Discussion Why are side characters so stupid?

Discussion in 'Novel General' started by KnightofGlory26, Oct 12, 2017.

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  1. KnightofGlory26

    KnightofGlory26 Well-Known Member

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    Hey,
    Have you noticed all the protagonists friends/travelling companions are really stupid? They always nearly get defeated because they have to protect them because they came to 'help' the protagonist fight, when they are nothing but a hindrance.
     
  2. Tiken

    Tiken Well-Known Member

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    You may say because that makes the poorly written MC look better
     
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  3. ZhaWarudo

    ZhaWarudo TOKI WO TOMARE!!!

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    Because you're reading web novels
     
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  4. arrogantyoungmaster

    arrogantyoungmaster 20 Nuf = 1 face slap to make your day better

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    So the mc look cooler
     
  5. mmsupreme

    mmsupreme How do I change my custom title?

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    Why build something that you're going to discard at the end of the arc
     
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  6. Phoenix

    Phoenix Nameless Wanderer 『WW Vet.』

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    Because most of them are made with the sole purpose of making the MC appear amazing
     
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  7. Nimroth

    Nimroth Someone

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    Too many possible reasons to count but one is authors mistakingly(I hope...) thinking that having really stupid side characters will make readers forgive the only slightly less stupid mc.
     
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  8. Opjohnaexe

    Opjohnaexe Well-Known Member

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    To be honest most characters in most web novels are one-dimensional as all hell. Most authors quite frankly can't write good characters at all, so side characters has to be even worse / dumber to make the main character seem even remotely worth while.
     
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  9. Opjohnaexe

    Opjohnaexe Well-Known Member

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    Because it becomes way too obvious which ones will be dropped, and which ones won't.
     
  10. zh0lvin

    zh0lvin Active Member

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    Because they are not the MC ? :blobpeek:
     
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  11. Nimroth

    Nimroth Someone

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    Sometimes the mc is the stupidest character of all though. :sick:
     
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  12. Robbini

    Robbini Logical? Illogical? Random? Or Just Unique?

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    If they're male, they can't just stand by and watch their friends fight without doing something, it would be proof that they're barely men at all, and with low pride.
    If they're female, they can't just stand by and watch the man they love / on good relations with take on a danger by themselves and sit by and be protected, because most of those novels are with world settings where combat is extremely common, eg. cultivators, isekais etc.

    As for never thinking their help wouldn't be appreciated ? Unless they've been seriously defeated by the MC and have total faith in him, not going to happen.
     
  13. Ignus

    Ignus Philosopher of Flames

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    Side characters don't come with a serving of plot armor.
    How else can a reader differentiate from a side character and the protag?
     
  14. Shii

    Shii Active Member

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    Someone's reading too much junk novels.... Side Characters aren't ALL stupid, though. There even some outshines the progtags because of how well-written of them. Well, in a essence, side characters are like side quest/s. They aren't really necessary, but they give the whole point more dept.
     
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  15. Amaruna Myu

    Amaruna Myu ugly squid dokja (●´∀`●)

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    A stupid author creates stupid characters. I'm the same
     
  16. SenjiQ

    SenjiQ [Wise, for a Bird]

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    Because it's impossible to write a character smarter than the author
     
  17. udonsage

    udonsage [Underpaid Software Developer] [Lazy Novelist]

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    Poor writing and poor plotting is probably the reason. In other words, the author does not really know how to write or the author chooses to masturbate through their work.

    So, this often happens when the main character is too over power. And when the main character is too powerful, then how would it be possible for the side-characters to pose a threat or change the main character’s mind?

    Or it could also be that the author doesn’t like people to have flaws that are meaningful. So, this makes the side characters very dumb since they don’t have anything major to overcome (such as feeling like they are the ones that caused their parents death) or anything that makes them stand out from.

    I personally stopped reading most web novels since most of them are overpower assholes trying to create harems. If not that, then its about a guy who easily overcomes his obstacles through pure luck or some type of ability that makes his life way too easy.
     
  18. Notaborax

    Notaborax 『Woeful One』『Poet』『Epi's & Azuka's Cat』

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    not fatty inside issth. he can literally be a spinoff mc. low servant like disciple rise through the ranks with a heavenly gifted set of teeth.
     
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  19. Fluffums

    Fluffums 【R-18 Researcher】【Seeker of Moe】

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    I was gonna say this. :(
     
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  20. Overclock

    Overclock Well-Known Member

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    Usually with those moments the side characters will hopefully learn they need to improve themselves.
     
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