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Thread: Ideal TV Show Characters

  1. #16
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    Alright, how about a diplomatic attache being on board as part of the ship's mission?

    He should be a fairly somber character, with one or two sceletons in the closet. As far as species is concerned, I don't know.. human would be ok. Nothing too visually exotic as the gruff, serious alien has already been done to death.

    Now this character could start a relationship with one of the other male characters in the cast. (Maybe even, Clapton forbid, the captain! )

    The most important thing would be that they should be characters first, and in the same-sex relationship second. And under no circumstances should the relationship be this clichéd opposites attract type. As in macho/effeminate or some such.

    Throughtout the series he might be a little more open, this gradual change in attitude could be used as a metaphor for coming to terms with one's sexuality. Which of course is nothing extraordinary in the 24th century.. but people of this century might connect with it.
    No power in the 'verse can stop me.

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  2. #17
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    ..oh and one more thing

    A character that is more or less a wildcard. Somebody who is dedicated to his job, but could be considered emotionally unstable by some.

    A new never-before-seen species or a half-breed maybe. He'd have a kind of proto-vulcan side, dominated by extreme emotions but of a playful and even childish kind and a tranquil/zen-like side to him.

    Like Spock who had an inner conflict due to his human and vulcan heritage, this character would have a similiar inner conflict. Although he'd lean more towards his emotional side unlike Spock who chose the more controlling Vulcan way.

    Could be female as well.

    Joe
    No power in the 'verse can stop me.

    "You know this roleplaying thing is awfully silly, let's just roll the dice." - overheard during a D&D 3E game.

  3. #18
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    I agree with Joe on some stuff. Another revamp:

    CO - Centauran male, diplomat, ex-science officer, develops same-sex relationship with diplomatic attache
    XO - Andorian female, Dominion War veteran, militant
    Science - Human male, last name Hawking, parapalegic, repulsor-lift chair equipped with tricorder and other scientific field equipment
    Conn/Ops - Human female, WWII fighter pilot tactics, in same-sex relationship with XO, virtuoso capable of handling both starship navigation and operations
    Medical/Counselor - Dr. Selar, Vulcan female, recently completed training as a psychiatrist to further her exploration of the sentient mind
    Security - Cardassian male, exchange officer with pressures and expectations from his government
    Diplomatic Attache - Human male, businesslike demeanor, first contact specialist, develops same-sex relationship with CO

    So far things are interesting. I can see a lot of character interaction threads being drawn between these skeleton concept characters. I can even see some interesting secondary character interactions and opinions developing as a result of direct relationships between some.

    We still need an engineer.

    If anyone has any changes, suggestions, and/or complaints, please do not be afraid to voice them.
    Kim Quintin

    The use of unnecessary force has been authorized.

  4. #19
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    How about a Betazoid Chief Engineer. This character was trapped on Betazed during the occupation. Thier world view is a lot more cynical than normal. More ready to pull the trigger so to speak.

    An interesting twist could be that this character is very good with the Akai( the betazoid martial arts from LUG) and takes out their stress on the holodeck.

    I have left the gender vague on purpose.
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  5. #20
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    Originally posted by kimq
    We still need an engineer.

    If anyone has any changes, suggestions, and/or complaints, please do not be afraid to voice them. [/B]
    I still think the Caitian/Regulan idea would work well as an engineer. However, given the addition of the diplomatic attache, the engineer and the counselor should probably be relegated to recurring character status.

    Also, I want to warn against more than one same-sex relationship in the show. One might be accepted, certainly tolerated, but two would be overly risky, and might get the show labeled as "Gay Trek" (and turn away a lot of viewers).

