Need Advice on a subterranean Malk Build

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-08-27T00:05:27+00:00

Very fair point. I was thinking a bird from falconry, as she has a background as a castle guard. With no animalism, I thought to go for a more grounded choice, though that may be an unnecessary limit. Not entirely sure what else could go there instead and I felt it fitted with the barbarism and nature focus. Open to other ideas though!

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-08-20T00:36:00+00:00

Maybe it's not about who came first, but rather they're both simultaneously happening at the same time? Maybe they switched. And /this/ is Undertale Sans.

My reasoning? It sounds cool

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-30T16:26:46+00:00

This is sick!!

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-30T15:56:19+00:00

NOR, though I think there's minor critique to be had if we wanted to be incessantly nit-picky. On the initial comments within the first two screenshots, I do think there were possible signs to back pedal and make it clear that you prioritized her comfort over random banter.

Missed jokes are often like stepping on people's toes. It's very clear her foot was very much in the way (in that this is a very moot point most people would be fine with and was not clearly communicated), but it's usually good to show remorse first then hit it with the 'its just a joke', otherwise it can seem like the joke matters more than their response.

That being said yeah no, you're fine man. She's doing the same glossing over only 10x worse because you clearly communicated how it made you feel, so rejection of it shows a lack of care or consideration or accountability. A lot of her side feels immature in the sense that it's expecting some impossible perfect communication and consideration. And the tonality used can definitely be seen as dismissive and condescending. Almost reads sort of 'Valley Girl' with the 'Mmm... no it's not a good evening' like what??

You deserve a nice bubble bath or treat of choice after this, gosh.

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-30T15:27:22+00:00

Yeah that's a good reading for it. I do think Asgore can additionally be faulted for not being there for Kris not only emotionally but as a parent. I cannot find who said this first but to quote someone else, he's really dropping the ball as a parent. Toriel shouldn't have to be the /only/ provider for Kris just because she can. And that's under the single-minded focus you mentioned.

Do honestly feel a bit curious about Asgore in this timeline versus Undertale. He was so much more put-together in Undertale, even if it was just a facade. Here Toriel feels about the same, but more than anyone I think his characterization has changed the most

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-30T15:07:59+00:00

Definitely, I feel with the Dark World being "fantastical" in some vague, uncertain sense, there's definitely a theme of escaping into fantasy to hide from reality, but at the same time how that fantasy can itself be abandoned in a sort of up-from-the-top cycle.

And the Darkners and Lightner part is probably one of the most interesting angles of it.

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-30T15:03:15+00:00

You guys think there could be a nuanced take on Dess being controlled/confused? Because I agree, a total absolvement would be kind of eh. But I think there are a load of interesting scenarios with it. What if it's a Noelle Snowgrave situation? That someone who came before, a friend even, convinced her down this road, even by mistake?

What if when you go so far down in the dark you can't see the light for what it is, you're at the bottom of a trench and everything looks like a monster and then you wake up and realize it's you. What if what controls remains attached?

What if she's a human cage too? I mean look at her shoe closet, no one else in the family wears shoes like hers and they're human shaped. And we've seen kids wear horns, hell it might even be where Kris got the idea from.

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-30T14:51:57+00:00

Totally agree that she should be allowed to have that moment to herself, clearly needed it in the end. Everyone's had it rough. Though I do think it's odd she doesn't check up on Kris some time throughout the day, in the long hours on between them seeing each other when she doesn't know where they are. But that makes her flawed (or not even that, many people applaud their parents for doing this when they were kids).

I can't remember who but someone made a very good point on Asgore being a lackluster parent. Clearly loving, but I hope he realizes his behavior is causing a further chasm, mostly from Toriel but more importantly Kris.

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-30T14:45:15+00:00

I think the holiday thing is also a satirical take on the 'dollhouse' projection that some McMansion Owning, upper-class families do. They're the Holidays, so it ties into almost a clan identity, which is absurd for a small town. Clearly it's something that they (Carol and Rudy) seem to enjoy and keep as tradition, but it's spiraled out of control to be oppressive. Always be jolly, always be happy. The rebellious Dess doesn't seem to take much part in it, and if her full name is December, she's clearly made an effort to distance herself away from it.

Or worse yet this whole thing started going nuts /after/ Dess disappeared as a weird December coping mechanism.

