Nyah Payne
My Character
Currently, I work as a scriptwriter for the 'Checkpoint' Minecraft YouTube channel, which is always such a fun job to tell people about! I graduated from Falmouth University with a First Class Honors Degree in Game Development: Writing back in 2023 and enjoy writing for and about video games! I am enthusiastic about working in teams. Whatever role I undertake, I approach it with a passion to inject creativity and fun, for myself and those around me! There's more to me than just being a writer, but everything I experience becomes a story to tell or a lesson to take into development! I particularly love writing and playing branching narratives, especially in the horror or fantasy genres. Read on to discover my values as a creative. Hear anonymously written feedback from my teammates to find out what I'm like to work with from those that already have. You can also explore my hobbies, and what I take away from each one. And if you want to get to know me and my work further, you're welcome to reach out!
My Values
CREATIVITY
Conventions should be learned and respected, in order to challenge and mould them. I respect working within the lines, but sometimes you have to look outside of them in order to innovate. The path less trodden is often more fun and rewarding.
COMPASSION
Open and honest communication is at the heart of my team interactions. I trust the people that surround me, and want to garner the same trust in them. My care for others comes from a place of genuine interest.
TEAM PLAYER
The success of the individual should never come at the expense of a team’s success. My individual work is enhanced by collaboration, and I cherish the input of a supportive team. I value joining forces with a broad spectrum of people.
POWER OF PLAY
I will never stop playing. The power of fun is often underappreciated, and I intend to create a working experience that partners efficiency and professionalism with enjoyment for colleagues and players/readers. The passion that you put into a project, is the passion that will come across to your audience.
Hobbies
What do I do when I'm not making games?
Playing games
Making games has changed how I perceive the games that I play, but it hasn’t stopped me from enjoying them! I have been engaging with video games since my dad first introduced a young Nyah to his Xbox, and that passion has transitioned into creating games, as well as playing and analysing them. I’d been laying the foundations since I first began creating hyperlink interactive stories in PowerPoint when I was about eight!
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What is my favourite game?
My all time favourite game is hard to pick out, since there are so many that I adore, but I think it would have to be Night in the Woods! I have played it every autumn since my first time, and it never fails to make me cry!
Acting
Acting is another creative hobby of mine, and the desire to put on a captivating performance definitely feeds into my work! I had the time of my life working as a scare actor at Tulleys Farm’s Shocktober event. I revelled in playing Paulina to a packed audience in Brighton during a performance of Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale. I also have a soft spot for helping out at my old acting youth group, where I first developed my love of performance. This would involve chaperoning but also choreographing pieces, running games, and, most importantly, encouraging the kids!
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What was my favourite performance?
Shocktober was definitely the most fun, due to it being so high energy! It helps that I'm a big fan of Halloween and all things spooky! A Winter's Tale would be a close second, though. 'What studied torments, tyrant, hast for me' was a great monologue to perform and I even got to do Irish dancing!
Tabletop roleplay
It probably comes as no surprise that a lot of my downtime is spent playing tabletop games with my friends. I have explored many different systems, including Dungeons and Dragons, Call of Cthulhu, and GURPS, and have experienced tabletop both as a player and as a Games Master. I love the social aspect of tabletop gaming, but it’s also great to keep that creative spark going and encourage unique problem solving!
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If I were a DnD character, who would I be?
Easy! I would be a halfling bard, multi-classing into ranger. I’m tiny, a big fan of food and adventure, a storyteller, and a natural explorer with a large helping of wanderlust! Coincidentally, that's exactly what I played in my first Baldur's Gate 3 run!
The natural world
I have always had a soft spot for animals and nature. I have two dogs, who I absolutely dote on and will show pictures of at a moment’s notice, and a curly haired tarantula. People are often less keen to see photos of her, but I think she’s wonderful! My first long time job was at a pet shop, and my care for people’s pets fuelled my care for that job! I love travelling and have been lucky to see some wonderful places, my favourites being South Africa and Ecuador/The Galapagos. These have really broadened my horizons, and I love throwing myself into all sorts of different cultures!
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What was my favourite thing about working at the pet shop?
Aside from the obvious (petting so many dogs), I loved my team! Sometimes, when no customers were around and all the chores and upkeep had been done, we would spend a little while playing catch with the tennis balls! We also had a few meals out while I worked there, and the highlight was going to a zombie experience together! My manager and I made quite the zombie survival duo! Life’s not all work and no play, after all!
Writing
Despite writing for my career, I continue to write for personal enjoyment, and to keep the writing muscles flexing! When I have complete freedom over what I write, I lean towards apocalypse and horror narratives, often with an element of fantasy and humour to them. I tend to favour novel writing or branching narrative texts. Thematically, I like to tell stories about dark worlds and explore how different characters interact with these conflicts. There are often a lot of positives to come out of larger struggles, and I enjoy capturing that in my narratives.
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What is the earliest story I remember telling?
On a walk to primary school with my mum, I remember telling the story of a purple bubble that went on a grand adventure and (spoiler alert) ended up becoming a part of the ocean!
Music
I spend half of my life listening to music, practically living my life with a soundtrack! I make playlists for everything under the sun, including the seasons, tabletop characters, and even some writing projects! I played the cello back when I was so short that the cello was double my size! I’m still a big fan of singing. I have had quite a few lessons over the years, and have been part of many singing groups. My biggest performance was a solo of Shadowland from The Lion King Musical, during a compilation of musical theatre songs.
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What is my favourite song?
Picking just one from the hundreds that I regularly listen to is so hard, but I currently love 'Wide Eyes' by Local Natives. Bear’s Den and Ben Howard are up there as some of my favourite artists.
Sport
With a career and hobbies that involve a lot of sitting at a desk, it’s important to me to ensure I stay active! My family lives near the Lake District, and I love spending time hiking through the hills, sometimes camping for a night and carrying on in the morning! I also go paddle-boarding regularly, often bringing my jack russell/chihuahua with me. I also used to fence and was the under 18’s ladies junior champion in Sussex. I still have a bit of a competitive side and love some friendly competition, throwing myself into any game or sport with complete enthusiasm and determination (even if I’m less than confident on the rules)!
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Has Coco the dog ever fallen in while paddle-boarding?
Sadly, yes, while trying to cross from my paddle-board to my dad’s! I took her home immediately, cuddled in my hoodie for warmth! Usually, though, she’s fine! I don’t stand up with her on the board, because she’d never forgive me if I threw her in! I’ve taken a tumble into Windermere myself, but she wasn’t with me then!