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16 Heroes & Villains: Arden

In Story Building Blocks II: Crafting Believable Conflict and the Build A Cast Workbook, I introduce sixteen character mannequins or prototypes based on personality types. I track them from cradle to grave and talk about their strengths and weaknesses and how to warp them.  I use male or female pronouns based on the percentage of the population that fell in that category, but all mannequins can be anything you make them. The traits discussed are starting points. You can alter their temperaments depending on the purpose they serve. Their traits give them strengths to build on and weaknesses to exploit. 


ARDEN

As a hero, Arden stands beside those he values to face the enemy and is willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good.

As a villain, Arden is controlling and overly judgmental. He bends other people to his will and shoots those who object to the party line.

On the upside, you can rely on Arden to maintain order and continuity. He has strong opinions about what is normal. He sticks up for his beliefs and enforces the rules. He expects people to conform. He is suspicious of loners. He doesn't flatter or kowtow. He treats an equal as an equal. He is an extrovert and a joiner. He is proud of his family crest. He has integrity and is a hard worker. He is socially adept and organized. He has amazing recall and is an excellent strategist. He works well with others and is willing to get his hands dirty to get the job done.

Arden is realistic, matter of fact, and abrupt. He is interested in the production line not ideas. He states what he thinks openly and won't back down. He can point out flaws in the system. He notices details others miss, but can't see big picture. He is oblivious to emotional content. He shuts out evidence he doesn't agree with. He can seem unfeeling. He tells you what he thinks, offers objective opinions, and is focused on whether the information is true or false.  If convinced by someone he respects, he can switch sides, which will confuse people. He follows evidence and ignores hunches. He wants facts not impressions. He isn't open to appeal once he makes a decision. He will hide mistakes.

On the darkside, Arden has no patience with people he deems "different”, lazy, or weak. He is livid if his integrity or work ethic are questioned. Authority is based on experience and knowledge, not title or position. Pedigree is important. If you aren't one of us, you're less than. He would not tolerate being "less than." His is materialistic and only respects people with experience. He is outspoken to the point of being rude. He expects everyone to attend ceremonies. He is impatient with people who lack attention to detail. He won't accept excuses. He enforces rules and hierarchy even if they are harmful or wrong. He attacks when threatened and has friends to back him. He suppresses his displeasure until a core value is violated. Then he erupts and dishes out criticism, but can’t take it. He is hypercritical and controlling when stressed. He will overlook a transgression once, but it better not be repeated and he will not tolerate challenges to his authority.

When communicating, Arden rejects information from people he considers weak or inefficient. He cuts off people who don't agree with him. He ignores personal criticism and emotional arguments. When he has to make a decision, he relies on his own thoughts and feelings. He doesn't ponder or theorize. He makes impartial decisions but could put self-interest first. He wants to control the outcome. He wants the job done. He is confident, punctual, and follows through. He doesn't need anyone to agree with him. He will move unilaterally. He can plan, see it through, and follow up. He meets deadlines. He has a backup plan. Improvising makes him anxious and anxiety makes him hypercritical and controlling and more fixed in his position. He is more interested in solving a problem than rehashing what happened. However, he can get sidelined by focusing on whether the rules were followed or whether the situation was fair instead of fixing the problem.

Arden's natural allies are Lee, Nevada, Kelly, and Francis. Arden’s nemesis is Shelby. He enjoys the time he spends with friends. He seeks people who have the same personal standards and interests. He may be drawn to sports or athletic activities. He socializes with family and those involved in his community or church or club, even if they aren’t compatible.
He desires status and respects those he feels have achieved a high degree of success. He is less controlling with those he views as powerful or authoritative in their field. He can display a sharp wit. He enjoys telling jokes and stories. His friends view him as steady and dependable. He is very opinionated and likes to be in charge, but softens those tendencies when around others of his temperament.

Arden puts work and family above social ties. He has no patience for people he deems flighty or unconventional. They find his rigid adherence to rules off-putting. To the feeling types, he comes across as rude and insensitive. Arden's currency is gratitude and appreciation for his integrity. He stands by a commitment.

As a hero, Arden will defend his beliefs and his inner circle to the death. He will lead the charge and not be troubled by doubts. Friends and allies will rally to his call.

