I’ve given a bit of notice to the author in her tumblr asks, but if she doesn’t want this tumblr post answered here, then I’ll happily delete it because respecting the author’s wishes comes first.
That said, there’s an itemized list that she was curious to have answered by her readers. I’d give it a day, or so, to ensure she’s had a chance to make her ultimatum before piling on the replies, but I’m reasonably confident–more cautiously, really, but it is what it is–that since she requested reader input, any answers offered are a potential help.
So here it is:
Eleana’s questions were: “I have a question, if you don’t mind, about some things that you guys would like the MC to have. (I know I’ve asked this before, but I’m making a new list because I misplaced the other one…) So what would you guys like to see in your MC?”
- Personality Types
Answer
Making certain personality values shine through in things like flavor text is complex. Not necessarily on paper, since it is fairly simple to have things like “if [shy>= 60%] then, elseif” etc. That in itself isn’t so difficult if you’re creating four-to-eight broad types that can have overlapping responses, and conversation points based on secondary, and tertiary tier personality responses. It’s in offering responses that also dynamically hide, or appear based on these values that things start getting tricky.
That said, I’d want to see all kinds of personalities someday. The main thing is getting the backbone of the story built up, then you can fill it out with more variation until satisfied. 
My main MCs responses generally fall under the ‘shy’, ‘aloof’, ‘considerate’ personality range. They don’t process things like ‘anger’, or ‘aggression’ very quickly, which is where some of their perceived ‘aloofness’ comes from. It makes them seem a little cold, or emotionally stunted, but that level of self control is helpful in providing clearer perception in dire/stressful situations. Think first–don’t get openly pissy. That sorta thing. 
- Body Types
Answer
Oh, I know well how astonishingly puny my MC is going to turn out. If height is a factor, they’re not going to be taller than 5 ft 5 in. If how slender, or muscular, or curvy they are is a choice, they’ll most likely be skinny, but not quite a twig. 
Speaking plainly, though, details like this only matter when mentioned. If it’s too much work to keep up with adding these sorts of variables in, then it is okay to lower expectations to keep things simpler. Admittedly, the option to slowly build muscle structure over the course of the books could be neat, same as if the MC ended up gaining a little plush around the hips at the same time/instead. But giving players the chance to be eye to eye with a certain Emperor wouldn’t be seen as a bad thing by your player base, and it gives the really tall folks in the world a bit of representation.
- Tattoo Options (maybe?) Would be later in the book/series though
Answer
That sounds like a great idea. It also kinda depends on where you can have them located. Like… The membrane of the MC’s dragon form’s wings. Yeah, that’d likely hurt like nothing else before it, but how cool would some tattoos that make cool shadows through the little light that gets through the wings be?
As for the human forms, that would still be location dependent, but I think many players might pick it for such reasons as ‘it accentuates their looks’ or ‘it makes them more intimidating’. Whatever the individual’s reason for choosing to have them, if you’re willing to make it possible (within reason) then it can only be appreciated as a work of art. 
- Dyeing Hair (maybe?)… I might also add an option for your MCs hair have grown darker as they’ve aged. Because I know someone that used to have bleach blond hair and it darkened as they aged… (just an idea though)
Answer
Now this is a level of detailed realism I could get behind!
Even going from the ‘younger days’ of the prologue to something more like the present could see some changes of this nature. Though if the setting can be considered medieval, or ‘pre-industrial’ dyeing hair would be a bit of an expense that only “rich nobles” would do depending on the world’s economy/what’s considered fashionable. Not that you couldn’t dye it through cheaper means, it just might not look as good. That’d be an interesting scenario to go through with Eamon. With his amusement barely concealed by stern fatherly concern, “You did it, so now you have to live with it until your hair grows out.”
- Skills (sword play, archery, riding, etc.)
Answer
While I’d first house all weapon types under the broad umbrella of “Combat Prowess”, having specializations within the larger skill base could make the story more interesting, or just a pain to program. Being good at wielding a Rapier, or a Battle Ax is a way of showing how one might be both powerful, and highly dexterous, but in terms of table top gaming you’re better off specializing in one rather than both. It keeps your already limited number of growth points from being spread too thin, making you unable to protect yourself in the late game.
This is probably the hardest answer to keep short, and simple because I don’t quite know what you have envisioned for combat in the series. Actual die rolls? Simpler ‘greater-than’, ‘less-than’ or ‘equals’ checks, to give two or three possible outcomes based on actions taken in response? It’s tough to say without knowing the intended extent, so I guess I’ll leave this answer where it is, unhelpful though it ended up being. 
