The Sceince of Bad Assery

[Zoltar]

Okay so here's a mondo problem. I love my ice sword wielding bad *** Harrick so much. Seriously probably my favorite of my this game but I'm in so much gnarly love I want to do right by him. I want him to come off as a convincing bad *** but I'm unsure how to be sure that comes off right. So can somebody list some examples of bad assery for me to learn from and help make his character very likable?

[Fisherson]

XD "Science of Bad Assery"? Sounds like you've been watching too many of Boomstick's videos. Ah I don't know if you can classify bad azness. I mean to me Kenpachi Zaraki is a great example of bad az. Dude lives to fight and is nigh unkillable but by the same dent the Jaffa Teal'c and the Klingon Worf are both up there too despite not being anime. <.< Hmm actually video games.....video games......Eh I'm having a hard time thinking of one video game character who's been bad az enough to be likable.....Solid Snake? Master Chief defiantly. Shadow from FF6 for sure, but then again the dude hardly speaks. In the chain games I'd say int he following order Devon O'Slym, Yara the Honorable, Khroom of the Mace and Rool are all bad asses. Oh! Soul Calibur. Yoshimitsu is bad az~

But....You want me to quantify why and I'm not sure how to express that....^^;

Is it they way the speak? The way they look? The way they act? Their weapons? Their goals? Er....It's a mix. ^^; Unique to each and everyone. I mean if I were to compare them I'm not sure I could pick just one. It's like saying which Godzilla or Star Wars movie is your favorite? Honestly I love allot of things equally.

Sorry I'm not very helpful am I? -__-;; But honestly you can't predict who will like what! Look me. I hate gore and horror and yet I own every GoT there's ever been. Can I explain this? Nope. Just like the series. Or look at Juno's Odyssey! Why are Bandit and Ixion so well liked? Seriously when you make a character for the Chain Game it's rare they ever get much screen time and always their persona varies between the chapters but Ixion and Bandit stay pretty darned consistent. Heck Juno herself may be the most consistent hero of any chain game despite being a total gripe from start to finish. Characters in any media, but especially indie games, are unpredictable in the likability factor. Another good example is Undertale. Most people like Sans cause his backstory is one of the best ever written in a game....but plenty hate him for being one of the toughest bosses in video game history too! =P Despite the fact of him only being unlockable as a boss if you are stupid enough to want to destroy everyone he cares about. -.-; Seriously. But just as there are many who'd say Sans is awesome believe it or not there are people who hate that poor sad skeleton.

Another lesser known example, unless you know me pretty darned well, is my characters David Dent and Katia and the crazy fan shipping of them together despite  her trying to kill him multiple times for killing her master! <.<; See? Perfect example of how unpredictable a fan reaction is. Their relationship has always been portrayed and compared to the Road Runner VS Wille E. Coyote. You wouldn't pair them now would you?



....But if you dare look on fanfiction.net. I garuantee you will find one fic that does. =P

[Zoltar]

So you're saying I should just write Harrick as I see fit and hope for the best?  I dunno. That doesn't sound tubular, Fishman. Isn't there a garaunteed way to make sure any character is well liked and respected?

[Relux the Relux]

It is kinda hard to tell because characters generally are liked for different reasons. Writing rarely is "one size fits all".

However, often what makes us interested and feel empathy for a character is his moral code and how he applies it to his environment, so you probably should concentrate on making him morally consistent and shade some light in this aspect of his character.

P.S.:Am I the only one, who entered this topic expecting a long and detailed essay on what and why some things make us interpret them as "Bad ***"?

[Archem]

I don't need to type anything; I have all the badass you could need in video form.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dATJN3QObrE

[Fisherson]

Well if we're just going to post self explanatory videos...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gG5UOE6lko

[Momeka]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWnirPP9fZU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q12XJj05vw

[SaiKar]

There's only one rule that really makes characters cool: have the reader/watcher/player learn the rules that the character works by, and then have them watch the character break them

[Zoltar]

There's only one rule that really makes characters cool: have the reader/watcher/player learn the rules that the character works by, and then have them watch the character break them

Really? Contributory actions will make the player mondo like them? Huh. Any examples, Sai Brah?

[SaiKar]

Really? Contributory actions will make the player mondo like them? Huh. Any examples, Sai Brah?

Sure. Star Wars. Luke Skywalker. Whiny bratty kid, then becomes a hero. We learn a lot about the light and the dark side, and he's clearly on the light, then he does worryingly dark side stuff in the 3rd movie (wearing a black cloak, choking guards, slaughtering a bunch of gangsters to rescue one guy)

Han Solo. Heartless mercenary. Goes on and on about how he's in it for the money. Signs up with the rebels even though they clearly can't pay him.

Jurassic Park. T-Rex is the most fearsome dino in the park, saves the main cast from raptors in the finale.

You gotta establish that these characters do what they do because they choose to, regardless of what the audience expects out of them.

[Fisherson]

Sure. Star Wars. Luke Skywalker. Whiny bratty kid, then becomes a hero. We learn a lot about the light and the dark side, and he's clearly on the light, then he does worryingly dark side stuff in the 3rd movie (wearing a black cloak, choking guards, slaughtering a bunch of gangsters to rescue one guy)

Han Solo. Heartless mercenary. Goes on and on about how he's in it for the money. Signs up with the rebels even though they clearly can't pay him.

Jurassic Park. T-Rex is the most fearsome dino in the park, saves the main cast from raptors in the finale.

You gotta establish that these characters do what they do because they choose to, regardless of what the audience expects out of them.

XD You get points there Sai for pointing out the T0Rex from Jurassic Park.I wouldn't have thought of that one and Jurassic Park is one of my favorite films of all time.

[Prpl_Mage]

I also like to think that a disregard for what other people think of them plays in as well. Most badass characters break rules as mentioned, but when they do they are very much convinced of their actions. There is no doubt, they did what the internally thought was right and don't really give a **** what others think about it. Walking their own road and suff like that