How to have LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters in a setting with NoAntagonist? (More details on setting in text)

I've been working on a setting for a fictional world (similar to our earth, but with some differences - but that's at minor detail levels), and I was thinking of having a large character base.

At best, there's 30 characters in total.

The setting is presented in Script Fic format as if it were a TV show, rather than conventional Fan Fic methods of paragraph, he said/she said etc. (it's a Self-Imposed Challenge).

The setting has No Antagonist, since it's more Slice of Life based, the only real issue is the characters' own personal problems, not a villain or antagonist (unless you count the weather as an antagonist, but it's not a human force) - the setting is modern-day England in 2004 so no Fantasy Kitchen Sink etc. However, it goes between 2004 and 2017, set in both years, but jumping back and forth.

Morality is very Greyand Gray Morality (well, Grey vs Gray and Black) in the setting, and not so much about a conflict between good and evil. Sure, there's The Fixer quite a bit in my setting, but The Fixer is more of an Anti-Villain than a Big Bad or Complete Monster, and a Punch-Clock Villain if anything, they only fix to pay the bills.

There's no Cast Full of Gay (indeed, LGBT does get mentioned, but characters who are LGBT are thin on the ground, apart from an Author Avatar of myself who's genderfluid - based on myself who is AMAB (assigned male at birth), but the genderfluidity is not a Story Arc, and the Author Avatar exists only really for cameo purposes).

I don't want flat characters too often, but when is a One-Shot Character / Spear Carrier useful to the story?

This setting runs on Webcomic Time - if that's relevant here.

How would it work having Loads And Loads Of Characters, in a setting that's more Slice of Life with No Antagonist?

edited 5th Aug '17 5:26:09 AM by Merseyuser1

You already defined it, looks pretty good.

It's how to develop the characters and avoid Continuity Snarl that's the problem, and Author Avatar too.

I've gone for a Darker and Edgier setting a la Law And Order Special Victims Unit, even though it's Slice of Life (but it's not quite Lighter and Softer).