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HaseoNatsume Since: Jan, 2001
#1: Nov 2nd 2011 at 10:26:12 PM

So, how many here have actually made one? Intentionally?

I've decided to get off the stick and finally do so.

Haven't figured out a name yet, but my idea is that she has amnesia and she doesn't realize her real nature, which probably has something to do with angels, either working for them or actually being one.

Meanwhile she's quiet and thoughtful but thinks nothing of acting inappropriately, such as bringing a chainsword or bolter to a fistfight.

Will probably look something like this.

edited 2nd Nov '11 10:28:09 PM by HaseoNatsume

Merlo *hrrrrrk* from the masochist chamber Since: Oct, 2009
*hrrrrrk*
#2: Nov 2nd 2011 at 10:27:34 PM

I've decided to get off the stick and finally do so.

But why? Why would you do this intentionally?

Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am...
HaseoNatsume Since: Jan, 2001
#3: Nov 2nd 2011 at 10:28:40 PM

Because those who speak of her Misaimed Fandom weren't kidding.

Merlo *hrrrrrk* from the masochist chamber Since: Oct, 2009
*hrrrrrk*
#4: Nov 2nd 2011 at 10:37:01 PM

I'm afraid I don't follow. You're trying to make a point with your expy, or you just like Rei a lot...?

To connect this back to the original topic, no I have never made a Rei expy and I don't ever plan to (intentionally). I don't really see the use of it other than, well, cashing in on the aforementioned Misaimed Fandom. Or Author Appeal.

Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am...
HaseoNatsume Since: Jan, 2001
#5: Nov 2nd 2011 at 10:38:16 PM

Yeah, it's because I like her. And given how popular she is, I figure that others will have done so with their own games or stories, so I made this topic.

NoirGrimoir Rabid Fujoshi from San Diego, CA Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
Rabid Fujoshi
#6: Nov 2nd 2011 at 10:54:08 PM

Well, I don't see anything wrong with making a character with inspiration from another character. I don't think it's something a person should feel they have to do, though, if they like a character. And expies especially if you want anyone to like them, have to have good characterization and such. Don't just think "how can I make this character like "Rei", think "What about Rei made her such a compelling character to me, and how can I duplicate this in a character of my own?"

So far from your description, she doesn't actually sound like a true Rei Ayanami Expy, though. You may want to consult the check list.

I've never made a Rei Expy. Personally though I like her just fine, I don't really get what the big fuss is about her. But then, I'm a chick.

edited 2nd Nov '11 10:55:13 PM by NoirGrimoir

SPATULA, Supporters of Page Altering To Urgently Lead to Amelioration (supports not going through TRS for tweaks and minor improvements.)
nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#7: Nov 2nd 2011 at 11:00:22 PM

This is, without question, among the most bizarre subjects for a thread that I have ever read (and no, I am not limiting that to the TV Tropes forum, either).

I am not trying to be rude, but I just can't see why you would bother to make an entire thread about this.

edited 2nd Nov '11 11:00:34 PM by nrjxll

HaseoNatsume Since: Jan, 2001
#8: Nov 2nd 2011 at 11:20:23 PM

Noir: Yes, good point about good characterization and whatnot. Honestly that's all my character building type stuff really is, practice at making good characters. Consider this just one of many.

And I am not sure how to explain the appeal of Rei without coming off as a gender essentialist, and especially now that I happened upon an ending scene from Evangelion and see why it (and her) was intended to be creepy.

NickTheSwing Since: Aug, 2009
#9: Nov 3rd 2011 at 12:34:33 AM

One of Matthew's love interests is a Rei Ayanami Expy.

I have to cover all my bases...

Sign on for this After The End Fantasy RP.
Eventua from The Thirty One Worlds Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
#10: Nov 3rd 2011 at 1:34:27 AM

I suppose Timora from the Four Lords is kind of 'Rei-ish', though I didn't make her as an intentional 'Expy'.

Let's see...

A) (At least near the beginning) Rather emotionless and passive.

B) Has a lot of potential ability but lacks experience or a strong motivation for success.

