-1 similar boost (appearance, power, demeanour), but with none of the weaknesses?

Oh that is BAD. Kill it with fire.

Varying from the above question, how would he feel if they were attractive, otherwise keeping everything else accurate?

Still kill it with fire.

I know it’s been taken out of the game, but how would Chen + Argent have felt about Sidestep prioritising the Handyman as the bigger threat than them? How would Leonard feel about it?

Ahahahaha yeah that would be such bragging rights for Leonard. He'd talk about that all the time. Chen would be confused, Argent would be FURIOUS. How dare you ignore her! (sorry Leonard, you're a nice guy, but you have a paste gun. I have claws.)

Will there be an option for Sidestep to have seen Regina as a mother figure?

I think so.

not really a question, feel free to ignore this (and any of my questions!) but i love your writing and i am absolutely obsessed with Ortega. i do not know what flavor of crack you put into that character, but i have never understood Sidestep more. infuriating person, love of my life, i want to eat them whole!! idk what the fuck is wrong w them but im into it!!!

Ortega is giving me the smuggest look right now and demands to know why I didn't make them the main character. Oh no, you fed into their ego.

sorry if this was asked before/falls under HC territory/is spoilery, but would Ortega be freaked out if they found out Sidestep was equally or more obsessed over them then Ortega is over Sidestep? would they be flattered in some way? smug abt it?

SMUG. You know that.

does Ortega like it when their lovers wear their clothes? like stealing one of their shirts to wear around the house in the morning

Oh yes. That is so hot and personal.

would Ortega wear terrible awful t-shirts if Sidestep gifted it to them? im talking some of the most godawful prints ever. would they be of the attitude that "anything can be fashionable depending on the wearer/how you wear it" and take it as a challenge to make it work, or would they be delegated to stay at home clothing/thrown away? would the answer change between pre- and post-HB Ortega, since they seem to not care as much abt their public image anymore?

Ortega would wear anything on a dare, and would assume anything gifted by Sidestep was a dare. They would make it work, anything can be cool if the person wearing it is cool. And nobody is cooler than Ortega. I think the one exception would be silly hats, I don't know why, but Ortega has opinions about hats. Apparently. I learned that just now. What the hell... Shirts are go though.

in a previous QnA, you mentioned that it was up to HC if Ortega knew where Sidestep's home was pre-HB. in Retri during the Ortega apt date, while discussing the cracked Sidestep mug, Ortega also admits that they kept it in part bc they didn't have much of Sidestep's stuff left for them to keep after their death. with that in mind, out of pure curiosity,

-i always assumed the SD would have found Sidestep's apartment and turned it upside down, completely gotten rid of everything that was in there, am i right to assume so? if so, how fast did they do that? was it top priority in case there was anything incriminating in there, or did it take a while? if the SD didn't do anything w Sidestep's previous home, what happened to it? or is that up for HC?

Nah. SD didn't care about Sidesteps apartment much. It was an afterthought, wiping away any trails, but it wasn't a top priority. Eventually they got to it, but how fast is headcanon. For the story I think that if Ortega knew the place, the SD got there fast. If Ortega didn't, they took their time.

-if Ortega knew where Sidestep's home was, did they go there after HB? probably after the SD did or after it was put up to rent again? or did Sidestep just not own much of anything back then that they could have kept together w the mug?

It took Ortega a long time to get there. Because it hurt. They kept putting it off. Ortega was in a bad shape at the time, and Chen was severely injured. And once they got there, the place was ransacked.

i noticed the way that sometimes there will be bits of text that show up in game, little phrases/paragraphs in italics with lowercase letters throughout that really stand out from the rest of the page. when it happens while we're possessing Ace, that's usually a sign of their premonition power manifesting. when it happens while we're normal Sidestep, however... it feels almost like there's someone, or something, talking to them? the first few times i read the books i thought they were basically Sidestep's thoughts, but now knowing that there's something/someone(s) riding shotgun inside Sidestep's head... was that them talking to Step? are the gates a stopgap measure at trying to keep them contained? is Sidestep even aware they're there before the crash? am i going crazy?

You are not going crazy. I put things in text for a reason, but I am not going to tell you exactly what it means. But you are not wrong for paying attention to these things...

sorry if its been asked before, but how did Argent learn to fight? did she already know some martial arts before the nanosurge, or did she only start developing those skills afterwards?

She learned most of it afterwards. She was in good physical shape, but that was mostly through surfing and swimming and general sports. She couldn't fight at all at first, but she learned fast.

Aside from adrenal fatigue and quantity consumed, what exactly influences if someone survives or not consuming void blood?

The same luck of the draw of what boost abilities might be induced as someone taking the boost drugs. It is safer, yes, but there are still changed that might happen that the human body can't/won't accommodate.

I remember being said that Jake and Ashfall would survive if they did, which makes sense considering their powers seem to be related to dimensions, but Argent, Ortega and HG were also on the list. Does having a "weird" mind also influence your survival?

I mean... it's not exactly a wrong statement. One of the things that kills people is panic. Say for example that you are suddenly manifesting flames. You panic, and suddenly there are more flames everywhere, and eventually everything burns. Being able to keep a cool head under fire and think analytically about things and knowing your own body can help.

Oh, another question! I think it's probably a 'no' given that it would add yet another variable and there's a lot to keep track of already, but do you think it will be possible for sidestep to set up chen and ortega without romacing either of them?

Yes. It is in the coming demo. Whether that will actually work out is a different matter.

For Ortega, what is their type? Dating wise. Actually, what are all the love interests’ types?

I will NOT tell that, because I want to leave that open for people to have their Sidesteps be the love interests type.

If Argent successfully gets her skin/body parts back by using the regenerator, could she still be a hero? Would she be weaker than before?

Oh she would be a hero I think, but she would be very different. Possibly. I have some variables there!

Sorry if this has been asked before but is it possible for Puppetstuck step to stay in the puppet and disguise themselves as the original Sidestep to do hero stuff? After all, combat wise both abilities act similarly, or would the height difference be a dead giveaway? If they did try though, would the rangers be able to see through the lies?

I would say most likely not, but it is a thing I have entertained. Just not sure of how feasible it would be considering events in book four.

Follow up on the answers for these questions:

(-Could sidestep make more puppets on their own? What they did carter in one route is kind of similar to what happened to the puppet and if they could improve this proccess could they make someone braindead while leaving their nervous system intact?

-If so, could sidestep begin collecting heroes, villains and in general powerful boosts/mods to use as puppets?)

Theoretically. But the amount of time and effort that would take to erase their minds is a lot, especially since heroes and villains tends to be VERY strong willed.

If the main issue with making more puppets is consciousness resurgence and in general the people regaining control when sidestep isnt possesing them, could imprisoning the puppets while they're not in use, fix these problems?

I mean temporarily possessing them and then locking them up is an option! A bit too risky for Sidestep currently I think, they have broken out of too many similar situations to be comfortable with keeping enemies that close and interact with them that much.

-It wouldnt require wiping someone's mind to use them as a puppet, so if sidestep didnt want to or was unable to wipe someone's mind, they could still be used

Correct. But if the original mind was still in there, every possession is a fight. A bit like if you had to wrestle someone to make them do what you want, possible, but not very practical other than during special occasions (like using Argent to steal the nanovores).

-Sidestep could practice the process of deleting someones mind and in general hone their skill of building more permanent mind structures

Correct. I can see some puppetmaster Sidestep wanting to explore those powers more in the future.

-In case someone regains control of themselves it'd be either in a cell or while sidestep is around and worst case scenario is that sidestep would lose them as a puppet

Worst case scenario is that they will be able to learn things about Sidestep while being possessed. It is not a complete one way street, if you notice a lot of the time Sidestep hides what they are doing and works hard on making the person either unaware of their actions, or making them think it is their own ideas. It's a bit like talking on a cellphone in public. You never know what people can learn. Especially on repeat occasions. Considering what is happening with the puppet in book three... yeah. It can be risky, even with a perfect ost.

-Isolation and sensory deprivation are great at erasing one's sense of self. Sidestep would know.

To a point. As Sidestep would know.

-Also since short periods within mortums gun are fine, with the use of it, the puppets could be deployed almost exactly like pokemon.

I won't lie, there are some cool combinations with Mortum's gun and Sidestep's possessing abilities I have been considering.

What is the most physically demanding task the 'old man' could feasibly accomplish?

Quite a bit actually. He might be old, but he's not decrepit.

How would sentinel react to finding out that sidestep has become a villain depending on their actions?

Ahaha oh you might find out. Sentinel was never the most forgiving person.

If a sui and monster tagged sidestep escaped the hospital, would ortega be more concerned about what they'll do to themselves or others?

