Ok someone mentioned bios...but I thought character sheets would be a little more precise. If case you can't tell, the sheets are based off of the old White Wolf character sheets (ie Werewolf the Apocalypse, Vampire the Masquerade). Did not include the full image since this site has a bad habit of cutting them off at the sides. So just click on the links please.

Character Sheet page 1


Character Sheet page 2

Hmm....I have a question just now.

Who do you think could possibly play Raiden on-screen now?

I've thought of the active Chow Yun Fat before, except that since Pesina, Raiden doesn't look...."Asian" anymore. I think Chow Yun Fat used to be a perfect fit. He can fight, he had a convincing "Raiden type voice", and he practically has played the role before(Crouching tiger...blah blah blah). But now I'm thinking Chow Yun Fat is getting too old to play a character like Raiden. I mean, I don't wanna "put the dog down too early" as far as what he's capable of right now, but he's getting up there, and Raiden really stays "timeless".

1.

2.

At least that's the way I used to see Raiden, as an Asian god.

Which, I mean, is actually pretty correct to the characters name and title I think. At the same time, it's not like I have a "problem" or something with these latest Raiden interpretations. Cuz I don't, I just think maybe Dolph Ludgren ("Heman") looks more like our current Raiden.

smaller pic from a while ago.




He could work too, but he's getting old too, and maybe he doesn't want to fight anymore.

Besides them, I'm having a hard time thinking of other people (somebody new) that could play Raiden on the big screen.

who do you think?

Hopefully you don't mind me redoing the subject line, thought it might be nice to show that we have a new question going...

If not being limited to those of Japanese or Asian descent (After all none of the Raiden's so far have been) I would say Gerard Butler. Make sure he shaves and give him long white hair and you got the thundergod. He's only 37-38 years old, has shown that he can at least look like he's fighting, and we know he can pull off the shirtless version with ease. He has appeared in 300 (King Leonidas) and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (Terry Sheridan) so he's use to working on Fantasy type movies.

Oh yea..np.




Well then, I am really impressed.

Few pictures for those who don't know exactly who we're talking about:

1.

2.

3.

4. Clicky

5.


Anyway, that's made me wonder about others that "have a likeness" to him:

1. Russel Crowe (fat fat chance, and a far stretch I know.lol If he were ever used, he wouldn't do a bunch of fighting....let alone it look convincing.)
2. Hugh Jackman (ditto^^ but, he can fight.)
3. Jack Davenport

mmmm...can't think of anymore right now, but I will.

A passive thought now.

What about Raiden post MkDA? What about considering someone brand spanking new (in acting personality more than anything really), that could pull off Raidens new tainted state, "intolerance", and ruthlessness?

Gerard Butler is possible here too, but maybe someone else?

I'm new to MK online, so bare with me.

I've always thought that Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson looked a lot like Raiden. After all, he is big, and muscular. And his facial characteristics are remarkably similar to Raiden's. I think that if he got some long, white hair and a Raiden costume, he could look an awful lot like the current animated Raiden. However, I have no idea if he can fight, but he is, apparently, a good wrestler. But that's nothing like martial arts I guess.

Just a thought

Ok...the following has absolutely nothing to do with the current discussion as to who would play the best Raiden/Rayden in an movie but while being bored and surfing the net I found this little tibit on the old thundergod and Fujin:

"One of the Japanese gods of thunder. Raijin (aka Raiden) is depicted as a muscled man carrying a series of drums, which he uses to make the rumbling sound of thunder. According to some legend, he and Fujin were originally demons who opposed the gods. The great Buddha ordered his army to capture them. After a severe battle between the two demons and 33 gods, the demons were captured and converted."-pantheon.org/articles/r/raijin.html

Kinda strange that the only two remaining Earthrealms gods (according to MK:4 storyline) were perhaps once demons. Brings up another reason for Raiden to go bad...he's reverting back to his original roots. Of course this has absolutely no bearing or meaning just a brain trying to loosen up after a crappy day at work...with no alcohol in the house..damn housemates.

Another Raiden prospect.

1. Dougray Scott: Click

Click

I think he might be too old though...might be. 44 -ish.



Interesting outlook. Idk what else to say actually. lol But it is interesting...especially if the MkTeam accounted for that when they took Raiden on this current path...



more pictures later...

Have and interesting idea.

