Convo: Beehive Brigade

Me:

Yuka: The leader of the team, mainly by being the first to begin her quest. Not really any more of an appropriate leader than Usagi Tsukino, though.
Chiharu: Easily scared, but nonetheless manages to be an active fighter, since she wants to reach her full potential in her new powers.
Misao: Charismatic, likes to be useful to the team, but often feels that she hasn't been much.
Izumi: Enjoys fighting, and especially killing, but remains loyal to the team and places their interests above her own.
Nanako: Pretty much the brains behind the team, but doesn't always get along well with everyone. Specializes in planning things out, and tends to get impatient when others disagree with her.

Should I expand upon these more? Some tips might help if you think I should.

Jake:

Yes, you really should. (Especially when you say the leader is as bad as Usagi...)

Me:

I'll try to put some more thought into these, but I might need some help if I still can't think of anything before our next AIM convo.

Jake:

Out of those roles I listed... Nanako is more like the Second, Chiharu is more like the Mother, Misao is like the Obstacle (the one who is useless...), and Izumi is more like the Fool. See if that helps.

Me:

I suppose it would. Have also asked Chelle to see if she could help me expand them more creatively, rather than doing it by-the-numbers (i.e. straight from that book you read). Will let you know when she gets back to me, and we can discuss things from there. Okay?

Chelle:

Which context is this in, the original setting or their roles in Cult?

Also, you mention roles, but the stuff you list is characterization. Which do you want?

Me:

Here are the examples that Jake gave, according to a book he read:

The Leader: even if not the wisest or most experienced, he takes the lead in most situations, tells the others what to do, delegates tasks. May ask for counsel depending on what to do, but always has the final word (even if that one is to follow someone else).

The Rock: stays strong and optimistic even in the worst situations. Turns away from shining so that others may have the glory. May look faded or unimportant, but his lack makes the group be destabilized. Takes over the most mundane duties, for the others to reveal their extraordinary talents.
The Second: takes the role of 'best friend' or 'partner' of the leader. Has some quirk or power that'd be too exotic on the leader. Quite often is the one with the most shine, great glory without as many responsibilities. Doesn't care about obeying, staying in the background or helping the leader in his own objectives, and must remain confident when the leader doubts himself.

The Mother: no matter the age, behaves like he were older than the others. Ignores glory, honor and fun in the name of practicality. May use harmless lies to his allies, so they'll remain innocent, without facing some hard truths. Capable of anything to defend those he considers his protectees; no act is too violent or drastic when his 'family' is in danger. When the others leave to conquer the world, he's the one who reminds them to bring a coat, because it may be cold.

The Foreigner: coming from far away or just having different habits or customs from the norm, is isolated quite often, to show how the group's bonds are strong and how the world out there is strange. Gets in conflicts with other teammates for questions the others accept without thinking twice.

The Conscience: responsible for pointing out the failures of the others, show how everyone could be better in one aspect or another. Needs no glory for himself, but tends to demand plenty from his companions. Usually has a very rigid posture, and doesn't allow his own behavior to slip.

The Victim: among the heroes, he's the non-heroic one. Has some grave flaw or weakness, which may bring pity or spite. It's not necessary of him to be as strong or mighty as the others - but faces jokes, acid comments and small humiliations in exchange for that. When shining alone, may face his companions' wrath.

The Fool: doesn't fit the group's methods, fulfilling his tasks in ways the others wouldn't. Doesn't take things seriously, at least at first. Doesn't try to be funny, *is* funny - whether aware of it or not. Always knows the time to mess around and to be serious.

The Sacrifice: someone beloved by the group, with plenty of shine and potential. May be considered 'too good for this world' or so noble and special that he's seen as superior. At some point, dies, suffers a terrible loss or ends up hated. His function is to be raised high and then destroyed.

Out of those roles I listed... Nanako is more like the Second, Chiharu is more like the Mother, Misao is like the Obstacle (the one who is useless...), and Izumi is more like the Fool. See if that helps.

Chelle:

Ah, that's their roles in the group dynamic. That's something you can apply to both settings, with some minor changes depending on how their stories go.

I agree with most of those matches, except Misao being the Obstacle. Her characterization describes her as feeling like she's the obstacle, not as actually being this. If she's so eager to serve the team, she may have some Mother qualities too.

They don't necessarily need to be perfect embodiments of those roles. If you put a bloodthirsty character like Izumi in the role of the naturally funny one, be careful it doesn't go overboard in a way that jars with the tone of the story too much (black humor when the rest of the characters and the story aren't could come cause dissonance).

Some friction might happen if you apply "Doesn't care about obeying, staying in the background or helping the leader in his own objectives, and must remain confident when the leader doubts himself" on Nanako while Yuka is only the leader because she came first. Nanako expects to be agreed with and Yuka's likely to be wrong. There might be a point where this puts Yuka's leadership position in jeopardy (and thus lead to character development where Yuka learns something to be a better leader).

