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Post by Hollowgo on Feb 9, 2011 22:29:25 GMT
Hey all.
I haven't posted much in a while, but anyways. I wanted to make this topic because I'm curious as to what others believe makes a villain in a story a good villain.
Do you like villains that are crazy? Villains that have cool powers? I'd like to gather your thoughts on the topic. This is partially me doing research for the book I'd like to write and partially just for future knowledge for other fan fiction. This isn't just for me, naturally, since anyone could use the ideas for themselves.
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Post by megster1992 on Feb 9, 2011 22:30:18 GMT
Crazy, but in an interesting way. They are surprising and keep you wondering "What's he going to do next?" I don't like it when they're predictable.
Buut...there is an exception...as long as they aren't too predictable and not everyone can guess his next move, just a select few, if that makes any sense.
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Post by Hollowgo on Feb 9, 2011 22:34:21 GMT
Predictable villains are fairly boring, yes. I enjoy the ones that keep you guessing. It's no fun if you can already guess what they're going to do miles away. But if you think that and they suddenly do something you didn't expect, I love those moments.
I also like villains that are strong, smart and have their own personality. Being crazy is all well and good, but I'd want to see more to them then just being crazy. Now crazy, twisted and cruel while being intelligent and cunning, that's always a fun combo.
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Post by Enjorous on Feb 9, 2011 22:53:56 GMT
I think the best way to make a villain is to make him the hero of his own story. It's not good enough that he/she's evil they have to be doing something for a reason. I think the best way to accomplish this is to define their goal and the most sensible way to achieve it and then warp it.
And what you do with that warping depends on what you want to do with that villain. If you want him/her to be hated then you the warp them to take pleasure in the sick actions they take. But you could do the same thing to make them sympathetic.
And they must be at least as smart as the hero if not smarter. A dumb villain is easily caught and easily defeated.
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Post by buffscoobs on Feb 9, 2011 23:15:40 GMT
I'd have to say I agree with Enjorous on this one, well said
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Post by Twigon on Feb 9, 2011 23:56:08 GMT
My favorite villian is actually the villain that is straightforward and easy to predict. BUT, that same villain has to be at least three times, if not five times as powerful as the hero. For example, villain has an unbeatable army of trained soldiers. Therefore, when the hero finds out that said villain is coming for him/her, the panic is hilarious.
Shit, I just described Breaking Dawn... Oh well. SMeyer somehow found a way to make even my fave villain type suck. Though the painic was hilarious...
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Post by Enjorous on Feb 10, 2011 0:45:29 GMT
Since you brought it up Twigon, my favorite villain type is one who out thinks the hero. If we're in a series you don't see him/her until the end of the series, until then they operate through patsies, cat's paws, pawns. So that the hero is so focused on the left hand they never see what the right is doing...until it's too late.
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Post by Twigon on Feb 10, 2011 0:50:56 GMT
That's just like you. My other fave is the crazy type. As in, escaped from the vampire version of Askaban/Altaraz/the really big mental hospital. The kind that makes you shiver, and fear the night. The kind where every door opening becomes him, where every whistle of the wind is a blade drawn, where you don't sleep, where you commit suicide to escape. But no matter what you do, no matter where you hide, no matter wether you are dead or not, HE WILL FIND YOU!
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Post by Enjorous on Feb 10, 2011 0:55:35 GMT
So basically The Joker.
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Post by Twigon on Feb 10, 2011 0:56:19 GMT
Sure, why not?
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Post by Enjorous on Feb 10, 2011 0:57:08 GMT
No problem with it, The Joker is badass!
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Post by Hollowgo on Feb 10, 2011 3:23:47 GMT
Interesting points of view, peeps. I like.
What if you already are introduced to the villains in the very beginning, Enjo?
The Joker. He was an inspiration for me and what I did with James. I will be taking that and magnifying it for the "James" of my story. More so taking notes from Heath Ledger's portrayal of The Joker, which was awesome in my opinion. A crazy guy who laughs a lot and is incredibly twisted and enjoys doing things that no sane person would. And he's smart. But confident. I feel that every villain, and every hero, needs a weakness of some kind.
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Post by Enjorous on Feb 10, 2011 3:44:02 GMT
Well I think it still works. Won't really be my favorite type but I've only used mine once in writing. I just think they're so diabolical.
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Post by Hollowgo on Feb 10, 2011 6:14:16 GMT
I understand. I like that method as well. I had an inquiry and sent it to you.
Any other opinions?
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Post by JocelynTorrent on Feb 11, 2011 4:20:52 GMT
Introducing the enemy at the beginning is tough, I think. You have to make the reader either hate him, right then and there, or make them think that what they're doing is good and throw them for the loop. I like a villain with flaws. Not big ones, but I can't stand it when they're this all powerful being. Boring. But something as simple as them having a short fuse or being unable to curse is really appealing to me, for some reason. Just quirks. Make them human, if it's a human story.
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