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Post by ayslyn on Dec 9, 2017 12:02:49 GMT -8
To level set, Buckaroo Banzai is intended as a modernization of Doc Savage, so he's always been positioned as a highly advanced polymath. But the difference between BB and a Mary Sue is that despite his deep skill set, very little of his skills are actually what solve crises that are associated with the plot. If anything, one of his skills (the understanding of quantum mechanics) is what *causes* the immediate plot crisis. In contrast, a Mary Sue is personified as being able to pull out skills and abilities when faced with a plot crisis that even surpasses the experts in the field, wish fulfillment to the Nth degree. But very little of the plot resolution within Buckaroo Banzai is based on that - the Black Lectroids provide him with the electrical formula, warn him about John Worfin, etc. And ultimately, the biggest reveals are done by the other characters - Billy breaking into Yoyodyne's computer system, New Jersey knowing War of the Worlds and making a connection, etc. Even some of his more romantic moments are comically interrupted with the minor electrical jolts he's giving off. And yeah, I don't think it's impossible to have a brilliant mind being able to perform many interesting things, even in real life - Brian May of Queen, Hedy Lamarr (Not Hedley), even Richard Feynman. Hell, Dexter Holland of the Offspring has a Masters in Molecular Biology. Dolph Lundgren.... Actor, Director, Screenwriter, Producer, Martial Artist, ...... Chemical Engineer. Also, sadly, Mary Sue has begun to suffer from the same affliction that phrases like Begging the Question and Deus ex Machina have fallen prey to. Too many people are using them in manners that don't actually qualify. These days, Mary Sue gets slapped on anything that people don't like.
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Post by chronovore on Dec 10, 2017 0:58:44 GMT -8
Just curious, does anyone here think Episode VII's "Rey" was a Mary Sue? (hint: I don't)
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HJRP2016
Dec 10, 2017 3:50:23 GMT -8
via mobile
Post by uncommonman on Dec 10, 2017 3:50:23 GMT -8
Just curious, does anyone here think Episode VII's "Rey" was a Mary Sue? (hint: I don't) Not a Mary Sue but borin, bitchy and strangely powerful. She is a "strong female character" not a strong character that is female. Her only attributes are: underdog, female and "can take care of herself". I'm still not totally against her but the only reason for that is that there might be some character development in the next episode.
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fredrix
Master Douchebag
Posts: 2,142
Preferred Game Systems: Fate, L5R, Pendragon, Gumshoe, Feng Shui
Currently Playing: Pendragon, Song of Ice and Fire, L5R, Feng Shui, Traveller
Currently Running: Fate, Coriolis, Nights Black Agents
Favorite Species of Monkey: 1970's NTV, dubbed by the BBC (though The Water Margin beats it)
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Post by fredrix on Dec 10, 2017 6:51:18 GMT -8
Just curious, does anyone here think Episode VII's "Rey" was a Mary Sue? (hint: I don't) No, and I get tired of people accusing her as such. People point to her apparent competence with a lightsaber without even a training montage. But she wasn’t actually that good. Kylo Ren wasn’t even trying to hit her.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2017 22:36:02 GMT -8
Just curious, does anyone here think Episode VII's "Rey" was a Mary Sue? (hint: I don't) No, and I get tired of people accusing her as such. People point to her apparent competence with a lightsaber without even a training montage. But she wasn’t actually that good. Kylo Ren wasn’t even trying to hit her. So he lost on purpose? That’s pretty deep and farsighted for a whiney bitch (kylo).
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fredrix
Master Douchebag
Posts: 2,142
Preferred Game Systems: Fate, L5R, Pendragon, Gumshoe, Feng Shui
Currently Playing: Pendragon, Song of Ice and Fire, L5R, Feng Shui, Traveller
Currently Running: Fate, Coriolis, Nights Black Agents
Favorite Species of Monkey: 1970's NTV, dubbed by the BBC (though The Water Margin beats it)
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Post by fredrix on Dec 10, 2017 23:11:29 GMT -8
No, and I get tired of people accusing her as such. People point to her apparent competence with a lightsaber without even a training montage. But she wasn’t actually that good. Kylo Ren wasn’t even trying to hit her. So he lost on purpose? That’s pretty deep and farsighted for a whiney bitch (kylo). He’s conflicted, and of course suffering from a bowcaster wound.
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Post by kaitoujuliet on Dec 19, 2017 18:35:56 GMT -8
One thing I really like about the Leverage RPG is their tables for randomly generating marks (villains). They have tables that let you roll up the mark's profession, motivation, strengths, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities.
For example, here's their table for the mark's angle ("what makes the mark such a bastard"):
1 Amoral (doesn't care about right or wrong, just what's good for him) 2 Self-righteous (sure he knows what's best for everyone) 3 Just business (cares about his business more than about other people) 4 Visionary (has a vision for the future and is willing to sacrifice others for it) 5 Hard-nosed (believes all's fair in love, war, and everything else) 6 Best for all involved (it's all for the greater good, sad if anyone gets hurt on the way) 7 Entitled (mark thinks he's special and deserves the things he takes) 8 Evil (enjoys inflicting pain on others just to watch them squirm) 9 Greedy (wants more of something and will kick anyone who gets in the way) 10 Roll twice on the table, ignoring any 10s
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