IF as an author, what kind of heroine would you like your female protagonist to be?

[ryuntsai]

I just wondered if i could write my own heroine, what kind of heroine i would like her to be...

After playing a lot of otomes, i just kinda have an idea lol
I'd like my heroine to have a relatively simple background. I don't want her to be overly naive—I want her to have basic survival instincts and common sense. I hope she's strong and resilient. Even though she's used to handling everything on her own, I'd like her to slowly lower her defenses and learn that it's okay to rely on others as she falls in love with one of the LIs.

Most of all, I want every love interest to see and appreciate the unique inner qualities that make her special.

I hope the first thing the love interests admire about her isn't how cute or beautiful she looks when she wears a different outfit than usual. Instead, I want them to notice the things that truly matter—how she's actually warm-hearted beneath her cold exterior, how she's used to carrying everything on her own, and how hard she tries even when no one is paying attention.

When she's feeling down, I want them to be there for her, stay by her side, and simply ask, "Are you okay?"
Just as how the other otome MCs have done for the LIs lol

What about you guys? Please feel free to leave your comment!

 

[orionsbestie]

First of all, I'd want her to be not gorgeous and super beautiful that makes all the LIs go on and on about how cute she is immediately after meeting lmaooo

Second, I think I'd want her to have social anxiety but make it a whole mechanic like. Manage the stats in a way that feels like the LI is pursuing you/MC depending on how you manage your anxiety and what things you can and can't do. That sounds confusing but it is an idea(??

 

[fasdfsda5235]

Exactly! I'd want her to be independent, resilient, and have some actual backbone. Strong-willed—someone who doesn't fold at the first sign of trouble and can hold her own, but also knows when to swallow her pride and ask for help or let others take the lead when it makes sense.

I wouldn't want her looks to be her defining feature, it should be her intelligence, her personality, and her emotional maturity. The thing that draws the guys in should be that she makes them laugh and they just feel at ease with her.

And honestly, it pisses me off how in most otome the MC is naive to the point of being unbearable...

 

[burrascoso]

I would love to have a mischievous airheaded and funny heroine!!

 

[ryuntsai]

Exactly! I'd want her to be independent, resilient, and have some actual backbone. Strong-willed—someone who doesn't fold at the first sign of trouble and can hold her own, but also knows when to swallow her pride and ask for help or let others take the lead when it makes sense.

I wouldn't want her looks to be her defining feature, it should be her intelligence, her personality, and her emotional maturity. The thing that draws the guys in should be that she makes them laugh and they just feel at ease with her.

And honestly, it pisses me off how in most otome the MC is naive to the point of being unbearable...

YESSSS! I don't think I've ever seen an otome game where the LI falls for the MC because of that.
Independent people are often portrayed as unapproachable, but when someone is both resilient and easy to be around, that's incredibly attractive. I'd love to see a story where the MC inspires the LI to grow—not because she's trying to change him, but simply through the way she lives her life. Maybe she's disciplined, emotionally mature, or quietly dependable.

Instead of the usual "she's cute" or "she saved me," the LI slowly realizes:

"I want to be better."

Not because he's trying to win her over, but because being around her makes him believe he's capable of becoming a better version of himself.

THIS IS SUCH A MATURE RELATION!!! XD
I think it's hard to write a story like that? since the MC is independent, the LI need to find a way to make the MC choose him, since the MC NOT necessary needs him lol.

 

[ryuntsai]

First of all, I'd want her to be not gorgeous and super beautiful that makes all the LIs go on and on about how cute she is immediately after meeting lmaooo

Second, I think I'd want her to have social anxiety but make it a whole mechanic like. Manage the stats in a way that feels like the LI is pursuing you/MC depending on how you manage your anxiety and what things you can and can't do. That sounds confusing but it is an idea(??

The social anxiety mechanic sounds really cool, especially if it affects how relationships develop. I'd also love it if the MC wasn't conventionally gorgeous and the attraction felt more gradual.

Instead of the LI falling for her looks, he could start noticing things like how hard she works to overcome her anxiety, or how comfortable she makes people feel once she opens up!!

 

[nerim-w]

I agree! I want her to be a normal person, not a noble, chosen one or someone with special powers. I have so much beef with "chosen one" or "special FLs" because theyre so boring and the whole story revolves around her specialness :// i want self-made FLs from ordinary backgrounds whose self determination and resilience brought her to where she is in the story.