Generally, in history, the clothes you wear symbolize beliefs and such about you. So, what if we considered him in a future game? What should his clothes represent?

Opportunity to get some background on Raiden, and go deeper than just "a new costume".

1. Mk1
Pretty simple. Probably means nothing but "comfortable".

2. Mk2
Again, pretty simple, but this time, he's got the turquoise//sky-blue fleece and the yellow and black symbol on each shoulder. The symbol itself is just calligraphy representing the components of his name. "Rai - Jin". So, I know what those mean...this is just to mark the change in costume.

3. Mk4
Again, pretty much simple. This time though, he's got the one symbol, and knee pads.

4. a.MkDa//MkA

b. MkDa//MkA

This time he's got the cape, and different textures, shoulder pads and everything. What's the symbol on his belt? Why the different hat?

5. MkD
One question....that's not the same costume at all so, where did he change clothes? Why? Wouldn't it be more deceptive to wear the same thing and have people trust you the same? There's no alert as to a threat then is there?

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Alternates:

1. In Mk2 he had the red in instead of the blue. Think we'll ever see that again?

2. In Mk2 he had two alt costumes, the red(again) and the "throwback" one, that referenced Mk2.

3. In MkDa he took some of the clothes off. With speculation as to Thor. What do you think the style of that outfit represents?

4. In MkD he's again with the busted down costume. This time though, what's up with the heavy neck beads and the katana??

=====Other stuff====

1. What's up with the hat in the first place? Was it just a joke from the start or what? Who can answer why they gave him the hat he wears? Just to keep bugs and water out of his eyes(the purpose for that type of hat in real life)?

2. Should his weapon ever change? Why, and to what?

3. Should what Raiden wears, mean anything? I mean, he's ages old, don't you think he picked up somethings that he'd want to hang onto? An experience, a belief, some sort of symbol or something materialistic?

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Personally, I think this sort of thing adds to any character in question. Kenshi has his sword, Shinnok has his amulet, Sub-Zero has his medallion.

So I guess this post is kind of a story oriented inquiry too, because the things you wear personalizes you, and could tell us things about a persons//charactes past, present and future.....

I thought a Raiden's costume in MK:A was the same as his costume in MK:D, not Deadly Alliance.

I love Raiden's costumes from 2002-present. I think they're awesome and nothing is wrong with them.

I also thing his hat is awesome. It is like Raiden's trademark. He has always had it... it's just changed in form.

To answer your question 2, I like Raiden's staff. I think it's a really cool weapon. However, if they wanted to improve it, I think it would be better if it had like electricity running through it constantly, as then it would truly be a symbol of Raiden's status as a Thunder God.

I also liked his war hammer. And I wouldn't complain if they brought that back.

I also think it would be cool if Raiden could have Hotaru's naginata.

But yeah, I think Raiden's costume is really cool and his hat is his trademark.

Ok, the MK1 costume was him in disguise. Remember, he was going as a mortal and no one but Shang Tsung knew he was the god of thunder. He was dressed as simple man who was good at fighting.

MK2, everyone knew who he was so the blue and the symbols came out. Blue is symbolic of the sky and heavens hence where he and his powers come from.

MK4, just a more formal and cleaned up version of the MK2 costume. It was going to be a tougher fight so the addition of armor (knee and shoulder pads) or perhaps he was on his way to a meeting with the Elder Gods when all hell broke loose *shrugs* hence betting better dressed. The added symbol for Thunder was just an indicator of who he is as compared to the Wind symbol on Fujin (which is a little harder to see but it is there if you look closely on the wind god's back)

MK:DA, his primary outfit is even more formal hence an indication of his (former) Elder God status. The knot could be symbolic of the endless knot when indicates endless wisdom and compassion...or it could just be a fancy way to keep his pants up. Although, why in the actual game play his over-shirt (for lacking a better name to call it) is green instead of the blue as in the loading screen shots I have no idea. His secondary outfit is pulling him towards his more Japanese roots. His Hakama (the dress-looking wide pleated pants) and his rough kimono with the heaven symbol both points towards his Japanese and heavenly roots.

MK: D/MK: A, now he's pissed and bringing out the armor. It looks almost like samurai armor with a smoother, updated look and without all the frills and decorations. Even the little moon-like symbol that is now appearing on his hat is an indication of samurai armor. Even the secondary costume is the samurai outfit but with the outer armor removed and the addition of Shinto prayer beads also leading to his japanese and religious roots.

