Future Trunks Arc: Characters Influence Rankings

[LightBing]

I tried to do this for the tournament arc. That attempt required users participation, which was almost null. So I'll go with a different approach and do this myself, only asking for opinions regarding the criteria.

Objective:
To rank each character by their importance in the Future Trunks Arc.

Method:
Using the criteria chosen, I'll attribute points to each character for each episode of the arc. I'll compile a ranking adding the points from each episode to the respective character.
I'll only attribute points to named characters.

Criteria:
+1 point for appearing in a episode
+2 points for appearing in a episode, with lines
+3 points for a minor fight
+6 points for an important fight
+3 points for minor plot contribution
+6 points for significant plot contribution
+1 point for appearing consecutively in three episodes

System:
After watching the subbed episode, I'll post that week's episode points and updated overall ranking. People are free to comment and disagree, if a big enough number feel like I made a mistake, I'll conform to the majority and change it.

Final Ranking (21 episodes):
1st: Future Trunks - 160 points
2nd: Goku Black - 141 points (+33 for Absolute Zamasu) 174 points
3rd: Son Goku - 131 points (+ 8 for Vegetto) 139 points
4th: Vegeta - 108 points (+ 8 for Vegetto) 116 points
5th: Future Zamasu - 69 points (+ 33 for Absolute Zamasu) 104 points
6th: Future Mai - 69 points
7th: Present Bulma - 63 points
8th: Whis - 52 points
9th: Beerus - 43 points
10th: Present Trunks - 36 points
Absolute Zamasu - 33 points
Present Gowasu - 31 points
Future Yajirobe - 30 points
Shu - 30 points
Pilaf - 30 points
Present Mai - 30 points
Present Zamasu - 29 points
Kaioshin - 26 points
Piccolo - 25 points
Maki - 20 points
Dr.Briefs - 17 points
Kuririn - 17 points
Haru - 16 points
Future Bulma- 12 points
Master Roshi - 12 points
Zuno - 10 points
Zeno-chan - 10 points
Vegetto - 8 points
Future Zeno-chan - 8 points
Son Goten - 8 points
Chi-Chi - 8 points
Son Gohan- 7 points
Karin - 5 points
#18 - 4 points
Bulma's Mom - 3 points
Future Karin 3 points
Videl - 3 points
Pan - 3 points
Mr.Satan - 3 points
Umigame - 3 points
Marron - 3 points
Future Umigame - 3 point
Future Android #8 - 3 point
Yajirobe - 2 points
Kaio - 2 points
Grand Priest - 2 points
Old Kai - 2 points
Kibito - 2 points
Other Chi-Chi - 2 points
Other Goten - 2 points
Dende - 2 points
Future Gowasu - 1 points
Bubbles - 1 point
Gregory - 1 point
Future Dabra - 1 point
Future Babidi - 1 point
Hit - 1 point
Piccolo Daimao - 1 point
Piano - 1 point
Mr. Popo - 1 point

[Nejishiki]

A suggestion, may characters gain additional points for meaningful, plot-progression exposition? For example, "He was definitely stronger in the future", as said by Future Trunks. Facts bring clarity to a story.

You don't have to do this one at all, but I'd also like to see how you judge character conversation, just to see how meaningful or pointless the exchanges are.

[Beerus-sama]

This sounds like a good idea.
would you be making it for the episodes that already aired?

A suggestion, may characters gain additional points for meaningful, plot-progression exposition? For example, "He was definitely stronger in the future", as said by Future Trunks. Facts bring clarity to a story.

Whis will probably be the winner in this category (along with Future Trunks) if this is taken into account

either way I agree with this suggestion
Maybe +3 points for that?

[LightBing]

A suggestion, may characters gain additional points for meaningful, plot-progression exposition? For example, "He was definitely stronger in the future", as said by Future Trunks. Facts bring clarity to a story.

You don't have to do this one at all, but I'd also like to see how you judge character conversation, just to see how meaningful or pointless the exchanges are.

Great suggestion, although I'm not sure I would classify that power statement as such. Since we have two fight's to illustrate Black's power and during the second fight, several comments from different characters exposing Black's characteristics and fluctuations.
Maybe if the comment is non-obvious, like exposing an unseen weakness.

Like Beerus-sama said Whis(maybe Beerus) and Future Trunks would certainly fulfill the criteria. Present Bulma, in the last episode for struggling and answering the time-machine doubts. This from the top of my head, I'll have to rewatch the episodes.

Future Bulma should receive some by gathering the fuel and giving it to Trunks.

This sounds like a good idea.
would you be making it for the episodes that already aired?

Yes I will.

