Coming up with something original is hard, which is why so many people end up making characters similar to the famous ones. That's nothing new, after all Batman is basically a modernized Zorro. With that said, I've tried my best to come up with some unique ideas of my own, and wanted to see what you guys thought. All of these are still on the "drawing board" phase and could change. I'll post as I go along, and see if I can continue with more interesting content.
Feel free to be honest and give pointers!
In no particular order:
[i][b]Mecha SubZero[/b][/i] - Robotic cryo-manipulator. He was part of the Mecha SubZero program made to produce warriors who could fully utilize the cold without the risk of succumbing to it themselves. Behold, the current Mecha SubZero was born. Fittingly he's a cold individual who doesn't feel much in the way of emotion, but wants to feel more. Being made specifically for the purposes of using cryo powers, he's a dangerous opponent as a fast, swift and deadly fighter.
[i][b]Windrunner[/b][/i] - Demigoddess/speedster. Evie Cutler was born to Artemis, goddess of the moon, hunt and young maidens as well as the speedster superhero Instant during his trip to the Realm of the Gods. She had a unique childhood, in that spent it between Earth and another plane of existence. Windrunner has unique abilities, as she's inherited the speed of her father and the holy abilities of her mother. She can run at superhuman speeds, carries a special sword called the "Windcutter", can summon a bow and arrow for attacks at a distance.
[i][b]Spectre Black[/b][/i] - Ghostly cowboy from the 1800s displaced into present day. He appears as a shadowy figure, as it's nigh-impossible to distinguished his features behinds his duster, hat, and scarf, other than his glowing red eyes. How he came to be isn't clear, but now he roams the streets of Titan City looking to punish evildoers. Spectre Black appropriately enough has an "old west" power set; he uses dual revolvers (which he can amplify with "hell rounds"), has stuns using his glass grenade carrying dark magic, and can teleport like a ghostly wraith.
[i][b]Rei Kurayami[/i][/b] - The name of a Japanese woman who has dark magic concealed in her, yet the way she uses it is opposite of what you'd expect. She's obsessed with Japanese street fashion, and you can expect her to wear something unique. She channels that dark energy into various weapons and abilities that she fights with, and does so in style. She can fly, manipulate energy, create weapons, turn invisible, and more. Her obsession is looking good while doing everything.
These are the four ones I have for now. I'll come up with more later if you guys would like. For me this is a creative challenge to come up with more original concepts, so feedback is appreciated.
You realize the NAME "Mecha SubZero" is, in and of itself, an infringement on TWO separate copyrights, right?
You're trolling us.
R.S.O. of Phoenix Rising
Wait what do you mean?
Also names can’t be copyrighted, only trademarked so keep that in mind next time you make such a claim.
Yeah. I'm curious how Mecha SubZero is an infringement on anything.
I get it. SubZero from MK, but adding Mecha, makes it a brand new name.
And “SubZero” isn’t exactly unique either.
Yeah, I think Subzero is sorta like Soundwave in that regard, you can't trademark an actual word.
Which is why on the latter case they changed Soundwave to Soundblast for a while and now often use Cybertronian Soundwave.
Or why there's a mortal kombat sub-zero and a GI Joe Sub-zero, a line of refrigerators called sub-zero, etc etc.
Edit: and mecha is an actual word, a genre, etc etc
"Let the past die. Kill it if you have to."
The big thing that comes with worrying about "infringing on existing character IP rights" is a usually a [b][i]combination[/i][/b] of name AND image/concept. One or the other by themselves in isolation is usually fine.
For example if you made a character and called it "The Incredible Hulk" but made it look like this:
[img=300x300]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/6c/c4/2c/6cc42cd986d43274b66619f05fd45c44.jpg[/img]
People might think you were a bit weird but it would likely be more or less passible. On the other hand if you were foolish enough to try to make your version of "The Incredible Hulk" look like this:
[img=250x250]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/59/Hulk_%28comics_character%29.png[/img]
Then you'd have an obvious problem with that.
CoH player from April 25, 2004 to November 30, 2012
[IMG=400x225]https://i.imgur.com/NHUthWM.jpeg[/IMG]
Can we move past the name now? I’m trying to come up with more original ideas and could use some feedback on that.
