- Characters are the foundation of your story.
- Creating them will be the most engaging task.
- So much so that an author may get trapped into the character creation’s process.
- The purpose of this article is to purvey a simple process to create 2ndary Characters.
- How do you create 2ndary Characters?
- What’s the difference with Main Characters?
- What’s the difference with Tertiary Characters?
Character’s level of importance
The context defines the number of characters you need regarding to their level of importance.
- Short scale settings – single building, room or town
- Main : 1
- Secondary : up to 2
- Tertiary : up to 3
- Total characters : up to 6
- Medium scale settings – City
- Main : up to 2
- Secondary : up to 4
- Tertiary : up to 6
- Total characters : up to 12
- Large scale settings – Metropolis, Megalopolis or Country
- Main : up to 4
- Secondary : up to 8
- Tertiary : up to 12
- Total characters : up to 24
Tertiary characters
- This is the succinct definition of a Tertiary character.
- A full definition will be developed in a specific article.
- Here, we only reinforce the main distinction between Secondary & Tertiary characters : Individuality.
- The tertiary characters are defined by a more Limited role than 2ndary characters.
- Their impact on the story is generally limited to 1 chapter or 1 scene.
- They may act either as an Hindrance & or as an Help.
- Are they real characters?
- You could give them a simple Goal.
- Earn money.
- Build a side business.
- Make a game.
- Serve the realm.
- Help others.
- You tertiary character will find a source of satisfaction in a leisure/project/mission.
- Give them at least 1 Strength & 1 Weakness.
- Give them a Quirk, to make them more memorable.
- A funny hat is the easiest way to go.
- They possess Little to no individuality.
- They are part of a Category/Class.
- Common Categories of Tertiary Characters:
- Guards, Citizens, Healers, Teachers, Shopkeepers, Inn/Motel keepers, Business managers.
- All these characters can transition to 2ndary character as the story unfolds.
Secondary characters
Now for the 2ndary characters, you will need 4 personality traits & 1 Goal.
- A Secondary character has a sense of place.
- Her usefulness is contextual.
- She defines the setting & chapter/scene she is part of.
- She assists the Main character.
- She has a long term role & reappears Regularly.
- She evolves as the story progresses.
- She is linked to the party/Main character.
- Her evolution affects the party/Main character.
- She can become a party member.
- She can become a foe, either punctual or the nemesis.
- As character creations goes these archetypes will not reference any types of orientations related to sex/genre or ethnicity/race.
- No specific Species has been chosen to define an archetype.
- No physical traits is established prior to the elaboration of the archetype.
- The only pertinent criterion discussed hereafter may be the Age of the character.
- Even then, it shouldn’t be a limitation factor.
Archetypes of 2ndary characters
Guide/Purveyor
- She will push the story forward the most.
- She purveys maps & directions.
- She advises & counsels.
- She may provide limited supplies.
- She can be older than the Main character.
Rival/Contrarian
- The Rival is not necessarily an enemy.
- She can become one later.
- She can become the nemesis.
- The Rival will act as an opponent.
- Yet, only to help the Main character’s evolution.
- She can be either slightly older or slightly younger than the Main character.
- If older, the emphasis will be put on greater experience & skills.
- If younger, the emphasis will be put on greater efficiency & luck.
Sponsor/Supplier
- This character’s dynamic is different from the Guide/Purveyor.
- She will ask for a counterpart.
- She generally has larger resources &/or greater skills than the Guide/Purveyor.
- And therefore can Provide more & more frequently.
- She will establish a contract.
- Most of the time a commercial contract.
- She can create a contractor/customer relationship with Main character.
- She can create a employee/employer relationship with Main character.
- She can be older than the Main character.
- In many cases it is the preferred way to bring more consistency
Assistant/Servant
- She will be Generous to the Main character.
- She will take Initiative to support the Main character as well as the party.
- She is the most Reliable.
- As well as the most Discrete.
- Yet, not to a degree where she isolates herself from the group
- This character is group oriented.
- She will systematically assist & support the Main character.
- She will not be able to choose by herself.
