Mary Sue Litmus Test: Ryukenden

This is the second part to the critique on Character Sheet: Ryukenden. Not all character sheet critiques will have a second part, because some of his character sheets are very obviously not sues (whether or not they’re good will be seen, but I doubt anyone can have so many character sheets and not have one that isn’t at least decent).

However, this is an important test to take, because I doubt I would be well-received if I just took out a big rubber stamp and stamped “SUE” all over this variant on such a beloved character. This will be a long post, because I am including the whole answer sheet for the 154 questions (not counting sub questions) that are applicable to Ryuu’s character. I do this so people can check my answers, which I will try to source and explain as best I can.

If I have missed a question I should have checked, or checked something I should not have, I encourage people to comment – WITH A REASONABLE ARGUMENT AND/OR SOURCES – to tell me, and I will very likely change it.

These posts will be slightly shorter in the future, because I will not include the above preface in future entries.

My comments on the questions are in this color, to match the X's.

Mary Sue Litmus Test (RPG Style): Ryukenden

Check my answers!

1. Is or does your character's name...
   
   
   • Your name, variation of your name, nickname, screenname, or any name that has been applied to you? (Spelling it differently or changing it a little counts.) Fic: RPG: X
     
     • Ryuu-Atrineas uses many variants of the name he gave his “prized” OC. He uses the name Ryuu-Atrineas on deviantArt and Zelda: Epic Journeys. He used Ryo on the Rayman Pirate Community forum, and he used Ryuu on Shadow Sage’s Lair, because Ryo (which he states is his usual user name) was already taken. On a few other forums, he has used the name Atrineas, his character’s last name.
   • A name you planned on giving one of your children?
   • Any ordinary name spelled or changed so that it's more unusual?
   • A boyish sounding name for a girl character?
   • Involve a noun or verb not usually used as a name, spelled normally or not?
   • If a noun, is it related to nature, a weapon, a gemstone, darkness, or something mystical?
   • Something that your character chose for him/herself?
   • Taken from a character from another fandom that you like?
   • A really unusual-sounding name (unusual in the character's time/place/world) that you made up yourself?
   • Unusual for your character's time, place, and/or ethnicity?
   • Japanese or Japanese-sounding, even though your character is not Japanese? X
     
     • See What’s in a Name? for full details.
   • Chosen specifically because you thought it had a meaning appropriate for your character? X
     
     • He points out in the character sheet, itself, that the name means “Dragon,” which is not entirely true, but he points it out. He also originally picked the name Ryo because an anime linked it to Wildfire (the name of the armor the character Ryo from Ronin Warriors wore). Quotes saying as much are posted in the What’s in a Name? post.
2. Is your character also known by a cool nickname or unique title/address?
   
   • More than one?
3. Did you base your character's looks on your own?
4. Does your character look how you wish you look?
5. Is your character described, illustrated, and/or shown as exceptionally beautiful, cute, or handsome?
   
   • Does anyone fight or squabble over your character because of his/her looks?
   • Is anyone (including you) jealous of your character's good looks?
   • Do any characters see his/her attractiveness as a threat?
6. Do other characters frequently tell your character how sexy or beautiful he/she is?
   
   • Does your character modestly deny it every time or refuses to believe that he/she is attractive?
7. Does your character have a great body/physique, which you describe, show, and/or illustrate in detail?
   
   • Despite the fact that his/her eating and/or exercising habits decree that he/she should be a stick/blimp?
   • Does your character weigh so little that he/she looks or should be anorexic, but isn't?
8. Do you use poetic and/or creative terms to describe your character?
9. Do you frequently describe your character's beautiful/handsome/cute attributes or point out how sexy your character is?
10. Conversely, do you go to great lengths describing how your character is not gorgeous?
11. Does your character's description contain anything to the effect of "He/she looks just like [other character/celebrity] except..." X
    
    • Not only does his character sheet directly have a field called “Looks most Like” (which he uses to state that his character looks like one of the main canon characters in the series), but his character’s history involved the goddesses giving his physical form minor changes, because he was originally an exact copy of Link.
12. Do other characters find your character extremely attractive and desirable, even when they should be completely gross and icky? (EG, after battling, getting tortured, going for days without bathing or washing.)
13. Does your character have any of the following?
    
