No problem at all with tortured MCs. God knows how obsessed I am with the Ronin from SoH, Sidestep, the Marshal from ItFO, the Corruptant from the Corruptant, Virtue's End, Greenwarden, and many more. The problem is when those tortured characters aren't treated with the gravity they deserve. How are we supposed to sympathize and take these tortured MC seriously if the author treats their suffering as if it was just a cute quirky little trait to fawn over and generate cheap angst?
An assumption, but I think a lot of authors may have simply never experienced the kind of heavy trauma they're writing of, God bless them (it's a good thing). Therefore, they never witnessed how destructively it can manifest or what the consequences can be.
There's also that... wish, the fantasy of being loved and helped no matter how bad you get, I think.
An assumption, but I think a lot of authors may have simply never experienced the kind of heavy trauma they're writing of, God bless them (it's a good thing). Therefore, they never witnessed how destructively it can manifest or what the consequences can be.
There's also that... wish, the fantasy of being loved and helped no matter how bad you get, I think.
Even if they haven't, there are plenty of resources that could help them better understand (the wonders of internet). But guess we shouldn't expect so much as a simple research (and adequate understanding) from IF authors... sigh. Or maybe we're just too ingrained in reality. Remember when Debt of Deception author wrote and (at first) insists that making the struggling MC say naive stuff like "That's how they do it on TVs" and such makes sense? So glad someone knock some sense into the author and the IF is now far better off for it.
Even if they haven't, there are plenty of resources that could help them better understand (the wonders of internet). But guess we shouldn't expect so much as a simple research (and adequate understanding) from IF authors... sigh. Or maybe we're just too ingrained in reality. Remember when Debt of Deception author wrote and (at first) insists that making the struggling MC say naive stuff like "That's how they do it on TVs" and such makes sense? So glad someone knock some sense into the author and the IF is now far better off for it.
I get what the author was saying though, not every person who has struggled or witnessed violence is going to lack naivety. I don’t think it’s a matter of “them not doing adequate research.” Maybe just a different perspective. Someone who’s never been apart of a gang (like the mc) is bound to be at least a little naive about gang activity and people irl do tend to get a lot of their information from movies and social media. Wasn’t that far fetched out of reality to me. Though I’m glad they listened and took the feedback .
An assumption, but I think a lot of authors may have simply never experienced the kind of heavy trauma they're writing of, God bless them (it's a good thing). Therefore, they never witnessed how destructively it can manifest or what the consequences can be.
As someone pointed out, they could always do research on the topic but frankly, I think a lot of the problem is that they also never really think through their ideas before implementing them and just write whatever comes to mind even if it doesn't make sense (to anyone else but them) in reality. A lot of them are also extremely dependent of tropes and cliches from other media as part of their understanding of things so they don't even realize that they're writing harmful stereotypes or misinformation.
I think the reason why most people really like a mentally messed up MC is because there's almost always a prelude required for their current predicament. The authors bother to give MC a proper backstory. In some cases it falls short because the author shows too much of the MC's backstory and in the end people are conflicted between the MC they are roleplaying as and the MC the author revealed to us. I'm reading Shepherds of Haven now and I feel this all the time. I'm not even sure what kind of person my MC is, the dialogue options and the way the conversations and certain elements of the story are written makes it difficult to find an equillibrium. With every different conversation, I feel like my MC is a different person each time and oscillating between them. Some IF's though did a good job of pulling us into that prelude without making the MC a completely different person. ITFO, Golden Rose (Imo the most immersive IF ive read so far along with Shattered Eagle: Fall of an Empire), Corruptant, BOC although we're barely out of our teens, Keeper Series did a really good job at showing the graduality of MC losing their sanity. All theses IF's have different amount of content for said prelude but they manage to stay consistent throughout the MC's journey.
This I've been repeating AMR book2 recently and being forced to be friends with Eli pisses me off just as much as before. My cold stoic MC has to suddenly become emotional and cry or blabber something about special bond between them. Okay, dude I'm grateful for saving my life and all, we were childhood friends but years passed and, well.......