As a villain, Arden will punish anyone who steps out of line or who is considered "different." He has no problem attacking and has friends to back him up.

Next week, we meet Blair.


16 Heroes & Villains: Nevada

 

 In Story Building Blocks II: Crafting Believable Conflict and the Build A Cast Workbook, I introduce sixteen character mannequins or prototypes based on personality types. I track them from cradle to grave and talk about their strengths and weaknesses and how to warp them.  I use male or female pronouns based on the percentage of the population that fell in that category, but all mannequins can be anything you make them. The traits discussed are starting points. You can alter their temperaments depending on the purpose they serve. Their traits give them strengths to build on and weaknesses to exploit. 

NEVADA

As a hero, Nevada is honorable and works for the common good.

As a villain, Nevada is a paranoid enforcer who sees enemies and conspiracies everywhere.

Nevada is clever. He notices problems others miss. People are either right or wrong, and he fights for right. He sees the world as a dangerous place and feels responsible for rescuing people from harm. He cares about people and fights for the oppressed.

Nevada looks to superiors for guidance and will carry out their orders to the letter. His brain is a card index of people, their preferences, and what makes them tick. He listens well and recognizes patterns others miss. He can grasp philosophy, but this is not his strength. He reads other people and is open to their ideas. He is a good team-builder and excellent story teller. He is wounded when confronted with cruelty or indifference. He would overthrow an abusive authority. Nevada loves to entertain and show off his largess. He likes fine wine and conversation. He excels at networking. People respect him. He gives generously and expects to be patted on the head for it. He knows how to win support and donations.  

Nevada likes being in charge. Seniority rules. He makes exceptions to the rules he finds inconvenient. Nevada can craft a plan, see it through, and deal with the fallout. His quick temper can interfere with his effectiveness, especially when he spends more time blaming than fixing. He won't question authority and avoids direct conflict. He fears disapproval and will wiggle out of taking responsibility for things he does wrong. He'd rather coerce other people into doing what needs to be done so he doesn't look like a bad guy. He overlooks the misdeeds of those closest to him. 

Nevada embraces prevailing thoughts and conforms and is free with his black and white opinions. If it's said often enough, it must be true. His opinions are limited to information from people he likes. Nevada isn't interested in theories, research, or impersonal debate. His focus on detail can blind him to the big picture. He follows the evidence and ignores hunches and is swayed by emotional arguments. He trusts experience. He doesn't look ahead and can't see that actions have long term consequences. He makes a decision, regardless of whether it is popular, to get it over with. He wants consensus but doesn't always wait for it. 

His vast store of data can be used against his enemies. He is susceptible to superstition and dismisses input from people he deems inappropriate. He tells you what he feels and asks for sentiments. Information is good or bad. He surrounds himself with people who agree with him. In an argument, he wants you to understand his feelings on the matter and acknowledge that he is upset. He shuts down if he is called on his faulty information or responds with amused indifference or open dismissal. He rehashes emotions instead of solving problems. He reacts rashly and emotionally. He will debate the topic long after the other person has lost interest. 

On the dark side, Nevada can be hypervigilant to the point of paranoia. He justifies his behavior, even if it is harmful. He worships the powerful and he wants to be part of the inner circle around the throne or on the throne. He is easily offended and quick to anger, especially if his efforts go unnoticed. He hates being alone. He wants to be "somebody." He doesn't think for himself. He can be narrow-minded and judgmental. He can be charismatic which makes it easy to induce mutiny. He knows how to manipulate people.

He is intolerant when stressed. He attributes thoughts and feelings to people that they don't have. He is overly sensitive and imagines slights where none are intended. He punishes then rescues. 

Nevada's natural allies are Arden, Taylor, Hadley, and Wynn. His nemesis is Greer. He is service-oriented and invested in the happiness and satisfaction of those around him. Being a social creature, he values loyal, like-minded souls. He invests in close personal relationships and makes friends with a wide variety of people. He refuses to believe anything negative about his friends. His friends appreciate his genuine interest and  kindheartedness. He is let down if others don’t value their relationship as much as he does. He never gives anything freely and always expects something in return, even if it is praise for having given it. Some people don't appreciate being "managed" by Nevada. He enjoys throwing parties so he can show off his possessions.

As a hero, Nevada has keen insight into what makes people tick. He can rally a crowd and put on a show. He will ignore rules to get the job done and has people willing to do what he asks.

