The Ensemble Cast · 5:16pm Feb 23rd, 2013
When I originally started writing Outlaw Mares, I knew Trixie was going to be the lead protagonist, but I didn't put enough thought into the characters that would end up becoming part of her "posse". These are the secondary characters that help form the core group that follows Trixie and designing them should be an important detail to me.
After some brainstorming and rewriting, I came up with a decent dynamic that worked for this story-- Trixie, Ellie, and Cheryl.
Or, to use a TV Tropes term, The "Beauty, Brains, and Brawn" (Warning, TV Tropes page linked)
Trixie - The Beauty (Blue) (Unicorn)
The leader and the popular one (due to her celebrity history), Trixie acts as the motivator and glue that holds the team together. Her magical acts prove useful with illusion spells and certain subterfuge skills like lock-picking show she's had some shady experiences. Trixie's vice is that she can be determined and egotistical to a fault at times, but her heart is in the right place and she tries to keep a cool head. Tries.
Ellie - The Brains (Green) (Pegasus)
The creative one of the trio loves to tinker and build things. Ellie can be socially shy, but when she does speak she tends to be bold in her emotions. When she's happy Ellie doesn't smile, she BEAMS. The pegasus' curiosity is quite handy to figure out a technical problem. Her disadvantage though is that she had an odd approach to problems and if it's time to panic, she'll lead the way.
Cheryl - The Brawn (Red) (Earth pony)
The last of the trio, Cheryl is the laid back type that will just go with the flow. She trends toward being the snarkiest of the group and the one to go with the most direct route to a solution, but her strength and speed is an advantage in a confrontation. Cheryl is loyal to those she cares about, but her downside is a drinking habit and a tendency toward laziness if there isn't an urgency.
Other characters can play useful roles when needed. Lisa and Iggy can hint at exposition or be motivators to other characters. Deputy Valiant is great when I want a "Law vs. Chaos" angle against Trixie or if I need someone to act as a voice of reason to the ideas the blue Unicorn comes up with.
Character dynamics are fun and I really should have done that from the get go. I can't wait to play more with them and evolve their relationships.
Is there anything ever written that doesn't have a trope attached to it? dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/shrug_Luna_apple.png
e.deviantart.net/emoticons/t/trollface.png
Worse, is there a trope that can't be attached to something?