Writing Tips and Reviews

The Power of Copying Abilities

If there is something I hate that Mary Sue writers love to do, it's copying abilities from other people "but stronger". I dealt with it back in a role play where some kid tried to say "my oc can use your power but much stronger" while using the wrong ability, and I dealt with it way too much with Kaila. So, I'm here to say how to do it right and wrong.

-Wrong-

I always start with the negatives, don't I? "I can copy what do but do it much better!" Thanks Mary Sue, I really needed that in my life. Being better at an ability someone else has shouldn't be from looking at them and replicating them. Even powers that can replicate abilities aren't going to be just as strong or stronger. It's just a Mary Sue way of making the character "better than everyone else" and it's pathetic.

It's especially atrocious when you get the ability wrong, such as, trying to copy a knife move in martial arts but failing horribly because one, you don't know how to do it, and two, that's the wrong technique to begin with. And no amount of "I'm right you're wrong" is going to convince the person you're using the right technique in the right way just because you said so. 

"Unfortunately, I've been street fighting for two years."

"And, that makes you better than me?"

"YES!"

Says the 14 year old girl to a man in his 40's and who had been training all his life. Mary Sue everyone!

-Right-

So far, the only ones I've seen do this right are Shirou Emiya from Fate Stay Night and Velvet from RWBY.

Shirou can copy weapons by saying "trace on", in which he uses a lesser version of that weapon which breaks almost immediately because he's Shirou Emiya. He only won against Gilgamesh because Gil put his strength in multiple weapons instead of one, if he used one, Shirou would be dead instantly.

Velvet takes pictures of the weapon and watches how the person uses it. It's temporary and is weaker than the original. Because that's what copies are initially, they're weaker. It's only through training that they can become stronger and surpass the original. NOT AT GHE BEGINNING.

For both Shirou and Velvet, their entire fighting style centers around copying others. It's not an add on to what they can do so people mistake it for a Deus ex Machina whenever it happens.

Another good way to establish a character to be a fast learner, meaning they pick things up fast. It still doesn't mean they're better than their mentor because learning fast and being better at it with a fraction of the experience are two different things. Even child prodigies aren't better than someone who's been doing it all their lives.  

-Conclusion-

Don't be Mary Sue and do everything everyone can do but better with a fraction of the experience. Even people who train under multiple masters aren't that pathetic, they learn techniques then make their own, normal human being behavior. They're not automatically stronger from watching two minutes of someone fight; learning fast and being better than your tutor are two different things. Child prodigies aren't that pathetic, and they're known for being good at things quickly.

Mostly the claim: "I can do whatever you can do but better" is just a Mary Sue way for the person to look on top. People don't like it in real life when some nobody comes up to them and says it, so it shouldn't be acceptable in writing unless the character is meant to be a jackass and get their asses kicked.