    • Natural eye coloration that stands out from the norm?
    • Eyes with any other unusual qualities?
    • Natural hair color that stands out from the norm? X
      
      • Ryukenden’s hair is twice described as being white tinted with orange and yellow like intense flames. That constitutes a hair color that stands out from the norm, and it is naturally that color (even if one of the histories state the goddesses made it that way).
    • Unusual feature of any other kind? (Particularly unusual/exotic birthmark, tattoo, etc.) X
      
      • He has an orange mark of Din on his hand, which was kissed on there by the Goddess, herself. I’m not making this up. Go check the character sheet again if you don’t believe me.
14. Does your character have a particularly attractive scent that doesn't come from their perfume or shampoo?
15. Does your character have a scar or other small flaw that is noticed by someone, but does not actually detract from your character's appearance?
16. Has your character been in a lot of physical fights and/or battles, but doesn't have many noticeable scars to show for it?
17. Does your character have a particularly piercing (EG, "can stare straight into your soul"), haunting, captivating, or dazzling gaze?
18. Does your character's personal choice of clothing frequently include...
    
    • Clothing that you deliberately picked from your own wardrobe?
    • Clothing chosen because you really wished you owned it or could get away with wearing it in public?
    • Clothing chosen because it makes your character look super sexy and/or badass?
    • Clothing that is realistically impractical or improper for the character's situation, but looks cool?
19. Do you describe your character's clothing by the scene or stereotype it is most often associated with? - But ignore if this is because someone in the story is describing the character.
20. Is your character impervious to any of the normal limitations and/or weaknesses of his/her species?
21. Is your character partially or completely some type of metaphysical/spirit-type being?
    
    • I’m not checking this one, but it is debatable. Ryukenden was, at one time, Dark Link, which did not exist wholly in its own body. As a son of the Goddesses, as his character sheet (or, at least part of his character sheet) claims, it is also arguable if he can be all mere mortal flesh.
    • ...Like a succubus or incubus?
22. Is your character some other kind of cool humanoid with powers/abilities beyond human ability?
23. Is your character a cross-breed/hybrid of any kind?
    
    • In a universe where hybrids are very unusual?
    • A hybrid of more than two species?
    • Does he/she possess the strengths of both species, but none of the weaknesses?
    • Or does your character have all of the weaknesses, but none of the strengths? – Minus 4!
    • Is your character part something furry, yet shows no sign of being anything but human save for a furry tail, animal ears, fangs, and/or claws?
    • If not a cross-breed, then at least cross-cultural?
24. Does your character become a genetically, scientifically, cybernetically, or magically altered/enhanced being, possibly with new powers? X
    
    • Part of his history (or, at least one of his histories) directly involves being magically altered and enhanced by the goddesses, making his grip stronger, his legs faster, his appearance different, and all like that.
    • Is he/she happier this way?
      
      • I’m not checking this one, but this is arguable, as it was done to restore him, and his memory was erased so he wouldn’t remember his upsetting past. However, he can’t exactly be happier if he doesn’t remember.
    • Do people like him/her better this way?
      
      • Again, not checking this one, but given that the alternative is Dark Link – and, in his fanon, it would be his version of Dark Link – I think most people would. I prefer canon Dark Link, myself.
    • Do you wish it would happen to you?
    • Was your character kidnapped specifically for some type of experiment or project in order for this to happen?
25. Do think of your character as an ideal role-model?
26. Does your character voice political, social, and/or religious opinions which you share?
    
    • Does he/she convince others that his/her way of thinking is right?
27. Does your character have unusually free, enlightened, or "liberated" views on sex and romance for his/her time/place?
    