I was just providing a definite "answer" to your own question back on [url=https://cityoftitans.com/comment/148270#comment-148270]post #3[/url]. Seemed relevant to me. *shrugs*
CoH player from April 25, 2004 to November 30, 2012
[IMG=400x225]https://i.imgur.com/NHUthWM.jpeg[/IMG]
Well, first, I'd like to say, original tends to only go so far. Even when original, you can usually say something akin to "...basically so and so is a mix of Spider-Man meets Dr. Strange with a tad of Iron Man thrown in." or some such silliness :p
Except for the glass grenades. I liked Spectre Black though.
Mecha SubZero - I like the overall concept, not entirely sold on the name. A few questions come to mind also: Is this a prototype cyborg ala RoboCop, or a true AI ala Johnny 5? How human does it look? If cyborg and/or humanoid, is it male or female? Regarding healing, must it seek a robotics specialist, or does it have some form of "self-repair" capability? I only ask because they are fill in questions that help round out the character concept.
Windrunner - Slightly generic, but overall good concept. Again, just not enough detail. Is this character a hero or villain? Just because grandaddy was a hero and mom is a goddess, you are not automatically a hero. Is she rebellious? Has she fallen in with any of the more disreputable of her mother's family? She could also be pretending to be supporting the disreputables, but acting on behalf of GRANDPA...
Spectre Black - I like this concept...I really do.
Rei Kurayami - Is she a hero or a villain? Not quite clear from the write up, though it seems you may be looking at ultra-stylish vain hero...but I could be wrong. I would like to see more of this concept...
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DCUO has a thread were people are actually posting heroes and claiming it to be Luke Cage, or Hulk. They are running around the watchtower or hall of doom with these toons as-well. I have seen xxxGokuxxxx or Spider_man or something like that which looks exactly like spider-man in DCUO. DCUO actually has items that look very similar to Marvel Characters.
[img]http://dcuobloguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/classic_tech.jpg[/img]
This is actually called flexed webbed suit
[img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/dcuo/images/f/f2/FullWebbedFlexsuit.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/200?cb=20120909140545[/img]
https://forums.daybreakgames.com/dcuo/index.php?threads/guides-to-creating-authentic-marvel-themed-characters-in-dcuo.270072/
Been playing CO for awhile, and have not been contacted. I mentioned this before, but I take the heroes with animal names, and turn it into a pun.
[img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/51/Bloody_Roar_logo.png/250px-Bloody_Roar_logo.png[/img]
&
[img]http://ritterhuset.dk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Ritterhuset-superhelt-300x200.png[/img]
=
[img]https://i.imgur.com/0e3vIGC.jpg[/img]
I don't claim to know all. Just because I have been running around with characters like this does not mean it isn't not too similar. I do draw inspiration from popular characters in the media. BR is my favorite fighting game and I like the 'Hulk," or "Hawk." Mecha Subzero seems rather vague. Capcom had a "Mecha" character, and sub-zero relates to temperature.
[img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/streetfighter/images/2/21/SFV_Mech-Zangief.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20170331235043[/img]
http://www.chicanxdeaztlan.org/p/about-us.html
[img]https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRd2asGzG50huIndoJRDzci9lW0QS8XH2OaEATedg9e9XkcehkQRQ[/img]?????????????
&
[img]https://cdn.patchcdn.com/users/47838/stock/T800x600/20150254eb04be45014.jpg[/img]???????????
Mecha Sub-zero did not yield any MK references, unless you dig harder. However, sub-zero yielded MK characters, but mostly temp. Mecha actually yielded an organization using acronyms. Again, I am not a lawyer nor know everything about this subject. Actually very little to be honest. It is deeper than a search, but what can/is copyrighted. Eh, the most annoying part of superhero mmo imo. This conversation always comes up. I made a thread about it not too long ago. One reason why I like games outside of superhero mmo. Many games have mods of the actual hero.
As a child, I thought my name was handsome, cause that is what everyone called me.
Bloody Roar's Hulk looks quite a bit like the Hulk 2099.
[img=300x140]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/8/86/Hulk_4.png/revision/latest?cb=20110615140505[/img]
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Can we please move past the whole "Mecha SubZero" thing? It's not like MK was the first to use the term for something cold, it's actually a pretty generic term for something cold-based.
