Sprinkling MBTI on Fantasy: Princess Maker
Princess Maker. The ultimate raising sim that everyone's tried at least once—there's no such thing as playing it just once. The GOAT of the genre.
It was the groundbreaking work that first carved out the raising sim market. Depending on the player's choices, the daughter's appearance and career changed organically, and it offered over thirty different endings.
'Even that brutal 'Night Queen' bad end left a huge impact on my kid self...'
And fittingly—or unfittingly—for its name, marriage wasn't limited to princes. There were even pseudo-incest endings with the father (the player) or the butler helper NPC. That's why Princess Maker is adult-targeted.
Of course, implementing that here might unleash some dark imperial incest cult, so we'd tone it down to a dutiful daughter ending.
A few days after the shocking drinking party.
I called Dante's couple and Riana separately. For a planning meeting on our next game, Princess Maker.
But why was Riana grimacing like she'd eaten shit?
"Riana, something wrong?"
"...Ugh, uh, um... It's nothing!"
She must've been super embarrassed about her drunken antics at the last party.
A mischievous urge hit me, so I decided to tease her.
"Just call me Riana, okay~?"
"Kyaaah! Why do you remember that?!!"
"Or was it, 'If you won't call me by name, I'll go back to Sir Eugene Paltrow'?"
"Aaaah, aaah! Shut up! Shut it!!"
I dodged her wild flailing punches from all directions, laughing my ass off. Her ears were beet red—she's surprisingly vulnerable to this stuff.
"Huff, huff... Hoo..."
"Maybe you're sulking 'cause you're the only one not getting called by name? Come on, junior."
"Whatever! Call me by name or don't, I don't care!"
I burst out chuckling, and Dante and Rin Ashford's expressions turned subtle.
What was it... like half the class watching a couple and wondering when those two would finally date.
Well, Riana Ishinkiore was the kingdom's top beauty, sure.
But our starting points were worlds apart. For us, alumni, business partners, and close gal-pal status was just right.
Plus, that Golden Duke dad of hers was scary as fuck. Any guy eyeing his heir daughter would get folded in half.
Don't underestimate merchants. The empire's biggest trade route to the east, the old Silk Road, was called the Bloody Road 'cause so many died there.
Back in his youth, the Golden Duke rode with his vassals, massacring tribes to claim it. No wonder House Ishinkiore's castle is named after the 'Golden Tribe.'
"Anyway, I gathered you all here for next-game planning—and a quick test."
"A test... you say? Related to the next game?"
Dante asked dubiously, so I handed each of them a stack of papers I'd prepped on the desk.
"Gotta gauge your personalities before we dive in. It's the Mebitai personality type test."
To modern folks, MBTI was beyond special—total daily life. On par with name and age in profiles.
Nothing beats it for intuitive self-analysis and intros. Sure, Big Five and such came later, but they never blew up.
Of course, judging people solely by MBTI is dumb. By my dying days, research had debunked tons.
But here? No psychology or cognitive behavioral science. Nail 60% accuracy, and they'd call you a prophet or mind-reading mage.
Back in school, when MBTI first dropped, it straight-up dominated culture.
'Even Hye-won, the class bully who ignored me, asked my type.'
In a fantasy world? The hype would only be bigger.
My goal: moderate over-immersion. Not Dead Wizard's City levels, but more than casual fun.
Key was keeping players close to their virtual 'daughter' character.
Like Cassian Valerius and Mary.
The stronger the player-character bond felt, the more emotional investment.
So, probe player personality via questions, then sculpt the 'daughter' to match? Even knowing it's a game, affection would bloom inevitably.
"Answer honestly, no bullshit."
[Q1. I love huge festivals, dancing and drinking with crowds.]
"Totally me! Festivals are for partying together!"
"Hm... I like the vibe, but I prefer hanging back alone, one step removed."
"So 'disagree' then?"
[Q2. Exploring ruins, I focus more on structure, monster spawns—practical, precise info—than legends or secrets.]
"Duh? Legends can wait. Securing key info comes first for pushing ahead."
"...But legends might aid exploration—like secret passages. Could help in unknown areas."
"Can't you just find that while scouting slowly?"
[Q3. In a critical subjugation mission, if a comrade's badly hurt, it's right to carry them to a priest first—even if it means failing.]
"This one's tough... I'd prioritize the comrade anyway. How do you just leave them?"
"Hm, but a botched subjugation's worse, right? Quick first aid, then rush the target—that's my style."
"True, risks are locked in the moment you accept the commission."
[Q4. No spell, tactic, or strategy can have gaps. Minimal planning equals irresponsibility; perfect, varied plans boost adaptability.]
"Hard disagree. Nothing goes to plan—adaptability's for that."
"Plans matter too, milady. Precisely because things derail, prep every angle. Right, Miss Rin?"
"Indeed—thorough planning's key for spellcasting, as Mr. Dante says."
Group discussion ate up time with back-and-forth.
I collected their sheets and scored per my chart.
Riana: ENFP
Dante: ENTJ
Rin: ISTJ
Hm, about as expected.
Time to poke.
"Riana, you're the type to tackle work in bursts, right? Procrastinate big stuff max, lose items a lot?"
Her eyes went wide.
"Huh? How'd you... Wait! Hanna told you!?"
"Outgoing and chatty at work or with friends, but quiet at home? Freak out more over surprise small issues than big ones."
Her initial shock mixed with suspicion, then fear.
"Suck at saying no too. As a merchant, you've heard 'you'll get backstabbed standing still' plenty."
"That's what my bros and dad hammered since I was little... How do you know?!!"
I ignored Riana rubbing her arms like goosebumps, turning to Dante and Rin.
"You two been dating two months? Super efficient style—fixed date plans, indoor or low-crowd spots."
They reacted identically.
"Tons of common ground. Complementary too—feels comfy quick, read each other's minds sans words."
"Ah, not quite..."
"Huh?? I can read Rin's thoughts fine."
"?????"
"Ahem, well! Could be. Not 100% accurate—environment shapes it. But Rin, don't you leave fatigue potions casually when Dante's anxious or tired? That's your love language."
"Oh, so... the hangover cure in my pocket after the party was..."
"......"
Rin flushed crimson in reply.
Aaah. Got your personalities pegged...
This was too fun; I might die laughing.
"How'd you analyze us? No detection magic, surely..."
Rin recovered fast, radiating curiosity.
"This is Mebitai. We'll sculpt 'player-customized characters' from this data."
Dante finally got it.
"...Questions profile player types upfront—for deeper immersion?"
"Bingo. 'The perfect daughter just for you.' Killer catchphrase, right?"
After, I outlined the game basics.
A tiny kingdom across the Silent Sea: Maryland.
The wise, pious king—who for some reason had no heir—received a divine revelation one day...
- Hearken, O King. For the kingdom's eternity and the people's prosperity, new blood—not yours—must claim the throne.
- I have ordained a girl upon this land. In eight years, hold a selection rite; crown the child of twenty as the new sovereign.
The Maryland king soon proclaimed this bizarre revelation, making every 12-year-old girl in the kingdom a crown princess candidate.
Including your own 12-year-old daughter.
"Name's set too."
I eyed my team swallowing hard.
"Queen of Maryland Maker."
For the one and only great queen in the world.