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The Universal Mary Sue Litmus Test
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST AND READ THEM CAREFULLY - MISUSE OF THIS TEST WILL CAUSE INACCURATE RESULTS!
How to use this test:
First, if you're unsure of what a Mary Sue is, please read this page.
Answer all questions for which the answer is 'yes' or 'technically yes' unless the item mentioned is commonplace in the universe you are writing for. If most people in your story's world have wings, skip the question about flying. If it's established that anyone can have technicolor hair (as in many anime shows) pink coifs don't apply as "unusually" colored hair. If your character had an exotic name because you make up most of your characters' names, you would not answer yes to having an unusual-sounding name that you made up. Sue-ness is relative. ;)
If your character is a role-playing character and the only reason you can answer 'yes' is because of other players acting of their own free wills (IE, everyone has their characters throwing themselves at your character's feet and you've done nothing to force this) do not answer yes to the corresponding question.
Make sure that you answer the questions properly depending on what type of universe your character is in:
Fanfiction - a story set in a world you didn't make up.
Original Fiction - a story set in a world you created yourself.
MMO/RPG - Role-Playing Game/MMORPGs.
If you see a question that looks like it's been linked, rest your cursor over it - it contains a tool tip, which should contain further information on the subject.
Also, this test is divided into five sections to help prevent confusion and speed up the testing process:
Part 1 - All Characters
Questions that pertain to all characters everywhere.
Part 2 - Original Fiction Characters
Questions for original fiction characters only.
Part 3 - Fan Characters & Newcomers
Questions for fan characters (RPG and fiction) and characters you may be planning to add to an original fiction universe you've already established.
Part 4 - RPG Characters
You guessed it - questions for role-playing characters and MMORPG-based characters.
Part 5 - De-Suifiers
Questions that subtract from the final score.
Please, please, please remember that these are the symptoms, not the disease. Just because something is on the test does not mean that it's inherently bad and should be avoided at all costs. Think of them as being like salt or spices - they serve to enhance the dish when used in the right amounts, but when used too liberally, the result tends to be quite unappetizing. Again, INDIVIDUAL ITEMS DO NOT MAKE THE MARY SUE. THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS ARE NOT BAD. MOST CHARACTERS HAVE AND SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST SOME OF THEM.
While it is true that some writers are skilled enough to pull off characters that fall into the 'Sue category, do not assume that you are one of them. I've seen plenty of Sue-authors fall into this trap. Instead, go out and get feedback from people more experienced in reading/writing, preferably adults. Not teenagers. Adults.
Furthermore, this test has never been nor probably will be perfect. At best, I can only offer it as a guide, not an instruction manual.
And for those who wonder about it - I use the gender-neutral terms "xe," "xir", and "xirself" because A: it's shorter than typing out "he/she" etc. all the time, and B: there are plenty of characters, particularly within the SF supergenre, who are neither male or female.
Part 1 - All Characters
This area applies to RPG characters, fanfiction characters, and original fiction characters.
- Is/does your character's name:
- Your name, variation of your name, nickname, screenname, or any name that has been applied to you? (Spelling it differently or changing it a little counts.) Fic: RPG:
- A name you planned on giving one of your children?
- Any ordinary name spelled or changed so that it's more unusual?
- A masculine-sounding name for a female character?
- Involve a noun or verb not usually used as a name, spelled normally or not?
- If a noun, was it deliberately chosen because it's related to nature, a weapon, a gemstone, darkness, or something mystical?
- Taken deliberately from a character from another fandom that you like?
- A really unusual-sounding name (unusual in the character's time/place/world) that you made up yourself?
- Unusual for your character's time, place, and/or ethnicity?
- Belong to a country or culture your character does not belong to? (Adoption counts as belonging.)
- Chosen specifically because you thought it had a meaning appropriate for your character?
- (Having trouble finding names for your characters? Try the random name generators - link opens in a new window.)
- Did you base your character's looks on your own?
- Does your character look how you wish you look?
- Is your character described, illustrated, and/or shown as exceptionally beautiful, cute, or handsome?
- Does anyone fight or squabble over your character because of xir looks?
- Is anyone (including you) jealous of your character's good looks?
- Do any characters see xir attractiveness as a threat?
- Does anyone want to adopt your character, or wish that your character was their own offspring?
- Do other characters frequently tell your character how sexy, cute, or beautiful xe is?
- Does your character modestly deny it every time or refuses to believe that xe is attractive?
- Does your character have a great body/physique, which you describe, show, and/or illustrate in detail?
- Despite the fact that xir eating and/or excersizing habits decree that xe should be under or overweight, or lack most of those gorgeous manly muscles?
- Does your character weigh so little that xe could be (or is) mistaken for anorexic, but isn't - and it's meant/taken as a compliment?
