Heatwave Questions are Answered (Patreon)

Alright, hope everyone is doing reasonably well in this hot hot summer in a chaotic and nasty world. I've been in a deep autistic hole trying to finish all my deadlines so I can have a vacation next week, so apologies about the slightly unhinged answers to some of the questions. Not sure of my social filter at the moment. So apologies in advance.

That being said, good news. The sourcebook is over 100 000 words and I am cackling every time I get a new segment sent to me for checking. The updated/bugfixed/elaborated Rebirth version is done, and with playtesters/proofreaders. It's about 25 000 words longer (30 000 with code). Working on the next Revelations demo now, it will be the final puppet parts. Going to do some bugfixing on the last demo, then put it up publicly.

Next week is going to be less heatwavey (not made for 30C weather) and hopefully I can take that week off and get some wargaming in!

Thank you so much everyone, couldn't do this without you, and oh boy there are exciting things in store!

If there’s a ranking for sexiest heroes, is there one for sexiest villains? Is the voting done within the villain community or does the general public participate too? Do heroes vote? Who are usually the winners? And most importantly, CAN SIDESTEP be the sexiest villain? (not necessarily in the scope of the game but… in… my heart…)

Oh absolutely! I think there's several, just like for ranking things in our world. Some magazines have a yearly list, some fan-sites have a constant one where people vote, others try other methods of ranking. Some magazines arrange contests every year when everyone can vote. And well, Sidestep can always be the sexiest villain in your heart! I can't wait to get to write the fan content stuff... A minor part of the game, but it makes me chuckle.

Do Re-Genes ever use "breadwinner" derogatorily (to mean teacher's pet, suck up, etc.)?

I think like all words it could be used as an insult depending on the circumstances. But it is mainly positive.

Are there any Paths where Ricardo would regrow his mustache/shave his beard (even if it's outside the scope of the game)?

Oh yeah.

How 'alive' does something have to be for step to be able to possess it? If sidesteps possesion works by hijacking the nervous system could they control a recently deceased body as long as the nervous is intact? Could they control organs/limbs that are artificially being kept alive post mortem?

Currently, Sidestep has never possessed the dead. Could they do it with a fresh corpse and an undamaged brain? It is interesting. I won't say no, because... well... it's cool. No artificla limbs, the brain is needed.

If guilty!Sidestep had never escaped ranger custody, what exactly was the Rangers' plan for what to do with her? I find it hard to believe that any version of Steel or Ortega are naive enough to actually think she won't just be "disappeared" again.

I think they had no idea. That's why they helped even some villains escape. They can't unsee that problem.

What justification does Steel have for a nokill!Sidestep needing to pay for their crimes but at the same time being willing to cover for an eye-plucking, people eating Argent?

Chen was angry and felt betrayed by Sidestep, and also didn't want to square up with a teammate gone rogue in front of outsiders. Argent is NOT in the clear there, not by a long shot. Got some cool possibilities planned.

At Hoots, Ortega can tell Sidestep that she didn't have a string of boyfriends back when they were dating pre-Heartbreak and was shocked and appalled by Sidestep having the idea of her sleeping around if she wasn't getting any from Sidestep. She then continued to go out on dates and make out with both the puppet and Sidestep, only stopping the two timing when ‘step decides to sleep with her. Will we get to confront her about that?

I'll see. Maybe. I would like to get some digs in there.

This one might be explained if I could ever find it in my heart to forgive Steel, but it is clear that Chen actually did care for Sidestep and feels either guilty or regretful about the things he said and did to her both pre and post-Heartbreak. So why does even a Steel who doesn't suspect her of supervillainy still treat Sidestep like shit and keeps going out of his way to remind her that she will never be more than an outsider?

Depends on when. In Rebirth, Steel is not convinced that is Sidestep at all, considering he saw what he thought were autopsy pictures of their dissected corpse. So he assumed impostor out to get to Ortega, and he doesn't stand for that. With more interaction (dogpark onward) he starts to realize that this really is Sidestep, but they have never been exactly good at talking to each other. I think the heart of a lot of the hostility is that he's worried Ortega will get hurt. Again. But, also he is a dick at times. Sidestep is not in the wrong here, I made an effort to write the Rangers so Sidestep actually had valid reasons to hate them too. Most of them do treat Sidestep like shit on many occasions.

Sidestep has the ability to steal someone else's body but they are inconvenienced by the original mind fighting to take back control. If ‘step wanted to make the biggest mistake of their life, could they “push” the owner’s mind somewhere else? Like the conveniently empty and comatose body people would recognise as Sidestep for example? Of course, due to how bodysnatching and powers work they would have to “push” the owner out before ever “stepping” into their body in the first place.

So far, I don't think Sidestep has the ability to push minds out/transfer them. Could it be developed with training and trauma? Maybe. But it's not in the wheelhouse now, suppressing/burying is the path.

If Sidestep tells Herald to piss off and to leave her alone, he (to his credit) actually does stay away for the rest of the book. Is he really respecting her privacy or just continuing to stalk her but from further away? Before you say that's mean, you are the one who gave the kidnapping prone fanboy binoculars and a love for looking at beautiful things.

I would say Herald will respect Sidestep's boundaries and stay away. He's one of the few Rangers that will.

Ortega initiates contact with the puppet because of a suspicion of supervillainy/henchmanism. Specifically a whole bunch of criminal contacts and spending time at Joes. Which is frequented by Jake. Sidestep tells Ortega she was kidnapped and tortured for years due her enemies figuring out her secret identity and is now in hiding. Ortega tells the puppet that the person she saw in the park is her old ex ${name} who it recently turned out is not dead after all.

First, what the hell is going through Ortega’s head here? Did she mean to out Sidestep? Is she willingly sacrificing Sidestep’s safety to aid her investigation? Is she hoping Hollow Ground will personally drive the ambulance this time around?

This is Ortega fishing for Hollow ground connections. Remember, Ortega believes that Sidestep is Hollow Grounds sibling, and thinks that Hollow Ground was partly to blame for their disappearance for years. However, Ortega doesn't know if Sidestep escaped Hollow Ground, or if this is some sort of plot from HG, or if Sidestep and HG are friendly and their encounter was a fluke. Ortega is less sure if the puppet is connected to HG, or just a criminal with connections, but the fact that Ortega found Sidestep at the diner they had come to try to find the puppet is a strange coincidence. If the puppet knew nothing, the name would say nothing. If the puppet was involved with HG, Sidestep is already in danger (was the puppet at that diner because they were stalking Sidestep?), and Ortega wanted to see the reaction to the name, and what the puppet did. Yes, in Ortega's mind it was a risk, but the greater risk would be to do nothing.

Secondly, how did Sidestep ever manage to keep a secret identity or hide her telepathy for years with Julia “Loose Lips” Ortega attached to her by the hip?

To be fair, it was a loooong time before Ortega knew Sidestep's name. But yes, that did slip out thanks to Ortega. That being said, Ortega can be surprisingly tight lipped about things they don't want people to know about (like the whole Sidestep HG sibling thing). It's just that Ortega is often convinced that they know best, and will take risks other people won't agree with. Ortega got bad sides too, this is one of them. Sidestep has reasons to be pissed at Ortega, and I think some might blame Ortega for being too open with things. That's one of the reasons Sidestep stayed away. What's to say it wasn't something Ortega said that led to that ambulance being there in the first place?

If Sidestep is a revealed as a killing criminal, part of Ortega's reasoning for us being a fake is that she never killed people before. But Sidestep (can have) shot Heartbreak and she for sure(-ish) killed the Void. So why can't Ortega believe Sidestep would kill someone?

Ortega can be brutally pragmatic with killing as a need (supervillains, in the heat of battle). But civilians or security guards? Ortega would have a hard time Sidestep would ever feel the need to kill them. That's not battle, that's murder.

Has Sidestep ever been invited to join any supervillain teams since their debut? Actually, are there any named supervillain teams?

Probably, and those invites went ignored. And there are some supervillain teams, I will get into more detail about that in the sourcebook. But in general, many supervillains are not teamplayers. So there are a lot less of them.

When Lord Ember uses his powers, is it more like Human Torch (combusts into flame. I guess he slings fire too?) or more like Zuko (fire slinging) Or both? Does he need existing fire or can he produce it himself?

I saw him as a Zuko. He can produce it himself.

You mentioned in a QnA on discord that sidestep could mentally rebuild the pain gate. Will we get the chance to do that in game?

You might need to.

Will we be able to kill Mr 5 Pennies? (He sounds like he is always crusing for a bruising)

Oh yes!

Will there be the option to show up at Ortega's bday party as a revealed! villain without armor? Gotta keep em on their toes .

Oh yes!

