So You Want To/Write a Magnificent Bastard: Difference between revisions
So You Want To/Write a Magnificent Bastard (view source)
Revision as of 08:28, 6 August 2019
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* [[Manipulative Bastard]]: Because sometimes controlling events just isn't enough. The Magnificent Bastard needs to be able to manipulate people, by reaching inside them and hitting them where it emotionally hurts. The best Magnificent Bastards have an intuitive grasp of a character’s basic psyche and will use it against them at every opportunity.
* [[The Trickster]]: The line separating the Magnificent Bastard from a really good Manipulative Bastard or Chessmaster is his ability to think on the fly, adapting to new situations and altering plans with ease. Without this factor, even the greatest Bastards won’t last long.
* [[Large Ham]]: It says optional, and many Bastards aren't this everyday, but the truly magnificent have at least a small dose of this in them somewhere. The Magnificent Bastard has to be a magnetic character, drawing both other characters and the audience to him. There is something almost Shakespearian about this character, a sense of the grandiose, of the larger than life, and this trope can help to bring that out. Note that he doesn't always need to be going over the top, but a few moments of [[Chewing the Scenery]] can definitely be helpful if carried off right, showing just how impressive the character is. All villains are ultimately on some level failures, but the Magnificent Bastard is a failure on a grand scale, the kind of person you simply cannot look away from.▼
== Supplementary Tropes ==
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* [[Evil Virtues]]: These are a good source of sympathy and depth. A Magnificent Bastard will have many of these, or sometimes all of them in some rare cases. In other words, inserting these into a Bastard makes him a much more three-dimensional character and could cement his [[Worthy Opponent]] status with his enemies.
* [[Hidden Agenda Villain]]: Generally speaking, this is another great trope for your Magnificent Bastard. Whether he be a [[Deceptive Disciple]], a [[Treacherous Advisor]], [[Bastard Understudy]], or even a [[Big Bad Friend]] and it be being [[Faux Affably Evil]] or using [[Blatant Lies]], you can make your bastard really good at hiding his true plans from everyone else. Just don't take too long in drawing out the reveal, or your audience's interest may give way to frustration.
▲* [[Large Ham]]: It says optional, and many Bastards aren't this everyday, but the truly magnificent have at least a small dose of this in them somewhere. The Magnificent Bastard has to be a magnetic character, drawing both other characters and the audience to him. There is something almost Shakespearian about this character, a sense of the grandiose, of the larger than life, and this trope can help to bring that out. Note that he doesn't always need to be going over the top, but a few moments of [[Chewing the Scenery]] can definitely be helpful if carried off right, showing just how impressive the character is. All villains are ultimately on some level failures, but the Magnificent Bastard is a failure on a grand scale, the kind of person you simply cannot look away from.
* [[Laughably Evil]]: Even though there's not really any necessary need for this trope, a great way for your bastard to attract the respect of the audience is to make them laugh. Your bastard can throw in random funny scenes and even chew the scenery to provide laughs for the audience. Just be sure to pick his funny moments wisely; having him chew the scenery too much may result in a [[Villainous Breakdown]], but as long as he doesn't break down too often, the audience won't mind.
* [[Noble Demon]]: Making your bastard one is a good idea, since he is rarely, if ever, pointlessly cruel. It's always interesting to note that your bastard should speak in a polite and sophisticated manner quite often. Just make sure he's not too polite, unless you really want to make out of your bastard a [[Draco in Leather Pants]], which, of course, is quite fun once you get used to it.
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