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Even though discovery writing is about letting the story go without interference, you still don't want the characters to get killed in the first chapter. For this exists safety nets, people, objec...
#4: Post edited
by
Canina
·
2021-05-21T19:33:15Z (almost 3 years ago)
Removed redundant "writing" tag
Even though discovery writing is about letting the story go without interference, you still don't want the characters to get killed in the first chapter.For this exists safety nets, **people, objects, or forces that protect the protagonists**. Three MacGuffins a day keeps George R. R. Martin at bay.Problems arose when we use people as safety nets, sure they counter any and everything, but in (my) the worst case scenario they've got no strings on them that would hold their power down. These are typically stuff like Elminster from [_Forgotten Realms_](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms) or the Giant Eagles from [_Lord of the Rings_](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/TheLordOfTheRings). Their ability to solve the plot upon a whim makes them an implacable force, that can only be countered with an even stronger villain, said stronger villains will eat the protags for dinner. And we're back at where we started. Very specific weaknesses, like the One Ring's corrupting influence that is quadratically proportional to the user's power level, can't work on either side. Reasons: "Nomen est omen."Removing them and their influence is sometimes possible (Giant Eagles) and sometimes not (Elminster).**I want to keep my safety net with minimal modification, but prevent him from stealing the show. How should I do that?**
- Even though discovery writing is about letting the story go without interference, you still don't want the characters to get killed in the first chapter.
- For this exists safety nets, **people, objects, or forces that protect the protagonists**. Three MacGuffins a day keeps George R. R. Martin at bay.
- Problems arose when we use people as safety nets, sure they counter any and everything, but in (my) the worst case scenario they've got no strings on them that would hold their power down. These are typically stuff like Elminster from [_Forgotten Realms_](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms) or the Giant Eagles from [_Lord of the Rings_](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/TheLordOfTheRings). Their ability to solve the plot upon a whim makes them an implacable force, that can only be countered with an even stronger villain, said stronger villains will eat the protags for dinner. And we're back at where we started. Very specific weaknesses, like the One Ring's corrupting influence that is quadratically proportional to the user's power level, can't work on either side. Reasons: "Nomen est omen."
- Removing them and their influence is sometimes possible (Giant Eagles) and sometimes not (Elminster).
- **I want to keep my safety net with minimal modification, but prevent him from stealing the show. How should I do that?**
#3: Attribution notice added
by
System
·
2019-12-08T09:10:13Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/37049 License name: CC BY-SA 3.0 License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision
by
Mephistopheles
·
2019-12-08T09:10:13Z (over 4 years ago)
Even though discovery writing is about letting the story go without interference, you still don't want the characters to get killed in the first chapter. For this exists safety nets, **people, objects, or forces that protect the protagonists**. Three MacGuffins a day keeps George R. R. Martin at bay. Problems arose when we use people as safety nets, sure they counter any and everything, but in (my) the worst case scenario they've got no strings on them that would hold their power down. These are typically stuff like Elminster from [_Forgotten Realms_](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms) or the Giant Eagles from [_Lord of the Rings_](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/TheLordOfTheRings). Their ability to solve the plot upon a whim makes them an implacable force, that can only be countered with an even stronger villain, said stronger villains will eat the protags for dinner. And we're back at where we started. Very specific weaknesses, like the One Ring's corrupting influence that is quadratically proportional to the user's power level, can't work on either side. Reasons: "Nomen est omen." Removing them and their influence is sometimes possible (Giant Eagles) and sometimes not (Elminster). **I want to keep my safety net with minimal modification, but prevent him from stealing the show. How should I do that?**
#1: Imported from external source
by
System
·
2018-06-19T13:30:03Z (almost 6 years ago)
Original score: -4