When dealing with power we always return to the great debate: If you had the ultimate power, what would you do? Some of you might conjecture “Hey, Nando aren’t only some powers good and some powers evil?” Truly all power, much like a conventional weapons, can only do as much harm as the possessor. Let’s talk realistically: If you went out to that antique weapon shop in the mall and bought a sword what would you do with it? A sword by itself can’t harm anyone as long as it’s on display, but a sword in motion can hurt somebody.

Now applying it to super powers and testing your character’s status. How does your telepath use their power?

1. To read people’s thoughts and preventing anyone from causing harm
2. To whisper in people’s heads to be mean, but to end up stopping any harm
3. By driving the people completely insane

Now it is pretty obvious that if you chose 1 you have a hero and if you chose 3 you have a villain, but what does that make choice 2? This is a new, usually more popular, persona known as an anti-hero. The anti-hero is still a hero, but not a conventional one. Yes there are also anti-villains too, which are basically reverse anti-heroes. The power and even the way the character dresses don’t define them, but their actions, and thoughts, can generally do that for us. But like a child with a brand new toy, when heroes discover their abilities they will screw around with them for a while until generally someone they love gets hurt. This allows them to sober up and become a hero.

Let’s get to writing shall we? Get out your pen and notebook:

1. Now on a clean sheet of paper, keeping your character in mind, think of their power and limitations and think what would you do as a responsible person. Write them down.
2. Now repeat step one again, but this time think if you were just screwing around for fun.
3. Repeat step one again, but this time think of horrible things you would do.
4. Now hint and pick through each list as to what your character(with his or her attitude) might do (mind you there is a difference between “do”because they are able and “do because they ultimately need to). Keep in mind your character’s look doesn’t define their power nor their personality.
5. Now you got a list of parameters for your characters power usage. This should also explain your character’s persona well

Remember: If you have trouble take a break, come back to it. Try going for a walk or napping, but steer clear of television or movies because those can effect original thinking.