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[KnightofPhoenix]

After having finished my List of Top 10 favorite video game protagonists and working on my top 10 antagonists, I thought it would be cool start with an unranked and irregular list of my favorite magnificent bastards in fiction, before proceeding with making a list of my top 10 favorite video game antagonists. 

Those in the protagonist or antagonist lists who would qualify will not have two articles written about them, but would be put in the list, which can be found here.

And here's the list as it stands now:

- Kane (Command and Conquer)
- Kain (Legacy of Kain)
- The Lich King (WarCraft)
- Raul Menendez (Black Ops 2)
- Radovid V the Stern (The Witcher)
- Philippa Eilhart (The Witcher)

Any comments, suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated, as well as any recommendation with regards to works of fiction which you think has a magnificent bastard. Also feel free to share your list and opinions with regards to the characters and the character type in general!

Modifié par KnightofPhoenix, 08 mars 2013 - 08:01 .

[TEWR]

I'll be interested in seeing just who you list and if they're Magnificent Bastards that I enjoy as well, aside from the incredibly obvious one that we all know.

For myself, I can think of the following games that had some excellent characters of this type:

Vayne Solidor from FFXII, who falls into every single one of your criteria for a Magnificent Bastard. Hell, I'd argue that FFXII has a couple Magnificent Bastards beyond Vayne. Vayne's the guy who can turn hatred into adoration, will sully his own hands for the greater good and a deeply personal reason, and essentially knows how best to react to any situation that happens.

And the Fire Emblem Tellius series has its own share of Magnificent Bastards, all playing their own game. By far the best one is Sephiran, who is a Chessmaster. You can really respect how he plays the international politics of Tellius, even if you'll despise what he's after. But Naesala the Raven-King comes in second place, and it's hard not to love that charming guy.

And then there's Kingdom Hearts, with all of the Magnificent Bastards it has.

Honestly, those are the three games that I'm just in love with for their characters. The level of writing for them surpasses Bioware's by leaps and bounds. Inevitably, I could turn any discussion into being about them.

Not sure if there would be any movies that I could claim impressed me with this character type.

And A Song of Ice and Fire's Littlefinger, Tywin, and Tyrion.

But anyway, going to enjoy reading your thoughts!

Modifié par The Ethereal Writer Redux, 09 janvier 2013 - 05:18 .

[Chromie]

Please tell me Michael Thorton is apart of this list.

[The Hierophant]

Even though your list isn't numbered, i can't believe you threw down Kane & Kain already. You get props for your analysis of Kane's portrayal in CnC3 as it highlights the leap in writing for his character in comparison to the previous games.

Also did you specifically leave out the detail on why Raziel ripping the HoD out of Kain greatly benefited the latter as it was his only weakness against a certain staff wielder? Will the staff wielder or his boss make separate appearances on your list? Kreia i know is a given, but will Leth... i'll just stop with the questions.

Like TEWR said you should really check out FFXII's Vayne Solidor who imo despite not being an iconic antagonist of the franchise is easily it's best written magnificent bastard.

[Kaiser Arian XVII]

Alistair, Magnificent Royal Bastard! lol

Still don't know what exactly 'Magnificent Bastard' means, guessing it might refer to interesting Kickass characters with different principles.

Mandalore, Javik, Early T.I.M, Loghain, Mr. House, Revan and few more came to my mind.

[Cyberarmy]

Well Kreia from Kotor 2 is a magnificent bastard(b!tch?) manuplative to the bone.
I also vote for Vayne Solidor.
BG1&2s bad guys, Sarevok and Jon Irenicus.
Amon from The Legend of Korra.

Edit: Also Kane!

Modifié par Cyberarmy, 09 janvier 2013 - 07:08 .

[Dominus]

Poof.

Modifié par DominusVita, 11 janvier 2013 - 03:15 .

[Cyberarmy]

DominusVita wrote...

Zaeed is an amazing rascal.
Kratos is an overpoweringly awesome anti-hero.
Illidan is an astonishing bastard.

