Protagonists that you would appreciate

[9:19]

I'm the polar opposite of Anthy. XD

I like protagonists with strongly developed personalities. Someone with a defined personality can still think up a variety of responses when faced with a choice (if they can't, then I am less inclined to play, because it shows they have a serious lack of problem-solving skills). OTL What I don't like are stereotyped characters, who also have defined personalities, but whose responses are dreadfully dull. A well-rounded character should not do 180s in order to get on routes. If the dichotomy is extreme to the point that a relationship can't get off the ground unless the MC turns into someone else, I'd question why that path was ever an option in the first place. I'm fine with the MC having tastes.

I really, really like MCs who talk. Have an opinion; it makes me care about you. I don't have to agree with your opinion. It's there to show me that you are not a noncontributing zero. I'm cool with being able to shape that opinion, but only when the menu includes spice; I much prefer you come with it made. (Venturing into otoge territory:) yes, I play for the couples. A couple means 2 people. I need both to carry their weight. If one-half sucks, the other half sucks by association. So yeah, Creeper!MC can go away.

For me, the deciding factor when it comes to feisty, sarcastic, and cranky heroines is swag. Can she do it with style? Yes? Insta-fav. Doubly so if she's brainy to top.

Humour is a must-have.

[Auro-Cyanide]

I'm with 9:19, I prefer when the protagonist has a strong personality. I don't play VNs as myself, that is what my life it for. I prefer to step into the shoes of another and see what their life is like, to do and be things I can never be. Even when playing more open ended RPGs such as Skyrim, I create a character who would make sense in the world and follow the story that is created. I think it is normal to have a number of options even playing as a designed character. I mean, we don't always act the same way all the time. We constantly make choices in our lives, why wouldn't you expect the same of a character? The exception to this are the more open ended RPGs were you can make heaps of choices, but I do think the story and characters can suffer a bit from this and there can be a disconnection between your actions, the reason you choose them and the result. Case in point is in ME3

I choose not to inform the Krogan about the Salarian sabotage, I told Mordin directly. This was because I didn't want to strain the relationship between the Krogan and the Salarian over something that happened hundreds of years ago and something I could fix quitely. It hadn't gone well with the Turians and I didn't want to add another one to the pile that was already pissing the Krogan off. However, the game informed me I made these choices because I didn't trust the Krogan.

At least with a predefined character you can inform the player about who they are playing so that the choices after that will make sense from that point of view. People are good at empathy, I think it works well with getting people to see things from a different perspective.

So I'm fine with a range of characters, as long as they are unique. I do have a soft spot for strong female characters though.

[HikkiPanda]

let'see ...

the protagonist should be decisive about love, he/she knows who he/she's in love with. I don't have a problem with evil playboy/evil playgirl though because they simply love everyone and very decisive about it.

Not bound by the rules imposed by community. The protagonist obey the rules and stuff but if situation requires him/her to break it then he/she will break it without hesitation

An example of a protagonist that I like:
- Shy, bookworm, has trouble socializing with others, covert pervert (for comedy purpose)
- Neutral good character

If it's a fantasy setting, the protagonist will fit the role as a strategist/battle mage.
For horror, the protagonist will become the one who solve the mysteries
I don't think he/she will fit as a protagonist for a high school setting .. though he/she still can become one of the dateable character

[LateWhiteRabbit]

*looks sheepish*

... I'd like, not always but sometimes, to play a game with an evil, manipulative, scheming protagonist. I have occasionally joked about writing the lesbian vampire game (infiltrate girls school, seduce innocent virgins, rule the world) and I mostly don't because I don't think I can sell it, but I'd love to play it.

Make it. Make it now. Your production schedule is now this: Long Live the Queen -> The Royal Trap -> Evil Vampire Infiltrator of Lesbian Schoolgirls (E.V.I.L.S) I would play the, ahem, *hell* out of that game. Yuri audience + male audience = profit. Evil scheming protagonist able to exercise Machiavellian schemes + sexy vampire + schoolgirls = PROFIT. Goals -> seduction of the innocent + ruling the world = $PROFIT$. Let's make this happen! Email me about art.

Dead serious.

[gekiganwing]

I expected that this topic would get a number of replies. And like I thought, there were a variety of answers.

Generally speaking, I believe that any main character has the potential to be interesting. Though at the same time, I also think that it can help if the person...

