New main character archetypes

[playaGAW]

Why don't they try something different when making characters for the mainstream FFs. What about a bunch of ugly main characters while the villains age good-lookin. How about playing as somebody who wants to take over or destroy the world but you don't find out its a good reason until the end. What if the main character wasn't even human? A Mog like character but main instead of background. Shoot I'd even like to play as a monster for once or even one of the countless pawn soldiers killed in a random battle. Except I don't die and the story involves the scrutiny of the battle of the big boys (as in world saving hero v.s. villain). While you watch it out. Gotta think of a way to explain that clearer. The character can go through his own battles that are climatic and changing but in the end you can see how the world altering effect ot the big hero/villain battle effects his/her life and that of the civilians. That can still be done with action and an intriguing story.

There are many more ideas that can come out of my head but most RPGs have the same character types. Does anyone else want a change in the way the stroies and characters are potrayed within the same constricts in most RPGs and Final Fantasy (6 being kind of an outsider in my opinion because the lead character was up for debate).

[Zeromus_X]

Well, characters in any form of media are always going to fall under some sort of category or archetype. I don't really understand why people complain about it. Yes, it's nice when there's a very rare unique character, but I don't expect any game to break the mold any time soon with some new character type. These stock characters are inevitable.

I don't really care. I hope FFXIII's main character (not Lightning) won't be a ditz or some 'omg save me!!11one1' character, but I wouldn't really mind either way. Although the idea of new character types being made is very interesting. With FFs being made with different development teams each game (like Tales), it's certainly possible some writer will have some unique ideas.

[playaGAW]

I know that there are always going to be a certain category a character isin. What I'm saying is the same archetypes are being used over and over.

[Zeromus_X]

Yes, that's the point. Of course they'll be used over and over. That's why they're stock characters/archetypes/what-have-you.

[Azuka-San]

I like the Final Fantasy series just as it is now...

[Nakor TheBlue Rider]

personally ive always wanted to see a very physicly strong female who retains her feminine side while being stronger than many of the males.

i think that would be rather ground breaking.

[Angelroo]

personally ive always wanted to see a very physicly strong female who retains her feminine side while being stronger than many of the males.

i think that would be rather ground breaking.

That would be very cool. I like those kind of females the best. Paine was a bit too masculine, though. She was alright, but she was just a supporting role. And I can't say about this new heroine. I would love a main female who isn't a weakling, but not overly-masculine. Like Riza Hawkeye from FMA. yeah...

[DeathKnight]

this new babe "Lightning" is cute...but her facial expressions.....are.....empty.....or I don't know. Her clothes are alright....not impressive.

I just hope the main character(which is supposed to be a girl) is better.

[drunkymonkey]

I personally really want a main character who doesn't have a dark past.

[DeathKnight]

I personally really want a main character who doesn't have a dark past.

I want a TALL main male character

I'm tired of shorties! :twak:

[Setzer Gabianni]

All main characters have some sort of emo past, and are half the time orphans. That'll never change.

~Setzer Gabbiani

[drunkymonkey]

That's not true at all (at least outside the FF series).

[Nakor TheBlue Rider]

a hero has to have that kind of past.

its one of the rules when writing a hero role.

you learn that in like grade 11 or 12 english.

Of course the Protagonist of a Final Fantasy wouldnt necisarly HAVE to be a Hero.

in fact it'd be fun to play a protagonist in an FF who had thier own dark and possibly evil reasons for going after that "Ancient sword" or "All Powerful Summoning Magic"

or even one who said "screw saving those innocents, i look out for number one"

[drunkymonkey]

a hero has to have that kind of past.

its one of the rules when writing a hero role.

you learn that in like grade 11 or 12 english.

Of course the Protagonist of a Final Fantasy wouldnt necisarly HAVE to be a Hero.

in fact it'd be fun to play a protagonist in an FF who had thier own dark and possibly evil reasons for going after that "Ancient sword" or "All Powerful Summoning Magic"

or even one who said "screw saving those innocents, i look out for number one"

No, he doesn't. Heroes in other types of media don't always have to have dark pasts. If you have ever read Discworld, very few main characters in those books have dark pasts, and they're some of the best books you'll ever read, and you can sympathise with the characters just as much as a character who has a 'dark and mysterious past.' It has come to the rather silly point where people with 'dark and mysterious pasts' aren't 'mysterious' at all, they're bland and predictable. You may argue that Discworld is a comedy book, but it has stories that would be able to run along just as well if it didn't have any humour attached to it.
You don't learn anything about narrative, you pick it up and make your own opinions about it. I'd rather take the view of someone who has been writing for twenty years rather than an national curriculum.

[DeathKnight]

Seems A LOT of people here haven't played Tales Of Symphonia or Thousand Arms. Not all heroes need to be parent-less or have a DARK/EMO past.