Character suggestions

Symphony · Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2417

I was thinking about coming up with some suggestions for minor characters. Nothing major, just some ideas for characters who may be of species you feel are missing so far. It's been suggested that there aren't many amphibian or avian characters, so this might be an idea to use. And I'm really just thinking some minor appearances. Like just in the background in a panel when some of the characters are walking around town or something. Perhaps some could appear in a bigger scene or a sex scene at some time, though that really depends on what Vanessa finds appropriate and whether she wants to use some Royal members waiting for a cameo, who might as well fit that spot.

I was thinking something that follows this formula:

Species and gender:
Appearance:
Occupation:

Just a single sentence or two for each line. Anything more detailed than that should be kept for Royal avatar suggestions IMO. There's no need to name them or come up with background stories either.
And I'm thinking just a couple each, so that it won't appear as if the same people are getting all their own characters in the comic before someone else gets a chance.

What's important to remember, I think, is that Royal member avatars should have first priority. I'm personally the kind of person who would like a character that's not too similar to someone else, and I'm guessing that there are many others like that. So there's no real reason to suggest a character that becomes redundant when a waiting member finally gets a Royal avatar. Assuming of course that said member has posted a description or otherwise told what his/her plans for a character is.

Would this be okay? Particularly with you, Vanessa?
Or are there any suggestions for a better way of doing this?

Symphony · Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2417

It's of course all just my suggestions. Just an idea for how we might come up with some new characters, without it seeming like people are getting multiple characters with as much detail and depth as the Royal avatars, added to the comic.

I'd really like to read everyone else's opinion's on this, to see if this is a too simplistic view on how to create additional charaters, and to see if we can come up with some characters that Vanessa can use to fill various roles around Bon Bon.

I should probably clarify that I don't really think of this as creating actual characters, but more about giving Vanessa some ideas of what people would like to see, and then she might get inspired to develop the characters as much as she'd like.

Ashton Gray · Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 4661

Actually, I had an idea just like this some time ago. I just did'nt say anything because I did'nt want it to be misconstrued as an attempt for people to get an unfair amount of their creations put into Ms. Santato's work. This is, after all, her creation and should be treated as such. Having said that, I do like this idea, but would understand and stand by Vanessa's decision if she decided not to impliment this.

JohnnyPsycho · Joined: 08 Jul 2006 Posts: 2302

The idea's interesting, though of course only as a means to assist the artist in "inspiring" her to populate her world with more interesting and colorful characters. Still, don't you think she's doing a good job as it is? I know the whole subject of under-used species has been brought up before in other threads, though I think it has more to do with furry fandom at large, rather than this comic in particular. After all, we've seen a couple avians already, plus one of the newest message board members has already stated he'd like an amphibian avatar. And let's not forget our resident monotreme, Martin!

In the interest in helping inspire the artist to expand the universe she's created, I see no problem with it, as long as it doesn't get overwhelming for her and people don't get pushy about it. After all, we need to remember that Royal Member avatars and cameos should be considered a priviledge, not a right. I'd hate for Vanessa to feel like people are trying to wrest too much control of her world away from her, considering she's "Queen Bee" around here.

On that note, I've actually created quite a few charcters to populate my "fanfics", though that's mostly out of necessity, since not all of the stories take place in BonBon. But, that's for another thread, I suppose...

Ashton Gray · Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 4661

JohnnyPsycho wrote: The idea's interesting, though of course only as a means to assist the artist in "inspiring" her to populate her world with more interesting and colorful characters. Still, don't you think she's doing a good job as it is?

Yes, no one here is disputing that, Johnny, and I cannot imagine anyone doing so.

JohnnyPsycho wrote: In the interest in helping inspire the artist to expand the universe she's created, I see no problem with it, as long as it doesn't get overwhelming for her and people don't get pushy about it. After all, we need to remember that Royal Member avatars and cameos should be considered a priviledge, not a right. I'd hate for Vanessa to feel like people are trying to wrest too much control of her world away from her, considering she's "Queen Bee" around here.

Yes, that is most important, and the main reason why I did'nt say anything when I had this same idea before, as I said.

Symphony · Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2417

I definately think that Vanessa is doing an excellent job of creating a lively and colorful cast of characters. And I really think that this should only be as a means of inspiration for Vanessa, just in case she's thinking of ideas for some characters to appear in the background of a panel, or something like that.
That's why I don't think that we should create actual characters, but more like short ideas that Vanessa can modify in any way that she wants. Also because I agree about the notion of people getting an unfair amount of characters in the comic. And I hope that this will in no way give Vanessa the impression that she has to use the ideas that people come up with, or that it makes her even more busy than she already is.

And I too will completely adhere to Vanessa's decision regarding this.

JohnnyPsycho · Joined: 08 Jul 2006 Posts: 2302

Okay, just so long as everyone understands the rules...

Species and Gender: Domestic Pig Female (Sow)
Appearance: Key word is "Voluptuous"
Occupation: Nurse

Symphony · Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2417

I like what you've come up with, Johhny. Both your choice of species and bodytype.

JohnnyPsycho · Joined: 08 Jul 2006 Posts: 2302

What can I say, I've always had a thing for Miss Piggy... :lol:

At least she never had the stereotypical "piggy behavior" (slovenly, gluttonous or greedy, obese, etc.) like most other pigs in media.