Others. Is what Ortega would say. But in their heart, Ortega is also a sap. So it would be worrying about what Sidestep might to to themself and why.

How would ortega react to finding out about the rat-king and them having saved sidesteps live with the grappling hook or by stopping them from spiraling?

That's new. Also kinda cool.

Could ortega charge their battery by rubbing their socks on a carpet?

Ahaha no. Although... static... hmmmm....

If it would be posible at all would step be able to have the talk about the Hero motivation with Mortum in book 2 with Ortega, Daniel or Chen and what would their reaction be.

I plan to have talks like this with many people because I find them interesting, it is just a question of when it fits in. Not telling the reaction because honestly I'm not sure. What is interesting about these scenes is that I get to explore what the characters feel too, sometimes they surprise me.

Will it be possible for guilty Sidestep to still be at Ortegas Birthday (some kind of Truce maybe) or will that exclusivly for the innocent path.

Ortega's birthday will be there for everyone! Just varying paths.

If Step would show up regardless who would arrest them first and also when( imedeatly or after the party)

I think it would be after, because who wants to ruin a birthday? And who will be depending on the relationships to the other characters.

Is it possible for Step and the RO to go to the cinema and watch a Movie( maybe something with Step in it). If that is the case how would each of them react/tease step about it (especialy Ortega and daniel)

Sadly I don't think Sidestep is popular enough to still be in cinemas. Maybe a local rerun of stuff, but it is a cute scene. There are some similar things I would like to fit in, so I prefer to put off answering this one for now.

How do you think things would have turned out if Step had somehow incidentally run into Owl at some point early on after their second escape? Or Pyroclast/Sentinel post-leaving the LD Rangers (unbeknownst to Step)?

I have no idea! I don't generally indulge in hypotheticals, I have way too many other things on my mind! That is for fanfic writers.

Would you ever consider selling fallen hero merch of any type (like a print on demand model maybe?) in a future that didn't make it so impossible to ship and sell things? And if so, what kind of merch would you consider/want to sell?

I have considered it, but as you say, the state of the world right now makes physical goods pretty much a moot point. That being said, I have given my blessing to people who have sold Fallen Hero stuff in the past (they asked), like prints or mugs.

How impactful will the Fakeself tag be if you manage to keep it going into revelations? Could see a a few different kinds of steps use it as fuel in a bad way. Especially with a romanced Ortega.

Oh Sidestep tends to be one who doesn't let things go easily, especially not since it might have hit a nerve. That one will be sticking around and see some use.

Do Innocent AFAB Sidesteps have to have The Talk (about menstruation/menstrual products) with the (male) Ranger they're staying with? Who handles it the best & worst? Scratch that, how does each of them handle it? On a less silly note, how would/did they go about getting toiletries, menstrual products, etc. in a way that doesn't scream "now hiding someone"?

Of course they had to have the talk, I have just skipped a lot of the more personal, minute things like that. Those starts are long enough already. That being said, I don't think it would be a big issue for any of them? I might be naive, but it's toiletries? Is it really such a big thing for a guy to buy things like that in the US when they do their shopping? I don't think that's the case here. For some, like Herald or Ortega, it would just mark them as nice sensitive guys to do that for their girlfriends, as for Chen... well, most people don't see him as the marshal if out of armor. He'd just be a guy. If there is paranoia involved, just do a mail order to a private post box and pick it up.

It is a sensitive subject, so I would totally understand if you do not wish to say anything on the matter, but what do you think of AI in writing projects ? Do you use it yourself ? (Not to write everything from scratch obviously, because you have a very specific and personal writing style, but maybe to brainstorm some ideas, or when you don't know how to say something in a very specific way etc). Do you think it could truly be a tool to help writers, or that it just gives the illusion of that ?

I loathe generative AI with the power of a thousand suns. I don't use it, I won't touch it, and I have stopped using programs I love because it has become so integrated I can't ignore it (Grammarly). I really never lack ideas. If anything I have too many of them, I could write every day for the rest of my life and I would have hundreds of ideas I never would have had time to explore. So for me, I don't see the reason. I feel it is a trap and a curse on the writing world, it strips you of the very thing you need to do to be a writer: Write something even when you don't feel like it, and get through that first million words of crap so you can find your own voice. Generative AI is a trap, you don't become a better writer by using it, just like you don't become a better cool by buying pre-packaged meals.

That being said, some people don't want to become good writers. Maybe they just want an online rp-partner who won't get impatient and quit, or a way to generate character images. I won't judge people for doing that, though I think by now people might be able to see the drawbacks. But as a writing tool? No.

A final caveat. There are uses for some things in writing if used with thought and moderation. Using tech like that to help with grammar checking for example, or give advice on how to structure more official sentences and the like. Or simple translations of websites. But those things already existed beforehand. Take Grammarly for example, before the AI thing, they had a feature where you could check a box and it would suggest a better sentence for you if it felt yours were structured wrong. Simply it and so on. I never had any of those boxes checked because grammar is a suggestion for me, not a rule. But it would be useful for writing if it was your second language for example, I won't knock that. It was a more advanced version of the suggest next word thingy in your phone, and that was fine. That's really all that generative AI is blown up on a bigger scale. Take something someone else wrote, remix it and present it in a safe and bland way.

But there is a big difference here. Pasting a thing you wrote into a window and ask for grammar and rewrite suggestions to make it look nice is one thing. Asking the computer to write a whole scene for you that you can edit later is is a shortcut that will destroy your brain. If you don't use something, you forget it. If you outsource your creativity, writing skills, and ideas to something else, what even are you? If you need ideas, take a walk, watch a movie, read a book, talk to someone. Cook a meal, make a bloody sandwich, don't down a jug of 'huel' or 'soylent' or whatever the tech bros called their nutrition slurries they ate instead of food to save time. You need to LOVE what you do, why else would you do it? Dare to be bored, no dare to be BORING! Dare to have second-hand ideas of your own making, dare to be bad and stupid and ignorant and a beginner. You don't need polish, you need to get down in the dirt and do the bad and boring stuff. Otherwise it's not yours. Write something yourself for fucks sake, why else would anybody want to read it?

And yes, I can see that using chatgtp to write an application for a job that will only be read and denied by another ai kinda makes sense. But that's slop writing for slop consumption and not what we're talking about here. Sorry for the rant. It could have been a LOT longer.

How did Ortega shower before their mods were upgraded to be more insulated? Was that ever a hazard for them?

They hooked up a cord to an outlet in the shower before turning it on, which was essentially grounding them to prevent power surges. It wasn't a big hazard, they could be out when raining, but it was more of a basic precaution. Because you never know.

Is the catfiend from Australia?

Nope, but the idea is deeply funny to me.

How big an issue is food safety and product recalls in the FWT given its cavalier approach to regulation and such?

It all depends on the reputation of the manufacturer, so it's really the wild west. I would say think about the early 1900's, late 1800's, where it was common practice to do all sort of food-related shenanigans and adultery. Especially considering food was a scarcity early on in the FWT-era. On the other hand, it looks like the US is heading that way again, with the demolition of regulatory agencies and the embrace of things like unpasteurized milk.

You've said about the current population size for Los Diablos being a third of Los Angeles' in 1980, but is this comparable to other cities across the FWT? What would you estimate the population size to be overall, relative to the real world west coast?

I would say that on average, the population on the west coast is a LOT lower than it used to be. About a third of the one it was in the 80's might be a good approximation.

What was the official date of the FWT's creation? If a days too hard to pinpoint, was it the start of 1992, the middle, or the end of the year?

You know what, for big symbology reasons I would say 4th of July 1992.

What was the reason for retconning the timeframe of the FWT lease from 40 years down to 35 (change from 2032 to 2027 as the end date)? Or was this an in-universe change?

I wanted it closer to the in-game timeline to heighten the stress of certain decisions in certain villain paths that has more to do with politics.

What's the postal service situation like within the Free Western Territories?

Private postal carriers, think basically UPS and the like.

What is the full agreement for Resolution 32? We know about no hosting international flights, reducing the power of the US military bases within the territories, and that the federal government has rescinded governing to the companies to do as they see fit, but what else? (if it's too big, could you do a lore post about it?)

I genuinely have no idea. Right now the agreement has what is needed for the story in there, and I want to leave it open in case I need to add things for further developments of the story. I might make a general lore posts about it once I get into writing the politics bit of this current book and I need to finalize more things.

Will the series end before 2027 (the charter's proposed end date)?

Yeah, that's the plan.

What does Vera think of Anathema?

Anathema was a cool hero. A bit of a dork tho.

Did/Does Themmy have any memories of their family? What were they like?

Vague. They died early, so they were dim and confused, for all extents and purposes the Cult was Anathema's home and family.

