favourite character types

[Joel007]

I like the complex reluctant or accidental hero with dark thoughts

 

[Cayal]

I like open, down to earth, in touch with their emotions type heroes.

 

[Connavar]

I like the roguish loner like waylander or Jon Shannow. normally I don't go in for the evil/bad characters but some are ok like Tyrian Lanister from ASOIAF

Thats my favorit hero. Shannow is my fav hero in all of fantasy. I felt more for him than i have for many heroes combined.

The anti-hero,gray hero, the one that doesnt see himself as a shining knight but does what he does cause there are no one else to do it cause of his abilities.


Thats why Gemmell is a big hero of mine , he is great with main characters like this and down to earth ,real human supporting characters.

 

[Joel007]

Sam Vimes and Granny Weatherwax are still some of my all time favourite characters. Both pretty much the same type.

 

[Lith]

I like the straight up hero. Not the reluctant or accidental type. When they're done well, they're done well and aren't irritating. Badly written moral relativity (or simply amorality) can be just as irritating as an unbelievably good character. And I make exceptions for a number of anti-heroes, though I won't say I like them generally.

As for princesses- er, I mean, female characters- I like ones that are strong but aren't necessarily "female role models". That is, not warrior princesses, but with a modicum of emotional strength that doesn't require her to constantly challenge her societies norms of what women are and aren't.

And villains- I love them intelligent. Like they might have been admirable good guys, if events and decisions had only led them different.

And then there's Sephiroth. He's kind of class all his own.

 

[Horizon]

A hero who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty, or to bend the knee when needed.

 

[Doug Graves]

I like characters with deep dark secrets, like they used to be Hitler or something. Lovely indeterminacy...it's best when things are left to our imagination. This is what makes the "professor's/wizard's explanation" so repugnant. It's a very lazy way to write.

 

[Sassee]

I prefer the characters with 'tude. They're highly entertaining

 

[yellowbird2525]

My favoritest charactor was Drizzit; his story in the Dark Elf trilogy made me laugh & made me cry; excellent story; then I found a new favorite from Elizabeth Hayden's Rhapsody, Prophecy & Trilogy series: a giant with a major flaw! He is totally awesome but grusome as well! Absolutely adore him! his flaw you ask? since when did YOU get to be so noble? he is asked; since i ate the duke of York! read it & tell me what you think of this wonderfully delightful character!

 

[Steve Jordan]

I prefer characters that may be out of their element, but are still willing to step up to the plate and do their best, and even sacrifice, when they have to.

 

[thaddeus6th]

"This is what makes the "professor's/wizard's explanation" so repugnant"

What is this explanation of which you speak?

 

[Simple Simon]

What is this explanation of which you speak?

Think he means when the old wizened professor/wizard tells the hero what happened rather than let it naturally come to the surface or not if the case may be. I could be wrong, it took me a minute to work it out myself

My favorite arch-type is probably the hero with the tormented past like Gemmel's Skilgallon, Donaldson's Thomas Covenant and Roland from King's Dark Tower series.

Though there's so many great characters from other profiles that it hardly seems fair naming the one.

 

[charlie1529]

Nobodys mentioned the funny charasmatic best friend, who if he didnt know the hero would definately not be involved in any of the shinanigans they're in, and whos scared but goes along with it anyway because theyre a great friends and without the best of judgements! Then definatly the loonatic type weither that be the villian or someone who you turn to for knowlegeable answers and they move all creapy-like and flick their wrists so you dont really want to be within 10 metres of them.

 

[HareBrain]

Flaws. Characters with flaws that can threaten to destroy the very things the characters spends the story trying to achieve.

This sounds brilliant, but I'm having trouble thinking of examples. Can anyone think of characters that fit this definition (perhaps with a short description of why it applies)?

 

[thepaladin]

When done right (and it's very difficult to do) I like the hero who is what he seems. The upright hero who is flawed simply by being human and doing his best to overcome that while still doing what he's called on to do. A hero who can deal with the concept of duty and even honor without becoming trite. As I said, difficult to do well.

This hero will often have to deal with duplicity and dishonor in others...without leting it crush him or drag him into the very thing he (or she) is resisting.

This was once a common character (at least to attempt) but one you see seldom now.

 

[daisybee]

I like characters with a massive red self destruct button strapped to their chest.

I like heros with mood swings, and who get stuff wrong, and make bad choices and somehow survive.

I like villians that are charming, that look like your neighbour, that bury the evil in the casual remarks that you recall a few days later..

I like them all damaged, and in need of a holiday. I like them real I guess.

I want to be as annoyed by the hero as I am proud when he/she wins through. Not to the point I want to throw the book though.

I want to grudgingly admire the bad guy, and feel a bit naughty for it.

 

[K. Riehl]

I like characters who use their brain. Who keep their cool when others loose it. Who know chances are not good but go ahead anyway.

Miles Vorkosigan, Cazaril from The Curse of Chalion, Mackenzie Connor from Julie Czerneda's Species Imperative Trilogy.

 

[WJoseph]

My favorite characters are those who have a human and emotional side, but who never give up and exhibit superhuman will and effort. The type of character who will fight as a matter of principle no matter what the odds, or capabilities of the enemy.

 

[Grimward]

I'm with WJ. Sturm of the first Dragonlance trilogy comes to mind, and also fits the bill as an answer to your question HB (at least in terms of how I interpreted Brian's description). Other examples aren't too hard to find, I would think: Ged (Sparrowhawk) from LeGuin's Earthsea trilogy, whose pride and fear almost destroy him at the beginning of the story, then hound him throughout most of the rest of that first book, respectively.

Would just add that, in the interest of a desired level of intelligence, I look for some discretion in my favs, too. They can't all be Elric, charging into a battle against hundreds with a thirsty Stormbringer....

 

[HareBrain]

Oh - reading back, I think I made Brian's point too narrow - I thought he meant that the flaw itself directly contradicted what the character was trying to achieve.