Bez: Interactive Fiction, Visual Novels, & Writing
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norbezjones.bsky.social
Bez: Interactive Fiction, Visual Novels, & Writing
@norbezjones.bsky.social
2.1K followers 580 following 1.5K posts
XYZZY-nominated narrative designer: http://norbez.itch.io . Writes news, reviews, stories, games. Agender, Transmasc Boything. E/He. Icon by @jimikatdraws.bsky.social . https://norbezjones.carrd.co/
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norbezjones.bsky.social
Here's the #NaGaDeMon2025 Week 3 summary! Wrapped up the Character Creation section for The Amazing Digital Roleplaying Game and am now on stuff for GMs (or AMs, as we call them).
Link to read in replies! The game is coming out soon!
#TADC #TheAmazingDigitalCircus #TADCttrpg
November 23, 2025 at 6:41 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
We have a logo by our artist, Tricks! The game's ashcan is coming before the end of the month!
#TADC #TheAmazingDigitalCircus #TADCttrpg #NaGaDeMon2025 #eternalttrpgjam
The logo for The Amaing Digital Roleplaying Game, styled to look like the logo for The Amazing Digital Circus.
November 23, 2025 at 4:11 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
The 2nd Summer Of Short Stories is here! Today, we’re looking at two tales about holiness & God, by Nocturnaliss and @1000dumplings.bsky.social ! One is about a mortal sacrifice, the other about Christ Himself.
#SoSS #BookSky #BookReview #shortstories
A banner with text that reads, “Summer Of Short Stories 2” in yellow letters with a purple border. On the left side is my (Bez’s) mascot character Dogwater, a cat alien who has black fur on his right side, and cream-colored fur on his left side. The inside of his ears are purple, as are the leaf-shaped antenna sticking out of his head. His face is a TV screen that is currently displaying a triangle split in half with the word “Norbez” written on it. In the background is a blue sky, and a sun surrounded by books.
November 19, 2025 at 5:41 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
We're making some progress on the #TADCttrpg this week! Check out this sketch our artist, Tricks, made of Caine! He's holding a giant d10!
I'm hoping that all of the rulebook gets finished this week. Will share progress on it as I go!
#TADC #TheAmazingDigitalCircus
A sketch of Caine from The Amazing Digital Circus holding a d10 as big as his head!
November 18, 2025 at 6:50 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
Trey has an #omegaverse obsession, which is definitely on his mind now that his transmasc hubby is pregnant. When Trey's anxieties about this come up, will he succumb to them?
A short VN for the #omegajam, starring @michaelkleinva.bsky.social ! Link to play in replies!
#vnlink #visualnovel
November 5, 2025 at 10:50 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
When the song of your heart renders you speechless, what do you do? A flowchart for when your inner tune gives you pause.
My first attempt at a fluxus poem. Please let me know what you think of it!
#lyricgame #flowchartjam #grimandgrimypoetryjam
A flowchart on top of a background of a sheet music illustration. The first bubble of the flowchart reads, "When the song of your heart renders you speechless, what do you do?" It branches off into 3 sections: Section 1: Embrace [arrow to new bubble] Horrors and all? ["Yes" arrow leads here] What’s within me is a wonder that is also terrifying to behold. I am not the first human to witness this and I will not be the last. Such is life. Such is growth. ["No" arrow leads to the first bubble under "Hesitate", which is, "Is this really me?" Section 2: Hesitate [arrow to new bubble] Is this really me? ["Yes" arrow leads to here:] This is all of me. Warts and all, horrible & beautiful. It's been here all along, whether I knew it or not. I embrace it. ["No" arrow leads to here:] Deny the parts of myself I would rather shun. If I don’t acknowledge them, they don’t really exist. This is a lie, of course, but it makes me feel good. Section 3: Resist [arrow to new bubble] I don’t want this to be me. What do I do? ["Vow to change" leads to here:] This is a moment of evolution. I will commit to shaping myself into who I truly want to be. It will take time & work, but I will retune my song. ["Bury it" leads to the "Deny the parts of myself" bubble]
November 3, 2025 at 7:33 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
Everyone has been working hard to make a new version of Romance The Backrooms' demo, and this drawing of Uri was painted in the style of our new sprite artist, @specterofyou.neocities.org , way of drawing Uri.