I can offer this advice, though: with all the variables you want to have I’d recommend a pre-formatted list (cheat sheet) with broad categories, and subcategories to help keep track of it all that you can draw from as needed. It’d likely help in the long run with maintaining the connection points between each subsequent book in this series by allowing for consistent variable names (and their conversions if they become something else), among other things.
- Sexual orientation (I don’t want anyone to feel left out)
Answer
I’ve talked about this in various places around the forum, but here’s a condensed version of what I usually say… Granted, there are players that have preferences–and don’t want the faux pas of being flirted with by someone who doesn’t fit that preference range–but! It isn’t such an unrealistic experience that a total stranger could walk up to you and say “Hi, are you doing something later on? If not, would you be interested in visiting this cafe just across the way with me?” that’s forward, for sure, but not something that can be omnisciently prevented just because a person knows themself, or the MC they are role-playing doesn’t go for the person who just offered to buy a drink for them.
Of course, knowing whether or not they’d accidentally be flirting back (even if it is ‘fake flirting’) is something that players usually like to know so that they don’t end up in a situation outside their intended plans. Nothing prompts ‘did not finish’ runs and full restarts faster than running into a romantic situation the player did not want, nor could they back out of once initiated because apparently their MC was on a different wavelength about who they could, and could not start kissing. 
(Thankfully, that has not been my experience with anything made with choice script from the various publishing labels with/under CoG, but geez some ‘mainstream’ games sure do not respect player decisions sometimes. 
)
Now if that’s not what you were going for with this particular item on the list, the main sensitivity thing to look for is good trans, nonbinary and genderfluid representation for people’s MCs.
Getting it right is a ‘hit, or miss’ depending on the reader, but as long as you’re able to strike a good balance between romantic interactions, and the player’s comfort level, then you’ll be right at that sweet spot you are looking for.
- Eamon relationship (what you would like to see with it. As I already have plans for it but I would like your input to see how you would like to see it flourish)
Answer
If I can actually give Eamon a polished semiprecious stone for real (and not just in my anon ask) then my MC would be a very happy dragon.
That said, sometimes youth will take out their misery on the ones closest to them. It’s wrong, and hurtful, but it happens. In the case of the relationship between Eamon and the MC, I’d want there to be variation in their “parental guardian & growing child” relationship that shows the rocks, and bumps in the road. It isn’t all roses, sunshine, and sweet baked pastries unfortunately, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find an equilibrium in the end that can make your guardian proud of you.
As tempting as the smooth, and clear high road is, sometimes you have to run over hot coals, or through thorny brambles to get where you’re supposed to be. Where you’re needed to be. Maybe sometimes the high road is greater cause for concern, like you’re not sharing how you really feel with the one who is supposed to be closest to you. That’s a valid thing to be worried over, especially under the dark cloud of their homeland’s destruction.
- And anything else you guys would like to see
Answer
“Draconic tendencies” being more than a simple tumblr joke. I know you actually intend to do it, so I look forward to seeing how downright ridiculous that can get!
Kidding aside, I’ll expand on the ‘representation’ thing I mentioned a bit earlier. Something that I almost never see with playable MCs is them having the ability to change their pronouns if they state that they’re ‘genderfluid’. Most players have to be satisfied with the one set of pronouns they choose, or manually input, but what you feel like one day might not be true the next day.
Creating a small scene that is accessible from the stat screen where the player can say “I feel like this today” to their companions, maybe even going as far as changing their outfits (if those are mentioned on the stat page) would be a nice touch to put that shiny little bow on top. I myself am not genderfluid, but I do notice when nice features like this are added to WIPs/Published works. I suppose along those same creative choices is the ability to change the MC’s chosen ‘swear word’ from the stat page, if having a personal swear word that get’s applied in the narrative is a thing we can look forward to.
The last little thing I could add to this “anything else” answer is the option to let players have a choice between how units of measurement are presented to them. Lots of people here in the US use the Imperial system with things like inches and feet, but the wider bulk of the world actually uses (and sometimes only understands) metric. So giving a choice to let players see measurements in the units they understand best would be a nice–not necessarily required, but a wonderfully inclusive touch that would make your series just that little bit easier to read for many people.
Urgh! So much for being “concise”. At least I was able to more easily share everything you wanted to know all at once… Apologies for the mountain of text this acutally ended up being.
. Hopefully the information that the next update will be a big one will tide you over until then.
. Thank you so much for your support. You’re absolutely amazing.
