I have a fic straggling around in which Nambu and the boys spend a year in Ameris. I'm trying to introduce another original character, and have a little fun with things. The character is a female scientist (genius, of course) who eventually ends up in Nambu's little 'Galactor fighting' circle. Just sort of continuing the story of Ken, Joe, and Dr. Nambu, and setting the scene for what will come when Galactor starts throwing mecha at everything.

What are you looking for? Why are they in Ameris? Do you want to find things for them to do? Where does your original character fit in? Possible love interest for Nambu?

If you know where your overall plotline is going, you could just start hinting at that, then connect this to a longer story.

I would refrain from making your OC a genius. I would make her well rounded in her field, perhaps above average, but not a genius. Once you start making OC's genius, or exceptional in some way, you start dabbling your toe into Mary Sue territory. And, like others have said, you need to make sure you know why the characters are in that location - and if they are not with the rest of the team, again, why.

I'd keep her genius level almost to the point where Nambu feels intimidated with her. Nambu has always been in a position of power so it'd be interesting to see him squirm a little. Lol If you're really feeling frisky make her a possible Nambu love interest or even keep her ambiguous enough that the reader questions if her intentions are pure (possible galactor double agent?)

Originally posted by JohngPR I'd keep her genius level almost to the point where Nambu feels intimidated with her. Nambu has always been in a position of power so it'd be interesting to see him squirm a little. Lol If you're really feeling frisky make her a possible Nambu love interest or even keep her ambiguous enough that the reader questions if her intentions are pure (possible galactor double agent?)

John - I'm loving your thought processes here. You obviously have the imagination - you should try your hand at fic writing. Personally, I would love to see some more Gatch fics written by males - to get the contrast.

Originally posted by green

Originally posted by JohngPR I'd keep her genius level almost to the point where Nambu feels intimidated with her. Nambu has always been in a position of power so it'd be interesting to see him squirm a little. Lol If you're really feeling frisky make her a possible Nambu love interest or even keep her ambiguous enough that the reader questions if her intentions are pure (possible galactor double agent?)

John - I'm loving your thought processes here. You obviously have the imagination - you should try your hand at fic writing. Personally, I would love to see some more Gatch fics written by males - to get the contrast.

ITA!!!

Yes, I think thats a good idea. I am reading `Letters by J R R Tolkien` He brings up the subject of Mary Sues Interesting that he never commited one. (though certainly some characters are an aspect of him.)

Thanks for the compliments. I have some minor history writing, but all I've written is video game reviews. I actually wouldn't mind taking a stab at writing something. Not sure where to start though.

If you're really interested, just start with something small, John, like a scene. Maybe take one of your Tatsunoko vs. Capcom battles and write a story behind it: why are these characters fighting and what do they hope to accomplish? What do the winners and losers do after the fight?

John, my first attempt at fic writing was something I posted here at Gatchamania as a 'throw away' on Friday the 13th. It was less than 250 words! Until then I hadn't written anything creative since I left school too many years ago to name... Start small, as TJ said, and do what I did - post it here. The encouragement I received was enough to bolster my confidence enough to get serious. Let's face it, what stops us trying these things is a lack of confidence! If you want to see what else is out there here's the link for Gatchfanfic... http://www.gatchfanfic.com You'll find many of us regulars have fics posted there and so here is the best place to find help if you get stuck or want help in any way! The fic writers here DON'T flame each other and go out of their way to lend support in any way they can.

One of the most fun ways I found to improve my writing was with what are called "Drabbles" A drabble is a 100 word fic and you start from a given theme or opening line. They were very popular in the Harry Potter fic writing fandom and it really helped me to hone my writing skills.

I should have been clearer. Ken and Joe are still very young. The story itself starts three months after Ken's mother dies. Some elements of the Mantle Project require Nambu's presence in Ameris for at least a year. He can't leave the boys alone that long (they're in the vicinity of 11-12 years old), so he brings them along. There's one thing that will help keep my OC from Mary Sue status: I'm smart, but I don't have anywhere near the knowledge base required to delve into the science I'll refer to. Dr. Branson has her own areas of expertise, and she's one of the few people who can talk to Nambu on his level. And, yes, she's a romantic interest for him. (He never gets any action on the show!) I do have a draft of her introduction to Galactor's existence. A Galactor captain, ordered to attack an ISO facility, decides to use a mecha and uniformed Galactor soldiers. As it happens, Nambu is at the facility on business, and those two just manage to escape with their lives. (The captain, for violating orders, is later executed, and his men punished.)