(2/3)
November 2, 2025 at 8:32 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
It's my character Uri's birthday! :D
Uri is a love interest in my liminal space otome Romance The Backrooms, and is voiced by the talented Robin Castelle! Depressed and gloomy, he can be a pessimist, but as he falls for you, he starts seeing hope again (pictured below).
🧵(1/3)
A digital headshot drawing of Uri that reads, "Happy Birthday Uri! 11/02". Uri is a green-eyed humanoid with a red eye in the middle of his forehead; he has white, fluffy, cloud-like hair, and four colored staples on his neck (orange, yellow, green, and blue). He is smiling at someone offscreen. The background is dark blue and covered with cyan & purple confetti.
November 2, 2025 at 8:30 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
Me & @specterofyou.neocities.org in the New & Popular trans games? Fuck yeah! C:
October 31, 2025 at 11:33 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
Kept waiting for the “right time” to post the 1st Summer Of Short Stories, but it never came. So I’m posting it NOW!
Today I review 2 adult shorts by @arbitrrrary.bsky.social & Acin Falls! We visit a funeral & get lost in the woods!
Link to read in replies!
#SoSS #booktwt #BookReview #shortstories
A banner with text that reads, “Summer Of Short Stories 1” in yellow letters with a purple border. On the left side is my (Bez’s) mascot character Dogwater, a cat alien who has black fur on his right side, and cream-colored fur on his left side. The inside of his ears are purple, as are the leaf-shaped antenna sticking out of his head. His face is a TV screen that is currently displaying a triangle split in half with the word “Norbez” written on it. In the background is a blue sky, and a sun surrounded by books.
October 25, 2025 at 7:06 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
Got inspired by a Firebrands minigame jam and threw together a lyric game about mech pilot power dynamics. #ttrpg #lyricgames #MinimalistJam #mecha
The cover of the game. It reads "Collar, Meet Leash. Leash, Meet Collar. a mech minigame by Norbez Jones". "Collar" is purple, "Leash" is dark orange, and the rest of the words are black. In the middle is a black simplified graphic of a dog with a collar on a leash. The background is white. Collar, Meet Leash. Leash, Meet Collar a mech minigame by Norbez Jones (call me Bez, e/em/eir) Introduction It started with your mech asking you this question: which one of us is the real submissive robot in the relationship? You thought it was so funny that you told your fellow mech pilots about it, and now, every single one of you has made a bet with their mech on the answer. As a result, it’s constantly on your mind. Part 1: Questions & Answers After you have wrapped up a mission, each mech pilot asks themselves the following questions:  Who was really in control of that situation, me or my mech?  How much does my mech define who I am?  My mech submits to me, but I submit to my mission. Which one of us is submitting more?  Who is using whom here? Based on their answers to those questions, each mech pilot then makes a Determination:  I am the Collar in the relationship. My mech is the Leash, pulling me along, moving me forward.  I am the Leash in the relationship. I am fastened around my mech, determining where they go.  I am the hand pulling the Leash. I am the one in control of it all. (This is a lie I tell myself to make myself feel better.) Part 2: The Hierarchy Before starting this section, determine whether mech pilots believe being a Collar or a Leash is better. The one they determine is better is the Dominant Category. Once that has been decided, proceed. Once back at home base, all mech pilots converse. First, they share their Determinations with each other. Then, each one picks a conversation prompt to discuss with another pilot. From there, a dialogue emerges. The ones in the Dominant Category have the following conversation prompts:  How does it feel, knowing who’s really in control?  So, between you and your mech, who’s the top in the relationship?  What’s it like, knowing you were never really in control this entire time?  Even though I am in control, why do I feel ______? (Choose an emotion) The ones not in the Dominant Category have these conversation prompts:  Does being in control make you happy?  What does this mean for your relationship with me?  If I weren’t a human, would I have been a mech in another life?  Is there freedom for me in having no control? Once conversation concludes, pilots report whether they have any updates on the bet with their mech. If they do, who won, and why? What will the loser do for or give to the winner? After that, pilots disperse back to their quarters.
