Baldur's Gate Exchange '26
Mar. 7th, 2026 02:39 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
seikasoterDear Author,
Welcome to the exchange, be you old or new! It's great that this keeps running, and I'm especially personally grateful that there are still people who match with me on the very particular things that interest me about these games which have meant so much to me for so long. Bon chance!
Some general preferences
Yes, please:
No, thank you - do not want:
Smut preferences
I don't tend to directly prompt for smut, given the risk of making an author uncomfortable, but I am pretty much always glad to accept it.
Yes, please:
No, thank you - do not want:
I'm![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p2.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
Seika on AO3, and I have my works, my previous gifts, and some of my bookmarks public, often with notes on them, so you can glance through those if you're inclined to keep researching my bad taste.
Obviously, by the terms of the exchange, everything here is optional. I'm very happy for you to remember that, and to take advantage of it: please don't strain anything trying to fit your writing into my ideas. I'm trying to help spark off some thoughts if you aren't immediately seized by one, not to confine you. That's why my prompts often throw out a scattershot of questions and instances at you, even contradictory ones - you're free to pick up as many or as few threads as you'd like. If a single phrase inspires you, I'll be content.
Exchange specifics
'fic only, please.
DNWs: EE content, Heroes of Baldur's Gate/Minsc's Journal content, BG3 content.
Prompts
Imoen
Poor Imoen is ripe for some hurt/comfort situations, giving and receiving. Imoen looking after a distraught Charname for the first day and night in the wilderness after Gorion's death, or after a breakdown at the FAI; Charname, Jaheira, Minsc, or other old companions trying so hard to get through to the dazed and confused Imoen in Spellhold; their more conscious reunion after Irenicus has left Charname soulless too, and they're dumped bleeding physically and spiritually into Bodhi's maze; Imoen trying to help Charname when she's taken her soul back from Bodhi, but Charname is still struggling with Irenicus' theft...
Imoen/F!Charname romance a bonus, but very optional.
Several alternative Imoen prompts across my back catalogue of exchange letters which I'm happy for you to draw on. She's my favourite BG character, probably, so I'm happy to get almost anything for her.
Edwin
Perhaps a more serious take on the character. Yes, he's a bloviating, arrogant git, but he's also a very powerful mage, and not too poor a schemer when he puts his mind to it. The frustrations of the Sword Coast, of the mission he's clearly been sent on with potentially not enough backup or information, of his plans going wrong, of the explosive nature of the Bhaalspawn crisis, and potentially exploring all the Thayan political issues that he appears to be bound up in.
(In short, 1) Homen Odesseiron is an important political figure in Thay, who studied with many magical schools and guards the Rashemi frontier; 2) Szass Tam began an invasion of Rashemen with him, then abandoned him to gain political power elsewhere, in part by disgracing the Zulkir of Conjuration; 3) Homen was drawn out of Szass' camp by this, but regards the anti-Szass camp with scorn too; 4) the new Zulkir of Conjuration, despite gaining his position through Tam's actions, is in the anti-Szass camp; 5) Edwin is apparently beholden to this new Zulkir, Nevran, as evidenced by his own specialisation school and the words of the Red Wizards in BGI when he meets them. There's a lot to explore there. See also the 1e Dreams of the Red Wizards book and the 2e Spellbound box for more detail).
Alternatively, either played seriously or with a lot more comedy, the Ranma 1/2 fanfic special: Edwin gets into his Nether Scroll accident, and slowly goes from resenting his female form to discovering that he prefers it, that she is trans. If you like, a similar incident with the Girdle of Masculinity/Femininity in BGI could take place, or could be referenced. On the comedy side, have previously suggested Minsc ending up adopting trans!Edwin as his new Witch...
Viconia
Viconia and Ust'Natha. I'd love to see some digging into Viconia first figuring out that they're going to have to infiltrate a drow city, her despair at the idea she'll have to guide all the surfacers through drow culture and not get them killed, her fear at confronting Lolth worshippers again, the mix of nostalgia and disgust at coming back home to a place she grew up in but also came to hate. Finding the remnants of House DeVir. If you'd like, you might also dig into the unused plot line that Viconia would betray the party when they entered the city, leading to their capture, before realising that she didn't have a place among the drow any more and coming back to help out.
Viconia cut content.
Several alternative Viconia prompts across my back catalogue of exchange letters which I'm happy for you to draw on.
Garrick
Okay, so, Garrick is probably a genuinely cowardly, bumbling, naive oaf. Probably. But he also trained - as he likes to say quite a lot - at Berdusk. And that just so happens to be the home of Twilight Hall, the Harper HQ. Which sort of merits a second look at any bards that come out of there. Interested in either a comedic interpretation as still a bumbling naïf, who keeps spouting incredibly suspicious things about where he's been trained, or something more serious, with a pretty subtle and competent Garrick who just has to keep up the mask. Interactions with Khalid and Jaheira, with the broader Harpers as a whole and their concerns over the Bhaalspawn prophecy, or with Monty and Xzar as the Zhent representatives all a bonus.