I would also love an FL who isn't immediately a kind ray of sunshine that has no trouble interacting with the LIs. I agree with Orionsbestie, it would be so cool to see an FL struggle with social anxiety and loneliness and we have to see her navigate through that while she finds love

I remember when i started playing Mistonia I loved how MC was a dark haired FL who's just an ordinary maid - turns out shes a blonde haired blue eyed girl from a noble family like im tired

 

[andrec]

Kind of like an Ice Queen, maybe??
Like when she meets a hero and the ice in her heart melts ❤
I'm not confident because my language skills aren't great, but I'd be happy if I got it right.
I absolutely love protagonists like that.
I'd really love to see the world that ryuntsai-sama has created.

 

[satory]

I remember when i started playing Mistonia I loved how MC was a dark haired FL who's just an ordinary maid - turns out shes a blonde haired blue eyed girl from a noble family like im tired

I think in Hanayaka Nari, Waga Ichizoku MC is a dark-haired ordinary maid. Bit it's indeed a rare case XD

And I love calm and collected characters, so for a change I'd make this type of MC. She won't "blush furiously" and will understand what's going on without needing to explain it like we are having a kindergarten lesson. I'd like to see a story, where not MC is fighting for LIs, but they are trying to reach her instead

 

[totallyamanda]

i have a few different ones in mind depending on the story, all of which are very self indulgent.
(´•ω•｀)

i would love!!! a seriously cheeky or mischievous heroine who teases relentlessly and very rarely gets flustered herself. ♡ ～('▽^人) i want her to be in command of herself and doesn't waiver to changing herself to fit the mold of traditional love interests. i'm in the same boat of wanting love interests to pursue her and adapt to her wants and expectations instead of the normal vice-versa. She could also be kinda a femme fatale but that sorta mixes with my next type too.

for more of a morally grey heroine, i want a spoiled, otherworldly kind of beauty. One who knows her looks and uses them to her advantage but i want her to be extremely manipulative. i feel like it's a type that is looked down upon as vain or vapid, but that's not all that she is. she's multifaceted. she'll either need a really wholesome kind of goal or one that's game-level silly, like wanting to be the most loved person in the world or the overlord supreme ruler, sigh...＊*♡( ⁎ᵕᴗᵕ⁎ ）

i'd also love an intensely intellegent heroine in some sort of mystery or thriller type with an outward appearance that's deceptive (think det. conan, elle woods) like a sweet girl next door type or bimbo (!!!). (っ˘ω˘ς )

i definitely think bayonetta is an inspiration but i want the otome twist on it.
°ʚ(ෆ❛ั ᴗ ❛ัʃƪ)ɞ♡°

 

[mikiuu]

I'd want her to have her own personality, flaws, and goals. More importantly, I'd like her to have agency and feel like the true protagonist of the story, not just someone who exists to support the love interest's development or make him look good.
I want to experience the story through her perspective, not treat her as a self-insert avatar.

 

[Hyacinth004]

I love my strong female MCs, not necessary in strength but def in character. Like yess give me a flawed human, whether its naive, conniving or just outright a coward, but the moment her integrity is challenged, she gonna stand up for herself and kick ass and take names, metaphorically or literally. Kinda cliché if you think about it but damn if it's not a satishfying read XD

 

[fr4pp3cinn]

I like mean MCs, as well as nerdy and hikikomori MCs! I love messy characters ;b most "mean" MCs I've encountered are just slightly tsundere characters, but I would like her to be short-tempered, a bully and bossy! It can result in some very fun dynamics with LIs, especially when they have all sorts of personalities (how would an immature LI deal with her? What about a level-headed one? What if one LI is a bully as well?), and can also explore some different scenarios and serious themes.

Hikikomori characters as a whole are among my favorite types too lol they can be relatable, funny or melancholic, and the reasons for their isolation can make a nice story. You can even get some paranoid behaviors as well, which pairs nicely with thrillers! In that case, I'd like the LIs to support (or maybe make the MC worse! Haha) instead of being the driving force in getting her to change

I'm the type of person that likes my characters to suffer lmao

 

[dogiwall]

I world-build and write my own little personal short stories. Most of my female MCs mostly varies depending on the plot, such as: chuuni knight, tsundere CEO, a little ray of sunshine chef, strong-willed ship captain, snarky doctor, philosophical eldritch horror, scared woman going through a survival horror, gremlin annoyance, etc.

Basically, I don't have a preference of MC and I don't self-insert lol. And while I don't mind people asking for variety in MCs and writing, I really don't like it when people call otome MCs useless or weak. What works for the story, works.

 

[korin121]

I completely agree with you. I like mc who are simple, a little naive, kind, gentle, but also strong.