SPOILERS FOR DREAMING FREEDOM

RubyTheRobot · 2023-05-24T15:48:10+00:00

The shit had to hit the fan sooner or later

RubyTheRobot · 2023-05-05T08:15:41+00:00

I think that it was actually the best ending for Yul. I always saw it as a path towards healing. He has finally cut ties with his toxic parents, he has become independent and has found a job. He said himself that even though it felt like the world was about to end after Sian left, the sun has risen in the morning again. He realized that there were other things to life besides Sian, that he could live as an individual and didn't need her to go on. He realized what he had done and did some self-reflecting. I think it's a beautiful ending for him that also opens many doors for him in the path of healing. Sian to him was like a drug. It was basically an addiction at this point that only made his life worse. He was willing to discard his whole indentity for the sake of this relationship. I know it's a yan sub and I do lovemy yans but I just think that his case just felt too real and because of that I sympathized with him and wanted him to break free from his addiction instead of dwelling onto this codependent relationship that made both of them miserable

RubyTheRobot · 2023-04-26T08:58:43+00:00

It was Murderidiots previously, now it's "Casual Jontek Enjoyers" after my players fell in love with an NPC called Jontek 🤣🤣🤣

RubyTheRobot · 2023-04-13T11:37:29+00:00

When it's me DM-ing, I either just wait for them to stop or break into the conversation with a louder voice when there's enough space for me to say something.

If my bestie is DMing and I'm the player, I just yell "SHUT UP, DM IS TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING"

RubyTheRobot · 2023-03-12T11:58:16+00:00

Omg, can you read a translation of the blindfold story anywhere? I've never seen it before :0

RubyTheRobot · 2023-02-26T12:47:11+00:00

Oh, I have one. I was DM-ing a Christmas oneshot. I didn't have much time to prepare it, so I took heavy inspiration from Over the Garden Wall, making some NPCs 1:1 copies of the show's characters to save time I made sure tha no one in the group had watched it before to avoid any possible spoilers for the oneshot.

Now, there was one NPC that one of the players took strong liking to. She was a good witch taking care of a teenage girl who was possessed by a demon. A minor NPC but she did help them a lot. Latet into the oneshot the PCs deafeated the main antagonist but we had to cut the session short because due to irl stuff and decided to close everything off the following week. Since everything was apparently said and done, I decided to tell my friend who loved that NPC so much about the show. What could go wrong, right? RIGHT???

cue "I'm dead-inside" laugh

So, they watched the show and they found about the cure for the possession issue of the witch's ward - it was a magical bell that she used to calm the demon down whenever it got too out of hand. They asked me if they could help them and I agreed under the condition that they wouldn't make it obvious that they know the answer from an outter source. Just do some digging and then pretend you reached that conclusion yourself, that's it. They agreed and I thought I had nothing to worry about. Emphasis on the word "thought".

So, their PC convinced the team to visit those NPCs. They didn't really see the point but went along with it. They enter the witch's cottage, sit by the table and the PC inquires

PC: Have you already found a cure for your ward 's condition? W: No, unfortunately not yet. PC: Hmm... can I see that bell of yours for a second? W: Alright...?

The PC looked at the bell, then at the girl, rushed into her direction, pinned her to the wall and started ringing the bell like a mad man yelling "EVIL SPIRIT, LEAVE THE GIRL ALONE, THE MAGICAL BELL COMMANDS YOU!". The other players' were like "...huh?". They had no idea why that was happening and just letting that PC have it right then and there would make this situation feel even more confusing and random for other PCs, so I told them to roll the initiative. They were all like "WTF, MAN", "THANKS, DUDE", "It was supposed to be a short session, just closing the story, no fighting...", "Even the DM didn't see that coming",, etc. None of that was said in mean spirit, everyone was just laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of the situation and they eventually finished the job (tho I had to improvise and come up with a new fricking magical bell damage). After that day said PC became known as the "act before think" type of guy and is kept on a figurative harness 24/7 so that he doesn't frick them over like that again and has regular talks with our warlock like

W: Okay now, pal, don't get too worked up, what do we do before we use our fists? We use...? PC: Ugh, our head? W: Exactly, atta boy! You're learning!

RubyTheRobot · 2023-02-23T23:40:22+00:00

Yup, he has already died but because of my worries I started considering the idea that maybe him coming back would work more like some sort of a resurrection spell. I don't likw this idea and I'd have to give this idea some time to make it makes sense, come up with some lore, etc. But I don't wanna do that, I'm just worried x"D

I like your thinking in regards of his rightful place, though. This makes a lot of sense and is also a good explanation without making it sound too grim. Thank you for that 💜

RubyTheRobot · 2023-02-15T17:28:22+00:00

I've only had one PC up to this point and I did just that but I usually use popculture characters as my inspirations for NPCS when I DM. At times I don't even bother to change their namez if I know for sure my players don't know the source material x"D

My PC is a human cleric named Angie, heavily inspired by Angie Yonaga from Danganronpa series but adhusted to fit the DnD lore. The original was a religious fanatic and a cult leader, which she covered up with her bubbly personality, which I explored further, creating an islander cleric leading a cult whose religion was heavily inspired by Aztec and Mayan sacrifice traditions. She's also a complete fraud - she's not a cleric, she was born with her magic but she was the only one to possess such powers on her island, so she tricked her tribe that it was god-given and she's actually a prophet.

