What's your opinion on an MC that betrays their comrades?

unknownking

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I'm curious how others think of MCs that betray their former comrades or even outright sacrifice them, halfway through the story.

For example Berserk through the eyes of Griffith.:blob_hide:
 

Mephi

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Generally speaking, not a fan. now, There's always exceptions, but in general....
I dislike revenge porn stories.
I don't like the complete antagonist-transformation of a character I grow attached too.
 

unknownking

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agree with y'all. Tbh I'm just exploring unpopular ideas and the idea where an MC is forced to choose between their initial goals they had long forgotten and their comrades sounds interesting. :blob_hide:
 

Anon2024

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agree with y'all. Tbh I'm just exploring unpopular ideas and the idea where an MC is forced to choose between their initial goals they had long forgotten and their comrades sounds interesting. :blob_hide:
MacBeth was still a masterpiece despite being a tragedy.
 

Maze_Runner

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I'm curious how others think of MCs that betray their former comrades or even outright sacrifice them, halfway through the story.

For example Berserk through the eyes of Griffith.:blob_hide:
I mean if the comrades did something to deserve that then they would probably like it but if they just betray them for like no reason and it isn't where it is to hide it and to protect them like fakes betraying them then the readers will not like it. Or maybe if the comrades were just horrible people it might be ok. Unless the MC has a good reason then the reader will not like it normally.
 

lnv

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I'm curious how others think of MCs that betray their former comrades or even outright sacrifice them, halfway through the story.

For example Berserk through the eyes of Griffith.:blob_hide:
I don't care about betrayal, but it is annoying when that betrayal is over something petty. Like oh look, that sword has +200 atk power and my sword has +199 atk power, *betrays to get sword*, replaces sword next arc with +400 atk power one
 

owotrucked

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I think it's interesting: Give the sinner role to an antagonist toeing the line between good and evil, hint towards redemption and slap the reader with betrayal. (e.g. Zuko in Avatar)

Another way that works: Reveal the sin backstory halfway through the story (e.g. Lobotomy corporation)

That kind of stuff makes the story more humane, cause normal people aren't exactly beacons of morality (though they do shine brightly occasionally).
 

SternenklarenRitter

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Depends on why. I don't mind a coward who abandons his friends to die in a fight they could have won together. Characters who betray their friends out of greed, envy, or in single minded pursuit of an otherwise noble goal; these ones I can't abide.
 

rain-090

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Depends on why. I don't mind a coward who abandons his friends to die in a fight they could have won together. Characters who betray their friends out of greed, envy, or in single minded pursuit of an otherwise noble goal; these ones I can't abide.
Wut? Why?
 

InstantRicePack

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Well comrades as in like what? They did a few trades or like are they childhood friends? I kind of like antihero and like villain protagonist. I don't mind if the betrayal had like a valid reason and the characters aren't too close or something like that. Kind of like that one arc in Warlock of The Magus Worlds where at the end of said arc the mc betrays tons of characters that were introduced in the start of the arc for his own gain.
 

unknownking

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Well comrades as in like what? They did a few trades or like are they childhood friends? I kind of like antihero and like villain protagonist. I don't mind if the betrayal had like a valid reason and the characters aren't too close or something like that. Kind of like that one arc in Warlock of The Magus Worlds where at the end of said arc the mc betrays tons of characters that were introduced in the start of the arc for his own gain.
In my case, it would be the friends with which he faced life and death a couple of time, and solved a few arcs :blob_hide: .
but warlock of the magus world was awesome. I should read it again
 

SternenklarenRitter

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on a fictional story.
the involuntary kind, as in fear that overwhelms all courage and bond.
Even if its a milder sort of cowardice I am not offended. My country of residence if big on freedom, which usually means the same thing as 'you can run away if you like'. You would have to get a terribly underwhelming object of fear for me to be offended by cowardice, and by the time that happens you'd no longer have any actual threat anyway. Something like "Let your valient death's distract this gargantuan wolf as I flee in primal terror! I will name my kid after youu!!" "...Bro that's not a wolf, it's the choir boys' three legged and blind pomeranian. Go home and give up on ever stepping foot outside the village."
 
D

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Depends. If their comrades are doing some questionable things that push the line of certain moral boundaries, then no. Or if they had to betray bc their loved ones are held hostage.

If its betray like cheating in a relationship, friends on partnerships they had agreed too, trust, yes.

In general dislike betrayal. But depends if its former situation (and their reason for betraying is not something petty, it is questioning where they stand and their morality, something that either way is going to be hard to swallow if you continue to go along, or stop and defect to other side).
 
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