Hey, I have a Limit Break ability. And it works against him since it'd lead to rampages. And seriously, would you really want a rampage unless you're a psychopath? :D

Quote from Xate

Hey, I have a Limit Break ability. And it works against him since it'd lead to rampages. And seriously, would you really want a rampage unless you're a psychopath? :D

My problem with abilities that are "last resort" is that they lead to poor/predictable writing. This more prevalent amongst newer writers, but battles will pretty much default to the person with the limit break getting into a position where they cannot win with their normal set. Then they use the ultimate move and even though they're paralyzed for three days/ totally out of energy/ become evil or demonic in some nature, they won the fight so it's basically over. There are exceptions, but the ability either goes unused, or the writer has their character win the fight with it.

Because for some reason it's a sin in order to write your character losing.

It's not a prerequisite to use limit breaks you know. You can win without using it. There's no harm in doing so too. Hell, you don't even need to use ALL your abilities in your battle; just use the ones that matters.

And like you said, losing the battle itself. But it's not at all a sin.

Yeah Malacal, can't you agree with Ai like I'm doing right now?

Quote from Malacal

My problem with abilities that are "last resort" is that they lead to poor/predictable writing. This more prevalent amongst newer writers, but battles will pretty much default to the person with the limit break getting into a position where they cannot win with their normal set. Then they use the ultimate move and even though they're paralyzed for three days/ totally out of energy/ become evil or demonic in some nature, they won the fight so it's basically over. There are exceptions, but the ability either goes unused, or the writer has their character win the fight with it.

Because for some reason it's a sin in order to write your character losing.

There exists battles that depict their own character losing the battle.

Quote from ErrorBlender

There exists battles that depict their own character losing the battle.

Some of those are mine :P
It was more a sarcastic comment to further my point. It's rare to see a writer use a last resort and then have their character lose the fight. So, the writing usually defaults to the either not using the move, or always winning with it.

@Hewitt: I don't necessarily disagree with their points. In fact, I don't think I ever made a contention to any of their arguments. You can write a story without using all of your abilities, without the limit break. Like, yeah that's okay. The only real thing that was argued against was me saying that having your character depicted losing in your own battle is a sin. But, that was a misunderstanding, because sarcasm does not translate well to text unless exceptionally obvious.

Well that's nice.

We should all just have tea and frolic in this thread

So this thread has become the safe zone from saltiness and badmouthing.

*adds salt

*forgets to wash mouth

Nah.

Jokes aside, I recommend writing a character YOU can write. Write a horror monster when you're as gutsy as Courage the Cowardly Dog? Write erotic fanfiction when you're a virgin? Write superhuman stories when you're a human? Of course you can, and don't let me say otherwise.

Quote from Hewitt

Well that's nice.

We should all just have tea and frolic in this thread

We really should, I mean that sounds nice.

Quote from Xate

Write erotic fanfiction when you're a virgin? Write superhuman stories when you're a human?

I think virgins are the authors and the target audience.
trust me I would know...

I finally have some advice for this stupid stupid thread:

Accept and understand character criticism, but only make changes when you want to.
Growing characters are interesting characters, make each story affect them and what they'll do in the next...

On the topic of desperation moves: It shouldn't be a catch all, make it a gamble/risk, give it defined limits. If you do these three, then you alleviate the (bad) predictability issue for the most part.

Predictability is unavoidable, by the nature of its predecessor, most wRHG's will be binary in their conclusion. Someone wins, the other loses. It really can't be helped. And like cholesterol its not all bad either. Rather, its more important to write a good story. And a developed character, with skills translatable and interesting skills is a great character to write and be written.

If it's fun to read, predictability and all that other junk doesn't matter so much.

I agree with TheOrg that this is a stupid thread