Rimuru Tempest
Having a protagonist being a reincarnation of a previous character or reborn as a powerful being can make a fun story. You open up a lot of possibilities. So, what are some tips to this kind of story?
- Reincarnation is a plot device that either gets the story rolling or is the goal for getting a character back. It needs to be combined with something else such as a reason for the protagonist to act. For example, Rimuru Tempest above is a human reincarnated as a slime with powers. That is the opening, but the story is about how he creates a kingdom for monsters that lives in peace with the surrounding kingdoms.
- The concept of reincarnation doesn’t always mean a human will turn into another humanoid species. At least the real version of reincarnation. In fiction, it’s usually a person being reborn with the knowledge they had a past life. If you wanted to use the real version then you have to consider their deeds prior to death. A bad person will turn into something ‘less than they prior form’. A person who has done good deeds will get a ‘better form’.
- Reincarnation of a previously established or world-known hero requires there be some similarities. The new character can look like them or have similar abilities, but they need to stand on their own. This could mean a different personality or change up their abilities. Considering their past life’s deeds can help here because they can even be reincarnated with a downgrade in abilities, which can account for their changes in personality and tactics.
- Be careful having too many people identifying this character as a reincarnation. This is really only important if they are a deceased hero reborn since those reincarnated from obscure lives to greatness wouldn’t have this issue. Anyway, having everyone recognize the new hero as a reincarnation of the old takes away from their identity. Unless part of the story is them wrestling with having no reputation beyond what their previous life was, you want other characters to rarely notice they are reincarnations.
- Don’t mix up reincarnation and resurrection. The latter is when a person is brought back from the dead as themselves. The former is when they are brought back as a new person.
- If the character is reincarnated into another world (Isekai) then you should remember some culture shock. Even if they are considered the rebirth of a local hero, the character’s mind will be that of the one from the other world. So, they might have great powers and abilities, but they will not understand the rules of their new home right away. This allows you to use the protagonist to get information to the audience as well since both will be learning about the world.
- Reincarnation in a world doesn’t have to be for only one person. Yes, the protagonist is reincarnated, which is a big part of the story. If it happened to them then it can happen to others. So, you can use this plot device again to introduce new allies, villains, and other beings to increase the impact of reincarnation. You do have to be careful to overuse it like every plot device.
Legends of Windemere 
Very thorough tips. Good point about number 5. What do you think of movies where a character dies and is sent back to earth in the body of some other character, but still remembers his or her past life (or someone suspects he or she was reincarnated)? Like Birth (2004) and Chances Are (1989)?
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Those are interesting. I haven’t seen a lot of them though.
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How about two characters who are reincarnated and then remember each other in their next life. Could be good or bad depending on how they got along in the first. Great points, Charles.
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I think there’s a term for that, especially if they’re lovers. Forgot it though.
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😊
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Good tips, Charles. In my fantasy world, re-incarnation exists, but I’ve not made any use of it except for people expressing a knowledge of it, or a hope to be re-incarnated together.
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So, is it something triggered on purpose?
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In my world it depends on the gods. Or more specifically, Kalhera, the goddess of death.
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So many great ideas here. I am going to glance off it in a future Hat story, but it will be peripheral to the main story.
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Cool. Glad to be of service.
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My Bad Boy Wizard is the reincarnation of a magician who was executed for occult practices in the Middle Ages. He doesn’t remember that life, but his own ghost turns up to clue him in on it!
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That has to be confusing.
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In the context of the real world (rather than fiction) this makes me think about the Tibetan lamas and how they are believed to reincarnate after the former lama’s death. Believers search the world to find the newest incarnation and train them in that religion.
I do wonder how much choice the newborn has in being selected, and if they truly recall any past lives or are individuals just doing their best to live up to expectations.
Also, I’ve heard that the Chinese, who have taken over Tibet, seem to be trying to control the reincarnation search so they can replace the Tibetan nationals with Chinese when the current lamas pass away.
So obviously there is room for drama in the selection part of any reincarnation story.
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I’ve read about China trying to do that. I always thought that was borderline fantasy story. Just missing magic and a talking animal sidekick. As far as infants remembering, I’ve wondered about that a few times. Like how we could all have been born with past life memories, but those are gradually pushed out by new ones. That’s why we don’t start developing many long-term memories until age 4. Not like we can prove it though.
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