    • And does no-one frown upon your character's behaviors or views?
    • Or do only characters who don't matter disapprove, IE, the villain, local idiot, fusty old grandpa, etc?
28. If your character has a spitfire personality, sharp wit, or attitude, are the tongue-lashings they give other characters always deserved and justified?
29. If your character is openly defiant or disrespectful toward authority figures, is your character always justified and in the right?
30. Are any other actions that get your character into trouble with authority always justified from your point of view?
31. Do authority figures punish your character more harshly than they would have punished others under the same circumstances?
32. Do authority figures not punish your character when they probably would have punished others under the same circumstances?
33. Is your character easily provoked to violence - but only gets into fights with characters who truly deserve the beating they get?
34. Are The Rules of the universe bent or broken for your character? (Like joining a group despite being too old or too young.)
35. Does your character have any of the following psychological disorders?
    
    • Antisocial Personality Disorder - to explain your character's Jerkass Loner personality?
    • Split personality - so your character can do "bad" stuff, yet still have a claim to innocence?
    • Inability to form a solid intimate relationship - so he/she has an excuse to sleep with as many people as you want?
36. Is your character mainly driven by completely-justified revenge?
37. Does your character suffer from amnesia? X
    
    • In his character sheet, one the histories clearly states that the goddesses erased his memories of his battle with Link as Dark Link. (I tend to use the second, if you’ve noticed, because I’m not doing this quiz twice and the second history tends to match everything else written about other versions of Ryuu.)
    • If/when your character discovers his/her past, will he/she not like it? X
      
      • I’ll directly quote the character sheet, here: “They had also erased the memories of fighting Link as Dark Link. Such knowledge at this given time would only bring confusion and horror.”
    • And/or discover that he/she is actually someone of great importance?
38. Are animals instinctively attracted to your character?
39. How many animal companions does your character keep? (Ordinary, non-magical pets like cats and dogs do not count.)
    
    • Is said animal a wolf, bird of prey, big cat, or mythical creature?
40. Does your character habitually share profound wisdom and knowledge?
41. Does your character always have money to spend on frivolities or whatever he/she really wants or needs at the time?
    
    • For no apparent reason? (Character never works or gives any clue to any source of income.)
42. Did you choose your character's occupation and/or hobbies because you think they sound neat, glamorous, prestigious, or exciting?
43. Does your character share your favorite types of movies, music, clothes, etc?
44. Is your character unusually accomplished for his/her age, time period, place, occupation, and/or social status?
    
    • In something that is extremely desirable and/or useful in the story's universe?
    • In something that is extremely difficult for virtually anyone achieve?
    • Is your character unusually accomplished in more than one area?
45. Does your character pick up new skills unusually fast during the course of the story?
    
    • Like, insanely fast?
46. Is your character the best or among the best at anything he/she does? One box for each:
    
    • Is he/she famous/renowned for any of these?
47. Are other characters extremely impressed or astonished at your character's skills and/or virtues? (Does not count if they are easily impressed due to their own inexperience.)
    
    • Do they impress even the most cynical, jaded, exacting, and/or experienced?
    • Does your character modestly dismiss or deflect well-earned compliments?
48. Does your character have Barbie Doll syndrome?
49. Ah, the sound of music! Does your character...
    
    • Have an exceptionally beautiful singing voice?
    • Play a musical instrument very well?
    • Is this instrument a guitar, harp, or flute?
    • Can he/she charm others with his/her musical talent?
50. Does your character use magic in a typically non-magical universe?
51. Does your character fly in a typically groundbound universe?
    
    • Without wings or other apparent means?
52. Does your character have telepathic and/or telekinetic (Force-like) abilities in a world where this is unusual?
    
    • Do these powers allow your character to 'see' or just 'know things' without actually being there, allowing him or her to save the day?
    • Do they make up for a disability, such as being blind, deaf, or mute?
53. Does your character have a telepathic/empathic connection or the ability to communicate with any kind of animal?
    
    • Anything such as horses, wolves, big cats, or mythical creatures? - Bonded creatures do not count, so long as this is within a universe where this is perfectly normal and it is your character's one and only bonded creature.
54. Does your character have the ability to shapeshift? X
    
    • It does not appear to be willful in context, but Ryuu has changed his shape spontaneously. From an RP featuring young Ryukenden: Waves of Dark Energy wrap around Ryo, and his body takes a strange change. He's only a black schiloette and he seems to be forming into an adult body. He eyes light up red. When his change is complete, he looks like that of Dark Link!
55. Does your character possess unusual healing powers?
    
    • Strong enough to save a character from mortal injury and/or death?
56. Does your character possess power that can take out entire cities/legions of soldiers/general all-around-evil?
57. Does your character end up in a tight spot and discover that he/she has really cool powers that were dormant and/or unknown before?
    
    • Later, in the aforementioned RP, Ryuu is whisked away, healed, and restored as the adult form most people know him as. It is debatable whether any power discovered from that point on fits in this category. More discussion is needed before I check this one off. Consider it a compromise for checking off # 54.
58. Does your character have any other relatively unique special powers/abilities that come in handy? X
    
    • He breathes fire, as he repeatedly points out in various sources and character sheets. This is not a common power in Hyrule, and it is considered a useful power by his character sheet.
59. Not counting his or her first language, how many languages does your character fluently speak? Click one box for every language:
60. Does your character succeed at virtually everything he/she tries?
61. Do his/her initial plans, strategies, ideas, etc. always (or nearly always) work?
    
    • But only after everyone else dismisses it and tries everything else first?
62. On the other hand, if your character does bungle almost everything, is he/she quickly and easily forgiven for it?
63. Does your character ever single-handedly take out more armed forces (EG, security guards, soldiers) than you can count on one hand using his/her kick-butt skills?
64. Is anyone envious of your character's talents and/or abilities?
    
    • Because he/she constantly beats them at their own game/games?
65. Does your character alone have a weapon that...
    
    • Was passed down from a parent/trainer?
    • Was given by some kind of spirit/magical being?
    • Do you often mention that it belonged to someone beforehand?
    • Is magical? X
      
      • Descriptions of his weapon do tend towards the magical weapon route. To quote the character sheet: Red inscriptions line the middle of the blade and they tense to change color from red to orange to yellow and back to red...
    • Is unusually ornate?
    • Is from a different culture or country than your character?
66. Does your character use a sword-type weapon in a relatively modern setting for no logical reason?
67. Does your character frequently carry knives, daggers, or other little sharp pointy objects concealed within his/her clothing for no other reason than that they might be come in handy?
68. Does your character possess a unique trinket that is magical and/or has some special significance?
    
    • Does this trinket protect your character from some weakness?
69. Does your character have unfairly restrictive parents/guardians?
70. Alternatively, do your character's parents/guardians let him/her do whatever he/she wants and never really get in the way or ask too many questions?
71. Is your character nobility, closely related to a noble, or at least a rough equivalent? (President, governor, etc.) X
    
    • In his first history, he is the son of a Knight, not a mere soldier. While Knights are considered lesser nobility, knights are still noblemen. I’m not sure if Ryuu realizes that, however. In his second history, he is unknowingly adopted/fashioned by the three goddesses. I’ll run a little poll in the comments: Should godhood count as nobility? I tend to think it counts, myself. I’ll uncheck it if enough people complain. Note that this constitutes 3 checks, because he doesn’t know about his maternal creators and he wasn’t ORIGINALLY created as a deity, he was refashioned into one.
    • Nobility without knowing it? X
    • Adopted by or become a noble at any point? X
72. Is your character extremely popular or renowned where he/she comes from or frequents?
73. Is your character undeservingly despised and/or outcast by most people?
74. Because he/she is unusually talented/attractive/rich?
75. Because of his/her special powers?
76. Does your character manage to become friends with a villain, and through this friendship cause the villain to become reformed?
77. On the subject of your character and his/her family...
    
