What type of main character do you prefer?

[Hedrum]

NOTE: If you chose "other" then I'd like to know what the "other" is.

[Deleted]

I voted other.

The Great Gatsby and The Hobbit I know are good examples for this (and my game), but I'd say it's best if the main character is pretty smart and mature so the story can be more serious and meaningful, but plain in character so that we see things non-biasedly, kind of more like an observer. The Great Gatsby's a really good example of this, where the main character is a very normal guy who's an outsider to the setting, and doesn't get emotional and involved in the story but rather sees story happen around him with the other more biased (from emotions) characters, and changes because of it. This is NOT however to say that a silent protagonist is acceptable. Basically, I'd say the main character should be made so that most everyone can relate to him.

Edit: To give a video game comparison, I'd say Ramza (Final Fantasy Tactics), Denim (Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together), and Sanzo (Saiyuki) are some of my favorite leads, and the closest to mine (from video games).

I'd like to add, think of Tidus, Squall, and Zidane and why you (probably) didn't like them.

Edit: And, good topic, Maxeross.

[Dungeon Warden]

I like the heroic type of character who is just trying to make the world a better place for everyone. This is not to say the character can't have a dark side, only that the good side wins out in the end.

The character should fit with the story. A rebel can also be a hero if he's rebeling against opression or greed. He may be fighting for personal reasons, but everyone benefits in the end.

Overall, it is good character development the matters more than the moral character of the main character at the begining of the story.

[The Final Rune]

Other -> The Anti-Hero (GTA characters/Kain and Raziel/etc.)

I.E. -> I'm bad, but my bad ass is gonna kick your bad ass cuz you dress funny punk!

Or -> I'm saving the world, but I'm gonna be an evil bastard and use any means neccessary to win, I don't pull no punches sucka!

[Doan the Nado]

I voted "other" simply because my favorite main character is the one who doesn't fit into a simple "type". Like DW said, different characters work well for different games, but if you can rise above the stereotypical types that you mentioned and still give your character a good reason for doing what he does, I think you have a solid game on your hands.

[Hedrum]

Okay, maybe I should put it this way:

The Rebel: The character who rebels against something; the one who just wants to have nothing to do with the "other side". The one I think will probably have more hatred than the "heroic type". The character that is not neccessarily "good".

The hero: The noble character. The one who tries to settle fights with words rather than fists or swords. The one who wants to bring peace to both sides. The one who is more gentle than the "rebel". The one who thinks positive. The one who doesn't really hate the "other side" but does feel that what the "other side" is doing is wrong and wants to stop what they are doing. Practically what I'm saying is that the "hero" is the peace maker.

Did that make any sense?

EDIT: Yeah, I kinda do agree with most of you.

[Tinbok]

Personally, I like the serious type of main character. I don't like main characters that are highly uneducated either. This is just me though. Any other characters I don't mind though. Because of course, every RPG has the corny, not funny at all kind of character (most, some are exceptions). But I'm getting a little off-topic here so... I like the serious, well-educated characters in games I play. Not too too heroic like "Evil villain beware! I shall kill you with my (whatever)!" I do like some rebellious characters but not too many. I agree with The Final Rune about Kain and Raziel, the Legacy of Kain series were awesome. ;D

I don't think I can post anything without a smiley... namely: ;D

[Hedrum]

Hmmm...

Maybe I shouldn't of had "other" as an option because... yeah, I don't think anybody here wants a stereo-type character (neither do I) so that's why they voted for "other". Well, I guess it just depends on the story. I mean, rebels can make stupid characters but they can also make good characters (same with heroic). Whatever, it just depends. What I'm trying to get at is what/how do you want to feel. Do you want to feel strong hatred? Do you want to feel positive and noble? Or do you want to feel something else?

[Tinbok]

Yeah, that's true. I guess I like serious because my game revolves around a real serious main character. Maybe my opinion would be different otherwise, but for the moment, I stand by it. My character is not really "evil" but he's not a giddy person. His childhood experience changed who he was so, yeah.

[Neo Samurai]

I really don't care. As long as a character is decent enough for me to remember (and not just another stereotype), I'll be okay with him/her.

I guess I could say (not that I'm going to have this type of character as my main character in my game), the cowardly type would be interesting. Since most characters in RPG's tend to be brave and bold characters, cowardly ones would make for original characters.

[Doan the Nado]

My main thing is being able to empathize with the character. As long as there is a good, logical reason for everything the character does, I'll like him. I just don't like the "rebellious-because-I-want-to-be" guy, but I also don't like the "I'm-unrealistically-noble-and-peaceful" guy either. I like characters with faults and motives and who act in a way that I likely would in the same situation.

[Draygone]

Hmm, I kinda like the uneducated characters. The ones who don't know much about the world outside their hometown, save for any stories they might've heard. That way, the character's learning of the world in turn helps myself understand the world.

Of course, even with a character that knows the world around him, I tend to be very specific about the world just for the player, even though what's said may be totally obvious to the characters explaining it.

[vespuleth]

the 'believer' or 'the crusader'

the hero who truley believes in his cause, and the idealology that surrounds it. again, ramza and denim. these are those that fight for family. that fight for equality. the do not necessarily fight for everyone everywhere. they fight for themself, but not just that. for their passions. they fight for what they feel strongly for. they do not fight for simple idealologies, but specific compromises of it. they do not fight for 'world wide peace'. they fight for the end in sight, or the present end. (i hope that all makes sense).

other then that, i like the learner, or the comprehensive hero. the hero, whose travels and adventures, his quest teach him something. who grows through out the game, maybe to the point of turning against what he previously embraced, or abandoning it all together. but maybe thats more abouts tory the character.

anyways, im sure you get the point.

[Dark Knight Of Lodis]

I believe that depending on the game and it's setting, any type of character can make a good character as long as they cannot be "summed up" into a sentence or two.

I agree with the fact that at most times the player should be able to relate to the character, but sometimes it's even more fun to see how a different mind works in a situation. Best of all, is when the character makes his own decisions (Tactics Ogre) or at least gets to make a few minor decisions (Final Fantasy Tactics).

[The Smurf]

"I really don't care. As long as a character is decent enough for me to remember (and not just another stereotype), I'll be okay with him/her."

i have to agree. i'm more focused on the storyline than the characters.


-the smurf

[Neo Samurai]

Actually, what I meant was "Any character would be cool unless he's an annoying stereotype." What I mean is I don't like it when the character acts is in a fashion that is completely predictable due to their character type (like, when the hero never makes a mistake in anything he does or the annoying demon lord who has no motives behind what he is doing besides "world domination").

I think that the main storyline and the supporting cast should be well-balanced, because they both build up on each other to create great games.