Poll: Your Opinion! Main Characters

[The Lizard of Odd]

Howdy there Escapist forum dwellers!

Welcome to the first of what will possibly be many such questions.

Today, I'm just looking for a quick general opinion on what fine folks such as yerselves think would make a cool MAIN character in a science fiction setting. There are a number of variables that would probably sway your decision, but at the moment I think I'd rather go for a very broad, vague idea, and narrow it down later.

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND: The 'hypothetical awesome new science fiction game' is limited in scale, so having a 'create your own', such as with Fallout 3 or Dragon Age, is not possible.

Feel free to use other characters in existence as examples.

 

[Icecoldcynic]

Gotta go with the unstoppable badass on this one. There's something strangely gratifying about playing as the kind of guy that makes the enemies quake in their boots.

 

[Robert632]

The character should be well written. Other then that, I don't care which generic main character it is

 

[BlindMessiah94]

I would love to see a game with a flamboyantly homosexual main character who kicks some serious ass.

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

I actually rather love pathetic ones, mainly as they are rare to come across. Guybrush Threepwood is probably my favourite of these.

His main skills: he can hold his breath underwater for 10 minutes. Also his persistence.

Gritty macho men are right at the bottom of the Pit of Generic Individuals, which incidentally is situated in the dungeons of Mountbatten Estate. Visit now and get 50% off the entry price.

 

[ShadowsofHope]

..I am not surprised I picked the attractive, deadly female option.

But in general sense, any well-written character as a main character will do fine.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Aliens. I never play human in anything, if there is an option.

I HATE EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU WHO CHOSE HUMAN NOBLE IN DRAGON AGE.

[HEADING=2]AND DOUBLY SO IF YOU WERE A HUMAN NOBLE WARRIOR![/HEADING]

That means you went right down the default options. You unoriginal person, you.

 

[ZephrC]

I'd actually like to see someone that isn't a walking action movie cliche or pathetic. Just someone doing what needs to be done in a competent manner, without any sniveling or ridiculous macho posturing.

 

[ShadowsofHope]

Aliens. I never play human in anything, if there is an option.

I HATE EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU WHO CHOSE HUMAN NOBLE IN DRAGON AGE.

[HEADING=2]AND DOUBLY SO IF YOU WERE A HUMAN NOBLE WARRIOR![/HEADING]

I was a Human Noble two-weapon fighting ROGUE/DUELIST, thank you!

Can I has a little less hate, yes?

 

[Palademon]

I'd prefer a unique character. I'd probably base him off me but more likable and awesome. So, I'd like to see a deeply logical, sarcastic, slightly sadistic, misanthrope that feels inferior to people he considers genuinely good. Dark sense of humour, not afraid of what people think, aware of his limitations. Unexaggerated physique. That guy that's friendly without being overly happy or emotional, doesn't always say alot but when does after some thought it's quite deep. I can't think of more.

EDIT: Dark ginger hair

 

[MellowFellow]

I would go with an alien, because there are not enough sci-fi games with the main character not being human.

 

[Julianking93]

Hot nerdy alien chick?

That would be just kickass.

 

[iLikeHippos]

Depends on the setting. If it's on a lab and some sort of super-aliens broke lose in the labratory that's underneath the deep ground, a nerdy lab scientist would be swell to see him try and escape.

We could call the movie Half-Life.

 

[Eliam_Dar]

Captain Jean Luc Picard.... there, he has style, he has the knowledge, and he has the courage

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Aliens. I never play human in anything, if there is an option.

I HATE EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU WHO CHOSE HUMAN NOBLE IN DRAGON AGE.

[HEADING=2]AND DOUBLY SO IF YOU WERE A HUMAN NOBLE WARRIOR![/HEADING]

I was a Human Noble two-weapon fighting ROGUE/DUELIST, thank you!

Can I has a little less hate, yes?

You get .50 times the hate. Because Duelists rock!

 

[ShadowsofHope]

Aliens. I never play human in anything, if there is an option.

I HATE EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU WHO CHOSE HUMAN NOBLE IN DRAGON AGE.

[HEADING=2]AND DOUBLY SO IF YOU WERE A HUMAN NOBLE WARRIOR![/HEADING]

I was a Human Noble two-weapon fighting ROGUE/DUELIST, thank you!

Can I has a little less hate, yes?

You get .50 times the hate. Because Duelists rock!

Yes, yes they do!

 

[Carlston]

Ash William. He knows his Mortality, Shows his fear but does what has to be done when he's called out on it. Either kick the head demons ass, or know he might have killed ya but he'll be fishing your boot out of his ass for half of his reign of eternity before you were called a chicken...that's the man ya need.

Some people try to pull off immortality with a lifetime of achievements and noble acts. But why piss away all that energy on altruism when you can simply spout one badass quote before you take the dirt nap and live on through eternity known as a guy who needed a second casket for his balls?

 

[Regiment]

Can I vote for anyone but the first two? Gaming is swimming in ultramasculine he-men and tough (but still attractive and feminine) women. I want a protagonist that's not a cliche. Well, anyone well-written, anyway- hence the vote.

 

[Chicago Ted]

I like sly characters that make the reader question where their true motivation and loyalties lie.

 

[SilverUchiha]

To be honest, ANYTHING BUT the "Blank Slate" works for me. It might have worked for Freeman and some others, but I think it kills some games. I think it'd be better (in Zelda for example) if Link could say a smartass comment now and again. Maybe allow the player to have more input than "Yes" or "No" and have the implications of those choice a little more diverse than "YEs" = continue with game or "No" = remain here until you say yes.

But, in all fairness, if the main character is written well, it shouldn't really matter.