What made you decide to include the idea of nashir in When Stars Collide? It's such a neat idea, I keep turning it over in my mind. Is their ability to sense nashir part of what kept them in their mentor role to younger races for so long?
From a practical standpoint it was that games in this structure tend to have very fast romantic development (which is always much more obvious to people playing after many episodes are out or the game is complete). I do not necessarily have a problem with that. I always mention this beautiful coup I knew who met at a beach party. Got married three days later and were married for 60 years until they both unfortunately passed away a few years ago.
Whirlwind romances that last really do happen but. For a readable story and game play I think that it can sometimes feel unearned to players.
So I wanted a way that would explain why there was an instant connection with everyone but I also didn't want to go with a typical soulmate set up.
So I created this very specific Veleian soulmate concept that I could weave through the story a little more thoroughly as a plot point. It's why *that* ship was the one choice. It's why *those people* are there. It's why a certain someone joined the ship. It's why Wil wants to stay and protect them. Why they have an initial spark that leads to love (not why t hey fall in love but why there's a connection they want to explore, I guess).
And it's just become this sweet little aspect of why Wil so very much loves these people and possibly, unknowingly, why they all love each other so much.
To answer the second part - I think it definitely played a role in that though it's not the only reason. But yes, knowing they had a connection to others definitely kept them out there helping, guiding and just...looking....for a long time.
