How do you make a good character who has a severe god-complex?

[Western42]

I am writing another story, this one about magical girls since everyone has thought of doing it, and I want to make one of the main characters have a severe god complex, as well as be a violent psycopath. Any good tips on how to pull it off?

 

[SakeVision]

and she's good?

oh my

You can't

at best you can make her fight for a good cause

 

[ArcadiaBlade]

A severe narcissist who believes herself to be a god and is emotionally unstable? Like have her act like she is above everyone and acts like a god while instantly angry when someone talks smack to her even if it was just a little sass and such.

 

[Mr.Grey-Cat]

well, you have Gilgamesh from Fate for a cool example, but if you want a cheap example then check the domineering CEO archetype in Chinese love manhua, both cases suffer from god complexes, with very unstable personalities, and questionable tastes.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

Gilgamesh from the Fate series, Dio from Jojo's bizarre adventures, and Lelouch from Code Geass would be good examples. I did have a character that actually was a god but they were just an overpowered asshole who was bored. Don't really think I can offer personal advice on a god complex. I just figured they would be a pridefully arrogant asshole that could back up most of their prideful nature.

 

[Jemini]

Imagine her as a real person. Have her mostly act as a normal person, but occasionally say something that demonstrates that her way of thinking has some unrealistically high opinions of her own capabilities and sense that others are beneath her.

 

[LimitBound]

Erind from REND is a good example of a god complex psychopath .
In my opinion at least.

 

[Zirrboy]

You could also show it through an ideal she wants to force on the world.

Something that she deems unquestionable while also seeing herself as the sole person able to achieve it.

 

[Western42]

and she's good?

oh my

You can't

at best you can make her fight for a good cause

Do you mean she's good as in good in nature or are you saying that you can't make a good character with a god complex?

 

[greyblob]

I am writing another story, this one about magical girls since everyone has thought of doing it, and I want to make one of the main characters have a severe god complex, as well as be a violent psycopath. Any good tips on how to pull it off?

are you asking about how to make a well-rounded violent psychopathic character with a god complex?

 

[RepresentingCaution]

All villains believe they are the protagonist. Get inside her head, her motivations, and figure out why she thinks she is doing the right thing.

 

[Western42]

are you asking about how to make a well-rounded violent psychopathic character with a god complex?

Yeah though she is more on the violent side.

 

[KoyukiMegumi]

All villains believe they are the protagonist. Get inside her head, her motivations, and figure out why she thinks she is doing the right thing.

Everyone is the hero of their story. Even the villains. To them, they are in the right and the world is the one at wrong. c:

Op... To make the perfect psychopath requires you to detach emotions from the characters. Psychopaths can't feel sympathy for others. They can't connect with others sadly, nor do they feel what "normal" people do. They aren't always morally deprived, but they are also highly intelligent.

And those with who they connect usually become obsessive to the point of being overbearing. Most of them already have a god complex. They are morally in the right while everyone is wrong. They see themselves as the top dogs and that allows them to trample over everyone else.

Making a good psychopath takes time and research. But usually, they are violent people already.

Make sure your character can't feel sympathy for those she hurts. And she sees everyone as bugs that need to either serve her and her needs or they need to be eliminated. Either by ruining their standing or by killing them off.

I don't enjoy writing psychopaths. They are too hard to keep consistent. *I do not know how you will make them good because they rarely are.* I rather write someone who lost it all and hates the world than a psycho. They still have the emotions behind their actions, rather than someone that feels nothing at all. Not even to those they "care" about.

 

[greyblob]

Yeah though she is more on the violent side.

your post was poorly worded - and I believe a good portion of were confused. I'd say make another thread with more proper wording.
But onto the subject itself, think along the lines of: arrogance, selfishness, pride, hubris, etc. the character would view others as, quite literally, lesser beings. the world, in her pov, revolves around her. she can never be wrong, and if somehow she was proven as such, her world would fall apart, and either deflect, change the subject, or devalue her aggressor. or any other similar behavior to someone prodding at your insecurities. I wouldn't advise on making her a psychopath - being cruel and uncaring is enough. The violence can be easily added to the mix.

They aren't always morally deprived, but they are also highly intelligent.

I don't think that's true. being a psychopath doesn't make you intelligent. It's just to spice things up.

But usually, they are violent people already.

that's lazy writing most of the time. manipulative psychopaths are a rare delicacy - mostly because they're much harder to write.

 

[SakeVision]

oh, you meant how to make a well-written character with a god complex. Now I undertand.

Well, that's eeeeasy. Just give them big ego and a chunk of pride and narcissistic self focus on themselves without considering the needs of others, in other words, a typical Chinese xianxia protag.

except unlike the authors of these novels you are aware that this character is a bad person, which will insta make it 10x better

 

[KoyukiMegumi]

that's lazy writing most of the time. manipulative psychopaths are a rare delicacy - mostly because they're much harder to write.