    • Was your character orphaned, abandoned, kicked out, or at least raised by a family/person that was not his/her own family?
      
      • Under normal circumstances, I would check this. However, it feels a bit skewed because of the two histories, and I have been using the second one. So, I’ll let this one slide. However, I want readers to note this, should I ever retake this quiz for the first history only. Also note that, with the first history, many of the below options apply.
    • Was a major villain responsible for the death of the parents or guardians?
    • Was your character responsible for the death of his/her parents/guardians?
    • Did your character witness the death of the parents/guardians?
    • Was he/she adopted by a cruel family or person?
    • Ran away at any point?
    • Raised him/herself?
    • Lived in the streets?
    • The very last or only survivor of anything?
    • Adopted by another species/racial group?
78. What about any of these?
    
    • Born/raised in extreme poverty?
    • Born/forced into slavery?
    • Banished from anywhere?
    • A member of a despised, outcast, and/or downtrodden race?
    • An illegitimate child?
    • The parent of an illegitimate child?
    • Abused?
    • Raped?
79. If your character lost her virginity unwillingly, does she find a way to restore it?
80. Has your character otherwise lost...
    
    • A child?
    • Lover?
    • Close friend?
81. Did anything else remarkably strange or otherwise unusual happen in your character's infancy?
82. If your character has a torment-ridden, pain-filled past, do you believe it excuses his/her actions?
83. If female, does your character have "rebellious princess syndrome?"
84. Does your character angst about something that he/she did in the past?
    
    • Death of a main character's family?
    • Death of his/her own family?
    • Does your character eventually learn that it wasn't his/her fault?
85. If female, does your character ever have to prove that she's just as good as the guys?
86. If your character is a villain...
    
    • Did he/she start out good?
    • Does he/she reform by the end of the story?
    • Does he/she reform because of act of kindness on the part of the hero?
87. Does a major villain have a personal fixation/obsession with your character?
    
    • For no apparent reason?
    • Something that has to do with your character's family, and not your character him/herself?
88. Is your character ever spared by an otherwise-ruthless villain?
    
    • Despite the fact that he/she has already done massive damage to the villain, the villain's troops, and/or stronghold?
    • Because the villain is attracted to your character?
89. Do you wish your character was real so you could be friends or lovers with him/her?
90. Do you imagine you are this character? - Skip if the only imagining you do is when you write the story.
91. Do you feel insulted, attacked, or defensive when someone does not like your character?
92. If people don't like your character, do you believe it's just because they don't "get" him or her?
93. Did you feel that this test insulted or attacked you or your character so far?
94. Is your character's name a variation, pun, or synonym of a canon character's name?
95. Do your introduce and/or describe your character on the first page? (Ignore if this is an RPG character.)
    
    • In minute detail?
    • On the first paragraph?
96. Does your character share a notable physical characteristic with a canon character, or at least have one that is remarkably similar? (Genetic resemblances do not count here.)
    
    • I’m leaning towards not checking this one – so I won’t, but I’d like to ask readers again: do you think it counts as genetic resemblance for Ryukenden (second history) to look like Link, considering he’s essentially a clone that has been altered?
97. Is your character basically a female version of a favorite male character?
98. Is your character of a species that is not normally found in the fandom for which you are writing?
99. Was your character trained in some art by or with a canon character?
100. Does your character share tastes or a hobby with a canon character?
101. Is your character just as good or even better at the jobs and/or skills of one or more canon characters? (EG, better hacker or smarter than the nerd character, better fighter than the tough character.)
     
     • For no apparent reason?
     • Does he/she have the talents, skills, and/or abilities of several canon characters combined?
102. Does your character...
     