How did they get the boost drug?

Probably because it was circulating in the circles they were a part of, I think Anathema stole it.

Was Anathema's first taking of the boost drug essentially a suicide attempt? Get powers, or die?

That was the case for quite a lot of people. So essentially, yeah.

What were the causes for those feelings?

Life sucked. Lonely. No sense of a future.

How concerned is Ortega about the Puppet disappearing from the hospital in the 4.1 route where Mortum and Sidestep break them out?

Depends on their relationship. It can be everything from an annoyance at losing a source, to genuine worry if they cared.

Will it come up with Ortega about Sidestep being involved in the rescue?

Maybe. Not sure.

What about Ortega finding out about Mortum's involvement (and potentially recognizing them from the museum gala)?

Most likely. It would be fun.

In prev qnas we've been told we haven't seen Ortega in their full gear yet but given what we now know from the demo about Ortega's special assignment as telepath assassin, were they geared up for their assault on the Void compound or against the Heartbreak threat? Has their gear changed significantly in any way since the Heartbreak incident? Would changes to their suit be noticeable or subtle?

They were geared up for the Heartbreak assault, and during the Void attack. Whether their suit has changed substantially is spoilers, Sidestep will have to figure that out in game.

Is the Farm near any Native American reservations?

No.

Does Heartbreak have a canonical civilian name?

Not one I have come up with yet!

Is Arde allowed to say fuck? Do they like swearing?

Arde COULD say fuck. With their hands. Probably still is a bit of a thrill.

Is the old man someone who's been mentioned by name (in the games, or Patreon)?

Yes.

Did any organizations manage to secure samples of the Belgian Mass Anomaly?

Oh yes! You bet.

Do Regenes have to say the American pledge of allegiance in the morning like school children have to? As part of the indoctrination culture?

No. That would give them illusions of personhood.

Would Void blood retain its boosting properties if heated?

Hmmm. Probably not.

=What happened to the animals at the LA Zoo (& all west coast animal parks) during & after the Big One? Are there rumors of lions, gorillas, etc. roaming places humans abandoned? Are any of them true?

Died or escaped. I think a lot were let out once evacuations were underway. So yes, there are wild exotic beasts that has repopulated part of the landscape. There are constant rumors about them, some might even be true.

How common are circuses in the FEZ? Have there ever been any Evil Circuses?

I think that's a common entertainment around the small towns and villages. Probably with a fair mix of boosted fighting shows, pro-wrestling, and other weird things depending on who the performers are. I bet there are evil circuses too. It makes sense.

Do cuckoos get taught chess?

No. But the rules come with some of the memories implanted, it is a common knowledge. Most lose it/never uses it.

Why whiskey, for Ace's poison of choice? (out and in-universe)

Why not? I just grabbed something that was specific enough to be remembered. No deeper symbology.

Do blugenes have grey/purple/blue tinted sclera from the colloidal silver the Farm uses on them, or does the Farm control it to only affect their skin?

Yeah, they do have the grey/purple/blue tinge to the white of their eyes, but the levels vary widely. Also, please remember that this is a superscience version of a real world phenomena, so the levels described in game tends to be stronger than what people who use a bit of colloidal silver has in the real world. Most would stop when they starting to turn blue there, that doesn't happen for regenes. This also means that the older a regene is, the more marked the color is.

What's Arde's (untransformed) body type? Are they heavyset/stocky, broadshouldered, etc?

Stocky and broad-shoulders. I saw them as the pro-wrestler bodytype.

Does Arde's more humanoid form appear androgynous, or do they lean in one direction or another?

I prefer to leave that in the hands of fan artists.

How much do they care for their hair, since they've grown it out? What was handling it like at first?

It was weird. But now it is a strange symbol of freedom. I think it's still not something they spend too much time on, just having it is enough.

How tech-savvy is Arde?

Adequately. Some from the Farm, most from Vera.

Why does Arde like reading about romance?

Because it makes them feel like they understand humans more.

Would they enjoy reading/writing (fan)fic?

Probably, if they dared to take the step.

What's their thoughts on RPF?

I don't think they see the difference, it is still a fictional person because it is in fiction.

How spicy does Arde like their food generally?

Spice is nice! They like things that taste strongly.

What would happen if I Boosted someone with auto brewery syndrome?

Same thing that would happen if you boosted anybody. Who the hell knows? It's not a supercharging of what the body already can do most of the time, it is a secret third thing.

Why does Chen dislike clowns?

Have you seen them?

Would he be alright against a clown themed villain?

Yes, but it sure would be a nightmare.

do the girls have any opinions on you smooching argent in armor??

No, other than that human mating rituals are weird.

will they have opinions based on the ros (hero or villain) that you smooch in armor? do they even understand romance for that matter?

I want to have a conversation when you try to explain romance to the rat king. That would be hilarious.

a bit ago, you talked about the difference between models of dampeners. what kind does the rangers hq use?

No idea! Probably near the top of the line.

mortum apparently likes building snow forts, but what about pillow forts?

Hmmm could be talked into it.

can we get the ratking to snitch on what they know about mortum...

Interesting question... hmmmm. I need to think about that.

what did mortum think about vitruvian having a villain exhibit but not them?

Annoying but also weirdly relieved. Who needs a museum exhibit?

you've said before that hg has two alternative identities, one as a henchman for nocturne, the other one undetailed. at the risk of being malincadod: is their other identity the one that allows them to meet up with and thread steel?

Yep!

mortum still has their old armor in storage... is there any way they could potentially be convinced to put it back on in the future 👁️👁️

Oh that is absolutely on the table.

...Would halabi potentially get the chance to look at the regenerator in the future?

She might be a thread to pull in, not sure. That chapter is planned but not finalized in writing. Getting there soonish though...

actually follow up to that question: would it be possible to reprogram the regenerator with the help of mortum to reverse/mitigate the consequences

Not in the scope of this book.

would halabi use it as medical tech if reprogramming it works or would she still deem it too risky due to how experimental it is?

Oh that is an interesting call. I know the risks. It would be tempting, but... hehehe. We'll see.

it's been implied before but it's probably best to just bite the bullet and ask: since mortum has worked for hollowground before, and it's possible the facial piercings are trackers for more dangerous recruits, is mortum making miniaturized piercing trackers for hg.

That sounds like an interesting plan, eh? Something both of them could utilize.

blaze explains that he heard something like a voice in his head when ratking was telling him what to do. would rat king be able to replicate focusing intent like that to communicate with others? or did that only happen because of the strong emotions behind it?

It is possible!

why does chen like wearing caps?

First of all, he has short hair, so it keeps his scalp from getting sunburned. Second, the cap helps hide his face in shadow, keeps him from getting recognized, and hides a bit of the scars. A cap can also signify sports teams, or other affiliations to make people make assumptions of who he is and what he stands for. Easier to just be anybody. If he could get away with wearing a cowboy hat he would, but Ortega would never let him live it down. Yes, Ortega does wear a hat on occasion, especially at the ranch.

Chen doesn't like presents, but would he refuse baseball game tickets?

No. He'd like that actually.

Is FIDE still the major governing body of chess?

Probably, I see no reason to change that.

Does Chen have a chess title?

No, he's never been in any ranking systems.

did we see moments of the various imposters ever pushing into steps narration in rebirth?

I mean... surely I would never set up later plot points in book one so people can go back and look and swear once they have more information?

re Chen’s HB scar: is his scar also affected/shaped by the emotions HB was feeling during the incident?

Yes. Heartbreak imprinted strongly on people.

In the 3.1 ending where Mortum checks on Sidestep's body and finds they're walking about, is imposterstep covered up or did Mortum see the Re-Gene tattoos?

Covered up.

Has Ortega ever left lichtenberg figures on someone they've fought as a result of their lightning?

Oh yes. And I bet more than one person have asked Ortega to do that to them because it would be hot and cool, and have been refused.

Did some cuckoo's ever have major fuck-ups during missions, yet didn't have their cover blown, because the other guests assumed they were one of those wealthy people that are so profoundly disconnected from normal life that their behaviour seems alien to the average person? (Like Mark Zuckerberg or the McDonald's ceo)

Oh I bet. That's why they have assistants on missions, to help give those impressions.

Do the lady and the tiger in the crash sequence and Escape - Reprise have anything to do with Frank R. Stockton's short story as metaphors given the door/gate analogies?

Yep.

Did Sidestep vomit a lot at the farm while testing their body hopping ability?

That is a weirdly specific question, I have gained a lot of flack for writing that at all into the story, but I imagine that happened.

If so, did they have to clean that up themselves, or does the farm have janitors and/or other cleaning staff?

Janitors.

