As aforementioned, tisn't about one's abilities in these test, they seem more focused on character background, personality and how PC's and NPC's interact with them. I'd say 'perhaps we should create our own test' but I wou;nd't know where to start - it seems more like an abstract rule of thumb rather than something you can really categorize.
Exactly. I know you guys have already said this many times throughout the thread, but people need to stop focusing on their results and think about the bigger picture. If you're a good, educated writer, you generally already
know when your character is crossing the lines of Mary Suedom - you don't need a test to tell you that.
The point of the tests then, as I see them, is to tell people "Hey, these are the most commonly used traits of fictional characters, and when used in excess - they're bloody annoying. Don't be too perfect, don't focus on things that don't matter, and don't make characters exactly like you - or reflect what you'd want to be - when they're not supposed to". Personally, I'm alright with RPers creating characters based off themselves. It's when people start becoming so narrowminded that ALL of their characters - RP or standard fiction - are far too similar that a problem exists.
No, you're not a horrible person if you love aliens, time-travelers, espers, etc. and want to write about them. That's what having an imagination is for! But maybe you should rethink things if they're absurdly overpowered with no real weaknesses, or rely far too much on contrived plot devices to defeat their conflicts. I mean, that's fun sometimes, yeah... but in something considered to be a serious story? You're going to be shot. Repeatedly.
To be fair, I think I agree with one statement in the latest test about asking an "adult" what they think of your character. While the meaning of the word is relative, more experienced readers and writers generally do have a better feel for characters/plots as a whole. We all become better writers as we age, and I'm sure many of us who've been writing for years have seen the development in ourselves, too. In a way, the more experienced a writer you are, the more "real" your imaginary worlds become... even if they're anything but reality.