Out of the villain RO's who would be picked for the Rangers? (Not necessarily taking in to consideration whether they want to join)

Sky-Raider.

So I know the real answers are 'Sidestep wouldn't pick that name'/'funny player input is necessarily headcanon-land', but: in worlds where Sidestep has locked in and doubled/tripled/etc-down on an obvious prank call/joke name, like, what percentage of Ortega's brainpower is spent thinking about that over the years? (given HG sibling's presumably normal name)?

Look. People name and rename themselves weird things in real life too.

are there any repercussions to the handler if it was found that a handler/regene (both blue & cuckoo) relationship was especially abusive? what would the limit even be, or is there truly none? is it entirely dependent on whether it starts affecting the regene's ability to do their job?

It is the latter. It is dependent on work performance. Pairing the right handler with the right regene is seen as important. Some regenes need a stern hand, others not.

(TW sexual abuse) if a handler was found guilty of consistently raping their regene over the years, would that have any repercussions on their job or would it just be shrugged off as long as it didn't impact performance?

I think that would be grounds for firing. It would be seen as lack of discipline, and being gross. It would reflect badly on the handler, more than out of concern for the regene.

do handlers have more than one responsibility at a time? for example, managing more than one group of bluegenes or managing more than one cuckoo at the same time, or is it just a one-to-one basis?

Most have more than one subject. Often it is group or team based.

How does Bo reconcile his feelings about the Law and Herald? On that note, how does he feel working with a villain that beat Herald up (and possibly broke Herald's knee)?

Look, Bo doesn't want to think about that, his head hurts. It's a shitty situation, alright? But sometimes you need to beat up people you like.

does Ortega know that Sidestep can use their telepathy on animals?

No.

What's the ranger's + villain ro's favorite ways to cool off in a heatwave? Does high/low temperature affect Argent at all?

Pools: Ortega, Herald, HG, Nocturne. Dove. Shade and a cold drink: Jake. Chen. Sky-Raider. AC full blast: Mortum. Argent. And yes, temperature affects Argent.

In Animated Amor paths, where do the girls go after Sidestep tells them to run? Are they able to get back to the base on their own, or are they just chilling in an alley somewhere hanging out with the LD raccoons?

Ahaha that is a cute picture, but the girls made their way back.

Has the farm (or any other group) ever attempted using telepaths to coordinate field squads the way Step can with the WolfPack and the villains in the mortumnapped path?

Oh yes. But that's a hard talent for a telepath to master.

The puppet can choose to look sexy for the auction- how would the ROs react to ‘sexy’ being Sidestep’s natural, preferred style? (Being oblivious to it looking sexy on them? Given Sidestep’s poor opinion on themselves.)

Appreciative... and also for the people who knew Sidestep before, a bit surprising.

What was Thunderhead like, before she got her boost?

A pre-school teacher. She was nice and responsible.

Given Sidestep testing their new armour and the flavour text for some choices in Rebirth, how would the Rangers feel about learning that they were basically test subjects for their debut? Especially after years of being out of action?

Insulted!

Are dampeners painful to other telepaths? Cause neither Hollow Ground nor Argent seem all that bothered by them. Though they might be special cases since they can both still use their powers when dampened. And are they more painful to Sidestep now that she is telepathically stronger?

Hollow Ground is not bothered by dampeners since their powers are touch based. Argent can tune the dampener down if she asks it nicely. But they are more painful to 'true' telepaths, and Sidestep is more hurt by them now that they are stronger.

I've seen some authors post stuff about player stats and choices, so I was wondering: How much of our Sidesteps' data (story decisions, scars and motivations, personality and relationship scores etc) can you , as the author, see? Are there any trends or choices that you found interesting or surprising (ex. more people than you expected picking a specific route)?

I use achievements to keep track on that, because I can see the achievements on Steam. Anyone can. So it's easy to look up what an achievement is and then see how many percentage of the steam players have got it. Some achievements are there just because I want the stats.

Bonus: If you can see our Sidesteps' villain names, are there any player-submitted villain names that you found particularly fun or memorable?

I have no idea about that!

How would Nazar have reacted to the villain taking Sidestep’s/Anathema’s/Heartbreak’s name, if he was on the scene at the gala?

Not good. Time to test the dust-proofing and heat-resistance on that armor.

Going from a previous answer about secretly knowing Step is a Re-Gene and becoming an advocate for them, would Danny have been able to influence the people protesting Re-Gene use/utilisation into genuinely caring about their plight?

With time and organization, yes.

from loudest to quietest, how noisy are the ROs in bed?

That is entirely headcanon!

If sidestep can do something similar-ish to what shroud does, would scooping out someones consciousness be nourishing for them?

No, it would just take energy for Sidestep.

How would all the ROs react to finding out that Step chose their name because it was associated with a food/drink that they liked at the time? (For example "Reuben" like the sandwich, or "Brandy" after the alcohol). Would there be any unique reactions to a name like this?

I can see some facepalming there. Like 'really?'. Unfortunately the variations are too many to put in reactions.

did Reagan run for presidency? if so, did he win?

Nope. He remained an actor and died in the big one.

does chick-fil-a exist? are they still homophobic?

Probably yes and yes.

do regenes have a belly button? if they do, what's the umbilical cord attached to in the tube??

They do. It is attached to the artificial placenta.

why does Sidestep hate looking at themself in mirrors so much? is it really bc their self esteem is so low its underground, or is there another reason for it?

It is partly because I do. But also for another reason. We'll get to that in game.

did Sidestep dislike looking into mirrors before Heartbreak?

You know what? A little less.

was Bennett always afraid of mirrors, or did that start after his visit to the Heartbreak site?

That was a bit of a new development.

this might have been asked before, if so i apologize, but what's the situation with sex ed at the Farm? is it something just left for the chip memories to fill in, or do all regenes need to have a debrief on it, especially considering AFAB regenes still menstruate? we know that bluegenes have sex with their teammates occasionally since they share the same room, and i imagine cuckoos need that kind of information to blend in better, so i got curious. especially considering the majority of regenes get decanted in their teens, in the middle of puberty, when the body is experiencing a lot of changes related to sexual maturity... i know the priority is to treat regenes as things and not people but there's gotta be some awkward moments in there

I think it is assumed to come with the memory implants, since they are taken from adults who have had sex. I think there's like one brief mention on it early on, but not mentioned since. Unless a regene becomes a problem in some way, that is. Then there's education and therapy if needed.

how much of a fuckboy (gn) was Ortega really? did they continue dating other ppl more seriously with past-flirting steps? if so, how much of it was just for show/to keep up their reputation and how much of it was earnest?

A little of both. A LOT of it was show. Ortega does so much for the performance. They like the attention and the challenge, but I think they had more issues with people wanting to sleep with them, when they had no interest. Ortega likes being seen as a playboy (gn) and party animal. Not putting a lot of notches in a bed post.

How’s tourism in the Philippines doing, considering it is now known as an epicenter for boost drugs? Has it experienced a tourism boost due to people flying in for the drugs or the opposite?

I think it's more of a bustling Hong Kong style business hub of a certain sort than a tourist paradise. But there are a lot of islands, and the business part is mostly around Manila/Luzon island. I am sure there are other islands who have very different vibes.

Assuming they know mostly about steps abilities, how would sentinel, pyroclast and the other non-ranger heroes feel about fighting step? Tactically speaking, without the emotional baggage of fighting someone who you used to or maybe still call friend.

Pyroclast and Sentinel would absolutely already have plans and ideas. Sidestep would be just another threat.

Would the corpses of the heartbreak victims taste the same to the nanovores?

Yes.

Could hb and the nanos have form a symbiotic relationship? Like the nanos get to eat the bodies and hb gets to eat the minds and they protect one another. Win-Win

Nope.

For characters chosen as Sidestep's rival in rebirth or retribution, will it be possible to tell them about this/have it brought up to them? If not, then how would they react to being told about Sidestep's (kinda one-sided) rivalry with them?

Yeah, I plan to have that, just like the option to shift rivals. It's those little touches that will get added once the main first half is done, because then I see where it can fit.

It’s very interesting to see how HG “changes” their thoughts about you when you joke about playing on both sides. This makes me low-key concerned about Sidesteps with low infamy or Sidesteps that don’t kill and whether they will be villain enough or how they’ll fit in if they choose to reveal they were a hero closely associated with the rangers in the past. May this perception change if they’re backed up by our lovely and all mighty Hollow Ground or if they also come out as a Re-Gene?

Oh that will be interesting. You might be right to be worried.

Telepathy and your mind not being your own is such a scary thing. Despite dampeners being in a lot of places and existing precautions and measures against them, how come open telepaths do not come as terrifying? At first glance, the only one who seems mildly concerned is Mortum.

