Imperfect Heroes

[GMMichael]

For, let's say inspiration, please share with us your favorite flawed hero(es). You know, the ones with a handicap, broken moral compass, or for lack of another term, ability scores below 10. We'll be happy to hear about the ones you've actually used at the table, as well as those from other authors.

Since I'm

Spoiler

mired in

reading a Feast for Crows, I'll start with:

Brienne of Tarth
Human Knight
Charisma 7
Flaw (please suggest; I'm not up to speed on 5e yet)

 

[neonagash]

On the same note I like the hound. He seemed to me like a basically decent person who had through circumstance and environment been turned into a sort of a monster. But he did ultimately do more good then bad in the books.

Also Spiderman always struck me as a flawed hero. Theres the clear beginning where his uncle dies with the implication he could have saved him to his flawed, and ultimately human relationship issues with other characters.

 

[BigVanVader]

I'm going on an Angel run right now, so I'd have to say Angel. I like his quest for redemption, I like that because of what he is, he tries to fulfill the whole silent stoic role that everybody knows. But because of who he is, that doesn't always work. I like that he's in some ways stuck in the past, I like that he's vain and tries not to let on, and I like that his plans are usually "punch somebody and figure it out on the fly".

Mind you, none of those mean he has to have low stats, every single one of those could be solved via good ol' fashioned roleplay.

Roleplaying. Gotta love it!

 

[GMMichael]

Tyrion Lannister
Level 5 Aristocrat
(Still alive, last I checked, in season 3 and the book I'm reading)
STR 6
DEX 12
CON 12
INT 14
WIS 10
CHA 10

Savior of King's Landing, former Hand of the King, missing a nose, and fugitive. Hmm...seems to have more bonuses than penalties...

 

[Celebrim]

Show me a perfect hero?

I don't think it is enough to give examples of flaws, without clearly giving example of why they are heroic despite the flaws. That is to say, are we confusing "hero" with simply be a "protagonist" or just "a character"?

At best, a "hero" with a "broken moral compass" is an anti-hero. More likely, they are an anti-villain or simply a villain.

Most "flaws" a hero might have, a true hero demonstrates to not be flaws. Brienne for example demonstrates that beauty holds no real value and is not a virtue, and hence its lack is no vice. However, a hero which has a true vice, proves to be crippled by it and ends as no hero at all. "A broken moral compass" is a very different sort of 'flaw' than ugly.

 

[BigVanVader]

Most "flaws" a hero might have, a true hero demonstrates to not be flaws. Brienne for example demonstrates that beauty holds no real value and is not a virtue, and hence its lack is no vice. However, a hero which has a true vice, proves to be crippled by it and ends as no hero at all. "A broken moral compass" is a very different sort of 'flaw' than ugly.

Celebrim, you know I love your posts, but I'm not sure I agree with this part, right here. Heroes do have flaws, they can have real vices, same as anyone else off the street. But a hero is someone who can overcome that vice most days. He can overcome his desire for vengeance or bloodlust, he can walk away from that bottle of JD, he can resist the evil temptress(It sucks to be a chick in mythology.) or not accept those millions of corrupt blood-dollars that he so needs to pay the rent tomorrow.

But he still has those vices. He needs to have them, in order to rise above them. That make sense?

 

[Celebrim]

But he still has those vices. He needs to have them, in order to rise above them. That make sense?

No, he's an anti-hero. Once he rises above his vices, then he's a hero.

The classic nerd reference here would be Han Solo. Han Solo is introduced as an anti-hero: drug smuggler, criminal, gun fighter, in it for the money. We can mark the exact moment in the story line he becomes a hero.

Another example would be 'An Officer and a Gentlemen'. Zack initially is so far into anti-hero he's an anti-villain. I would argue that initially he's the antagonist in the story - thief and scoundrel. But we can mark the exact moment in the story he becomes a hero.