Which main characters in wuxia would be good supporting characters in other stories?

[Ken Cheng]

Yes, it's the inverse of that other thread.

In wuxia fiction, there are some main protagonists who go on to appear as supporting characters of other stories. In the Jin Yong universe, Gwok Jing became a major supporting character in ROCH after having headlined LOCH, and Chan Ga Lok stepped down from the main character role in BOOK & SWORD: GRATITUDE & REVENGE to a supporting character role in FLYING FOX OF SNOWY MOUNTAIN. Over in Gu Long's universe, I believe Lee Chum Foon showed up in a story or two that didn't feature him as the main character, and Tse Hiu Fung went on from being the main character of THIRD YOUNG MASTER'S SWORD to a supporting character in FULL MOON, CURVED SABRE.

What other main characters who did not appear as supporting characters in other stories, however, could have been good supporting characters? To be a good supporting character, the character must not steal the thunder from the real main character, but must somehow facilitate the story of the actual main character.

[CC]

Yes, it's the inverse of that other thread.

What other main characters who did not appear as supporting characters in other stories, however, could have been good supporting characters? To be a good supporting character, the character must not steal the thunder from the real main character, but must somehow facilitate the story of the actual main character.

'Stealing the thunder' is only possible if the author allows enough screen time. It will have almost no relationship with the characteristics of the 'Main character' from the original novel. So you can stuff any hero into another story safely as long as the author doesn't have him pop up every other chapter and kick butt.

[Ken Cheng]

'Stealing the thunder' is only possible if the author allows enough screen time. It will have almost no relationship with the characteristics of the 'Main character' from the original novel. So you can stuff any hero into another story safely as long as the author doesn't have him pop up every other chapter and kick butt.

I'm not so sure about that. Gwok Jing had significant "screen time" in ROCH, and in many of his appearances, he was awesome...but he didn't make Yeung Gor look bad (at least not as a martial artist) because it was understood that 1). Yeung Gor was still young and developing whereas Gwok Jing had attained his peak and 2). Yeung Gor would eventually attain that peak as well.

[yittz]

Give XF a bit of time he will steal the thunder. I think ZWJ will make a good supporting role.

[CC]

I'm not so sure about that. Gwok Jing had significant "screen time" in ROCH, and in many of his appearances, he was awesome...but he didn't make Yeung Gor look bad (at least not as a martial artist) because it was understood that 1). Yeung Gor was still young and developing whereas Gwok Jing had attained his peak and 2). Yeung Gor would eventually attain that peak as well.

Well, GJ did not pop up 'every other chapter' and JY controlled GJ's butt kicking. If GJ had to intercede in the last battle and Dragon Palm GWM after YG got knocked down, that would have made a difference.

Anyway, thats my point. The author can easily control the 'hero effect'. Its not the character in question. Replace GJ with XF in ROCH and it won't make a difference as long as XF doesn't start smacking people in the face more often than GJ did or break GWM's palms in the first meeting.

[kidd]

Give XF a bit of time he will steal the thunder. I think ZWJ will make a good supporting role.

ZWJ made a good supporting character in the one and only completed wuxia RPG here.

[LuNaR]

chen jia lok makes the perfect supporting character

[zsky868]

I am also a loyal fan of Old TVB series.althought I am a after 80's ,i think the old tvb series are better then tvb nowadays,recently,i watched the YiTianTuLongJi, played by Tony Leung ,i like Zhangcuishan most of all.he is a handsome,upright,one-girl guy.a hero!

[bliss]

'Stealing the thunder' is only possible if the author allows enough screen time. It will have almost no relationship with the characteristics of the 'Main character' from the original novel. So you can stuff any hero into another story safely as long as the author doesn't have him pop up every other chapter and kick butt.

Interestingly enough, over in GL's world, it seems that former main characters manage to steal the thunder with the very LEAST screen time possible.

Examples include Ah Fei (stole all the thunder in BCLZ), Ye Kai (stole Fu Hongxue's thunder in TYMYD in ONE sentence), Little Li (percy jackson'd everyone and their mothers in their stories at the slightest mention of his name).

[minutemanwayne]

Interestingly enough, over in GL's world, it seems that former main characters manage to steal the thunder with the very LEAST screen time possible.

Examples include Ah Fei (stole all the thunder in BCLZ), Ye Kai (stole Fu Hongxue's thunder in TYMYD in ONE sentence), Little Li (percy jackson'd everyone and their mothers in their stories at the slightest mention of his name).

Little Li made everyone wet their pants at the slightest mention of his name, whether it was about morals or martial arts Ah Fei's appearance made Fu Hongxue and company look like little brats who had just entered jiang hu. Xie Xiaofeng was another figure who everyone warned Ding Peng not to mess with.