I just don't understand why the author can't give one option that would allow MC to distance themselves from Eli. It's not that hard. Unless... if this were allowed, Eli's existence would no longer have any purpose. Their whole life revolves around MC. B o r i n g.
Even Leomar is a better character, no matter how much I hate him.
But why would you dislike the nice best friend character?
See how nice they are? See how they smile upon seeing you?
You rejecting them... Why, it might just break their heart! You don't want to see them cry, don't you?
You think they won't cry? Have you seen them smiling this way at anyone else, hm?
No, you're the special one. Isn't it nice, feeling special?
Come on, smile. Don't make them sad.
Believe me.
If you make them sad.
They'll make you sad as well~
("don't turn everything into a horror prompt" challenge: failed)
But why would you dislike the nice best friend character?
See how nice they are? See how they smile upon seeing you?
You rejecting them... Why, it might just break their heart! You don't want to see them cry, don't you?
You think they won't cry? Have you seen them smiling this way at anyone else, hm?
No, you're the special one. Isn't it nice, feeling special?
Come on, smile. Don't make them sad.
Believe me.
If you make them sad.
They'll make you sad as well~
But why would you dislike the nice best friend character?
See how nice they are? See how they smile upon seeing you?
You rejecting them... Why, it might just break their heart! You don't want to see them cry, don't you?
You think they won't cry? Have you seen them smiling this way at anyone else, hm?
No, you're the special one. Isn't it nice, feeling special?
Come on, smile. Don't make them sad.
Believe me.
If you make them sad.
They'll make you sad as well~
("don't turn everything into a horror prompt" challenge: failed)
I wouldn't mind having yandere in the story but I hate being forced to like the characters and no arguments about how good and loyal a friend they are convince me.
I wouldn't mind having yandere in the story but I hate being forced to like the characters and no arguments about how good and loyal a friend they are convince me.
Forgive the harshness of my reply here, my good ally, but you've recently seen an armada of IF's unable to release one snippet of information without fan-paid paychecks and not have the cajones to leave their Patreon walls for five years straight, and you want them to add stuff???
Forgive the harshness of my reply here, my good ally, but you've recently seen an armada of IF's unable to release one snippet of information without fan-paid paychecks and not have the cajones to leave their Patreon walls for five years straight, and you want them to add stuff???
ahhh, my MC is romancing Eli after ditching Leon for burning them, so I don't mind. I see Eli and my MC as trauma-bonded (hence why I'm ok with Eli being kinda pathetic towards the MC), but yeahhh, I kinda went ??? when I saw there was no option to be cold towards them, even if it were explained by MC moving on or acquiring enough trauma during the war that they don't want to let anyone in...
For me the main perpetrators are Fadiya is ashes and flames and Sal in Mind Blind. I guess I'm not a fan of the whole 'here's your badass bubbly friend who is totally fine! (unlike your MC) See how they insert themselves into MC's life to save MC and MC can't say no to them or grow resentful of them playing the saviour role'.
I really want a kind of toxic friend char who comes across as nice bubbly saviour but actually is the reason behind MC's problems or smth, now that I think of it.
Generally, when it comes to AMR, I've noticed that MC behaves most of the time as if
taking part in the war, killing someone from their childhood, then killing an innocent person to save the whole city, and then a humiliating death at the stake on the orders of their friend/lover and then brought back from the dead by some sorceress
it wasn't a big deal. There is no visible trauma. I don't know, maybe it's because the game is focused on action and the author doesn't like to delve into those heavy topics of experiencing trauma.
It doesn't have to be an option to be cold like being rude or something. Just to be awkward and reserved towards them. They are kinda strangers now and considering all the experiences it is even fitting that MC is not very keen on physical contact and showing emotions.
At least some people would like to play like this way and despite the option to reset personality, it doesn't really matter. It's clear that the author has preferences regarding MC's behavior.
Generally, when it comes to AMR, I've noticed that MC behaves most of the time as if
taking part in the war, killing someone from their childhood, then killing an innocent person to save the whole city, and then a humiliating death at the stake on the orders of their friend/lover and then brought back from the dead by some sorceress
it wasn't a big deal. There is no visible trauma. I don't know, maybe it's because the game is focused on action and the author doesn't like to delve into those heavy topics of experiencing trauma.