For the record, my issue with the name has nothing to do with any copyright issues (which, as pointed out, are not really issues), but rather with the name sounding, as you put it, 'generic'. I just thought something more like 'Battlefrost' or 'Cryborg' might sound 'stronger', though that is admittedly subjective. All the other names you gave sound less clumsy and/or generic, at least to my mind/ear. In the end, if you like the name, run with it. And with that, I am finished discussing the name for that character.
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Daaang! Cryborg is a great name!
Though with that name I can imagine this scenario,
"So, what? You're like a robot that cries?"
"What? No- no... I freeze people. Cry like Cryo."
"Yeah sure Crybaby!"
*Laughter that is cut short by a quick frosty demise*
"Let the past die. Kill it if you have to."
Yup...only takes one...then NO ONE ever laughs at you again!!! MWAHAHAH!!!
er...
wait...
This is supposed to be a hero, right?
Forget that first line...
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Good ice themed names are pretty hard to come by.
"Let the past die. Kill it if you have to."
That depends on how much you appreciate bad puns, really.
[youtube]YkTHtWX7CCY[/youtube]
Could simply just be changed to, "CRYOBORG"
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[color=#FF0000]Graphic Designer[/color]
Are we done yet?
I'm good.
Do you have anymore background on any of them? I'm interested to see a bit more.
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I made an Ice Tanker that I named 'The Zamboni'.
Be Well!
Fireheart
+100 for the classic line by Captain America in the Avengers movie.
[img]https://s15.postimg.cc/z9bk1znkb/Black_Falcon_Sig_in_Progess.jpg[/img]
First, meta thoughts. And on the name issue. Names are important - the thread here illustrates that, because if a name [i]sounds[/i] cheesy, that's your first impression blown, right there. People in a game [i]will[/i] judge you on your name and costume first. In that respect, even the backstory and bio is almost secondary. Because the bio stuff is only going to matter if people read it, or if they interact with you. Or if you write or produce stuff, whatever. But that's second level. The initial knee jerk reaction matters. But the thing is, at the same time, people are usually pretty forgiving about costume originality. If you turn up rocking full-body tights and a cape, people will think Superman... and [i]that's fine[/i].
Second, I honestly don't think the issue is being 'original' or not, it's whether the [i]execution[/i] is good or not. There's no point trying to be super ultra clever, no point in having have this incredibly complex backstory, if nobody [i]understands[/i] it, or if it's just so overblown that other players stare at you funny. On the other hand, you can take a very derivative character and be loved by your supergroup. I mean, if you CAN be super original, great, go ahead, but you don't NEED to be.
Anyway. Comments...
[b]Mecha SubZero[/b] - At a basic level, a cold-producing robot or cyborg with an 'ice' or 'cold' personality is not very unique. It's a straightforward enough idea. Mr. Freeze most directly, but there's any number of fictional characters with ice abilities that are 'cold but want to feel', including Disney's Elsa. Is that a problem? Not really. Again, all you need to do is pull it off well. If it were me, I'd see about finding little bits to build off the base idea to give it more nuance and personal twists. Perhaps the cold thing gives him super-intelligence, superconductors and stuff. Maybe his electronics depend on the cooling - perhaps his systems actually run hot, and he needs the cryo stuff to stay functional..Maybe his personality fluctuates based on the temperature. Perhaps look at other elemental robot concepts for cues, e.g. Red Tornado, or the original Human Torch.
[b]Windrunner[/b] - I like this one a lot. The idea of a child of two worlds, whose upbringing was split between the mundane and some extraordinary plane isn't completely unique - but it's rare enough. The idea of a second-generation hero who's got a really unusual second parent besides their costumed parent... again, done before in published comics, but not that typical either. The power stuff is where it does get interesting, because the vast majority of speedster characters in comics operate in the whole Flash/Quicksilver running-around-unarmed-in-tights mode. Whereas this character uses weapons and projectiles - a bow makes an awful lot of sense for someone with super-speed, and I think the IDEA of a 'super speed archer' is something people will immediately understand and be amused by. All I can think of as an example of a mainstream publisher character speedster that mainly uses their speed in conjunction with ranged weapon... is DC's Captain Boomerang II. And that's not a bow. And few people remember Boomerang II. All in all, this one's pretty solid, and the use of the Greek pantheon is a solid touchpoint for many people.