Do you have anything for us to go on about Joe's appearance? Height?

No, I see him as average.

In Rosie's Mitchell guide, it's mentioned that she wasn't the subject of their surveillance when it catches her and Joe's conversation, but why was the bar being surveilled anyway?

A lot of interesting people come there, it was likely some other patron the surveillance was focused on. No idea who.

Is it still bugged/under surveillance?

Only on occasion. Joe prides himself on running a clean house, but some things slip under the radar for a while. Bugging the place is a bannable offense (not to mention that certain patrons might take it a lot further to preserve their secrecy.)

Do the Re-Genes outnumber the (non-guard) Farm staff that work with them?

Not unless you count the one still in the tubes. A regene is essentially a fighter jet, they have a lot of support staff.

Does that change when guards are factored in?

No.

What are the body hacking, DIY biology, & transhumanist movements like in the FH world? Are there any big figures (Besides The Void) & what’s the general perception of the movements as a whole?

It is huge but split! The more commonly accepted movements (live longer! be healthier!) are still split in two major factions: One is 'organic,' people using medicine, vat-grown organs, and various drug therapies to optimize their own body. The other is 'techy,' still using many of the same drugs but focusing more on cybernetic implants, limb replacements and upgrades. At the lower end of the scale we have people injecting themselves with peptides to biohack their bodily functions or getting a functional tattoo that can be used to open your door, at the other end we have people exchanging their organs with new one grown from their own cells to try to reduce their biological age, and people replacing functional limbs with cybernetic ones to get better performance.

The third branch of this is the one that deals with the boost drug, and the ideas that humanity can progress to become something more. While the boost drugs are at the heart, it is important to say that this also includes people working on full body replacement, moving human brains to robot bodies, and turning analogue human memories digital and place them on servers. This is less focused on optimizing, and more of becoming something NEW and better. While there are certainly cults and cult-like behavior in the other two branches, they dominate this one. The Green Sky and Cult of the New Flesh might be famous for their less savory practices of using blood and eating human (boosted) flesh, but there are many others, some even supported by upstanding organizations and people.

Did Ortega keep any of Hood's things, and if so, where do they keep them?

Yes they did, they have a storage unit.

What about Sentinel re: keeping Hood's belongings?

A keepsake or two.

Is the bike Sentinel brought to the Green Sky raid originally Hood's?

Yep! Good spot!

Can you clarify what you mean by Regina and Sidestep working together before their first escape? Was she their research staff handler as a scientist (like, training them/having them under her care), or something else?

Regina wasn't a handler, she was a scientist on a team. She ran some of the experiments that Sidestep was a part of but not their primary carer.

Was Regina actually in the SD van during the Heartbreak incident or was that Sidestep memory soup editing it in?

Memory soup.

Actually, couldn't Sidestep mimic Shroud's drain power by just consuming all memories and thoughts in someone's brain through telepathy?

Theoretically close enough to be a yes. Wouldn't be exactly the same. It would be a bit like emptying a barrel with a bucket, compared to using a suction tube or a siphon. More effort, harder to get the last dregs, but close enough that the barrel would be empty,

Did Rahim grow up in Los Angeles/Los Diablos, or did he move there later in life? If the former, is this what motivated him to become a district attorney there?

He's a local, grew up in a community on the outskirts of Los Diablos.

How long has he been working in the LD justice system?

Not sure. Two decades?

How old is he?

I saw him as between 40-50, but have no exact idea.

What's his ethnicity?

Part of the pakistani diaspora, though he's second generation so he's never been back there.

Anything appearance-wise?

No idea! I am faceblind, that's something I am really bad at.

Is the physician that Mortum recommends to Sidestep that they can dump Carter with Halabi or an unnamed character?

I still haven't decided.

Did Dove fly ALL the way to the ranch or did she drive a bit there?

She flew the last stretch only, didn't want to have too far back to Ardee in case things went south.

How far can she fly before she needs to take a rest?

Far. You can essentially use carrier pigeon stats for her flying, so she is both fast and resilient.

What was Ace's enhanced classification as a precog before being eaten by Shroud? Delta or gamma?

Delta.

Is Dread Reactor mistaken for a Kaiju at times? Is Dread Reactor the only of its kind? Can it construct more of itself?

Oh yes, Dread Reactor is the OG Kaiju for many. Big thing moving in the ocean? Yep, that's a kaiju. So far as it is know, it is the only one of its kind. The scary thought is that it is the only one that has broken free of its programming, or that people are busy building a replacement...

What's Mia's opinion on Five Pennies?

Psycho that used to clean up good for the camera. Sadly not unlike many vigilantes.

How would Mia describe her sexuality?

Probably bi-curious, not that it's any of your business.

Was the ranch ever at risk of incursion from the Green Sky expanding their territory?

Nope. Different areas.

Are the gates specific to Sidestep's brain/body, or do they carry over when Sidestep bodyhops to the Puppet?

Now that will be a vital piece of information. One you don't have yet.

Since we've only been given ballpark estimates for their heights, what are Mia's, Elena's and Anathema's heights?

Mia and Elena are short, and Anathema is average. I really have no idea. Mia's will be revealed eventually for reasons, but I don't want to give wrong info right now that might change.

Are Re-Genes given books to read at the Farm? If so, what kinds?

Yes they are, it is a good way to receive information. They are mostly facts, related to their role and function. Cuckoos gets a more varied diet to get a sample of what human life is like. Some banned books are passed around as contraband.

How does Dove feel about Herald also being a fan of Sidestep?

Okay, they have two things in common. That's it.

Is Dove above being pet in her pigeon form?

No, that can be nice.

Because Dove is a Sidestep fan, does she also have an opinion on the villain being named Sidestep? Is she sour about it like Herald or is it more understanding?

Not as touchy about it as Herald, it's more dependent on what type of villain.

How do Argent's nanovores feel about mushrooms (foodwise)?

Meh. Mostly empty.

Will some of the characters that appear in the sourcebook get cameos in Revelations and Revolution?

Oh yes. Some info there is me sharing info early and building background.

If a human ate a re-gene or vice versa would that be considered cannibalism?

Oh yes.

Has the Core been at the Farm for its entire lifetime? Since birth or inception, whichever you want to consider it, that is.

It's built into a room, it's not really movable. Think like the supercomputers of old, the surrounding cooling and power systems are intricate.

Who would win? Pyroclast vs Industrial hepa air cleaner. (Model: MT-MB02266-GER)

Pyroclast.

Is it common knowledge to Farm staff that the Core is failing or is that only known by a select few?

A well kept secret among the upper management and the staff who absolutely needs to know.

We know a lot of Regene memories are implanted from military personnel as well as civilians, but are any of those memories themselves constructed/ false? As in, are they all the lived experiences of real people, or are some of them scripted or purposefully added in the minds they're extracted from? False memories are notoriously easy to create after all, and that would be an easy way to filter out unnecessary fluff.

Not the original ones who are used as a baseline. There has been experiments of doing things like this to make the process more stable and without needless deviations (bread, really?) but all that happened was that the memories degenerated into useless sludge. Think of an AI repeatedly fed on its own output. The current theory is that the "unnecessary" memories are providing a framework to hook the others up to.

I guess a more succinct question would be, when you say the memories are doctored, is that more like editing a movie in post, or convincing a psychiatric subject they remember something that never happened?

It is more like editing a movie. Certain parts are removed, but the core events still happened.

Do the Gates perhaps open to a central destination, such as a Core...?

Gates leads to somewhere alright.

We know bounty hunting’s a thing but what’s it like to be a private investigator in LD? How are they generally seen by the populace?

They provide a vital service, they can be everything from people investigating adultery or insurance fraud, to people hunting down murderers or corporate espionage. The line between a vigilante/hero/private detective can be blurred, often the main one is the costume and name.

This one feels too spoilery but I'll try anyway-- Is Ljungstrad currently incapacitated because he's been incorporated into the Core?

That is absolutely spoilery, I won't go into that much detail about exactly what or who is in the core. Just general specifics.

Alternately: is he just suffering with telepathic infection? And on that topic, you've described the infection before as having symptoms that sound similar to dementia -- memory loss and psychosis. Is there any connection between the two?

The 'infection' does have things in common with both dementia and Alzheimer, as it does to many other degenerative brain diseases. The big question is the onset, what is the cause. And whether a cure can be manufactured.

Does Sidestep share any memories with any non-Regenes they've met (or known of by mutual connections) in real life?

I... don't know exactly what you are asking here? If the memories of any of the people Sidestep knows were used in the first memory upload? If so, I don't think so. The base memories were made long ago.

Are there any known instances of boosts getting mental/physical illnesses & it affecting their powers noticeably (IE getting weaker/less controllable/etc.)?