- Is your character strong enough to wield a huge weapon like a warhammer, giant gun, or huge sword, yet has a waifish figure instead of 'unattractive' bulging muscles?
- Do you use poetic and/or creative terms to describe your character, but virtually no-one else (aside from your character's love interest, perhaps)?
- Do you frequently describe your character's beautiful/handsome/cute attributes or point out how sexy your character is?
- Conversely, do you go to great lengths describing how your character is not gorgeous?
- Does your character explicitly look like or strongly resemble a celebrity?
- Do other characters find your character extremely attractive and desirable, even when xe should be completely gross and icky (EG, after battling, getting tortured, going for days without bathing or washing), and they don't have a fetish for that kind of thing?
- Does your character have any of the following?
- Natural eye coloration not normally found in xir race/species?
- Eyes with any other unusual qualities?
- Natural hair color not normally found in xir race/species?
- Unusual feature of any other kind? (Particularly unusual/exotic birthmark, tattoo, blood color, etc.) One box for each:
- Does your character have a particularly attractive scent that doesn't come from xir perfume, cologne, or shampoo?
- Does your character have a scar or other small "flaw" that is noticed by someone, but does not actually detract from your character's appearance from your point of view?
- Has your character been in a lot of physical fights and/or battles, but doesn't have many noticeable scars to show for it? (Do not click if healing technology or magic is readily available that allows for healing without scars.)
- Does your character have a particularly piercing (EG, "can stare straight into your soul"), haunting, captivating, or dazzling gaze?
- Does your character's personal choice of clothing frequently include:
- Clothing that you deliberately picked from your own wardrobe?
- Clothing chosen because you really wished you owned it or could get away with wearing it in public?
- Clothing chosen because it makes your character look super sexy and/or badass?
- Clothing that is realistically impractical or improper for the character's situation, but looks cool?
- Do you describe your character's clothing by the scene or stereotype it is most often associated with? - But ignore if this is because someone in the story is describing the character.
- Is your character impervious to any of the normal limitations and/or weaknesses of xir species?
- Does your character belong to a species whose members are generally extremely attractive by human standards?
- Does your character's species normally have a really high sex drive by human standards and/or have the ability to turn on virtually any human they meet?
- Is your character belong to an exotic or unusual race or species with powers/abilities beyond human (or whatever the "normal"/most commonly shown species/race in the story is) ability? (If your character belongs to a race you made up, consider taking the Mary Sue Race Test.)
- Is your character a cross-breed/hybrid of any kind?
- In a universe where hybrids of this type are virtually unheard of or are completely unprecedented?
- A hybrid of more than two species?
- Does xe possess the strengths of both species, but none of the weaknesses?
- Or does your character have all of the weaknesses, but none of the strengths? - Minus 4!
- Is your character supposed to be part something furry, yet shows no sign of being anything but human save for a furry tail, animal ears, fangs, and/or claws?
- If not a cross-breed, then is your character cross-cultural because you believe it makes your character more "interesting" or "exotic?"
- Does your character belong to a species that typically has an appearance or exhibits behaviors that you and/or most people in real-life would find unattractive or unappealing, but your character looks or acts more human for some reason?
- Does your character become a genetically, scientifically, cybernetically, or magically altered/enhanced being, possibly with new powers?
- Is xe happier this way?
- Do people like xir better this way?
- Do you wish it would happen to you?
- Do think of your character as a role-model?
- Does your character voice political, social, and/or religious opinions or beliefs which you share?
- Does xe convince others that xir way of thinking is right?
- Is spreading these views one of your character's biggest motivations, or even xir sole motivation?
- If religious, does your character explicitly have divine support or assistance in gaining converts and/or confronting nonbelievers?
- Do characters who disagree with your character's views/beliefs simply do so out of spite, stubbornness, and/or ignorance?
- Does anyone who doesn't adopt your character's ideals by the end of the story end up beaten up, humiliated, miserable, and/or dead?
- Does your character express unusally free, enlightened, or "liberated" views on topics such as sex and equality for xir time/place?
- And does no-one frown upon your character's behaviors or views?
- Or do only characters who don't matter disapprove, IE, the villain, the "village idiot," fusty old grandpa, etc?
- If your character has a short temper, sharp wit, snarky attitude, or is otherwise prone to verbal assaults, are the tongue-lashings and/or snarkings xe gives other characters always deserved and/or justified?
- If your character is openly defiant or disrespectful toward authority figures, is your character always justified and in the right?
- Are any other actions that get your character into trouble with authority always justified from your point of view?
- Do authority figures punish your character more harshly than they would have punished his or her peers under the same circumstances?
- Do authority figures not punish your character when they probably would have punished his or her peers under the same circumstances?
