(no subject)

[beccastareyes]

I don't really believe in these -- much is in the eyes of the beholder -- but I thought it would be fun. Characters in the running are Riki, Melody, Alri, Phillee, and Delwyn (all from my webcomic), Eiyu (an alternate version of Riki), and Zack (a roleplaying character).

Character's Name

-Is the character's name your own, your nickname, your screenname, or a slight variant- for example, Kelli instead of Kelly? (10 points)
None of them are. (0 pts)

-Is the character's name a noun or verb not often used by other people in your world for that function? (4 points)
Melody is named for a noun, but it is a somewhat normal name, especially considering most Starsailor nicknames make them sound like hippie rejects. Half points for her. Alri's is a noun, but it follows acceptable Darynese naming practicies.
Melody (2)

-Is the character's name completely inappropriate to the setting, such as a Japanese name in a world with no other trace of Japanese language or culture? (5 points)
All names are setting appropriate.

-Is the character's main name a pseudonym? (2 points)
Melody named herself, so gets half points. Eiyu is a pseudonym (he does use that name) ads is Phillee.
Eiyu(2), Phillee (2), Melody (3)

...that she chose as a reminder of her past? (Add 2)
Well, Eiyu didn't choose it. I think Phillee just liked the sound of hers. Melody was probably half drugged up on painkillers, but it was her attempt to synthesize her past into a name.
Eiyu(2), Phillee (2), Melody (5)

....that is more "profound" or "cool" than her original name? (Add 1).
Phillee: Try pronoucable. ^_^

....that anyone with half a brain could use to connect the character with her original name, such as "Emilia" instead of "Emily?" (Add 4 points).
Nope... well, I think Melody's is close, because it was the synthesis of a musical phrase and the name Melanie. Half points for her.
Eiyu(2), Phillee (2), Melody (7)

-Is the character named after a famous hero of the world or an animal? (2 points)
Nope.

...And she has a mystical connection with that hero or that animal? (Add 4)
Nope.

-Is the character's name a modern one in a medieval setting, such as Tiffany or Brittany? (3 points)
Delwyn's the only one from a lower-tech setting, and his name is not very modern.


Character's Appearance

-Does the character have an eye color that is unusual/rare among her people or species? (1 point)
Melody... okay I'm just gonna mark Melody down now, for being a species of one.
Eiyu(2), Phillee (2), Melody (9)

...that is unique among her people/species? (2 points)
Technically Melody does fall under this!
Eiyu(2), Phillee (2), Melody (9)

...that is nonexistent in nature? (Silver eyes with blue lightning bolts, etc.) (4 points)
Well... actually all of my characters have natural eye colors, even if they aren't always human eye colors (Phillee has yellow-gold eyes, for example).

-Do the character's eyes get described more often than anyone else's? (2 points)
Even if most of these characters weren't pros,e who really notices eyes unless they are trying to pick up dates.

...long after the reader should know what she looks like? (3 points)
I hope not.

...with many adjectives that are close variations of each other? (Blue eyes that are also called azure, cerulean, 'like a summer sky,' cobalt, etc.) (4 points)
Shoot me if I ever do this.

-Does the character have long, silky hair that flows down to the middle of her back or ankles? (2 points)
I don't know the textures of everyone's hair, but Phillee, Melody, Alri, Delwyn, and Eiyu all have hair that goes to at least the back.
Eiyu(4), Phillee (4), Melody (11), Delwyn (2), Alri(2)

...that never gets dirty or tangled in branches? (Add 2 points)
Yes, because most of them (witht he exception of Melody, who seems to like taking her agression out on her hair) wear it up.
Eiyu(6), Phillee (6), Melody (11), Delwyn (4), Alri(4)

...that she can leave free without braiding and never have to wash or tend? (Add 2 points)
Nope. Everyone with long hair spends the time to maintain it, or cuts it short. Actually, now that I think about it, I ought to have Melody cut her hair in the comic. She'd look cute with short hair. Maybe next issue.

