Convo: Beehive Brigade

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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).

Comments

[unorthodox-du.livejournal.com]

I did use 'more like' since the point was to try and do more than just 'personalities'. Just because we have them it doesn't mean we know how they'd function as a team. For instance, Misao works as the Victim if she's trying too hard but getting in trouble because she messes up, or because she wants to try hard but hesitates. That wasn't displayed in the personality description, which was 'tries her hardest but is afraid she isn't good enough'.

Of course, that was me working with a few constraints in time and unable to describe enough. The roles idea came from a guide to a novel I like, where that very element was significant, and each role was attached to a specific character. The Victim was technically the strongest character of the group, as he was a magician in a LWQW setup, but between his fears of memory loss, his drug addiction, his lust for the Mother of the team (the partner and love interest of the Leader, who treated him with cold disgust) and his tendency to hide things meant that as mighty as he was, he was lesser and considered such by his peers.

(...also, VERY sorry, I meant Victim later on, but I couldn't double-check.)

[dmxrated.livejournal.com]

Okay. So, do we still need to settle anything else about their roles, or would now be a good time to discuss the plot of the game?