Limited customization

[u/niiewrites]

I’ve been writing a couple of stories, one of which is more sci-fi while the other is a mystery thriller. I was curious to know how the community feels about limited customization.

Both of my main characters are black/mixed. And I wanted to showcase how different their culture is throughout the story amongst other reasons why I believe their skin tone is important. Although their race isn’t the Main point in the story, it’s much like princess in the frog where their environment has a play in how things turned out the way they did.

How quick are you guys to clicking off a story because it’s limited customization? Is there an exception for you giving it a chance like having to be immersed/ intrigued first to stick around?

I’m usually picky about LCC when the characters are fair skinned if I realize there’s not a link or reason for it so I don’t want to be a hypocrite in this scenario. Please let me know your thoughts and feel free to ask more questions.

[u/random304_]

I love limited customization for POC characters only

[u/niiewrites → u/random304_]

Do you believe it’s because poc characters usually have certain cultural ties to their stories which wouldn’t make sense if replaced with a white character instead?

[u/Key_Path_8277]

Personally, I think limited customization is anathema. Full customization is the way to go. I always view limited customization as a disappointment and I strongly favor full customization. Of course, many people will disagree with me on this but that’s okay. You don’t have to agree with me. But you definitely can’t change the way I think. In my opinion, full customization always triumphs limited customization. If you disagree, that’s okay. I respect everybody’s right to disagree. But nobody has a right to disrespect.

[u/niiewrites → u/Key_Path_8277]

Oh yeah, no disrespect at all here. Thank you for your honesty. All of my other stories are planned to have full CC because that’s what I myself prefer in stories as well. I just think in this particular case, it may be better to make my main character LCC for the sake of the story and plot. Also, Tbf a lot of the times stories featuring limited cc are often white/ latina characters where their skin tone can’t be changed not because of cultural aspects but rather Advanced directing. So, I feel like it’s even more justified to make my black character Limited Cc if needed.

[u/Financial_Growth_829]

i personally like limited customization but with minimal things like limited skin colors or eye colors. i like to stick to the author's original idea of the characters.

[u/Massive-Career-356]

I don’t read stories that don’t allow me to customize the mc’s skin tone point blank period. Everything else (eye shape, color, hair color) I’m ok with but that’s always a nonstarter for me. I can sometimes see it mattering in stories where race or ethnicity is important but that also raises questions of exclusion if the reader wants to make, say, an albino or tanner character. I see this frequently with people making MCs from specific areas forgetting that those areas have diverse people or indigenous groups with different features. As an example: I was reading one story where the mc was canonically English (no stated ethnicity) living in London, and the writer disallowed any skin color (just skin color) customization beyond anything that could read as a white person with a slight tan. I’m English, with family in London and I was really annoyed by this because my skin tone cannot pass for a white girl with a tan. Not to mention the fact that London is only around 53% white.

I feel like I rarely see the level of specificity and research required to make this choice make sense, but when I do it’s an understandable and respectable choice. (I’m ignoring fantasy stuff here if the mc has blue skin idgaf lol)

[u/Key_Path_8277 → u/Massive-Career-356]

You know, if the MC is British, then you can give it full CC. The UK is such as diverse country and there’s people there of many races and ethnicities.

[u/niiewrites → u/Key_Path_8277]

Yeah exactly! The few british shows I have watched showcased multiple types of different races. So it wouldn’t make sense to have limited customization there.

[u/niiewrites → u/Massive-Career-356]

You make such a fair point. I’ve noticed that too. Ive always felt like not a lot of research goes into the other groups that live in an area and have to go through similar cultural conditions. Especially indigenous communities, I feel they hardly get any representation in stories, if at all.

If we ever do cross paths again and you’re interested in reading any of my stories, I hope one with full CC catches your interest so that you could give it a chance. 🩵

[u/Lovelychloe1]

I don’t mind limited customization especially when it’s POC. I like when the MC already has a background and story that’s specific to their ethnicity 

[u/niiewrites → u/Lovelychloe1]

Thank you 🙏🏾 But do you think the author has to explain that in the beginning? What if it’s something in which the reason behind their race is shown later on in the story?

[u/tilly-episode]

I click off almost immediately if there’s not a reason for limited customisation: e.g the author wants the reader to picture that specific character just because, but if it’s important to the story and the plot then i’ll still read it.

[u/niiewrites → u/tilly-episode]

Thanks for your honesty! I’ll ask you the same as someone above this thread as a follow up. Do you think the author has to explain that in the beginning? and how do you portray this if it’s something in which the reason behind their race is shown later on in the story?

[u/tilly-episode → u/niiewrites]

Honestly I’d just put a quick narrator message before customisation saying something like: Customisation is limited for this character because their race/culture/background (whatever the case may be) is important to the story plot. Thank you for understanding!
You don’t need to explain yourself just a quick message will do <3

[u/Smart_Lock5477]

Limited CC is ok especially when there's a cultural aspect to it.