I dunno if I should put this in help section or small talk. Since this question doesn't have anything to do with the sight really...
Soooooooo... I saw people talking about this and I was wondering what the heck is a Mary-sue. I know they're not good characters that they're evill...O.O'
What is a Mary-sue and how do I avoid creating them?
Soooooooo... I saw people talking about this and I was wondering what the heck is a Mary-sue. I know they're not good characters that they're evill...O.O'
What is a Mary-sue and how do I avoid creating them?
To answer the moderating question, I think this post could probably fit into Help, RP Discusssion or Smalltalk. It's one of those things that has wide applicability. 
A Mary Sue is a female character that is so perfect it's gone beyond unrealistic into the realms of annoying. Often it's thought to be an author-insert, as in the person writing the character is living out their own fantasies of being the best, most admired girl in the world. In writing it is annoying because the character is not very relatable or realistic. In RP it can be toxic to the community because someone who is living out a fantasy of being "the best" will usually either aggressively or passive aggressively, IC or OOC, dismiss other people's characters' positive attributes and insist that they are better at everything. Mary Sue characters are almost never evil -- they are usually described (by their players) as the sweetest, prettiest, kindest, gentlest, most admirable, etc. etc. etc.
There can be male Mary Sues, but it is more common for male RPers to play out their fantasies through "twinking," which is essentially the violent version of "being the best," wherein the player insists that their character is the fastest, strongest, most skilled, etc. and will often initiate combat scenes with no provocation or where it doesn't make sense. I've seen examples of both from both genders, but there's definitely a trend.
Many many many seasoned RPers will admit to having one or both of these characters types in their past -- it's often a learning step people have to pass through before they master writing believable but fantastical characters. The phase lasts longer for some than others.
In RP, this type of thing is best avoided by spending at least as much time thinking about other people than about your own characters, and making sure that your friends and RP partners are all getting a chance to be recognized and spotlighted for something.
A Mary Sue is a female character that is so perfect it's gone beyond unrealistic into the realms of annoying. Often it's thought to be an author-insert, as in the person writing the character is living out their own fantasies of being the best, most admired girl in the world. In writing it is annoying because the character is not very relatable or realistic. In RP it can be toxic to the community because someone who is living out a fantasy of being "the best" will usually either aggressively or passive aggressively, IC or OOC, dismiss other people's characters' positive attributes and insist that they are better at everything. Mary Sue characters are almost never evil -- they are usually described (by their players) as the sweetest, prettiest, kindest, gentlest, most admirable, etc. etc. etc.
There can be male Mary Sues, but it is more common for male RPers to play out their fantasies through "twinking," which is essentially the violent version of "being the best," wherein the player insists that their character is the fastest, strongest, most skilled, etc. and will often initiate combat scenes with no provocation or where it doesn't make sense. I've seen examples of both from both genders, but there's definitely a trend.
Many many many seasoned RPers will admit to having one or both of these characters types in their past -- it's often a learning step people have to pass through before they master writing believable but fantastical characters. The phase lasts longer for some than others.
In RP, this type of thing is best avoided by spending at least as much time thinking about other people than about your own characters, and making sure that your friends and RP partners are all getting a chance to be recognized and spotlighted for something.
Kim wrote:
To answer the moderating question, I think this post could probably fit into Help, RP Discusssion or Smalltalk. It's one of those things that has wide applicability.
A Mary Sue is a female character that is so perfect it's gone beyond unrealistic into the realms of annoying. Often it's thought to be an author-insert, as in the person writing the character is living out their own fantasies of being the best, most admired girl in the world. In writing it is annoying because the character is not very relatable or realistic. In RP it can be toxic to the community because someone who is living out a fantasy of being "the best" will usually either aggressively or passive aggressively, IC or OOC, dismiss other people's characters' positive attributes and insist that they are better at everything. Mary Sue characters are almost never evil -- they are usually described (by their players) as the sweetest, prettiest, kindest, gentlest, most admirable, etc. etc. etc.
