History Main / CastCalculus

Let's start at '''one''' and work our way up. Lone protagonists are not some embryonic proto-cast that contains the traits of all Ensembles past and present, but rather has complete freedom to be whoever is needed for the story. Let's repeat that: ''lone''. While a one man hero doesn't have to be an [[LonersAreFreaks antisocial loner]], they are very independent no matter [[CharactersAsDevice what kind of character]] they are. Even the wimpy ActionSurvivor is at least able to survive. Interestingly, the best lone heroes make up for a lack of permanent cast with a varied supporting (though temporary) cast and (hopefully) some internal struggles to add [[HiddenDepths depth]]. The Man vs. Man type of dramatic struggle is common for the lone hero. Needless to say they are ''also'' invariably TheHero (well, let's say [[CharacterCalculus protagonist]] to hedge our bets). Though it's kind of a "Duh" statement, read on.

* ''Common genres or stories:'' Though roving bands of extended casts are no unheard of, they ''will'' take home with them, be it a space ship, a [[ScoobyDoo Mystery Machine]], or merely [[WalkingTheEarth the clothes on their back]]. These enormous ensembles practically write a Drama themselves, never mind having [[HilarityEnsues Hilarity Ensue]] due to outside events.

From there the '''duos''' are [[{{Foil}} an even split between two traits]]: Body and mind, and temperament. One will be TheBigGuy to the other's [[TheSmartGuy smarts]]. And then you have [[RedOniBlueOni one emotional character versus a colder one]]. The duo implies a certain level of equality; it's entirely possible for both to "share the billing" and be equal heroes. They'll likely be HeterosexualLifePartners, but if they happen to be [[HugeGuyTinyGirl different genders]], it's practically a law there'll eventually be {{UST}}. Or for the more traditional dynamic, you have TheHero and their SideKick or LoveInterest. These duos are different in that the hero often serves as a [[{{Mentors}} mentor]] to the sidekick and protector to the LoveInterest, though it's unlikely for the sidekick to graduate the role.

** '''Signature series:''' ''{{The X-Files}}'', ''{{Supernatural}}'', ''[[HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys Hercules: The Legendary Journeys]]'', ''DoctorWho'' (2005+)

|| '''[[FiveManBand Five]]''' || Add [[TheLancer "Dissent"]] || Add the StandardizedLeader or Supine || Add TheMedic or StaffChick (TheChick) ||

|| '''[[PowerTrio Three]]''' || BeautyBrainsAndBrawn || TheKirk, [[TheSpock Spock]], and [[TheMcCoy McCoy]] || MightyGlacier (TheBigGuy), TheMario (TheHero), and FragileSpeedster (TheLancer) ||
|| '''Four''' || Add [[TheHero "Leadership"]] || FourTemperamentEnsemble || Add TheEngineer or GlassCannon (TheSmartGuy) ||

When you get to '''{{Power Trio}}s''' the different splits get more interesting. The personalities divide into TheKirk, TheSpock and [[TheMcCoy The McCoy]], not so much dividing the [[RedOniBlueOni Red and Blue oni]] as creating a "balance" personality wholecloth. Note that any of them can be the lead hero. The division between physical and mental doesn't get [[TheMario graded]], but augmented with "[[TheChick social]]", a character who much like the Kirk acts as a personable "face" for the group to balance the previous pair. If combat is involved, you get the MightyGlacier, TheMario, and FragileSpeedster. Interestingly, from Trio on down you start seeing above archetypes merge into things like GeniusBruiser. It's worth noting that from here on out a girl being in the group [[TheSmurfettePrinciple gets logistically easier]] and [[TwoGuysAndAGirl much more]] [[BeautyBrainsAndBrawn common.]]

* '''Three:''' PowerTrio (TheKirk, TheSpock and TheMcCoy)

** TwoGirlsAndAGuy

The '''quartet''' is a challenge: just enough people for things to get convoluted, but not enough to lose track of anyone. The FourTemperamentEnsemble divides the [[RedOniBlueOni Red and Blue Oni]] in half again: the Red Oni splits into sanguine and choleric, and the Blue Oni into phlegmatic and melancholic. Or, viewed another way, the Kirk is choleric, and the detached nature of the Spock and the raw emotion of the [=McCoy=] split and combine into an introspective and spiritual temperament. Physically, the big-medium-fast division actually becomes big-medium-fast-''frail''. Frail characters are actually hearkening way back to the Duo's TheSmartGuy, adding a character who sacrifices muscle for mind.

|| '''[[PowerTrio Three]]''' || BeautyBrainsAndBrawn || TheKirk, [[TheSpock Spock]], and [[TheMcCoy McCoy]] || MightyGlacier/ StoneWall (TheBigGuy), TheMario/ TheRedMage (TheHero), and FragileSpeedster/ GlassCannon (TheLancer) ||
|| '''Four''' || Add [[TheHero "Leadership"]] || FourTemperamentEnsemble || Add TheEngineer or SquishyWizard (TheSmartGuy) ||

The '''FiveManBand, SixStudentClique''' and '''TheMagnificentSevenSamurai''' all vary some in their makeup, with each being "upgradeable" with SixthRanger. However; they all have the base FiveManBand structure with one or more additions from the "auxiliary" list, like ComicRelief or TagalongKid, much like a core '''ThreePlusTwo''' cast of characters results in a FiveManBand. Another one is that TheHero stops being a label and becomes a physically distinct character type that leads the ensemble's members. The personality and physical traits by this point can be pretty much mix and matched without worrying about maintaining a "[[CastSpeciation balance]]" in the cast.