C) Is crucial to the villain's plan.

...

Eh, actually, I just defined a frankly ridiculous number of characters. o_O"

MajorTom Eye'm the cutest! Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Eye'm the cutest!
#11: Nov 3rd 2011 at 6:06:01 PM

I don't do Rei Ayanami Expy just like I don't dig on Char Clone. (I have characters who more resemble the latter but they don't qualify as a Char Clone.)

"Allah may guide their bullets, but Jesus helps those who aim down the sights."
nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#12: Nov 3rd 2011 at 6:30:57 PM

I still don't understand why someone would do this deliberately.

risingdreams Insert witty title here from Peixeiroland Since: Feb, 2011
Insert witty title here
#13: Nov 3rd 2011 at 8:23:51 PM

Come to think about it, Aven had some elements as a child. Except he's a crossdressing boy.

Carbonek13 Student Eternal from the Deep South Since: Jan, 2001
Student Eternal
#14: Nov 4th 2011 at 11:41:59 PM

Depends on your definition. Does Terrifying!Rei count? If so, then yes, I have a character consciously influenced by her.

Lotus-Sutra Hermann. White-Haired Pretty Girl. Genki Girl. Master of the Air Vent Escape and Stealth Hi/Bye. Artificial Human.

As for traditional NGE Rei, I'm sure I have one in one story or another, but none are springing to mind at the moment. I guess Kafka Dawson, Lotus-Sutra's Foil from the same story, fits some of the Emotionless Girl aspects, but that stems more from her status as a Broken Bird / Ill Girl. She gets over it, and doesn't look a thing like Rei.

edited 5th Nov '11 9:45:12 AM by Carbonek13

Machines were mice and men were lions once upon a time, but now that it's the opposite it's twice upon a time. - Moondog
feotakahari Fuzzy Orange Doomsayer from Looking out at the city Since: Sep, 2009
Fuzzy Orange Doomsayer
#15: Nov 5th 2011 at 6:18:04 PM

I like Emotionless Girls (and boys), but I've never seen NGE, so it's not quite the same thing. (For instance, I've never written a character with blue hair.)

That's Feo . . . He's a disgusting, mysoginistic, paedophilic asshat who moonlights as a shitty writer—Something Awful
TairaMai rollin' on dubs from El Paso Tx Since: Jul, 2011 Relationship Status: Mu
rollin' on dubs
#16: Nov 8th 2011 at 10:59:33 PM

Well, in the IRC RP I'm a part of, one of the characters I have is a Rei expy.

She's an Artificial Human, Cute Emotionless Girl and has/had no control over her fate.

She, in a way, a replacement goldfish for her creator.

Yes she was one of my first characters so I over did the backstory (so sue me!).

It's the lack on control over her fate that makes a Rei!Expy more like NGE!Rei. Well I believe so anyway.

I took her past emotionless girl as the RP progressed. She fell in love and (around her girlfriend) actually acts more human. She's not trying to Become a Real Boy so much as handle emotions.

I was originally thinking of Seven of Nine (and Data) with some Wolverine.

She's emotionless (like Seven and Rei) because she had a rough "life" and lost her parents. And since she's artificial, she would have an emotionless side.

She has an animal side (like Wolverine) because she was supposed to be a living weapon (again, like Wolvie).

She wants to be "real" and admires her fellow students (kinda like Data) because she wants to be like them.

She has/had no control over her fate (like Rei) because she was a clone and had to hide her nature.

She found out that some of the fond memories of her father she had belonged to the girl she was based on. At one point she thought those memories might not have been real. (Like Rei and Wolverine).

Ye gods I'm rambling. But I hope I show why you'd want to have a Rei Expy. I'm trying to grow this character beyond being just a Rei clone but actually develop her.

Forgot this when I first posted this: this character has black hair and brown eyes. She's a shapeshifter but in her default form she chooses to have "natural" hair and eye color. She wants to blend in with all the other kids(she has eyeflash like a predator so there's that non-human trait).

