McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft

How powerful should a protagionist be?

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Dom:
I know that it makes good storytelling, but one part of me is wondering why magic has to have some horrible downside.

I keep thinking of, oh, art.  Drawing, or writing stories.  Both are rather magical to people who never do them, but there's no universal Downside or Punishment for being an artist or author.  And you can still make loads of bucks doing it without being unethical, if you're really really good.

And then I was thinking of another profession, like, I dunno, stuntman.  Totally different upsides, downsides, and risks.

And then, other talents and careers.

Not sure where I'm going, just a little thought nibbling away at my grey matter...maybe it should be its own thread...

fjeastman:

Protagonists need to be capable.  They've got to be interesting and provide the reader with vicarious thrill.  I mean, I know I'd like to be able to point a stick and say a word and blow up a car.  That would be excellent.  But I can't.  That Harry can is cool.

But I don't think they have to be super-powered.  Even in a supernatural storyline.  They have to be capable of overcoming the opposition ... but, to make a character human, they need flaws.  And sometimes I think authors give powerful characters unreasonable flaws to provide broadside weaknesses to be exploited.

Usually the progression seems to be ... "Protagonist identifies self as normal or weak, but has special power that makes them center of story."  Then, "Protag discovers something special, possibly unique, about themselves and their power."  Such as Harry being very strong with fire evocations, if a bit wild, and having a mysterious background that we'll probably find makes him rather unique among wizards ...

At the same time, coming from an enjoyment of traditional crime/gumshoe novels ... your main character doesn't have to gain progressively cooler and more explosive powers.  Over time, Spenser (Robert Parker's character) hasn't sprouted any new capabilities.  He's always been a hard-hitting smart-talking P.I. who doesn't know when to stop.  Actually Parker has been revealing that Spenser is slowing down, getting older.  Same with John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee.  By the end, Travis McGee was getting older, less willing to brawl.

I think a long-running supernatural series could, seriously, have a normal human protagonist with no developing ability, no godlike power. 

--fje   

NewClassic:
It really really depends on the situation in question, and how you intend to write the character. Which includes long-forwarded developments for that character.

For an example, I'll use a rich boy who's small, nearly crippled with a inactive tumor. The boy in question is small, nonmuscular, unable to run due to his tumor, and mentally capable to be studious, but no where near smart enough to be witty and clever in his actions. Our character runs into a terrible crash with a violent, vengeful assassin. The assassin vows that he will never forget the day. Our rich protagonist hires a bodyguard. The bodyguard is more of a nanny than a gun. The nanny uses his intelligence to add to his fee and hire a gun as well, leads the boy through many traps using simple intelligence, and the hired gun to help throw in a punch where needed.  The boy himself is far disabled, but his nanny and the nanny's gun play to his strength (money), and theirs (brains and guns, respectively.)

Or we could just have a superpowerful character (Let's pretend we've got a character like Merlin from the Dresden Files) who has enough ability to kick-down some doors (or worlds) and stomp some bad-guys, but with his knowledge is incapable of doing the smaller touches of help for the long run, and when paired with powerful enemies (fairy and vamp courts.)

That kinda thing. I'd elaborate more, but I'm pressed for time. That's my 2 cents, at least.

pathele:
To me its about balance. If the character is very powerful, then he is very flawed and those flaws offset the power he wields. 
For instance, in one of the ST:NG episodes there was a planet where everything had been destroyed except one house. The creature who lived there wiped out an entire race with a thought, but the guilt was devastating to him (and he couldn't bring them back).
Ok, so maybe not the best example...

But look at Harry. He is very powerful. Much more powerful than he was in SF. But his "flaws" are mounting as well (ie, the fallen in his head, the anguish over Susan, the responsiblity for Molly, duties as warden, etc) 

just my thoughts.

-paul

NewClassic:
Now that I have more time, I'm going to elaborate on my earlier posts a bit.

Protagonists deal in two major currencies:
Power and Potential.

Is the character powerful enough to deal with whatever conflict he's facing, or does he have the potential to later defeat his conflict. I'll put examples from Dresden Files and Codex Alera:

Ye be warned, read all of Jim's books, up to the newest, or you may be spoiled.
SPOILER A-FREAKING-LERT!

Power: As it stands, it's clearly shown that Harry can set flame to an ancient manor, killing everything inside save for the extremely powerful. He can also blow enough wind to re-route a concentrated, pressure-driven stream of gasoline set ablaze. Harry also has the option to instill in himself necromantic energy of epic proportions, to allow himself to be taught by a fallen Denarian, and a powerful winter fairy, to submit himself as the powerful Knight of the Winter Court, and summon allies as powerful as a demonic mercenary and the Blackstaff of the Senior Council. Add on the fact that Harry already wields enough metaphysical muscle to burn down buildings at will. Or, additionally, Harry has the power to put it all behind him and lead a peaceful life with friends, a life that isn't wrought with danger and worry. Also a world with Susan.

But Harry doesn't wield either of those powers, because Harry has the guilt of the people of Chicago, the Special Investigation of the CPD, and the friends and allies, including the weak or magicless. Harry has the option to gain power, enough so to perhaps crush the earth itself on a whim. But Harry doesn't accept this power because of the effects of it. So, Harry, barely powerful enough, scrapes by through clever plans, magical tricks and trinkets, and determined allies. And his enemies aren't always all-powerful. It's the difference between a police officer and a criminal. The criminal doesn't draw the line as early as the cop, if he even draws the line at all. Harry has to draw the line. To not kill with magic, to not blow up the innocent bystanders locked in the closet. Harry's power is checked by his conscious.

Potential:
Tavi has potential, in spades. He's among the most obviously powerful strategists in Alera. He holds allies among the Marat, and perhaps the Canim (maybe.) He's now coming into fire furies (maybe?), and quite probably many more. But the reason he's lived to make such allies and surpass amazing expectations isn't because he had power, it's because of his potential. He was given tools which he used where others would or could not. He effectively did what many could not. He played to his strength well despite his weakness, and lived to the potential he needed to overcome his conflict, not once, but twice. Because of this, he makes a strong protagonist because of his potential, not his power.

End FREAKING Spoilers.

So, in summary, a protagonist can hold his own with or without power. If he's powerful, he needs something to keep him in check, if he has potential, he must come into his potential, or die trying.

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