I'm a transgender woman who made a fun Anime-inspired TTRPG and is now using it to tell an alternate-timeline story set in the world of Final Fantasy XIV with a bunch of friends and it's a really good time!
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
@valorliana
Co-owner and Lead Designer for @valorousgames. Host of Worlds of Inspiration podcast. GM for A Time Adrift. Co-host for Asians Represent Podcast. Half-Vietnamese, lesbian, trans, She/Her Business contact: liana@valorousgames.com
I'm a transgender woman who made a fun Anime-inspired TTRPG and is now using it to tell an alternate-timeline story set in the world of Final Fantasy XIV with a bunch of friends and it's a really good time!
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
ECCC was fun and I had a wonderful time.
But there was a storm cloud. When I complained about Trump with my white straight cis friends, we were all sincere and concerned.
But I talked with many Trans friends, and itβs so much worse. They are in fear for their lives.
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This image depicts the portraits of 6 women of different ethnicities. With the logo of gdc conference and information of location date and time along a QR code
Join us tomorrow at 1:50 at West hall room 2010 for the longest running diversity panel of @officialgdc.bsky.social !
@jayjustice.net
@itsbrianawhite.bsky.social
@irenecortes.bsky.social
@comicsamanthas.bsky.social
and
@elainegomez.bsky.social
See you there! π
#gdc2026
The assumption that booths hire pretty girls who know nothing to push their products is longstanding and pervasive (and, I suppose, something of a backhanded compliment to my appearance)
Achievement unlocked: had a guy roll up to my booth and ask me if I knew anything about the game I was there to sell. Got a slightly awkward "oh, congratulations!" when I responded that yes, I was the creator.
Honestly I expected this earlier, I transitioned during COVID.
I (regret?) to inform you there's tons of Mariners and Seahawks apparel floating around the con already.
I may not get over to Summit until tomorrow but I will definitely have to stop by!
This ties into the reason I generally don't play games built by superfans of a particular series who are making their own iteration - almost without fail, those games tend to be far harder, grindier, and unforgiving than their predecessor since they're being designed for the most hardcore players.
On my way back to the car after ECCC I happened to run into a lovely gentleman, bald except for a single ponytail dyed green. He was wearing a shirt that said something to the effect of "if you go after them you have to go through me" in trans flag colors. He complimented my hair, made my night.
I understand where the instinct comes from since they're the most passionate, aggressive, and loudest ones giving you feedback but always caving to those voices is a great way to drown your own design.
Exactly! And that's what a designer should be paying attention to - you need to see what results from the problems they identify.
I can never remember who said it, but one of the things I heard that most resonated with me regarding game design is "players are great at telling you what's wrong but awful at telling you how to fix it".
I've found this to be consistently accurate in my own work. Behavior says more than words.
Hello #eccc2026! We're here! Come see us at booth 40645 and pick up a copy of Valor: The Heroic Roleplay System and also some adorable baby dragon keychains!
Mono blue players excel at playing with themselves anyway, find someone to whom your presence isn't entirely optional
Come look for me at ECCC this weekend! Gonna have some helpers this year so I'll try to stop by and see other folks as well!
If nothing else it means your family knows well enough not to form their identity around being some dude's son so that's something.
Objection! We Scots use "Mac" unless they fucked it up at Ellis Island when we came over!
It was a lovely moment that let me subvert expectations of an honorable knight's duel and really establish Godefroy as a character, I was SO EXCITED to drop this on the players and fully satisfied with the results.
So in this episode, we saw Godefroy intentionally challenge Gratien to a duel, provoking him to leave the safety of his bodyguards.
He then had his ally, who most definitely possesses the underhanded skill, to do a stabbing, much to the shock of our players.
Breaking a duel carries a hefty Valor penalty which most characters need to function, so typically if a duel happens, everyone is inclined to leave that alone and let them sort it.
But we also have a skill called "Underhanded" designed for dishonorable fighters.
The "duel" skill allows two enemies of similar ability to challenge each other to a duel, gaining a bonus to Valor with the caveat that they may only target each other during the fight.
It's a skill meant to heighten tensions by allowing people to break off into 1v1 fights.
I got to play with some really fun Valor mechanics and expectations in the final moments of this episode, and I'm going to talk about them in the comments for those who want to avoid spoilers!
As an explosion rips through the streets of Foundation, what will become of our unlikely heroes? Find out tomorrow and ignore me giggling in the corner, it's nothing I assure you.
#ffxivfanfest2026 is right around the corner!!! If anyone needs stickers for the booming #FFXIVStickerTrade Please get in my DMS asap for commissions! It takes stickerApp a good week for printing and delivery turn around, so don't tarry! #ffxiv #commissionsOpen
Waves for me, I'm a water trainer all the way
Photo of a red box with gold lettering: MARSEILLE TAROT. Box rests on a fairly busted-looking wooden tabletop.
Bluesky, do you crave mystical insights via cartomancy? Do you have $ to donate to orgs helping trans folks in Kansas? Gimme a screenshot of a donation & I will post or email you your very own tarot reading.
Details & a couple suggested orgs to come in comments, stand by...
#Tarotsky #Kansas
If you have the means, please donate to the Trans Continental Pipeline right now. They are a Colorado based org that helps trans people relocate and they are overwhelmed with requests. Colorado borders Kansas, and TCP has the infrastructure to help get people out.
tcpipeline.org
do not let Democrats give a centimeter on trans peopleβs rights. We stand up for everyone, or we stand up for no one.
Solidarity with my trans siblings in Kansas and a hearty fuck you to the legislature that is gleefully partaking in this fascist genocide.
Also fuck off Newsom, don't think I've forgotten you and I'll repeat this every time we lose more rights while you simp for right-wing transphobes.
I've done this so often apparently I can just dive into an off-the-cuff how to Valor explanation and keep it under a minute.