Etranger

[Usagi]

I've found Etranger's character interesting. She has a number of qualities, positive and negative, that made me feel a connection to her.

For one thing, I found myself agreeing with her on a number of things. She's surprisingly pragmatic, especially considering her age (I'll leave it at that, for those of you who haven't played very far). But I do take issue with the idea that genius is something that a person is born with. You see her with some unusually down-to-earth insight on a few of the issues the game discusses, and she insists that she's pretty smart. What I didn't see is her nose in a book eight hours a day. In ZHP, mothers can probably squeeze out geniuses, but in our world, real genius is earned, and it usually takes decades of doing something.

I can also pick on her taste in attire. Flavor Flav much? She looks just like the way a middle school student would look in the eyes of an infant, though I suppose that's the point. Etranger is an example of a character that can only exist in one's imagination if they don't ask too many questions. Besides the whole "being-a-powerful-esper" thing, obviously.

But aside from this, I like her. She serves as a perfect foil for Pirohiko's romanticism and the main character's silence. I wouldn't mind seeing her doing a guest appearance in future games, such as for Disgaea 4 DLC. I think she could enjoy a good fan following if she got more attention.

What do you think of Etranger?

[DarkPrier]

Easily my favorite ZHP character.

[Seventh]

"Real genius is earned"-- Actually, and I hate to bring up this of all things, but Naruto (yeah, I know) way, way back brought that same topic up long ago. It might just be a cultural thing in Japan, but it could be that there's a real "genius you're born with" and "genius you earn through hard work" thing over there, and the genius you're "born" with might just be an allusion to class and wealth and powerful families, though I might be looking too much into it there...

[Usagi]

"Real genius is earned"-- Actually, and I hate to bring up this of all things, but Naruto (yeah, I know) way, way back brought that same topic up long ago. It might just be a cultural thing in Japan, but it could be that there's a real "genius you're born with" and "genius you earn through hard work" thing over there, and the genius you're "born" with might just be an allusion to class and wealth and powerful families, though I might be looking too much into it there...

I think it's a good topic to bring up. The way I see it, no one really knows anything outside of what they are taught. To know anything, it must be learned. Many of us have an advantage in the form of an ability to focus and recall information, but this doesn't dictate what we can ultimately achieve. If someone you know has some insight, it's because he applied himself on the topic. That's a good reason to admire a person. If someone you know can recall information like a savant, that's no reason to admire someone, because their brain made it easy for them.

If a person with wealth and class knows any better than anyone else, it's typically owed to the fact that they have the support most of us could never have. This too is no reason to admire anyone.

By the way, Naruto is one of my favorite manga.

[ammyrodrics]

My favorite too!