Psychopathy is a neuropsychiatric disorder marked by deficient emotional responses, lack of empathy, and poor behavioral controls, commonly resulting in persistent antisocial deviance and criminal behavior. (This is an actual psychology definition on the matter.)

Most psychopaths will cause physical/emotional violence. (I consider these both violence. Nursing school taught me to see them the same. Just because one doesn't see the damage doesn't mean it isn't there.) So even those manipulative ones will cause some harm to others. Thus, violent people in my eyes. And even then, when things don't go their way, they may cause physical harm.

These types of people don't cope well with failure. They crash and burn because most of them lack control of their impulses. But not all are like this. It doesn't have to do with lazy writing, just how they are.

Though a smart, manipulative one, then there you have a magnificent combination. One that can figure out a way to worm out of everything while having that impulse control.

I was talking about the realism part of psychos. :3 Writing people usually just make them crazy, when in reality they are much more terrifying. You can't see a good psychopath. They will seem the same to you, even act to have emotions just to hide in society. Even the person next to you could be one and you wouldn't know.

Scary stuff, so that is why I see the overall picture to spot a victim.

I don't think that's true. being a psychopath doesn't make you intelligent. It's just to spice things up.

A dumb psycho won't make things interesting. They will get caught too fast. Especially if they can't control their impulses. Though, it would make a great short story. Maybe it can go off with a bang!

 

[T.K._Paradox]

Everyone is the hero of their story. Even the villains. To them, they are in the right and the world is the one at wrong. c:

Op... To make the perfect psychopath requires you to detach emotions from the characters. Psychopaths can't feel sympathy for others. They can't connect with others sadly, nor do they feel what "normal" people do. They aren't always morally deprived, but they are also highly intelligent.

And those with who they connect usually become obsessive to the point of being overbearing. Most of them already have a god complex. They are morally in the right while everyone is wrong. They see themselves as the top dogs and that allows them to trample over everyone else.

Making a good psychopath takes time and research. But usually, they are violent people already.

Make sure your character can't feel sympathy for those she hurts. And she sees everyone as bugs that need to either serve her and her needs or they need to be eliminated. Either by ruining their standing or by killing them off.

I don't enjoy writing psychopaths. They are too hard to keep consistent. *I do not know how you will make them good because they rarely are.* I rather write someone who lost it all and hates the world than a psycho. They still have the emotions behind their actions, rather than someone that feels nothing at all. Not even to those they "care" about.

"Everyone is the hero of their story." That has some Handsome Jack vibes right there.

 

[KoyukiMegumi]

"Everyone is the hero of their story." That has some Handsome Jack vibes right there.

I am ashamed to say; I don't know who he is. :<

But it is true. :3 Even a story about a villain, in their eyes they are the most righteous person in the world!

 

[T.K._Paradox]

I am ashamed to say; I don't know who he is. :<

But it is true. :3 Even a story about a villain, in their eyes they are the most righteous person in the world!

He is the main 'Villain' from most of the Borderlands series. I personally consider him to be a tragic hero after all it took: a bunch of betrayals, a terrible childhood, an almost genocidal event (the moon almost exploding via laser), two eldritch god like beings being awakened (The Destroyer and The Sentinel), horrible influences manipulating him, living in a corporate slog, being unappreciated for all his work, being seen as a laughing stock by his boss, a paramilitary invasion, impossible quests, corporate takeovers, and death of love ones, and a god relic being smashed into his face which drove him insane, to turn him in to the monster Pandora came to hate (or worship).

I ain't saying that trying to kill all the bandits and therefore most of Pandora is ethical, nor is the experiments he conducted with slag, I am just saying it is sad to see how he had fallen and the man that Handsome Jack was before didn't deserve to become that.

 

[KoyukiMegumi]

He is the main 'Villain' from most of the Borderlands series. I personally consider him to be a tragic hero after all it took: a bunch of betrayals, a terrible childhood, an almost genocidal event (the moon almost exploding via laser), two eldritch god like beings being awakened (The Destroyer and The Sentinel), horrible influences manipulating him, living in a corporate slog, being unappreciated for all his work, being seen as a laughing stock by his boss, a paramilitary invasion, impossible quests, corporate takeovers, and death of love ones, and a god relic being smashed into his face which drove him insane, to turn him in to the monster Pandora came to hate (or worship).

I ain't saying that trying to kill all the bandits and therefore most of Pandora is ethical, nor is the experiments he conducted with slag, I am just saying it is sad to see how he had fallen and the man that Handsome Jack was before didn't deserve to become that.

Oh! He is the sentimental villain. :3 The one that the world walks on and wants to hurt everyone in the end.

Hehe... He is the perfect villain to root for. He isn't evil for the sake of being evil. No, the world turned him like that from what you told me. And he kind of is right to lash out. I mean, after enduring so much loss, anyone would.

There is also another saying. A hero that lives usually is one that will see themselves become a villain. Those are part of the perfect tragedy.