Page 754 - Candy From Babies

Cute and adorable is kind of a tough sell in a tabletop game. In a system where half the rules are devoted to violence, anything that’s deliberately too cute rings alarm bells, and things that are “merely” “cute” become boring or annoying. One way to go about it is to establish a character with hardcore traits first and then reveal the cute qualities. It can be disarming if done right.

The rewards are potent if you can pull it off. Players will go to greater lengths for a character that legitimately warms the heart than for a character that is merely good.

Applejack: Ah have a few questions…
DM: I’ll try to give out the Cliff Notes, then. Breezies are sort of the pixies of the pony world. They’re tiny, fairy-like ponies.
Fluttershy: Eeeeeeeee!
DM: Ahem. Once a year, they make a great migration from their magical hollow at the edge of Equestria. They go out, collect pollen, and go right back, riding the wind the whole way. Now, the pollen. The wind powers the Breezies’ magic, which preserves the pollen on their several-day journey. That magically infused pollen is your key ingredient for the health elixir.
Rainbow Dash: So, wait. Are we gonna ask them for this stuff? Or do we have to, y’know, take it?
Fluttershy: <gasp!> WE ARE NOT! ROBBING! THE CUTIES!
Rainbow Dash: Woah! Woah. Okay.