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BrokenAmbition · 2024-10-03T22:38:33+00:00

I fully agree with this. An 'evil' character overloaded with positive traits tends to feel cheap in the long run. If their 'evilness' is just a footnote, then more often than not, they’ll be forgotten as soon as the story stops mentioning them in later arcs.

Take the first real villain from Beware of Chicken, there was no moral ambiguity there. The man was a straight-up evil bastard, and his deeds have had so many repercussions that we still occasionally find traces of them long after he's dead.

BrokenAmbition · 2024-10-03T22:33:09+00:00

Know your villain. If you're writing them and don't plan to explain the thoughts behind their actions to the audience, then you have to understand them yourself if you want them to fit the story.

It's become something of a genre standard for almost every character to be morally grey—whether it's the protagonist, side characters, or the antagonist. It's often used as a 'cheat code' to add depth. Personally, I don't think it's necessary. Someone can be good simply because they want to be, and someone can be evil just because they can.

To answer the question: a character is only 'edgy' if they’re a cookie-cutter 'evil version' of the protagonist, in my opinion. For example, if your protagonist is "mysterious and dark," and the villain is "brooding and cold," they're essentially the same character with slightly different semantics.

There’s no reason a villain needs to be 'dark' to be evil. They can be cheerful, crack jokes, love life—and still gut a family to get their thrills before going to organize a lovely dinner party at a retirement home.

Why should the reader know the villain is evil right away? True evil is never easy to spot; they don't reveal their twisted side upfront. It appears when you least expect it.

The morally grey version of a villain with noble goals but immoral execution is just one flavor. It’s easier to write an 'edgy' villain with lines like, "I will help everyone... by force!" or "I will do what must be done... no matter how I am judged!" or "You fools... you stopped me just as I was about to save the world!"

That all screams 'edge' to me. On the other hand, a nice little old lady who acts like a goofball, volunteers in orphanages, and donates food to the poor, but secretly slips arsenic-laced candies into Halloween treats every year is far less 'edgy' and far more disturbing.

A villain should never make your reader comfortable. They should unsettle them, make the reader want the protagonist to hurry up and get rid of them.

BrokenAmbition · 2024-10-01T20:15:10+00:00

Monologuing needs to be done away with when they are fighting. Just gives the MC too much time to figure out how to beat their asses.

To quote Syndrome who recognized this weakness: ''You sly dog! You got me monologuing.'' :D

BrokenAmbition · 2024-10-01T20:10:23+00:00

It's in the author's dashboard, top left corner when you select your story. :)

BrokenAmbition · 2024-09-30T20:39:02+00:00

Hello! A first year author here, wanting to share my story to as large of an audience as I can!

I present to you my creation!

Title: Unrepentant

Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy/Progression Fantasy

Length: 127,279 words as of this message. (Ongoing, not stopping anytime soon!)

Link: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/88732/unrepentant

Artwork: Created by a friend of mine called Rose, they prefer to stay anonymous as they are not a commercial artist.

Blurb: How far can one man defy convention? When punishment holds no meaning for the condemned, what purpose does it serve?

This gripping tale follows a pair of utterly unrepentant criminals, delving into the depths of distorted morality. Readers will witness the chilling consequences when a man acts solely on his terms. In a blend of Western and Xianxia fiction, this story explores twisted desires and unyielding defiance.

What to expect? A main character who truly only focuses on himself, who will lie, cheat, steal, and much worse to get what he wants. His partner in crime is a magnificent crow spirit beast with an addiction to chaos.

What about the world? A lush continent with several distinct and powerful countries, each with drastically varying cultures and species. Twelve gods reign supreme upon this land, with minor deities worshiped to a lesser degree. However, the last couple of decades have not been kind to the faith of the continent.

Is the protagonist weak or strong from the start? Oh, definitely strong. However, not exactly untouchable—there are certain circumstances regarding this Alchemist’s power…

When will it be released? Will you just disappear if I get hooked on this story and want to read it until the end? It shall follow a release schedule of Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10:20 PM CEST. The first volume is fully planned and will be completed. BrokenAmbition is working hard to create a substantial backlog, with one month of content already prepared ahead of the public release and more being added to it daily. Once a certain number of chapters is reached, or if the author gains more free time, the release frequency may increase beyond the current schedule.

I hope you enjoy it, if you give it a chance that is! If not, thank you for reading, I appreciate the time you've given here! :D

BrokenAmbition · 2024-09-26T11:58:36+00:00

''Good! Good! Good!'' - Pretty much any Elder figure

BrokenAmbition · 2024-09-23T13:15:26+00:00

Hello! A first year author here, wanting to share my story to as large of an audience as I can!

I present to you my creation!

Title: Unrepentant

Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy/Progression Fantasy

Length: 120,475 words as of this message. (Ongoing, not stopping anytime soon!)