Shepherds of Haven

Frequently-Asked Questions

What is this game about?

Shepherds of Haven is an upcoming dark fantasy interactive novel. It features a Mage protagonist of mysterious origins who joins the Order of the Shepherds: a group of elite fighters and guardians who are sworn to use their powers to protect the city of Haven from demonic invasion. The only problem? Supernatural powers have been outlawed for the past two hundred years–and the populace of Haven fears the Shepherds almost as much as they fear the demons themselves.

(For a more detailed description, go to the about page.)

What does the game feature?

Shepherds of Haven is an interactive novel (or narrative choice-based game) where your choices and decisions guide the story. You can play as male, female, or non-binary, as well as straight, gay, bi, pan, and aromantic, asexual, or aro-ace. You can choose your heritage, race, education, magic specialization, weapon, and appearance. And you can recruit or befriend up to fifteen possible allies (with ten available for romance). Each character has their own separate story arc, personality, and relationship to explore–and each has many different endings that are intertwined with your own.

You can also solve magical and supernatural crimes–not all of them demon-related–and build your prowess and reputation in the city. How will you use your newfound power? Will you become a champion of Haven against the forces of Hael? Or will you rise up and overthrow the Autarchy once and for all?

Who are the current romance options?

Who can romance whom?

You can find out all about the characters and who can romance them on the character info page!

Why are some romances gender-locked?

In my opinion, characters should always exist as their own people with their own identities; they should have their own motivations and trajectories even beyond the main character’s desires or the overarching plot of the story. And every person has their own sexuality and preferences, right? (I also even nearly made some romances race-locked, too, so there’s that!)

Can you romance more than one character?

You can certainly try! Some characters will be fine with you courting other people, some will very much not be fine with it. It’s up to you to gauge their personalities and risk having multiple romances–if you want. However, towards the end of the game, you will need to choose which person will be your “final” romance, locking an ending with them.

Are there any love triangles?

Not in a conventional sense: one character will get jealous of another character if you’re flirting with both, but if you proceed too far down the romance route with one, the other one shuts down automatically.

Are there poly routes/relationships?

Sorry, not in this game!

Can the Shepherds we don't romance get together with each other during the game?

No, absolutely not! None of the other Shepherds are romantically interested in each other. You can find more information on this here and here!

Can we romance Prihine?

You can have a one-night stand with her, but I don't count her as a full RO because her romance takes place almost entirely off-screen: there are no day off dates with her, etc., only a sexual encounter for one night if you make the right choices. However, there is a special ending with her in the game's epilogue if you romance her and don't romance anyone else for the rest of the game!

Is [X] an RO? Are Halek, Croelle, or [Y] romanceable now?

If they are not on the above list of romance options, they are not an RO! Sometimes I answer questions as if they were solely because people like to ask about them.

Are Halek or Croelle ROs?

I'm putting this twice for emphasis because I receive this question a lot. Halek and Croelle are not currently romance options. If DLC is easy to implement and code, ONE of them will become a romance option, and this route will be decided by vote on Patreon when the time comes. But in the base game, they are not romanceable.

Do you have to be friends-with-benefits with Tallys/Chase in order to romance them?

Yes, this is the only way to initiate a romance with them! Over time they will develop deeper romantic feelings (if you play your cards right) and will want to shift the no-strings-attached relationship to a committed, exclusive one, but they won't let their guard down until they have ample time to get comfortable (and catch feelings) first!

How old is the MC or the other characters?

Full answer is here! Short answer: there is no canonical age for any of the characters except for Tallys, who's upwards of 300 years old!

What do the characters look like? What do they sound like? What are their favorite colors?

This information can either be found in the game's character guide or on this website's character page! You can also check out the Navigate page for the answers to more frequently-asked questions!

Who are these characters that everyone talks about on the Tumblr? Why haven't I met them? My game ends at __ point. Is it supposed to go on for longer?

The majority of the questions about the characters are also coming from people who have never met them. Information about the ROs or main characters has been available for some time, so naturally people get curious and send in questions about them!