As a villain, Nevada is a shallow but excellent manipulator. He wants to be close to the seat of power and seeks acclaim. He knows how to get under the hero's skin and has minions willing to do his bidding.

Next week, we meet Arden.

You can download free character information sheets:

16 Heroes & Villains: Francis

 In Story Building Blocks II: Crafting Believable Conflict and the Build A Cast Workbook, I introduce sixteen character mannequins or prototypes based on personality types. I track them from cradle to grave and talk about their strengths and weaknesses and how to warp them.  I use male or female pronouns based on the percentage of the population that fell in that category, but all mannequins can be anything you make them. The traits discussed are starting points. You can alter their temperaments depending on the purpose they serve. Their traits give them strengths to build on and weaknesses to exploit. 


FRANCIS

As a hero, Francis gets things done and encourages everyone to follow the rules. He wants everyone to pull together. As a hero, Francis will do whatever it take to right the wrongs and hold people accountable.

As a villain, Francis is a controlling commandant ruthless in getting revenge.

Francis is steadfast and will come up with a plan of action, no matter the human cost. He is slow to embrace change but is an enforcer if you need one. He is upright and honorable. He can’t be bribed and is highly suspicious of people who don’t follow the rules. He wants to belong and to keep people on the right track, but doesn’t care if he’s popular.

While everyone else is focused on the big picture, Frances sees the flaws in the details. He is a good listener. He follows evidence and ignores hunches, relying on the experience and expertise of the people he trusts. If he lost respect for someone, he would turn against them and be equally effective in seeing them pay for being wrong. He keeps his word and fights on the side of what he considers right. There are no gray areas. No cutting corners. He will not ignore failure or weakness in his team.

On the dark side, France is dogmatic in his opinions. He is rigid and dismisses anything he doesn't agree with and people he disrespects. He hates working with people he feels are inferior. He expects people to keep their word. He can be a bully and his bluntness comes across as rude. Status is important and he is overly fond of rules. His views can be narrow and unforgiving. He dismisses other people’s input before they’ve given it if they aren’t part of his inner circle. He has poor emotional intelligence. He is very focused on right versus wrong. He would never admit to being wrong. Even if his goals are evil, he thinks he is on the side of right and will fight to the death.

Frances likes uniforms and badges. He fervidly embraces a belief system and works to uphold the given hierarchy. Francis thrives on order, structure, calm, and a predictable schedule. He is not comfortable with new people or situations. He likes to show off. If his competence is questioned frequently, it results in low self-esteem. He becomes rigid in the face of uncertainty and becomes a bully.

Francis is uncomfortable with praise and immune to flattery. He won’t offer praise in return. He listens to functional criticism but misses the emotional content. He does not take conflict personally, because the other person is wrong. Francis wants to be right more than happy. 

Surprisingly, Francis keeps his opinion to himself unless asked. Then he delights in telling people they were wrong. If they'd asked earlier, he could have saved them a lot of time and effort. He tells you what he thinks, delivers objective opinions, and is focused on whether what you are saying is true or false. It doesn't matter how you feel about it. Conversations are win-lose and he wants to win.

He can be very passive-aggressive and obstructive. In a crisis, he withdraws to think first and act second. He can get hung up on whether an approach is right or wrong. Francis likes to be prepared. He has a backup plan for the backup plan. Surprises and last minute changes make him nervous. He only changes course when he hits a dead end. Anxiety makes him controlling and rigid. He blames himself when things go wrong, but is furious if anyone accuses him. He wants to solve the problem by figuring out what caused it instead of figuring out what to do about it. He won't listen to an emotional rehash of it. He can get lost in the blame game. 

Francis's natural allies are Cam, Wynn, Arden, and Joss. His nemesis is Hadley. They are complete opposites and have no common ground. He struggles with overly emotional people. He relies on his trusted circle. He rejects people he considers incompetent or dishonest. He is uncomfortable with praise and immune to flattery. He won’t offer praise in return.

Friends come after work, family, and community service. He values a friend when he makes one and pencils them in when he can. He is drawn to people who have similar interests and views. He has no patience with those who are vastly different or those who live outside the bounds of propriety. He occasionally lets loose and has a little fun if dragged there by an extroverted friend. His social outings become rituals. He won't tolerate last minute changes. He can get along with anyone for a while, until he tells them they are wrong once too often.

