all you need is a good cast of the characters. The plot, more often than not, will take care of itself
Eh, I disagree. I think it's hard to have characters people care about if the plot itself doesn't go anywhere. Without plot, they can't really develop or flourish. You never see what they're really made of. Character depth makes itself known through story happenings, after all.
Actually, FE4 is probably a good example. You've got all kinds of people who should be really interesting. They come from crazy circumstances and are more often than not larger-than-life on paper. But in practice, especially in the second generation, there's so little involvement that it's just like "who cares?"
Mind you, engaging plot doesn't necessarily mean good or logical plot. FFVII's storyline moves its characters in ways that makes them intensely memorable, but once you actually outline the plot on paper, it's pretty nonsensical and silly. It works nonetheless, because the people involved work well. But I think while you can have interesting plot without great characters, it's near impossible to have great characters without a plotline driving them into what they become.
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discussion time? discussion time!!
Date: 2012-10-29 04:38 pm (UTC)Eh, I disagree. I think it's hard to have characters people care about if the plot itself doesn't go anywhere. Without plot, they can't really develop or flourish. You never see what they're really made of. Character depth makes itself known through story happenings, after all.
Actually, FE4 is probably a good example. You've got all kinds of people who should be really interesting. They come from crazy circumstances and are more often than not larger-than-life on paper. But in practice, especially in the second generation, there's so little involvement that it's just like "who cares?"
Mind you, engaging plot doesn't necessarily mean good or logical plot. FFVII's storyline moves its characters in ways that makes them intensely memorable, but once you actually outline the plot on paper, it's pretty nonsensical and silly. It works nonetheless, because the people involved work well. But I think while you can have interesting plot without great characters, it's near impossible to have great characters without a plotline driving them into what they become.