Step Six

Hey everyone, sorry for the LONG in-between on the posting. I had a sudden cause of life, and it was taking me away from my work on the comics. School registering, job, career hunting, rent, bills, you know. The fun grownup stuff you hear so much about.

Anyway, where was I?

Step Six; Particular Staples.

What do I mean by “Particular Staples”? These are things that can be found in any given fictional story, whatever the genre. Not always the case in non-fiction, but sometimes history/science can be stranger then fiction could ever hope to be.
The Usual suspects-
Damsel in Distress:

"I'm a Damsel, I'm in distress. I can handle this"
This is the classic princess in the tower, prisoner of the monster, any Disney girl, and so on. A Pure invention of the Victorian Story teller in their attempt to keep us women down and portray a negative image on the women of the Middle Ages. The truth is woman had more rights in the Middle Ages then in the Renaissances or Victorian Age. Or even in Modern times…
How this fits into your story? Well if you are looking at sticking with the classic formula, the typical D.I.D. would easily be the Hero’s love interest. In my cause this doesn’t exactly work to well, but I will admit I will have some very minor D.I.D.s in individual issues.
The Noble Knight:

"Twit"
Also known in RP circles as “White Knight Syndrome”. This would be the compulsive hero type. The Valiant Noble gentlemen who has to save every D.I.D. on the way to the big bad, kill EVERY bloody Orc, Goblin, or Troll. This can also refer to the guy, or gal, who fells they must save the rest of the group from themselves. Fun fact, medieval knights where the quintessential horse’s arse.
How this fits into your story? The Noble Knight is usually the hero of the story so to speak, or in some comedies, he’s the “Upper Class Twit”- Mel Brooks (On the set of Robin Hood Men in Tights). Personally that’s my favorite version of the White Knight. If you chose to ditch the U.C.T. as hero, he’s always good as a sidekick or background character. Or even as a ‘blind’ villain.
Hook Nose Witch on a Broomstick:

"Way to go Phoebe!"
My least favorite of the villain/female stereotypes, she is the typical fairytale villain (Snow White, Rapunzel, est). This particular stereotype was an invention of the Medieval Catholic Church to demonize woman and pagans alike.
How this fits into your story? Again, classic formula, she’s a villain holding the D.I.D. hostage, and someone for the white knight to kill. That’s a wonderful message! Anyway, another way to play with it, is possibly making her a main character, with a history, smarts, and not always evil. Just some food for thought on that one folks.
The Less then Perfect Sidekick:

"Poor Bucky. Just trying to let Capt Know he's walking into a trap."
The best example I can think of is Sancho Panza from Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. The Uneducated squire who rides a donkey following the handsome, charming, and brilliant Don Quixote around Spain, who is riding a Steed named Rocinante. This is the guy who gets the short end of the stick. ALL THE TIME. Barney Rubble, Judas (you know which one), Jimmy Olsen, Bucky, and Ebony White.
How this fits into your story? Well, again, if you are using the classic formula, this can be the hero’s little brother, or friend who’s terrible with the ladies. In some stories I’ve read, the sidekick turns out to be the real hero, is always a nice twist, but it needs to be done right. In my story, I have a ‘sidekick’ per say, but she doesn’t always get the short stick.
Dumb Bruiser:

"Default! Default!"
The classic dumb barbarian or fight, one of the most over played stereotype of all time. Example: Fighter – 8bit theatre. It seems to be a rule, the bigger the muscles, the smaller the brain. This can be the case when it comes to real life, but not all the time folks. I’ve seen some people, in RPs, play some pretty strong and brilliant fighter and barbarians. Strategists, and planners. They end up not being very good people persons though. Oh well, can’t be good at everything.
How this fits into your story? This is good filler on the team, good or evil. In fact I have one on the bad side. If you like the idea of the smart fighter, that makes for a great baddie, or leader/hero.
Lastly;
Kleptomaniac Rogue:

"You are about to regret this"
The Rogue who can’t resist the shiny gold piece that happens to be the dragon’s favorite, or stealing from the party. Classic example, any new player in D&D, Yuffie FFVII, Catwoman (DC comics), or Halflings (Frakkin’ Kenders!). If this was a blog about D&D I can go on and on and on about how to play a REAL rogue, and be a skill fiend, but this is about comic creation so I can go on and on about making a great thief, and not a shiny addict.
How this fits into your story? Well if you want someone on your team or good side who keeps getting everyone into trouble, this is the person. Would steal the crown right off the king’s head cause it’s shiny. If you want a lock picking, trap setting, strategy genius, this you’ve got a real rogue on your hands. They can also be the occasional help to the hero, or the piece to frakk up the hero’s plan. Either way, the true rogue is always my fave skill fiend.