- Is your character easily provoked to violence - but only gets into fights with characters who truly deserve the beating they get?
- Are The Rules of the universe bent or broken for your character? (Like joining a group despite being too old or too young.) (Do not click if the rules catch up to your character and xe does not find a way to permanently cheat or circumvent them.)
- Does your character have any of the following psychological disorders or conditions for the following reasons?
- Antisocial Personality Disorder - to explain your character's Jerkass Loner personality?
- Split personality/multiple personalities - so your character can do "bad" stuff, yet still have a claim to innocence? (Also, please read the first section of this article - link opens in a new window.)
- Inability to form a solid intimate relationship - so xe has an excuse to sleep with as many people as you want?
- Is your character mainly driven by completely-justified revenge?
- Does your character have a past xe cannot remember?
- If/when your character discovers xir past, will xe not like it?
- And/or discover that xe is actually someone of great importance?
- Was your character an important and/or famous person in a past life?
- Are animals instinctively attracted to your character?
- How many animal companions does your character keep? (Ordinary, non-magical pets like cats and dogs - or any pet considered ordinary within the canon, such as non-legendary Pokemon in a Pokemon story or an owl in Harry Potter do not count.)
- Is said animal a wolf, bird of prey, big cat, or mythical creature?
- Does your character habitually share profound wisdom and knowledge?
- Does your character always have money to spend on frivolities or whatever xe really wants or needs at the time?
- For no apparent reason? (EG, your character never works or gives any clue to any source of income.)
- Did you choose your character's occupation and/or hobbies because you think they sound neat, glamorous, prestigious, or exciting?
- Does your character share your favorite types of movies, music, clothes, hobbies, etc? (Having trouble of thinking of hobbies/interests for your character? Try the Character Interests Generator. Link opens in new window.)
- Even though your character belongs to a different race/species/group that has its own culture and entertainment already, or normally doesn't care for that type of thing at all? (EG, a Homestuck troll who is into fashion or J-Pop.)
- Is your character unusually accomplished for xir age, time period, place, occupation, and/or social status?
- In something that is extremely desirable and/or useful in the story's universe?
- In something that is extremely difficult for virtually anyone achieve?
- Is your character unusally accomplished in more than one area?
- Does your character pick up new skills and/or gain ranks unusually fast during the course of the story?
- To the point where xe learns skills that usually take years to master in a matter of weeks or days?
- Is your character simply the best or among the best at anything xe does? One box for each:
- Is xe famous/reknowned for any of these?
- Are other characters extremely impressed or astonished at your character's skills and/or virtues? (Does not count if they are easily impressed due to their own inexperience.)
- Do they impress even the most cynical, jaded, exacting, and/or experienced?
- Does your character modestly dismiss or deflect well-earned compliments?
- Does your character have Barbie Doll syndrome?
- Ah, the sound of music! Does your character:
- Have an exceptionally good singing voice?
- Play a musical instrument very well?
- Is this instrument a guitar, harp, or flute?
- Can xe charm others with xir musical talent?
- Does your character use magic in a typically non-magical universe? (Ignore if this is because the story primarily focuses on magical-type people and magic is hidden away from muggles/mundanes as a matter of course.)
- Does your character fly in a universe where most characters are groundbound?
- Without wings or other apparent means?
- Does your character have psychic and/or telekinetic abilities that are not commonplace among xir kind and/or the world xe lives in?
- Do these powers allow your character to 'see' or just 'know things' without actually being there, allowing him or her to save the day?
- Do they make up for a disability, such as being blind, deaf, or mute?
- Does your character have a telepathic/empathic connection or the ability to communicate with any kind of animal?
- Anything such as horses, wolves, big cats, or mythical creatures? - Bonded creatures do not count, so long as this is within a universe where this is perfectly normal and it is your character's one and only bonded creature.
- Does your character have the ability to shapeshift?
- Into multiple animals?
- Does your character possess healing powers in a setting where they're virtually unheard of?
- Strong enough to save a character from mortal injury and/or death?
- Does your character possess power that can take out entire cities/legions of soldiers/general all-around-evil?
- Does your character end up in a tight spot and discover that xe has really cool, yet completely unforeshadowed powers that were dormant and/or unknown before? (Does not count if this is how the story begins.)
- Does your character have any other relatively unique special powers/abilities that come in handy?
- Not counting his or her first language, how many languages does your character fluently speak? Click one box for every language:
- Does your character succeed at virtually everything xe tries?
- Do the first plans, strategies, ideas, etc. your character comes up with always (or nearly always) work?
- But only after everyone else dismisses it and tries everything else first?
- Or does your character bungle almost everthing, but is quickly and easily forgiven for it?
- Does your character ever single-handedly take out more armed forces (EG, security guards, soldiers) than you can count on one hand using xir mad kickass skills in one go?
