Other people have done it, so if you want to, go right ahead.  Just try 
to keep the Ranma characters *reactions* to these issues consistent with 
their characterization.  For instance, Ranma would probably view a 
Western "slacker" with the same loathing he shows for his father's 
laziness.  He probably wouldn't be as nice about it either.

I assume so. Thank you for reminding me. The greatest temptation I face
right now is to alter the character reactions for my convenience,
essentially rewriting them. I can't afford that if I'm to follow the rules
I've set myself for this exercise.

OK.  First, you have to realize something.  If you, as a real person, 
were to meet people who acted like the Ranmaverse characters, you'd 
despise every one of them.  You'd hate or at the least dislike them all, 
including Kasumi.  

Of course. On the other hand, self-insertion is done because we all
fantasize about being able to crawl into the TV screen and be with the
characters we love. It's the self-gratifying fantasy that makes for bad
writing, and I realize this. My inserted character is a Machiavellian
bastard who's in Nerima for a specific reason and who stumbles across the
Ranma characters and decides to use them to achieve his own ends. I think he
fits rather nicely with the universe because he's as unrealistic as they
are, only unrealistic in a different way.

"Why doesn't she stand up to these people?  For God's sake, at least 
call the police or something!  Stop smiling, what just happened was 
horrible!"

The other option is altering yourself to fit in with the Ranmaverse.  
Here we run into another trap.  There's a blatant temptation to have all 
the characters *like* you!  That's just no how things work in the 
Ranmaverse.  If half to three-quarters of the cast doesn't at least 
dislike you, you won't ring true as a Ranmaverse character (to me at 
least).  

By the time I'm finished, nobody's going to *like* my character. They'll be
in a position where he's forcing them to do what he wants, and they might
even respect him, but nobody will like him. Ranma will hate him because he's
dishonorable, Akane will hate him for forcing Ranma into his vicious, bloody
power struggle, Ryoga will hate him for the same reasons, etc, etc.

There's also a temptation to have everyone listen to you and 
understand how wise your suggestions are.  They don't listen to each 
other in the series, why should they listen to you? 

If my character decides to bother at all with the love geometry of Nerima,
it'll only be to fuck it up more thoroughly.

Additionally, if 
you've adjusted yourself to the Ranmaverse, how about giving yourself 
some of their peculiarities?  Just come up with two eccentricities and 
apply them to yourself. 

The way my story will work, the inserted character is going to be at a
distinct disadvantage no matter what he does. He does have a number of
eccentricites: his clothes disintegrate quickly when he wears them, his hair
is purple and will not bleach or dye, his health is in a perilous state at
the best of times, etc, etc. These penalties are the consequence of the
powers he does posess, and every time he uses his power, he runs the risk of
suffering more.

(Example:  Total inability to find things.   
You always know where you are, but it takes you twenty minutes of 
searching to figure out which pocket you left your keys in.)

Those are very cartoony. It's one aspect of Ranma I've always had a little
trouble with, as a writer. From what I've seen in the world of fanfics, I'm
not the only one. Other writers are constantly adding depth and additional
complexities to the characters.

You know what I'd like to see? (Addressed to all self-insert writers)  
Write your girl/boyfriend in with you and then have a Ranmaverse 
character steal her away!

My character's mate is living on the other side of the world. He hasn't
spoken to her in twenty years because of the nature of the work they do, but
he is stolidly faithful, and refuses to touch anyone else (without her
participation/permission, anyway.) My character has no intention of stealing
anyone.

Thanks for taking the time you did. :) Yours is by far the most detailed
answer I've gotten to my questions. I'm also taking into account that the
Chinese names are fanwriter inventions, and using them anyway. 

-Drakkus Blasphemy, Greater Daemon of Eris Discordia
drakkus@labyrinth.net
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