As a hero, Frances is an unassailable force for good. He can't be flattered or bribed. He stays on track and tackles the problem. His friends admire his prowess.

As a villain, Francis is unbending, focused, and hates losing. He will turn on a minion in a heartbeat. 

Next week, we meet Nevada.

16 Heroes & Villains: Wynn

In Story Building Blocks II: Crafting Believable Conflict and the Build A Cast Workbook, I introduce sixteen character mannequins or prototypes based on personality types. I track them from cradle to grave and talk about their strengths and weaknesses and how to warp them. I use male or female pronouns based on the percentage of the population that fell in that category, but all mannequins can be anything you make them. The traits discussed are starting points. You can alter their temperaments depending on the purpose they serve. Their traits give them strengths to build on and weaknesses to exploit. 

For the next few months, we explore the sixteen characters as heroes and villains. 

WYNN

First up is Wynn. As a hero, Wynn is willing to sacrifice herself for the greater good. As a villain, she is a simmering volcano of unexpressed needs and opinions waiting to explode.

Wynn helps people in need without reward. She can be entirely selfless. She encourages cooperation. She has a knack for remembering details about people. She is tuned into the subtext of conversations and the emotional impact of words and gestures. She pays attention to the delivery in addition to content.

She believes people are basically good. However, this can make her gullible and easily preyed upon. She has difficulty leaving abusive relationships or jobs. Wynn needs to be needed. This can inspire her to do good deeds. It can also make her clinging and controlling. Wynn loves to give. However, she gives people what she wants them to have not necessarily what they want. She is very hurt if they don't appreciate her efforts.

She is impressed by and defers to people with titles and status. She is concerned with appearances and turns against people she deems "different." She has strong opinions and beliefs and does not like to be challenged. She can be highly judgmental.

Without positive feedback, Wynn becomes depressed and her self-worth plummets. She stops listening. The world becomes an unfair and dangerous place. She can become self-destructive, which can harm others. She hates feeling used and unappreciated. It would require a breaking point for her to leave a situation or person. She will do anything for that pat on the back. Her desperate need could turn lethal.

Wynn is a fuzzy communicator. When upset, she wants you to listen to how she feels and agree with her point of view. She ignores information she does not agree with. She hates confrontation and is passive-aggressive. Anxiety makes her rigid. She allows issues to fester until she finally combusts, reacting out of proportion to the trigger, and saying things she can't take back. She has a long list of slights saved up. She is good at holding a grudge. When things go wrong, she focuses on finding out what happened and who is to blame instead of solving the problem.

She is afraid to make a wrong choice and can become paralyzed by fear. Wynn makes decisions at the last minute and only when forced. As a force for good, she seeks win-win solutions. She worries about the impact on people she cares for and doesn't want to be blamed. She doesn't like being in charge or held responsible. She will bend rules to keep the peace. She prefers to stick with the agreed upon plan and won't second guess what she is told to do. She prefers to have backup and consensus before taking action. That makes her a good foot soldier but not a great firebrand.

When the plan is in place, Wynn gets it done. She isn't interested in perfection. She just wants it over with. She isn't worried about the next stage. She will deal with that when it comes. She isn't good at improvising and adapting. She prefers clear instructions and a direct approach. If things go wrong, she blames other people. She makes excuses for those close to her and struggles to hold them accountable. She would willingly ignore or hide a crime.

Wynn's natural alliances are Francis, River, Nevada, and Blair. As an ally, she is warm, dependable, and trustworthy. She clings to friends for life and is devastated by betrayal. She is heavily influenced by her inner circle. She discusses everything with them, even when she shouldn't, even her relationship issues which angers her romantic partner. Friends are priorities after family and duty.

She sometimes endows people with thoughts and feelings they don’t have. She suspects hidden motives and agendas. Negative impressions build up and she turns against an ally without telling them why and cuts people off if they let her down.

As a hero, once a plan has been devised, Wynn follows it without question. She fights on the side of what she thinks is right. She is an avid devotee. 

As a villain, she can be brutally single-minded and vengeful, destroying anyone she disagrees with and easily turns on minions that let her down.

Next week, we meet Francis.

You can download free character information sheets: