As a reader, what kind of protagonist would you be willing to follow in the story?

[Eldoria]

Imagine... you're relaxing and want to read fiction. You open SH and start browsing through dozens, tens, or even hundreds of fictions.

Every time you open a page, you read a synopsis of about 200 words.

You frown, realizing that the protagonist doesn't quite live up to your expectations. Then, you search and read the synopses one by one.

Finally, you find a protagonist who suits your preferences. My question is, what kind of protagonist do you want to follow (read the fiction)?

 

[L1aei]

My question is, what kind of protagonist do you want to follow (read the fiction)?

Might've answered this already in another thread, but I want someone who's... different. I don't care who they are, but what they are matters. When i see a crowd, I'd enjoy the sudden hush, the looks, and the gap made to be a buffer as whomever, whatever this is just entered the narrative.

 

[Fugiya]

Imagine... you're relaxing and want to read fiction. You open SH and start browsing through dozens, tens, or even hundreds of fictions.

Every time you open a page, you read a synopsis of about 200 words.

You frown, realizing that the protagonist doesn't quite live up to your expectations. Then, you search and read the synopses one by one.

Finally, you find a protagonist who suits your preferences. My question is, what kind of protagonist do you want to follow (read the fiction)?

Simply a good hearted protagonist. Preferably, ordinary. Isn't special, or given anything notable. Of Average intelligence, doesn't just want strength or to become the strongest but who is kind, and who brings people together. Someone who doesn't need to take up space to be important in there own right

 

[L1aei]

Simply a good hearted protagonist. Preferably, ordinary. Isn't special, or given anything notable. Of Average intelligence, doesn't just want strength or to become the strongest but who is kind, and who brings people together.

Awww,

 

[expentio]

First, they shouldn't be an asshole. Many go for an antihero, but I seriously cannot enjoy a puppykicker. And if they kill anyone who opposes them, refuses to help people at no greater inconvenience for themselves, and consistently make choices that are harmful to others, then I wouldn't know why anyone would root for this kind of person.
On a similar angle fall people who constantly make bad decisions and then act all innocent. Recently had "How I Was Accidentally Summoned in a Cult as the Demon Princess". The protagonist makes consistently bad calls. She wants to lay low, and goes to a city making a show about herself. She acts like she's good, but gets people killed who oppose demons by default, because she reveals herself. She pretty much instantly obliterates people who are against her, instead of incapacitating them, which she easily could. And never she admits her faults.

Second, illogical characters. This means their personality and lore have to align. E.g., if you're isekaid, then you certainly don't have it in you to just kill the first living being you meet. Even if in self-defense, people need to process something as significant as taking another person's life (that's a psychopath for you). Yet it's also other stuff. They are claimed to be smart, but act like morons. They never had education, or information about the place they are in, but act like know-it-alls, or act totally confident, despite not knowing anything. They don't show appropriate emotions in certain situations or act like social idiots.
Probably a bad example, as the story is fairly successful, but in "New Life As A Max Level Archmage", the MC is said to be a player who possesses their character. However, they treat the magic they wield as if they grew up with it, and personally researched "Magic". They totally act as if they personally lived through all the things their character did (which I always find weird, with how realistic VR apparently was for them. Theyabsolutely never mention anything about their Earth-life. Conclusion: the player identity doesn't seem to exist, but given that it's linked to the story, it seems to be just a gimmick to explain why she's OP.
Not to forget, she got a far too convenient trait that her face is always impassive. Despite being characterized as a social recluse, she always gets through any social interaction with grace and stoicism. Certainly not someone who became a shut-it. While otherwise she's fine, I feel like the premise lied to me, and ruins a lot of my fun.
In this line, I'd also like to mention that I heavily dislike this kind of stoicism. That counters any emotional engagement in situations.

 

[ElijahRyne]

Imagine... you're relaxing and want to read fiction. You open SH and start browsing through dozens, tens, or even hundreds of fictions.

Every time you open a page, you read a synopsis of about 200 words.

You frown, realizing that the protagonist doesn't quite live up to your expectations. Then, you search and read the synopses one by one.

Finally, you find a protagonist who suits your preferences. My question is, what kind of protagonist do you want to follow (read the fiction)?

Someone who is human at heart.

 

[L1aei]

First, they shouldn't be an asshole. Many go for an antihero, but I seriously cannot enjoy a puppykicker. And if they kill anyone who opposes them, refuses to help people at no greater inconvenience for themselves, and consistently make choices that are harmful to others, then I wouldn't know why anyone would root for this kind of person.
On a similar angle fall people who constantly make bad decisions and then act all innocent. Recently had "How I Was Accidentally Summoned in a Cult as the Demon Princess". The protagonist makes consistently bad calls. She wants to lay low, and goes to a city making a show about herself. She acts like she's good, but gets people killed who oppose demons by default, because she reveals herself. She pretty much instantly obliterates people who are against her, instead of incapacitating them, which she easily could. And never she admits her faults.

