A Monster Romance Field Guide
It feels silly to call omegaverse a trope, but that’s technically not wrong. Neither is it wrong to consider it a whole subgenre. Regardless of the literary term you prefer, anytime you see “omegaverse”, you are entering a realm of speculative and erotic sci-fi or fantasy fiction that assumes a formal, biological dominance hierarchy. The purpose of this hierarchy typically serves to facilitate biological reproduction in a story’s world. One should assume a few more rules involved than the typical trope or subgenre.
As a reader disclaimer, against the greater background of omegaverse, my reading repertoire is small. I’m also not unfamiliar with its premise and rules like a self-respecting fan fiction reader would.
Associated Creatures: werewolves, shifters, humans
Notable Cultural Examples: fan fiction, indie romance and erotica
Sexual uses: domination, mating selection, breeding
If you appreciate nothing else, any omegaverse has strict rules. They may vary by story but are tied to some expected conventions.
Of course, all story genres come with expectations. Mysteries need to be solved. Romances end with the lovers happily together. However, the pact readers and authors make in the Omegaverse brings expectations to a new level.
Those expectations center on a formal, biological dominance hierarchy. That hierarchy has specific roles primarily filled by alphas and omegas. Less utilized hierarchical titles include beta, delta, gamma, and sigma. Using some or all of these roles comes at the author's discretion and how complex they would like to build their personal omegaverse.
The following guide breaks down the intention of common omegaverse roles and hopes to help others avoid the too-common mistaken assumption that alphas are just male and omegas are just female. A skilled storyteller can wield an omegaverse hierarchy to exploit and leverage any gender roles and sexuality conventions for their own purposes. It can be, but it does not have to be reductive.
As their name suggests, alphas are usually the highest-ranking members of an omegaverse hierarchy. They have exaggerated masculine and domineering traits to mark their demeanor.
Common Personality Traits
Common Physiological Traits
Strong musky smell: This is often described as “spicy” or “masculine,” which may be used to encourage an omega to go into heat.
Phallic genitalia: An alpha born without a penis can be compensated with a retractable member. Typically, these alphas identify as female but do not possess a uterus for growing young.
Genital knots: These are made of muscles along the phallic shaft. They expand at sexual climax and lock into their mating partner to encourage breeding success.
Omegas are the foil to alphas. They are the most submissive in the hierarchy but, functionally, are often the most valued. They have exaggerated feminine and submissive traits to mark their demeanor.
Common Personality Traits
Common Physiological Traits
Strong, sweet smell: This is often described as “delicious” or “feminine.”
Yonic genitalia: An omega born without a vaginal opening may still possess a uterus, which can be implanted with sperm through the anal cavity. Birth can happen naturally or surgically, depending on world-building preferences. Typically, these omegas identify as male.
Heat cycles: The height of a heat cycle is marked by extreme sexual arousal, high body temperatures, and moisture glands to create a “slick,” which makes phallic penetration easier. This is a time they are most attracted to and by alphas.
Betas sit apart and neutral to alphas and omegas. Because their presence is not essential for discussing or interacting with alphas and omegas, betas are sometimes not called out as betas but just “normal” for the sake of world-building efficiency.
Common Personality Traits
Common Physiological Traits
Deltas often fill the alpha’s social second-in-command role when utilized in world-building. They possess many traits of an alpha but do not possess the same breeding status and full abilities of an alpha.
Common Personality Traits
Common Physiological Traits
Gammas are set up similarly to deltas but possess omega traits rather than alpha ones.
Common Personality Traits
Common Physiological Traits
Sweet smell: This is often described as “delicious” or “feminine.”
Unaffected by alpha, omega, and delta scents.
For more information about this newsletter’s spice and star system, check out this newsletter’s About Me page.
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