These are classic examples and ideas for you to work with on your development of characters and stories. Hope this helps.
Next up: Step Seven, The Flow.
Blessed Be.

Step Five

The Five Bad Band
Here we are again, with the next step in the creation of a comic world. Now we have our heroes, but...What are the heroes going to do? Obviously they fight the bad guys! Do we have any of those? Well I great way to think of it, is to look at examples that exist in media (Films, Comics, animation, and real life).
Both sides of the Good vs Evil both have their own dynamics. Usually the bad guys are more organized then the good, but that's just always seems to be a result of circumstance. No one really knows why. Usually it's the funds. Example, Firefly... Brown-coats Vs. Alliance.

The Big Bad, Counterpart of the Hero. The Bad all the others fear, the one in charge. He has the charisma to be loved or feared by his followers. He makes you shake in your boots, or hang on his every word. Best example here would have to be (We can guess which comic publisher I like best) Magneto! Real life example would be (WWII for the Win) Hitler

Next up is The Dragon. The Big's right hand man. Usually a classy mo-fo, best of the best. Without a sixth-column bad guy, "the Dragon is most likely to betray the bads (Especially if they're Starscream)"~ TV Tropes. The Final challenge before the final Boss fight, and what not. A comic example could my Mystique, Real Life can easliy be Heinrich Himmler.

Everyone's favorite next, The Evil Genius. Also known as The Mad Scientist. What is there that needs explaining? They're usually in some basement room type place experimenting on babies or something like that. He's mission control and creator of evil schemes. If he isn't together, the team can be screwed. Fun examples include Mastermind (Amusingly enough), and Josef Mengele.

Then we have The Brute. Stereotyped as the big dim-witted second in command of the evil army (Next to the Dragon), the Dim-witted is not always the case. They are almost always huge guys/gals, but even the example they give isn't. Quicksilver (who is actually a speedster). Klaus Barbie (The Butcher of Lyon)

Finally we have The Dark Chick. The one who stands out in some way. If most of the baddies are in control, she's a loose cannon, or she is the least terrifying. They can act as a romantic interest for the Hero, or not. It all really depends. In some cases, they have the highest chance of not dieing horribly by the Five Man Band's hands. Comic books once again give a good example in Scarlet Witch. In Real life, Eva Braun.

There is a chance of a Six Column type when it comes to the bad side, but the Sixth is most likely to be the Heel Face Turn (Likely to turn-coat). Hope this helps in the creation of those nasties!

Next up: Step Six; Particular Staples

Step Four

The Five-Man Band
This is the team dynamic. Best example I can give is like the power rangers or Voltron and The Defenders of the Universe (Again I am a geek). Appointing a team dynamic is useful as a writing tool to keep your mind organized for which characters do what.

If you visit TV Tropes, this well sound familiar.

There is of course, The Hero. The main character who is usually the main character, the leader, ect. In this case not the leader, but still. (The Red Ranger-Jason)

Next comes, The Lancer. The Hero’s right hand person, best friend, rival, BFF, whatever. Normally the second one in charge. In my case, I reversed the team positions of the Hero and the Lancer. (The Yellow Ranger-Trini)

Which brings us to, The Smart Guy. This one is pretty much summed up in the title. The big brained wonder, the know-it-all, yata-yata. My Smart guy is sure going to be an interesting site. (The Blue Ranger-Billy)

Inevitably, The Big Guy. Now, this doesn’t mean the recipient of this role does not need to be a guy, they can be a girl. In my team, this happens to be the case. This is the heavy hitter, the mass damage person. (The Black Ranger-Zach)


Finally, this brings us to, The Chick. In contrast to the big guy, this doesn’t always have to be a girl. Again, in my team, not the case. This is the team mom/dad, the care taker, and sympathetic one. A great example of none female “The Chick” is Quatre from Gundam Wing. The fact that he is voiced by a girl (In Japanese) has nothing to do with it. (The Pink Ranger-Kimberly)

There are of course tack-ons to this Dynamic.
The most famous being, so aptly named, “The Sixth-Ranger”. If your as old as me, I don’t think I need to mention my generation’s favorite sixth power ranger. The back up, can act as a secondary Lancer, the Cavalry, and so on.