There are also two versions of the game at the moment: the public demo, which is accessible to everyone, and the alpha build, which has more content but which is currently private. The alpha build can only be accessed by Patrons and testers at the moment, and it's several chapters ahead of the demo, which leads to some overlap in questions (all posts pertaining alpha build content will be tagged with #alpha build). There are no choices that exclude you from meeting characters: they just likely haven't been introduced in the public demo yet.

You can find a list of characters and whether they have been introduced in the public demo or alpha-build-only here.

How do I meet _____?

Again, there are no ways to "miss" meeting or recruiting a major character: you don't get locked out of their introduction by any choice. The character in question is most likely not in the public demo yet. Please check this list of characters (under Character Profiles) to ensure you're on the right track.

When will you update the public demo? How long will it be?

I don't know, to both questions, and I will post any information if I do know. I update the public demo when I feel it's necessary and when the content in question is complete enough in my mind for public consumption. The public demo will stop somewhere before halfway through the full game, but I don't have any specifics yet.

Are you still looking for testers?

No, I'm all good on alpha testers, thank you! Eventually I will open up beta testing when the game is complete and will post announcements when I'm ready to do so! In the meantime, you can always access the alpha build content by joining the game's Patreon!

Where can I report bugs or errors that I've found with the game?

Please submit a ticket through my new bug reporting system here! I only accept bug reports through this method in order to keep things manageable and trackable for all parties. If you haven't submitted a ticket, please assume that I have not seen your report. 🙂

Can we refuse to join the Shepherds?

Well, you can, but it won’t turn out well for you. Much like how Harry Potter could not have been the same story if Harry had refused to enroll in Hogwarts, this game is about becoming a member of the Shepherds’ Order and building up your power and reputation within the city. (Hence the title!) You will have to join the Shepherds, one way or another–but you can choose to be reluctant about it. 🙂

Can we play as an evil character or manipulate the Shepherds to our own ends?

You can play as a ruthless, callous character (you can even become “hated” by everyone in the game), but–-much like how the Inquisitor couldn’t betray the Inquisition in Dragon Age: Inquisition–-you can’t side with the Endarkened or work to actively destroy the Shepherds yourself.

Can I get more Words of Power?

Nope. Seven is all you get… so use them wisely…

Could you tell us what gifts each character likes the best?

No, I primarily added in the gift system to the game to challenge players and let them have fun figuring this one out for themselves, so I'm not going to reveal this just yet! Feel free to converse amongst yourselves, though!

What’s the difference between being raised as Norm/Hunter/Ket/Elf?

You get different stat boosts according to each heritage (Norm-raised MCs get more charisma, Ket-raised MCs get more strength, etc.) and certain characters will react to you differently depending on your background. For example, Tallys feels a strong affinity towards an Elf-raised MC.

Your appearance can also change slightly according to your racial heritage: Hunter-raised MCs have a streak of white in their hair; Elf-raised MCs have slightly-pointed ears; and Ket-raised MCs have a tattoo on their wrist.

If you want to know more about what each race is like, the game’s codex has documents that may help. If you’re unsure of which heritage to pick, you can take a personality quiz here!

How long do Mages/Elves/Ket/Norms/Hunters live?

Hunters live around 45-60 years on average.
Norms live around 65-80 years on average.
Mages live around 100-200 years on average.
Ket live around 100-200 years on average.
Elves are not immortal, but no one knows what their average lifespan is, despite that. Long story short: they live a long freaking time.

Do Elf MCs live longer than other MCs? Do Ket MCs have arma? Do Hunter MCs slay demons better than other MCs?

No to all of the above. The main character of Shepherds is adopted and raised by the community of their choice, but they are almost entirely Mage-blooded: they are not an actual Elf, Ket, Hunter, or Norm, but a Mage, which in the world of Blest is its own distinct race and biological distinction. Any small ancestry they may share with their adoptive community only affects their cosmetic appearance, as noted above. It does not affect anything like their lifespan, powers, or racial abilities, which remain consistent with the typical Mage's. You can read more here and here!

What are the different types of magic in the world?

You can find a detailed breakdown of the types of magic in Blest here. In the game they’re grouped into three more general schools of magic, which dictate what kind of spells the main character favors: astral, psionic, or arcane.

How does each race regard ______, how does religion work, can a ___ Mage do ____, who rules the Autarchy, is there ______ in Blest, etc.?

