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Post by Feathers on Feb 29, 2012 13:29:23 GMT -5
Gained inspiration from another forum to create this one. Anyway what are you guys' thoughts on characters that are, well, "on the fence". As in, they're not quite aiding the protagionist in his or her trials, and may even leave the said character to die horribly or whatever. However, at the same time they also help out when they feel like it, or perhaps they have some mysterious reason for helping at random times.
So what's a good way to write this character? Do you have bad examples? Good examples? Examples you're not sure whether it would be bad or good? Or how many times have you seen this character? Has it been so many times that this character type is cliche?
Discuss~
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Devil
Rogue Mage
Devil
Posts: 119
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Post by Devil on Feb 29, 2012 15:12:13 GMT -5
Just a little bit, I think Satan from Needless kind of "appears" to be on the fence for quite some time throughout the Anime. He's a bad guy working for the antagionist, but he helps the second protagionist with fighting skills and such. It's only revealed at the VERY end why he did that, which I won't say for the sake of forums.
Writing this character is really hard I think, because you have to balance the two sides. You can't make your character appear good, nor can you make your character appear bad. I haven't seen, "On the fence" characters too often that are done well, because it's such a hard character to do. Just my opinion.
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Post by Feathers on Feb 29, 2012 18:02:53 GMT -5
Oh yeah. Satan's a pretty awesome fence character. A really hot one too... o.o XD
Another one I can think of appears in video games, yay! It's Meta Knight from Kirby. In some games his the boss and in others he's your helper and then in others you play AS him. LOL
If you could, expand on what exactly a "good fence character" would be? Sort of lost me there and I think you'll get me back if that is explained. XD
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Post by Rogo on Feb 29, 2012 18:06:35 GMT -5
I think the phrase your looking for is Anti-hero or Chaotic Neutral?
On the fence means they don't get involved at all XD
Great examples all over the place, take Medusa from Soul Eater.
BUT I hear you cry, she's clearly a villain.
Well... yeah but for a good part of the story and manga she's in the middle of two warring sides and she plays both for fools (ESPECIALLY in the manga.)
Better example would be Ryuk from Death Note, who really was on the fence as he never really helped Light beyond giving information or doing the odd job in exchange for apples.
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Post by Feathers on Feb 29, 2012 18:18:22 GMT -5
Naw, when I say on the fence, I mean they can't seem to make up their mind as to which side they're on. LOL Anti-heros wouldn't fit into this category.
So my definitions are like this:
Anti-heros: Characters that "have their own side"
On the fence characters: Characters that can't seem to make up their mind about who to fight for
OMG! I forgot about her. She's awesome. One of my favorite villians. Yeah, definitely an anti-hero. :3
For Ryuk, I'd call him an observer character. There;s so many varieties. LOL
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Post by Rogo on Feb 29, 2012 18:20:11 GMT -5
Hmmm... then I think a Chaotic Neutral is what you mean then and oh boy would I never call Medusa an Anti-Hero.
Anti-heroes do bad things for good reasons.
Medusa... yeah no not so much XD
Another good chaotic neutral or 'on the fence' is Miharu (and Yoite) from Nabari no Ou now I think of it!
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Post by Feathers on Feb 29, 2012 22:05:38 GMT -5
LOL English slang is not my speciality. I swapped out English slang with Japanese and Thai. So excuse my stupidness in terms. XD
Yeah, I think on another form I said I went Buddhist chanting. Well yeah, now that I'm back, I must've been high on air when I said she was an anti-hero. Oops. There I go again, typing without thinking. LMAO
That's true! I'd say so more for Miharu though because Yoite is more clearly in it for himself. Miharu is just trying to do the right thing...the question is what is the right thing? LOL I think that whole conflict makes his character a lot more relatable, so I would say that's a good example of a chaotic neutral character. :O
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Post by Rogo on Mar 2, 2012 7:16:13 GMT -5
I think it's hard to describe Yoite as 'in it for himself' when heis end goal is to erase his own existence so all the pain and suffering he's caused will be erased as well.
Okay he's also doing it for totally emo reasons as well buuut I dunno, I think he counts XD
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Post by Feathers on Mar 2, 2012 13:04:33 GMT -5
The only reason I would disagree is that he is given all these reasons that he should not erase his existance and whatever, but chooses to continue with his plans. I think its even mentioned by someone as to how selfish this is. But he redeems himself at the end there, so what you said would fit there. :3
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