[precita]

This is going to be hard because characters like Krillin and Piccolo are present in this arc but they don't "do anything" and nothing they contribute is important to the story. They're largely just reacting to what's going on.

Bulma seems to have the largest role after Goku/Trunks so far.

[LightBing]

This is going to be hard because characters like Krillin and Piccolo are present in this arc but they don't "do anything" and nothing they contribute is important to the story. They're largely just reacting to what's going on.

Bulma seems to have the largest role after Goku/Trunks so far.

This will map their contribution or lack thereof. Goku Black and Trunks will probably be way above anybody in this ranking. Goku only did anything of note in the last two episodes.

I'll watch the first episode of the arc and make some preliminary rankings and see if I can came up with more relevant criteria. I'll like to rush this, to catch up. I was supposed to do it sooner, but it was impossible to edit old posts at the time.

Keep the suggestions coming guys. I find this project very interesting.

[LightBing]

I've done the rankings for the first episode. I've made a lot of changes to the criteria, mainly regarding how much each one is worth. It seemed unfair to me that the weight given to character that just appear and barely do anything. Like the Pilaf Gang, while their constant appearances must be recognized, their only value is as comic-relief and they should be evaluated as such.
I divided Nejishiki suggested into two criteria.

This is not the final criteria, it should be easier to to rationalize this with an example.
This is also the planed weekly structure. All opinions are accepted, if they're justified obviously.

First here's my proposed Criteria:
+1 point for appearing in a episode
+2 points for appearing in a episode, with lines
+3 points for a minor fight
+6 points for an important fight
+3 points for minor plot contribution
+6 points for significant plot contribution
+1 point for appearing consecutively in three episodes

Episode #47 (#1)
Future Trunks - 11 points (Fighting Black, trying to go to the past)
Goku Black - 8 points ("Killing Mai", minor fight with Trunks)
Future Bulma - 8 points (Making the fuel and helping Trunks)
Future Mai - 5 points (Helping Trunks)
Son Goku - 2
Vegeta - 2
Whis - 2
Beerus - 2
Piccolo - 2
Son Goten - 2
Kuririn - 2
Chi-Chi - 2

Notes: I decided not give consider Vegeta vs Whis as a minor fight, seems very inconsequential. The exposition regarding the Omni-King is a repeat, with a bit more info from the previous arc, I decided to exclude it.

[Nejishiki]

So far, so good. The future characters are definitely the catalyst of this storyline and it's reflected as such. In comparison, the main cast hasn't done much of anything at this point either. I'll agree nothing of significance was learned from Whis and Vegeta's sparring. It's old information that he cannot compare to the endgame of his teachings yet.

[LightBing]

Almost 24 hours and only Nejishiki said anything, I'll proceed with the current criteria. Time for the second episode.

Episode #48 (#2)
Future Trunks - 8 points (Major fight with Black)
Goku Black - 8 points (Major Fight with Trunks)
Son Goku - 2
Vegeta - 2
Whis - 2
Beerus - 2
Present Trunks - 2
Present Bulma - 2
Shu - 2
Pilaf - 2
Present Mai - 2
Yajirobe - 2
Karin - 2
Future Mai - 1

Notes: I think the fight in this episode, no matter how short it was, deserves to be considered important. Here we see the supremacy of Black over a Future Trunks going at full power.
I struggled with this a little, should Karin get some points for giving the senzus? I went with no, since that's just his role. Like giving points to the time-machine for traveling in time... I would like to hear some opinions.
Lastly I didn't give points for Trunks reaching the present, since he didn't do anything yet. Next episode it's when he'll share all the info and purposely impact the progression of the plot.

Like always I would love to hear everyone's take. I'll be doing an episode a day until I catch up with the show, kinda fast but I want to be on schedule.

The first page has been updated with the Current Rankings, Future Trunks is gonna smash this.

[Anime Kitten]

Pretty good idea, and it seems to be going well. I hope you do it for the next arc too! Maybe someday in the far future you could even do it for the other shows? Anyway, keep up the good work!

[Beerus-sama]

The exposition regarding the Omni-King is a repeat, with a bit more info from the previous arc, I decided to exclude it.

Shouldn't that count as minor plot contribution?

Also, could you please elaborate more how the points are made? You are already giving some explanation of why they got points, but don't specify how much they got for the description and how you ended with the final result.

Example:
Future Trunks - 11 points (+3 for fighting Black, +2 for appearing and having lines, +6 for significant plot contribution )

Notes: I think the fight in this episode, no matter how short it was, deserves to be considered important. Here we see the supremacy of Black over a Future Trunks going at full power.

I agree, it gave us hints about what could actually be Black.

