[Churchofgaming] THe terrible truth about so many PCs

[Carl Brown]

I just found this on the net. About time someone said this to rpg-ers

A Better Game
Header
We Can't All Be Wolverine

Pantheon PressRob Trimarco of Pantheon Press presents a
short-but-very-sweet treatise on the need for actual heroes in heroic
stories, rather than a bunch of hacked-off, cynical, anti-heroes.

I have a favorite quote from the movie, Reservoir Dogs:

MR. PINK: Why can't we pick out our own colors? 

JOE: I tried that once, it don't work. You get four guys fighting over
who's gonna be Mr. Black. 

>From Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights, to Gotham City's Batman, to almost
every character ever played by Clint Eastwood, the antihero is an
attractive and compelling icon. I mean, who doesn't want to be this guy?
Surly, lethal, and (best of all), misunderstood?

The problem is, the antihero is only fun when he works alone or when he
is surrounded by people who care about his angst. He doesn't work when
he's teamed up with a bunch of other antiheroes! Can you imagine if the
Justice League was all Batmen? They'd sit around glowering at each other
all day, trying to think up terse exit lines!

As gamers we've all been in that party, right?

Jeff: I'm 'Derth Darkblade'. I have no family, no love, just my sword.
While others take prisoners, I take lives.

Carl: Well, Derth, let me introduce 'Gloomsmith Joybane.' He had a
family, but they were killed before his eyes. Now he lives to seek
vengeance against-

Steve: Not so fast there Gloomy. Allow me to introduce myself. I am
Killer McKillerkill. I can't even SPELL the word 'prisoner'. My life
means nothing to me, so why should anyone else's?

GM: Ummm. Okay, well you guys meet in a bar and.

BORING!!!

For every Wolverine, you need at least one Cyclops. You need that
personality that represents the moral compass - someone who will say,
"No! If we kill him, then we'd be just as bad as him!"

Corny? Not if you go for it! A character that stands up for compassion?
optimism? love? It takes courage, but if you commit to it, it will NOT
be corny. And remember, 'Good' does not mean 'Weak'. Your character will
be even more memorable if they back up their beliefs with decisiveness
and action.

And here's the fun fact. Because so many players are attracted to the
antihero, your legitimate hero will actually be the unique one.

Thank you, Rob! I've been practically screaming about this for years...

~ SPF (05-12-2011) 


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