With all the feedback that I've received over Eiko, i started to think on some of the issues that people have with the story. Most of it involves getting rid of characters. To them I say thee nay (to quote Thor).
When I create a world, I create the characters and their backgrounds and their history. They serve a purpose whether major or minor. Now of course this has a lot to do with my background in comics and fantasy fiction. I realize that a main character is only as powerful as their supporting cast. Take the characters Yoko and Gisei from Eiko.
I created them as a balance to Eiko. Eiko was the point man so to speak, while Yoko was the support, and Gisei was the heavy. On a typical mission, Yoko would provide the defense, while Gisei would be the muscle. Eiko couldn't do everything that both of them did. A real military team has a setup that provides someone to cover each of the required positions. One person simply cannot do it all. Even a sniper works with a spotter who provides tactical information to the one pulling the trigger. Yoko and Gisei also provided a level of balance to Eiko who tends to be more straight forward in her methods. Getting rid of them would require a retooling of the missions, and would put more work on Eiko. Certainly I wanted her to be a bad-ass character, but I also wanted her to be able to work as a part of a unit. It shows her strength and weaknesses.
Supporting characters do just that. They support them and help them achieve their goals. Eiko isn't a one woman army (at least not until later) and it provides a bit of realism to her as well as an emotional tie. What happens to them is also a catalyst for other events. Also when writing a screenplay, you tend to think of the potential for sequels and spin-offs.
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