* Has opinions, and the will to share them... even if that means that some of the audience won't find the MC sympathetic.
* Has at least one goal, and is trying to achieve it. Alternatively, the person is trying to choose which goal to achieve.
* Needs to work and struggle, no matter whether the person is given some rewards with no strings attached.
* Is able to make a commitment, even if the person is having trouble taking sides.
* Considers their own welfare, but also understands other people's needs.

I wanted to finish my first post quickly, so I didn't include a mention of "how difficult would your fascinating MC be to write?" This can be a problem... perhaps it should be its own thread.

My secret motive behind creating this thread: I've been thinking that if I started a story with a distinct and compelling main character, then perhaps I'd have more success when writing. So I wanted to get feedback from other people, and consider their ideas.

[Gambit74]

I prefer my protagonist to actually know and be aware of the problems around them. They need to know when they can and can't handle things on their own, as well as not being afraid to ask for help when they run into trouble. The readers should be able to relate to them to some extent, and they shouldn't always succeed at their objectives even if they're in a dire situation (This means NO Deus Ex, coincidences/perfect timing that wasn't planned nor hinted at, nor pure luck!). However, this doesn't mean they should fail a lot or all the time either. They should be an ordinary human who will be unable or barely able to move when thrown against the ground or wall, not some super human who manages to stand on their feet like it wasn't a serious injury when they should be having a broken bone or two or something.

Tl;dr, they should be more like a real person who has strong points as well as faults. Bonus points if they have some kind of quirk that makes them stick out from the rest, as well as any sort of phobias and whatnot.

* What sort of story/game would this person fit into? Would this main character be well-suited for genres such as horror or fantasy?

Any genre really, as far as I can see.

* Why would you appreciate this main character? Is it because of their personality, appearance, beliefs, status, or something else?

Because they feel more like a real person. I like it when I'm following the lives of protagonists whom I could and would actually be friends with in real life.

[Egressus]

I like a smart protagonist who, while he's not very good at socialising, knows what he's doing. He knows what he wants. He might know what to do to solve something, but when stuck, he doesn't handle well asking for help. (It's like high IQ = high pride)
I also like those with strange opinions. I'm not one for being one with the character anyway. When the protagonist is opinionated, I feel like they have more of a character than a dough.

Other than that, I like those who end up facing their own baggage. I'm not saying they should shoot those who done them wrong in the face, but after long-term denial, they realise they have to face things. Bonus points if they do it privately. (Or break down in public, but that's humiliation.)

I think this sort can end up in any genre, since it's not specific, and we always have awkward geniuses somewhere.
Yep. I think he'll fit into any genre.

Why do I appreciate them?
Well, they usually do good jobs at solving the puzzles, but one thing that sets them back cannot be solved by anyone else (as it's often psychological). It's never easy being so different with others and even with praises, it feels like the bad things outweigh the good.
I think that someone with a wide social circle but average IQ could just contact someone to help.

Though all of the walls of text is probably my biased opinion for smart people. They're so fun to get into.

[Blue Lemma]

LateWhiteRabbit is right. The meek semi-perverse average dude is SO overdone. (And somehow, every hot female within a mile radius is completely drooling over him, right? ) I seriously can't take anime/games like that anymore.

How about someone with a huge grudge? Like Alistair++/Merui but waaaaay bigger. Darker protags can be a lot of fun. Just look at Disgaea

[Mirage]

Any character that can make me laugh would attract me. Add in some depth and mystery, I'm sold. This doesn't just apply to main characters, it applies to any characters.

(I'm simply as that lol, strangely enough, I almost never seen characters in EVN that fit the bill. Am I such a minority?)

[Omnificent]

Male or female, I too agree that the protagonist should not be a milksop. If they're going to be a passive agent why bothering putting the decision points into their hands and not, say, their cool and cocky best friend?

Other than that I have to say I have a fondness for any character with an interesting internal monologue. Dry narration (or at least dry without wit to make up for it) is a complete drag for me.

[LateWhiteRabbit]

Other than that I have to say I have a fondness for any character with an interesting internal monologue. Dry narration (or at least dry without wit to make up for it) is a complete drag for me.

Internal monologues are great, but it annoys me to no end when the protagonist is addressing an invisible audience with their internal narration.

"Jane Stereotype is my best friend. We've been neighbors since we were kids. I'm not going to bother interacting with her naturally to let you see our relationship, instead I'm going to wax poetic with an info dump. Enjoy!"

Who are they talking to?! If they already know all this stuff they have no reason to think it to themselves!

