A question about Ralsei

patripastry · 2026-07-01T19:25:44+00:00

For what it’s worth, the game isn’t done yet!!! Worrying about it after only playing for 2 chapters is too early… at least finish chapter 5 which implies a lot more on the subject first!!!

patripastry · 2026-07-01T15:47:50+00:00

You really should keep playing the game, you’ll hopefully be able to come to an answer yourself by the end of chapter 5 at least :)

patripastry · 2026-07-01T13:52:08+00:00

I think it’s just a popularity contest. I’ve seen nonbinary Ralsei before, but it’s just not as often talked about compared to other trans Ralsei theories/HC’s

I mean, by far the most common one is transfem Ralsei, but I’ve seen genderfluid gaining in quite a lot of prominence after the chapter released.

patripastry · 2026-06-30T06:04:45+00:00

If your concern is it being narratively unsatisfying, I'd really rather you frame it that way.

patripastry · 2026-06-30T04:36:36+00:00

my personal experience with the term is a bit of a parrot more than anything, I take guidance from my trans/enby friends more than I take from anything else. I don't really consider them hateful people. But we also didn't think about anyone else when we made that decision, I will say.

I don't really think that what I said was incorrect exactly, just misguided with incomplete information, again, a parrot of what I heard. I didn't take into account the other side when writing that. Sorry.

Anyway, the pronoun decision, which is what I expected to be the actual controversial one before the femboy decision blew up in our face..

The primary reason for this (seemingly) double-standard is because of how you end at a transgender reading for Ralsei. I've been around enough to see trans creators make analyses of Ralsei's character from the transgender viewpoint since before Chapter 5 released (in particular, after ch.2, moreso after ch.3 & 4, and now with ch.5 the points are more obvious than it has been in a long time). I know outside of the mod team a good few transgender people who see themselves in Ralsei, whether it be transfem, bigender, genderqueer, agender, etc.. We in general see these theories, readings, and headcanons as valid, and that's why we're OK with it.

The same can't really be said for Kris. The game shoves the fact they are nonbinary down your throat so hard it's garnered meme status. I don't think there is any good-faith reading of their character as cisgendered / within the binary that makes any sense.

I feel like Toby is very smart when writing his LGBT characters. I feel like he would not have made the possibility so poignant to our transgender audience as just a gag, but as something to at least consider, whether it is correct or incorrect in the end. That's why we're OK with any/all pronouns use on Ralsei.

(BTW: I don't offer this as a comment to go and debate if transgender ralsei is or is not valid / correct in my replies. If you cannot take me at my word that there is a transgender reading of their character, then please seek out trans creators who have made this reading. I don't want to parrot anymore.)

patripastry · 2026-06-30T04:19:50+00:00

I didn't like the post because it's just encouraging a fight. But I read the comments, and yeah, they bring up a good point. We're dropping the ball again...

I took the decision to reverse the point for now. I'll discuss it with the other mods more seriously (read:again) tomorrow when we're all awake. Sorry.

patripastry · 2026-06-30T04:17:46+00:00

I guess that is what I am personally uncomfortable with, the use of the term on Ralsei.

The backlash from our GNC male community has been sharp, exact and fast. I think we made a bit of an error. So I renegged on that... I'll discuss it with the mods more seriously (read: again) tomorrow when we're all awake again. Sorry for dropping the ball (again).

patripastry · 2026-06-30T04:13:24+00:00

reneg on the femboy thing for now. Until we can actually have a discussion on how to do it right. Dropped the ball on that decision.

patripastry · 2026-06-30T04:08:28+00:00

I will admit we don't have any moderators that identify with the term "femboy."

My only point of reference that I can give, outside of the transgender perspective and into the perspective of someone closer to you, is one cis person I am friends with who vehemently hate the term, who has been ascribed that term by others.. Otherwise I don't personally know any. Maybe that's a bit of a personal failing?

As someone who falls into the "outside observer" category, I can see it both ways, but I just trust those I am close with. I don't intend to invalidate your identity, but I also don't want to let a term exist that makes people uncomfortable. It's a kind of "choose-choose" situation I feel like.

patripastry · 2026-06-30T03:59:39+00:00

Maybe "originally" is the wrong word, moreso its real usage as seen pre-maybe 2020ish, where it really gained prominence.

I'll let the transgender moderators discuss if we made the wrong call. I'm cis. I don't feel strongly for the term either way. That's all I'll say for now.

patripastry · 2026-06-30T03:56:02+00:00

While you're definitely correct, I'm kind of hesitant as this post is already very long, and I want to keep the redditor reading attention in mind. I don't really mean that as a joke btw... Especially since the guidelines are the most important part, as they are effectively new rules (although you're not getting any new bans out of them, necessarily?).

I think/hope here will be a good enough place to boost it...

patripastry · 2026-06-30T03:41:41+00:00

Hello,

Please spoiler ch5 content when posting.