...that remains free in the midst of battle? (Add 3 points)
Alri is laughing her head off.

-Does the hair have some unusual marking, like a white streak that does not follow a scar or multiple colors? (3 points)
Melody's is unusual. Alri, Riki and Eiyu's is not, because all Darynese have the bicolor hair... but for giving that as a species trait, I'm giving them all half points.
Eiyu(7), Phillee (6), Melody (13), Delwyn (4), Alri(5), Riki(1)

-Does the character's hair get described more often than any other character's? (2 points)
Not really relevant since it's drawn, but I tend to avoid repeating description.

...at inappropriate times, such as in the midst of battle? (Add 2 points)
Again, shoot me.

-Does the character's appearance have a "reason" other than you just wanting her to look that way? (Blue eyes to prove that she's the reincarnation of a goddess, white streak to show that she's blessed, etc.) (4 points)
Melody looks like she does because she is half-alien. Yes, that's a reason. Eiyu's hair is cut to hide the red bit, because it's sort of a way he shows he feels he's shamed his family name. Half points for him.
Eiyu(9), Phillee (6), Melody (17), Delwyn (4), Alri(5), Riki(1)

-Do other characters rhapsodize on about her beauty? (3 points) (Add 2 points if the character is one who wouldn't normally do this, like a taciturn soldier)
Even Alri isn't the sort to do this towards Riki.

-Does she cause dramatic effects with her beauty, such as people fainting or traffic accidents? (5 points)
::DIES LAUGHING::

-Does she have scars that, no matter how ugly they would probably look in real life, just "add to her attractiveness?" (3 points)
Both Eiyu and Zack have scars. Zack's are pretty ugly and not normally visible. Eiyu's are prominant, but just unnerve the hell out of people, especially his countrymen.

-Does she have an unusual or symbolically significant marking or birthmark? (3 points)
People do that in non-parody fics? Now I'm tempted to give Delwyn a blotchy red birthmark on his rear that looks like nothing in particular.


Background

-Does your character have:

...one dead parent? (1 point)
All of my characters with dead parents lost the entire set.

...two dead parents? (2 points)
Delwyn and Zack.
Eiyu(9), Phillee (6), Melody (17), Delwyn (5), Alri(5), Riki(1), Zack(2)

..one or two murdered parents? (3 points) (Add 2 points if they were killed in front of her)
Delwyn's parents were assasinated.
Eiyu(9), Phillee (6), Melody (17), Delwyn (8), Alri(5), Riki(1), Zack(2)

...dead parents who stayed alive long enough to make dramatic death speeches? (3 points) (Add 5 points if they were wounded in the heart or throat)
Zack's parents died peaceflly of old age related illnesses. Delwyn's parents were quickly killed because Hinoiri assassauns are not stupid.

Is the character an orphan/foundling/of unknown descent? (2 points)
Nope. Everyone knows where the came form.

...who will dramatically rediscover her heritage? (Add 2 points)
No big secrets here. (0 pts)

...who was raised as a peasant but is really a descendant of royalty? (Add 7 points, and I would ask you to please reconsider. Everyone and their mother has done this plotline to death)
Only Delwyn is royalty. He grew up knowing it.

Was her family abusive? (3 points). (Add 2 points for every form of abuse on the list that your character has suffered)
Nope, though Zack was a latchkey kid.

Is the character the object of a prophecy? (10 points, and consider that note about reconsidering repeated here)
Nope... the only prophecy in my comic is actually a misinterpreted instructions that could apply to any three peopel raised in the correct manner.

...whose coming has been delayed by a sadistic god by "destiny" for several hundred years? (Add 5 points)
The 'gods' (Spirits) don't liekthe prophecy because it means they can't control magic any more and magic is their lifeblood (and the only thing that can kill them and their offspring). Not sadistic. Just pragmatic.

Is the character running away from home? (3 points)
Eiyu is running and he doens't have much intention of letting his parents know that he's still alive.
Eiyu(12), Phillee (6), Melody (17), Delwyn (8), Alri(5), Riki(1), Zack(2)

...despite knowing diddlysquat about surviving in the world outside? (Add 3 points)
No. He's not stupid, just angsty.