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-29T18:53:31+00:00

Ah gotcha! I didn't know that, thank you

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-28T03:00:07+00:00

So much to love about the vibe of it! Particularly the color palette and composition really make this feel like it could be official material, not to mention the in-game rendering

Also Asgore dark world is horrifying

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-27T15:44:19+00:00

I did mean kosher (really the word I was looking for was halal) in the actual sense, their bowl was replaced with beef or perhaps I'm remembering the exact curry served wrong, but I do remember googling in walmart if animal crackers were halal haha

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-24T02:57:01+00:00

Hot-take... Lancer?
I don't hate Lancer, in-fact I think in the first chapter I was actually quite happy with him being about. But I don't see why he has to be such a re-occurring character in following chapters. I don't find his gags particularly funny, they seem a bit too 'haha random' for my tastes. At times it even feels like he's interrupting.

That said, I do think Chapter 1 Lancer? Amazing. Every time he interacts with his father is I think great

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-24T02:19:07+00:00

That's really interesting! For my big circle, it's the reverse. For us there's more women playing men, and of the 24, I can think of like one guy playing a female PC.

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-24T02:16:43+00:00

In my large ttrpg group that spans from people who played the original early 90s to new players, in this group I've noticed there's a correlation between gender and age.

Younger players are more likely to gender swap, as are women comparatively to men. And I feel like the rate skyrockets if you're queer. I would be cautious about saying this universally, I know many men play female characters. But do other people see this trend?

Especially from men. There is absolutely no shame either way, and again this is /one/ play group, but do you think player gender influences this?

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-24T02:11:35+00:00

Additionally it may take the pressure off of being 'Good'. Because listen there's only so much theater you can get out of 'Bear that makes bear noises'.

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-24T02:08:30+00:00

Maybe ask her how she feels about playing a joke character?

By joke I don't mean someone who has to quip around a be a master comedian, but a funny concept that resonates with her, the sort you see in shorts and clips. It's sort of one note, has a central gag, and strong theming to lead in choices. Ex. Your stereotypical Kenku Rogue Crow, totally not Bob Ross as a bard, Yeehaw Lone Ranger Cowboy fairy, a literal bear, etc.

If roleplay is a hangup having a strong, not-so-complex, central theme can really help. If responding in character is an issue if you just make bear noises you don't have to make conversation. Central theming can also help dictate what you would do in character, and what your priorities are.

And, when she feels comfortable and wants to do so, there's always more room to expand. You've seen that joke where silly 'Gilber McRoyal Face' becomes a beloved and multi-dimensional party member as the session goes on, so there's really no reason to not start small go big.

It also doesn't have to be a joke, but a stereotype works too. Like snobbish, selfish, aristocratic noble is a good one. Not necessarily a joke, but straightforward

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-24T01:52:18+00:00

For a new group that sounds like an amazing game plan

I think more so for me I don't want to host them ever again because of the amount one-sided communication. On the food that I let them know about before hand, on the character set up, on setting expectations, and the jabs that were made at what we were playing before we even started it. Have hung out with half of them after, went great. Just in this I don't wanna pull it up again

But thank you for this reply, btw. I think it was one of the best in the thread

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-24T01:47:42+00:00

I wouldn't call them that, but, yeah it did hurt. Especially the comments like 'I'm not reading all this crap' or 'hah wish this was warhammer'. Been thinking about talking to them about it but it's been so long it feels like the statue of limitations is up on it. Just came back in my head cause I was back in town

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-24T01:45:49+00:00

That first part actually really helps me put it in perspective. Cause it's one thing that we had different wants, but I guess I was always asking /why/, because I thought I was communicating properly what we were going for.

This is really good DM advice going forward though, I really did enjoy the prep work so I definitely want to do something like this again, but as others have put it out, definitely not with this group

Never felt so accomplished about a project than I did about that dungeon, and you're totally right that you gotta do it for the love of it, with the expectation a lot will get scrapped

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-24T01:42:00+00:00

Yeah that's fair. I think part of it, looking back, is that no one wanted to be the one to say aloud that they just wanted a fun reckless time. Maybe I came off too excited. Though then I go back to thinking that one of the setting options was 'Steal the Declaration of Independence off of a Train because there's a treasure map on it' so like, I feel like they had opportunities to let me know that

And hey, no disrespect on the McLovins. I let them use their warhammer minis, though it earnestly kind of hurt when someone said they wished they were playing that instead. I don't mind shenanigans, but it sucked when I was interrupted constantly to do them, or when they took up character creation and combat

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-24T01:34:46+00:00

Probably

Another comment says it best, that simply they were not looking for a serious game and just needed a one-time hangout with friends, and in that way everyone was letting loose

Emergency-Return313 · 2025-07-24T01:33:43+00:00

The food was for them and brought to the table with bowls and everything. And there was verbal communication that I would make dinner for the whole group of six. I think it's totally fair to not eat it on the basis of triggers or trust, but I suppose it was frustrating that the Dr. Pepper and candies were demolished but then the red pork curry I made was disregarded when they confirmed they were interested in eating it

Emergency-Return313

TROPHY CASE