It doesn't have to be an option to be cold like being rude or something. Just to be awkward and reserved towards them. They are kinda strangers now and considering all the experiences it is even fitting that MC is not very keen on physical contact and showing emotions.
At least some people would like to play like this way and despite the option to reset personality, it doesn't really matter. It's clear that the author has preferences regarding MC's behavior.
This. MC was burned alive, and then revived with the memory of the burning. I'm honestly shocked the author doesnt care to explore this. The MC shows almost no trauma from the burning. The author is more focused on the buildup of the main story than the MC's state of mind. AMR 2 would be even better if it took a page from ITFO and had those moments of self reflection and trauma re living. MC navigating through their past experience of betrayal and pain which affects them everyday in a foriegn land while pulled into another war. Book 2 is good enough ig but the fact the MC acts like nothing happened in Param icks me so much, also the unnecesary walls of lore exposition after every few pages. The author should limit the latter.
Doesn't even need to be something drawn-out to the degree of ITFO. Can be something dumb like Nothing happened. It's all fine.
The fire burns. Someone laughs. Your hands tremble.
It's just a lantern, so why does the flame seem so big? So hot? Cackling as it leans towards you, trying to lick your skin.
You take a step back. Close your eyes. Take a breath.
When you open them again, you fix your gaze on the ground. Houses. People. You keep staring straight ahead as you start walking.
Everything is fine. You're fine.
Reading this made me realize that this might be the reason I have trouble getting into AMR2: it feels kinda... divorced from the first book?
Oh you died horribly, possibly on the orders of someone you loved?
Nevermind that! Onwards to a new adventure, with people you don't know and don't care about! Yay!
I think I'll wait for book 2 to be finished to read it in one sitting, otherwise it's a bit jarring lol
Doesn't even need to be something drawn-out to the degree of ITFO. Can be something dumb like Nothing happened. It's all fine.
The fire burns. Someone laughs. Your hands tremble.
It's just a lantern, so why does the flame seem so big? So hot? Cackling as it leans towards you, trying to lick your skin.
You take a step back. Close your eyes. Take a breath.
When you open them again, you fix your gaze on the ground. Houses. People. You keep staring straight ahead as you start walking.
Everything is fine. You're fine.
Reading this made me realize that this might be the reason I have trouble getting into AMR2: it feels kinda... divorced from the first book?
Oh you died horribly, possibly on the orders of someone you loved?
Nevermind that! Onwards to a new adventure, with people you don't know and don't care about! Yay!
I think I'll wait for book 2 to be finished to read it in one sitting, otherwise it's a bit jarring lol
Absolutely! In AMR our MC is killed by his/her best friend who had been with him/her in the same mercenary company together for years!
That is nuclear warhead level of hurt, and then the MC doesn't confront that???
Go instead to new adventures without confronting that event....
Absolutely! In AMR our MC is killed by his/her best friend who had been with him/her in the same mercenary company together for years!
That is nuclear warhead level of hurt, and then the MC doesn't confront that???
Go instead to new adventures without confronting that event....
Tbf avoidance can be a legit way of coping with trauma, but... it still needs to be reflected in the narrative.
Like for real, trauma doesn't have to be nuclear levels of PTSD (ITFO) or an MC that's snapping at everyone and everything (a lot of hunter WiPs seem to be doing this). You could have a Stepford Smiler MC, or cold and stoic "I have suppressed my emotions so hard that now the thought of having them is the only thing that scares me" one. In short, options that don't involve a lot of angsting and breakdowns, but still reflect that trauma is there.
Hell, make it a point that MC throws themself into this new adventure with the express purpose of running away from their past, and does everything to just... not think about it.
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I just find it more compelling to read about, don’t know why.
I've been repeating AMR book2 recently and being forced to be friends with Eli pisses me off just as much as before. My cold stoic MC has to suddenly become emotional and cry or blabber something about special bond between them. Okay, dude I'm grateful for saving my life and all, we were childhood friends but years passed and, well....... 
I wouldn't mind having yandere in the story but I hate being forced to like the characters and no arguments about how good and loyal a friend they are convince me. 