    To choose between the two, I think the FCO/XO relationship would be more accepted, because we have the precedent (albeit game-related) of quad-marriages in Andorian culture, where intimacy between two "wives" is not uncommon. It's always more acceptable to have the behavior exhibited by a member of an alien race.
    Davy Jones

    "Frightened? My dear, you are looking at a man who has laughed in the face of death, sneered at doom, and chuckled at catastrophe! I was petrified."
    -- The Wizard of Oz

  6. #21
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    Yargh! I like the Betazoid idea! Revamp:

    CO - Centauran male, diplomat, ex-science officer, develops same-sex relationship with diplomatic attache
    XO - Andorian female, Dominion War veteran, militant
    Science - Human male, last name Hawking, parapalegic, repulsor-lift chair equipped with tricorder and other scientific field equipment
    Conn/Ops - Human female, WWII fighter pilot tactics, in same-sex relationship with XO, virtuoso capable of handling both starship navigation and operations
    Medical/Counselor - Dr. Selar, Vulcan female, recently completed training as a psychiatrist to further her exploration of the sentient mind
    Security - Cardassian male, exchange officer with pressures and expectations from his government
    Diplomatic Attache - Human male, businesslike demeanor, first contact specialist, develops same-sex relationship with CO
    Engineer - Betazoid female, bitter/philosophical martial artist, Betazed Occupation survivor

    We have four female and four males for main characters. This is my last post for the day on this subject. To everyone who posts after this message, I will go over them and try to adjust everything in.

    To those who thought up the concepts above: Please work on names, ethnicity, and so on to help put some flesh on these skeletal concepts. Again, suggests from others would be greatly appreciated. Let's work together on this.

    The only same-sex relationship will be betwen the DA and CO unless someone has good reasons not to.
    Kim Quintin

    The use of unnecessary force has been authorized.

  7. #22
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    Originally posted by kimq

    To those who thought up the concepts above: Please work on names, ethnicity, and so on to help put some flesh on these skeletal concepts. Again, suggests from others would be greatly appreciated. Let's work together on this.
    I call dibs on first crack at the captain and Cardassian.
    Davy Jones

    "Frightened? My dear, you are looking at a man who has laughed in the face of death, sneered at doom, and chuckled at catastrophe! I was petrified."
    -- The Wizard of Oz

  8. #23
    Its not a case of actually wanting to watch a male same sex relationship... (Or a female same sex relationship for that matter)... But I totally agree that an LGT relationship DOES sound just like a cheap arsed ratings grabber, in exactly the same way that Seven and T'Pol were slammed for uneccesary sex appeal...

    So while the networks will not allow a male gay relationship on prime-time TV... Buffy has paved the way for a Lesbian one.

    Trouble is, that;
    a - its already been done. Yawn.

    and b - Unwittingly you have created the source of the first Barrage of fan complaints and will suddenly be labelled 'Braga jr'.

    I agree that it needs to be a clear stance on the matter, well clearer than the fact that nobody blinked an eye about the Girl on Girl aspect of Dax and Lenara Khan... Or even this rumoured Gay relationship in Enterprise...


    I think that FIRST. The characters must be cemented and original, rather than looking for what initially appears to be cheap re-hashes of older characters.

    For example;


    CO - Centauran male, diplomat, ex-science officer
    XO - Andorian female, Dominion War veteran, militant
    Science - Human male, last name Hawking, parapalegic, repulsor-lift chair equipped with tricorder and other scientific field equipment
    Conn/Ops - Human female, WWII fighter pilot tactics, in same-sex relationship with XO, virtuoso capable of handling both starship navigation and operations
    Medical - Dr. Selar, Vulcan female
    Security - Cardassian male, exchange officer with pressures and expectations from his government


    Looking at the list above.

    - The CO is a merging of Archer and Picard... But a Human Alien. And I say this even though I totally agree that the next captain HAS to be an Alien.
    - The XO is Kira... Just Andorian (BTW Same sex relationship with Andorians? the Orgy kings and queens? 4-way marriges anyone?)
    - Science close to being original, having only been a guest star in an episode... But still been done before.
    - Conn/Ops... So you want a lesbian combat pilot... And the focus to be on the ship when she's flying... So she wont need to act... Just be a Girl Paris, including the love of women???
    - Medical. This is new, usually the handover character is a major character and only in the pilot. This does make it difficult to have Suzi Q show up mind.
    - Security - Well, we are back to a Worf/Garak/Kira crossover here...

    I am sorry to be negative here. But this list is not really that original. But then again, very little is anymore...
    DanG/Darth Gurden
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  9. #24
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    Originally posted by Dan Gurden
    I am sorry to be negative here. But this list is not really that original. But then again, very little is anymore...
    This thread is not about being original, it is about exploring what we would like to see in an idea series.

