Today I thought I would wake up, thaw out some beef bacon, and be super productive, but it turns out not, so I'm gonna talk to y'all instead about how I handle rivals in tabletop games!

(we also talked about this a bit on stream last night) /1

In most characters I make for games, unless it's for a one-shot, there's a rivalry with someone. There's a lot of different ones I've made, but all of them have a particular throughline: the rivalry is always [constructive].

Always. I *do not* like destructive rivalries. /2

Here's what I mean: if your rivalry breaks you away from the group, causes you to destroy relationships, or drive you to things like uncharacteristic levels of abuse, violence, or hijacking a story and removing agency for the party in general? Nah. Not it. /3

My lens for rivals is a lot like how people talk about siblings, "We rag on each other, but IF YOU TOUCH THEM I WILL END YOU. YOU WILL RESPECT THIS PERSON."

+ Magneto x Xavier
+ You x Hau from Pokemon Sun and Moon
+ Old romantic partners with respectful breakups /4

+ Ryu x Ken
+ Goku x Vegeta (this one is kinda destructive tho LOL)

Just the idea that rivalries aren't all uncontrolled, obsessive anger, and more "I want to be #1, but if anyone should be my #2, it should be you."

There's a layer of intimacy and friendship in that I like. /5

Because *that's* the person in an anime who gives the protag motivation when no one else can reach them.

That's what inspires this whole scene in the legally blonde musical → /6

In sum: "They get under my skin like little else does, but they push me, they encourage me, and quite honestly, I admire them. I am sure they feel the same." /

cc @WanPilGames, @BadChilii