Additionally there can always be, “The Tag-Along Kid”. You know, the always being kidnapped, in the way, warm hearting, usually befriending the ‘special baddie’, and so on. Then, Finally, the Team Pet. This can be literally, whatever you wish. Bugs, cats, aliens, another person if you have a twisted sense of humor like me. My cause happens to be a baby dragon. You’ll love him, his name is Steve!


So this has been a basic break down of the Team Dynamic, or The Five-Man Band brought to you by TVtropes.com. Coming up next, Step Five…The Baddies.

Step Three

Character Creation
My most favored part of the process. I think that can be attributed to the fact that I'm a D&D geek, and I like my characters to have depth and a background, and a name that means something.
So you have a general idea for your story. Mine being demon/devil hunters who drive around in a double-decker bus in a world all my own. Trust me, I've had weirder thoughts. Now, to help develop your story the first thing you'll need are characters. They can be male, female, elderly, college age, fully grown, or as my creative writing teacher once called children, literary furniture, or even aliens. Whatever you chose. There are of course team dynamics to this as well, but that will come later.
I shall use my own character, hm...I think I'll use Ge, no I think I'll stick with Lenka for this. Olenka is her full first name. Now the bare bones concept of her is 'the slutty blond bombshell'. Of course I plann to develop her passed that. Now the image in my head was a gun slinger kind of character. At the point I had thought of her I ran into a problem, I already had a gunslinging character for this particular tale, so I thought. Then I realized, I didn't have a 'Heavy'. Someone who has the 'big guns' in their possession. This instantly placed Lenka in a group known has "Gun Bunnies". Now if you are not familiar with this term, I'd suggest googling it with the safety on. Mind you during this whole time I didn't have a name for her. What I knew I ended up with was a blond haired girl, who isn't afraid to use her sexuality to get what she wants, and is packing sever amounts of heat. There is more to here of course, but that will be revealed all in good time my friends.
Now, from here, if you have only one main character, or seven, any which way, you need to name your character. Now names can come from anywhere. Cultures, history, fancy, if you can't think of any, babyname sites are great for this.
My personally favorite: http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/
This not only will allow you to select cultures and languages to pick from, it will give you meaning of the names if the site knows them. It's been pretty good about it for me personally.
So once you have your name(s), your should be about ready to get set for the next step; Team Dynamic (5 Man Band).

Step Two

"In the beginning god(s) created the heavens and the earth"
Well in this case you get to be god. In your head, but hey, we all have some form of narcissism and megalomania to some degree. What is the setting of your story, or rather, the world it takes place in? Is it in a desert, on the moon, under the ocean, or in modern day 'generic city USA'? This is one of the first things you should get cracking on.
Me personally, I like to create a world. Not always mind you, but in this case it was easier. So I have a planet that needs places, land masses. So I decide, first things first, how many land masses to I have? Personally this is when I break out the dice, but that's just me. (D&D nerd, do forgive me); Now I ended up with 6. That may be a lot of places, so for beginners, I'd like to suggest not exceeding 3 unless you are capable of handling it.
Cultures are needed for these places, unless you have one governing body to rule them all, and each place just has slight differences. Personally I like variety. For instance, the continent that has the better part of the story taking place on it, has five countries, originally 6, but one country annexed(took over) another. Each of those countries has it's own distinct culture. One is Germanic based, one is Anglo-Saxon based, one is Russian based, one is more Gaul, and lastly one that is a weird cross between Italian and Spanish. The country that was taken over, was like a Hungarian/Prussian mix.
Now I'm not going to lie, I like to base cultures off ones here on earth (Obviously), so I have an archipelago (cluster of islands) that is like you took the cultures of Asia and shook it all up, and another strongly Egyptian based, and then a Greeko-roman mix, then of course I have the Atlantian culture of perfection (Not sure if its Pre or Post destruction yet), and this mass of a continent that has only recently been colonized by the other.
The World:

Now lastly, this is mainly for superstition, but, does your world (if not earth) have moons? If so, how many? Does your world Rotate the same as Earth, or the other way? Trust me, being this anal-retentive about detail can come in handy later.
Okay next time-for reals, character creation.

Blessed Be-
P.S. If you get a sudden diagnosis of creation blockage and can't think of names check out sites like these:
http://www.seventhsanctum.com/index-name.php
http://nine.frenchboys.net/