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Liana MacKenzie

@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

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Latest posts by Liana MacKenzie @valorliana

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A Time Adrift | Season One - YouTube All episodes from season 1 of A Time Adrift

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...

11.03.2026 01:26 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

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 it’s so much worse. They are in fear for their lives.

1/

10.03.2026 14:11 πŸ‘ 1520 πŸ” 438 πŸ’¬ 23 πŸ“Œ 40
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

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! πŸ’–

#gdc2026

10.03.2026 00:05 πŸ‘ 17 πŸ” 11 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 2

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)

09.03.2026 04:57 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

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.

09.03.2026 02:40 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I (regret?) to inform you there's tons of Mariners and Seahawks apparel floating around the con already.

07.03.2026 16:37 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I may not get over to Summit until tomorrow but I will definitely have to stop by!

06.03.2026 15:26 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

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.

06.03.2026 06:30 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

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.

06.03.2026 06:27 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

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.

06.03.2026 06:26 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Exactly! And that's what a designer should be paying attention to - you need to see what results from the problems they identify.

06.03.2026 05:46 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

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.

05.03.2026 23:53 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

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!

05.03.2026 20:25 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

Mono blue players excel at playing with themselves anyway, find someone to whom your presence isn't entirely optional

05.03.2026 17:34 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

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!

05.03.2026 03:05 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

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.

02.03.2026 23:54 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Objection! We Scots use "Mac" unless they fucked it up at Ellis Island when we came over!

02.03.2026 23:38 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

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.

28.02.2026 20:21 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

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.

28.02.2026 20:21 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

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.

28.02.2026 20:21 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

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.

28.02.2026 20:21 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

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!

28.02.2026 20:20 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

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.

27.02.2026 21:57 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

#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

24.02.2026 20:46 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Waves for me, I'm a water trainer all the way

27.02.2026 16:26 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Photo of a red box with gold lettering: MARSEILLE TAROT. Box rests on a fairly busted-looking wooden tabletop.

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

27.02.2026 01:07 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 8 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 2

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

26.02.2026 04:17 πŸ‘ 7908 πŸ” 8585 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 107

do not let Democrats give a centimeter on trans people’s rights. We stand up for everyone, or we stand up for no one.

26.02.2026 01:54 πŸ‘ 813 πŸ” 346 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0

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.

26.02.2026 03:40 πŸ‘ 17 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

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.

25.02.2026 21:56 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0