October 23, 2025 at 6:51 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
This one's done. Writing the description will be the hardest part. But after that, I can submit it. #VeloxFabula3
A screenshot of my Velox Fabula 3 game "my heart is a city." On a black background is the blue outline of a heart with smokestacks sticking out of it. The white text reads, "My heart is a city, and in it, the roads are built in a loop."
September 15, 2025 at 3:49 AM
norbezjones.bsky.social
This month's goal for the WIND BREAKER TTRPG = figuring out the combat system, via the movement theme of @eternaljam.bsky.social ! Fighting in Windbre is fun to watch & fast-paced. My goal is to have the game reflect that!
#ウィンブレ #WINDBREAKER #eternalttrpgjam #BoundbyConvictionJam #wbk_conviction
The cover for my game "WIND BREAKER: Conviction". The title is made of the WIND BREAKER official wordmark, and "Conviction" is made from the "Bound By Conviction" SRD logo. In the background is the main character of WIND BREAKER, Sakura Haruka, carrying a flag for Bofurin, the protectors of the work Makochi. On the bottom right corner, green text states that this is version 0.5 of the game.
September 11, 2025 at 1:59 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
Sharing this a bit late, but better late than never!
The Library Of Your Heart is a TTRPG about self-exploration, hex travel, and discovering the unknown within.
Made for @eternaljam.bsky.social & @developerdamien.bsky.social 's Gacha TTRPG Jam. Link to play in replies!
#eternalttrpgjam #lyricgame
The cover of the game. The title reads, "The Library Of Your Heart" in pink letters. The title is above a red heart made out of a hex grid, which is on top of a light pink background. The Library Of Your Heart a TTRPG about inner exploration by Norbez Jones (call me Bez, e/em/eir) Introduction. This is a game about gaining knowledge about Yourself by (re)discovering things about You. Your ultimate goal is to learn things are currently unknown to Yourself & others—in other words, you want to obtain the Spades suit and draw at least 1 card from it. This game uses playing cards, and each suit represents a section of the Johari Window: • Open (diamond): what You & others know about You. • Hidden (heart): what You know about You that others don’t know. • Blind (club): what others know about You that You don’t know. • Unknown (spade): what neither You nor others know about You. The game requires the following items: • The following cards from a playing card deck: o One of the printable hex maps on the last 2 pages of this document. One is for Normal Mode, and one is for Hard Mode. Of every suit but spades: Ace, 1, 2, 3, & 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and Jack. (33 cards) o All suits: Ace, Jack, Queen, King. (4 cards) o Jokers. (2 cards) • 1 d6 (a six-sided die) • 2 d10s (ten-sided dice) • A writing utensil & paper to write up. • A miniature or token of Your choice (for the hex grid) This will be referred to as “You”. o “You” in this game can refer to you specifically, or a character you have made or are familiar with. Whether this game is a personal exercise, a character exploration, or even something else I haven’t thought of—that’s up to you. This game can be played solo, or with another player. • If you are playing with another person, that second player: o Represents the “other” in the Window. They can speak from their personal perspective, think about how a person or multiple people in Your life would respond, or both. o Acts as your discussion partner in Self-Discovery, game ends, etc. o Controls, creates, and roleplays the Heart Guide characters. They also help keep track of Heart Guide Effects. o Does all die rolls when one is needed. • Hypothetically, you could play with more than two players, with other people controlling different Heart Guides and contributing to the discussion. Setup: 1. Put the Diamond cards aside and shuffle them with the Aces (of all suits) and Jokers. This is your initial deck. Organize the rest of the cards by suit, and set aside for now. Set the 2 d10s aside—they will be used to track Your Pulse Points. a. One of them will act as the first number digit (1-9), and the other will act as the second (multiples of 10). 