Check your game’s codex entries or the #worldbuilding, #races, and #magic tags!

Did you name the Shepherds because of Fire Emblem or Mass Effect?

No, I first conceived of the story, characters, and world of Shepherds when I was around 10, so Blest predates most stories and games you'd expect by at least a decade! (Also, the main character of Mass Effect is "Shepard," not "Shepherd!")

Was the game based on a pre-existing world?

Yes, I started writing the original novels in the Shepherds of Haven series when I was around 10 or 11. There are somewhere around 28 main/official novels in the series, and dozens or hundreds of AU novels, spin-offs, novelettes, companion stories, and short stories, as well. I still work here and there on stories in that universe (though I haven't written a full-length Shepherds novel in a few years) and it's a world that's near and dear to my heart. You can read about the original novels in the #original novels tag!

The world of the novels is fundamentally different from that of the game in numerous ways, so the two universes should be treated as extremely separate, with some commonalities such as named characters. For example, in the novels, the Castigation was averted by the main characters, so magic and supernatural powers were never outlawed. Some characters are also villains in the novels, like Lavinet, and are totally different in the game!

When I started learning how to code, I didn't want to waste time coming up with a "new" story; I wanted to just use some existing material so I could figure out how to code without worrying about making things too complex for myself. That's how this current version of Shepherds of Haven spawned: I carried over some material from the novels, and it grew into its own game!

Where can we read the original novels?

At the moment, nowhere. They've never been seen by eyes aside from mine, though sometimes I post snippets in the aforementioned #original novels tag. If they were ever going to be published or shared, I would have to go through and revise each one to my current standards and writing style: some of them were written when I was literally 11-13, so there are lines like "She watched him with her large, brilliant, ardent black eyes." *cringe* That's not to say that they won't be worked on and made available sometime in the future, especially if there's interest in reading them, but it's not on my priority list at the moment!

What are your biggest inspirations or influences for the game?

In terms of video games, ShoH is inspired heavily by: Dragon Age, Fire Emblem, TellTale Games, and a little splash of Persona.

Writing-wise (because the series started off as novels), it is influenced by the writings of JRR Tolkien, Tamora Pierce, Diana Wynn Jones, Philip Pullman, Sharon Shinn, Robin McKinley, Mercedes Lackey, Sherwood Smith, Robert VS Redick, and more!

Do you allow fanfiction of your work?

You bet I do! I'm thrilled that readers are invested enough in my world and characters that they're inspired to write their own interpretations and stories based on my writing! It's a true honor and makes me feel like I've made it!

I do my best to read and share fanfiction that tags me or appears in the Shepherds of Haven tags and categories; I only ask that credit is given where it's due (that fanfic writers are clear about where the characters/setting/IP came from and don't try to pass off my creations as their own), that no one tries to pass off their material as 'official' or written by me, and that writers don't attempt to make money off of the fanfiction (i.e. by selling it or commercializing it) or otherwise create legal problems with the copyright.

Private commissions for fanfic writers are okay as of now, as long as the products aren't sold in some way after being written! If the commissioned fics are posted publicly, please include a disclaimer similar to the one above that emphasizes: 1) that the characters, world, and overall IP belong to Lena Nguyen, and that 2) Lena Nguyen was in no way involved in or affiliated with the commission or creation of the fanfic.

I also won't read or endorse fanfic that involves my characters doing grossly out-of-character things, especially in non-con or similar situations; I ask that there is always respect involved in the writing of fanfiction, and I will always respect it in return! And of course, for legal reasons, I have to state that I reserve the right to retract this permission (the allowance of fanworks) at any time and for any reason. But I hope we can all enjoy and have fun!

Do you allow fanart of your work?

Yes, with pleasure! It's pretty much the same as above: I do my best to share any fanart that tags me, and I appreciate when the artist makes it clear where the setting or characters come from. Private commissions of fanartists are great; selling or commercializing fanart (such as creating merchandise on an online store) without my permission is not. Aside from that, I love seeing different artists' styles and takes on the story!

Are we allowed to post fanart or fanfic based on alpha build content? Can we make posts about things that have happened in the alpha build?

