#dansmuses

some things that people consider 'flat' in a character... that's not what that means. From a writing/characterization perspective. Just because a reader doesn't find a character 100% gripping or entertaining in the first paragraph they appear (or scene they walk in), doesn't mean they're flat.

There's a difference between static (non-changing) and flat.

Static is a character who does not grow or change through the story. And depending on what you want to do with your story and character, that is NOT necessarily a bad thing. What is your goal? In rp, that is probably going to be extremely dull. But considering we are dealing with soft resets in each verse with each of our partners (at least that's how I do it), this kind happens in some ways. So I don't think this is the biggest issue in the world. Look at animated sitcoms. This is called a "floating timeline" (the more you know).

Flat means there is no depth. They can be reduced to just...a number of traits. And their appearance.

But yeah I've had villains walk on and do villainy and people send anons like "they're doing very little to make themselves seem sympathetic." And i'm like.....they are a villain?? they don't want your sympathy. lmfao. but they called them flat. and i'm like, nah honey. they're not flat, you're just used to 'moral gray' characters and also you're like 2 paragraphs in, lol.

i'd argue you CAN have good flat villain characters IF they serve their purpose. but you can't have them overstay their welcome. a lot of the classic disney villains you could argue were pretty damn flat. like flatter than Vox's face.

but example of flat character?

Think. New England accent, annoying, abusive husband/dad, range of idiocy can vary from episode to episode, bigot = Peter Griffon. He will not grow or change. He's just "generic boring asshole."

A dynamic character is: Starlight Glimmer from MLP: FiM. Enters show as a magical cult leader who thinks she's in the right by 'creating' equality. Sees the error of her ways. Becomes Twilight's pupil. Starts to grow in her powers. Also starts to teach Twilight too! Makes a lot of mistakes along the way that help her to grow. We learn she also likes kites, she makes best friends with another reformed bad mare (Trixie), she becomes Vice Principal of the Magic School, we see her resolve issues with her father, etc. In other words, she is a different mare than when we met her. But her attention to equality is still there. Her flaw became her virtue. She's dynamic.

Moxxie's the same way. His good points are also his downsides. He's intelligent/pedantic, sensitive (overly so), righteous/hot-tempered, compassionate/ can have his judgment clouded. And we see him started to no longer let Blitz get under his skin (as he shouldn't!)