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Spaztique — [OUTDATED] Spaztique's Guide to Touhou OC Creation
Published: 2012-11-13 03:45:23 +0000 UTC; Views: 32243; Favourites: 243; Downloads: 319
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Oh yes, I didn't saw the date of your post, my bad.
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"She was outsmarted, her plan worked - either way, she was still caught and submitted to defeat. The look on Yukari's face screamed of "well, this was unexpected". Her plan may have worked in the end (she IS a youkai with a thousand plans, after all) but the fact remains that the Watatsuki sisters had Yukari herself cornered."
And what makes you think like that? I was under the impression that everything is proceeding exactly as she planned. That's why Yuyuko was there. She was just a decoy.
"If you've got something that could resolve just about any conflict by waving it around, then obviously people would use it all the time, and your stories would be dreadfully boring" (TvTropes) and this was exactly the case for Yorihime - there was absolutely no way for her to lose with the power of Gods, and she ended up using them in every battle. Where's the excitement if you know that she can always win just by throwing Gods at you?"
I could argue the same with Reimu and her Fantasy Heaven. Imperishable Night doesn't count because it's a spellcard battle.
"Yorihime poorly written character not simply because she never loses, but because of the FOUNDATIONS and the IMPLICATIONS her character is built upon. Yorihime is a master swordswoman who has perfect control over her God-summoning powers - that automatically entails that she can't possibly lose,"
No, it doesn't.
And I could also argue the same with Yukari's hax power, if the fandom is to be believed.
You're totally missing the FOUNDATIONS and the IMPLICATIONS of Yorihime's character. It's not that she's unbeatable, ever. It's that she's a representative of the Lunarians Yukari lost to ("the youkai of the Earth can never win against the moon-dwellers" as Yukari said). Of course she's going to be strong. She's supposed to be a strong, threatening villain.
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When you only play around a silly rule how fights are being carried out, it's only natural you'll have problems with someone who fights for real.
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Yukari does have a trait that is very common for brutally strong boss characters: Becoming incredibly weak while playable.
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I don't actually use any OCs other than for decorating my DeviantID (at least, no longer) - however, that part with Yorihime is so awesome that I have to favorite this.
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When you say don't create multiple forms of yourself, does that include creating versions of yourself wearing a different outfit?
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Not at all: different outfits are okay and I actually encourage them (if you'll look at some of my comics, I actually wear what I'm wearing at the time I made the comic). Though, this does remind me of a forgotten principle...
Principle #12: You don't need a giant announcement comic for each time your character changes their outfit. Just as we change our outfits every day or buy new clothes every so often, our characters are free to change their outfits with just as little fuss.
Scene: Illustrations of Marisa and her many, many costume changes.
Too often, I see standalone comics or videos like this...
Scene: Jack Diehard is in a new suit. Other Touhou characters are smiling at him.
Jack: Hey everyone! Look at my new suit!
Reimu: Wow! That's a cool new suit!
Marisa: Looking sharp, Jack!
Sanae: You look so sexy!
Youmu: Make love to me *right now*!
This is classic character shilling at its finest/worst. Nobody cares that much about your outfit change, and nobody cares about reading a comic where you talk about you changing outfits.
The only thing worse than these comics are the giant quests for changing outfits, as if it requires a Tolkien-esque epic just to change your shirt.
Scene: Jack is on a high mountain with a Norse god.
Jack: I decided to change my outfit this morning. You got any ties?
Norse God: THIS TIE WAS FORGED IN THE FIREY SPARKS OF CLASHING CLAYMORE SWORDS IN VALHALLA! 'TIS STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD OUT THE FLAMES OF RAGNAROK!
Jack: I'll take it. How much does it cost?
Norse God: SINCE YOU'RE VIOLATING PRINCIPLE THREE, ABSOLUTELY FREEEEEE!!!
Unless the costume change is truly noteworthy, you don't need characters making a big deal about it.
Scene: Chouko is wearing a slightly different outfit. Chase looks like an idiot.