Certainly, though I'd suggest tagging your posts accordingly to prevent others from seeing unwanted spoilers! I'm totally happy when people write posts, make fanart, or post fanfic for the game, even if it's based on or referencing material that's technically locked within the private alpha build. So long as no one's acting maliciously or in a way that directly violates the user agreement of the alpha build (posting illicit links, copying direct text, or leaking point-by-point, really detailed breakdowns in a way intended to spoil rather than discuss), mild spoilers, isolated scenes, implications, and references are totally okay (especially since I answer asks about the alpha build publicly myself, so a lot of that's all there for anyone to see, anyway)! So far, common sense has ruled the day and kept things operating smoothly, though obviously things will be judged on a case-by-case basis!

AI?

Absolutely not. Using any part of Shepherds of Haven, be it text or art, for AI prompts, language models, chatbots, or art generators is not allowed and infringes on the Shepherds of Haven copyright and intellectual property. Please do not do this, as it will be considered theft and harms independent creators.

How long will the game be?

Your guess is as good as mine. I plan for this to be a total of fifteen chapters (prologue, 13 main chapters, and epilogue) with lots of little stories, sidequests, and character scenes in between. At the current moment around ten chapters (prologue, chapters 1-9) of the main story have been minimally completed. The final wordcount will certainly be over one million words by the time I'm done, but for details beyond that, I honestly have no idea.

Will this be the only game in this franchise, or is it part of a series?

Shepherds of Haven itself is intended to be a very long, very big, very epic standalone game. Right now, I have some tentative plans to write games in the same world as Shepherds of Haven eventually, but not direct sequels to this iteration, if that makes any sense. So this entry is intended to be its own self-contained story, with its own definitive endings and individual character arcs for its cast. This is how I always envisioned the title, as one giant single story: although the wordcount is big enough that it might be smart to divide it up into two or three separate entries, the way the plot is structured would make the separate games feel incomplete, if that makes any sense. So this will be released as one standalone game!

If or when I ever write any other games set in this world, I find some excitement in the possibility of an indirect sequel, set a decade or more after the events of certain endings of Shepherds and following a different story, setting, and set of characters (with very likely references or cameo appearances of characters from the first game). But I've also played around with the possibility of having games set in completely different time periods, possibly thousands of years before the events of Shepherds of Haven or hundreds of years after. I don't have any solid plans yet and am just focusing on completing Shepherds for now, but I'm always open to the possibilities and will almost certainly write another game set in Blest: I'm just not sure about the details yet!

I've also toyed around with writing a side-game that involves playing as an Endarkened protagonist at the same time events are unfolding around the Shepherds protagonist, and you can find a demo of that game here. But for now, that's just a proof-of-concept and is definitely on the backburner for the foreseeable future!

When will the game be complete?

I’m not entirely sure. The game is projected to be very large, and writing and coding that amount of story with the depth and detail it deserves takes time. Anytime I've even hazarded a tentative guess, I've ended up way overshooting my estimate, so I don't even try anymore. So my official answer is: no idea! Regardless of how long it takes, however, I will finish the project no matter what. If you’d like to help me complete the game faster, you can always support me on Patreon!

Will the game be free or a paid product when it's officially released?

The game will be available to purchase when it's officially published and released to the public. I am not sure what exact platforms it will be on yet, but will be able to announce that information when I know for sure!

Will the game have a save system in its released state?

Yes!

Who the hell are you?

Moi? Why don't you check my about me page and find out? (If this sounds threatening, I don't intend it to be, I just spent a lot of time working on my 'about me' page...)

Other social media?

reallenanguyen on twitter
rinari on patreon
rinari on ko-fi
rinari on discord
strange voyages (writing blog)
lena-nguyen.com (author site)

How can I help?

Honestly, just that you cared enough to read all the way to the end of this FAQ is enough! 🤓 Thanks so much for reading, playing, and enjoying!

(Though if I’m being honest, asks, fanart, and fanfic give me life.) Just please understand that questions that require very long responses (such as every character’s reaction to a thing) take me a while to get to, though I love the scenarios people come up with!

And although your emotional and verbal support already means the world, I also have Ko-fi and Patreon pages if you would like to buy me a coffee or become an official Patron of this project! My supporters are the best in the world, and with their help, I've already been able to add so many incredible details, mechanics, music, and art assets to the game! 😊