Another Beehive Brigade convo

Had a live chat with Jake about the possible Beehive Brigade game. Here it is, in case Chelle would also like to participate.

Eric Ledger:
Hi.
videokillah:
Hi.
Eric Ledger:
Just replied to your comment.
videokillah:
I saw.
Eric Ledger:
So, wanna discuss anything about the game?
videokillah:
Discuss what?
Eric Ledger:
Well, do we have their roles settled yet?
videokillah:
You're the one who has to tell me.
You were going on and on about their personalities and doing nothing on their actual roles.
Eric Ledger:
Guess I’ll have another look over them later so I know who’s who in the party.
Anyway, I understand that the first thing that needs to be established in a story, after the protagonists, is the antagonists, what they do, and what their motivation is. Or at least the conflict at hand.
Am I right?
videokillah:
Not necessarily 'first thing' but it's major.
Eric Ledger:
I see.
Well, when I said the other day that they were going to be up against the world as villain protagonists driven by lack of control over their lives... Along with their roots in Cult as a villain group, that was partly inspired from that image I have, of all five of them, naked and embarrassed. I was hoping to incorporate that somewhere in the story, which would probably be the result of someone rendering them nude in an attempt to embarrass them.
From there, I thought that this could be the kind of thing that they suffer almost every day at the hands of other people.
Which is why they’re out for power for themselves.
videokillah:
Getting naked?
Eric Ledger:
Not always being denuded, but being bullied and humiliated in general as outcasts of society. The gemstones possessing their hair would be their ticket towards finally coming out on top.
videokillah:
I see.
Sure, that works.
Society was originally setup in a manner that would've benefitted them centuries ago, but as time passed, now they're the 'slaves'.
Eric Ledger:
They’ve probably *been* on the low rungs of society their whole lives, long before their hair was done up. And with their hair up and their potential to gain power, society still wants to humiliate them at every opportunity, but many also want them outright dead. (The whole thing would be similar to your story, where Captares want people like Ernest dead due to their magical potential.)
videokillah:
It's more complicated than that but yes you have the right idea.
Of course, they're young ladies, so... how did they keep their purity?
Eric Ledger:
Purity?
I’m guessing you mean purity as the reason they were selected by the gemstones now in their hair?
’m guessing you mean purity as the reason they were selected by the gemstones now in their hair?
Sorry. Still there?
Hello?
Did you get my response?
videokillah:
I'm having internet issues.
No.
Eric Ledger:
So am I, actually.
I’m guessing you mean purity as the reason they were selected by the gemstones now in their hair?
videokillah:
I already answered that...
Not just.
Just that unless said so, it's normally expected of them to be virgins, so...
Eric Ledger:
In this setting, not necessarily, though that could be the case.
videokillah:
So what are they? Which ones? And what are their original situations?
Eric Ledger:
Individually, you mean? Will have to think about that.
videokillah:
Also, is this world set in any specific style?
Or is it modern-day?
Eric Ledger:
Modern-day Japanese style.
videokillah:
All over the world?
Eric Ledger:

videokillah:
They're going to change the entire universe, so...
Eric Ledger:
Not necessarily; just to rule the world they live in.*
They will meet people who treat them right, so there is that.
videokillah:
Alright.
Well, I meant their actual duties in society, which ones are virgins, and what their original situations are.
Eric Ledger:
With that last one, I take it you mean similar to how Paula is chosen as a result of her kidnapping, Jeff is chosen as the one who can save her and Ness, and Poo is the one whose been training as royalty to join the party. Right?
videokillah:
Not just.
I mean like how Ness is a normal kid, Paula is a school assistant, Jeff is an internship student, and Poo is royalty.
Eric Ledger:
Oh, so before they’re chosen, then.
Will put some thought into that.
videokillah:
Crashed.
Last messages?
Eric Ledger:
Oh, so before they’re chosen, then? Will put some thought into that.
videokillah:
Alright, nothing new.
Eric Ledger:
All of them would be college-age. Individually, Yuka would be a normal girl, Izumi would be a rebel, Nanako would be a studious girl, Misao would be an upscale girl, and Chiharu would be either a scientist or a musician.
Chiharu is said to like both science and ocarinas.
That work?
videokillah:
Yes.
(Dinner now.)
Eric Ledger:
See ya.
Hi. Back?
Hi. Back yet?
Guess I’ll post our exchange on LiveJournal, in case Chelle would like to participate as well.

(*Actually, it is possible that they will reset the universe after all, but only if there is no way in-universe to leave/keep the current one intact while overthrowing the regime they've lived under. Such would register them as still villainous, keeping with their original conception as lesser villains created for Cult, albeit still sympathetic. Those who treated them well might be allowed to at least continue their existence in the new reality.)