I think they are terrifying, but I also think most people aren't aware of exactly what they could do. It's not something most telepaths brag about, just like people with x-ray vision avoid telling people they could watch them nude if they fancied. I mean theoretically, anybody in the real world could stab you in the throat, there's just a social contract and empathy keeping people people from doing that. I mean traffic is the most dangerous thing in modern society, but most people have no fear of getting into cars and walk the streets. You try to ignore what you can't affect.

I was rereading some of the older snippets, and the "Eulogies" one is one of my favorites just because of how raw it is. It did leave me with a small question though! Do any of the other main cast aside from Steel and Sidestep play chess? And if so, are they any good at it?

I think Ortega and Herald know how, but neither are really good.

Since you've been working on the Rebirth update I'm a bit curious, how does Hosted Games go about handling updates? Does it have a pretty lengthy review period like with initial submissions, or is it a pretty painless process?

It was painless when I did my bugfixes, no idea if it's going to take longer with a bigger update. I don't think it needs a big review, just functionality testing I suppose.

What are your thoughts on the 'Chinese room' ?

I will assume that you are talking about the thought experiment that deals with artificial intelligence (if anyone doesn't know what it is, look it up, it is fascinating and too long to go into detail about here). I am of the opinion that a computer being able to reproduce language to the point where onlookers can't tell if it's done by a person, doesn't mean that the computer understands anything of what is going on. It's just programming. I think Searle had the right idea, if we assume that the experiment is done by hand, by a human, instead of by the computer, and if the human does all the steps in the right order to reproduce the same result, the human in the experiment wouldn't understand Chinese either. It's just a reproduction of prompts. And I am of the opinion that intelligence and understanding is about a lot more than brute-force to reproduce something that people will see as real. It's a bit like those careful wax-reproductions of food, are not actual food.

does chen have any PJs that match with spoon's?

No. I don't think he has gone to that point yet.

if/when chen retires, would he want to stay west or move to somewhere east? Would he prefer a more secluded place to live or does he want to stick closer to cities/towns?

I think he would stay in the west, and in the city. It's been his home for s long, and he's originally a new yorker, so I think he enjoys cities.

given his punk background, has chen considered getting some (new) tattoos/piercings, or is that just not for him/not for while he has his current job as a ranger? does he have any closed piercings from lack of use?

Right now he doesn't want any new tattoos/piercing, I think part of it is that he sees his body as his job. If he retires? Then he'll probably do that. I would say he probably have a few closed piercings in his ears.

does chen enjoy watching drag performance? is it something he'd want to try out for fun some day, or just not for him to do?

I think he'd enjoy it, but it's not for him to do. He doesn't have the mindset for it.

if Ortega could visit any country in the world, where would they want to go? Bonuses on whomever else from the cast you'd like to answer for

Spain. Ortega's never been to Europe.

Does ortega know that their proficiency at pretending that they're fine and appearing like they're happy was part of reason that sidestep stayed away all these years? If not, how would they react to learning about that?

I would honestly say spoilers to that, since it might come up in game.

Would Argent have to leave if a food fight broke out in the Rangers HQ as her nibblers would be excited about express delivery snacks?

Not unless the food fight was raw beef.

If someone threw a pie at Argent's face would she wipe it off or just let it dissolve for aura points?

Wipe it off. But it sure would be strange how clean her face would be with just wiping with her hands...

Why do Rosie and Bo not currently have their own relationship stat bars or friendship variables other than the hench relationship tags set in Rebirth and borrowing the crew relationship tag for non bosses? Is this a thing that might change in the future?

I haven't felt the need for it so far. I didn't originally plan for the mob boss route when I made Rebirth, I figured Bo/Rosie would be the only one. So far I haven't needed to elaborate, but if I need to, I'll do that.

Why is there an orphaned "base" stat in Rebirth? The variable exists in Retri too but I'm just surprised since it doesn't do anything, though the comments say "none or simple" as possible options - were you going to let us pick where we were before the gala, or after?

Originally Rebirth was going to go on longer. The book I based it on ended at the crash. However, as I wrote, I realized that an IF takes a lot more work/writing than a book, and had to figure out a new end. The variable is orphaned because I quite frankly forgot it existed... and I need to carry all variables forward through the games not to break saves. There are a lot of orphaned variables. That's on me. I was so tired at the end that I didn't have the energy to go through every single variable and check if I used it or not. I should have.

Why code the armor types (terrifying/imposing/mysterious/functional) as seperate variables rather than just one string variable?

When I wrote Rebirth I wasn't very good at coding. It was easier for my brain to handle separate tags and think of them that way, and less typing too. I did a lot of things back then I wouldn't do now.

Was the orphaned steel_hurt variable part of a cut gala fight against him, or about his new mods?

Originally I was pondering having him at the gala too, but it didn't really fit the flow. This variable is a residue of that.

Will the mia_favor variable come into play eventually?

Probably in this book. The puppet might need some allies....

Does the pain gate for Re-Genes operate more as instant relief that slowly tapers off or more like an on/off switch? Is the effect chemical, electrical or something else? Is removal, repair or alteration common or was Sidestep's removal of their pain gate a special case?

I would say like a limiter. It keeps things from going beyond a certain level. A bit like a narrow piece of pipe between two larger pipes. The narrow pipe determines how much water will flow, but if it is less water than the pipe's maximum load,

Was Ash fall boosted by the Void? Is that why he has some weird crush on the Void, too?

No. Ashfall took the boost drugs. But there is a faint connection to the source of their powers, and Ashfall felt that.

If Sidestep is streetwise, isn't working with Argent, and borks their relationship with Mortum, will their odds of getting a functional regenerator by outsourcing it to other scientist contacts be lower than tech-savvy ones in the same situation?

Nah. Because they will know other people to call.

Since the laser dolphins are all boosted, how did the scientists that created them figure out a way to make multiple boosts of the same type? is it easier with animals or did they just get lucky?

They are not all exactly the same, just similar. And some of them are modded as well, to make up for things. Some of them do have internal laser mods. However, yes, those dolphins were part of the research to try to cause reproducible boosts, and was a partial success. It is similar to what was attempted with Re-Genes, trying to figure out if various stimuli during boosting might lead to specific results. And the result is... kinda. Slightly. Also, not all the dolphins in the pod have lasers, but hey, it only take like two or three to make laser dolhins a thing.

How many dolphins are there in the pod? A dozen or two? More?

At this point I would say two dozen or more. But not all are boosted, and not all have lasers.

At one point do terror beasts reach their heavily modded states? Before, during, or after their initial training? And is the process done in rapid succession or is it more drawn out?

It is after the initial training for the most part. Some might do it very early because they need the mods to sustain life/be functional. But in general it is a drawn out process to perfect what is needed and make it work with the boosted powers. Not one of them are identical, this is a bespoke process. And, some are reclassified to terror beasts later, if they have been so injured that massive mods might be needed.

What is the most “hydrogen bomb vs coughing baby” matchup of named enhanced that you can think of?

Lady Argent vs Joe (of Joes). Endless buffé.

Whats the smallest decision that could have prevented the most harm?

I choose to take this about things related to the game. Hmmmm. Okay, this is going to sound weird and unrelated to anything because it is surrounded by spoilers. Vernon Browne remembering a birthday.

What is Owl's ethnicity? (for wiki citing purposes) In the server she's been described as Armenian, but neither Zaida nor Haddad are Armenian names, they're Arabic

EDIT: My apologies for the last answer, I was having a social anxiety attack and took this question the wrong way. I have no notes anywhere about Owl's ethnicity, nor about her parents heritage, nor why I picked that name. I say a lot of things in the server in the spur of the moment, some may make it into the game, so might not. Owl was born in the US. Her parents were born in the US. I imagine that her grandparents might hail from different places, there are eight of them after all. About half of those probably born in the US, some having immigrated there. So it is a complex weave. I don't remember the Armenian comment, so take that with a grain of salt. But I imagine that let's say one of her grandparent pairs emigrated from there. So she'd feel that she has Armenian roots. I never took the name Zaida as being particularly arabic, I've seen it in Spain, and in Sweden too. The root might be, but I think like many pretty names, it has spread beyond it's original core and is used by many regardless of origin. From the last name it is safe to assume that Owl's dad either was from an Arabic speaking country, or someone who had converted to Islam and changed their name. I don't exactly know, let's say the former for wiki's sake. I generally have no idea about minor character's history in detail (unless it is important for the story), so when asked I can give contradictory statements if I have forgotten what I answered the first time and didn't write it down. It's not a real fact until it is in a published book, and subject to change.

really weird hypothetical/theoretical question i probably have to reword later when i'm less tired, but: is the 'eyes open' variant of heartbreak kind of like the light photons in the quantum flashlight experiment? Do the events of 'eyes open' only occur when sidestep 'sees' them in that path? i.e, is it something that exists because it was observed, and does what sidestep witnesses in that path vanish/cease to be a possibility/reality when they turn away/close their eyes (aka don't get 'eyes open')?