Oh yes. Very common. Many boosts have power breakdowns over time.

shot in the dark pharmacology nerd question -- what is the mechanism and site of action of the Boost drug, as in, does it act on a cellular/molecular/organ level and how? What was it intended to do re: that when it was first created?

See. I have a distinct idea for at least some things. But my worry is by going into detail will make the whole thing less believable. I will say that the official story is that it was a failed diet drug, which is true. However, many drugs popularized through various fads originally comes from somewhere.... I probably will be getting into this eventually.

Are there Re-Genes that have two (or more) different tattoo designs/colours from being recipients of a transplant limb from a recycled Re-Gene? Do they exclusively use the rejects from the production process or do they also find from outside the program?

Yes, there are regenes with multiple tattoos for that reason. Occasionally there might be outside bodyparts used from boosts, but most of the time the private sector will outbid the Farm for those, so they will stick to their own supply.

How does the process work for cuckoos, since they probably have a smaller pool to work with (can't use blugenes)?

They don't get in as many accidents luckily. But there might be limbs harvested from pre-silver bodies for things like that.

Are there any cultural things within Re-Gene culture about being the recipient of a recycled Re-Gene's organs/limbs?

OH yes! Because the tattoos are as unique as names, it becomes a living reminder of the original regene. On occasion, regenes adopt certain mannerisms from the donor, there is speculation in the Farm whether this is a psychological tick, or evidence of some form of cellular memories. So far the evidence is unclear.

Can Re-Gene tattoos be gradients ergo two diff colours? Or are they solid in design?

They can be gradients, but most are solid colors.

You've said the process for tattooing is quick, but how quick exactly? A few hours?

I would say the actual application process takes a few hours, but the planning and design does take a lot longer.

Whats the most complex task the Zombie generals zombie's can feasibly accomplish?

They can use firearms, and with enough guidance some of them can drive.

How many time would we have to shoot argent with an Anti-aircraft gun to achieve the same level of anger as possessing her achieved?

I mean getting shot at with an aa gun is kinda flattering. No need to get angry there.

How big of a threat is Dread Reactor to things on land? Could it hit coastal targets? What about inland?

Theoretically a big one. Think of it like battleships. They can fire at both coastal targets, and a fair bit inland with missiles. However, it is unclear if Dread Reactor has any ammunition remaining, it has not shot at anything in years, preferring more close-up attacks if forced to.

If Dread Reactor allowed it could people live in it? Or at least stay on it for a limited amounts of time?

Yes, there is theoretically space for a support crew.

What’s going on with stem cell research in the FHverse?

At the heart of most new medical procedures, and what lay at the heart of the cloning procedures that eventually led to the regenes.

Is sidesteps warranty voided?

Sidestep is dead.

How narrow or broad an area was Project Stripes targeted to? Was it just around Argent's/ Heartbreak's community(/ies) or did they try to keep some distance between targets?

Various communities were targeted, with a fair distance between them. They needed to have their own water plant/purification and delivery systems. A wide selection of surrounding factors was preferable, to see how that affected things.

On that note, did Heartbreak and Argent ever interact directly?

Kinda.

Was Heartbreak the Person the favorite or deliberated groomed to run Heartbreak the Experiment on? Or just a convenient option?

Spoilers.

Sooooooooooo are Dove's powers connected to Project Stripes shenanigans in the neighbourhood?

I mean....

Did The Void’s Green Sky teachings take any inspiration from any pre-existing philosophical schools/religions besides boost supremacy & presumably the New Flesh’s or was it all Void originals?

Void thought it was all originals, but there was probably a mix of various philosophers, tv-shows, comic books and novels puttering around back at their mind. Everything comes from somewhere.

last qna you said that if anyone would've gotten close to themmy, it would've been mortum, why is that?

I just feel like they would have been able to understand each other, and the power of re-inventing who you are now compared to whp you were in the past.

how clean does pyroclast keep his home? personal bet is pretty neat, but considering his powers...?

Yeah. He likes to keep things in order.

(discounting the rev demo) has vera ever minorly harrassed herald in her pigeon form? like stealing his food or screaming at him (like other birds have apparently done to him before)

She might have enticed others to.... pigeons are peaceful, but seagulls on the other hand.

With the hero drug having been refined since it's development, and with the different variants such as "Philippine-Green" having different reputations and shelf stabilities (and presumedly effectiveness)... Were Void and Five Pennies boosted via the same batch or variant of the drug?

Hmmmm. Kinda? At least a similar strain.

how exactly does argent's technopathy work? manipulating the electrical signals?

Oh this is pseudo science, I have no idea how that would even work practically. It's just neat. It could technically be electrical manipulation in combination with telekinesis, but that would take all the magic out. Same with Pyroclast, some powers you just have to accept at face value.

is her "communication" with electronics a version of reading and interpreting the binary signals sent through electrical signals?

I think that is as close to an explanation as we'll ever get.

question that i am probably reading too much into but has nevertheless been haunting me since i read it: somebody once asked for sidestep's ip address and you gave it, with the disclaimer that ip address systems work differently in this universe. analyzing the address closer shows that it was indeed structured different than the ipv4 (or even ipv6) systems we use in this world. do you have any tidbits to touch on about that, and am i thinking too much about this yes or no

Ahahaha look I am at the mercy of whatever thing my brain has hyperfocused on lately. It has now moved on to new pastures of facts to devour so I don't have more info about that.

would it be possible for any future regene-reveal-emotional-support-partners (like herald was in retri) to witness ortegas stellar foot in mouth disease at work (i.e: "i can take care of things")

Possibly! Won't know until I write the scene.

Is there any deeper reason to Sidestep not being given colloidal silver during their second stay at the Farm than "for the plot to be able to happen"? Were they that confident that Sidestep wouldn't need to worry about Sidestep escaping a second time (jokes on them lol) and thus didn't need the insurance of making it harder for them to disappear with blue skin?

The latter.

No trackers or explosives either?

Sidestep did cut out some trackers, they are fairly certain they didn't miss anything. But remember, they were working on faulty assumptions of what Sidestep's current power levels were. They had not planned for what they had become.

Why not extend their tattoos if the colloidal silver process takes a long time?

Why? Sidestep was never getting out. It is a bit like "why not fit every prisoner with a tracking implant?" Because they are in a secure jail, so it should not be needed.

How long does it take to make blugenes fully blue?

They get blower with age, but I'd say about six months until they're visibly changed.

How long did it take for Sidestep's body to get repaired to "functional-ish" anyways?

Hmm. Months. A lot of the things were done at an as-needed basis. Remember, at first Sidestep was just there to get some readings from, the use for them expanded as more facts came to light.

If Sidestep dared to dive into their own mind, could they manually open and close the gates within?

Good question.

does vera smoke weed with arde? if so, what is it like being a pigeon when high?

I imagine so. And I would imagine it is relaxing, a bit like cedar waxwings getting drunk on fermented berries though, nothing you do while flying.

Does Arde metabolize things differently when transformed?

Yes, slightly. They are more resistant to poisons and gas, their immune system goes into overdrive. Which can also be a bit dangerous.

Are cuckoos given amphetamines and such or just the combat units?

If they have to stay awake for long durations.

If so, is this possibly where coffee vice steps got their habit? Subbing caffeine for Pervitin instead?

Can certainly be for some!

did chen have any particular reactions to ortega pinning the photo of argent kissing sidestep to the fridge?

"You have been waiting years to be able to do that, haven't you?"

What's Regina's opinion on mortality?

It happens to everyone, it is what you leave behind that matters.

Does having the visual input of the nanovore eyes help Argent maximize her power use, or would her powers be just as effective without it?

It helps a lot, but her powers are still usable without them.

Would Hollow Ground like if they had powers that let them communicate with fish or is that too weird for them, given they do also eat fish?

Sometimes it is better to not know what people are saying. That includes fish.

Since Hollywood Boulevard presumably got badly wrecked, were there ever any calls to rebuild some of the big landmarks there, eg. the Dolby or Chinese Theatre, or notably the Walk of Fame? (And would any of the Rangers aspire to have a star there if it got reinstalled?)

I think some parts are probably restored as a community memory sort of thing. I think parts of the walk of fame are now in the Hollywood Museum, together with a lot of other movie-related things. But it's more of a monument to the past, not something that is currently in use.

Is the Core's infection anything like Sidestep's scar?

Hmmmm. No.

you said before nobody in the rangers actually thinks ortega is the best liar, who do steel, argent, and herald consider the best among the rangers then? (especially curious about chen since he's known ortega for longest and knows they're more clever than they let on)

Argent thinks she is the best (and has proof), Chen thinks he is the best (and has proof). Herald doesn't think it's him, and why would you lie to your friends anyway?

