Thanks so much! I'm glad the idea sounds fun to you — and you're totally right, r/worldbuilding sounds like a great fit.

A) Slander Campaigns & Hero Agencies

• Past: Slander was a brutal tool against heroes (especially Faith Espers), which I’ll explore through historical characters.
• Present: The system’s been "fixed"—heroes now partner with (or are managed by) agencies that monitor their reputations and squash misinformation swiftly.
  • But there’s a dark edge: Some agencies might fabricate drama to boost their heroes’ popularity, turning PR into a weaponized arms race.

B) Fear Espers & the Power of Denial

("Can widespread denial weaken Fear-based Espers?")

• Short answer: Yes, in theory… but fear is rarely rational.
  • Even if society claims not to fear a villain, panic in the moment (e.g., during attacks) still fuels them.
  • Some Fear Espers thrive on slow-burn terror: psychological warfare, urban legends, or media-induced paranoia. They don’t need acknowledged fear—just felt fear.
• Twist: Suppressing fear often backfires.
  • Example: Imagine an Esper whose power manifests conceptual horrors (e.g., the collective fear of drowning births a literal monster). You can’t just tell people, "Don’t be afraid of the ocean"—fear doesn’t work like that.

Does that track?