I struggled with this a little, should Karin get some points for giving the senzus? I went with no, since that's just his role.

Maybe yes? he does make them...

[LightBing]

Pretty good idea, and it seems to be going well. I hope you do it for the next arc too! Maybe someday in the far future you could even do it for the other shows? Anyway, keep up the good work!

Thank you. I hope to do it for every arc from now on. What do you mean by other shows? Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT? That's a lot of episodes...

Shouldn't that count as minor plot contribution?

The only new info was that the Omni-King actually destroyed some Universes, call me cynical but seems like thoughtless hyping by the anime writers. I really don't think it will have any impact at all in the future, much less in this arc.

Also, could you please elaborate more how the points are made? You are already giving some explanation of why they got points, but don't specify how much they got for the description and how you ended with the final result.

Sure thing, I'll start doing it from now on.

Maybe yes? he does make them...

Senzu beans are important, I might being unfair to Karin. This is hard, I'm on the fence. Let's see if more people speak up.

[Nejishiki]

It may seem minor, but I attribute it as necessary to reminding us how big Dragon World is. In DBZ Movie 5, Yajirobe being careless with Karin's belongings and giving Gohan an extra senzu is nothing but typical character personalities at work, but it was still important for Gohan to have that extra senzu hidden. Basically, Karin did his expected job, but it's a necessary one, nonetheless.

EDIT: I almost forgot, I agree that Future Trunks has done nothing in the present yet as traveling to the past is all one action accomplished.

[Anime Kitten]

What do you mean by other shows? Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT? That's a lot of episodes...

Yes, those. That's why I said the far future.

[LightBing]

Previous ranking changes:
After the discussion we had here, I've changed Karin's points from 2 to 5. Adding 3 for "minor plot contribution" by providing the senzus. I can only edit the opening post, so the post regarding episode 48 will remain uncorrected. I hope nobody is mislead by it.

Episode #49 (#3)
Future Trunks - 12 points (2 points for appearing, 3 points for his fight with Goku, 6 points for informing people and recruiting and 1 point for the consecutive episodes)
Whis - 6 points (2 points for appearing, 3 points for a minor plot contribution and 1 point for consecutive episodes)
Beerus - 6 points (2 points for appearing, 3 points for a minor plot contribution and 1 point for consecutive episodes)
Son Goku - 6 points (2 points for appearing, 3 points for a minor fight with Future Trunks and 1 point for consecutive episodes)
Goku Black - 3 points (2 points for appearing and 1 point for consecutive episodes)
Vegeta - 3 points (2 points for appearing and 1 point for consecutive episodes)
Present Trunks - 2 points
Present Bulma - 2 points
Shu - 2 points
Pilaf - 2 points
Present Mai - 2 points
Piccolo - 2 points
Son Goten - 2 points
Kuririn - 2 points
Chi-Chi - 2 points
Future Dabra - 1 point
Future Babidi - 1 point

Notes: The fight between Goku and Trunks is the common power comparisons to map out everyone. Not deserving of major fight status. Whis and Beerus contributed, one by informing us about the time effects and rules and the other by forgiving the crimes.
The Majin Boo plot has no standing to the current plot, it's a flashback to satisfy our curiosity.
Future Bulma's notebook had no effect yet, so I did not give points for it this episode.

As per usual the first post has been updated, we're starting to see gaps forming. What's does everyone think will the final top 5 be? Here's my prediction:
1st: Future Trunks
2nd: Goku Black
3rd: Son Goku
4th: Vegeta
5th: Whis

[Nejishiki]

Yes, Future Trunks' recount of Bobbidi and Dabra is akin to an old war story. It adds character, but doesn't affect the current situation. Speaking of that, when information from past episodes come back to be relevant in the future, I wouldn't suggest retroactively editing the older episode, but should the newer episode be given a boost or just standard points?

[LightBing]

Yes, Future Trunks' recount of Bobbidi and Dabra is akin to an old war story. It adds character, but doesn't affect the current situation. Speaking of that, when information from past episodes come back to be relevant in the future, I wouldn't suggest retroactively editing the older episode, but should the newer episode be given a boost or just standard points?

That might make it confusing, even for myself, the following episode Karin didn't even showed up. I'll just announce the changes.
Next episode will come late, probably tomorrow.

[SSJ Human]

I love this thread so much. It just maps out the saga in a way I haven't seen before.

[LightBing]

Hey guys/girls, sorry for such a gap between updates. A combination of lack of time and procrastination.
Get ready for a big post!

