Kismet Rose
LightNews LightNews
banner
kismetrose.bsky.social
Kismet Rose
@kismetrose.bsky.social
230 followers 530 following 520 posts
#TTRPG #GM & writer fostering a supportive community spirit! If you enjoy my free sites (fantasy.kismetrose.com) & socials, please follow & support me @thekismetrose on ko-fi. 💋
Posts Replies Media Videos
kismetrose.bsky.social
Years ago, I wrote duels into my Guide to Romance in Fantasy Gaming as an option for weddings *and* divorces. Why not have combat-ready characters battle for love? Recently, I ran into this idea in Ebon Light and it tickled me all over again!

#visualnovel #ebonlight #rpg
To the left, a human woman with light skin and dark red hair stands in a gray tunic and brown vest. She's close to (and just in front of) Laceaga Darhal, a male elf with pale white skin, dark hair, and black clothes. Both look at the viewer. Behind them to the right, three figures are having a knife fight in a dark alley. Laceage says: "Vissandand Na'alaval. it is a battlefield. Sometimes used for training, settling disputes... weddings, revenge... combinations of the four."
June 3, 2025 at 9:40 PM
kismetrose.bsky.social
Ebon Light's MC is in over her head but has allies who give her advice. Some of it has made me pause, apply it to Real LifeTM, and feel better. I've seen people say they found Ebon Light to be soothing, and I think this may be one of the many reasons why.
#visualnovel #ebonlight #vn
In a dimly lit wooden cabin, two figures stand front and center and rather close to each other. One is a pale male elf with cheek-length black hair tossed over one eye. He wears a black suit with red accents. The other is a porcelain-skinned human woman with wavy blond hair just past her shoulders. The man, Haron, is saying: "So take heart. Don't let them manipulate you into obedience or being fearful when there is no cause."
June 2, 2025 at 6:40 PM
kismetrose.bsky.social
Something I've noticed as I've replayed Ebon Light is that there are things the characters say that I find rather encouraging. Like this little line: "There are choices everywhere, darling." I'd like someone to tell me this just about every morning.
#visualnovel #ebonlight #inspirationalquotes
With an ornate bedroom in the background, washed in purple with a red carpet, the main character stands in dusky clothes. She has tan skin and brown hair. Off-screen, Duliae says: "There are choices everywhere, darling."
May 31, 2025 at 9:03 PM
kismetrose.bsky.social
I've lost track of how many ways I've died in Ebon Light. Just when I think I've found them all, there's another one. And it's easy to scroll back and try again, so I end up giggling and singing "Duuuumb ways to die!" instead of getting annoyed.
#ebonlight #visualnovel
In a dark study with shelves in the distance and swords on the walls, three elves and one human stand. Two dark-haired, pale male elves stand on either side of a peach-skinned human woman with blond hair. The one to the left wears armor and an unfriendly expression; the one to the right has red accents and looks concerned. To the right of them, a blond male elf wearing purple holds a staff. A voice from inside the human asks: "Is this how you saw yourself dying?"
May 30, 2025 at 5:52 PM
kismetrose.bsky.social
Ernol, Laceaga, Duliae, Haron, & Vadeyn appear regularly in Ebon Light, each with his own views & attitudes. They're all potential love interests, too, so elf lovers are spoiled for choice!

(No suggested order except to save Duliae for last, which quickly makes sense.)

#visualnovel #indiegame
Inside a dim wooden cabin four white-skinned, dark haired elf men stand in mostly black clothing that covers their bodies and arms. They stand in a line facing the viewer with a light skinned blond woman among them. She's a little shorter than they are and stands in an olive dress with bare arms. The elf to the left, Haron Milirose, says: "But you'll just teach them a new thing or two about humans, won't you, madralee?"
May 28, 2025 at 9:23 PM
kismetrose.bsky.social
Meet the main character of Ebon Light by underbliss! You choose her eye color, hair color, hair style, disposition, and name. You also pick most of her decisions and responses, something that I love in a VN. What you don't get to choose is for her to stay home.
#visualnovel #indiegame #fantasy
Backed by a blue ocean and cloudy sky, two white-skinned, dark haired elf men stand in mostly black clothing that covers their bodies and arms completely. They stand in a line facing the viewer with a light skinned blond woman among them. She's a little shorter than they are and stands in an olive dress with bare arms. The elf to the right, Haron Milirose, says: "You are a very strange woman."
May 28, 2025 at 12:05 AM
kismetrose.bsky.social
I haven't been able to finish my first playthrough yet, but OMG Ebon Light by Underbliss has been an engrossing ride! I love the art, music, and characters. I'm amazed you can PWYW for it.
#visualnovel
underbliss.itch.io/ebon-light
Backed by a blue ocean and cloudy sky, three white-skinned, dark haired elf men stand in mostly black clothing that covers their bodies and arms completely. They are arrayed in a line facing the viewer with a light skinned blond woman among them. She's a little shorter than they are and stands in an olive dress with bare arms.
May 25, 2025 at 8:34 PM
kismetrose.bsky.social
Recently, I've started revamping my D&D site. Along the way, I'm fixing errors, removing old code, and updating the look in small ways. Constructive feedback is welcome!
#ttrpgcommunity
www.dnd.kismetrose.com/DandDUpdates...
May 11, 2025 at 10:43 PM
kismetrose.bsky.social
Me: You can roll to see if you recognize her house insignia.
My hubby (who was rolling for shit that night): It's gonna be House Derp.