Over two decades ago, when KOTOR came out, me and my friends labeled characters like this Stupid Evil because the Dark Side choices were just being malicious with no benefit, whereas the Light Side choices were rewarding in many ways.

Second, illogical characters. This means their personality and lore have to align. E.g., if you're isekaid, then you certainly don't have it in you to just kill the first living being you meet. Even if in self-defense, people need to process something as significant as taking another person's life (that's a psychopath for you). Yet it's also other stuff. They are claimed to be smart, but act like morons. They never had education, or information about the place they are in, but act like know-it-alls, or act totally confident, despite not knowing anything. They don't show appropriate emotions in certain situations or act like social idiots.
Probably a bad example, as the story is fairly successful, but in "New Life As A Max Level Archmage", the MC is said to be a player who possesses their character. However, they treat the magic they wield as if they grew up with it, and personally researched "Magic". They totally act as if they personally lived through all the things their character did (which I always find weird, with how realistic VR apparently was for them. Theyabsolutely never mention anything about their Earth-life. Conclusion: the player identity doesn't seem to exist, but given that it's linked to the story, it seems to be just a gimmick to explain why she's OP.
Not to forget, she got a far too convenient trait that her face is always impassive. Despite being characterized as a social recluse, she always gets through any social interaction with grace and stoicism. Certainly not someone who became a shut-it. While otherwise she's fine, I feel like the premise lied to me, and ruins a lot of my fun.
In this line, I'd also like to mention that I heavily dislike this kind of stoicism. That counters any emotional engagement in situations.

Yeah, I think I did leave a comment somewhere in the first or early chapters of Archmage about that two-body-problem alignment, so I know what you are talking about there; even have a comment on someone's thread explaining in more detail on why regression is a lot more complicated than just "Hey, I'm a Kid Again!" miracle.

 

[Eldoria]

Simply a good hearted protagonist. Preferably, ordinary. Isn't special, or given anything notable. Of Average intelligence, doesn't just want strength or to become the strongest but who is kind, and who brings people together. Someone who doesn't need to take up space to be important in there own right

This is basically an everyman type protagonist... a kind, ordinary person who can be found anywhere including in the real world.

First, they shouldn't be an asshole.

Second, illogical characters. This means their personality and lore have to align.

Not to forget, she got a far too convenient trait that her face is always impassive.

This is an interesting opinion, more like a list of bad protagonist traits.

So, what do you think... if the protagonist is too kind, empathetic, and humane, like Deku or even Naruto? Are they worth following?

 

[Envylope]

I want a protagonist with weak will but the ability to grow. The thing I don't like about dense protagonists is how long it often takes them to grow. It is more frustrating when they do same things over and over. I know people make same mistake in real life, but this is fiction. Let's see that guy become less dense over the course. Or see that meek girl figure out how to find her voice at important moments.

Alternatively, I want an OP protagonist that doesn't struggle versus enemies but has other struggles.

 

[expentio]

This is basically an everyman type protagonist... a kind, ordinary person who can be found anywhere including in the real world.




This is an interesting opinion, more like a list of bad protagonist traits.

So, what do you think... if the protagonist is too kind, empathetic, and humane, like Deku or even Naruto? Are they worth following?

I guess it can work for an action story, but usually, for anything complex, readers are ought to follow out of interest, I wouldn't recommend it. You know "Tales of Zestiria"? The MC is such an insufferable goody-two-shoes. Worse, the universe bends itself to make it so that his preachings never go wrong. "No, you can't kill the man who killed your whole family, that would be bad!" "No we aren't going to leave one of us behind, to stall the monster horde behind us, we'll make it through together!" "You only need to trust in the power of friendship to make it through insurmountable odds!"
That guy was so far past reality, it was infuriating. And worse that he always got through with his preachings. People who know better than the ones living in this reality, and never fail by imposing their beliefs onto others often cause a negative reaction. It's not wrong for them to have positive faith, like trust and the wish to act better than a harsh world, but to think you can change the worst creatures in the world with a good speech will come about as crazy. If we remain at Naruto, I'd say some of the best characters are Jiraya and Shikamaru (particularly the latter). They have their agendas, but are willing to grow beyond their limits if necessary. They are level-headed, but not without faith.

