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Cadet Orientation/Your Character: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Wesleycrusher.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Wesley Crusher on the bridge of the ''Enterprise''-D.]]Most StarFleet officers are – by today's standards – driven, well educated, moral, and empathetic individuals, who mainly care about exploring, bettering themselves, bettering the galaxy, and finding new ways to make the engines run faster on a starship. Because we're working with characters who are overachievers, newer writers often look for ways to help their character stand out among other amazing characters, which sometimes manifests with characters who are even more amazing than their peers – graduating at the top of their Starfleet class, being recognized as the best engineer Starfleet has ever seen right out of the Academy, holding multiple degrees, or being an expert in a number of sports. | [[File:Wesleycrusher.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Wesley Crusher on the bridge of the ''Enterprise''-D.]]Most StarFleet officers are – by today's standards – driven, well educated, moral, and empathetic individuals, who mainly care about exploring, bettering themselves, bettering the galaxy, and finding new ways to make the engines run faster on a starship. Because we're working with characters who are overachievers, newer writers often look for ways to help their character stand out among other amazing characters, which sometimes manifests with characters who are even more amazing than their peers – graduating at the top of their Starfleet class, being recognized as the best engineer Starfleet has ever seen right out of the Academy, holding multiple degrees, or being an expert in a number of sports. | ||
Remember Wesley Crusher? It seemed like he ''knew everything''. He even | Remember Wesley Crusher? It seemed like he ''knew everything''. He even got to sit at Helm on the bridge of the Enterprise-D from time-to-time! Most would agree that it seemed unbelievable that he'd be quite so smart and capable at such a young age. | ||
As much fun as it is to conceive of a character who overcame adversity (dead parents! life of poverty! overly-critical Academy professors!), graduated first in their class, and was the envy of their peers, these characters '''just aren't that much fun to write in practice'''. First, you'll find that you don't really have very far to grow with a character like this. How do they develop themselves when they're already the best? How can they possibly have healthy, interesting relationships when everyone they meet is but a lesser version of them? And second, you'll find that others resent these characters, because they hog the limelight. No one should be the center of attention all the time – ''everyone'' should have a chance to shine! | As much fun as it is to conceive of a character who overcame adversity (dead parents! life of poverty! overly-critical Academy professors!), graduated first in their class, and was the envy of their peers, these characters '''just aren't that much fun to write in practice'''. First, you'll find that you don't really have very far to grow with a character like this. How do they develop themselves when they're already the best? How can they possibly have healthy, interesting relationships when everyone they meet is but a lesser version of them? And second, you'll find that others resent these characters, because they hog the limelight. No one should be the center of attention all the time – ''everyone'' should have a chance to shine! | ||