Line #8 Main/CharacterCalculus


1	There are so many different kinds of Characters explored on this wiki that we can lay out several independent dimensions of characterness. It would be too hard to graph three dimensions on this page, so a series of sliding scales will have to do, each representing a different axis of Character Calculus.
2
3	[[AC:The Morality Axis]]
4
5	The morality axis describes how good or evil a character is, regardless of whether they're TheProtagonist or even a main character at all. TropeyTheWonderDog will tell all about how to change place.
6
7	* MessianicArchetype
8	* TheHero
9	* AntiHero
10	* DesignatedVillain[=/=]DesignatedHero[=/=]UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist
11	* AntiVillain
12	* CardCarryingVillain
13	* CompleteMonster
14
15	[[AC:The POV Axis]]
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17	The point of view (POV) axis describes the range of narrative perspectives between a [[TheProtagonist protagonist]] and an [[TheAntagonist antagonist]] or foil. Not to be confused with how much attention a character gets, this is about how closely the character's perspective is aligned with the story's perspective. (This can get weird when, say, the BigBad is also the Narrator, like in WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack.) Movement along this axis is quite rare, nothwistanding moments of CaptainsLog.
18
19	* {{Narrator}}
20	* TheHero
21	* SympatheticPOV / VillainProtagonist
22	* SupportingProtagonist
23	* UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist
24	* {{Mentors}}
25	* LoveInterests
26	* IneffectualSympatheticVillain
27	* DesignatedVillain
28	* BigBad
29
30	[[AC:The Focus Axis]]
31
32	This axis describes how much a character is in the focus of the point of view. So, how much attention it gets. Movement is CharacterFocus, including everything from DemotedToExtra and [[AscendedExtra Ascended from it.]]
33
34	* MainCharacters ? the primary protagonist(s) and antagonist(s)
35	* RegularCharacter
36	* SupportingProtagonist
37	* RecurringCharacter
38	* MauveShirt / QuirkyMinibossSquad
39	* RedShirt / {{Mooks}}
40	* LivingProp
41	* {{Narrator}}
42
43	[[AC:The Power Axis]]
44
45	This axis describes how effectively the character shapes the world around them.Characters can move up this ladder if they TakeALevelInBadass and can slide down via BadassDecay. See also JustForFun/SuperWeight.
46
47	* EldritchAbomination / PhysicalGod
48	* HeroOfAnotherStory
49	* Minor characters in the CompetenceZone and GenderIncompetence
50	* MauveShirt
51	* SupportingProtagonist
52	* RedShirt
53	* ButtMonkey
54
55	Analysis.AntiHero uses the variability which is the point of antihero. An anti-hero must vary away from a hero on one of these scales, but hero has a couple more scales to fail on including Respectability (Type I), Niceness (Type II), but also morality like here. Type IV and V are heavily lacking on morality, which is more defining for heroes than most characters, yet are on high the regular axes like perspective.
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57	Note that since these axes are separate, any combination is technically possible. (Whether it's a good idea is a different question entirely.) For example, the SympatheticPOV could be assigned to an UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist who is a {{jerkass}} [[QuirkyMinibossSquad quirky miniboss]] who serves a BigBad with a short temper. Then, the position of a {{Narrator}} who observes and comments on the real main characters could be added to his other role as a ChewToy who provides comic relief with his AmusingInjuries.
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59	See also CastCalculus for how any given cast interacts with their extended ensemble, if any.

Context Main / CharacterCalculus