The nurse part was an after-thought, since it occurred to me that maybe Fraulein Doktor Fuchs or Doc Parker could use the help of a good nurse... as well as maybe being the inspiration for the occasional "Hellooooo, Nurse!" joke. :wink:

Xebulon · Joined: 28 Mar 2007 Posts: 2112

Upon reading this you may be asking, "Why?" The answer is simple. "Because I think it's funny." So here we go.

Species and Gender: Armadillo, Male
Appearance: Rotund with spectacles
Occupation: Barber

Vanessa · Joined: 13 Nov 2004 Posts: 1012

Well, while this is interesting, and I sure want to try to fit new species in the story, I simply don't have the time to fit a new background character's concept into the main story, and moreover working on its looks based on work and description would take time, attempts and effort (remember, working on Royal Members, not to mention my own characters, takes a lot of my time already...).
So, while I admit that your ideas do have merit, I'm forced to ask you to limit the suggestion to species and (if you really want it) name; simply put, I just can't do a complex background character and fit it inside the story. Royal Member Avatars are a different matter, because they are YOU, and you are more important that background characters...
So, to put it short:
please, could you just suggest the species and/or names? I do have my limits, you know :) .

As a side note, Johnny, in the next page there'll be a cute piggette... just not your nurse. I'm sorry... hope you'll like her anyway! :)

Symphony · Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2417

That's perfectly reasonable, Vanessa. I guess I hadn't really given enough thought to this. As a reader, I admit that I often forget the amount of work you put into just a single page of the comic. :oops:

and how about a nice cow-girl? :D

JohnnyPsycho · Joined: 08 Jul 2006 Posts: 2302

Vanessa wrote: As a side note, Johnny, in the next page there'll be a cute piggette... just not your nurse. I'm sorry... hope you'll like her anyway! :) Heck, any cute piggette is A-OK with me. The whole nurse thing is completely unimportant, just a tacked-on occupation to help fit a likely character into background. I could have just as easily said "random bystander" or "doxy/prostitute"...

Anyway, I had a feeling you would say something like this anyway (the whole work thing, not the piggy thing), and it makes sense. I think it would make things easier to keep it strictly to species as well, though maybe adding only gender and not names, since these are supposed to be random folks just going about their business in BonBon, and not characters integral to the plot. Names might be superfluous...

duo2nd · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 668

Species and Gender: Peacock, Female
Appearance: Elegant with three long feathers on her hair
Occupation: Performer

Hey, I need to contribute since I haven't seen avians in Bon Bon yet.

Vanessa · Joined: 13 Nov 2004 Posts: 1012

Symphony wrote:
and how about a nice cow-girl? :D

why not? :wink:

Xebulon · Joined: 28 Mar 2007 Posts: 2112

Wow. I'm surprised anyone even bothered to contemplate thinking about beginning to take my suggestion seriously. I mean, don't you all know me well enough by now to know what my sense of humor is like? Or should I suggest a octopus sushi chef? :lol:

Symphony · Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2417

Vanessa wrote:
why not? :wink:
Sounds good :P

But there's no hurry. The story is really fascinating as it is, and I'm greatly looking forward to each new page, whether there's a cow-girl or not :wink:

Xebulon wrote: Wow. I'm surprised anyone even bothered to contemplate thinking about beginning to take my suggestion seriously. I mean, don't you all know me well enough by now to know what my sense of humor is like? Or should I suggest a octopus sushi chef? :lol:
I actually thought that your suggestion was pretty good :?
An armadillo was one of the species that crossed my mind a while back when thinking of unusual choices for an anthropomorphic character.

JohnnyPsycho · Joined: 08 Jul 2006 Posts: 2302

Heh heh, I just noticed a very buxom piggy-girl in the latest page of the story. I liked her alot, Vansessa, she definitely looks like what one would imagine Miss Piggy would look like in the time period...

A side thought, the floppy-eared dog girl who appears in the same panel as her, is she a femme version of Rowlf the Dog?? LOL :lol: She's very cute nonetheless.

Vanessa · Joined: 13 Nov 2004 Posts: 1012

No, she is Maria Grace, read about her down in this page:
http://forums.pleasurebonbon.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5648&start=40
I'm glad you like the piggette :)

bergfalkt · Joined: 31 May 2008 Posts: 16

I would like to see

Female panther
slim but not a stick
I am not sure about her job

What do you think? What could her job be? I would like to hear the thoughts of others.

Vanessa · Joined: 13 Nov 2004 Posts: 1012

Thank you, but I do not think that the job is important, the suggestion of the species is sufficient, otherwise is more complicated for me to make appear the character based on the occupation . :)

bergfalkt · Joined: 31 May 2008 Posts: 16

vanessa you are right. The job does not matter. What do you think of the chose of the Species?

Vanessa · Joined: 13 Nov 2004 Posts: 1012

I think that a female panter sounds good! :)

LabrnMystic · Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 2510

I was given the chance to color up a female panther, and I do admit that I enjoy the darker fur of a panther. Especially when her clothes are bright and contrast to her fur. Thats why Mystic's hair is white. ^_^

Now, as I recall. Vanessa, didn't you say that, as you make background characters, didn't you say it was mostly up to us on the forum to come up with the background information of the characters? Like Johnny did with Daisy, or Ultima did with Iris.