Episode #50 (#4)
Goku Black - 11 points (+6 for fighting Goku, +3 for destroying the time-machine, +2 for appearing)
Son Goku - 8 points (+6 for fighting Black, +2 for appearing)
Present Bulma - 6 points (+3 for remembering the old time-machine, +2 for appearing, +1 for consecutive appearance)
Whis - 5 points (+3 for all his info dump, +2 for appearing)
Present Trunks - 3 points (+2 for appearing, +1 for consecutive appearance)
Shu - 3 points (+2 for appearing, +1 for consecutive appearance)
Pilaf - 3 points (+2 for appearing, +1 for consecutive appearance)
Present Mai - 3 points (+2 for appearing, +1 for consecutive appearance)
Future Trunks - 2 points
Beerus - 2 points
Vegeta - 2 points
Piccolo - 2 points
Kuririn - 2 points
Future Mai - 1 points

Notes:
Goku vs Black, I saw it in the same line as Future Trunks vs Black. It's more than a simple appetizer fight, it provides a significant number of information regarding Black and it may have consequences later. Like Black "absorbing" Goku's technique/style.
Beerus barely provided any information, if any; Whis did all the work. I don't like giving characters points for nodding.
Various characters repeated the same info while watching the fight. No way to highlight a single one.

Episode #51 (#5)
Goku Black - 8 points (+6 for influence in the future, +2 for appearing)
Future Mai - 8 points (+6 for influence in the future, +2 for appearing)
Future Trunks - 8 points (+6 for influence in the future, +2 for appearing)
Future Bulma - 3 points (+3 due to her notebook)
Piccolo - 3 points (+2 for appearing, +1 for consecutive appearance)
Kuririn - 3 points (+2 for appearing, +1 for consecutive appearance)
Whis - 2 points
Present Bulma - 2 points
Present Trunks - 2 points
Shu - 2 points
Pilaf - 2 points
Present Mai - 2 points
Beerus - 2 points
Vegeta - 2 points
Son Goku - 2 points
Dr.Brief - 2 points
Bulma's Mom - 2 points
Kaio - 2 points
Bubbles - 1 point
Gregory - 1 point
Gohan- 1 point (His back appeared in the flashback, still counts )

Notes:
Dr.Brief and Bulma haven't done anything yet, no points for them. The notebook has started the process, so I'll give the well deserved points to Future Bulma and consider her influence in this matter over, bar new information.
I decided to go for the minimal, regarding the flashback in the future. Based on Trunks, the conflict was long and there were various fight's. I prefer to give an all-round distribution by considering all of it as a major plot point. Instead of breaking it down into fight's, Mai saving Trunks life a bunch of times, etc...

Episode #52 (#6)
Present Bulma - 11 points (+2 for appearing, +6 for fixing the time-machine)
Dr.Brief - 11 points (+2 for appearing, +6 for fixing the time-machine)
Future Trunks - 3 points (+2 for appearing, +1 for consecutive appearance)
Whis - 3 points (+2 for appearing, +1 for consecutive appearance)
Beerus - 3 points (+2 for appearing, +1 for consecutive appearance)
Vegeta - 3 points (+2 for appearing, +1 for consecutive appearance)
Son Goku - 3 points (+2 for appearing, +1 for consecutive appearance)
Present Trunks - 2 points
Shu - 2 points
Pilaf - 2 points
Present Mai - 2 points
Piccolo - 2 points
Kuririn - 2 points
Videl - 2 points
Pan - 2 points
Mr.Satan - 2 points
Gohan- 2 point
Piccolo - 2 points
Kuririn - 2 points
Future Mai - 2 points (+1 for appearing without lines, +1 for consecutive appearance)
Future Bulma - 1 points
Zamasu - 1 points

Notes:
Pretty straightforward episode. Like usual, I try to only give points when the events happen. Talking about Whis and Beerus role in discovering Zamasu.

Finally I've caught up! As per usual the opening post has been updated.
Six episodes in and it's clear Future Trunks is the main character of this arc. At this point Goku is nothing more than a supportive character, barely ahead of Whis, Beerus, Present Bulma and Future Mai.
It won't stay like this. Goku is sure to hog some fights and pull himself ahead of the field. Altought I predict he won't catch up to Black and Future Trunks.

At least in this arc, Super isn't the "Goku and Vegeta show". The tendency is also to have a set of active supportive characters. All the characters that accumulated more than 10 points fall in this category. The "brains" should see their role reduced, while the "brawl" should creep ahead in the coming episodes. There's also the comic relief, which should maintain their influence based on the tendency's of Super.

[Nejishiki]

I appreciate quantifying this, but just to take a broad look without evidence in-hand, the Champa's Tournament arc would probably be the only arc in Dragon Ball Super so far to validate that 'complaint', wouldn't it?