Forum:Character Categories

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Taken from the Minor Characters category talk page.

Category renaming
Maybe we should sort the characters by primary, secondary, and tertiary. Though we can keep primary as major so just change characters to secondary characters and minor characters to tertiary characters. This is kind of like the system at Avatar wikia, though Bulbapedia has a category for what they call "Character of the Day" which is a character that is only ever shown on one episode, I figure those can just be tertiary characters, at least until Advebture Time has around fifteen seasons like Pokemon does which causes them to need to make that category... felinoel ~  (Talk)  13:28, May 13, 2011 (UTC)
 * I like the idea, although I don't necessarily like the names "primary, secondary, and tertiary." We already have a "Main Characters" category, which only includes the six or so main characters. That's fine. Maybe "Recurring characters" for those who appeared in multiple episodes. Then some characters in this category get demoted to "Background characters" or something. That would be characters that are so minor, they only appeared in one scene and didn't play a notable role in the story. Just some ideas. --Cornprone 23:06, May 13, 2011 (UTC)
 * Well I did say we can go Major, Secondary, Tertiary. But what is the difference between a background character and a background character who was actually given a name? If a character was given a name it seems more important but is only ever seen in the background... felinoel  ~  (Talk)  03:32, May 14, 2011 (UTC)


 * This is some pretty old discusion, but I think I have an idea. There is a category for comic book characters, and since those characters do not appear on the TV series, they are not exactly considered minor characters. So, basically, the characters who appear on the TV series belong in this category, while the comic book characters go in the other category. Sky Monster 22:32, March 8, 2012 (UTC)


 * Wait, are these comic book characters in the minor characters category? felinoel  ~  (Talk)  13:29, March 9, 2012 (UTC)


 * No. I removed it from the pages when I thought of the idea. Sky Monster 22:15, March 9, 2012 (UTC)


 * Ok so now we have Major Characters, Minor Characters, Genderswap Characters, and Comic Characters?
 * ... I really think this should be reorganized... Bulbapedia has a category for one episode ever shown characters, could we at least add this? felinoel  ~  (Talk)  13:03, March 16, 2012 (UTC)


 * The system could definitely use a reorganization. My suggestion is as follows.
 * I think categories of Major, Minor, and Extras would be a viable system. Major are obvious and the difference between Minor and Extra would be that Minor characters: 1. Have at least two lines of notable dialogue that is non repetitive (notable in the same sense of "notable quotes only" in the Quotes template)
 * 2. Function in the plot of the episode to some degree and
 * 3. Can be viewed as a single entity that is mostly independent (the word "can" so as to not exclude characters like BUFO).
 * This means that any character that does not have dialogue as specified above, doesn't impact the plot, or is functional as a group would be an extra.


 * There would obviously be exceptions - Snow Golem for example has only one true line, but is a minor character nonetheless. I'd like to hope we can be reasonable with characters that are slightly out of the boundaries of my system's rules.


 * Sorry for the wall of text, but I would really like to see this (or something like it) implemented - 6 major to 512 minor is incredibly disproportionate.
 * I agree with this having to reorganize the minor character section. I think renaming less well known characters as "extras" is a good idea. A category that encompasses nearly half of all of the wiki's article is much too broad, especially when you put characters like Flame Princess on the samel level as, say, Raccoon. Although the difference between "extra" and "minor" is controversial, I don't think it will be a problem deciding; the three criteria listed seem highly reasonable. I support this. Saber  Sworn  08:09, April 18, 2012 (UTC)
 * Yeah, I agree with the general idea of dividing the "Minor characters" categories into two using these basic criteria. I'm not too sure about using the word "Extras" because that's a word that more relates to live action actors. Maybe we can think of a better name? But yeah, I'm in favor of splitting and redefining the category. --Cornprone 12:12, April 18, 2012 (UTC)
 * lol Corn the name used has always been an issue with you, do you have any ideas for what to name it? (Though I do agree that extra isn't too relatable.) [[Image:Shinx.png|link=User:felinoel|User Page]] f e l in o e l [[Image:Scraft.gif|link=User talk:felinoel|Talk Page]] . 13:22, April 18, 2012 (UTC)


 * what about Major, Minor, and background characters? Saber  Sworn  13:29, April 18, 2012 (UTC)


 * That does sound better imo. [[Image:Shinx.png|link=User:felinoel|User Page]] f e l in o e l [[Image:Scraft.gif|link=User talk:felinoel|Talk Page]] . 14:03, April 18, 2012 (UTC)
 * Of course though, when this change happens we will not be having a character be in the Characters category, just the Major, Minor, or Background category. I am not sure what the Characters category is for, but it is redundant and unneeded. [[Image:Shinx.png|link=User:felinoel|User Page]] f e l in o e l [[Image:Scraft.gif|link=User talk:felinoel|Talk Page]] . 16:19, April 18, 2012 (UTC)


 * I agree background characters is a slightly better term and the characters category is certainly redundant. Does anyone think the defining criteria need revision though? Flame Prince Finn
 * I think the criteria look good, if we allow for exceptions like Snow Golem, as you noted. --Cornprone 00:02, April 19, 2012 (UTC)
 * Exceptions like Snow Golem has to be made, that wasn't really a talking episode but he was definitely the main character. [[Image:Shinx.png|link=User:felinoel|User Page]] f e l in o e l [[Image:Scraft.gif|link=Special:Contributions/Felinoel|Contributions]] . 12:41, April 19, 2012 (UTC)


 * I've noticed lately that some people have been adding the character category to all characters that don't have it yet even though it is redundant.
 * We need to make a decision on this, though I would like to suggest yet another (x.x) possibility, we keep main and minor characters, but add bit and extra characters. Bit characters are there to move the plot forward while extra characters are just in the background like animated furniture, aka most of the Candy People.
 * 05:58, June 4, 2012 (UTC)