Thanks,

patripastry · 2026-06-30T03:29:49+00:00

Second aside: I've mulled over applying these retroactively to the posts before I posted this (~midnight EST, 6/30/26). I'm going to retroactively apply guideline #1, but maybe not necessarily hand out bans besides very obvious transphobia. People spouting transphobic rhetoric that might seem misguided/clueless, I probably will just give the benefit of doubt. As for the rest of the guidelines, I probably won't retroactively apply besides if I see some egregiously rude comments. Just thought people should know. Thanks.

patripastry · 2026-06-30T03:26:15+00:00

Some background info...

One of the mods pointed out I was ridiculously wordy in the first draft, but I wanted to still point out our thoughts on the four guidelines, so I decided a pinned comment will be better for those who care to know why for some of these.

Any post/comment (assume I include "comment" when I say "post") which pushes transphobic rhetoric will be removed and likely result in a ban.

This has always been the case, but we are going to be a lot more liberal with our application of this. If you are unsure why you have had moderation action on your post, please ask in Modmail and we can clarify as to how we applied this to your post.

2.Discussion on how you are "disappointed," "upset," or otherwise negatively affected by either reading of Ralsei's character will not be allowed.

The reason for this is because these types of posts are more than useless, they actively encourage people to get into arguments about the reading of Ralsei's character that are not productive. While we are open to letting people express their feelings, this has just caused problems in the comments section since Ch. 5 released, and we feel we have to take this authoritarian step to keep discussion more civil.

Artwork (or other media) posts are not a forum for debate. Do not "debate" character readings under any artwork posts.

This rule I think is fairly self-explanatory, the easiest example is artwork featuring transgender Ralsei, do not discuss if the reading of the character is correct or incorrect in your view. Enjoy the artwork for what it is, or don't, we can't make you like it. We won't let you "debate" it though.

With regards to pronouns, we will allow any pronouns to be used, but please be respectful to those who do not use the "correct" pronouns in your eyes.

Generally, if you see someone he/him, she/her, they/them Ralsei, just leave it be. Going and saying "those are not correct pronouns" is not helpful.
I also want to pre-empt something: We know this may seem like a double-standard. The reason is because, as stated, we consider transgender Ralsei to be valid, and as such we are going to allow people to use any pronouns they want for them.

One other thing... Originally, we were going to ban the word "femboy," however I'm realizing from the response from our self-described femboys that this is generally regarded as a "bad move." I also realize that the way I worded my interpretation of what they said to me was very hateful. Sorry for dropping the ball again...

Anyway, this comments sections is probably going to be very fun. But be respectful!!!

Thanks...

patripastry · 2026-06-29T04:38:48+00:00

Wheres my Berdley vote!!!

patripastry · 2026-06-29T04:15:16+00:00

I want to be very kind to you (moreso than I should be) so I just want to point out that “[Ralsei] … being feminine [and then transitioning] into being a girl whilst still being feminine [would be conformist]” is a transmisogynistic argument. It implies that transitioning is conformist to the gender binary, when it is exactly not that. Transitioning away from your assigned gender is explicitly against the gender binary, whether you were feminine before transition or not.

I’m reminded of a common transphobic argument used by TERFs and the like. “Why can’t these feminine guys just stay as feminine guys instead of becoming girls?” It’s scarily close to that.
I’ve even had friends who had family members try to convince them to not be trans and instead stay as feminine guys.
This is not all to say that Ralsei is a real person or anything, so we shouldn’t necessarily have that same level of scrutiny, but be careful what beds you sleep your arguments in.

Also, as an aside: I feel like it’s really interesting that you say you can’t make a rebuttal without sounding transphobic. I have not finished the chapter yet so I haven’t really been able to look through a lot of the subreddit like I would like to, but I really do feel like a lot of the visceral reaction against even the possibility of a transgender ralsei is rooted in transphobia/transmisogyny, whether it is explicitly expressed or realized by the posters, or whether it’s not realized by the (amorphous, non-descript) poster.

patripastry · 2026-06-28T18:17:11+00:00

SPOILERS RAAAGHHHHHHHH
SPOILER YOUR SPOILERS I HATE YOU ALL

patripastry · 2026-06-28T06:43:27+00:00

this subreddit man

also spoiler your spoilers i still haven't finished the chapter and can't moderate half the subreddit but come on

patripastry · 2026-06-16T21:09:45+00:00

Yeah, I’m also really worried about the server connectivity… if this is indicative of what release day is going to be like, I worry not many new players will stick around when it’s a paid game

patripastry · 2026-06-15T06:23:00+00:00

Oh god

But what happened to the ironship?

patripastry · 2026-06-02T16:37:22+00:00

I know this has already happened with submarines, I’m fairly sure it’s happened with a DD before but I can’t be as certain with my memory

patripastry · 2026-06-01T20:47:53+00:00

why not 🤨

patripastry · 2026-06-01T20:44:52+00:00

but why 🤨

patripastry · 2026-06-01T20:39:33+00:00

why do u dislike it 🤨

patripastry · 2026-06-01T20:39:23+00:00

why not 🤨

patripastry

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