Tama
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Posts: 173
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Post by Tama on Nov 26, 2006 16:11:31 GMT -5
Mine would have to be Calica. Because I missed on a considerable chunk of book one, and a couple of others, she came out of nowhere. All of a sudden (to me) there was a Mary-Sue in the midst of character's I'd seen develop, and it confused me.
Why do I think she's a Mary-Sue?
1) Lack of any background, apart from the fact she seemed to be an unexplained prodigy at everything 2) Doesn't actually have many bad points (if any) 3) Has a power unique to her that's important to the entire storyline for no appearent reason 4) Irratating beyond belief 5) Has unbelievable romance with the *highly desirable* main character 6) Appears to be good at absolutely everything 7) And, the one that annoys me most of all, uses an overrated Japanese weapon even though is definately not Japanese
I mean, sheesh! How many characters use katanas? They're so basic! If you have to give a character a blade, go for something different! Stillettos? Rapiers? Both would be perfect for a character like Calica, but no. She has to use a katana. Like millions of others.
Peliqua also uses a Japanese weapon, but with her it's cool because a) it's referencing the totally obscure and b) it's a ninja weapon but not an obvious one. If she used shurikens it would be irratating, but manriki-gusari's are so cool.
That, and she gets in the way of Ryushi/Aurin. Which is unexpected and sweet and so much more then Ryuchi/Calica could ever be. Because Aurin was completely a whole character and I loved the way she changed from a brat to awesome.
Of course, if I'm completely off the mark, please correct me. ^^;
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Post by Maliris on Nov 27, 2006 13:33:26 GMT -5
Well, it´s difficult to be totally off the mark when you just speak your mind. I must admit, I never met a person who disliked Calica. I never thought that her using a katana was irritating or anything. It was just what it was... and I do like katanas for their slim blade and the hilt. It´s far more stylish than a medival sword. In my opinion anyway... However, I, too, thought it would be extra-sweet if Ryushi and Aurin were together. It would be something extraordinary. And it´s true that I always liked Aurin´s character. Calica was just... well, Calica. I still liked her. Also because she was a rather strong character. And her past was troubled with guilt (okay, her present is still troubled with guilt, but duh.). Aurin´s change of character on the other hand was something new. Something I had not in the least seen coming. This said, I say: Calica is nice. But Aurin´s cool. *laughs*
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Tama
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Post by Tama on Nov 27, 2006 18:03:03 GMT -5
My mind goes all over the place. ^^; I'm amazed it even knows where the mark is.
Normally it's just one character in a series that I just don't follow, and I don't understand why they're there. Then that becomes dislike.
I managed to miss all of the guilt. xD Any reason why, or just non-specific guilt?
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Post by bluephoenix on Nov 27, 2006 19:11:51 GMT -5
LOL, I'm totally Tama's opposite. Calica wasn't my favorite, but I really liked her. And you can't have an anime story without one prdigy. haha. Katana's not a bad thing, it's a standard sword and there's nothing wrong with using one (maybe I'm only defensive about this becuase I have my character use one? I dunno...) But I mean, Ryushi used a long sword and Kia used a staff, both of those were also generic.
I thought it made sense to have Calica so important becuase of her power, I mean, without there was a lot of ways to make bigger mistakes. She made things more solid, made choices safer, and even revealed paths noone knew were there.
I thought she and Ryushi were a good, straightforward couple, I mean Kia's love life was confusing enough, if Ryushi's had become anymore round-about I think it would've made things too deep. I thought he and Aurin was more unbelievable, becuase it was just the usual "Oh, sweet 'unexpected' love between enemies." Which is really just as generic as the two prdigy children getting together.
SO yeah, I was a calica suporter and never liked Aurin. She was so...generic. The Evil blinded selfish princess who is turned to the good side by falling for our dashing hero. Of course, being Calica splitling explained it a good deal, so it didn't bother me so much after that.
Tama, hope we don't get into too much of a scuffle over this. haha, but damn if we couldn't think more differently.
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Post by Maliris on Nov 28, 2006 13:33:25 GMT -5
Yes, there was this guilt she felt about what happened to Kia´s and Ryushi´s Mum. She was responsible for her death. And then one day they burden her with this necklace which could wipe out a whole species... she was an important character. And remember: It wasn´t the main characters who killed Macaan. It was the coward Whist. Which rea~lly made me laugh with glee. It came unexpected. Also because I had totally forgotten he had been there... So there are some characters who are essential for the story. Even though it´s weird.
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Post by bluephoenix on Nov 28, 2006 21:24:43 GMT -5
Yeah, I mean Calica being Aurin's splitiling was SUPER important.
And Whist wasn't a---*thinks*---well, ok maybe he was cowardly...but he was a sexy coward! And he could still kick ass when it mattered. Please don't hate my lover. *puppy eyes*
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Tama
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Post by Tama on Nov 29, 2006 18:27:29 GMT -5
I laugh out loud at Whist's bit.
Possibly it might just be me, but you have this long drawn out battle, and it's full of angst and gore and win, and then Whist just... ends as easily as breathing. And then he's all "You guys wouldn't get nothing done without me" and... yeah.
Not a coward, but an oppurtunist. ;D
If there are two characters that are alike/connected, I'll like one and hate the other. -shrug- Kaoru from Ouran, Yuki from Furuba and Aurin from Bsky. I like them, but I don't like their other halves.
I suppose a katana/staff/longsword is generic, but... I wouldn't let one of my characters use one. That's probably why I'm suspicious of characters that use them. (That said, at the moment they fight with... poi, axe, dirks, elbow blades, a book, fists, magic, a broadsword and a guitar case)
I liked the Aurin/Ryushi 'cause you'd expect them to build a relationship, and it seemed to have much firmer standings then Calica/Ryushi.