    When you come down to it, all plots come from the same small list but it is what is inside each one that makes them unique from one another.

    Work with or not at all. Suggest positive change rather than pointing negatively.
    Kim Quintin

    The use of unnecessary force has been authorized.

  10. #25
    Perrryyy Guest

    WARNING! DANGER WILL ROBINSON! ;) Stargazer, Book 1: The Gauntlet spoilers below

    Hmm ok.
    You're right, I was too "Melora"-ish

    Picking up the gauntlet again

    The only thing I can think of for a disabled character right off hand now would be an amputee. Problem there is limb / prosthetic tech is too readily available in TNG or later.

    * stealing idea from Michael Jan Friedman's Stargazer, Book 1: The Gauntlet*

    Ensign Jeterica, a Nizhrak'a from Nizhara

    How about a character made up of "pure energy" a being that is in essence a low-density plasma life form, held together by psychokinetic forces, encased in a particle membrane. She is, to put into words, a being made up of positive ions and electrons.

    Her file says that these particles make up all her necessary biological systems, circulatory, digestive, ambulatory, sensory, etc.

    She can control these particles down to the subatomic level. She needs to be in an EVA suit

    She ambulates by "pouring" herself into an EVA suit for 4 reasons:

    1) to maintain a "shape" other than a floating mass of electrons, so that she can more closely associate with the crew.

    2) Her physiology is more suited to the torrent storms on her homeworld. The suit helps her to ambulate, by allowing her to generate an electric shock that activates her suits sensor net, a motor grid within the suit does the rest.

    3) The suit maintains an environment/atmosphere that the being is used to on her homeworld. (My problem with this is what happens when the suit malfunctions?)

    4) She can also speak by activating vocal circuits the same way she does to ambulate via the sensor net/motor grid (by sending eletctrical impulses to the appropriate system)

    EDIT: Post edited as per Owen's suggestions RE: book spoilers (Stargazer, book 1: Gauntlet)

  11. #26
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    Glinn Vann Dokar

    Name: Vann Dokar
    Age: 28
    Gender: Male
    Species: Cardassian

    Rank: Glinn (equivalent to Starfleet Lieutenant)
    Organization: Cardassian Military
    Position: Chief Security Officer, via Officer Exchange Program

    Glinn Dokar is a bright, young Cardassian officer who started his career in 2370. He graduated at the top of his academy class, has an outstanding record and more awards for bravery than any other officer his age.

    As the Federation continued to help Cardassia Prime recover from the devastation of the final years of the war, Dokar was selected to become the first selectee of the new Federation-Cardassian officer exchange program.

    Dokar represents the future of Cardassia, in the eyes of the Legate and the Detapa Council. In addition to his duties as Chief of Security, the young officer must also learn the Federation ideals from his Starfleet shipmates, and bring that knowledge back with him to Cardassia at the end of his tour.

    The young Glinn struggles with his grand expectations. While he is literally the Emprie's "best and brightest," Dokar is unsure of his ability to live up to the demands placed upon him. On top of his task of learning, he also is trying to learn what motivates his shipmates, as the rules of Vesala do not apply within Starfleet.

    Notes: I figured Dokar represents contrasts and internal conflict. He's here to learn about the Federation and its ideals through his shipmates (much in the way Data strove to be human), but he is also the epitomy of what it means to be Cardassian. Part of his struggle is accepting that everything he holds true may change because of him and his time on the ship.

    As such, he sometimes retreats to what is familiar to him, and comes across as a "stereo-typical" Cardassian. Luckily, this isn't a fatal flaw, and over the course of the series, he comes to accept that what he learns won't necessarily change the Cardassian "way of life," even as it changes the way his government and military does business.
    Last edited by Sea Tyger; 08-30-2002 at 10:18 AM.
    Davy Jones

    "Frightened? My dear, you are looking at a man who has laughed in the face of death, sneered at doom, and chuckled at catastrophe! I was petrified."
    -- The Wizard of Oz

  12. #27
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    Thumbs up

    Great, Sea Tyger!

