Why are these types of OCs so common in the fandom?

[Red Cedar 1,408]

Characters with tragic pasts invite speculation on how that tragedy makes them turn out as a character later in their lives. Look at how much speculation has been devoted to Applejack and what effect the loss of her parents has had on her. It tends to be overused, however, especially if the tragedy makes them, not a stronger character like Applejack, but brooding and melancholy.

 

Alicorns, well, they can do everything, can't they? Who hasn't wished to do everything.

 

Self-insert OCs are either a case of a person wanting to themselves be a pony in Equestria, or a case of "writing what you know" and making a character like the person you know best. Sometimes it works, sometimes, not so much.

[TimeyMarey007 110]

Tragic pasts: Well, my two OCs did have them, but it was rather, that they only lost their parents. People do this for "give love to my OC pl0x" and some other stuff to avoid being a total parody of a MLP character.

 

Alicorn OC: Five words to describe it: THE POWER IS NOT ENOUGH!

 

Self-inserts: Either ponysonas, or guys who really want to make MLP:FiM with their own canon. The latter includes sudden friendships with any MLP:FiM characters, with the Mane 6 the most inserted relations. My OCs are also somewhere meeting the canon, but not contradicting the main canon, such as like a background character.

[Megachangeling12 109]

The most likely reason? Because they're 14 and don't know any better.

ok I agree with Alicorns go but self inserts and tragic pasts are ok plus I'm 14 so that was kinda insulting

[Silver Letter 1,832]

 

 

the Alicorn is the most powerful species, people choose it so they can make a powerful OC

I also believe that people make them for roleplays because it can allow them to "win" and to become the main character by default or something just by being the most powerful. It might also be influenced by certain anime to some degree.

[Thrashy 2,800]

I suppose I could point out that all fandoms are guilty of producing these types of OCs and leave it at that, but I'll break down my thoughts on each category just for shits n' giggles.

 

OCs with tragic pasts?

 

Real people have tragic pasts; art imitates life; stands to reason that there'd be characters with tragic pasts in fiction as well, does it not? Not really understanding the ire towards that particular character trait. Perhaps if it adds nothing to the plot and exists purely to make people 'feel sowwy' for the character, then sure, it's kind of pointless. But I don't think merely having a tragic past is a good reason to write off an OC as a Mary Sue, especially if it's executed reasonably well.

 

Alicorn OCs

 

This seems to fall under the more general hate for "OP" characters, but again, this can be done well. The important thing to realize right off the bat is that "powerful" and "OP" are not equivalent. As long as a powerful OC is beatable, and is actively having to overcome challenges over the course of a story, he or she does not qualify as being overpowered.

 

Furthermore, I think A Canterlot Wedding and Twilight's Kingdom both clearly demonstrated that alicorns - while quite powerful - are not omnipotent. They can be defeated, and can even have their power drained from them. Not exactly what I'd call "OP by default".

 

Self insert OCs

 

Again, not seeing what's wrong with this. People love the setting of MLP. So much so that they want to insert themselves into that setting, and the only good way to do so (aside from the as-of-yet nonexistent holodeck from Star Trek) is to make an OC/ponysona that represents them. I could see how it would be irritating to see OCs chumming it up with (even dating) important characters, but merely having a character meant to insert you into the environment you love isn't inherently bad in and of itself.