Writing Article Jan 2020 - Overpowered Characters
Added 2020-01-06 18:31:13 +0000 UTCSo, the typical advice is not to write them, especially since they have a tendency to become Gary or Mary Sues. But what if your story requires a protagonist who is strong, skilled and fits all those tropes? What if you're writing the next Geralt of Rivia, Saitama or Luke Skywalker? Characters who are most certainly OP, but are still interesting and nuanced in their own rights?
How do you avoid falling into the trap of writing the dreaded Gary Stu?
This lesson is applicable for all writers, but holds special importance for Fanfiction. That said, there are still plenty of Sue characters in popular fiction. My personal peevish one is Richard Rahl from Goodkind's work.
In this article, I look at what makes an overpowered character, what makes a Sue, and some tips and tricks you can use to both have your cake and eat it. Not all overpowered characters are bad, only most of them.
Here are some ways to avoid the pitfalls.
