Need Help Writing a Magnificent Bastard

well, mostly it is related to trouble I am having with the Fire Emblem RP here, since that RP is my test bed for things I plan on using in my main works.

Yet, no matter how I try, it seems I always, always fail at making a Magnificent Bastard. How do I write one of these without resorting to an offscreen showing of my character, in this case, Kurt, saying "Exactly as planned" and chuckling?

I am just really really stressed here.

Have things go against him and then show he not only survives the events, but even twists them to his advantage. They don't have to be big things all the time too; a few small personal triumphs mixed with bigger events create consistency.

alright, I will do that.

But...how can I do that? Can you give me some examples?

Have a treacherous subordinate try to rebel, have things appear to be succeeding and be shown at the last second to have only furthered the guy's plot.

Or have him fail, but instead of being dejected, start working immediately to turn things to his benefit.

Hide his successes in the guise of failures, only to be revealed later.

In essence, make the audience almost root for him because he is so skilled at turning any situation to his advantage.

We have a See the Index for this character.

edited 13th Nov '10 7:23:51 PM by americanbadass

oh, alright, I believe I can do that. Thanks for the help.

I was looking over it, and I realized I accidentally created one.

Tip: Have him, at least once, make the heroes win to advance his plan.

That is what Kurt is doing now. He essentially knew his lackey would get uppity and think Saiga = Unstoppable. He wants the heroes to thrash Davion, because then he says that his agents had helped the people from the town escape, instant points for him as a hero himself, and as a person people definitely want on their side.

He wants to look that way for phase II.

My Death Is Only The Beginning and Faking the Dead are good too.

Oh yes, since I have compared Kurt and Aizen, what would he be without him faking his demise?

Though all are good, one of Morgulion's points in particular said bears repeating. If you want to make him more human, have him screw up, due to a genuine miscalculation, a hole in his information, or simply being Out-Gambitted. Not as part of a Xanatos Gambit, mind you, but as a genuine mistake.

Then have him dust himself off, perhaps make quip to the tune of "that didn't go as well as I'd hoped," and carry on, without a Villainous Breakdown. Show him minimizing or reversing the damage. That's Xanatos Speed Chess at its finest, a sure sign of a good Magnificent Bastard.

edited 14th Nov '10 3:34:53 PM by KillerClowns

yeah, I am actually sure that is what will occur, and thus, I have prepared six back up plans, and as soon as his current plan bites it, due to how competent Stercus, the GM, and Fauxlosophe are, I plan on having Kurt dust himself off, and go to plan b, and then c, d, e, and f, and so on and so forth.

And then, if plan F fails, go back to plan A. Nobody expects you to go back to plan A. Nobody.

I'm currently writing a series of books set before the rise of King Arthur in Brittany. It's a background story with Arthur, Merlin (or Ambrose as he's called here), Guinevere and Morgana as young adults before the events of the myth. A little like Merlin, only better. The main antagonist is Uther Pendragon whom I think I've made quite the Magnificent Bastard. He forces Arthur into an engagement with Vivienne, daughter of the Frankish King Claudus so that Uther can form an alliance with the Franks to fortify his domain. However he is aware that Galahad also wants Vivienne's hand in marriage. He tells Galahad that he'll allow him to marry Vivienne if he brings him the Holy Grail from the Isle of Avalon. Galahad happily goes on the quest which Uther knows is fraught with danger but with any luck, Galahad will die and thus be removed from the picture. If he succeeds, then Uther will have the Grail in his possession. However Uther also knows that Arthur is in love with Guinevere and the two have made love. While Galahad is away, Uther tells Arthur that unless Arthur marry Vivienne, he will inform Guinevere's father, Lord Gogfran of their fornication and Gogfran will then be obliged to duel Arthur. If Arthur wins and kills Gogfran, Guinivere's heart will be broken, if Gogfran wins, Arthur will be killed. Thus Arthur is forced to marry Vivienne and Uther gets the Grail. Whatever happens, he wins. That's just one example of his cunning throughout the series.

Except Aliroz.