The Character Construction Priority Scale: Who Needs Full Development?

Ever felt like you're spending too much time developing side characters while your protagonist still feels undercooked? Or maybe you've built a rich ensemble cast, but some characters aren’t pulling their weight? This is where the Character Development Priority Scale comes in—a streamlined system to determine who needs deep development and who just needs to serve their function.

Let’s break it down.

The Core Principle: Development Must Match Importance

Not all characters need the same level of depth. If you try to develop everyone equally, you risk diluting the protagonist’s transformation and wasting time on characters who don’t matter to the core conflict. The higher a character ranks in the Character Importance Pyramid, the more of the development process they need.

So, who needs the full Narrative Role → Internal Drive → Thought Process → Core Identity breakdown, and who can get by with just a defined function? Let’s go tier by tier.

Tier 1: Requires Full Development

These characters need the entire process: Narrative Role, Internal Drive (Enneagram), Thought Process (MBTI), and Core Identity (Desire Profile).

1. Alpha Protagonist (100% Development Required)

The protagonist is the core transformation of the story—they are the emotional and thematic center, and their journey is the story. Every element of development must be fully fleshed out.

✔ Narrative Role: The biggest embodiment of the core conflict.

✔ Internal Drive: Needs a well-defined motivation, core fear, and internal struggle.

✔ Thought Process: Must have a clear problem-solving approach and worldview.

✔ Core Identity: Their deep desires and values shape every choice they make.

👉 Example: Frodo Baggins (The Lord of the Rings), Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games), Harry Potter (Harry Potter).

2. Protagonists (Secondary Leads) (80-100%)

These are additional central characters who have their own arcs but remain subordinate to the Alpha Protagonist’s transformation. They need full development, but some aspects can be slightly less detailed if they don’t carry the core emotional weight of the story.

✔ Narrative Role: Tied to the protagonist’s arc in a major way.

✔ Internal Drive: Must have a clear Enneagram type to justify their choices.

✔ Thought Process: Their MBTI should be distinct from the protagonist’s for contrast.

✔ Core Identity: Defined, but not always as deep as the protagonist’s.

👉 Example: Samwise Gamgee (The Lord of the Rings), Hermione Granger (Harry Potter), Dr. John Watson (Sherlock Holmes).

3. Primary Antagonist (80-100%)

The antagonist is the external force that embodies the protagonist’s conflict—if they aren’t well-developed, the stakes feel weak. Their motivation must be as strong as the protagonist’s.

✔ Narrative Role: The greatest challenge to the protagonist’s goal.

✔ Internal Drive: Should have an Enneagram type that makes them compelling.

✔ Thought Process: A distinct MBTI helps ensure they don’t feel one-note.

✔ Core Identity: Must align with their actions and ideology.

👉 Example: Sauron (The Lord of the Rings), Voldemort (Harry Potter), President Snow (The Hunger Games).

Tier 2: Partial Development Needed

These characters still need depth, but they don’t require the full four-step breakdown. Their Internal Drive and Thought Process can be loosely defined rather than deeply explored.

4. Key Allies & Secondary Antagonists (50-80%)

These characters significantly impact the story but don’t drive the main transformation. They need solid motivations and a clear function, but not exhaustive development.

✔ Narrative Role: Must serve a clear function in the protagonist’s story.

✔ Internal Drive: Should have a basic Enneagram type to justify choices.

✔ Thought Process: Defined, but can be implied rather than explicit.

✔ Core Identity: Only needed if they undergo some personal growth.

👉 Example: Merry and Pippin (The Lord of the Rings), Rue (The Hunger Games), Draco Malfoy (Harry Potter).

Tier 3: Minimal Development Needed

These characters exist to support the world and move the plot along, not to have full arcs. They don’t need much beyond a defined Narrative Role.

5. Support Characters (30-50%)

These are functional characters—mentors, comic relief, sidekicks, or informants who play a role in the plot but don’t require deep psychology.

✔ Narrative Role: Needs to be clear and useful.

✔ Internal Drive: Only developed if their choices are plot-critical.

✔ Thought Process: Should be consistent but doesn’t need extensive exploration.

✔ Core Identity: Often not necessary beyond their immediate function.

👉 Example: Eowyn (The Lord of the Rings), Mrs. Weasley (Harry Potter), Effie Trinket (The Hunger Games).

Tier 4: No Development Needed Beyond Function

These characters exist to make the world feel real, not to have complex arcs or motivations.

6. Minor Characters (10-30%)

They play small but essential roles—shopkeepers, guards, messengers, etc. They don’t need anything beyond a clear purpose.

✔ Narrative Role: Must contribute to the scene or world.

✔ Internal Drive: Only implied, not fully developed.

✔ Thought Process: Not necessary unless they serve a recurring role.

✔ Core Identity: Unnecessary.

👉 Example: Tom Bombadil (The Lord of the Rings), Madame Pomfrey (Harry Potter), Greasy Sae (The Hunger Games).

7. Extras & Background Characters (0-10%)

These characters exist purely to make the world feel alive. They do not require development.

✔ Narrative Role: Exists for atmosphere.

✔ Internal Drive: Not needed.

✔ Thought Process: Not needed.

✔ Core Identity: Not needed.

👉 Example: Background hobbits (The Lord of the Rings), Hogwarts students (Harry Potter), Capitol citizens (The Hunger Games).

Final Takeaways

• The more important a character is, the deeper their development needs to go.

• If a character influences the protagonist’s transformation, they need strong internal depth.

• If they exist just to fill out the world, keep them simple.

• Not every character needs a full Enneagram or MBTI—only the ones who drive the narrative.

By following this Character Development Priority Scale, you can allocate your creative energy efficiently—giving depth where it matters and keeping the story tight and engaging.

Now, go forth and develop smarter, not harder.