Are the bad guys/good guys looking for the character? (3 points)
No. Everyone thinks he's dead, except for the people who roped him into helping them.

Skills and Special Abilities

Each skill from the following list is worth 1 point. If your character can perform the skill perfectly the first time, without any training whatsoever, then each is worth 3 points.

Sword-fighting. Alri, Zack and Delwyn
Knife-throwing. None.
Archery. None.
Bare-handed combat. Zack, Melody and Phillee. Also Eiyu
Destructive magic (flinging fireballs and the like).Melody. End-of-comic Alri. Delwyn knows how, but can't use it. Eiyu has destructive psionics.
Healing. Riki, Zack. Tehcnically Eiyu
Singing beautifully. Melody can sing quite well. So can Phillee.
Speaking to animals. And getting an answer? Nope.
Shapeshifting. I left Kimiko off the list.
Speaking to gods. If you count the spirits as gods, Riki and Eiyu. They don't listen.
Speaking more than two languages. Alri, Zack (language whore), Eiyu.
Elemental magic. Melody. End-of-comic Alri. Delwyn.
Witchcraft. None.
Mental powers (telepathy, telekinesis). Phillee, Melody, Eiyu and Riki. Delwyn knows how to cast psionic-like-magic, but can't use it.
Eiyu(18), Phillee (9), Melody (22), Delwyn (12), Alri(4), Riki(4), Zack(4)

Is the character the "chosen" of a goddess/prophecy/elemental force/animal/big blue alien from Planet Yarkzarin? (5 points)
Riki was chosen by the spirits because he is an easily-manipulated optimist with a grudge against Delwyn and the ability to summon. Melody and Eiyuboth are marked as having the potential for Creator-granted powers, but that was dumb luck -- half credit.
Eiyu(20), Phillee (9), Melody (24), Delwyn (12), Alri(4), Riki(9), Zack(4)

Does the character manage to do things that would be impossible for anyone else (such as dress as a man when she has big busty breasts, survive falls from tall buildings with all bones intact, walk on a broken leg?) (4 points)
Don't be daft.

Does the character perform magic that most people in your world cannot perform? (3 points)
Eiyu does. Technically end-of-comic Alri.
Eiyu(23), Phillee (9), Melody (24), Delwyn (12), Alri(7), Riki(9), Zack(4)

Add one point for every condition that applies to your character's magic.
She can do magic normally reserved for:

People of higher levels of training. Riki can because the spirits like him as a pawn.
The opposite gender. No gender bias.
Another species. Alri.
Another type of mage. Delwyn, techincally . But only because he steals it.
People descended from a different bloodline.
The gods.
Eiyu(23), Phillee (9), Melody (24), Delwyn (12), Alri(8), Riki(10), Zack(4)

Is your character THE most powerful/best mage or fighter in the world? (7 points)
::DIES LAUGHING::

Personality and Relationships

These are worth 2 points each.

Does your character have only flaws that:

Are not really flaws, like "too much compassion" or "too much wit?" When I say Riki is naive, I mean it. A least onces he ignore warnings from more saavy characters because he assumes that if a person seems nice, they are.
Do not inconvenience her, like not being able to cook but then never having to cook? Nope.
Are bad habits, such as biting her nails? Nope.
Can be airbrushed away at the end of the story, like timidity or arrogance that miraculously vanish? I hope not. I like to make my characters work for it.

Do your character's flaws and strengths contradict each other? (8 points) (This needs study. How can your character be both charming and socially inept, graceful and clumsy, arrogant and compassionate?)
Nope.

Does your character instantly win the trust and affection of all the good characters? (4 points) </> Nope
...alienate/make spiteful or jealous or fearful the bad ones? (Add 3 points) No.
...make other characters obsess over her even when she's not around? (Add 4 points) I'm a better writer than that.
...completely change another character's personality, such as redeeming a villain, or making the jealous bitch into her worshipper? (Add 5 points) My character stay canon until I tell them not to be. Whihc is never.