Kia's love life I'm not even going to try to work out. I liked her with Ty, and I missed out on any standing she had to fall in love with Jedda. I also mangaed to miss what happened to Peliqua & Elani, which still bugs me because they're awesome squared.
-patsbluepheonix- I won't start a fight to save my life. I'll just sit here and wobble. ^^;
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riven
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Post by riven on Dec 5, 2006 23:07:30 GMT -5
Oh man, having a character fight with a guitar case would be the funnest thing ever. Let's see, Calica...well, hmm. XD;; I like Calica, but I like Aurin too (though she's so very angsty. Mmm), and I'm not sure that having a katana is bad in this case (actually, when I was reading it, I was like 'zomg cool japanese sowrdsss1'...but lets not talk about that). You are my special n00b (see other post XD;; ), but I will have to respectfully disagree on some things. Her power is unique, but no one else in the series has Kia's power either (though I suppose some are mentioned, and Calica's IS supposedly rare), and she's...I wouldn't say good at everything. More like she just doesn't have any serious things she can't do. XD;; Looking back on her, she does seem a little flat and eh. On Ryushi/Calica/Aurin...eh, Ryushi's too hot for anyone. XD (btw, a manriki-gusari is a ninja weapon? I think I love Peliqua.)
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Tama
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Post by Tama on Dec 7, 2006 14:44:41 GMT -5
It's more... Whatever she needs is in there. It likes her.
The thing I was thinking with Kia's power, is that it's basically an elemental power. Other characters are seen to weild the elements, but very few have psychic/psychic related powers.
Ryushi is too hot for everyone. ...Agreed on that point.
(It is, y'know. I asked wikipedia. I spend too much time there... I realise that now)
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riven
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Post by riven on Dec 7, 2006 17:15:49 GMT -5
That's pretty convenient That's true, Calica does have random!psychicpowers. XD; But rocks on the other hand are fun <3 Maybe we should scrap the Chris-harem idea and go for a Ryushi harem =d (XD Teh coolies. Wikipedia is crazy)
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Tama
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Post by Tama on Dec 8, 2006 15:32:02 GMT -5
She needs convenience! She's a happy-go-lucky amensiac who's travelling because it's appearently less hassle then getting a job!
Rocks are great. ♥ I used to collect them.
I'm not legally old enough to be involved in a harem of any kind, but good luck!
(Indeedly)
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riven
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Post by riven on Dec 9, 2006 0:25:21 GMT -5
Woo! Rocks are sparkly Me neither, technically...kinda...sorta...O.o XD But you'd do it for Ryushi wouldn't you? <333 (Wasabi? )
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Post by m0n0lith on Apr 14, 2007 1:57:48 GMT -5
hmmm i don't mind calica, i ahvent read every book which pisses me off cuz im too lazy to read the entire series, i cant wait till they all get rereleased so i can actually read them. I've read 1 2 3 4 some of 6 and some of 7 although i did know about tyhe whole whist ending teh fght thing but anyways i'd say Kia was probably my most hated Character, i just never liekd ehr personality she always seemed really pregnant dogy to me and it pissed me off.
Also i ahte advertising but if any of you guys wanna read my novel sometime that'd be cool. ima little more than 10 chapters in (113 pages when set to the size, font size and paragraph formatting of the BSky books) it was heavily inspired by BSky in fact the opening line is almost plaigirism from The first line of broken sky, i'll prolly fix that before i try and get it published but i like it there for now (cuz i cant get sued right now xD) so yea if anyone wants to read it just let me know, i ahvent signed up on this forum yet but my AIM sn is Pattrick Potter IM me sometime if you want
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Post by shyviolet on Apr 14, 2007 8:18:28 GMT -5
Hey, a nodachi is an overrated japanese weapon but nobody disses Takami for it. The reason why so many characters use katana is because they are very good swords, elegant, versatile and simpler to look at than a claymore (my favourite sword style). There's a reason why generic weapons become generic; it's because they're good, solid, reliable weapons that really are the most effective in straight combat. While a manriki-gusari or throwing disks are cool, they were both designed for ambush combat. Without the element of surprise neither would be very useful.
If you think about it, Calica has a power that, while cool, would be useless most of the time. I liked that it was so important because honestly being able to see the past would be a sucky power in most other situations, plus; Takami, Whist, Aurin, Gerdi and Ty all have unique powers, the only one who's power is obviously common is Ryushi. Her romance with Ryushi is more believable than his with Aurin; that was kind of sudden, cliched and had no base to work on, I could see it coming a mile off. With Calica he had intense admiration for her for a year before we got a peek inside her head and found out about her secret amour. I think Aurin's character is a bit flat to be honest; she's your standard evil-through-naivete character who turns round as soon as she's exposed to the real world, it doesn't get much more cliche than that.
If you think about it, Calica is Kia a few years later. She's in exactly the same situation but she's had more time in it, her backstory is basically the same. As for being a prodigy; only at battle tactics and organisation, for all we know she can't even read and her social skills are sorely lacking.
As for other least favourite characters, Kia got on my nerves a LOT. She was so pregnant dogy and possessive through most of the book. But even that didn't bother me too much because you could see why she was like that. In the last three she got much more likeable I think. And she got the benefit of the doubt from me 'cause right at the start she was really cool.
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Post by bluephoenix on Apr 16, 2007 12:52:28 GMT -5
I always identified with Kia a lot. Plus, when I started the books I was still in my "Girls should always be the main character!!" and I loved it that Chris seemed to give more attention to her. But later on Ryushi jumped into the spotlight, but by then I was over it and thought it was cool. Although, I never really had a strong opinion about Ryushi either way.
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