discussion Your thoughts on MC having a male best friend?

[cosicosi89]

I think having a male sidekick in a VN can feel a bit forced or like a token addition sometimes. It's like, what's the purpose of this character? Are they just there to provide some buddy cop vibes or what?

For me, it often boils down to whether the sidekick adds actual depth or interest to the story. If they're just there to make awkward small talk or provide some unnecessary masculine energy, then yeah, it can feel pretty grating. But if they're a well-developed character with their own motivations and conflicts, then maybe it's not so bad.

What do you think makes a sidekick character work or not work in a VN? Is it about their personality, their role in the plot, or something else entirely? Trying to chalk out my original story.

 

[hitchren]

idk man, most game turn your male best friend to some femboy

 

[qeeDsaqw]

My hot take: I’d rather see a strong male friend than another “every girl falls for you instantly” setup. The lack of genuine male friendships in AVNs sometimes makes the MC feel like he’s in a vacuum. Give me a bro to share beers with instead of another harem route any day.

 

[gdyah]

Why the hell not? Women get tiring sometimes

 

[malikite8008]

He could be a player who owes you a favour and pays you back by helping you get the girls that might work

 

[Augustus]

I think its a weird and problematic feature that AVNs seem to lack positive male characters. This is a medium produces predominately by men for men, and we can't manage to portray other men as anything but antagonists? I'm not saying that every AVN ought to have positive male characters, but far more than currently do.

The (male) MC having a male best friend could be one such thing. However, of the few AVNs that try this even fewer seem to succeed. Sometimes the "best friend" is actually an obstacle or antagonist, and it becomes hard to comprehend why MC would be friends with him if they don't like him at all. One example where the friend actually feels like a friend is "Tales from the Unending Void". Camran and Kit actually have decent chemistry. They can even bang side characters together. However, it feels somewhat disjointed that Camran fucks every female crewmember, and Kit is just there.

What I'd like to see is eg a plot where MC assists his friend in seducing friend's mom. There should be sex scenes with MC and friend's mom, but the result should be friend + his mom being together. Maybe MC's mom helps, too, by teaching friend to be a good lover (in a completely non-NTR way).

Overall, there is so much interesting character dynamics we could have if we could get beyond the "another man = NTR"-mindset.

 

[MattShizzle]

I think its a weird and problematic feature that AVNs seem to lack positive male characters. This is a medium produces predominately by men for men, and we can't manage to portray other men as anything but antagonists? I'm not saying that every AVN ought to have positive male characters, but far more than currently do.

The (male) MC having a male best friend could be one such thing. However, of the few AVNs that try this even fewer seem to succeed. Sometimes the "best friend" is actually an obstacle or antagonist, and it becomes hard to comprehend why MC would be friends with him if they don't like him at all. One example where the friend actually feels like a friend is "Tales from the Unending Void". Camran and Kit actually have decent chemistry. They can even bang side characters together. However, it feels somewhat disjointed that Camran fucks every female crewmember, and Kit is just there.

What I'd like to see is eg a plot where MC assists his friend in seducing friend's mom. There should be sex scenes with MC and friend's mom, but the result should be friend + his mom being together. Maybe MC's mom helps, too, by teaching friend to be a good lover (in a completely non-NTR way).

Overall, there is so much interesting character dynamics we could have if we could get beyond the "another man = NTR"-mindset.

Or sister, or other girl that MC isn't interested in. There's too much motherfucker content already.

 

[SilentHunter]

I don't see anything annoying about it. I prefer realism, hence my extremely negative attitude towards fuckfests, which, in terms of plot and complete isolation from the realities of life, can only compete with Brazzers conveyor products. In real life, we have close friends (in my case, since school days, i.e. our friendship has been going on for more than forty years). This is a normal element of human relationships and life as such. If VN pretends to be realistic, then the male MC's lack of friends would rather be surprising. My first thought would be that he has serious mental problems, because the need for friendship and companionship is a normal trait that is common to ordinary people.

 

[Deleted member 205808]

Could be fine as long as they aren't involved in the "activities"

 

[Reyman7775]

As long as he's like Derek from Badik or Chang from Eternum then I'm fine with it.

 

[sijas]

Or sister, or other girl that MC isn't interested in. There's too much motherfucker content already.

there is no such thing as too much motherfucker content

but, on topic, id like to see more games where males are also involved. Personally no interest in gay setups, but corruption or voyeur like stuff where you work together seems fun

 

[rifticc]

it’s not about the gender so much as whether the character actually matters. A sidekick works when they have agency, their own stakes in the story, and they actively influence the plot instead of just reacting to the MC.

 

[MattShizzle]

there is no such thing as too much motherfucker content

There very much is. If a game has both milf and incest it's a no for me.

 

[sijas]

There very much is. If a game has both milf and incest it's a no for me.

Yeah, it's a bit like eating egg with chicken right?

 

[Ben112]

Its fine i guess, if the best friend was put in the story really well and doesn't just be put to become a joke for the game..

 

[MattShizzle]

Yeah, it's a bit like eating egg with chicken right?

Well, I don't like eggs, so...

 

[Xeno_Frost]

I feel like it depends on what the male best friend is there for like if they are there to try and take on of the female characters from the MC then I don't like them there, but if they are just a funny character that help to MC with picking up chicks then I'm all for it

 

[TM REDUX]

Male best friends are great, i couldnt imagine real life without my day one ride or die bros

 

[capybro]

Depends..but most of the time mc's friend gets cucked

 

[evvi]

A friend wh can give advice and emotional support is make mc more human having relationship instead the mindset evey male wants to fuck my LI