Can't believe i have forgotten Kratos I feel his gaze and anger...

I also vote for Illidan and Arthas too and maybe even Kerrigan. 

[Ophir147]

Not entirely game related, but if you like Magnificent Bastards, then you should definitely watch Breaking Bad if you haven't already. So many Batman Gambits and character manipulations, and watching the slow dissolution of Walt's morality is just too great. Easily my favorite TV series ever.

[Chromie]

He has watched Breaking Bad.

[Lotion Soronarr]

You said "from all fiction", not just limited to games?
Then the list of potential candidates is long indeed.

Personally, I don't think highly of Kane...

As for what constitues a magificent bastard:
http://tvtropes.org/...nificentBastard

[KnightofPhoenix]

Skelter192 wrote...

Please tell me Michael Thorton is apart of this list.

MY Michael Thorton, at least

Legatus Arianus wrote...
Still
don't know what exactly 'Magnificent Bastard' means, guessing it might
refer to interesting Kickass characters with different principles.

Mandalore, Javik, Early T.I.M, Loghain, Mr. House, Revan and few more came to my mind.

This is how I define a "magnificent bastard":
"The way I define a “magnificent bastard” is similar to the tvtropes
definition, albeit a bit broader. For me, a magnificent bastard needs to
boast the abilities of a chessmaster (manipulating events), as well as
that of a manipulative bastard (manipulating emotions), all while having
a sense of style and flair - to have something magnetic about their
character despite how horrific some if not all of their actions can be."

So Loghain is definitely not one, his career was mostly a failure (which does not make him any less interesting).

EDIT:
And yes, Breaking Bad will not be forgotten.

Modifié par KnightofPhoenix, 09 janvier 2013 - 04:57 .

[Nerevar-as]

Palpatine is the number one for me. In games the villain from Jade Empire (haven´t played C&C yet). TIM showed some manners in ME2, but in ME3 no way.

[KnightofPhoenix]

I would have considered Palpatine, if he wasn't surrounded by implausible idiots and if the plot wasn't badly written in general (imo).
And TIM is a wanabe.

Modifié par KnightofPhoenix, 10 janvier 2013 - 01:02 .

[TEWR]

Kratos is an overpoweringly awesome anti-hero.

You gotta love Kratos. His story is amazing.

[Lotion Soronarr]

TIM has 10 times the charisma Kane has.

Kane is cheap. He gets killed only to get ressurected the next sequel (cyborg, clone, doppleganger) by bad writers.

[Dominus]

Double Poof.

Modifié par DominusVita, 11 janvier 2013 - 03:15 .

[Lotion Soronarr]

How does that make him magnificent?
Kratos isn't smart, tactical or charismatic.
He's more of a "Hulk smash!" variety.
What's there to admire about him?

[Dominus]

Third Poof.

Modifié par DominusVita, 11 janvier 2013 - 03:15 .

[Augustei]

Hmm Suggestions

Xanatos from the Gargoyles
Sun Li The Glorious Strategist from Jade Empire
Cao Cao from Three Kingdoms
Mike Thorton from Alpha Protocl
Littlefinger from ASOIAF
Emperor Emhyr Var Emreis (TW2, although not seen we get a good insight into his plans)
Radovid the Stern TW2
And hmm.. idk maybe Bhelen

These are all the Magnificent Bastards I could think of off the top of my head

I was going to say TIM but ME3 really soured my opinion of him, but ME2 TIM was awesome

Modifié par XxDeonxX, 10 janvier 2013 - 02:27 .

[dragonflight288]

Please tell me Sir Roderick Ponce von Fontlebottom the Magnificent Bastard in Jade Empire will be on it.

[Nerevar-as]

Lord Vetinari is a must. Extra points for being a "good" MB.

Who KoP will pick as number 1 is clear imo.

[Dominus]

Final Poof.

Modifié par DominusVita, 11 janvier 2013 - 03:16 .