[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deepsea

Oh also I feel like there's something about how empathy is a tool in your belt (heh) not your only option. For people like Dr Banno, Evolt, or Dan Senior, they have to be stripped of power or stopped no matter the cost.

For toku series like Kamen Rider though (after Agito), a good number of Kamen Rider villains, most of the powers didn't come from themselves, but from a trinket (and gimmicks to supports). Which would mean to abhor the "human lives are more important" solution I think the heroes should primarily target the transformation trinket they use, make the villains unable to use them again. They kinda do on Masamune, stripping Gamedeus virus from him, but the main concern is the Chronicle Gashat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TokuKnight89

The Riders have become those who have a diverse level of intent, not always predicated on someone's expectations. They don't all have to ride a motorcycle or fight for someone else. Some fight for themselves, and that person may not want to be controlled. Such a person may also be offended at the idea of a big Kaijin Army trying to control or kill others, but this is on a character-by-character basis. It might be controversial, but it is definitely more "real".

However, the core of what a Rider is remains even among those who aren't in it for others. Even if a Secondary or Third Rider is in it for themselves, a Main Rider tends to be in it for themselves in addition to someone else, even if fighting for another wasn't their initial intention.

I have always prefered this approach, not being in black and white morality and 3-dimensional is one of the reasons I follow Kamen Rider. I think Kamen Rider in the showa era didn't truly aspire to create a story like this, just creating a hope and icon for children in a form of heroes beating up evildoers, keeping Kamen Rider identity for the hero side, but later Kamen Rider is still claimed as made for children, but incorporates a proper story, characters, setting, life, and what would they react to such a power.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TokuKnight89

As for Riders who try to save another, it's understandable and even goes back to the Showa Era! Saving someone who becomes a monster isn't always possible, but if it can be done, all the better. The monster-conversion process takes many forms and not all of those forms can be undone! There are those who will attempt to reach out because the "monster" really isn't one, just a disgruntled person who's made a bad choice. Some fight others to not only halt their agenda, but as a way of proving to them that they aren't in the right; the Rider Kick is meant to illuminate that person's darkness!

Do you mean becoming a monster as literally possessed, or monster as in demeanor (villains, sociopaths, etc.)? Yeah, this is like one of the hardest task to do ever, to redeem people like that. The worst of these that can be changed are those merely having selfish desire but isn't all evil, which is most of the Riders starting out as an anti-hero, and even then their bad traits aren't completely gone. Other than that, those irredeemable ones will just get stopped by a good ol violence.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TokuKnight89

I think a Rider, especially a modern one, is open to interpretation. They are what you want them to be; a multi-layered "Hero" with no singular definition other than being someone who fights to protect their own dreams or the dreams of others!

A multi-layered "Hero" (ideal hero to anti-hero to byronic-hero to nominal-hero, etc.) is a concept separate from Riders used in almost all storytelling, but just that Riders begin to incorporate that as time goes by instead of all Riders being a pure hero who inspires others.