The Story Corner » Discussions


Writers Discuss - Character Agency (#31)

Back to Topics
  • Okan-Zeeus
    Member
     
    February 11, 2016

    Writers Discuss

    Topic #31 – Character Agency

    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

    Agency is the idea that a character's actions are moving the plot forward. The plot doesn't happen around the protagonist - it happens in direct response to what the protagonist does.

    This is something new writers often miss. They have intricate plots with lots of cool things happening, but the protagonist merely observes. They're carried along events as if on a conveyor belt. As a result, the protagonist doesn't have much impact or influence on the story.

    Let's discuss agency and how we can use it.

    Here are some questions to consider:

    How can we gauge whether or not our protagonist is displaying agency?

    Why is agency important in a story?

    What can we do to ensure our characters have agency?

    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

    If you have any suggestions for future topics include them in the comments section!

  • Okan-Zeeus
    Member
     
    February 11, 2016

    I'll leave a brief comment on this one:

    In order to check for agency, your character must be irreplaceable. If your character can be swapped by anyone else and the plot will still move forward as normal, then you've done something wrong. Stories should happen because of your protagonists, not in spite of them.

  • SpottedFawn
    Member
     
    February 11, 2016

    Great advice! Do you have any tips or helpful info on making sure MCs have enough agency?

    One of the issues of a few of Skyrim's questlines is that they tend to put the player in a state where they're always reacting, where the character gets taken along for the ride. How do you ensure that even with chapters involving these kinds of quests, your protagonist is showing agency?

  • The Long-Chapper
    Member
     
    February 11, 2016

    Well, lol, the character can always say "no", right?  Exuro, I think you did a great job with your last chapters with Amari and the House of Horrors Quest. Yes, they were sort of under the influence of a Daedric prince, but they definitely had their own ideas. 

  • A-Pocky-Hah!
    Member
     
    February 11, 2016

    I usually try to reveal what consequences the player has done later in the story. For instance, I have plans for Madanach and the Forsworn after Axius freed them in chapter 10, but that would be featured later in the story.

    So here's my question, should we add character agency early in the story or perhaps later, maybe at chapter 20+.

  • SpottedFawn
    Member
     
    February 12, 2016

    I haven't read that chapter yet, but you bring up a good point. xD The character can always say "no". I end up using quests as sort of a rough guideline, and so long as the end result is more or less the same or some quest dialog is used, I consider it a success.

    I actually just read the part in Straag Rod where Albee encounters Cicero. xD His dialog creeps me out so much! You handled that weird quest well. The options that quest gave did feel like something Albee would do, from what I've learned of him throughout the first part of Book 1!

  • Okan-Zeeus
    Member
     
    February 12, 2016

    "How do you ensure that even with chapters involving these kinds of quests, your protagonist is showing agency?"

    No way around it - you've got to modify the quest itself. Present it in a new way. Make changes. I've done stuff like this a few times in DOTE and plan to do more in the future.

    If you want to make sure your characters have agency, just look at what's advancing the plot. If your character stops acting, does the plot stop with them? Or will it keep going? Plot advancement should come as a direct consequence of your protagonist's actions.

  • Okan-Zeeus
    Member
     
    February 12, 2016

    "So here's my question, should we add character agency early in the story or perhaps later, maybe at chapter 20+."

    Your characters ought to display agency throughout the entire story. Otherwise, what are they doing? 

    There may be moments where a protagonist is dependent on some outside influence (i.e. another character has to rescue the protagonist), but there are still things that they, even in an immobilized state, can do. Your characters should be acting on their environment always, to whatever capacity they can.

  • Sotek
    Member
     
    February 12, 2016

    This is yet another example of me taking the rule book of writing and… throwing it away.

    Chapter 1 to 12 was all about Sotek and the journey of discovering he was Dragonborn.

    Fine there, with no doubt there was Agency.

    Aela came on the scene, Sotek joins the Companions and now I’ve even got Kodlak going off slaying witches and bandits while Sotek is the other side of Skyrim as he tries to get his horse back from the Silverhand leader who stole it, (Long Story).

    Now bear in mind that my list of Protagonists are growing faster than Aela’s temper if you punch her on the nose, I’m really not sure how to answer this.

    As far as Characters reacting to game play, this is where Lore becomes an issue. Yes, the game’s quest is directing you to a specific (hopefully anyway) goal. This doesn’t mean you have to comply.

    Prime example, Paarthurnax. Do we have to kill him in our stories because Delphine tells us to in game?  

    No, of course not. We can come up with a hundred scenarios to bring it to a close.

    My biggest problem with this subject is that the list of Protagonists is growing.

    It’s not just about Sotek anymore.

  • The Long-Chapper
    Member
     
    February 12, 2016

    And lol, I just realized that I'm completely crazy and confused you for Exuro. Hugs, you show agency too! LOL, I am right now... 

    You definitely handle this very well in Kjeld's take on the Stahlrim incident. Loved the interaction with the Thalmor. Man, I feel like a big dummy now. 


Back to Topics