What do the decimal place and numbers after them indicate in Farm code designation? Do the letters indicate being of a specific batch, or their powers?

Basically just batch numbers, it's more to track which particular experiment it is. There's no dewey decimal system of regene recepies.

Is the Farm code designation system in part inspired by codes for livestock such as cattle (given the yknow, livestock dreams label) or just a fun coincidence?

Just coincidence, now I need to look up livestock codes...

How are 'big' and 'small' signed in Re-Gene language?

Small is the index finger and the thumb pinched together. Big is all the fingers of the hand pinched together, then opened up wide.

How does the knocking version of Re-Gene language differ from Morse code (since that's likely a thing the staff would know and possibly catch on)? Could you give a brief example of how a sentence would work?

The biggest difference is that there are more variables than long-short signals. Tapping with a finger is different from using a pencil (soft vs hard). There are also tap-codes for words, not letters. In that way it's kore like semaphores. This makes the language very context heavy and limited, but it is mostly used when more direct communication is not possible. Much of it could be written off as fidgeting, or making a fuss.

A sentence example might be three taps with a hard object to signify guard (from the sound of their boots), another three (faster) to signify approaching, and a single thump with a fist to signal angry (from a punch).

Is being dubbed "breadwinner" as a Re-Gene considered being a teachers' pet/a derogatory thing within Re-Gene culture or looked on more favorably? Or does it depend?

Most of the time it is favorable. "Breadtaker" would be the derogatory one.

On average how many Re-Genes does the Farm decant in a year?

It varies wildly. Even if exactly the same amount of experiments are started, the randomness inherent in the process can give five viable regenes for decanting one year, and twenty the next.

About how many Re-Genes have made it to decanting stage total, from the Re-Gene project's inception to the present day?

I genuinely have no idea. It's in the hundreds, not thousands.

How many years do combat Re-Genes tend to live (before usually being KIA)?

Once again, it can vary. Once they are past the first year, the survival rate goes up a LOT. Most die early, partly due to inexperience, but also because of issues with boost powers and rejections, as well as psychic instability.

What about on-site Re-Genes and cuckoos?

A lot longer. Not being carted off as black-op troops for the military on distant shores does wonders for your lifespan.

Did Mortum's villain suit have a certain color scheme? Did they have a certain theme in mind when designing it? Are there things they would change about it now or are they still happy with their original design?

I think there was a lot of white in it, probably with touches of orange because I feel like that's still something that carries over to their sense of official dress now. I think it had a coat. Now Mortum would probably redesign it completely, think of it like an artist looking at old art. What was I thinking?

how long after they moved into the FWT and subsequently getting backstabbed did mortum decide to become a villain?

I don't know, but it was rather fast. The line looked more blurry from there.

how long did it take to build their armor?

About six months for the first one, but they constantly upgraded it over their career.

considering their need for funding after being backstabbed, did they use the money gained from blackmailing the W.A bank to fund their armor, or was the armor made before their debut, using their own resources?

That was the seed money for the armor, yes.

To what extent could the farm heal someone?

First class medical facilities, on part with experimental hospitals.

On average whats the ratio of severity of the injury to how long it takes for medical attention to arrive?

I don't think there is an average for that, because that would depend on the situation. It is different in a combat zone (medical attention might be a helicopter flight away or more) compared to a training accident (minutes).

For example if a re-gene 'died' for how long could they be revived?

Once again, depends on the damage and circumstances, just like in real life.

Could the farm fix physical brain damage?

Partly. Operating away blood clots, removing tumors and shrapnel is something they can do well. There are therapeutic procedures to help with neural growth, and cybernetic implants to help with other things.

Is sidestep any different when it comes to this?

No, they are similar to most other humans or regenes. What does differ is that they use certain parts of their brain more than most. So the damage might have different effects than it would on a non-telepath. What might be seen as a small injury might be catastrophic, and the other way around.

was ortega still perpetually late to things before they got their mods? or were they actually honest about their lateness being tied to them breaking watches/phones/etc?

They've always been bad with time. That's just an excuse.

has ortega ever tried to blackmail hollowground? or vice versa?

I think Hollow Ground tried. Probably one reason why Elena moved out to the ranch.

How did the 'war on drugs' era pan out, with the FWT taking such a lax position on drug use and the availability of designer drugs? Did it have any impact on the population growing in the FWT, due to ease of access and lack of legal repercussions to obtaining/ using drugs?

That was just in the east, the remains of the US. Was not a part of the FWT at all. And it had the added flavor that it was used to crack down on those dangerous boost drugs.

Could sidestep perform a play all on their own? By that i mean, could they puppeteer every perfomer for an entire show with different roles and lines and such.

Depends on their skill. It would be theoretically possible for both high force and subtelty Sidesteps.

If you were given an offer to have Fallen Hero adapted to the screen (TV series or film), would you take it? If so, would you prefer it to be animated or live action?

Animated. Though seeing the One Piece adaption I have to concede that live action could also be cool.

How much body hopping can sidestep do in one day?

Depends on how long it last, and how hard the body is to control.

Also, if used enough can this amount expand over time?

Oh yes, Sidestep is much better at it now. It just used to be minutes, now it can be days if using a suitable puppet.

In the DC universe, Flash is immune to mental influence/domination due to his mind naturally working much faster than everyone else's. Does the same kind of mental mechanic work in the FHR universe, where the faster a mind runs, the harder it is for a telepath to cling onto it?

Zephyr will be an issue for Sidestep, yes. For a similar reason. At least in a fight, they are not at top speed all the time. The same can also be true for boosts that uses very different senses because it would be hard to make sense of the input. Or Pyroclast in cloud form for that matter.

If just one dose of the hero drug costs as much as a car does in the east coast, how did Josh get the money for it, not just one, but two? I know the Sullivans are rich, but did he steal it from his parents or did he and Daniel just have that kind of money given to them as part of a trust fund, something like that?

Oh Josh got that money illicitly from their parents.

Could Dove execute a transformation into a pigeon while falling?

Yes.

If right after Dove dying as a pigeon and turning back into a human, could she immediately shift back to pigeon mode, or would she need to wait a bit, like a cooldown period? If the latter, how long would it usually take?

Spoilers.

Does Dove actually... die as a pigeon if/when she was eaten by Catfiend and isn't fished out?

Spoilers.

Will PCV and puppet individuality remain important past the imposter resolution?

They are part of the equation, but not the main variable. PCV's main one was to decide which body you would end up in. Puppet Individuality has a bigger role to play yet.

How significant is the ai-chip to the lore?

Lore? Not sure exactly what you mean. It is very important to the Farm's propaganda machine though. That is what enables them to say that regenes are little but flesh puppets, it underlies a lot of their business. If regenes are seen as intelligent creatures and not just empty force-grown bodies, what they do would be even more horrible.

Could argent wear someones skin like how ennard from fnaf did?

I genuinely have no idea who that is or what from. But Argent couldn't wear someone's skin, her own skin would eat it.

Is the reason why Sidestep uses she/her for Void because of associations with Regina?

Hehehe.

Has Psychopathor potentially been yoinked by the Farm for the same reason that telepaths and psi-sensitives have also gone missing?

He is on that scale, though very low on the power scale.

Is/Was Themmy psi-sensitive at all? If so, was that due to ingesting Void blood?

Nope.

Does Void blood induce psi-sensitivity at a higher rate than the boost drug does?

Hmmm. Nope.

How does Sidestep's phone situation work with the Puppet, since they seem to be able to answer texts sent to the Puppet while in their own body with a seperate phone? Have they cloned the Puppet's phone, or does Sidestep have to grab the phone from the other body every time they switch (until/unless Sidestep moves out from the apartment block)?

Sidestep has cloned the phone. Easier that way.

What did/does Psychopathor think of the Void? And vice versa?

Nutso <-> Brute

How ecstatic would Ortega be if step allowed them to dress step up for a day? Would they spare step the gucci and would they try to match step's personal style?

I think Ortega would be more excited if Sidestep decided to try to dress up on their own. Ortega would be available for consultation though.

Would argent have a field day or also try to keep true to step's style?

Argent would be more likely to play dress-up doll.

If Ortega was going to a pub quiz with a team of four total, who from the Rangers (past and present) are they taking with them? Is there anyone they'd conspire with to try and rope Sidestep onto the team with?

Pub quiz team: Chen, Anathema, Argent.

Are the nanovores in some way biological? They gave a telepathic interface and it's also noticed that Shroud and Lady Argent both have a bad reaction when coming into direct contact with each other at the Auction

I would say they might count as a biomechanical lifeform. It's a bit of both, like... are viruses alive or not?

