Keeping weaker characters relevant

[SSJ Human]

I mentioned this earlier in the Dragon Ball Super thread but it really applies to the franchise as a whole. By the end of Z, you had a system in place where the only characters that did anything of value were the ones that could kill the villains and while it would make sense to focus on them, I really thought back to the Cell Saga's use of Krillin where though it was obvious he couldn't fight any of the villains, he still received focus such as him finding Dr. Gero's lab before anyone else and pointing it out for them, being the only one to not fight the androids out of fear but sticking up to them for Goku's sake, helping Trunks investigate Gero's lab, getting the detonator from Bulma, contemplating using it before destroying it, being the first person to bear the brute of Perfect Cell's strength, taking Vegeta's body away from the battle and using the wish on Android 18 to remove the bomb in her.

That was for someone that can't beat anybody, but you still like him because he is likable and wants to do the right thing by helping out and being useful despite not being strong enough. I really thought this was the direction they should have gone with BOG and ROF as well as anything that follows, though apply it for other characters like Piccolo, Gohan and Krillin if the fighters are presumably only Goku and Vegeta.

But what are your thoughts on how to keep the weaker characters with something to do?

[Zephyr]

Mr. Satan's as weak as they come and he essentially saved the world twice: once with friendship, and once with his voice/reputation.

[Lord Beerus]

Don't forget Bulma. She never throws a punch but her genius intellect plays a significant part throughout Dragon Ball, even in different timelines.

[FortuneSSJ]

Don't forget Bulma. She never throws a punch but her genius intellect plays a significant part throughout Dragon Ball, even in different timelines.

Well, Bulma is one of most useful females in shounen world.
And what makes her character awesome, its like you said, her genius intellect even when she's weak and this is a battle shounen.

[Marco Polo]

I wouldn't mind more characters like Yajirobe, who is weak-ass compared to the main fighters but who still managed to severely hurt the enemy (with a sneak attack, but it could be other plot devices too).

The funny thing is, it can work for the villain's side, too. In RoF, Sorbet was the Yajirobe of the villain.

[B]

Obviously, the key is to come up with a story beyond "super-strong guy literally pulls himself out of his own ass and falls from the sky."

[fadeddreams5]

But what are your thoughts on how to keep the weaker characters with something to do?

Honestly, there is no need to make them relevant. In EoZ, most of them are old. In Super, it's time to let go of those characters altogether and focus on the new ones (assuming it does take place after EoZ). I mean, for the sake of fanservice, they should still have guest roles and make some appearances, but that's it.

We now have Beerus, Whis, Uub, Pan, Teen Goten, Teen Trunks, and some new upcoming character(s). It's time for them, along with Goku and Vegeta, to go to a new universe and have a fresh start. Out with the old, in with the new.

On a side note, I'm including Gohan as one of the characters that should be omitted. The creators have no respect for the character, he has a successor in Pan, and Uub bares enough similarities to him (when he was actually a good character) to serve as an adequate replacement. Somebody needs to slap the Kami out of Piccolo and give him a buff to make him interesting again.

[BlazingFiddlesticks]

Obviously, the key is to come up with a story beyond "super-strong guy literally pulls himself out of his own ass and falls from the sky."

That's really all there is to it. This is really only a question when you act as "the most powerful opponent I've ever faced" is the only story to tell. And if is, well, Super is pointless.

[sintzu]

The last 2 movies didn't have the time to focus on these characters due to them being short unlike a series like Super which will probably run for a long time so it's safe to say they'll get their screen time in it.

[SSJ Human]

But what are your thoughts on how to keep the weaker characters with something to do?

Honestly, there is no need to make them relevant. In EoZ, most of them are old. In Super, it's time to let go of those characters altogether and focus on the new ones (assuming it does take place after EoZ). I mean, for the sake of fanservice, they should still have guest roles and make some appearances, but that's it.

We now have Beerus, Whis, Uub, Pan, Teen Goten, Teen Trunks, and some new upcoming character(s). It's time for them, along with Goku and Vegeta, to go to a new universe and have a fresh start. Out with the old, in with the new.

On a side note, I'm including Gohan as one of the characters that should be omitted. The creators have no respect for the character, he has a successor in Pan, and Uub bares enough similarities to him (when he was actually a good character) to serve as an adequate replacement. Somebody needs to slap the Kami out of Piccolo and give him a buff to make him interesting again.

You've got a point, but Gohan is my favorite so I would be against omitting him.

I just wish we could get some protagonist that isn't related to Goku or Vegeta. It was fine for Gohan, Goten and Trunks, but with Pan and Bra it's like....overkill. I wouldn't even have a problem with it were it not for the fact that the only characters that are going to be important are the ones related to those two, along with those two.

We also can't just assume that since the show will be longer than GT that everyone will get some moment. GT was still 64 episodes long, long enough to give focus to Goku, Pan, Trunks, Vegeta and Goten but only two of them got any real time. Everybody else gets a moment or nothing at all.

[Kid Buu]

Of the human Z-Fighters I'm fine with them being closed books. I'd be happy if Super was just Goku, Vegeta, and Piccolo.

[Akyon]

Honestly I think if Super handles the humans in the same way GT did(aka making even Uub pretty useless, only making Krillin appear to DIE again and essentially ignoring Yamcha and Tenshinhan altogether until the last episode) I probably won't watch it the whole way through. I don't expect them to fight against Whis and Beerus tier villains, but I don't want them to just fade completely from the story like Launch, Oolong, Puar and Chiaoutzu pretty much did.

