How do you stop your non-super characters from falling behind?

[XanderYoung]

I've always been a big fan of the 'badass normal' type character. The Sokka of Team Avatar, the Robin of the Teen Titans. But there comes a point in a story full of magic and monsters that "Being really good at (swordfighting, karate, etc.)" just can't hold up anymore. Some works give their normals pseudo-superpowers: tons of cool gadgets and "peak physical condition" being the one's I've seen most often. So my question to you is: how do you keep a non super relevant? Load 'em up with tons of magic goodies? Have them take a more "chessmaster" or "guy in the van" role? Or are these poor muggles doomed to eventually fade into obscurity?

[DynamoToon]

A good thing to do is give them more focus and more determined drive. Sure, they dont have any superpowers, but its all the more reason to prove themselves. This allows for more interesting character development on their part.

[Strontium]

Make them adorable! That's worked out for me so far.

Xisea has no special powers, can't fight, not that smart, but she's adorable and everyone loves her!

[XanderYoung]

Being cute is its own superpower

[kklekc718]

Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne are the two of the most normal people among the teams, and they both still kick serious ass.
Whoop-Whoop!

[puppetbomb]

Wow, this is a really good question... I've never thought about this issue before, so my opinion may not be very well thought through ^^;

I think making a character relevant/irrelevant can bring out subtle prejudices we've been conditioned to accept, either from society or from whatever media we consume.

In many stories, normal people tend to be the ones crying out for help or being saved by someone with superpowers. And since there's much more work that reinforces the fact that normal people can't save themselves from anything supernatural, people tend to expect it and use it because "that's how it's always been".

Same goes for people of color and women.

For actually keeping character relevant, I think it comes down to how much screentime and lines you give them. It may feel natural expected to have your main characters say all the important and cool lines, but there's nothing wrong with giving them to "lesser" characters. A Deus Ex Machina of a superpower saving a normal may feel like something natural, but having a normal triumph against hopeless adversary can give them more screentime and relevance.

.... I have no idea if I will still agree with this in the future, but this is currently my thoughts about this issue ^^;

[keii4ii]

Lots of different ways you can go about.

In some cases, the story hinges on the fact that they're ordinary. Gundam 0080 is my favorite out of the entire Gundam franchise by far, and it centers on two ordinary people -- a slightly below average, inexperienced pilot and a civilian child -- in a world where superhumans (Newtypes) exist. The two characters are burdened with the fate of thousands of human lives not BECAUSE of what they can do, but in SPITE of what they can/ cannot do, and if either one of them had been a superhuman, that entire story would fall apart.

Another example is Saikano. The girl is totally superhuman, but the main character? If he had some hidden superpowers that he could use to save or help her... that story would be FUBAR.

Or is the story about superhumans doing awesome superhuman things? Even so, I don't think a character needs to be able to kick ass in order to be important. In fact, even with a superhuman character, their amazing superpowers probably aren't the most interesting thing about them. The most interesting thing, IMO, should be about WHO the character is, not WHAT they are or what they can do. From that point of view, having or not having superpowers isn't that big a deal, though I understand not every story can be written this way. Some stories (lots of shounen mangas...) are explicitly about badasses throwing their powers around.

[AnnaLandin]

Well, it depends largely on the structure of the story, to be honest.

I have a superhero-storyworld that I occasionally poke at, where there are very few super-powered people - and both of my central "superhero"-characters are more the vigilante-variety. However, they are kept relevant in the story, because they have different priorities than the super-powered characters. They're the feet-on-the-ground, protect-our-streets kind of characters, and tend to deal with every-day tragedies - burning houses, violent robberies, murders, corrupt slum-lords, etc., - rather than the high-powered, save-the-world conflicts.

And that's an approach I think you can take even when your super-powered characters are central, and the non-powered ones are side-characters. Let them deal with the inevitable fallout of things. So your main character has a huge climactic battle with their enemies - and wrecks a lot of the surroundings in the process. Let your non-powered characters run around saving people from falling masonry, or organise the relief effort, or fight other non-powered people.

Or you can let them defeat super-powered people by use of their wits, underhanded trickery and/or specialised weapons. Strategy counts for a lot when it comes to fighting; it's hard even for super-powered people to block a hit they can't see coming.

[AngieVX]

I think it's about how much of personality an author gives them, how well developed they are. If an author treats them as main and important characters, they will be interesting to readers.

[eagle1]

The best place to see how to handle this is in table-top superhero Role-Playing Games. Generally speaking, these games are set up on a point system. This superpower costs this many points, that one costs that many. So while the superguys and gals are buying up all those points, the people who want to play non-supers still get the same number of points, but they buy things like knowledges, gadgets, intellect, dexterity, and so on. In the end, everyone is spending the same number of points, but in different ways, so that everyone is able to make contributions. Superman is unlikely to be able to pick a lock.