Nope, it is for a completely different reason!

If ortega found out about the existence of cuckoo's, could they eventually have figured out that sidestep is one?

No. Ortega had already decided what Sidestep was.

Could you see ortega picking up any sort of arts/crafts or hobbies in old age that would keep themself from getting antsy in retirement? Maybe something with horses, in honor of Tia Elena?

So many. And probably drop them as fast. Definitely horses. Physical activities. Probably travel.

Whatever happened to Psychopathor's plasma canon? Did the Special Directive take it? Did one of the Wolf Pack nab it on their way out? or was it left there?

I have no idea! But the SD probably nabbed it.

if someone was boosted with technopathy in the premodern era, would they be able to easily engage with things like firearms/the printing press because that is the height of technology at the time? Or would they struggle with it, making technopathy a functionally useless power until the advent of the digital era?

I think it's a function of the modern era.

Say the rangers had been having strange occurrences. People forgetting meetings, appearing in different outfits, mentioning different plans, that sort of thing. Then they walk into a room with two Argents/Chens/Daniels/Ortega. What possibilities would each of the ranger's minds go to first? Clones, secret twin, alternate dimensions, time travel, shapeshifter, that sort of thing?

Drugs.

In the newest demo Step can wonder why Ortega hasn't bothered to get their lip scar from the museum fight removed. Is there a reason? Or are they simply too busy being sneaky to have the time?

It is a reminder.

How much funds in ingame stats did Locus have before her disappearance?

I have absolutely no idea!

Do regenes get any form of Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training or is that considered too much of a liability?

Of course they do! That's part of their job. You need to be able to survive in combat.

Following off of that, what’s the protocol for if a regene is caught/goes missing in a warzone?

They are supposed to kill themselves if able, but there is also a recovery team sent after them. In worst case, to take out everything in the surrounding area.

Have you ever thought about writing something from the perspective of a re-gene that isn’t a part of the main story (IE not Armadillo, Shroud, or Step)?

Oh if I had time. But I am focused on the main story.

How did Ace tend to dress? Did this differ significantly from how Sidestep dresses them?

I don't know. I think it was kind of similar, looking the right way was important for them in their chosen career.

Why choose for the fonts of each game title/logo to be different? And will it be the same case for Revolution?

I have no idea. I don't make the covers! It might be a simple thing as shifting licenses, or stuff like that. I didn't specify fonts, just the look I wanted. It's been so long between commissions, maybe the artist changed setups.

Is the stigma toward children conceived via IVF worse in the FHR universe due to the existence of Re-Genes, and how does that tend to manifest? Would it worsen if the public view of how Re-Genes are created was closer to IVF, rather than the current notion that they're AI/ robots?

I would say it depends more on who you are and where you live. Also, remember that most people have no idea about Re-Genes, let alone how they are made.

What’s going on in the FH Philippines aside from being a boost hot spot?

Not sure! But I imagine it as a rather dynamic country, opportunistic and on the go. Have no details though.

What’s the Quebec independence movement like in FHR-verse?

I think it was more violent, especially with the chaos the US went through. An opportinity for many.

Did anything like the East Coast vs West Coast rap feud happen? And if so was it still East vs West or some other cultural/genre division?

I don't know. Of course music feuds happens all the time, but the genres are not the same as in our world. We will see hints of that in the sourcebook. There are few east vs west coast feuds these days, there's not enough cultural cohesion for that to work. It would be more north (seattle/canadian style) vs south (el paso/mexican style).

You said previously that because of her powers Argent tends to anthromorphize technology, does she feel anything in particular when she encounters machines that’ve been abandoned or badly damaged/mishandled?

Yes, she can be very touched by that.

Since the pop culture of the FHverse is “smaller” does that mean that there’s still a strong sense of “everybody knows/is watching this person/show/etc.”?

Yes, and the 'tribe' feeling of culture is very strong. No algorithms picking things for you.

Could sidestep hand someone a bomb and ask them to hold it for a moment while telepathically making them think its something else, dispelling the illusion right before its about to go off?

Oh yes. Easily.

Why do Mortum's modified roombas keep blowing up? What are they trying to stuff in there exactly/make it do?

Two reasons: Labs can be dangerous places, and Mortum has yet to create a roomba with self-preservation. Also, it might be useful to have them as little security bots as well, but stuffing a small laser in a cleaning appliance can lead to overload.

Can we find their roomba remains box in future books? I just think it would be funny

Gonna try to remember to add some roomba content to the lab routes.

Could staring directly at the sun or very loud noises hurt Themmy?

No.

How hard would it be to possess someone with Alzheimer's/dementia?

Depends on how far it has progressed, and which parts of the brain are affected. It might be harder or easier to get in, but it would definitely be harder to make them do what you want.

To add on to this, what about someone with short- or long-term memory loss from a traumatic brain injury?

Memory loss helps.

Does iris have any particularly strong feelings about sidestep (the vigilante)?

Spoilers.

Is iris' work/connection to 5p genuine, or is there a bit/lot of 'im pretending to be working for him but really im using him and his goals for my own purposes'?

Spoilers.

How is Arde pronounced? One syllable or two (Ar-dee)?

Ar-dee.

Have you ever considered writing a lore post from the pov of the first regenes or the scientists who created them?

Yeah, but I don't have a clear enough vision yet. Probably once I start thinking about book four more.

What's Mortum's favourite movie snacks?

Nuts.

Who's willing to share their movie snacks/drinks vs. Who guards theirs fiercely?

Everyone is willing to share except Argent. She will eat others if she thinks they chew too loudly.

Um, at the risk of getting avocado'd re: Puppet resolution, for the Mortumsteps that start the romance in B3 with Mortum in their own bodies but were flirting/dating/lovers with Mortum prior in B1/B2 as the Puppet (Puppetmortum), how is the logistics of it going to work for the outside pov?

Yeah that's gonna be a ride. I'll work that out when I write, these are the minds of things that needs to develop naturally. Not something I can force into a mold.

We know Mortum's usually discreet about things but rumours travel (ie. Rosie/Bo/the mob crew reacting to it in B2), suddenly the doctor's with this new person(/the Puppet's boss, if Sidestep chooses to be more open about showing their face in the villain community), and/or Mortum is with the Puppet AND Sidestep simultaneously (in a revealed scenario)? All I can picture is some random hench at Hoots going "what happened to ${puppet_name}?" or "damn the doctor's got game, good for them" lol because they think it's a Puppetmortumstep scenario lol where they're all in a poly.

That's gonna be some funny reactions, and there could be repercussions depending on the villain vs puppet relationship with the crew.

Do you have any idea what Ben and Halabi might be feeling about it given they were privvy to all the gossip and were (generally) rooting for Mortum and the Puppet? Like, if Mortum knows, would they notice something's up even if Mortum doesn't tell them outright about the Sidestep-Puppet situation?

Depends on how it's handled in game. That's going to be a situation, and it will depend on everyone's relationship variables.

Will it be possible for only Mortum to know about the Puppet thing and not Ben or Halabi to the series conclusion, or are they kind of a package deal where if you heavily associate with Mortum, those two will have to be kept in the loop too?

Not decided yet.

Have you read 'The Jaunt'?

The one by King? Oh yeah. I love it. And yes, there might be some inspiration from it, considering the question you might have guessed that already....

Is Armadillo's vison better or worse in their transformed state? Or does it stay the same?

I think it is slightly worse, the field of vision is more limited.

How much of a gremlin has Mortum become at the lab in the absence of having an assistant on hand there that they needed to remain somewhat presentable around?

SO gremlin. Especially if the puppet wasn't coming around regularly. Mortum is sometimes too busy to be presentable.

What kind of food staples does Mortum keep on hand, since they can apparently hold out in their lab for a month?

Step one: Just hiding out. Freezer food. Frozen insta meals. Yes. Lots of frozen pizza. But also things like berries, fruits, sodas. Step 2: Need to preserve electricity because the internal generator handles things. Basic tinned goods in many varieties that can be eaten cold if needed, lots of dry goods like crackers. Step 3: Oh boy. It's been a long time. Then the freeze-dried meals come out. Mortum has water storage tanks that are regularly flushed, so that will most likely not becoming an issue.

Does Mortum ever get bothered by the texture of their labcoats?

No, they have found a brand they love.

How good is Mortum's sewing/tailoring skills, and are they involved in their Halloween outfits?

Not bad, and yes, they do make some things themselves, but sometimes outsource as well. Gotta keep the local community alive, and they are busy.