- Is anyone envious of your character's talents and/or abilities?
- Because xe beats them at their own game/games?
- Does your character alone use a weapon that:
- Is famous or legendary before the character acquires it?
- Was given by some kind of spirit/magical being?
- Is magical?
- Is unusually ornate?
- Is from a different culture or country than your character?
- Do you often mention how special/significant this weapon is?
- Does your character use a sword-type weapon in a relatively modern setting for no logical reason?
- Does your character frequently carry knives, daggers, or other little sharp pointy objects concealed within xir clothing for no other reason than that they might come in handy?
- Does your character possess a one-of-a-kind trinket that is magical and/or has some special significance?
- Does this trinket protect your character from some weakness?
- Does your character have unfairly restrictive parents/guardians?
- And does this fact have little to no impact on the main plot or your character's behavior, but simply serves to give your character something to complain or angst about?
- Or do your character's parents/guardians let xir do whatever xe wants and never really get in the way or ask too many questions?
- Is your character nobility, royalty, or of an equivalent high status (eg, governor, president, chieftain)? (Ignore if this is because the story focuses on royal-or-equivalent types.)
- In ANY type of story, if your character is the main character:
- Does your character discover that xe is of royal-or-equivalent status at some point in the story?
- Or is your character adopted by someone who is royal-or-equivalent?
- Does either result in your character becoming next in line for the throne?
- Is your character extremely popular or positively renowned where xe comes from or frequents?
- Is your character undeservingly despised and/or outcast by most people?
- Because your character is unusually talented/attractive/rich?
- Because of xir skills or special powers?
- Does something happen during the course of the story that makes the majority of characters genuinely sorry for mistreating your character?
- Is your character some kind of 'chosen one' and/or a major part of a prophecy?
- Does it involve saving the world/realm?
- Does it involve becoming a great leader?
- Does your character consider xir talents, special abilities, or good looks to be a curse? (A few moments or an episode of wishful/speculative thinking don't count; it must be a constant or near-constant thing.)
- Does your character manage to become friends with a villain, and through this friendship cause the villain to become reformed?
- Does the villain revert back to his old ways, but retains some bit of goodness, caused by your character committing a selfless act of some kind?
- On the subject of your character and xir family...
- Was your character orphaned, abandoned, kicked out, or at least raised by a family/person that was not xir own family?
- Was a major villain responsible for the death of the parents or guardians?
- Was your character responsible for the death of xir parents/guardians?
- Did your character witness the death of the parents/guardians?
- Was xe adopted by a cruel family or person?
- Ran away at any point?
- Raised xirself?
- Lived in the streets?
- The very last or only survivor of anything?
- Adopted by another species/racial group?
- What about any of these?
- Born/raised in extreme poverty?
- Born/forced into slavery?
- Banished from anywhere?
- A member of a despised, outcast, and/or downtrodden race or group?
- An illegitimate child in a society where this is stigmatized?
- The parent of an illegitimate child in a society where this is stigmatized?
- Physically abused?
- Sexually abused/raped?
- Did anything else remarkably strange or otherwise unusual happen in your character's infancy or childhood?
- If your character lost xir virginity unwillingly, does xe find a way to restore it? (Yes, this really is a thing.)
- Has your character otherwise lost:
- A child?
- Lover/spouse?
- Close friend?
- If your character has a torment-ridden, pain-filled past, do you believe it excuses xir actions?
- If your character is a female of relative wealth and/or high social status, does she have "generic rebellious princess syndrome?"
- Does your character angst about something that xe did in the past?
- Death of a main character's family?
- Death of xir own family?
- Does your character eventually learn that it wasn't xir fault?
- If your character has to prove xirself, does xe completely pwn everyone else and make them look like buffoons in the process?
- If your character is a villain:
- Does xe reform by the end of the story?
- Does xe reform because of act of kindness on the part of the hero?
- Does a major villain have a personal fixation/obsession with your character?
- For no apparent reason?
- Something that has to do with your character's family, and not your character xirself?
- Is your character ever spared by an otherwise-ruthless villain?
- And/or does an otherwise-selfish villain protect or grant asylum to your character?
- Do either of these happen despite the fact that xe has already done massive damage to the villain, the villain's troops, and/or the villain's property, or has done anything to annoy the villain in general?
- Because the villain is attracted to your character?
- Have you ever wished you could date/marry/adopt your character?
- Have you ever imagined you are this character? - Skip if the only imagining you do is when you write the story.
- Do you feel insulted, attacked, or defensive when someone does not like your character?
- If people don't like your character, do you believe it's just because they don't "get" him or her, or that they're just jealous of your character?
- Did you feel that this test insulted or attacked you or your character so far?