[Androol]

They are talking to you White Rabbit.
Talking to the audiance is a classical "rule breaking" in teater where its normaly forbided to interact with the public. If it is well done it can be great.

Ho Deadpool just said me it was a retorical question so i stop my explaination.

I have myself some trouble with internal dialog by the way. They bore me when the protagonist do endless internal dialog in the middle of a non internal dialogue.

Mimy say:
"Hey Nygato, how are you today"
Nigato think for himself:
I am curently boring Androol to death with my nobrain theory on what i am feeling right now that Mimy say me hello. Yes it is the most dramatic moment of my life ever for sure, i am close to wet my small cloth. But i will be strong and the world will finaly know how smart i am. By reading Mimy's mind in her eyes i can get the perfect answere to this how complex question she trow at me out of nowere. My inate charisma added to this deep thinking will making her fall in my machiavelian plan to see her in swimsuit at the pool tomorow. I'am pretty confident in the fact that Mimy is to stupid to notice i have to think to myself 5 minut befor i finaly say this amazing word:
"Fine"


Ok i am androol again, if you are still reading, i assume we dont exactly share a common tast in dialogue.

[Starshine]

I can really only say what I DO NOT want in a protagonist, from playing a lot of VNs over the years. I do NOT want a male protagonist that is a loser or a creepy pervert. I can't stand how so many male protagonists are so cowardly or creepy. What about a male protagonist with some self-confidence? A protag that talks to girls instead of stalking them and leering at them, then going back to his home where he monologues about his porn collection. And no male protagonist should spend a paragraph or more of thought on the intricate details of a girl's panties he saw while "accidentally" being a clumsy idiot. Speaking of which - I never want to see another sex or romantic scene described by the male protagonist as "like something out of one of my erotic games". Blugh!

Can I just get a protagonist that is normal, confident, and well-adjusted? You know, someone that is just not dating at the moment? Because watching someone be a sexually obsessed pervert, who acts like an idiot, and creeps on girls is - surprise - off-putting and not fun.

In anime that's what most Anime male characters do. I have played many japanese VN games and the main male character usually lusts and stalks the female character. Most VN's repeat the same story-line, i'm not sure why... but i think its due to how men are in japan, they lust alot but i wont say that its all japan becuse western things can be some-what simuler.

"And no male protagonist should spend a paragraph or more of thought on the intricate details of a girl's panties he saw while "accidentally" being a clumsy idiot."

Mabey it has something to do with Anime in general, Most of the Male characters are clumsy idiots and if you have seen many Anime shows the same thing happens, where they see a nude female character. I guess in all sexual things have their way of boosting something, this whole world seems to run on sex, the puns are always put into many games, it's just people sometimes dont tend to notice.

[nyaatrap]

A protagonist who has ideal but reachable mind.
Gods or Heroes who posses strong mind normal humans can't have are not bad.
Watching a wimpy protagonist is just a torture. I never understand why many recent animes are full of those loser protagonists, and they're not just funny comedy show.

[edit]
BTW, A rival is the most important character to make a protagonist characterize I think. An attractive character always have his "shadow"; it's mostly a rival, but sometime a past himself, or future himself. How to define this shadow is the key to make a protagonist unique. But if a protagonist himself is just unattractive, it's no use.

[LateWhiteRabbit]

In anime that's what most Anime male characters do. I have played many japanese VN games and the main male character usually lusts and stalks the female character. Most VN's repeat the same story-line, i'm not sure why... but i think its due to how men are in japan, they lust alot but i wont say that its all japan becuse western things can be some-what simuler.

If I were going to be mean, I'd say it's because the male developers of most of those eroge games don't know how to interact with women without being creepy perverts themselves. It is also easier to write a stalker character than write subtle and nuanced relationship building dialogue.

Maybe it has something to do with Anime in general, Most of the Male characters are clumsy idiots and if you have seen many Anime shows the same thing happens, where they see a nude female character.

I know most anime shows do it, I think for comedic effect, but it gets old. The first clumsy idiot with a heart of gold you play as is kind of endearing - the 57th clumsy idiot protagonist you play as is just infuriating. And the freak out reaction of male characters to seeing naked girls really has to be reigned in. As a vintage member of the "lived in a world before the internet" club, I can see how teenage boys would get worked up over it in the past, but let's be honest. Any boy who has an internet connection at home has seen naked women in abundance and HD detail. A blush, a smile, and some furtive staring is appropriate - not gushing nose bleeds, etc.