Originally posted by Tengu Yes, I think thats a good idea. I am reading `Letters by J R R Tolkien` He brings up the subject of Mary Sues Interesting that he never commited one. (though certainly some characters are an aspect of him.)

Writers sometimes use pieces of themselves to create characters. The trick is to make sure that the character is not so obviously the author's stand-in that the audience is turned off. Mary and Gary Sue must be restrained.

It's interesting to me that now I know about Mary Sue, I see her everywhere! Including the latest books I've read (Twilight being one of them - can't thank my sister enough for buying me the series I have avoided like the plague for Christmas...) and the True Blood series (the other sister's present *sigh*). I think that it is unfortunately a fact of life that Mary and Gary will pop their heads up when you least expect or want them too...

I don't see anything wrong with your character being very bright, or a genius. I can't see Dr Nambu working with someone whos just above average anyway.For me what makes a new character a Mary-sue is when he/she becomes perfect in everyway and out shines the main characters. (You know, amazingly beautiful and a genius, and of course she has every man on the planet after her and the boys fighting over her and Dr Nambu blushes everytime he sees her...they're all in love with her... and she is a just as good a fighter as they are and beats Gatchaman everytime with the blink of her long thick lashes and stunning eyes charming perfect full lips into a heart melting smile..... that kinda thing.) Pass me the bucket...I'm about to throw up type of character....

She's not perfect. And if Nambu gets tongue-tied, it's because they become close. THAT sort of close. And given young Joe's emotional issues, the boy won't be doing much more than thinking she's rather a nice person (and dealing with the possibility of Nambu DATING) for a while. TJ once said that Dr. Pandora was someone's Mary Sue. Maybe the creators went a little overboard with the character so that viewers would accept her presence with the team. After all, she came out of the blue.

My comment about Pandora being a Mary Sue was the way she was introduced (all of the guys panting after her, Jun looking up to her, an incredible genius, smart enough to see through Joe's facade, bringing along her James-Bond car to save the day, and having a 'secret connection' with the series main villian). Yeah, Pandora started out as a Mary Sue and never really got better. She was always saving the day, even during the 2 episodes where she had to be rescued by hunky Birdmen in swoony 'carry me off to safety' scenes. (There was one Joe ep and one Ken ep that did that.) I'm not sure if this existed in Gatch II (I'm guessing it didn't) but in Eagle Riders there was even an implication that Dr. Keane was attracted to her. Bleargh... Oh yeah, I forgot. Dr. Pandora was physically strong enough to survive the Firebird maneuver even though she wasn't wearing Birdstyle, and then not long afterward, got to fly the original God Phoenix all by herself and go through the Firebird again... ALL BY HERSELF. Um, doesn't it take all 5 members of the SNT to do Firebird? Sigh...

I understand fully what TJ is saying! Regarding Dr Keane being attracted to Dr Pandora I cannot say anything because I'm not so sure what I can recall precisely after so much time having passed since I've last watched the Gatch II series (I don't know why but I prefer watching episodes from Gatchaman and Gatch F but rarely from Gatch II, the other main reason being that I do not have any episodes of Gatch II whilst I do have all the English dubbed episodes of Gatchaman and many Italian dubbed episodes of Gatch F!). But I do agree regarding the perfect image around the lady doctor! She was always good at things, even those that she supposedly never had done before, and she generally had the right say! LOL ... the very first conversation between Ken and Joe in Episode 1 of Gatch F had begun with how beautiful and wonderful Dr Pandora had been and what a pity they had lost her!

Hi all!

Um, doesn't it take all 5 members of the SNT to do Firebird?

No, it only take all five Ninja Team vehicles. The Ninja Team members themselves do not need to be present. The same goes for firing the Bird Missiles. James

UW, it sounds like you have a good story going there. Just keep writing and sometimes the fics take on a mind of their own.

Originally posted by UnpublishedWriter She's not perfect. And if Nambu gets tongue-tied, it's because they become close. THAT sort of close. And given young Joe's emotional issues, the boy won't be doing much more than thinking she's rather a nice person (and dealing with the possibility of Nambu DATING) for a while. TJ once said that Dr. Pandora was someone's Mary Sue. Maybe the creators went a little overboard with the character so that viewers would accept her presence with the team. After all, she came out of the blue.

Just try not to get tooo caught up in the whole Mary-Sue thing... You'll find a few flaws along the way for your character I'm sure! You make GREAT original characters! (Gosh I had Joe married to a woman thats far from his his usual...rich, pretty and not my ideal, but she was worth it.)