Yet, personally, I also enjoy everyday people. A student who truly seems out of their depth. Who is constantly overstrained with a crazy situation. It's probably difficult to write this kind of story, with a character who isn't proactive. Who doesn't want to go out fighting monsters. If it's a litRPG, how would you make them grow, if they don't want to? Yet, I would find this kind of helplessness engaging. In particular, if they remain like this even though they came to power. They aren't above the situation. They fear what happens if they become the victim of some kind. Sure, at times they may find the will to fight for something important, but at their core, they lived a sheltered life all their life. Or maybe they were of a lower caste, then they wouldn't know how to handle themselves if out of their depth. This "out-of-their-depthness" is what I find usually the most engaging. If it's genuine! If it isn't just transition to becoming the hero they were always meant to be ().
A character who's trying, but remaining a person, and not just a device for the story.

 

[L1aei]

I want a protagonist with weak will but the ability to grow. The thing I don't like about dense protagonists is how long it often takes them to grow. It is more frustrating when they do same things over and over. I know people make same mistake in real life, but this is fiction. Let's see that guy become less dense over the course. Or see that meek girl figure out how to find her voice at important moments.

Do you mean intentionally dense or...

 

[Envylope]

Do you mean intentionally dense or...

I don't know what you mean by asking what I mean. I am the dense protagonist.

 

[L1aei]

I don't know what you mean by asking what I mean. I am the dense protagonist.

Touché?

 

[Time4T]

I have to like them. I have to be rooting for them. That doesn't mean they have to be good people. They can be truly evil, but I have to be on their side. And the protagonist needs to stay in character. I hate it when an OP bad ass for twenty chapters all of a sudden turns into a coward for the sake of a plot twist arc. Often it's enough to make me drop the story.

 

[TinaMigarlo]

Not to forget, she got a far too convenient trait that her face is always impassive. Despite being characterized as a social recluse, she always gets through any social interaction with grace and stoicism. Certainly not someone who became a shut-it. While otherwise she's fine, I feel like the premise lied to me, and ruins a lot of my fun.
In this line, I'd also like to mention that I heavily dislike this kind of stoicism. That counters any emotional engagement in situations.

you're using laymen's observations to describe Asperger's. they come off as someone who has no emotional reactions. or you can take it as clinical detachment. or any of several other ways. I think writer's back in the day noticed people like this, and liked the unique character they would make.

 

[Anonjohn20]

Imagine... you're relaxing and want to read fiction. You open SH and start browsing through dozens, tens, or even hundreds of fictions.

Every time you open a page, you read a synopsis of about 200 words.

You frown, realizing that the protagonist doesn't quite live up to your expectations. Then, you search and read the synopses one by one.

Finally, you find a protagonist who suits your preferences. My question is, what kind of protagonist do you want to follow (read the fiction)?

One who is consistent. I've dropped many stories because the MC thought and acted one way and suddenly did a 180, acting completely different from how he or she had acted in the past, and then usually went back to how they were acting before with no reason as to why.

Also, one who doesn't act against their own interest. Have you spent many chapters convincing me you hate slavers? Don't look the other way when you finally have a chance to stop them just because the author who made you needs that antagonist for later.

 

[MFontana]

Imagine... you're relaxing and want to read fiction. You open SH and start browsing through dozens, tens, or even hundreds of fictions.

Every time you open a page, you read a synopsis of about 200 words.

You frown, realizing that the protagonist doesn't quite live up to your expectations. Then, you search and read the synopses one by one.

Finally, you find a protagonist who suits your preferences. My question is, what kind of protagonist do you want to follow (read the fiction)?

A character who feels human. Real, for lack of a better word, and one that isn't just another cardboard cutout or self-insert for wish fulfillment.
There's a lot of other stuff I consider over the protagonist before choosing to read a story.
PoV being a big one (3rd-limited preferred), setting, and genre.
After that, the characters need to feel compelling. Not just the protagonist. All of them.

 

[SwordSong]

Experienced, but not OP. Not overly idealistic/naively good, but also not a cynical jerk.

I tend to prefer works where the power levels are more grounded, and problems and fight aren't solved with simply leveling up or increasing power.

 

[Rachel_Leia_Cole]

The one I wrote is among my favorite types, the reluctant king. He rules through responsibility and compassion over ambition. Though my other favorite protagonist I wrote is a goblin with a stoic attitude and a heart of gold. So I guess you could say I’m drawn to characters who value and respect life. Not just their own, but others as well. The ones who endure even when things look hopeless.

 

[Eldoria]

The one I wrote is among my favorite types, the reluctant king. He rules through responsibility and compassion over ambition. Though my other favorite protagonist I wrote is a goblin with a stoic attitude and a heart of gold. So I guess you could say I’m drawn to characters who value and respect life. Not just their own, but others as well. The ones who endure even when things look hopeless.

I don't know why... your character principles are similar to my bio:

I love writing dark fantasy stories and believe that true power lies in love and the courage to live. When not writing gory stories, I enjoy cuddling my nephews and planting flowers. Thank you for reading my stories.

Best regards.