How to assign a function to a character?

You can organize your character cards in Story Planner by tags, but you can also assign a function in the story for your characters, such as protagonist, antagonist, impact... 

To assign a function to a character, just open "Function in the story" and choose a function from the list, or create a new one by tapping the + icon at the top right, as you can see in the image below.

Keep in mind that you will only have to create or organize this list once. The list of character roles is common for all projects. This means that you can configure the list with your most common functions. Then, when you're planning a story, you'll just have to select the feature you want from the list, making your writing workflow faster.

You can add as many character roles as you want and edit or delete existing ones. If you need some help getting started, here is a list of the most common character roles and their main features:

Protagonist

He is the mean —or the lead— character, who carries the weight of the story. All stories have at least one protagonist, and he/she usually pursues a specific goal.

The protagonist can be the hero with whom the readers identify and be an antihero or villain. There are no limits but your imagination: the only rule is that the main events must connect to your main character(s).

Sidekick

This type of character appears in stories of many different genres. They accompany the protagonist on his quest or journey, help him whenever possible, and offer moral support. The sidekick would go to the moon and back for the lead character.

Sancho Panza (Don Quixote), Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger (Harry Potter series), and Doctor Watson (Sherlock Holmes series) are famous faithful sidekicks.

Protagonist's helper

This type of character is similar to a sidekick. Their function is to help the protagonist reach his goals. But they don't accompany him on every adventure to offer constant protection and fidelity. Their help can be deliberate or involuntary, altruistic, or selfish.

Antagonist

This character's goals are opposed to those of the protagonist. It doesn't mean that the antagonist must be evil. The problem is that his objectives collide with those of the main character. Both are willing to fight to reach them. That is what creates the central conflict.

As the antagonist has a central role, there must be one in every story (as a character or more abstract force). I recommend that your antagonist to be more powerful than your main character, at least at first sight. That makes the conflict more exciting and adds merit to the hero's fight.

Whenever possible, make a single individual represent the antagonist. If you want to refer to a group (a congregation, for example), try to find a leader or someone who represents that leader so that your readers can identify that specific person with the antagonistic role.

The same applies if your protagonist is fighting against something intangible, like bureaucracy or the system. For example, suppose the protagonist is a woman trying to prove her innocence, and the state is the opposing force. In that case, a lawyer who fights against her could play the antagonist's role.

Antagonist's helper

Like in the case of the protagonist, some characters can help the antagonist reach his goal. They are not indispensable, but they can be beneficial.

Obstacle characters

These characters stand in the way of the lead character but are not related to the antagonist. Their participation in the story is coincidental and incidental.

Take this case: the protagonist has to present some papers in the court so that the antagonist doesn't get it his way. Unluckily, the civil servant working there doesn't help her at all. He has nothing to do with the antagonist but stops the protagonist from reaching her goal.

Impact character

This secondary character's role is crucial. Impact characters appear briefly in the story. Still, their intervention is decisive. They either give the protagonist the little push she needs to carry on or offer her the key to solving a problem, finding the courage he lacks, etc.

Guardian

This type of character appears in many literary works. This character is in charge of protecting something (generally, a thing related to the protagonist's goal).

The mentor

This secondary role can strengthen your story. Good examples of this kind of character are Yoda in "Star Wars" and Abate Faria in "The Count of Monte Cristo." They guide the heroes to prepare them for the final battle in which they will need to fight for what thet want. Sometimes, the mentor can also be an impact character whom the protagonists ask for advice.

The skeptic

This type of character doesn't believe in the protagonists' objectives, but in their certain defeat. Skeptics are the opposit to sidekicks: they do not stand in the protagonists' way but try to demoralize them.

Goal

Sometimes, a character can represent the goal to achieve. For example, when someone has kidnapped this character, and the protagonist must rescue him.

Other secondary characters

Of course, this list isn't exhaustive. There can be some other types of characters because you are the one who sets the limits when it comes to creating a story. This is only a start that will enable you to create a good cast!