Mary Sue- Not sure I understand

[an_idol_mind]

The sex thing isn't limited to Elminster. That's just how Greenwood writes. One of his novels mentions Mirt the Moneylender's adopted daughter hoping to one day become his lover. You can set an egg timer on most characters in Greenwood's novels losing their clothing. That's not an Elminster thing - that's how Greenwood always seems to write.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

It's not monogamous. Here's a quote from Ed Greenwood from the Candlekeep Forum.
thank you...this was a myth that needed dispeling since I have REPATEDLY been critasized ont his and other forms for calling him out on this...

The reference to the Woodstock era is particularly indicative of where Ed is coming from imo. In the same post he goes on to say -

you know what this pushes him even more into sue terrotriy...and the wishfulfilment part...
(((first a disclaimer I only meet ed once at a convention more then 10 years ago and spoke to him for less the 10 mins at the time))))
I am going to assume (based on world experance although if I am wrong I will pony up to it) that being a kind old role-player with a large beard and aless then stellar body shape (although to be fair he appears to be in better shap then I or half of my D&D group so I do not mean this as a slight, only an opsrevation) I have to belive he does not have supermodel good looking falling all over him. So when ever pic of a femal nude with elminster is supper hot...well I mean you guys can see where I am going with this right...

now just to show the flip side of this coin I do not fault him for this. If I play a bard with an 18 Cha I expect NPC women to oggle me...it is also part of the wishfulfilment...

 

[Obryn]

The sex thing isn't limited to Elminster. That's just how Greenwood writes. One of his novels mentions Mirt the Moneylender's adopted daughter hoping to one day become his lover. You can set an egg timer on most characters in Greenwood's novels losing their clothing. That's not an Elminster thing - that's how Greenwood always seems to write.

Yeah, I and I always find it vaguely ... icky. Seriously, Fantasy Authors... If you don't know how to write a good sex scene, don't even try.

It's unsettling in almost the same way that Piers Anthony books are.

-O

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Yeah, I and I always find it vaguely ... icky.

did you read his LICH comment...I kinda got a little sick when I did...

I mean if he had his way it seams likt tentical Anima would be in the realms by now...

 

[Mr. Patient]

IMO, Buffy the Vampire Slayer became textbook Mary Sue in the latter half of Season 7, and she had some Sue-ish traits going on before that. I'm not fond of that part of Buffydom, but I still love the show overall and think Joss Whedon is an awesome writer.

I disagree; it's Buffy Season 4 that had the Mary Sue. See my avatar for details.

 

[Dausuul]

did you read his LICH comment...I kinda got a little sick when I did...

Oh yeah. I mean, seriously, liches?

Whoa, there! Eric's Grandmother would not be happy. Let's keep this thread within board rules.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

I disagree; it's Buffy Season 4 that had the Mary Sue. See my avatar for details.

Yes, people who use "Mary Sue" in place of actual criticism don't get it.

Jonathan was a perfect Marty Stu. But that's the problem. He was intentional. So is the canonical "Ensign Mary Sue". I have never seen a proper Mary Sue outside of bad fanfic.

 

[Oni]

If I was publishing the “uncensored” Realms, in fiction, most of my liches would be desperate to have physical relations with adventurers, not kill them. Think about it.

O_O

The idea of what the Realms might really be like fills me with a deep and terrible curiosity of the sort usually reserved for things man was not meant to know and automobile accidents.

 

[Shades of Green]

IMHO a Mary Sue is a supporting or background character who is so powerful/good/competent/whatever that she steals away the spotlight from the protagonists. If an extremely powerful/good/competent/whatever supporting character exists in the story or setting but does not steal the spotlight from the protagonists she's not a Mary Sue, though it still sometimes raises the question of "how come the world is so choke-full of bad guys (ready to be defeated by the protagonists) when an uber-powerful pure-good NPC is around?". There are ways to solve this question (as done in many mythologies in regard to gods).

In a fanfic or even original fiction a Mary Sue is a "minor" character who out-shines the protagonists. In a role-playing game a Mary Sue is an NPC who saves the day (and wins the adventure) instead of the PCs.

 

[Oni]

I feel like the term Mary Sue has evolved to be more of an author's pet character (why can vary) for whom the author's favoritism has been allowed to negatively impact the quality of the narrative.