Since Shroud's powers are technically telepathy, does that mean severed body parts are safe? Could I cut off her hand and safely pick it up with bare skin?

Oh yes. No issue. Not that most know.

Would HG play a Rangers themed tabletop war game or would they consider that tasteless?

Not tasteless, but lame. SO lame. Please Nocturne, don't make me -do- this...

Are there any physical/technological signs that a dampening device gives if a telepath is fighting against it or breaks through the current?

Not directly. There might be a slight increase in current consumption and a risk of overheating, but that can also come from other sources, such as an unstable energy grid or someone running the microwave in the other room.

how would ortega react if sidestep asked them "If I died today, what would you do?"

Cue the home-alone-horrified look.

If the Puppet kept Mortum's energy caster/handgun from Ch2 in Rebirth and Sidestep gets puppetstuck, will they continue to use it into Revelations (discounting the selfcrash puppetstuck arrested route where it most likely got confiscated)?

I need to decide what happened to that, it was made when I still had an equipment system.

Will the puppet_escape_plan variable be used for anything? Since it currently exists as a variable in Rebirth and hasn't been used since

Not sure. It is a variable, and I keep all variables in the game for reasons.

Is Mortum using their telekinesis to help them carry the Puppet at the gala if you spot them in the crowd?

Just a little bit.

Did sidestep have their own special room far away from the main complex at the farm?

Yes, they were in the isolation facility.

Since Telepathy gets weaker over range and running stronger dampeners is a continues expense, could the farm have decided that building a room away from the center of the facility and establishing a restricted zone in a radius around sidestep would be cheaper in the long term than dealing with the increased energy demand?

Sidestep was never meant to last this long.

Has blaze ever been interviewed while he was cooling down in a body of water after a fight?

Ahaha I bet. Voted second sexiest hero in Los Diablos.

A consciousness can exist outside of a body to some extent (Ashfall, Jake, Sidestep going between bodies etc), but would it be possible to keep that up indefinitely? Could it happen without the person intentionally carrying out the motions to leave their body? Does this mean that something like what we'd consider a ghost could exist in-universe-- eg. the body dies but the consciousness continues?

That is a VERY good question. There is a lot of research going into that, and some swear it is true. In a way that is also what people try to tap into when attempting full body replacements and digitizing consciousness. The trick is getting it stable.

How many birthday questions do you think you tend to answer a year?

I have no idea. It has gotten less and less now that smaller secrets are revealed in game. Maybe two or three times a month?

Is there a slur for Re-genes? If so did the farm staff call re-genes that to remind them of their status as property?

I think "blues" is a common one. Same with "puppets," or "dolls."

There's been some discussion about letting mixed Steps clarify on their ethnicity after finding out more info from Hollow Ground, but I'm wondering. Will the plan be to give all Steps the same opportunity there, given that gleaning an ethnic identity from appearance alone is always kind of nebulous in practice?

I genuinely don't know. It feels like... how much effort is worth putting in to specify something that is hard to judge by appearance? Something that won't have any callbacks in games anyway? It would only be to satisfy players who wants it, but I am also a bit leery about going into things like genetic testing, or blood vs culture. It's a whole mess. Right now I am doubtful I'll go there. I might but that will be a late stage playtest process in that case, I am not thinking about it right now.

How would the Villains who swore that sidestep was dangerous back in the day react to sidestep being revealed as 'the Villain' based on how powerful/dangerous 'the villain' is considered to be? Also how smug would they be to those who made fun of them for thinking sidestep is dangerous?

Oh there would be more than one person who would go SEE I TOLD YOU SO at their friends and feel vindicated.

Has Mia interviewed Mortum? If so, how did that go?

I am still undecided about that. We will see what is the most interesting.

Could sidestep telepathically make someone experience having all 206 of their bones broken in alphabetical order?

Uhm. I mean. That is very specific. The problem here is that Sidestep does not CAUSE pain, but can make people experience it. So the pain they can induce in someone's mind is what they already have experienced, and they can extrapolate it from there. It's easy if someone has broken a bone to make them feel that pain again, and to kinda simulate it if somone has bumped their leg real hard using their own experience with broken bones to bridge the gap. Just up the dial. But unless someone has gone through having all their bones broken in order and remember that trauma, Sidestep can't do it.

When Ortega mentions things happening soon that they want to protect Sidestep from-- does that have a basis in reality, that only they happen to know about? Or is it, perhaps, a delusion?

Spoilers.

How do non-telepathic staff "view" the memories which are loaded onto a Re-Gene's chip, or the reverse, of viewing the memories from post-decanting, like for Sidestep after their return to the Farm? Do they have something that converts the memories to a digital visual form?

There is an interface connected to the Core that handles that. Like watching a bad home-video movie.

Does the DMV exist in Los diablos? Who works there? What is the DMV experience like for the average citizen?

It doesn't. The closest thing is various car insurance companies, and that is as always their own hellscape.

What does sentinel think of an Ortega dating a trans sidestep after Ortegas previous fumbles of sentinels pronouns/ their ignorance on trans identity in the early days

"Lucky you had me to practice on, eh?"

In those routes where sidestep 'ate' some of carters memories does he not have them anymore or did sidestep copy and paste them?

Sidestep assumes the latter.

If sidestep is able to do these large-scale knowledge transfers could they copy someones Skillset and then use it?

Yes. However, it is still like an open-book test. You might have the knowledge at your fingertips, but you still have to find and use it well.

Would they have to integrate it into their minds in order to use it, like relearning something you forgot how to do?

Oh yes. It needs practice. The neural paths to muscles and stuff doesn't magically appear. It is is easier with mental things, like remembering facts, and harder with physical learned skills. And can be almost impossible with creative skills.

Would you call this process similar to how Re-gene minds are made?

Essentially similar, yes.

Could sidestep steal someones ability to speak french?

In the same way that a stroke could.

Could sidestep force someone to understand french against their will?

No, it would be more simultaneous translation.

Why did Herald not intervene if Argent chokes out Sidestep in Retri? What was he thinking as it happened?

He didn't think it was as bad at first, and then he was overwhelmed and didn't know what to do. Compare the reaction with if Argent attacks you in the hospital at the end.

What's the ortega_realize_crush variable supposed to mean? Is it Ortega realizing their crush on Sidestep, and/or Sidestep noticing the crush? Something else?

A super annoying variable which I used to mean one thing at the start, then decided meant something else later, and now it is a mess and will probably be retired since it has been replaced by other variables.

did mk-ultra (or any of the related CIA projects like project artichoke or project bluebird) happen in the in the world of FHR?

I think so, or very similar things.

If Daniel gets an ear infection or if something happens to his ear drum and messes with his sense of balance, would it affect with his flying?

Absolutely.

With martial law and changes to elections no longer allowing the populace to vote, how many terms does the average president serve in the post-Year of Hell US?

There are no elections, the senate appoints a new president once the old one retires. There has not been many presidents since, they have mostly stepped down due to age or sickness, replaced by a senate ally.

Do you have a name for the president that was in charge for Resolution 32/the formation of the Free Western Territories?

It was probably President Ross.

Were there any other presidents between Clark (Big One/Year of Hell era) and Ross (late nineties Rangers initiative guy)?

No. I don't think so.

What about from Ross to Gerard Jonas (current president)?

I think were was one very short-lived between them that was assassinated after two years or so. Let's call him Charles Burke.

Will Sidestep get to visit GeniTech's corporate headquarters in Los Diablos in future books and/or have they done so already off-screen (eg. tech thieves, anarchists)?

I have something planned there, not yet.

Did Julia cut her hair off before or after the funeral?

After.

Does Ortega see Fakesteps as human, or is that view reserved only for steps they dont see as a regene copy?

Spoilers.

If offered one, which members of the cast would eat a Catfiend burger? Would Ortega eat one on a dare?

None of them would (Argent would).

Did Ortega ever tail Step after finding out they looked like HG? If yes, were there any coincidences that Ortega used as evidence for their theory?

Yes, but Sidestep was very paranoid in those days. There were probably coincidences that Ortega used as proof, everything from food preferences to frequenting shady neighborhoods.

Will the Los Diablos sourcebook just be info about city and some broader things about the setting of Fallen Hero, or will it also have a playable campaign module like the Glorantha ones you published recently? If so, in what system?

The one we are working now is just about the city, focusing on the culture, villains and heroes that inhabit it. I have plans for a proper ttrpg module too, tentatively called Fallen Hero: Resolute where you play heroes and villains in Los Diablos. I originally started my own system (I love being a game designer) and while there are parts of it I love, it was also a big undertaking I didn't have time to playtest properly. So far I look more to stealing some parts of it and marrying it to either Draw Steel (the team fighting system is so juicy and fun, would be perfect for vigilantes) or possibly Questworlds (more story first open world, but fighting is less fun in that one.) The sourcebook is sort of a test case to see how it would be working with others in this world (got a bit burned by that during 2020) because I don't have time to be anything but producer for projects like this. My main goal is Revelations, the other things are petting people have fun in my sandbox and make more stuff together.