How good at drawing are they (for the purpose of designing suits, etc.)?

Good drafter, both on paper and in software. Daniel would compliment them.

Has Argent ever had a miracle berry? For context, it's a fruit that causes your tastes buds to perceive sour as sweet, and lets people do stuff like chug an entire bottle of vinegar.

Nope.

As 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. Does DR have a ram on its prow? Does it salvage materials from vessels it sinks?

Fists, rams, yes. The entire thing might be seen as a blunt force object. And it salvages parts.

What does the SD do to keep re-genes that have powers that make them exceptionally hard to kill/subdue (akin to Catastrofiend or Pyroclast) from just walking off during missions?

Mental programming. If you don't have the concept of freedom, or any desire of the outside world, it's harder. Think of it as brainwashing/cult programming. The trick is making them think leaving is impossible. Ironically, the bonds between re-genes have really helped with this as well, as it would require the re-gene to abandon their family. Not that the Farm knows that. The fact that Sidestep was a cuckoo made it possible for them to escape, both because they had a knowledge of the outside world, learned new concepts through telepathy and was harder to control, and that they never really were that close to the other re-genes.

On a similar note if Pyroclast had mods or even something mundane like a pacemaker would they just fall off/get destroyed if he used his powers? What about Dove?

Pyroclast's would get destroyed. That is one man that can't have a piercing, even if he wanted to. Dove would be fine.

Since the Farm usually gives them military haircuts & regulations against afro-textured hair have only loosened recently do AFAB cuckoo re-genes with that texture have their hair straightened or is it left natural?

Most hair is buzz-cut for everyone, but left natural.

Dreaded height question; is there a significant average height difference between the east coast, FEZ, & Midwest?

I wouldn't say it is massively significant. Maybe slightly shorter in the FEZ.

Do they sell FEZ branded fezzes in the FEZ? Like those "I heart NY" shirts?

Yes. It is in the sourcebook already. Some local patriots like to sport them for that purpose.

As a boost, did Ace/does the Puppet have higher calorific requirements?

Not really. Their powers didn't need much added metabolism. Maybe a little, but those things are so individual.

Do they have any boost cravings aside from maybe the whiskey habit?

I don't think so. Alcohol was useful for many reasons.

Does Ace/the Puppet's mental voice for precog sound like themselves talking or whispering (eg. in Chapter 26), or someone else?

How Ace perceived things were different than how Sidestep does. They were more visual based, seeing images.

Would someone be able to perform a medical test/screening on a person to determine if they were a boost but had no outward indicators (eg. checking for DNA degradation), or would it need to be more involved? Thinking about the boost registration system in the east coast that the US would want to do in the FWT once Resolution 32 is up.

You would be able to test for it with a reasonable amount of accuracy. There are probably some who would slip through, and there might be some false positives.

If this is already a thing in the US, have there been false-positives with people getting wrongly accused of being a boost?

It is used on the East coast for certain government positions. There can be some false positives, but in most cases it clears up after further testing.

Does this potentially exist anywhere else in the world?

Probably in other high security areas. Telepaths and shapechangers have resulted in a lot more paranoia than their actual numbers would account for.

How would Ortega take it if Sidestep tipped the scale towards Blaze in the Sexiest Hero of Los Diablos competition thing?

Oh Ortega is sadly well aware that they are not at the top anymore.

Has there been anyone (non-blugenes) in the FH setting that's taken enough colloidal silver to have the argyria happen to them? If so, has anyone noticed that the colour is (a little) similar to that of blugenes?

Probably not. It takes much larger quantities and for longer times than dosing for your 'health' would require.

Would ortega be curious or terrified of what it would be like if sidestep was able to possess them?

Curious. Ortega is Ortega.

Is sidestep able to create a 'shared consciousness' experience with their possession abilities, or can only one person be 'awake' at a time?

So far Sidestep has either pushed the consciousness down fully, or piggybacked to influence some minor things unseen. It is possible they could form a shared consciousness, but that would require trust, and well... that's tough.

In cases where sidestep is guilty in the end of retribution, do the rangers catalogue that they have possession abilities, given that they know/have arguable cause that it was sidestep who possessed argent? What are the general guidelines against those who have that type of ability, or is it so niche/rare that there isn't really a protocol or countermeasure outside of the usual steps taken for telepathic opponents?

Oh THAT is spoilers! Can't let you know what goes on behind the scenes...

What was Mortum's first kill like? How did they feel about it?

I think it was probably during early villainy years, not during work, but when interacting with other villains. They were threatened, there was a fight, and Mortum shot them. They were nauseous and hated it. They might be ruthless in many cases, but they don't like killing.

What about for Chen and Ortega?

Chen was in the army. He tries not to feel about it, and at this point, it's just there. He used to think he was right and fought for a cause, not so much anymore. Ortega was while fighting a villain, and it was more or less an accident (weak heart). Ortega's reaction... I'm gonna leave that as spoilers.

Does Mortum believe in the possibility of extraterrestrial life/aliens? If so, does Mortum believe all life has to be water and/or carbon based?

It is an interesting thought, Mortum likes to speculate at times. They believe other life statistically has to be out there, and that it would be naive to think we know enough to define what life is.

What proportion of the Re-Genes with two different tattoo colours are from donor limbs vs being double boosted and having two seperate powers?

I would say 80% are from donor limbs.

If HG sees Sidesteps face and learned of Ortegas theory of the secret sibling who would be more conspiracy brained about sidestep secretly being related to HG (to sidestep deep confusion no doubt) or would Charges theories make HG realize it might be a bit far-flung

I think that would be a conspiracy handshake between the two of them.

could/did anathema gain or lose weight? tan or burn? Could they get more freckles? gain muscle mass?

No, they are essentially the same weight, doesn't tan, or get more freckles. And that includes gaining more muscle mass.

If I hucked a standard 3 by 3 by 3 Rubik's cube each at Chen, Mortum and Nocturne, which one of them would solve it first (if we weren't factoring in Chen's probable disadvantage with prosthetic hands)? Or, who would actually bother to do it vs consider it beneath them/uninteresting?

Mortum would, hands down.

What about the more complicated versions? (4³ to 7³ which are all valid for speedsolving records)

I think Mortum would be the only one who would bother to try.

What has been your favourite fight to write so far? What about least favourite/the one you think you could improve on the most?

Argent bridge fight! I had a blast with that. I would have liked to extend/improve the Ortega fight in Rebirth, but that would unbalance the story. The rematch will have to be more fun.

Actually with how successful the Farm is with cloning people from relatively small DNA samples(given collection is usually non-invasive and disguised as normal procedures), has there been any efforts to Jurassic Park a bunch of dinosaur clones?

Maybe somewhere! It's not impossible.

What did Sidestep do in their hero days when they had a back injury/wound? Did they just manage to never take any significant damage in hard to reach spots?

I genuinely don't know. Don't scrutinize my logic too closely, things like this falls apart then!

Do the nanovores reinforce Argent’s eye structure too? IE we know they wouldn’t be damaged like normal eyes if someone pushed them but would they have no give & stay in place too?

The nanovores ARE Argent's eyes.

Is July 4th still a common holiday in the FEZ? Does Chen get dragged into PR celebrations often? & is Spoon fine with fireworks?

It is, because the FEZ deal was also signed on July 4, so the date is the same, but slightly similar reasons. And yes, Chen has official duties, and Spoon hates it.

How would Vera feel about being given gifts on Mother’s Day for being a “pigeon mom” on account of her taking care of so many? Would it matter if it’s genuine or a joke?

Depends on who did it.

Do any of the ROs+HG trio wish they were born somewhere else?

No.

So you said in a past QnA that Mortum had "too much controversy and arguments in their academic past" for the Farm to consider scouting them. What kind of controversies were there?

Mortum had a habit of questioning official theories, pick academic fights with their superiors, and challenge the status quo. Not good traits for an organization that needs discipline, loyalty, obedience and secrecy.

What are the pettiest arguments Mortum's gotten into with another academic?

Semantic definitions probably. Naming conventions brings out the sharpest knives with some people.

Are any of those ongoing? Like, since they're still publishing the odd paper under a pseudonym, are some of these rebuttals to Dr. XYZ's previous publication?

Not now, but there probably was a while early in their villainy career when Mortum still did that.

About how old was Mortum when they got their undergraduate degree, masters and PhD respectively?

I have no idea and I hesitate to define the exact numbers. Then I would have to do a ton of research for something that essentially doesn't matter. Younger than most is close enough.

Did they write any dissertations during their student years? If so, what was/were the topic(s)?

They did. I think they were focused on a few things, including some spoilers. I will say that in general they were about magnetic fields, radiation, and also quantum physics related.