Faldorn & Jaheira
This feels like it has so much potential in BGI, left fallow by the limited interaction system. I'd love to see this expanded a whole lot more over the course of a journey: druid vs shadow druid differences and similarities. Potentially in agreement over the scarring of the recklessly pollutant Cloakwood Mine, but clashing so much elsewhere. Could lead to canon conflict as usual, or could see differences resolved (especially if, e.g., you look at Faldorn as young, overly-ideological, and misguided, and can see Jaheira - perhaps with Khalid - arguing her round over the course of the journey). Consider tying in to BGI themes of nature vs nurture.
Safana/Skie
Horrifically self-referential, but ... when I wrote To Follow And To Lead, I ended up finding I shipped this, because they're so similar, but just different enough. Both rich daughters who wanted to run away from overprotective fathers for adventure - but Safana found someone to steal her away, and Skie was seduced into it by Eldoth. Happy to see anything like Safana replacing Eldoth as Skie's original seducer, Safana taking Skie under her wing before or after Eldoth is dealt with and giving her a lesson in proactivity, both meeting later in life and comparing their similar stories. Also, because I find this very amusing, anything to do with Safana as a marriage candidate for Skie - because if you charm Duke Entar (as with Safana's innate ability), then despite his alleged overprotectiveness, he makes a broad hint at Skie being beautiful and marriageable, with no gender check.
Welcome to the exchange, be you old or new! It's great that this keeps running, and I'm especially personally grateful that there are still people who match with me on the very particular things that interest me about these games which have meant so much to me for so long. Bon chance!
Some general preferences
Yes, please:
- extra/missing scenes which fit the gaps of canon;
- unbreakable friendships;
- teamwork;
- standing battered but triumphant;
- character introspection;
- a touch of the bittersweet.
No, thank you - do not want:
- Unless I prompt otherwise, a lot of the common plug-and-play AUs which significantly alter the background of the setting (e.g. ABO, D/s, vampires/werewolves, Hogwarts/school, daemons, total de-powering rather than just backgrounding supernatural elements) – I like this series not just for the characters but also for the specific journey everyone's going through, so it's difficult for me to get into something which would upend that. If you’re hit really hard by a generic modern AU, that’s something I can take though.
- Character bashing: a villainous story role is fine; it’s when the author is clearly frustrated with a character and taking it out on them that I tune out.
Smut preferences
I don't tend to directly prompt for smut, given the risk of making an author uncomfortable, but I am pretty much always glad to accept it.
Yes, please:
- Breastplay
- Hypnosis and mind control
- "Too good to say no"-style CNC or noncon.
- Alternatively, very soft and encouraging domme.
- Mommy kink
No, thank you - do not want:
- Anal
- Blood, vomit, scat/piss.
- Choking.
- Snuff generally.
- Breeding kink.
- What I understand specifically by 'futa' or 'G!P' - that is, sticking a penis on a cis woman for the sake of making sure there's dick involved in sex - is not my kink, though actual intersex/trans women are fine.
- Beastiality.
I'm
Obviously, by the terms of the exchange, everything here is optional. I'm very happy for you to remember that, and to take advantage of it: please don't strain anything trying to fit your writing into my ideas. I'm trying to help spark off some thoughts if you aren't immediately seized by one, not to confine you. That's why my prompts often throw out a scattershot of questions and instances at you, even contradictory ones - you're free to pick up as many or as few threads as you'd like. If a single phrase inspires you, I'll be content.
Exchange specifics
'fic only, please.
DNWs: EE content, Heroes of Baldur's Gate/Minsc's Journal content, BG3 content.
Prompts
Tamoko, Tamoko & Yoshimo, Tamoko/Sarevok Anchev
Your thoughts on this fascinating character, and her relationships. Watching Sarevok's descent into madness, despairing at the lack of her ability to pull him back. If we're able to convince her not to die for Sarevok at the end of BGI - where did she go from there? What happened, especially as to convince Yoshimo she was dead anyway? Anything with Tamoko in BGII, either meeting up with them later or as part of the group captured by Irenicus, and the heap of drama that results from a reunion with her brother. (Extra bonus points for also examining what then happens with Tamoko and Yoshimo in the party then meeting Sarevok in ToB, whether she can forgive him or fall in love with him again, and the issues resulting from Yoshimo's presence).
Your thoughts on this fascinating character, and her relationships. Watching Sarevok's descent into madness, despairing at the lack of her ability to pull him back. If we're able to convince her not to die for Sarevok at the end of BGI - where did she go from there? What happened, especially as to convince Yoshimo she was dead anyway? Anything with Tamoko in BGII, either meeting up with them later or as part of the group captured by Irenicus, and the heap of drama that results from a reunion with her brother. (Extra bonus points for also examining what then happens with Tamoko and Yoshimo in the party then meeting Sarevok in ToB, whether she can forgive him or fall in love with him again, and the issues resulting from Yoshimo's presence).
A Sarevok quest? Yeah, I would have liked to see Sarevok confronted with the idea that not only was he responsible for Tamoko's death (and delve more into that), but Yoshimo's as well (since Yoshimo came to this land looking for his sister after losing contact). Even a small quest to honor their deaths or something would have been cool.
