It's finally that time: Blades of Light and Shadow is nearly upon us! We spoke to the team to level up our energy before the premiere...

Excited to have you all here! Before we begin, tell us... what do you do for Blades?

Andrew: I’m the Book Lead. I’m sort of in charge of the whole project from a writing angle, but I had a lot of help from other writers. I want to give them a quick shoutout: Kathleen and Emi for helping brainstorm it, Lindsay for the first draft, and Jake and Sara for helping add more scenes when we realized what a massive undertaking this really was!

Daniel: I’m a Technical Producer and Designer. I worked on designing and coding the many cool features you’ll find in Blades!

Maya: I basically swooped in and put the finishing touches on the chapters so that they’re as polished as possible.

Stella: I'm the art producer. As the title may suggest, I handle production for the art end of the book and work with artists to make sure our bar of quality is hit.

Danielle: I'm the Art Lead! I've been involved in the early stages of concept art to production, ranging from characters, backgrounds, looks for the skills, cover, etc. With the help of my art team, we were able to make this happen!

Jessie, Rose, & Jon: We're QA Testers!

Jon: We do multiple playthroughs to hit every part of the story and catch any bugs we come across. This book has unique systems as well, so we've been researching and taking extra steps for testing.

Thanks for the intros! Now, spill... Give us the inside scoop on Blades.

Andrew: Blades is, and I think I can say this confidently, the most ambitious Choices book ever made.

Maya: It. Is. EPIC. You’ve got big bads, fantastical creatures, cool powers, the fate of the world resting on your shoulders... and the best crew in the kingdom to take on the forces of darkness with!

Oooh. I can't wait to see these features myself! Which are you most excited for fans to experience?

Andrew: I had a blast with writing lots of Side Quests – Scenes where you and a companion can go on a little mini-adventure, fight a foe, and get some cool loot.

Daniel: Throughout the book, you’ll gain new skills and become the hero you want to be. Choosing a new skill can open up so many new possibilities and is great motivation to replay the book!

Stella: This might not necessarily be a new feature, but I'm excited for players to experience extensive customization for YOU!

So if you could choose: human, elf, or orc?

Andrew: My *real* answer in RPGs is “dwarf." But of the three, I’m gonna go orc. The fangs! The hair!

Daniel: I’d be an elf, but probably a rebellious elf who doesn’t follow all of the rules and has a bit of an independent streak.

Danielle: Orc! The orcs we have in our story have a tight-knit community, and I admire that about them.

Maya: An elf! For purely aesthetic reasons. I watched the LotR movies a LOT as a kid and always thought the elves were gorgeous.

Stella: I'd definitely be an elf. I love how elegant their clothing and architecture is always portrayed.

Jon: I used to play a stealth elf archer in a certain fantasy game, and I'm still an elf here.

Rose: Orc! I love to smash things!

Jessie: Definitely orc, I can use my brawn to smash my enemies and flex my muscles for my LI at the same time.

Speaking of those *heart eyes* love interests... You've gotta dish which one you're excited to pursue.

Andrew: …All of them? But if I have to pick... Mal and Imtura. Mal because he’s the snarky charming rogue with the troubled past, and Imtura because… buff orc girlfriend.

Danielle: Can I say all of them too? Nia to be my emotional comfort, Tyril to have deep conversations with, Mal to teach me how to survive, and Imtura to be my gym partner.

Maya: Tyril! If you love grumpy Zuko types as much as I do, he is just such a delight. Also, obviously, I’m into elves. He’s the total package!

Ahh, so many tough choices to make! On another note, what's your favorite fantasy book and game?

Andrew: This is so hard… For book, I’ll say Lies of Locke Lamora (Mal would fit right in), and for game, throwback to The Longest Journey.

Daniel: I'm a huge Dungeons & Dragons fan. I even DM a campaign at the office!

Danielle: Final Fantasy IX and Tactics!

Maya: At the risk of sounding cliche, Harry Potter.

Jessie: The Dragon Age series for video game, and Uprooted by Naomi Novik for book.

Jon: Divinity: Original Sin 2 is my favorite fantasy game.

Before we wrap up, any last words of advice for those who dare to play Blades?

Andrew: The Shadow Court has agents everywhere. Watch your back… and stick close to your friends.

Daniel: Don’t underestimate the Brawling skill! Sometimes a good punch to face is all you need.

Maya: Be brave, for the world is darker than you ever imagined. But remember, the Light is always within reach.

Jon: Play the game however you like! We want Blades to be enjoyable for all types of players, whether they want to beat people with their hands or talk them down instead.

Whew... I think we're equipped for our next adventure! Shape your destiny in Blades on January 29th, then let us know what you think on our social media pages (and don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list at pixelberrystudios.com/choices-insiders). Till we meet again!

-Shae