Is the Rebirth update getting put on the backburner again in favour of B3 re: your recent Patreon update, where you said you had just one project which was getting Revelations running?

I will do it. I promise. Have just wrestled with the Revelations structure so much it has felt more vital to keep up the pace there. Once the Chen demo is out I might finish up the last bit of it. I just keep getting sidetracked by wanting to expand and rewrite.

Did Sidestep have an ID for getting into Rangers HQ back in the day, and if so, how did that work? Otherwise, did Ortega always just have to chaperone them in?

Sidestep did. An associate id!

For faker steps, will Ortega eventually change their mind on all of them and believe that it is Sidestep, or is there a possibility that they can never around even by the end of the series?

Everything is subject to change, both of these outcomes are possible.

Do Hollow Grounds guards/other staff know who they work for or do they think they work for someone else? Are they threaded?

It varies. Some knows who they work for, others (like the pool maintenance guys) have no idea. They are threaded, but only the important once are permanent.

Whats your favorite pseudo-science?

Psychic powers/spiritualism, that whole bit! Just above cryptozoology.

Has Mortum visited either of Los Diablos' universities? What about other academic institutions in the FWT?

Yeah, I think so. They like to talk to other smart people on occasion.

Would Ace/the Puppet be of interest to the Farm re: a certain project that the Farm is scooping up telepaths and psychics for?

Most likely not.

Does Ace have any outward tell for when their precognition kicks in? (Like spacing out for a second) Or is it instantaneous?

I don't think so, they were a good poker player.

Does Spoon have a preferred spot to hang out at HQ that isn't Chen's office?

Sometimes with Herald when Chen is busy. Yes, Daniel has an office.

Are pets generally accepted at HQ (like if a non ranger wanted to bring their dog in)? Or is that just Marshals privilege?

I think after Chen became Marshal he decided that dogs could be at the office as long as they could behave.

How old is Marcia? How old is Savannah?

Marcia is in her fifties I think, maybe close to sixty. Savanna is in her twenties.

Does Vera ever visit the bakery(?) that Argent takes step to on her route at the end of retri? Does Vera grab bagels or their sweets?

I don't think so, but good idea!

Is Chen autistic or just another fun unintentional autistic-coding of a character?

Look. My brain is the way it is, it is unintentional, but I have also said in the past that Chen is closest to how I work. So... take that as you wish. I don't know how to write straight or neurotypical people.

What are the rangers' favorite movie time snacks?

Argent loves beef jerky or those little spicy dried hot dogs. Ortega is a chips guy, though Argent will complain about the noise. Daniel likes popcorn, and Chen is satisfied with just a drink.

How would've ortega reacted if sidestep told them everything when they meet them at the diner and how many of the current problems could've been avoided if this happened?

Some current ones avoided, a whole slew of new ones would have been made.

Did the Satanic Panic still take place in the US/FEZ?

Oh yes. When you have a 'superhero' that has taken the name Napalm Antichrist and is very open with that he sees himself as the antichrist (but is very polite about it) you bet there is going to be backlash.

Is Mortum happy with their lab, or would they prefer a bigger/grander one like the way secret bases for villains are? What would their ideal lab look like?

They are satisfied for now. If it would get bigger they'd need staff, and that is always a danger.

If Sidestep comes to the lab in Chapter 20, Mortum's deployed dampeners, but by the book epilogue if Mortum gets Sky-Raider to rescue their body from hospital/HQ, Mortum says that having dampeners in the lab would wreak havoc on their other project. Did the other project only just reach a stage where dampeners would be an issue?

Hehehe good spot. Let us put it this way, using the dampeners there (let's assume Mortum has tried that another time if not, they needed to know) might have indeed destabilized the project. Might be a bit of a ticking timebomb now, I wonder when it might go off....

What was the context of Mortum having met Re-Genes in person, as they mention to Sidestep/the Puppet in the selfcrash puppetstuck route? During their military contractor stint?

Hmmm. Bit of a spoilers, but I think I can safely say that was when they were working with the military.

Are Mortum and Halabi on a first name basis? What names do they usually use for the other when talking to eachother?

I would say they are at this point.

What about in a public place with regards to Mortum? Is it Abelard, Mirlene/Merle?

Often it is simply "doctor," in public. Or "Doctor M."

Do the first Re-Genes predate the Farm being built in Nevada?

Yes.

Was the facility that Snowball was kept at associated with the Farm at all as a satellite lab?

Tangentially. Like Puerto Rico is to the US.

Is there a reason why void blood can change eye color of all things?

I have a pseudoscience explanation that is spoilers. But it is related to how blue eyes gets their color.

What's dreamweavers civilian name?

No idea!

Whats the largest building in the Fez?

Probably some ungodly skyscraper in Seattle built for bragging rights.

Since Physcopathor is generally telepathic sensitive (forgot the word sorry) is he being used for the Core? Is that why Sidestep knew the Farm would be interested in capturing him?

A fair guess.

Is also why his wife knew where he might have disappeared off to? Via Farm connections/rumors?

She has other connections.

Did Shroud have any intentions of stealing the regenerator or mortums gun at the auction?

She was there because of the regenerator.

There was a draft version you posted a while back of Chen following a shaken Sidestep after they trigger steelsnap, so I'm curious, why did you ultimately end up scrapping that and just have Chen let them leave?

I wanted to have more ambiguity in what happened afterwards.

If the Rangers weren't regulated to have blue and gray uniforms, what Power Ranger style coloring would each pick for themselves? Current and past members please.

Ortega likes white, maybe white with blue or yellow accents. Bit of a lightning theme. Chen would go back to black and gray city cammo. Argent would do black, pink or rose just to spite people. Daniel liked his Kestrel colors, he thinks he looked more approachable in earth colors. Sentinel was always blue/grey for sky cammo. Sunstream would have gone gold and white. Hood would be grey, brown and black. Anathema would go bright mustard green or lime.

Have you considered genuinly giving us the options to actually trying to kill our selfs. I understand it is a difficult topic and I myself has been at that spot, but I believe scenes like when Herald takes you up the skycrapper for the first time, if you have taken the option to try and make him drop you, are good oportunities to explore this more, actually jumping and Herald saving you in desperation. I think it would add more depth and also give a positive message about no matter how desperate your situation is, people that care for you will be there to save you. (Not that you havent already explored this, but I love angst and I have more than once went through the path of self harm... I guess I like to see myself as the character, in the end I always choose what I would have done in the MC situation)

I have. I might go there eventually, depending on what happens. I know it is a difficult topic, but as you might have gathered it is one I keep circling again and again. I am a believer in working things out through reading and text, you are right in what you write, and it's not something I am going to shy away from. We will see where the story goes.

Have you considered giving us other villain paths? I liked Anarchist but I thought that it would be other options to be explored here that could make the critic to the system be even sounder. For example, going Corpo. Sidesteps is fed up with the world and believes that she now deserves to live the good life, so what she does is benefit from the system. Why it matters that her corporation lays in the foundation of stolen money? Why would it matter that she is a villain? If the system is created to protect corporations.

I had more to start with, but cut down and fused some. It is possible that some paths might get new sub-paths, or that some paths might be fused, but we'll see. The issue here is too many variables to give them the attention needed, not a lack of ideas.

I know this answer is weird and akward. But have you ever considered adding some form of sex scenes? You can ignore this question, do not worry. It was just curiosity and you have probably answered this question before hundred of times. Maybe there are some rules that you cannot break, you dont feel comfortable or feel is unnecesary. All of them valid reasons. But nontheless my curiosity shines in matters like this.

My first paid writing job online was writing porn. It is something I really enjoy and would love to include in graphical details in things. However, my big thing here is where I sell the game. At the start, I was worried about the Apple store, which is why Rebirth is very safe, and then Retribution became slightly spicier. But I make my living off on this. To go to far will include my Patreon being marked as adult, which will limit a lot of things. I might end up in trouble with payment processors. Or on Steam. Things are getting worse in that regard, not better. If I would get my paypal restricted I would be in a lot of trouble. So it is not that I don't want to give that option, it is that there is little way of doing that safely now, and even if, it might not be in two years. I can't take the risk, no matter how much I love that stuff. AO3 is anonymous. I also had some on my tumblr back in the day. But officially? Sorry. No. I wish the world was different. But I am the sole breadwinner for two and a half people right now, I can't afford to take the risk.