3. Place You on one of the edge tiles of the hex grid. 4. If you are playing with a second person, have them sit on the other side of the hex board, opposite of you. Gameplay: • The basic gameplay loop is: 1. Move You to a hex tile. 2. Draw a card from Your deck. 3. If You draw a number card, go through the Self Discovery phase. 4. If you draw a face card, you obtain a Heart Guide. 5. When then draw a Spade card, you get a Self-Discovery phase, and you obtain the card drawn as a Heart Guide. 6. At the end of the turn, you may spend Pulse Points to upgrade Your deck or obtain guardians. 7. Once you draw an Ace or Joker card, the game ends (unless You use the King Of Spades’ effect). 8. When the game is over, count the score. 1. Move You to a new tile. This tile must be to a attached to the hex You is currently standing on. o You cannot move backwards or on tiles You have previously been on unless (1) there is nowhere else for You to possibly go, or (2) you have the Queen Of Jacks. o Things to keep in mind: ▪ The more diagonal paths You make on Your journey (has to be at least 3 hexes long and untouched by other parts of Your path), the more points You score at the end.
September 9, 2025 at 2:19 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
For the @eternaljam.bsky.social & #BoundbyConvictionJam , I decided to make the foundation of a WIND BREAKER TTRPG. It's super rough and not complete yet, but I would love to hear thoughts & opinions on it! Link in the replies!
#ウィンブレ #WINDBREAKER #eternalttrpgjam
The cover for my game "WIND BREAKER: Conviction". The title is made of the WIND BREAKER official wordmark, and "Conviction" is made from the "Bound By Conviction" SRD logo. In the background is the main character of WIND BREAKER, Sakura Haruka, carrying a flag for Bofurin, the protectors of the work Makochi.
September 1, 2025 at 8:22 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
Chapter four! Now that Nirei knows the truth, Suo is certain that his friend is going to leave him. :C

archiveofourown.org/works/691816...

#windbreaker #suonirei #au_gust #au_gust2025
An excerpy of the fanfic chapter that reads: He sighed as his heart sunk into despair, deciding not to avoid what was inevitably going to happen. “I’m sure you don’t want to be my friend anymore,” he mumbled. “And I can’t say I don’t blame you. Who’d want to be friends with a monster like me?” “You’re not a monster, Suo,” Nirei said comfortingly. “Don’t lie for my sake,” Suo insisted. “I am a monster and have always been. I always drive people away from me, so it was inevitable you would get driven away too, whether I told you or not.” He glanced over at Nirei. “The only think I ask is, please—don’t tell Sakura my secret. You can tell him to stay away from me because I’m dangerous or awful or unstable, but just don’t tell him what I am.”
August 16, 2025 at 7:04 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
Chapter threeeeee~! Nirei, always an investigative soul, asks Suo some questions about his eldritch powers & nature.

archiveofourown.org/works/691816...

#windbreaker #suonirei #au_gust #au_gust2025
An excerpt of the chapter that reads: “I guess my last question is . . . what’s someone like you doing at Furin High?” the blond asked. Suo laughed. “Because, well, I’m tired of all the insistence that I have to have a strong, mighty destiny,” he told Nirei with a smile. “My parents wanted me to go to a great school, one that was ‘suited for me’. So, I made it so that only Furin High would accept me.” He clenched a fist. “I learned to fight because I had to defend myself from people who saw me as a freak. My fighting skills are my own power, one I’ve earned, not something some monster forced on me from beyond. What better place for an abomination like me than Furin High?”
August 15, 2025 at 11:11 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
Chapter 2 of my "Suo is an eldritch creature" fanfic is up, go read it for some ANGST

archiveofourown.org/works/691816...