Do the character and her love interest fall in love...
...within a few months? (2 points) Melody/Riki is the only thing more than hinted at, and they've known each other for 8 years. And I still can't get them to do anything more than kiss.
...within a week? (4 points)
...within a day? (6 points)
...at first sight? (8 points)

Are they soulmates or reincarnated lovers who have been together before? (10 points)
Don't be daft.

Does the character cause out-of-character reactions in others, such as making the arrogant mage care more about her than his research, or impatient thieves put up with her whining about everything? (6 points)
I hope not. Shoot me if I do.

Does the character never make:

Big mistakes? (2 points) Riki will make a big mistake, Eiyu will, Delwyn does, the others probably will, if they ever have to make a big decision.
Small mistakes? (3 points) Everyone makes mistakes, oh, yes they do!
Factual mistakes? (4 points) I think they do, though usually not in their area of expertise.
Perceptual mistakes? (She knows who's good and who's evil, etc.) (5 points) Zack magically knows who is evil -- he still can't tell who he can trust with it, though. Damn paladin sense.
Are the character's perceptions identical with objective reality? (20 points)This is the biggest sign of a Canon Mary Sue. Nope. None of them have any idea what's going on.
Is there never any true competition for the main character? (5 points) Heavens, no. I intend to put Riki through hell.
Is she the only one with any true personality? (7 points) Nope.

For Male Characters Only Melody, Alri, and Phillee, you can sit this one out.

Do all the women/men love him? (5 points) Riki... no, only three characters of a cast of nearly 20. The others don't even come close.
Is he a maverick who goes against the authorities but never gets in trouble? (5 points) Nope. Most of them are horribly conventional -- Riki thinks jaywalking is daring. Delwyn is the authority, and Eiyu gets raked over the coals when he goes against his therapist's advice.
Does he brood about things? (2 points) Eiyu, Riki and to some extent Zack.
...that are not his fault? (Add 4 points) Eiyu and Riki. Zack's brooding is mostly on his own philosophy which is entirely his fault.
...and the majority of his life is consumed by his angst? (Add 9 points) Eiyu. At least he's in therapy for various mental disorders.

Eiyu(48), Phillee (9), Melody (24), Delwyn (12), Alri(8), Riki(16), Zack(6)

Your Relationship To The Character

Do you fantasize about being the character? (3 points) No -- none of them are me, though their sets of powers would be nice. But all of them have too many problems to go with the issues. Plus I know how I treat characters.
...falling in love with/having sex with her? (4 points) God no. My characters have issues
...falling in love with/having sex with her love interest? (5 points) See above.
Do you act as the character outside the story (in a character journal, in an RPG, dressing up as her, etc.)? (8 points) All of these characters are RP characters to some extent.

Eiyu(56), Phillee (17), Melody (32), Delwyn (20), Alri(16), Riki(24), Zack(14)

Do you think the character is above criticism? (8 points) No one is above criticism!

Does the character bear a marked physical resemblance to you? (4 points)
Nope. Wrong hairstyle, only two even have brown hair, and only one had blue-grey eyes. HEights and weights are wrong, and all my women (with the exception of Phillee) are better stacked than me.

IS the character you? (15 points)
pArt of me, yes. Me? Heavens no.

0-80: Excellent character-building. Go you forth and give the world a good fantasy character. Yayzers!!
81-175: Well, she might have some Sueish traits, but as long as you don't get carried away, you've still done well.
176-250: Sue. Go after the points you've probably earned in the personality and skills sections, and try to make others' reactions to her and her own powers a little bit more realistic.
251-299: Um. You can pull this off if you're a really, really good writer. I would advise against it, though.
300+: Completely and utterly Sueish. She needs to be hacked and burned. Or at least get some of those ridiculous cliches chopped off.

Even Eiyu passed under the radar, and he's pretty bad. Even I think he's a bit overdone. Riki's also pretty bad in my opinion. And Riki's an idiot.