He even went and made a banner for House Derp later:
March 4, 2025 at 10:59 PM
kismetrose.bsky.social
One thing Pentiment does well is to remind us that everyone has grudges, from small and fleeting to deep and enduring, publicly aired to privately nursed. Highlighting them reveals more about the past, the culture, the bearer, and maybe also the target.
#storytelling #characterdevelopment
Old monk in a scriptorium saying "God, give me the strength to endure this man" about another monk standing silent in the background.
December 6, 2024 at 7:24 PM
kismetrose.bsky.social
The Wolf Among Us reminded me that NPCs have lines they won't cross and expect others not to cross, either. They won't always be fair about it, but they have their reasons. These clashes can happen with anyone, and while frustrating, they can make NPCs more realistic.
#videogames #ttrpgs
December 5, 2024 at 10:58 PM
kismetrose.bsky.social
I knew when I first saw Pentiment that it was made for me in a number of ways, and I have not been disappointed. So much homework went into crafting it and the creators share much of it with the player through conversations and glosses, like this.
#history #videogames #pentiment
December 4, 2024 at 6:55 PM
kismetrose.bsky.social
Animal NPCs with defined personalities and good communication will always be more interesting than those that are just described physically or used mostly for mechanical reasons (attacks, abilities, etc.). Just something The Wolf Among Us reminded me of when I played it recently.
December 3, 2024 at 10:27 PM
kismetrose.bsky.social
The demo for Drăculești is up on Steam with lovely art, writing full of tension, and a different look into Renfield. It made my morning more interesting!
#visualnovel #dracula
A night view of Castle Dracula in Romania, 1931
November 30, 2024 at 9:06 PM
kismetrose.bsky.social
When I saw "just so you know, all my pants are sassy," I had to make a Disco Elysium meme out of it. I would've enjoyed some sassy talking pants to go with my horrible necktie...
#discoelysium
"just so you know, all my pants are sassy" on top of Harry dancing at the rave church in Disco Elysium
November 30, 2024 at 4:20 AM
kismetrose.bsky.social
One of the most relatable things in Vampire Therapist by Little Bat Games: not knowing how to make small talk with strangers and coming out awkward either way you try. 😉
Sam the cowboy vampire faced with a mortal stranger: Now, what do mortals of this time talk about? Choices: A. Be awkward about the weather. B. Be awkward about everyday annoyances. C. Be awkward about music.
November 19, 2024 at 8:17 PM
kismetrose.bsky.social
Let's hear about a notable city or country in your current game!
#ttrpg
Player interested in the lore of my world: What are the names of the cities and countries in your campaign? Me, a DM: Image of Yakko Warner about to sing the names of all the countries of the world.
November 13, 2024 at 12:31 AM
kismetrose.bsky.social
I've been graciously granted early access to Sigh of the Abyss, which releases tomorrow, and I have to say, I am LOVING it! I hoped it would be a #visualnovel I could live in, and it very much is! Rascal Devworks has outdone themselves with this beauty!
October 10, 2024 at 6:02 PM
kismetrose.bsky.social
Sigh of the Abyss is due to be released this Friday, and as a backer, I'm so excited! Play the free prologue, Shadow Bonds, now and wishlist the full #medievalfantasy #visualnovel.

Check out my review of the prologue/demo: www.dnd.kismetrose.com/VNSighoftheA...
October 9, 2024 at 5:33 PM
kismetrose.bsky.social
I've been gaming for 29 years as of this week!
I wonder if I should plan something special for the 30th anniversary?
#TTRPGs #ttrpgcommunity
October 4, 2024 at 4:31 PM
kismetrose.bsky.social
Thanks to voters in my poll, I'm writing about organizing GM notes, starting with methods I developed for historic campaigns.

ko-fi.com/post/Organiz...
September 26, 2024 at 3:40 PM
kismetrose.bsky.social
What are your core values as a player?

Art by Ramona of Alderdoodle: alderdoodle.co.uk/

#ttrpg
September 10, 2024 at 3:55 AM
kismetrose.bsky.social
I made this meme because of an experience I had last weekend. Feel free to share experiences you've had with getting less-than-stellar feedback and see the blog I wrote about it. 🙂

ko-fi.com/post/Dealing...
August 21, 2024 at 7:22 PM
kismetrose.bsky.social
Hey folks, the next chunk of my system-agnostic guide to generational play is up! Find the link below, and I hope you enjoy it!

ko-fi.com/post/Legacie...

#TTRPGCommunity #ttrpg #ttrpgfamily
August 17, 2024 at 6:41 PM
kismetrose.bsky.social
I did it, y'all! I finished the main update on my WoD site! All pages are mobile-friendly with accessible colors, and much is available via Google Docs for your convenience!
August 10, 2024 at 8:57 PM