[b]Spectre Black[/b] - This is fun, I like it, but it's also going to be low on the 'stand out from the crowd' score. A ghostly or spectral gunslinger with a hat and scarf is one of the oldest archetypes - the Shadow, and so on. Cowboy stuff is hand in glove with superhero stuff, the Vigilante, etc. Now, with all that said... him being an actual ghost IS a nice touch, as well as the man-out-of-time thing. These are also common tropes, but it's fertile ground for a deft player. That's probably where most of the flavour would come in. He's a man of another century, his philosophy, his moral outlook, his ethics, those are all out of step. There's a lot of stranger-in-a-strange-land potential here. If he's actually a spirit of some kind, there's potential there too.
[b]Rei Kurayami[/b] - Stylish, cool-looking woman in street clothes that forms energy weapons... is again, not very high on the uniqueness index in and of itself. I mean, reasonably you're gonna see a lot of characters running around with that kind of name and the same aesthetic. It's just pushing the modern anime, modern martial arts, buttons. I mean, look at it this way, take a look at THIS forum section alone and you'll see other people discussing modern martial arts characters with Chinese, Japanese or Korean names. But that need not be a bad thing, because if you do it well, it's something other people will look at, and go, okay, that's a neat-looking character you have there. Just because it will be common doesn't mean it'll be bad. With this sort of character, I find that it's really things like personality, speech patterns, stuff like that, which make you memorable when interacting with other players. You don't even need to be chatty - one of my good friends had a character like this as their main back in CoH. Japanese name, street clothes aesthetic. She stuck in people's minds because she DIDN'T talk much. Just things like "Hn." or "Hmph." in chat. The player behind the keyboard is well-educated, well-spoken... that's not the point. "Hn" was the point.
Acyl was better able to say what I was really trying to there
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Dammit!!!
Well, my Saber-tooth is a smilodon, so I think I am safe there.
As a child, I thought my name was handsome, cause that is what everyone called me.
I knew I had seen the name [url=https://dota2hq.eu/windranger-desktop-wallpaper-2/?lang=en]Windrunner[/url] somewhere:
[img=640x480]https://dota2hq.eu/wallpaper/preview/windranger-desktop-wallpaper-3776-594px.jpg[/img]
As long as your character appearance and abilities don't overlap too much you should be fine...
I would also like to know if you have more background on any of the characters you have in the original post. As I stated previously, the blurbs are ok for most, great for Spectre Black, but don't give me enough to know if they are more than generic...ok Rei is more than generic, but I am unsure if she is a hero, villain, or anti-hero (though she would look great at any apparently)...
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There's also [url=http://www.wowhead.com/search?q=windrunner#npcs]Sylvanas, Alleria, and Vereesa[/url] from Warcraft.
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
[url=https://cityoftitans.com/forum/foradains-character-conclave]Foradain's Character Conclave[/url]
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Avatar courtesy of [s]Satellite9[/s] [url=https://www.instagram.com/irezoomie/]Irezoomie[/url]
Here's a new idea of mine that I thought I'd share. I might have more later.
[b][i]Juke Joint Jezebel[/i][/b] - A mutant with the power to use musical energy and harness them into "auras". Elise Flynn was a professional dancer who worked at a Juke Joint to make ends meet, and her powers awoken when the place was under attack by robbers. Absorbing the music around her, she defeated the criminals, much to her surprise afterwards. Now donning a special costume, and music-based gear that allows her to use her powers, Juke Joint Jezebel fights crime using style, sound and grace.
Hmmm, Juke Joint Jezebel sounds interesting. Reminds me a bit of Lucio from Overwatch whom has sound tech that can speed people up and heal. He uses it to produce techno beats.
Would she be more support based or just disrupt her enemies via blowing out their eardrums, forcing them to dance to her music, and so on?
I personally find the idea of an character whom can force people to dance to their music funny but if you want a more serious character that power mechanic probably isn't for you.
CoT actually demonstrated a character who can force enemies to dance. Here’s an article about it:
https://www.mmogames.com/gamenews/watch-city-titans-commander-lock-enemies-power-dance/