Chouko: I have to ask: what's with the fur suit?
Chase: For the last time, it's not a fur suit! It's a trendy Italian jacket!
Chouko: Did the ears come with it?
Chase: That's a longer story that I'd rather not go into.
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Thanks Spaztique. I only asked because I created a few versions of me wearing a different outfit (Such as a school uniform or casual clothes)and was wondering if that was ok or not. Also, why does everyone use Jack Diehard as the example for trying to be awesome?
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Wasn't the Mary Sue character the Patchouli/Marisa lovechild you made in the tutorial video of making Walfas videos?
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Good catch. Yep: same character.
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...
I REALLY don't want to stop doing what I've started (Reimu's not-very-known-yet-little-brother), but it looks like there are a lot of things I could fix up about my character.
I can cut off some unnecessary spellcards. My only remaining ability is to pivot lasers.
Also, I'm going to be just plain weaker than Reimu, but I can still handle a weak youkai.
Forget the sword. I'm using a floating yin-yang orb.
Translating my name into Japanese.
Maybe a few extra accessories would be nice, so I don't look like a blank-slate character.
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I wanna make an OC that based on real-life figures (like Leonidas, Nikola Tesla, Darwin etc.), but not visually resembles that figures. how about that? is that breaking the rule or not?
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That's not breaking a rule at all. Just capture the spirit/essence of the character in appearance. The Fate series did this in a way by giving stylized appearances of its mythical/historic heroes.
And remember: these are principles, not rules. A rule says, "You must do it this way." A principle says, "This works." Principles may be bent and broken once you understand them.
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Oh, I see. Thanks for the enlightenment.
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I was wondering, could a creature fom North America be ok to use as an OC?
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In addition to what Spaztique said, try to research for American folkloric creatures, this could be a start [link] but there are sites dedicate to it. Even Slenderman could be considered an American creature, because it started with an American thread.
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I'll cite Principle #11 for that: it's the matter of execution.
The problem with North American folk creatures is that there are very few of them: you got the chupacabra, but there's very few else.
If you're trying to make a youkai that is *you* and copies where *you* are from, that's a violation of Principle #10. You can make this creature come from anywhere. If you feel it must be from North America, be imaginative and give a good reason why.
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I wasn't planning on making a yokai that was "me", I have an author avatar for that. I was planning on having a thunderbird, a creature from Native American myth, as the stage five boss of a possible fangame.
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Now *that* sounds awesome. Do it!
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Hong Meiling is not western style.
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I think the right term is something not from or based in Far Orient culture.
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Can this guide also work when creating characters for an origonal series?
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Yep. Just change the context from Touhou to the other series, and you're gold.
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how do you extract a charachter from walfas.org?
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how do you get a charechter off of walfas and into paint
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The cheap method is hit the Print Screen button and hit Paste in Paint.
However, this is not what I do...
First, get AndySnap, which makes taking pictures waaaaaay easier: [link]
Then, get Gimp, which gives you crisp, clean images (be sure to check out the tutorials so you know how to use it): [link]
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Do you know of a Mac equivalent of AndySnap?
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Tanx but i unfourtanitly have to hope the cheap method works because im not allowed to download that stuff
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When I'm ready I'm gonna be making a new account, but that aside:
I wanna know what you think of my idea for my character so far.
Name: Ethan Rivers.
Age: 16
Powers: Enchanting, Healing, Immunity to negative effects forced upon by others (Suwako's curses, Mystia's night-blindness, etc.)
Magic: Mostly light based, some other elements, learns to control a doll from Alice (uses it much differently then her), and maybe two small barreled revolvers, (keep in mind enchanting is his main power.)
Strengths: Immense willpower, creative, helpful, patient, cares about people immensely.
Weaknesses: Low self esteem issues, easily feels like an outcast (gets lonely easily), can get very emotional (Does that count as a weakness?), pron to suicidal thoughts after a story event.
Likes: Being with friends and family, cooking for them, reading, helping/making other people happy.
Dislikes: Being alone, seeing people get hurt, the feeling of being useless/hopeless.