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  13. #28
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    Captain Pol Kortanos

    Name: Pol Kortanos
    Age: 35
    Gender: Male
    Species: Alpha Centauran

    Rank: Captain
    Organization: Starfleet
    Position: Commanding Officer

    Pol Kortanos is the youngest of five children, born to well-connected bureaucrats within the Centauran government. While an excellent student, Pol had no intentions toward Starfleet until his father pushed him to apply. Sponsored by the Centauran ambassador to the Federation (a family friend), Pol was accepted on the first attempt.

    He excelled in the academy and became a flight control officer. His first assignment was to the Centauran ambassador's security detail (as pilot), as payoff for his sponsorship, in what Pol always says was "the most forgettable three years of my life." It wasn't a total loss, however, as he was promoted twice during his tour.

    Lt. Kortanos transferred to USS Preantares, a Galaxy-class starship, as Flight Control Officer. He learned much of his tactical and strategic knowledge from his CO, Captain Adam Fitzroy, whom he later called "his greatest mentor."

    Not long after he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander, the Preantares was involved in the final battle of the Dominion War. Captain Fitzroy was killed and the XO incapacitated during the fight, forcing Pol to take command of the battered ship. Rallying the crew, he pulled off "the biggest miracle of his life" and defeated a Dominion warship (including its boarding parties) before getting the Preantares out of harm's way.

    In the process, he nearly lost an arm and both of his legs, and received numerous other wounds in the fighting, requiring months of recovery, regeneration and therapy (both physical and psychological). He was decorated with the Christopher Pike Medal of Honor and a meritorious promotion to Captain, and assigned to Starfleet Command for the duration of his recovery.

    While the physical wounds healed nicely (although Pol still complains of occasional soreness in his wrist and elbow), the psychological ones took longer, as Pol dealt with the horrors of the battle.

    Now three years after the end of the Dominion War, Pol has been assigned the vacant center seat on the Sovereign.

    Notes: Pol ascribes himself a "man of peace," although he possesses a tactical intuition that has vaulted him to the command of one of Federation's most powerful weapons. He's an excellent administrator, a "gift of breeding," he often jokes, and considers himself an average (at best) diplomat. All-in-all, Pol considers himself more lucky than skilled, attributing his current position to good timing and fortune. (In essence, he often plays his own ability down....a result of three years away from starship duty.)

    Pol prepares meticulously for missions, which gives him an incredible level of focus that allows him to react quickly to sudden surprises (something else he learned from ferrying the Centauran ambassador around for three years).
    Last edited by Sea Tyger; 08-30-2002 at 10:20 AM.
    Davy Jones

    "Frightened? My dear, you are looking at a man who has laughed in the face of death, sneered at doom, and chuckled at catastrophe! I was petrified."
    -- The Wizard of Oz

  14. #29
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    Originally posted by kimq
    Thanks. I saw your quote from Prof. Hawking and he inspired a bit of the character concept in me. The character could be a kind of tribute to him - we could even make his last name Hawking. I figured the science branch would fit perfectly.

    I would suggest forgetting about modular phaser and shield units for the chair, however. It doesn't seem to fit the concept. However, the militant captian might have some ideas of his own.
    I think (s)he'd be perfect for one of those probes like Geordi used in the ep where he thought he'd found his mother. Vaccuum? Send in the probe. Dangerous terrain? Send in the probe. (S)he could go and see and do things others couldn't as an extension of a chair tied into his neurology.

    Michael Barratt
    So you think, 'Might as well,
    Dance a Tango to Hell,
    at least I'll have Tangoed at all.'
    -- "Rent," Jonathan Larson

  15. #30
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    Not wanting to rain on everyones parade, but I don't think characters should be decided before the concept of the series is laid out in more detail. Once the 'theme' of the series is set characters could be planned that either reinforce this theme or set a counterpoint to it, both by who and what they are and by the way their relationships develop during the series.

    IMO the characters are an important factor in how the story is told, so it should be decided first what story it is that you want to tell.
    With the theme of the story in place characters could be planned for a character development in mind that interfaces with the main story. The way it is now you will have to do it vice versa, meaning you might have to go back and rework the characters already developed.

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