     • Know something that only a canon character should know?
     • Do something that only a canon character should have done?
     • Was it something that changed said canon character originally?
103. If your character is the child of one or more canon characters, did he/she inherit any of the parents’ powers or talents?
     
     • Is he/she even better than the parents?
104. If the last question did not apply, does your character have a weapon or power that is just as good that of a canon character?
     
     • Is it, for all intents and purposes, almost just like a canon character's weapon or power, only better?
     • If not similar, does it just happen to be more powerful?
105. Does your character possess a weapon or artifact that is not normal in the universe he/she is in? (For example, a lightsaber in a Lord of the Rings story.)
106. Does your character carry around a trinket of some kind that's similar to and/or somehow relates to a canon character's previously-unique trinket?
107. Does your character end up saving the day and/or the life of another character?
     
     • Magically or mystically?
     • Does your character die in the process? (Any nasty irreversible thing, like getting sent to an inescapable dimension count, too.)
     • By almost dying?
     • Does everyone mourn the death of your character?
     • Is he/she revived by the end of the story?
     • Is he/she revived?
108. Does your character belong to the Resistance/Rebellion/Elite or any other special/elite group?
     
     • A member or child of someone in this class without knowing it?
     • Become a member at some point in the story?
     • Do they specifically join the hero's team/clique/crew?
109. Is your character closely related to a canon character?
     
     • The sibling?
     • The child?
     • The lost child/sibling?
     • The twin/clone?
     • Are the parents canon characters that seem very unlikely to get together?
     • Do other characters comment on or are amazed by how much your character looks like his/her canon relative?
     • If your character is not actually related, does he/she have other connections to the canon characters? X
       
       • I’m not fully comfortable with saying they’re related or Ryukenden is a clone (...in the genetic sense), even though they are genetically connected, so I’m willing to compromise for checking this one off, instead of a clone. I will change it if I get a good enough argument, however. Critics of my fairness should know that a clone adds four points, this option only adds one point. I’m being nice.
110. Is your character liked by all the canon characters you like?
     
     • Do they care for your character more than they care for their canon friends?
     • Would any canon character die for your character? (Unless, of course, said canon character would pretty much die for any casual friend/acquaintance.)
     • Even characters that are not known for their friendly, outgoing attitudes?
     • Do characters who criticize or don't like your character from the start like him/her by the end, or at least have a grudging respect?
     • Or does anyone who criticizes or doesn't like your character end up getting beaten up, humiliated, and/or dead?
111. Do other characters look up to your character?
     
     • As a leader?
     • Do canon leaders see your character as a threat because of this?
112. How many major characters fall for your character?
113. How many minor characters fall for your character?
114. How many major characters does your character fall for?
115. How many minor characters does your character fall for?
116. And...
     
     • Does your character become the boyfriend/girlfriend of a canon character?
     • Sleep with a canon character?
     • Or not sleep with a canon character because he/she 'isn't that kind'?
     • End up married to him/her?
     • Or give up this romance for some greater good/noble purpose?
     • Does the canon love interest break up with a previous love in order for any of this to happen?
     • Does your character fall for the characters that that you fall for?
117. Does your character make canon characters realize their romantic feelings for each other?
     
     • Did a 'something special' not exist at all until your character came along?
     • Does this romance contradict a character's previously-established sexual orientation?
118. Assuming your character has non-canon friends and/or peers somewhere, does he/she hang out with the canon characters more than his/her own friends or peers?
119. Does your character end up living with or especially close to any of the canon characters?
120. Is your character a 20th/21st century Earth citizen transported to another time/world?
121. If the above does not apply, is your character from another time, world, or reality?
     
     • Another published universe?
122. Is your character's history remarkably similar to the history of a canon character?
123. Is your character involved in a canon character’s past somehow?
     
     • In a way that was contradicts the original story?
124. Is the story told all or mostly from your character’s point of view?
125. When your character makes his/her first appearance, do most, if not all, the canon characters notice him/her right away?
     
