Sonic the Hedgehog Article: Where people go wrong making fan characters

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Where people go wrong making fan characters

posted by Twinkiemunchr

We've all tried to make an OC (Or I assume we have) Anywho, there are many people who just can't do it. First thing to do is NOT the appearance. I know, it's tempting as all get-out, but trust me. It's better to get the character's personality and such down first.
First, you should have a general idea of a character's past. If you get an idea like 'flying lizard monkey' (Not advised) Then jot it down. I hate when you have a great idea, and end up losing it while thinking too hard on how the character should say stuff or whatnot. If you jot down one sentence about them, then you can refer to that as you keep going.
Also... I know it's hard not to take lots of inspiration from the real sonic characters, but try to avoid making another off-colored Sonic with a bandana or something. Those make me (And others) puke blood. Instead, take inspiration from the personality. Is your character egotistical? Give him badass studded boots that can be used to impale his opponents. Is he nice? Then those boots should be avoided at all costs.
Also, and here's the most important part for me... NEVER make an OC too powerful. Seriously, reading about Chuck Norris the hedgehog would be like a straightening iron to the eyeballs, so just don't. Seriously, you don't need a bazooka to gain entrance to a door. You can just walk.
Give your characters some personality flaws too. Otherwise you end up with a Mary-su or Gary-stu. And nobody wants that. My character, Cane, for instance used to be a part of an army in the Northern Tundra that waged unjust war against the walrus populations (Chortle) When he left the Sosondowa (Inuit for wolf, I believe) clan, he escaped to New Mobotropolis, where he spent years trying to supress his temper.
See? Not only can a character flaw be interesting, but it can end up giving the character a drive, or reason to actually do what they do.
So on that note, make sure you give your character a drive. By that I mean, what are they after?
Shadow wants info on his past
Amy wants Sonic
Sonic wants both justice, and to escape Amy.
Vector wants to pay rent.
Silver wants to save his time? See? Without those things to guide them, how would their writers decide which decisions they'd make?
So in recap; Appearance only after personality. No Norris-spawns, and tons of personality issues.

So seeya later, hope I helped

DivaChipette1, deathding and 7 others like this

Evolia-Wulf "Hmmm....Good enough for me. Heh, I chuckled at vector paying the rent. It's such a simple idea, really, that can make a character do either soem badass shit or some really retarded stuff."

NyoHetaliaCreed I'm not sure if I missed it. But you can also note that you shouldn't try and make an Anti-Sue either (which is basically your typical Mary-Sue but with everything put in reverse) because they are just as annoying. Because at least with Mary-Sues they've got a reason to be very well liked unlike the Anti-Sues. And before you ask, I prefer calling non-Mary-Sue FCs 'balanced FCs' rather than Anti-Sues. Because in my head Anti-Sue is a character which is basically taking your typical Mary-Sue traits and reversing them. Anyways onto the article. But yeah I agree with the character drive part. Your FCs drive to do things doesn't have to be something HUGE. It can just be something as simple as, with Amy and Vector, wanting Sonic and paying rent respectively.

Darkhorn You know, there is a club better for posting this.

BeastBoyCahill XD Chuck Norris the hedgehog!! Anyway, this is a great guide. You should make a really good writer.

JoeyFanGirl All good points. My OC/FC (she's for dbz) was pretty easy to make, because her personality is pretty much like mine, or at least what I want mine to be like. But she does have some issues, like she has a really short temper. And she has a drive, in the beginning of the story, she's trying to find her brother. Later on, she want's to become a part of the group, be accepted, and help save the world. And when it comes to looks, she may look a little like some of the characters, but she's a saiyan, they all have spiky black hair, black eyes, and a tail. It's part of the package. And I've been blabbering on for a while now, so I'll just shut up. This is a sonic club after all, and I'm talking about dbz. XD

Twinkiemunchr Sounds like a cool character :) Cool to see the comments

AlissaHedgehog7 You're OC sounds pretty cool.That's good advice.You're a great writer, and I hink you would be more than capable to write a short report about your own opinions on the Tail's Doll Curse.You don't have to if you don't want to.

SonicStory56 No, Vector wants to find the computer room!

CosmoLuvsTails Does Vector want to pay rent?

TraitorHedgehog If only I knew how to make OCs on the computer... I would have a lot... :)

NoctusLynx Very well done. PREACH IT! I have read another article that was very much similar to this one, point out very crucial points. However, I also feel that this could have also done well in the Sonic Fan Characters club, where you would have a broader audience. But either way, you speak truth.