Is the fact they worked with stuff about radiation in their private sector years tied to any big spoilers?

Hmmmm maybe not huge, but spoilers.

How are the rangers, mortum, ben, and vera reacting to an "oh no! There's only one bed" trope scenario with a sidestep they feel something towards?

I... Is this really a big thing in the US? Would people really feel weird about it? Just leave most clothes on and it will be fine? It might be my swedishness or my autism, but I have a hard time seeing any of them making a big fuss about it? If there is a couch, fine, if not, just don't get naked.

are telepaths more inclined to have lucid dreams, or does step just have them especially strong? Is it partially influenced by having been boosted while still developing in the tank?

I would say they are more likely. But Sidestep does more than most, and it might indeed be tank related. That is a bit like a sensory deprivation talk after all.

when step experiences a memory in someone’s brain, they have moments of feeling like the memory is ‘their own’ before they realize it isn’t their own. Has that sensation/confusion always been around, or did it grow/change being around people? Or did any of their TBR’s trigger it/exacerbate that feeling?

I think that has been there from the start, from both sides. Sidestep was in the unique position of having telepathy before having their memories inserted, so there's always been a conflict and an awareness that thoughts are things, and not just there. SO Sidestep often feels memories are strange, and then realize that it is theirs, and feels like a memory is theirs only to realize it is not. That mind is a battlefield.

Did Enrique know that him signing Julia/Ricardo up for experimental medical procedures under the military led to his child becoming an anti-telepath assassin?

He did not, but he would be proud.

What are Porthole’s living arrangements? And prior to recruitment how long had they been a hero, if they were one at all?

I don't know. I haven't put much thought into that, but I imagine they must have rather specific living arrangements. They need more tech support than most.

In the supervillain writing experiments, proto-Charge (Static Discharge/Fredrick Niva) was in his 50s in the present. What were the main reasons for ageing IF Charge down? Were you using the age of Wreckage Charge/Ortega?

I simply lifted the Wreckage Ortega wholesale. And, the fitted better with the timeline, the OG had more Hood vibes.

In the oldest version of the Wreckage stories, the character Ayesha is codenamed Anathema, and seems to have IF Anathema's skillset plus strength and speed, but in a more recent one you posted to the FHR blog, the codename was changed to Sentinel (as well as Jake Tanner becoming Wei Chen). That scene kind of gets reprised as a pseudo-anecdote in Rebirth if you go to the gala with Ortega, where it is indeed Themmy and Ortega painting Chen's armor, so is Ayesha proto-Anathema/Sentinel, a mix of both?

A character I scavenged for parts to other characters I think. I never had a real vision of who she was in the book, so I just nabbed some bits. Just like I stole some parts for Sidestep from Devlin in Thief of Nightmares.

Was Elena secretly relieved when Ortega retired after the Heartbreak incident, in spite of the circumstances that made them do that? Or was she more worried about what they might do to themselves in the grief?

Both.

And what about them returning to duty a year later?

Worried but not surprised. And is better they had something to do. Too much like their father.

Is there a particular point where Mortum properly 'fell' for the Puppet, if applicable? If so, whereabouts in the books is it?

No. I imagine that depends on the playthrough. One moment I can see is sitting and worrying at the hospital if the puppet got hurt.

When in Retribution did the cup that the Puppet usually uses in the lab become the Puppet's, in Mortum's mind?

Probably the second time they came around and used it again.

How attentive is Mortum as a caretaker in the routes where the Puppet/Sidestep is recuperating at their lab?

Pretty good, but not spoiling or overbearing.

Are they allowing selfcrashstuck Sidesteps to indulge in their vice of choice if they're recuperating in the lab (with the exception of smoker steps since the lab is nonsmoking)?

No alcohol. NO smoking. But anything else is fine.

Does it seem possible that anyone could be totally immune to the boost drug (exceptions like catastrofiend aside). Being able to take it with absolutely no alteration of the self?

Probably! People are weird.

If cavalier can make pretty much anything combustible, could he burn down someone's house with lemons?

Very specific, but yes.

Was Rasputin a boost?

There were no official 'boosts' then, but was he one of those weird pre-boost people with strange powers? Yes, in my heart.

Was Hollow Ground's father a boost/did he have powers? (if you're about to get tricksy about innate powers lol)

Nope.

What would Mitchell's mindscape look like if Step got to take a peek?

Very organized. Probably a giant dusty archive with in the old library/file style.

Did Mitchell hide anything for himself in Sidestep's file? (whether he remembers or not?)

No.

Are Mitchell and Vernon investigating the same thing?

No.

If not the same, are Mitchell and Vernon onto complementary or opposite leads with their respective investigations?

Not related.

If not spoilers, where/how did Mitchell first meet HG? Did he know HG was the kingpin from the start or met them as one of HG's aliases?

Was hired on by HG's organization, took a long time before he realized that it was HG who occasionally handled him new missions. So an alias.

What are your thoughts on 'Ship of Theseus'?

Depend on if we base identity around the body or the spirit/soul.

Do the bioluminescent "red tides" still happen along the coast of California? Have they changed?

Oh yes! Probably more brilliant.

Are telepaths and psi-sensitives less or more predisposed to neurological issues like dementia and Alzheimers than non-psi sensitives?

That is a good question. I. Hmmm. I think there is no difference in rates, but there is in the effects.

memories tend to change and degrade over time, but has step kept note or track of how their memories of heartbreak have changed due to time and/or nightmares distorting recollections?

No.

is there a market for the less potent but conversely less deadly boost drug? Does anyone still manufacture it?

Oh yes! That's probably what most boosts come from honestly, just not the big ones.

With the state of medical science being what it is in-universe, how prevalent is political discussion on eugenics? Is an awareness of their own ties to euguenicist research and principles any part of the reason Genitech passes off Regenes as robots/ AI? Are there any laws or human rights/ ethics guidelines in place against eugenics that they're knowingly breaking?

It is a huge ugly debate, probably more out in the open than today. And yes, that is the reason why Genitech uses the 'robot brain' lies. There are ethic guidelines on the east coast they are absolutely breaking, but none on the west coast. However, considering their ties to certain parties, they are still at risk.

On a lighter note, are any of the Rangers or Mortum fans of speculative fiction/ alternate histories? Who would be most to least interested in learning about the real-world events of the 20th century?

Probably Chen. He likes that stuff.

Aside from Chen, who you've said before would be interested, and Mortum, who you've said wouldn't find it compelling as it isn't related to their current work, which main characters would be interested in space travel and the hypothetical moon landing you've mentioned is a future goal of the developing field? Is NASA a thing in-universe, or something like it? Who's a fan and who's more of a skeptic out of the cast?

I think Ortega could become a fan because of the audacity. NASA doesn't exist. Dove would be skeptic as hell.

Are there plans to send out anything like Voyager 1 and 2, to represent Earth to any extraterrestrial life that might find it eventually?

Not that I know of.

If so... would it eventually be found by extraterrestrials?

Not in the scope of the game.

Alright, real shot in the dark fully expecting an avocado/non answer: have we ever read something from the old man's perspective across the supplementary material (from Patreon, Tumblr, etc.)?

I mean if I specify that things will escalate, so I say spoilers.

So we know the birthdate, height, weight, and age part of the Draft King file Mitchell is using to jot down his thoughts are all a mishmash from previous guides, but is the birthplace one right? As in, was he born in Los Diablos?

Yeah, that one is right.

Was he also born in the same area as Argent, Dove and Heartbreak?

No.

How old is Mitchell, actually? (since we know he couldn't've been born in LD in 1971 since it was still LA lol)

In his late twenties I think.

Is there any consensus amongst blue Re-Genes about how they feel about their tattoos, or does it tend to vary between Re-Genes?

It varies.

What about the being blue thing?

That's what they are! Some hate it because they want to look like humans, some see it as a matter of pride.

Chen's shown interest in having cloned limbs for when he retires, something patented by GeniTech, the Farm's parent organisation, but would that change if he knows about the Farm-GeniTech connection re: Sidestep? Alternatively, would this depend on how sympathetic he is to Sidestep?

Actually, has GeniTech allowed other companies the rights to use their patents of stem-cell grown organs and full body clones, or are they the sole company that can do that?

I think there are other companies who have used different methods to get similar results, leading to lawsuits.

What style(s) (in terms of the variables established in Retribution) would Mortum be the most approving of for Sidestep?

The one your Sidestep is using.

What was the scenario where Mortum got super drunk and accidentally told Sky-Raider their name? It wasn't after the Vitruvian stuff, was it?

Oh yes it was.

how would be the ros take if a revealed villain sidestep told them about HG thinking they might be their sibling (especially since in a previous ask mortum gets a thumbs up from HG) or is this might be something in game for convos later on

That's for the game, I don't know yet.