The '''quartet''' is a challenge: just enough people for things to get convoluted, but not enough to lose track of anyone. The FourTemperamentEnsemble divides the PowerTrio's ego-id-superego with a small but significant division. The Kirk is choleric, [=McCoy=] is sanguine, and the Spock splits into both phlegmatic and melancholic. Or viewed another way, the detached nature of the Spock and the raw emotion of the [=McCoy=] split and combine into an introspective and spiritual temperament. Physically, the big-medium-fast division actually becomes big-medium-fast-''frail''. Frail characters are actually hearkening way back to the Duo's TheSmartGuy, adding a character who sacrifices muscle for mind.

|| '''[[PowerTrio Three]]''' || BeautyBrainsAndBrawn || TheKirk, [[TheSpock Spock]], and [[TheMcCoy McCoy]] || MightyGlacier/ StoneWall (TheBigGuy), TheMario/ MagicKnight (TheHero), and FragileSpeedster/ GlassCannon (TheLancer) ||

|| '''[[PowerTrio Three]]''' || BeautyBrainsAndBrawn || TheKirk, [[TheSpock Spock]], and [[TheMcCoy McCoy]] || MightyGlacier/ StoneWall, TheMario/ MagicKnight, and FragileSpeedster/ GlassCannon ||
|| '''Four''' || Add [[TheHero "Leadership"]] || FourTemperamentEnsemble || Add TheEngineer or SquishyWizard ||
|| '''[[FiveManBand Five]]''' || Add [[TheLancer "Dissent"]] || Add the StandardizedLeader or Supine || Add TheMedic or StaffChick ||

|| '''[[PowerTrio Three]]''' || BeautyBrainsAndBrawn || TheKirk, [[TheSpock Spock]], and [[TheMcCoy McCoy]] || MightyGlacier or StoneWall, TheMario or MagicKnight, FragileSpeedster or GlassCannon ||

|| '''[[PowerTrio Three]]''' || BeautyBrainsAndBrawn || TheKirk, [[TheSpock Spock]], and [[TheMcCoy McCoy]] || MightyGlacier (Assault/Defense), TheMario (Hybrid), FragileSpeedster (Recon/Sniping) ||

|| '''Six''' || Add either TheCutie, {{Nerd}}/{{Geek}}, or CloudCuckooLander || Add TokenEvilTeammate || What varies are the types of [[WeaponTropes weapons]] and magic/skills ||

|| '''[[PowerTrio Three]]''' || BeautyBrainsAndBrawn || TheKirk, [[TheSpock Spock]], and [[TheMcCoy McCoy]] || MightyGlacier (Assault), TheMario (Hybrid), FragileSpeedster (Recon) ||

|| '''Six''' || Add either TheCutie, {{Nerd}}/{{Geek}}, or CloudCuckooLander || Add TokenEvilTeammate || Add GlassCannon, TheArcher, or ColdSniper ||
|| '''[[MagnificentSeven Seven]]''' || || ComicRelief, KidHero, or TheStoic || ||

|| '''Four''' || Add [[TheHero "Leadership"]] || FourTemperamentEnsemble || Add SquishyWizard or TheEngineer ||

|| '''[[PowerTrio Three]]''' || BeautyBrainsAndBrawn || TheKirk, [[TheSpock Spock]], and [[TheMcCoy McCoy]] || MightyGlacier, TheMario, FragileSpeedster ||
|| '''Four''' || Add [[TheHero "Leadership"]] || FourTemperamentEnsemble || Add SquishyWizard to the above ||
|| '''[[FiveManBand Five]]''' || Add [[TheLancer "Dissent"]] || Add the StandardizedLeader or Supine || Add TheMedic ||

|| '''Six''' || Add either TheCutie, {{Nerd}}/{{Geek}}, or CloudCuckooLander || Add TokenEvilTeammate || Add GlassCannon, TheArcher, or TheSniper ||

|| '''Six''' || Add either TheCutie, {{Nerd}}/{{Geek}}, or CloudCuckooLander || Add TokenEvilTeammate || Add GlassCannon ||

|| '''Four''' || Add [[TheHero "Leadership"]] || FourTemperamentEnsemble || Add GlassCannon to the above ||
|| '''[[FiveManBand Five]]''' || Add [[TheLancer "Dissent"]] || Add the StandardizedLeader or Supine || Add SquishyWizard ||
|| '''Six''' || Add either TheCutie, {{Nerd}}/{{Geek}}, or CloudCuckooLander || Add TokenEvilTeammate || Add TheMedic ||

|| '''[[FiveManBand Five]]''' || Add [[TheLancer "Dissent"]] || Add the StandardizedLeader or Supine || Add The SquishyWizard ||

|| '''Four''' || Add [[TheHero "Leadership"]] || FourTemperamentEnsemble || Add SquishyWizard to the above ||
|| '''[[FiveManBand Five]]''' || Add [[TheLancer "Dissent"]] || Add the StandardizedLeader or Supine || Add TheMedic ||
|| '''Six''' || Add either TheCutie, {{Nerd}}/{{Geek}}, or CloudCuckooLander || Add TokenEvilTeammate || At this point, what varies are the type of [[WeaponsAndWieldingTropes Weapons]] and [[MagicAndPowers Magic]] ||

|| '''[[FiveManBand Five]]''' || Add [[TheLancer "Dissent"]] || Add the StandardizedLeader or Supine || Add MagicKnight ||

* ''Common genres or stories:'' A trio is downright homey, and not in the sedentary sense. Three is the number where [[{{Nakama}} a family is born]], even if the characters are unrelated and don't see each other as a family, the dynamics between them will give viewers a sort of "safety net". Trios work best in genres where there's room to interact both between each other and the environment, from here on down an ensemble can hypothetically devote an entire episode or chapter just to the cast interacting. These guys are likely to be in an ActionAdventure or {{Drama}}. Or both!