“I’ve often said that it is up to me to define who I am…”
I was speaking with Hero recently about our class archetypes.
As a self-proclaimed Hero main myself, I often try to find other gamers who like the same thing, so that we can bond and chat.
Hero and Star come to mind when I think of friends who share my favorite characters, and I enjoy talking to them about protagonists and sword characters.
Hero told me that, although he’s all for the hero archetype, because that’s what he’s built his brand off of, he actually feels more attracted to the companion role.
He said he loves characters like Erik from Dragon Quest XI. He told me he’s specifically a sucker for the knuckle-head best friend archetypes like Ryuji from Persona 5.
While our conversation was brief, it really struck home with me. I asked him if he ever thought about switching character archetypes and rebranding to match his preferred style.
He responded saying that the hero archetype is just who he is now, and it’s stuck with him for so long.
That’s just who he is.
It got me thinking a lot about myself. I’ve been compared to Yosuke from Persona 4, and described as the knuckle-headed companion a lot in my life. But I actually don’t like being compared to these characters much at all.
Personally, I didn’t use Yosuke or Erik in my party.
I used Ryuji in Persona 5, though, because by the time I finally settled into my archetype, I was comfortable with using the “bro” character in my party.
I have mad respect for companion characters. I love Junpei in Persona 3 a lot, too. But he isn’t me, specifically.
I wouldn’t agree that they are me.
Still though, my point in writing this blog is that — even if someone else sees a character or trope in you, or you feel like you represent one trope but wish you were like another — it doesn’t matter.
You can be any character that you wish to be.
When I was still trying out different archetypes, I joined Twitter as a Monk.
People in my early days of Twitter met me as a Monk, and knew I went after characters that specifically fought with their fists.
Fun fact about me? Most of my original backlog was built off trying to find my class, so I have many JRPG that specialize in using fisticuff characters.
Like Tales of Graces F!
Having never played a Tales of game, I bought this on a whim, expecting to main Sophie.
LMAO, could you imagine me being a little girl who punches.
Four years and I still haven’t played Tales of Graces F, but I can FOR SURE say for certain that my character now probably falls in-line more with … Asbel.
[I want to drive home the fact that this is all fantasy role playing, and meant to be for fun.]
So, even if you’ve spent your whole life building your personality and brand on one specific role, it’s okay to grow and change if that’s what you want to do.
Not only this, but there’s always sub-classing.
Sub-classes are for when you also like a secondary option. I personally don’t have a sub-class, but I know others who do.
I specifically chose the “Hero” archetype, because they are generally all-arounder type characters that can cover many bases.
The Hero is usually the main focal point of the group, and is generally always in the party.
These are my favorite characters, and the ones I’m all in for. I love them.
They are who I am most comfortable with.
But that doesn’t mean I ALWAYS choose the main hero, so let’s discuss that real quick…
Remember that I told you guys that you can always change if you want to? There are often times when I don’t (1:1) feel like the protagonist…
Finding a character that fits your personality and combat style is difficult. It took me around 3 years to finally decide on what I knew all along. I just didn’t accept it at the time.
But there are instances where I still feel like it’s not perfect, and so there are actually a few series out there where I think the protagonist is cool, but I actually fall into a secondary character.
Characters like Trunks from Dragon Ball Z and Metal Bat from One-Punch Man are prime examples of secondary characters that I love more than the main.
Goku and Saitama are unmatched characters in the anime world, so I will gladly take the time-traveling sword character that reminds me of Link and Crono (my other spirit characters), and the One-Handed Baseball Bat big brother character.
They are both lovable bad ass heroes who I love so much.
When it comes to picking your main archetype — at least for me, it will feel like a constant gnawing, or an itch that you can’t scratch.
When I was struggling to find my class for the last three years, whenever I’d get compared to characters I didn’t agree with, or would try to use a combat style that didn’t fit me, I’d often get this uncomfortable hot burning sensation in my chest and shoulders.
Deep down inside, I knew what I liked and how I wanted to be perceived. I knew what my favorite characters all stood for and who I wanted to be.
The next step was self-acceptance and change.
Hero characters are my spiritual-bond characters because they strive to do the right things, help those in need, typically use swords in RPG, are the frontman or poster-boy of the series, are important and impactful to the story in some way, and are special characters because of how they drive the series forward.
Ichiban Kasuga from Yakuza Like A Dragon said it best…
I just want to be like my favorite heroes.
At 40 years old, I may want to change, and that’s okay, too.
You should never feel locked down to a trope, even if other people force that trope on you and don’t let you change.
Be your authentic self, and if change is necessary, that self is still who you are.
Xavier, if you’re reading this blog, thank you for our conversation.
Thank you for allowing me to talk about it.
No matter if you want to stay the hero, or change to the hero’s companion, I will support your decision.
What’s your favorite archetype in anime or JRPG?