Also, when I watched DitR, Raimu sayed that since Brolli can possess avatars he is in love with himself, what does my OC's powers say about him?
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Sounds like a great team medic and caregiver.
As for what your character's powers say about him, it sounds like he's a character who gives out far more than he receives to the point where he feels like he's not getting an appropriate return. This is a great character trait because a lot of people can relate to it (myself included): they want to care for others and help out, but sometimes it feels like the fight isn't worth it when all these other people get help and he's not getting anything.
In short, you made an awesome character, Akurax1. Just remember Principle 11, employ the character correctly, and you're solid.
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Thank you Spaz, I hope I can bring out the full potential of this character.
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Negative effects huh? No guilt then. I wouldn't want to be near your OC.
Also, I don't think guns vs. magic works in Gensokyo...
*prone
Healing power? Take a look at this article...
[link]
That's all I can think of...
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Also, is he an outsider? The name mostly says that.
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Sorry, I tend to fail at specifying these kinds of things, they always tend to look better in your head then in words.
What I was thinking with using guns is not to use real bullets, but use magic as ammunition, there have been gun mages in other games and such (FF 10-2 for example).
And after looking at that link, I think my OC is more a mix of War Priest and Helper Priest. He will focus on the fight but if he sees anyone injured he'll go out of his way to heal them.
And yes he is, don't worry he isn't gapped in by Yukari, I thought up a good (and hopefully original) reason why he finds himself in Gensokyo.
So anyways, I would like your opinion, too much, should I tone him down a bit?
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That is true.
Okay, just make sure you specify that if you use that gun, because if you don't, expect that reaction from a bunch of people.
Traveled across the Hakurei border then?
I don't know. I can't say that until I see your character in action.
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I'll make sure to put more info about things from now on.
Nah, was thinking he gets his hands on stone, he nearly dies after he gets it and it teleports him to Gensokyo because it's the only place left that still has magic, don't wanna spoil it just yet.
Anyways, thanks.
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Are Ferin, Velupe, Lepus, and Hydrus (Did I spell those right?) based off the Four-Temperament Ensemble trope?
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You'll have to ask ColonelDiamondback that.
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About Principle 5: What if my OC uses a staff? What are the effects?
P.S. I can tolerate long and detailed answers.
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If the staff shoots something or aids the character, it will work. Just as long as it's not used in melee combat, because Touhou is not about melee combat: even the swords used by canon characters are mostly used to defend against/shoot danmaku.
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Okay, disregard my comment. I read that one can become a fallen angel by being corrupted by darkness.
Now here's the real thing. Mind if you can give me tips on origins of abilities? Like how Kyzer's "staff" is able to shoot danmaku and giving his foes a critical knock-back effect.
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Understood. Thanks! Now how about if my OC obtained a Fallen Angel Physiology via darkness. Will that work? I bet wont. (lol)
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This is a really nice guide :3
But I was wondering about OCs that are relatives to canon characters,Would it work if it was like successors to Reimu and Sanae but I was going to make a story with OCs that are like future versions of the playable character team but only two are relatives of canon characters (Reimu,Sanae) while the others are like apprentices to canon characters. Would that work? ;n;
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That could work. There, it doesn't feel like the character is 100% dependent on the other person's existence.
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Do characters from another series but as characters from this series count as original characters?
In case you don't get what I mean, I'll use my TF2chans as an example. Basically, they are related to TF2 in names and personalities (mostly) only. Otherwise, they are regular residents of Gensoukyou and are also moe girls. So, in other words, they are only (deliberately) similar to the TF2 classes (even in names, which I am planning to change and give them Japanese names, as if they were Touhou characters). Would they count as Touhou OCs?
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That's a rather curious case in my opinion, it really depends on just how adapted they are, if they still possess the same spirit as the classes they derive from, they're more of a parody character than an OC. If they feel sufficiently touhou-esque, consider them touhou OCs, it's all down to just where they lie on border between Touhou Project and Team Fortress 2.
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