If HG red-threaded someone to "tell me a secret" without specifying, would the secret given be the one that the person is most willing to share with someone, least willing to share, or some secret third option?

Random draw from a bag essentially.

how long ago relative to the ending of retri was mortum and halabi's falling out?

A year or two earlier I think. Haven't decided. But falling out makes it sound so drastic, they are not enemies. She just switched sides, and the process was a long tie coming.

in routes where the puppet went to the gala with mortum, how did ortega figure out what room the puppet was in if mortum's favour was off the books?

Ortega knows people. But to tell the truth, it was because I needed them to for the story. Sometimes it's just that, there's no dark plot. Just story expediency.

Does Dove ever fall into the pitfall of anthromorphizing her pigeons by projecting her own emotions onto them, esp when communicating with them via her powers?

100%

What was Ortega's worst dating experience?

Riley. Semi-stalkers are not fun.

Following up on this what about the other ROs that haven’t mentioned it in game yet?

I have no idea.

What was Catastrofiend’s Presentation score/style when it wasn’t like This?

Pretty low. Used military wear I think.

How common is it for a hero/villain to have inhuman/paranormal entity rumors like Catastrofiend?

VERY common. People love to ascribe supernatural or demonic powers, or even aliens or even stranger things to people with far out powers.

Has anyone besides Anathema (& maybe Catastrofiend) successfully left the Green Sky/New Flesh? If so how often does it occur & where do they usually end up?

Like with all cults, it happens. They usually spend the rest of their lives in hiding and keeping their heads down.

What % of the Farm's staff would try a cat fiend burger?

0%

how much power does the farm use on, let’s say, a monthly basis? Do they have their own electrical system, and what sort of system is it?

A lot. I have no power grid numbers, I am not an electrical engineer! But they have both a connection, and their own emergency electrical system on site that can last them quite a while. It's a solar plant, and on most days it supplies 70% of the power needed.

does it ever come across as weird how much power they consume, or is it a non issue due to their location/a government project?

Non issue.

Have there been any people who've specifically travelled from outside the US just to join the Green Sky/do they have reach beyond the US? Or is this a uniquely US/FWT organisation?

Very local.

If locus's telepathy is verbal/text-based, what would happen if she perceived something telepathically that no word in her vocabulary could adequately describe?

You either make up new words, long sentences, or you draw a blank.

From the text, Mortum seems to have loved their first partner/ex very deeply when they say they "haven't been in love in a long time" in the revealed puppetcrashstuck Puppetmortum path. Presumably they both met in academia, but what initially drew Mortum to their ex?

Peas in a pod, intelligent, challenging, and they had a lot of things in common. I think science got them together at the start.

Does the Puppet/Sidestep have anything in common with their ex personality-wise? Or does anything about the Puppet remind Mortum of their ex (that's not about the reveal)?

Not really. I think that's a reason it happened, no real reminders.

And just for fun, what about Jake with Nocturne before she knew about his feelings for her?

I really don't know what this is about? I seem to be missing the context here? That has been happening with a lot of questions lately, I want everyone to bear in mind that I copy and paste the questions into a document, so any replies, context, or comment on other posts will be lost. If you want a question answered, please make sure to actually have the question in your post! There are SO many that I don't really have time to go research context on everyone.

You've touched a bit on various aspects of Sidestep being a metaphor for/heavily coded as being autistic over the years (being a cuckoo being the most 'obvious' of the lot, because of the imposter aspect and alienation from others and the need to heavily mask, but also their telepathy, and the Puppet being a metaphor for autistic masking as neurotypical taken to a more literal degree in an entirely different body), but also them having some actual autistic traits (texture aversion in the recent puppetstuck demo, avoiding eye contact, scripts, struggling to understand people without their telepathy to read them, being prone to overstimulation, etc.), though this is of course up to players whether their own Sidesteps are autistic.

However, you've not really talked about this in-depth to the same degree you have about queerness and gender, so I'd like to pick your brain about it, one genderqueer autistic to another. Speaking honestly, the autistic and transgender themes as most resonant aspects of Fallen Hero and about Sidestep since I first picked up the series in 2019, where it came at a quite a formative time for me. The fact that the autistic representation of Sidestep is honest and messy rather than cookie-cutter (which is tied to the quite unapologetic exploration of complex/darker topics rather than shying from it in fear of being 'bad rep') is incredibly refreshing, and the series (and Sidestep) is quite important to me in several ways, so thank you for writing and publishing Fallen Hero. With this prefacing out of the way:

- Do you feel like you've achieved what you wanted to with the aforementioned metaphors for/explorations of being autistic in Fallen Hero (the Puppet, Sidestep's telepathy, them being a cuckoo informing their identity and how they approach relationships) thus far? Or did you ever feel like you had to rein yourself somewhat to have the IF be tidier/more "consumable"? (for reasons to do with readership, or publishers/payment processors/Apple restrictions etc.)

Thank you for the thoughtful question! I think there are a few things at play here, so let me start with a bit of a preamble of my own. I have known I was queer (the flavor varying between lesbian/bi/pan) since grade school. I have never been gender conforming, but fell into the 'butch' camp for decades. It was only when writing the novel version of Fallen Hero when I walked smack into the gender realization that hey... maybe my gender is queerer than I thought. Maybe this being a man thing feels pretty damn sweet. Cue genderissues. But the thing here is that I am a LOT more comfortable writing, talking and being open about these things since they are so natural to me, and I have spent so many years quite frankly not giving a fuck about what people think about that. However, then comes the brain...

My acceptance/research/education/exploration of my side of the autistic spectrum is recent in comparison. Oh, it's been about a decade now, but that still feels new. I am also aware that I am in some ways high-functioning (I hate that word, but it is useful describing if you are able to function in a capitalistic hellscape) thanks to finding niches where I can work (machining). My best friend is way more autistic than me, and partly on disability for it. I don't feel as comfortable speaking about it in as strong a voice, I suppose? I haven't fully internalized what it is to me, and what it means to me. So I lack the confidence when compared to the queer stuff.

And then there is the question of the story. Sidestep was never planned to be coded as autistic, but became so because I put so much of myself in there. The things that Sidestep struggles with are the things I struggle with (well, not the telepathy or the Farm). The interactions. The way the world hurts sometimes. Sensory issues. Eye contact. Trying to deal with people. Walking on the correct side of someone. Inability to read people. I think probably in retrospect part of the reason why I wrote a telepath was because that way I imagined I could figure out how people worked. Like I sometimes, laughingly, credit roleplaying games with teaching me how to be human. I am always putting on an act for someone, the author act is no less real than any other. Many of them have names even. This is more me than most. But still. Masks. I have not felt I had to rein myself in because of any outsider. Not when it came to that. I know the Apple store has rules, hence my stance on sex descriptions, but nobody really care about the mental state of characters. I haven't tried to portray anything, I suppose I have just tried to be honest. And maybe I was a bit restrained in the first book because I tried to be normal, and maybe that is slowly fading the more I write. I mean lets be fair! I want to sell! I tried to be normal in Rebirth. But it turned out to be the not-normal things people liked and talked about, so I am trying to relax.

- Do you, as the author, feel that Fallen Hero is an inherently autistic narrative similar to how it is inherently a queer one? If so, would you say it's a major theme, or more a baked in thing by virtue of you being autistic yourself?

Today, I would say yes. But I am also aware that it is not a pure or classical one. It is inherently muddled when you add telepathy and regenehood. I am wary of the classic 'oh of course the robot reads autistic' trap, but I also know that's a reason why me and my (autistic) friends so often latch on to the robots and the aliens because they feel more like us. It's messy. I am worried that I will come across as making statements I don't intend to. So it is by virtue of me being me, not by trying to make a point.

- Is the above also complicated by how much the themes overlap with that of queerness/gender and alienation? (and the acceptance of these aspects by the cast despite Sidestep being convinced they were too 'weird'/'wrong'/'broken')

Of course it is! This is one reason why I like using the word 'queer' for myself. I hate labels. At least restrictive ones. To me they say more about the things they exclude. I was a lesbian for decades, and then I met someone online I didn't even know the gender of (assumed girl due to statistics on the rp site) and fell in love, and it was a guy, and now I'm bi. That's. Changing a label is scary. Some people will hate you for it. And the terms change all the time in the neurotypical sphere as well, I started out an aspie (Aspergers) and now that's a shunned term and it's the autism spectrum. And Sidestep's self loathing doesn't help. I have put so much of my own (mostly past) self-hatred in there I can't exactly go and say 'hey, go read this autism story where the main character thinks they are a broken monster and not even human.' Yeah. That says things I don't want to say. Be gay do crimes is a thing, but be mentally ill and do crime is something else entirely. And mentally ill? Is that even a term I can use? What is mentally well then? Could I write a neurotypical person if I tried? Do I even know one? I think all my friends are either gay, neurodivergent, or both. Mostly both. SO yeah. It's complicated. So it's not a discussion I start, it's something I let people find out.

