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Being assigned roles in a Five Man Band: A story idea

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Tidal_Wave_17 Since: Sep, 2009
#1: Jan 2nd 2012 at 12:13:22 PM

I had this idea where there is a city with groups of defenders guarding it. They apply and train for a position on the team, and a computer generates teams matched together based on personality.

My idea is that almost everyone in the Five-Man Band feels as if they were assigned the wrong role:

  • The Hero originally wanted the part of The Chick and believes he isn't leader material.
  • The Lancer wanted to be the leader and is resentful of the current leader, the latter who doesn't even want the position.
  • The Big Guy wanted to be second in command, and feels that because of his assigned role, he's nothing but the group's Dumb Muscle.
  • The Chick actually wanted to be the main fighter (The Big Guy) and has no real idea of how to keep everyone at peace.
  • The Smart Guy is totally okay with his/her new role, but begins to feel as if the others only need him for his brains and nothing else.

Over time, each of them grows into their group roles, as a sort of Deconstruction then Reconstruction of the whole Five-Man Band trope.

edited 2nd Jan '12 12:14:56 PM by Tidal_Wave_17

YuriStrike 熊熊熊熊! from I'm telling nobody! Since: Nov, 2011
熊熊熊熊!
#2: Jan 2nd 2012 at 3:04:22 PM

The big guy is the chick! This will be very interesting.

╮(╯_╰)╭
Flyboy Decemberist from the United States Since: Dec, 2011
Decemberist
#3: Jan 2nd 2012 at 3:11:12 PM

Er... I immediately couldn't take it seriously because the premise is absurd.

Any military or armed force worth a damn isn't going to match its soldiers by their personality, it's going to match them by their specific talents as they relate to combat (i.e. they would end up in their proper roles, theoretically), and the simple act of being together will deal with unit integration.

"Shit, our candidate is a psychopath. Better replace him with Newt Gingrich."
Tidal_Wave_17 Since: Sep, 2009
#4: Jan 2nd 2012 at 3:23:58 PM

@Flyboy: Can you think of a way where my idea might work without it being military or the like?

Draighean from Ireland Since: Dec, 2011
#5: Jan 2nd 2012 at 3:32:06 PM

I suppose there's always the Ragtag Bunch of Misfits trope floating around, where people get thrown together seemingly at random. You could start with something less military and more police-based, where everyone was needed for their specific skills for some special reason pertaining to the case.

Morituri te Salutamus
nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#6: Jan 2nd 2012 at 3:35:49 PM

I think this would only work if done in a meta-fictional sense, with the characters being selected literally to make up a Five-Man Band.

Tidal_Wave_17 Since: Sep, 2009
#7: Jan 2nd 2012 at 3:39:21 PM

@nrjx: Oooh, I like that!

edited 2nd Jan '12 3:40:57 PM by Tidal_Wave_17

KillerClowns Since: Jan, 2001
#8: Jan 2nd 2012 at 3:55:23 PM

Expaning on Nrjxll's suggestion: maybe it's not a "proper" military but an Eccentric Millionaire or some such, with a serious case of Wrong Genre Savvy and way more money/power than common sense. Then you wouldn't have to worry about a superior officer canning the whole pitiful display: said millionaire would be answerable to nobody.

edited 2nd Jan '12 3:55:51 PM by KillerClowns

Draighean from Ireland Since: Dec, 2011
#9: Jan 2nd 2012 at 4:05:53 PM

I'm picturing the weirdest group of bodyguards right now...

Morituri te Salutamus
Flyboy Decemberist from the United States Since: Dec, 2011
Decemberist
#10: Jan 2nd 2012 at 4:14:44 PM

Yeah, the eccentric dude with lots of money could just be fucking with people for shits and giggles. But really, this would never work as any serious police force, military, or other armed force meant to be a credible organization...

"Shit, our candidate is a psychopath. Better replace him with Newt Gingrich."
Tidal_Wave_17 Since: Sep, 2009
Flyboy Decemberist from the United States Since: Dec, 2011
Decemberist
#12: Jan 2nd 2012 at 5:09:13 PM

What do you mean?

"Shit, our candidate is a psychopath. Better replace him with Newt Gingrich."
HeavyDDR Who's Vergo-san. from Central Texas Since: Jul, 2009
Who's Vergo-san.
#13: Jan 2nd 2012 at 5:12:56 PM

Admittedly, I did see this as "cartoony" in premise. Something I'd imagine a short, Saturday night series would cover. Not too serious, but serious enough to keep your attention, like Teen Titans or something.

What conflict do you have planned so far? The conflict would need to amplify their misplaced positions, while also being a credible threat in itself.

Maybe one of the characters did get the position they wanted, but fail at it? I'm thinking The Hero would fit this pretty well, but it'd be generic. And also, you should avoid actually calling the positions Five-Man Band names. Instead, use things like "Captain" "Vice-Captain," etc.

I'm pretty sure the concept of Law having limits was a translation error. -Wanderlustwarrior
Tidal_Wave_17 Since: Sep, 2009
#14: Jan 2nd 2012 at 5:34:22 PM

Well, I haven't thought much it out besides the person who becomes The Chick (I'll work on official titles later)

After spending the whole time trying to adjust to her/his new position as the one who gives out advice, along with that advice being generally ignored and being told she/he serves no real purpose to the team, they stop giving advice to the others, saying "I will keep working on this team to protect others, but from now on, if you have a problem, you are on your own".

The team ends up starting to collapse with out her/his guidance. tongue

MidnightRambler Ich bin nicht schuld! 's ist Gottes Plan! from Germania Inferior Since: Mar, 2011
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