There can be male Mary Sues, but it is more common for male RPers to play out their fantasies through "twinking," which is essentially the violent version of "being the best," wherein the player insists that their character is the fastest, strongest, most skilled, etc. and will often initiate combat scenes with no provocation or where it doesn't make sense. I've seen examples of both from both genders, but there's definitely a trend.
Many many many seasoned RPers will admit to having one or both of these characters types in their past -- it's often a learning step people have to pass through before they master writing believable but fantastical characters. The phase lasts longer for some than others.
In RP, this type of thing is best avoided by spending at least as much time thinking about other people than about your own characters, and making sure that your friends and RP partners are all getting a chance to be recognized and spotlighted for something.
A Mary Sue is a female character that is so perfect it's gone beyond unrealistic into the realms of annoying. Often it's thought to be an author-insert, as in the person writing the character is living out their own fantasies of being the best, most admired girl in the world. In writing it is annoying because the character is not very relatable or realistic. In RP it can be toxic to the community because someone who is living out a fantasy of being "the best" will usually either aggressively or passive aggressively, IC or OOC, dismiss other people's characters' positive attributes and insist that they are better at everything. Mary Sue characters are almost never evil -- they are usually described (by their players) as the sweetest, prettiest, kindest, gentlest, most admirable, etc. etc. etc.
There can be male Mary Sues, but it is more common for male RPers to play out their fantasies through "twinking," which is essentially the violent version of "being the best," wherein the player insists that their character is the fastest, strongest, most skilled, etc. and will often initiate combat scenes with no provocation or where it doesn't make sense. I've seen examples of both from both genders, but there's definitely a trend.
Many many many seasoned RPers will admit to having one or both of these characters types in their past -- it's often a learning step people have to pass through before they master writing believable but fantastical characters. The phase lasts longer for some than others.
In RP, this type of thing is best avoided by spending at least as much time thinking about other people than about your own characters, and making sure that your friends and RP partners are all getting a chance to be recognized and spotlighted for something.
Thank you for explaining it to me Kim!
Now to review my character for a second...
I guess I should add that another common characteristic aside from "the best" is also "the specialist," seen in both male and female Mary Sues. It often involves being an impossible or multiple hybrid (Vampire/demon/angel/fairy/anything the author thinks is cool shoved into one) with all of the strengths but few or none of the weaknesses from each thing. Other frequent "I'm the most special" bids involve being an orphan who doesn't even know they are really royalty.
Of course, execution is everything. Not everyone who has a weird hybrid character or orphan or royal is doing it poorly, blandly or selfishly. It's just one of those red flags that puts people on their guard, since it often goes hand in hand with this kind of self-centered play. The more you are trying to make sure your friends are having fun and feeling recognized, the less likely you are to be pegged as a Mary Sue-r.
Of course, execution is everything. Not everyone who has a weird hybrid character or orphan or royal is doing it poorly, blandly or selfishly. It's just one of those red flags that puts people on their guard, since it often goes hand in hand with this kind of self-centered play. The more you are trying to make sure your friends are having fun and feeling recognized, the less likely you are to be pegged as a Mary Sue-r.
Kim wrote:
I guess I should add that another common characteristic aside from "the best" is also "the specialist," seen in both male and female Mary Sues. It often involves being an impossible or multiple hybrid (Vampire/demon/angel/fairy/anything the author thinks is cool shoved into one) with all of the strengths but few or none of the weaknesses from each thing. Other frequent "I'm the most special" bids involve being an orphan who doesn't even know they are really royalty.
Of course, execution is everything. Not everyone who has a weird hybrid character or orphan or royal is doing it poorly, blandly or selfishly. It's just one of those red flags that puts people on their guard, since it often goes hand in hand with this kind of self-centered play. The more you are trying to make sure your friends are having fun and feeling recognized, the less likely you are to be pegged as a Mary Sue-r.