- Is there anything further you'd like to say on the topic?

Ahaha I have rambled a lot in the other sections.

- Are there any other stories/narratives out there that you feel depict/explore being autistic in a way that actually reflect your own experiences/show how you'd like it to be depicted?

Here is the thing. I don't KNOW how I want it to be depicted. Do I see things in text and on screen and feel that it's talking to me? Of course! But is that the autism or the queerness? And is a character ever autistic if they are not explicitly labeled so in the text? I want messy narratives written by messy people. I don't care about their labels. I just want to be seen, and I know when I feel it.

How long had Temerain been a vigilante before being recruited to the Guardians/what age did she start her career at?

About a decade or a bit more I think. She was active when Sidestep was at least. She started in her late teens I think. All of this is open to change and just based on vibes.

Presumably she was based in Los Diablos prior, but was she always based there?

Yeah, she's from here.

Has she run into Owl/teamed up with her in the past, or do their similar lone wolf personalities clash too much?

They have probably had some cool teamups, you know, the friendly rivalry kind.

Did Sidestep ever work with her during their vigilante career?

Yeah, now and then. But not closely. Think I will figure that out once the Guardians enter more into the book as a threat.

Pet theory of mine, is the reason why looking HB in the eyes in the final Heartbreak incident flashback sequence and failing the encounter early in part because of your own aversion to eye contact?

Ahaha that one is nice, but also wrong.

With FHR being a classic Alternate Earth setting, what goes into the decisions to add or omit world-altering points in history? Have there been any in particular that made you excited for speculative writing in the setting (beyond the obvious answer of the Farm and enhancements)?

Most are just fun exploration, since I love history. But some are driven by the world, and cascades from there. For example, the substitution of power armors for missiles, which meant no V2, eventually no space race and no moonlanding. This led to satellites being much later and very military, which led to the internet being a more insular tool. So high tech in some areas (medical, cybernetics) and less in some (internet, global satellites). I removed the atom bomb (fission) because it was another fun divergence and I wanted to see what the results would be.

How do you decide what to name characters' alter egos? Are there any hero/villain names that made it into the books that still feel off/silly to you? Which are you most proud of?

I HATE naming characters. I look on baby name lists or statistics websites. And then people try to over-analyze them. Names and looks are so... augh. I hate it. It needs to be done. I do like the Catastrofiend (though that is a very sideways nod to a thing nobody has spotted yet) and Psychopathor is fun because he's got a gazillion ways people spell his name. Oh Psychoraptor.

Has the FHR fanwiki's popularization changed what or how you choose to answer?

Nope. I still just go by vibes! And anything is subject to change!

The Project Stripes slip aside, have you ever had a moment where you've gone "I've said too much" about spoilery plot points?

SO MANY TIMES. Sometimes I have assumed people knew things when they didn't. I really don't know who knows what at this point.

Do you think Revelations' endings might be closer to Rebirth or Retribution in terms of the amount of branching?

I want it closer to Rebirth. This one is wide at the start, narrow at the end.

Are you glad that you added the extra career options you did (boss, thief, and hunter, rather than solely anarchist as planned) and their subtypes? Do you have some regrets about them and/or do you ultimately think they add more to the story than it may possibly detract/complicate?

I am glad and I regret it. It adds options and personality, but I am constantly aware that I need to keep them as flavors only and can't have too massively diverging narratives, which means I need to shortchange them constantly. So it is very stressful and hard. Those are the bits that are the most work.

What happens to Re-Genes that develop useless/too weak to be noticeable kinds of powers? How do other Re-Genes view them?

They tend to end up either heavily modded or as on-site staff. How they are viewed depends on who they are.

does sidestep recall the smiling they used to do back when they were first decanted? Was it instinctual or a mirroring behavior done based off of what they had ‘seen’ with their telepathy developing in the tube?

Mirroring. Just like with a baby learning to smile.

Did the scientists ever figure out the reason for the smiling, or did it all amount to conjecture/hypothesis bc they didn’t get to study the behavior?

Conjecture, imitation.

I know there are scientists who are interested in regenes before they get their AI chips, but have there been any steps taken to go into that sort of research?

Yeah, but it has been shut down fast. It could ruin things.

Mortum comments during the Puppet/Sidestep reveal that the suit they built wouldn't fit a Puppet that's got a big height difference with Sidestep even with the in-built flexibility, but could Mortum adapt it to fit the Puppet and/or change/"downgrade" the Rat King interface to work with the Puppet's psi-sensitivity like they did for Psychopathor? Well. Maybe a better question is if Mortum would be willing to do that?

Yes on both.

Can the helmet's voice modulation be turned off at will or would one have to take the helmet off to talk without it?

It can be turned on and off, and probably varied.

What are the worst/most annoying clients Mortum's had to deal with?

The ones that keeps changing their mind.

What are the ROs+HG trios thoughts on chessboxing & would any of them play it?

Chess boxing

Chess boxing, or chessboxing, is a hybrid sport that combines chess and boxing. Two combatants play alternating rounds of blitz chess and boxing until one wins by checkmate or knockout. It is also possible to win by time penalty as in normal chess, and by boxing decision if there is a draw in the chess round.

That I think is the single weirdest thing I've heard of. Chen would be interested, nobody else.

in the current research on inheriting boosts, are there any theories on if “enhanced” genes would be more likely to be passed down on the paternal line, maternal line, or both equally?

Oh yes, lots of people are researching. I am currently in the process of pondering more about children and boosts and redefining some things for the sourcebook. One reason I said nope, no kids, is because people kept asking questions about children and I didn't want to think about that. The other is that if it was easy and inheritable, breeding farms would be set up, and that would derail the re-gene narrative. So I am adjusting a little here and there, it's no longer impossible, but not easy or predictable.

We know ortega likes it when their partner steals/wears their clothes, do they enjoy or seize the opportunity when they get to be the clothes thief?

Oh yes. If possible. They might be pretty tight though...

Just for fun— if fallen hero wasn't scifi/ superhero genre, what (if any) genres do you think you'd most enjoy writing it as instead?

Urban fantasy. Think Buffy vibes.

I don't know why they would even think of doing so, but could Sidestep bodyhop into the core?

Spoilers.

What would scare sidestep more, horrors beyond comprehension or being emotionally vulnerable?

Aren't they the same?

How many Re-Genes died during Sidestep's second escape? Not (directly) because of Sidestep, but because of the guards coming after the Re-Genes? Or maybe loyal Re-Genes turning on others?

I have no idea, and I expect that varies. Some Sidesteps are more ruthless than others.

Does any of the possession/imposter stuff in Fallen Hero take cues from that in Dragon Age.

No, but now that you mention it, maybe there was a bit of Anders narrative in the back of my mind somewhere among all the rest. But it wasn't intentional, and I had never considered it until now.

What about the Green Sky teachings?

They will be what I need for the exact story fragment I need them for!

Has Snowball cultivated a reputation with the ranch hands Elena hires to help out? Do they know to stay away from her or does she allow them near?

Snowball has mellowed out a lot. She likes the farm hands. They feed her.

If Mortum had the chance to get revenge for Sidestep/the Puppet's lab coat thievery with an equivalent article of clothing, would they take it?

No. That would feel weird.

considering project stripes, is there any kind of secret/unofficial support suspected to flow from the US government to FEZ entities? What would those be, if widely suspected?

Oh yes. But spoilers! That's for some sidesteps to find out.

Why did you decide to have Argent and Herald join the Rangers at the years they did (2016 and 2018, respectively)? And why a two years gap?

I have no idea. When people ask me for a number I pull one out of my ass and put it on paper. I did know that Argent had joined before Herald. That was all. I don't plan these things in advance, I don't work with numbers, I work with relative facts.

Is the doctor that comes to treat Sidestep at Chen's place Halabi, Petrozza, or another doctor that's unnamed?

Still a bit undecided at that, that's why they're not named.

What would've happened if sidestep stayed in the city after the void raid?

Probably either go catatonic or a second Heartbreak.

Why is Spoon so undertrained? Is it Chen just spoiling/going soft on him because he sympathizes too much about his racing past, just not having the time as Marshal? Both?

I would say it is partly Chen being soft, and partly that he doesn't have enough time to devote himself fully.

Will Re-Genes be presented as playable in the upcoming TTRPG supplement?

I think escaped regene, yes. It feels like a farm-focused thing would be an entire supplement.