And then there's my personal theory. Batman actually has a very powerful superpower. There he is, surrounded by the Justice League. Superman with his superintellect. Wonder Woman with the wisdom of Athena. Shazam with the Wisdom of Soloman. The Martian Manhunter, the greatest detective from Mars. And they all say "Duh....Wadda we do, Batman?" Batman can drain intellect!!!

Eagle
(That's my theory, and I am sticking to it!)

[GlanceReviver]

People can have skills that are "ordinary" but the hero still doesn't possess, and needs to get by. Their strong points could be driving, using computers, having martial arts or weapons knowledge, having political power, or even just their people skills.

A mainstream example is how in the Marvel superhero movies, the entire group SHIELD is just a bunch of normal (although especially talented) people who provide the needed assistance to superheroes like Captain America or Thor who sure, can wreck you, but certainly don't know how to hack enemy databases for intelligence or probably even order pizza.

There's also the fact that Badass Normals aren't subject to the same limitations as a powered character. OP's example of Sokka is good because he was often there to save the day if other characters couldn't bend due to their individual limitations (like Tof not being on the ground). So if your powerful character has their kryptonite weakness, the normal character can then step up to save the day.

[scythe]

I play them clips from Rocky. They find them really motivating.

[punkarsenic]

best answer, make them emotionally important to the powered characters. in a way that means they interact with the non-powered character a lot, and include them in stuff. also helps to make at least some of the powered characters a bit naff at their powers, so the non powered ones have to help. instruct, guide.

besides, worlds of magic and monsters still have every day folk doing bad stuff, that can be stopped by every day folk. look at hawkeye and batman, both living in worlds full of superpowered folk, but one has cool tech and the other is just really good at arrows, and theyre both really popular. (okay, hawkeye is more popular in comicverse than movies, but his comic is really popular)

[zwebb90]

easy, just make them everyones favorite character

[earthbendercharlie]

Depends on the type of story but I think for the most part, making them easy to relate to is good because it makes them easy to root for which usually results in more likability, if thats even a word

[Doubtcent]

Relationship. I have a complete idea for a series, (still in process, but pretty well put down) where the main character will suck. Like really suck. He'll imagine improvement, but the idea is that, through cards that have been dealt to him, he will not be able to get better. He barely has the chance in the first place. He'll have determination, he'll have "abilities", but he's not the god type. Throughout the entire series, he will not be the pushing force to win, but his friends and fellow members will. He'll just be that lucky tip of the spear that breaks the enemy lines. He will suck, but it will be his friends that are with him that keep him going. This can be done with a side character as well. I've never seen it done exactly as I've listed, but it can work.

[purrlpankras]

I have a character thats the only human in my comic Two Faced, which is filled with gods, and other people with powers.
Umi, the only human, gives the comic a bit more /normality/ and someone who we could relate to. So she is very important.
She's just ordinary, and sends everyone back down to earth. She has a calming aura, different from the many characters who are loud and aggressive... And also she gives the character with powers somewhere to go to for emotional support.

[barrylinck]

Well in Phineus, the main characters are Phin, who is a wizard & Sara who is a norm who is good with guns.
Phin is Uber powerful, but he's reckless and doesn't always think things through.
Sara, has no powers, but the power of common sense. She keeps Phin level and grounded.
That said, they go up against some very powerful foes (gods and monsters) and does have to back down, sometimes.

[TrustyShamrock]

i got a character like that in a comic idea rattling in the back parts of my brain. pretty much shes the one normo in a group of harry potters. but shes also the one who can kick all their butts if it came down to it cuz shes really smart and has that peak physical condition crap like you said. but also i thought about the weaknesses the other characters would have because of their super powers. like the telekinesis one might get really lazy and have slow reactions. the invisible one would get really sloppy and end up being really clumbsy/noisy thinkin that theyre americas next top stealthmeister. but lil susie Q without her fancy shmancy laser eyes or anythin would always try to be her best and wouldnt depend too much on her powers so she'd have her head way up in the game
course if the super powered characters have like im-better-than-everyone-and-dont-even-bother powers then i dunno. fuhgettaboutit

[Freith]

I think any kind of character is important if they have the power to move the story forward. In fact, I think all characters in a good story should have this power. They don't have to necessarily do anything badass or have supernatural powers - if their choices and actions actually contribute to advancing the story (instead of being a character who's simply there for comedy relief, fan service, superpower/good looks showoff, or filling in a random role just because and nothing more), then it doesn't matter whether the character is a super or normal or whatever else. They're relevant and needed in the story.