Having grown up with Krillin, Yamcha, Tenshinhan as well as Goku and Gohan it kills me to have them put the human trio on a bus. The story revolves around these character's lives and adventures for me. A smarter story could easily allow for elements outside of pure power to affect the plot perfect for this trio, it's just wondering whether or not Super will go the braindead route.

At the very least should this be the end for this cast of likable individuals Krillin got a good ending happily married with a daughter, a full time job that he's pretty well suited for in policework and the title of strongest human under his belt (Until Uub takes it anyway). Shame I can't say the same about the other two strongest humans.

[ABED]

Honestly I think if Super handles the humans in the same way GT did(aka making even Uub pretty useless, only making Krillin appear to DIE again and essentially ignoring Yamcha and Tenshinhan altogether until the last episode) I probably won't watch it the whole way through. I don't expect them to fight against Whis and Beerus tier villains, but I don't want them to just fade completely from the story like Launch, Oolong, Puar and Chiaoutzu pretty much did.

Having grown up with Krillin, Yamcha, Tenshinhan as well as Goku and Gohan it kills me to have them put the human trio on a bus. The story revolves around these character's lives and adventures for me. A smarter story could easily allow for elements outside of pure power to affect the plot perfect for this trio, it's just wondering whether or not Super will go the braindead route.

At the very least should this be the end for this cast of likable individuals Krillin got a good ending happily married with a daughter, a full time job that he's pretty well suited for in policework and the title of strongest human under his belt (Until Uub takes it anyway). Shame I can't say the same about the other two strongest humans.

I don't mind if some characters leave and other characters come into the story, but just make the new ones relevant. At least Tenshinhan leaving makes sense for his character, he always was a loner.

[The Desert Bandit]

I'm probably repeating myself again, as I might as well be an advocate for all the humans in DB by now. XD

I agree. I hate how humans receive no love by fans or Toriyama. Especially Yamcha and Chaotzu. I would go into more detail, but then I would just be copy/pasting.

[Doctor.]

Chaozu is understandable, because I highly, highly doubt there's a big fanbase for him out there. But the other humans do have big fanbases, so it's quite insulting to them for the humans to keep getting ignored and humiliated, especially when they're the most relatable characters in the franchise.

[The Desert Bandit]

Chaozu is understandable, because I highly, highly doubt there's a big fanbase for him out there. But the other humans do have big fanbases, so it's quite insulting to them for the humans to keep getting ignored and humiliated, especially when they're the most relatable characters in the franchise.

Yamcha doesn't have a lot of fans either unfortunately. I'm a rare breed of the DB fanbase.

[Doctor.]

Chaozu is understandable, because I highly, highly doubt there's a big fanbase for him out there. But the other humans do have big fanbases, so it's quite insulting to them for the humans to keep getting ignored and humiliated, especially when they're the most relatable characters in the franchise.

Yamcha doesn't have a lot of fans either unfortunately. I'm a rare breed of the DB fanbase.

I don't wanna generalize (even though I am...) but Yamcha haters only seem to be prominent within the more casual fanbase or the dub fanbase. Within the others, especially here in Kanzenshuu, he's kinda loved actually.

[DBZAOTA482]

Chaozu is understandable, because I highly, highly doubt there's a big fanbase for him out there. But the other humans do have big fanbases, so it's quite insulting to them for the humans to keep getting ignored and humiliated, especially when they're the most relatable characters in the franchise.

Yamcha doesn't have a lot of fans either unfortunately. I'm a rare breed of the DB fanbase.

I don't wanna generalize (even though I am...) but Yamcha haters only seem to be prominent within the more casual fanbase or the dub fanbase. Within the others, especially here in Kanzenshuu, he's kinda loved actually.

Also I don't think there's overwhelming amount of hate for Yamcha in general. He seems more like that guy who's fun to mock for shit blowing up in his face.

[SingleFringe&Sparks]

The Arcs need to just give the weaker characters something to do in order to add onto the bigger picture even if they cant kill the villain. Thats the biggest thing I liked about the Namek & Android/Imperfect Cell arc. Where it encompassed both properties. The stronger characters would train so that they could catch up to how strong the villains would gradually become, while the weaker characters at least tried to intercept it or get information to support the stronger characters - rather than having them just stand on the sidelines the entire time waiting for Goku to save them. They need other ways to affect the plot outside of just fighting, which would require plots that are more than just a super-powerful villain who is invincible the entire time and evil for no real reason. I mean they should have some sort of weakness that the Sayians cant find outside of strict combat or at least set up some advantages for Goku & Vegeta to even the playing field - as Bulma did trying to shut off the Cyborgs; or Piccolo destroying the moon to weaken the Sayians, or Krillin and Gohan helping Vegeta on Namek, or looking for the Dragonballs...etc. When the series just ignored having subplots for their sake, it is what made the non Goku characters useless.

[supercat]

Well for characters like Piccolo, Mr. Buu and Gohan, there is always plenty of room for them to come back even on the front end of some of the battles. These are fighters who have once had massive amounts of power in comparison to everyone else, and are also characters who are likely embedded with immense amounts of unseen potential that could be brought out in creative ways. Hopefully, at some point, we see them (at least Piccolo and Gohan) make more appearances as prominent characters in the power / relevance category.

In regards to the humans, seeing Krillin at the very least accompanying his fellow warriors would be cool to watch as well. It would also be an interesting concept to have more minor / weaker villains that need to be stopped, as this would definitely give the weaker fighters something to do.