User blog comment:QueenArasene/Mary Sue Test of the old, vexed lorehound/@comment-47.185.104.133-20170722012046/@comment-5049048-20170722074803

I am aiming to balance the test to result in a 2-2-2 score system, which would eventually put 22 points in the mid-range of characters- perfectly acceptable for most cases. Depending on the character itself, it can pay off to aim as low as possible, but of course this is not always available.

For characters designed to be developed through roleplay, I would advise aiming low; this way you have more space to grow. For characters meant to be played and advance less (any generic nobles, wizards, warriors), the mid-range is a good choice to go for. Only characters that are restricted somehow or intended purely for use in a plot should reasonably go in the topmost results. After all, people should get some good opposition as a reward for their troubles.

In the end, Mary Sue can often result being more about your intentions behind the character and less about the actual character itself. I've known a fair share of characters who would score lots of points on this test to be played well and reasonably; just as I have seen a fair share of characters who would score high on this test being played as little more than a cheap power trip.