David Gaider
Imoen
Poor Imoen is ripe for some hurt/comfort situations, giving and receiving. Imoen looking after a distraught Charname for the first day and night in the wilderness after Gorion's death, or after a breakdown at the FAI; Charname, Jaheira, Minsc, or other old companions trying so hard to get through to the dazed and confused Imoen in Spellhold; their more conscious reunion after Irenicus has left Charname soulless too, and they're dumped bleeding physically and spiritually into Bodhi's maze; Imoen trying to help Charname when she's taken her soul back from Bodhi, but Charname is still struggling with Irenicus' theft...
Imoen/F!Charname romance a bonus, but very optional.
Several alternative Imoen prompts across my back catalogue of exchange letters which I'm happy for you to draw on. She's my favourite BG character, probably, so I'm happy to get almost anything for her.
Edwin
Perhaps a more serious take on the character. Yes, he's a bloviating, arrogant git, but he's also a very powerful mage, and not too poor a schemer when he puts his mind to it. The frustrations of the Sword Coast, of the mission he's clearly been sent on with potentially not enough backup or information, of his plans going wrong, of the explosive nature of the Bhaalspawn crisis, and potentially exploring all the Thayan political issues that he appears to be bound up in.
(In short, 1) Homen Odesseiron is an important political figure in Thay, who studied with many magical schools and guards the Rashemi frontier; 2) Szass Tam began an invasion of Rashemen with him, then abandoned him to gain political power elsewhere, in part by disgracing the Zulkir of Conjuration; 3) Homen was drawn out of Szass' camp by this, but regards the anti-Szass camp with scorn too; 4) the new Zulkir of Conjuration, despite gaining his position through Tam's actions, is in the anti-Szass camp; 5) Edwin is apparently beholden to this new Zulkir, Nevran, as evidenced by his own specialisation school and the words of the Red Wizards in BGI when he meets them. There's a lot to explore there. See also the 1e Dreams of the Red Wizards book and the 2e Spellbound box for more detail).
Alternatively, either played seriously or with a lot more comedy, the Ranma 1/2 fanfic special: Edwin gets into his Nether Scroll accident, and slowly goes from resenting his female form to discovering that he prefers it, that she is trans. If you like, a similar incident with the Girdle of Masculinity/Femininity in BGI could take place, or could be referenced. On the comedy side, have previously suggested Minsc ending up adopting trans!Edwin as his new Witch...
Viconia
Viconia and Ust'Natha. I'd love to see some digging into Viconia first figuring out that they're going to have to infiltrate a drow city, her despair at the idea she'll have to guide all the surfacers through drow culture and not get them killed, her fear at confronting Lolth worshippers again, the mix of nostalgia and disgust at coming back home to a place she grew up in but also came to hate. Finding the remnants of House DeVir. If you'd like, you might also dig into the unused plot line that Viconia would betray the party when they entered the city, leading to their capture, before realising that she didn't have a place among the drow any more and coming back to help out.
Viconia cut content.
Several alternative Viconia prompts across my back catalogue of exchange letters which I'm happy for you to draw on.
Garrick
Okay, so, Garrick is probably a genuinely cowardly, bumbling, naive oaf. Probably. But he also trained - as he likes to say quite a lot - at Berdusk. And that just so happens to be the home of Twilight Hall, the Harper HQ. Which sort of merits a second look at any bards that come out of there. Interested in either a comedic interpretation as still a bumbling naïf, who keeps spouting incredibly suspicious things about where he's been trained, or something more serious, with a pretty subtle and competent Garrick who just has to keep up the mask. Interactions with Khalid and Jaheira, with the broader Harpers as a whole and their concerns over the Bhaalspawn prophecy, or with Monty and Xzar as the Zhent representatives all a bonus.
Faldorn & Jaheira
This feels like it has so much potential in BGI, left fallow by the limited interaction system. I'd love to see this expanded a whole lot more over the course of a journey: druid vs shadow druid differences and similarities. Potentially in agreement over the scarring of the recklessly pollutant Cloakwood Mine, but clashing so much elsewhere. Could lead to canon conflict as usual, or could see differences resolved (especially if, e.g., you look at Faldorn as young, overly-ideological, and misguided, and can see Jaheira - perhaps with Khalid - arguing her round over the course of the journey). Consider tying in to BGI themes of nature vs nurture.
Safana/Skie
Horrifically self-referential, but ... when I wrote To Follow And To Lead, I ended up finding I shipped this, because they're so similar, but just different enough. Both rich daughters who wanted to run away from overprotective fathers for adventure - but Safana found someone to steal her away, and Skie was seduced into it by Eldoth. Happy to see anything like Safana replacing Eldoth as Skie's original seducer, Safana taking Skie under her wing before or after Eldoth is dealt with and giving her a lesson in proactivity, both meeting later in life and comparing their similar stories. Also, because I find this very amusing, anything to do with Safana as a marriage candidate for Skie - because if you charm Duke Entar (as with Safana's innate ability), then despite his alleged overprotectiveness, he makes a broad hint at Skie being beautiful and marriageable, with no gender check.