     • Does this scene occur in a crowded place?
126. Do the adventures of your character mirror or closely resemble the adventures of any of the canon characters? - Ignore if this is because it happens to pretty much everyone in the canon.
127. Does your character save the canon characters from a situation or come up with a solution that they probably could have done by themselves in the original? (Admittedly, lead characters tend to be phenomenally lucky, but still...)
128. Does he/she solve the personal problems of any canon character?
129. Does your character tell off, beat up, humiliate, outdo, or kill a character to whom you would personally like to do the same?
130. At any point, does your character take over the job/position of a canon character?
     
     • Because it's a position that you think is interesting or fun?
     • Because you think that the character who already does this job isn't good enough?
     • Does your character take over this job permanently?
131. Does your character get kidnapped by the bad guys?
     
     • Do the canon characters immediately come to the rescue?
     • Does he/she rescue him/herself?
     • Was your character kidnapped for any special reason?
     • If an RP character played in a freestyle RP, have you tried this plot device with your character more than once during the story?
132. Does your character single-handedly accomplish what no-one has been able to do so far?
133. If you create your own ‘arc,’ storyline, or plot event...
     
     • Does your character know everything about what's going on?
     • ...While the canon characters know almost nothing at all?
     • Does it take place in another world, which your character is familiar with?
     • Is your character vital to the resolution of the arc/plot?
     • Does this plot/arc replace a canon storyline?
134. Do you plan on writing more stories about your character?
135. Do you plan on writing stories about your character's children?
136. Do you or have other players told you that you constantly try to bring the story's spotlight onto your character, or have your character do most of the heroic/cool stuff?
137. If your character is in a tight spot, do you give him/her a new gadget or ability so he/she can escape?
138. Do you ever poke fun at your character's faults/weaknesses and/or use them as plot devices?
139. Has your character ever been honestly selfish, petty, lazy, shallow, or pointlessly cruel?
140. Is your character really and honestly overweight, and stays overweight throughout the entire story? (A little bit of chubbiness does not count.)
141. Is your character honestly ugly, and stays ugly throughout the entire story?
142. Is your character out of shape, and stays out of shape for the entire story? (Not 'oh, man, I just don't think I can survive this triathlon,' but honestly, hinderingly wimpy?)
143. Is your character physically disabled, and has nothing to make up for it? (To quote Dr. Merlin, anyone who says "She's so pretty that it's like a disability because everyone hates her or wants to have sex with her" will be summarily keelhauled.)
144. Is he/she truly mentally disabled, IE, retarded, and has no powers because or despite of this?
145. Is your character human, 40+, and looks his/her age?
     
     • Older than 60?
146. Does your character have a truly debilitating phobia that does not mysteriously disappear at a crucial moment?
147. Has your character ever run away from anything simply because he/she was a coward?
148. If your character had a bad past with his/her parents, does he/she reconcile with them at any point?
149. Has your character ever been in a situation that he/she had no way of overcoming on his/her own?
     
     • Did he/she give up without trying?
     • Did he/she give up after failing?
     • If he/she eventually found a way of overcoming the problem, was it extremely difficult and/or took a really long time?
150. Does your character ever admit to being wrong, even if he/she doesn't really mean it?
151. Has your character ever ignored wrong-doings against him/herself and/or others because he/she simply didn't want to get into trouble?
152. If your character is a non-human, does he/she react in very non-human ways or in ways more appropriate to his/her species?
153. If your character is vampire, is he/she...
     
     • a. A mindless killer?
     • Maybe not mindless, but has no significant moral or emotional issues with killing/murder?
     • Unable to have sex?
     • Unattractive?
     • Unable to overcome his/her dependence on blood?
154. Do you view your characters more like tools than friends/children?

Final Score: 42

36+ Fanfiction authors, you might just want to start over. Role-players and original fiction authors, at this point your characters are likely to provoke eye-rolling and exclamations of "yeah, right!" from your readers. (Well, at least from me.) Immediate workover is probably in order.