Of course, execution is everything. Not everyone who has a weird hybrid character or orphan or royal is doing it poorly, blandly or selfishly. It's just one of those red flags that puts people on their guard, since it often goes hand in hand with this kind of self-centered play. The more you are trying to make sure your friends are having fun and feeling recognized, the less likely you are to be pegged as a Mary Sue-r.
Be considerate towards your rp buddies and make believe able characters! Gotcha!
Thank you for your wisdom Sensei Kim!
Kim wrote:
...RPers will admit to having one or both of these characters types in their past...
I created my first OC twelve years ago. She was a
I am a Mary Sue. It is me
Libertine wrote:
Kim wrote:
...RPers will admit to having one or both of these characters types in their past...
I created my first OC twelve years ago. She was a
I wanna say my very very first character was a mary sue. I made him back when I was like six and he was baszically a twin of kid gohan, only with a lizard tail and turned into a dinosaur. I don't remember much about him 
I also wanna say that it's possible my first sonic oc was a mary sue but not sure He was supposed to be a hybrid of godzilla and shadow the hedgehog. He had a confusing origin story that didn't make much sense(A Nuke or something went off i nthe presence of a chaos emerald that had some of godzilla's blood and shadow's hair on it and boom my oc was born ) fortunately though I think I've moved passed that. If I haven't no body's told me
I also wanna say that it's possible my first sonic oc was a mary sue but not sure He was supposed to be a hybrid of godzilla and shadow the hedgehog. He had a confusing origin story that didn't make much sense(A Nuke or something went off i nthe presence of a chaos emerald that had some of godzilla's blood and shadow's hair on it and boom my oc was born ) fortunately though I think I've moved passed that. If I haven't no body's told me
Most everyone makes characters that are a bit Mary Sue at one point or another. Even my early characters in my teens were VERY Sue. It's normal. The key is to learn and move past that. Now, some characters can sound a bit Sue just by hearing about them, but they are less so when you see them in action, so much of this still applies to how they are played. Sue characters tend to be really heavy on common cliches, have far too many skills, all while being the youngest ever, and the last ever, and so on.
http://www.springhole.net/writing/marysue.htm This test is actually a useful tool for character balance.
My highest rating character, Merin comes in at around a 17-18, maybe a point or two higher. (some of the answers sort of applied, but not quite) But, it also counts against him being as old as he is, he's just had time to develop a lot of skills.
Even if your character is an extreme sue, testing them can help you see the pattern or where you 'go wrong' in your character creation.
http://www.springhole.net/writing/marysue.htm This test is actually a useful tool for character balance.
My highest rating character, Merin comes in at around a 17-18, maybe a point or two higher. (some of the answers sort of applied, but not quite) But, it also counts against him being as old as he is, he's just had time to develop a lot of skills.
Even if your character is an extreme sue, testing them can help you see the pattern or where you 'go wrong' in your character creation.
My very first character was a Charr from Guild Wars by the name of Pyre Flameclaw. He led a gigantic army of rebels and everywhere he went there were assassins and ninjas ready to start fights with him in the middle of the city, and you know he'd always win those battles despite having what seems like an endless amount on his tail.
Those were some... interesting days. But I say Mary Sue characters help you on your way to create better more interesting characters due to the fact you'll face such rejection with them. I stand by the statement, even despite the fact I got banned out of more dreams in Furcadia than I dare count.
Those were some... interesting days. But I say Mary Sue characters help you on your way to create better more interesting characters due to the fact you'll face such rejection with them. I stand by the statement, even despite the fact I got banned out of more dreams in Furcadia than I dare count.
Wow. I'd have to say my first ever character was named "Masha Vixen"... I know seriously I had terrible naming skills and still do lmao. She was a Neko (and looked american mind you) and grew up in a dojo like setting. JAPANESEU DESU KAWAII. She was actually my 'strong' character I liked using her to beat the hell out of people but the whole twinking thing got beat out of me pretty fast. She eventually became a Vampire... that had control over ALL elements... And kept getting in all the dudes pants. It was pretty bad. I only remember this because I think I ended up stopping play her at 12 which wasn't all that long ago now that I think about it .___.
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