#windbreaker #suonirei #au_gust #au_gust2025
To his surprise, Suo let out a laugh and looked at Nirei with a wry expression. “Turns out I wasn’t actually human after all—I’d just been playing pretend,” he told his friend with a carefree shrug. Nirei frowned. “Suo, that’s not very funny. . .” “Oh, but it’s the truth,” Suo replied. He laughed again, and then, the humor faded from his face. He turned away, continuing in a grave tone, “I was never a human being, and I never will be, not like you. I am the spawn of an eldritch monster, a creature who is infinitely beyond what homo sapiens will ever be. My parents worshipped It, and agreed to carry its spawn, give birth to it. That’s how I came to be.”
August 14, 2025 at 9:02 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
Finally was able to sit down and write some Wind Breaker stuff for #AU_gust ! It's gonna have multiple parts; for now, enjoy the first chapter inspired by today's (Day 13's) prompt: Monsters & Horrors.
Link in replies!
#windbreaker #suonirei
The description for an ao3 fanfic. It reads: Title: Hidden Eye, Hidden Heart by OtomeCrow Summary: “Listen. . . Whatever’s under there can’t be that scary,” the blond said reassuringly. “And what if it is?” Suo replied softly. “Huh?” Nirei hadn’t been expecting that answer. “What do you mean?” “What if it is scary? Scarier than anything your mind can conjure?” Suo lowered his hand from over his eyepatch and turned to Nirei, a somber look on his face. “What if what I’m hiding under my eyepatch would destroy your perception of everything you’ve ever known?” In which Suo is an eldritch creature with a right eye that drives people mad. In a moment of weakness, he entrusts this secret to Nirei, the one he loves most. Notes: Inspired by Izuku Midoriya is Human by katydid This is gonna be a multi-parter! Started as a one-shot for today’s AU-gust prompt and became something more. Enjoy!
August 13, 2025 at 9:25 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
As I hang my new Sakura magnet up, it occurs to me that my fridge kinda looks like his. . . Very barren and devoid of life, lol. #WINDBREAKER
August 8, 2025 at 11:37 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
The things I research for the sake of storytelling. . . #ifcomp #yancygame
A screenshot of a Google search that reads, "how many pot brownies should you eat at once".
August 4, 2025 at 9:21 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
Making a project for the #eternalttrpgjam / @eternaljam.bsky.social has done wonders for my mood. The situation with itch.io and the waves of censorship that followed have been despair-inducing, but this has been a little spark of happiness.
I'll release it tonight and share on socials tomorrow.
Two light pink pages of a document. The first page reads, "Hex Map: Normal Mode" and has a hex grid underneath of a cartoony heart. The second page reads, "Hex Map: Hard Mode (rules on the next page)" and has the same heart hex grid, except there are added hexes for blue & red veins.
July 31, 2025 at 11:25 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
Something about this boot hanger amuses me.
A boot hanger with 5 levels. Each level has a different pair of boots.
July 30, 2025 at 12:29 AM
norbezjones.bsky.social
Decided to take a stand and respond to the ban email for Bi Lines. Let's see if someone at @itch.io support replies.
A screenshot of my response email to itch.io, which reads: Hello, Bi Lines does not violate any of the rules you listed out. It is a story about a man's trauma after being sexually assaulted, and does not glorify that act in any way. I would like further explanation on why Bi Lines was banned, because as far as I can see, the game was unjustifiably taken off of your platform. What specifically in the game violates the rules, exactly? Sincerely, Bez (e/em/eir)
July 27, 2025 at 5:34 PM
norbezjones.bsky.social
Oh, and this might be useful to other creators: this is the statement itchio gave me with their email, about disallowed content. Bi Lines has none of these things btw.
We don't allow hosting content that includes sexualized images or videos of real-life humans. Fictional, illustrated, and rendered content is generally fine, assuming it's legal. AI-generated imagery that is designed to resemble photographic content of real people is not allowed. Content glorifying sexual violence is not permitted. Depictions of minors, minor-presenting, or suggested minors in a sexual context are not allowed and will result in account suspension.
July 24, 2025 at 8:26 PM