It's a who, what and why you'd have an emotionless girl as a character. I'm sure you could make a Rei Expy with out the fantastic elements.

edited 9th Nov '11 10:43:45 AM by TairaMai

All night at the computer, cuz people ain't that great. I keep to myself so I won't be a case on The First 48
nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#17: Nov 8th 2011 at 11:06:31 PM

I'm still baffled by why you would ever want to deliberately base one of your characters off of someone else's. You could easily write a character with some of these traits without deliberately trying to make her an expy.

edited 8th Nov '11 11:07:12 PM by nrjxll

TairaMai rollin' on dubs from El Paso Tx Since: Jul, 2011 Relationship Status: Mu
rollin' on dubs
#18: Nov 9th 2011 at 4:16:37 AM

For me, it was a way of handling the character. The rest of my characters got their own treatment. It was the character /type/ that I found interesting.

I agree with you. A character who's emotionless (because of a traumatic past) and has events beyond her (or his!) control can make for a good character. And said character does not have to be a Rei expy.

edited 9th Nov '11 10:42:31 AM by TairaMai

All night at the computer, cuz people ain't that great. I keep to myself so I won't be a case on The First 48
Parable State of Mind from California (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Holding out for a hero
State of Mind
#19: Nov 9th 2011 at 10:47:41 AM

On the other hand, homages are fun. One guy made his main character an expy of J.R.R Tolkein.

"What a century this week has been." - Seung Min Kim
NoirGrimoir Rabid Fujoshi from San Diego, CA Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
Rabid Fujoshi
#20: Nov 10th 2011 at 1:40:15 AM

[up]I actually think homages are pretty cool.

SPATULA, Supporters of Page Altering To Urgently Lead to Amelioration (supports not going through TRS for tweaks and minor improvements.)
nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#21: Nov 10th 2011 at 12:29:32 PM

As do I, but I would say that there is a difference between a homage and outright basing a character off another.

HaseoNatsume Since: Jan, 2001
#22: Nov 10th 2011 at 2:25:50 PM

Just because you don't understand something doesn't mean it's wrong.

nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#23: Nov 10th 2011 at 3:38:01 PM

No. But I don't think deliberately basing one of your characters off of someone else's - outside of some kind of meta purpose - is good writing, and I'm standing by that. I don't mean that it's plagiarism, but I do feel that it is, bluntly, lazy.

NoirGrimoir Rabid Fujoshi from San Diego, CA Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
Rabid Fujoshi
#24: Nov 10th 2011 at 7:28:51 PM

It depends how far you go. If it's like a Captain Ersatz, then no good. If you just base the personality or something for instance, I see nothing wrong with that. Everything is based off something else, not always deliberately or knowingly, often it's subconsciously.

edited 10th Nov '11 7:29:20 PM by NoirGrimoir

SPATULA, Supporters of Page Altering To Urgently Lead to Amelioration (supports not going through TRS for tweaks and minor improvements.)
TairaMai rollin' on dubs from El Paso Tx Since: Jul, 2011 Relationship Status: Mu
rollin' on dubs
#25: Nov 10th 2011 at 11:46:17 PM

[up] Ditto what Noir Grimoir said. If you put in a carbon copy Expy (in this case, some girl who matches Rei Ayanami point for point), there had better be a good reason.

Superman expies get their own trope because superhero media (books, movies, tabletop games, videogames) have a place for the character. Even then some subvert or deliberately invoke that trope (lampshading goes with out saying).

"outside of some kind of meta purpose ", nrjxll, I agree 100%. The author can use elements, invoke or subvert the expy but has to admit as some point it's an expy.

It helps if you move beyond the expy. That's what I did with mine. Her "Rei"-like qualities were a stepping stone.

Many authors base their characters on historical figures. Are they lazy? (if it's an author tract sings may point to yes).

Copy Cat Sue is the horrible, horrible result of a lazy author, but being an expy is the least of it's problems.

edited 9th Aug '14 8:28:29 AM by TairaMai

All night at the computer, cuz people ain't that great. I keep to myself so I won't be a case on The First 48

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