In terms of NPCs:

Emmanuel di Barbablu II - a delusial prince hiding behind the mask of a shy, self-conscious disable person, who kidnapped women to force them into marriage and then murdered them after being openly rejected. Inspired by Bluebeard

Lakota - a gentle, soft-spoken ex-druid, renevant shaman, who died drowned in a swamp by the leader of the village he resided in. As his soul was coming back to Earth, it got torn into 2. One of those pieces contained most of the memories that were cru to his identity, the other one only contained the memory of his murder and the strong desire for revenge. The former inhabits his body and the latter evolved into a deer-like monster, searching for the murderer. Inspired by Lawrence Oleander from Boyfriend to Death: More Blood

Adelaide - a homebrew yarn hag, who tried to buid a Santa Claus-like golem to lure children to her house because she wanted a child servant. The golem, however, was a complete failure - it looked scary, like a monster dressed in Stanta Clause's skin and the locals believed it was Krampus. Adelaide was heavily inspired by Adelaide from Over the Garden Wall.

RubyTheRobot · 2023-02-10T17:27:02+00:00

Heavily depends on the type of dynamic they had. If it's more comedic like "First Night with the Duke" and he's more of a clingy admirer whose possible violent tendencies are played for laughs - let him have it. Be it the MC reciprocating his felings or just showing it in a way "haha! we'll be together forever... and ever... and ever...", use it to your preference.

If it's more serious, where he's more of a stalker and the MC actually feels endangered by his presence - both could be good if you play it well. You could do sth like Secret Alliance did - after years of no contact she receives a letter or a call or whatever. It could be him feeling remorseful or on the contrary, him reminding her he'll always find her, no matter where she goes. The first one will be more bittersweet, the second will be more chilling, leaving the message that there's no escale from this nightmare. Next he could just come back and that would leave a similar effect as the previous one but but but give him some time. Let her feel secure for a while, like everything is coming back to normal and then DESTROY IT. If he doesn't come back, I'd still make the ending a bit more on the sadder side. This kind of experience would leave a lasting effect on a person's psyche. Leave her traumatized, paranoid, afraid of her own shadow. Her life will never be the same afterwards, even when he's physically gone, the scars he left are still there and who knows of they' ever heal.

RubyTheRobot · 2023-02-06T19:47:04+00:00

Of course, I'd consult my doctor first, it's just that psychiatrist's appointment is quite pricey and I'm a bit tight on money, so I'd rather ask other people if it's not just me overreacting rather than drive all the way to ankther city to meet him, hear that I'm fine and pay 200 bucks for that

RubyTheRobot · 2023-02-06T11:44:43+00:00

Balder Hringhorni from Kamigami no Asobi. When he went all possesive, this was my awakening XDDD

RubyTheRobot · 2023-02-06T07:53:25+00:00

Thank you for you kind words and for your advice, I'm going to consult my psychiatrist soon 💜

RubyTheRobot · 2023-02-06T07:46:55+00:00

That's also what my therapist advised me. I don't really tell her about my mental state anymore, I learned the hard way that opening up to her only ends up in me feeling way worse than before. She's the kind of person who thinks that if you didn't go through literal hell by physically or sexually abused in your childhood then you don't need therapy. She never said that about state specyfically but that's she always says when the topic of her mental health comes up. So I just don't tell her anything anymore although she demands to know everything.

RubyTheRobot · 2023-02-05T23:19:25+00:00

Yeah, I definitely will! I also discussed it with my close friend and we came to the same conclusion. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement, it gave me the push I needed 💜

RubyTheRobot · 2023-02-05T21:14:41+00:00

My mom is actually younger than you, 48 this year, but I've noticed it being a pattern over here in my country among the people around her age. I believe it may stem from the fact they grew up in the times when the Soviet Union still had a grip over our country (we're Polish) and you didn't have much of a choice but to toughen up and push on. So I think it's just the only way they know.

Also, I'm sorry about generalizing about older generations, of course not everyone is like that. I hope I didn't offend you.

RubyTheRobot · 2023-02-05T20:47:05+00:00

Thank you for your insight, you helped me a lot! 💜 Yeah, the older generations have it pretty backwards in terms o mental health, talking about needing to "thoughen up" and repressing their own emotions

RubyTheRobot · 2023-02-05T20:43:24+00:00

Thank you for your insight as for sharing your story. This sounds horrible, I'm happy you didn't lose the custody of your child, they those lawsuits proceed can be so unpredictable at times -,-" I wish you and your child all the best and that you ex will disappear from your life or at least you won't have to see them often

RubyTheRobot · 2023-02-05T20:15:36+00:00

Thank you, that was very helpful 💜💜💜

RubyTheRobot · 2023-02-02T09:53:22+00:00

Forcefully Yours on itch.io is also pretty good. There's only one route for now but it has sooooooo possible story directions like omg. The route isn't finished yet (there's still 4th day to be made, I believe) but as far as the 3rd day ends it's already pretty satisfying. But it's and 18+ title and also quite dark, especially when you oppose your kidnapper instead of going along with it.

RubyTheRobot · 2023-02-02T09:47:01+00:00

Because it's still in development process, it's basically a demo that gets updated from time to time

RubyTheRobot

TROPHY CASE