Now as for the hat. Have you looked closely at the kanji for thunder? It almost looks like the face of a man wearing a hat. That is if you squint just right. Maybe this is the reason for the hat to make Raiden look more like his symbol? Same for the kanji for wind, it looks like it has a pony-tail (Fujin's hair style). Or it could just be the symbol from his drum set another symbol for the god of thunder.

However, in reality he was based off one of the three storms in Big Trouble in Little China which all three wore those oversize wicker hats. Check the video bio card that interviews Carlos Pesina.

As for weapons, the staff is good because in a sense it does not look like a weapon until it cracks open someone's head. It can be considered a walking stick so can be carryied around daily without no-one being the wiser. Or at least in areas that walking sticks are used. The hammer is his heavy duty weapon. It may have special properties which makes it useful against other immortals, hence it use only in MK4 when he was going against Shinnok. I like staff as it is, especial since it most likely has a metal core both to strengthen it and enable Raiden to use it as a lighting rod. As for the hammer, I really did not like the hammer as it looked in MK4. The handle was too long for its head. If you want a two handed war-hammer, make the head larger or leave it as a one handed hammer (which would be more like that used by a certain other thunder god, Thor.).

Thought I put this here already.

9 Second Raiden Test Vid

Nice...here's a little something for those MK Fans that did not get the collector editions:

Raiden's Video Trade Card

Thanks Lady....Maybe what I'll do is put all this "stuff" in the first post. Give people something "good to eat" when they first come in here.

Ok this question has been buzzing around my head ever since I watched one of those documentaries on how pollution and global warming is affecting Earth's weather.

It seems that global warming in the real world is causing more and stronger storms. Would this affect a god and/or being whose very essence is part of the weather itself? (ie Raiden) And if so, in what way?

Yes, I think it should, and it should effect them in a positive way. Because it's nature that's trying to regain control of itself. Which is what the gods are factors of.

I'd almost look at it like the gods are angered, or like they're trying to clean up the mess that mortals have made. So on that outlook, it wouldn't so much affect them, as it would be them creating the affect.

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This is relevant to that question (long read) = Sub-Zero7th//Paragons Story Mortal Kombat Resurrection(end of pg 14->pg 15 == Note: "Boom") is where a pretty interesting discussion started over:

1. What exactly is Raiden?

What do you think, and under what context does his authority constitute him as a god?

2. What do you believe his power source should be?

Since the canon offers no justification for his authority over Earth, or his lack of authority while on other realms...what are your ideas as a Raiden fan? Himself?, the Elders?, People? Other, lessor Gods? ?

3. Pertaining to all six known realms in the MK Universe, Where does Raidens power extend to? And to what extent on whatever realm?

3b. Are there any conditions? Like How long he can be some place? Do you think he is forbaide from going some places in the universe?

4. I know we all have some projects open that pertain to Raiden in here, so which ways did you take him in your stories that pertain to all this?

5. Does Raiden have a flaw that you can see?

6. How powerful is Raiden? Is he invincible? Should he be over powered, in his story//in the arena?

7. Are there technicalities that pertain to his different forms(human//celestial)?

8. Who do you think can beat Raiden in a fight? Who do you think could demolish Raiden for good?

9. What do you think his fighting styles should be?

10. Anything else you wanna add to the previous 9 questions?

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I'll try to answer these questions also, after we get some input on the matter.

It seems to me, that alot of people have the wrong idea of Raidens personality and motives since the taint, and the personality disorder. So, I want to kind of go through all that here, and discuss the general concenus to see if we share the same views of the characters dimesions.

Enjoy the discussion//debate

Ok I'm not going to be able to answer them all at one time or at least not as well as I hope. So I reserve the right to alter and or add/remove what I put here.

1. What exactly is Raiden?
Raiden is a god given power over and from lighting itself. I know I had previously put incarnate here, but decided to change this since my definition of it may be different from some people's. For some strange reason I can't get this fantasy novel Incarnate series definition out of my head. The incarnates are basically mortals given jobs and power similar to that of gods. (Death, War, the Fates, Mother Nature, Time, Good and Evil) My thinking is Raiden is similar to this. He was born a god but beyond the basic gifts given to all gods he has no real power until given a position. This would explain how Shinnok can remain a 'god' per say but still have his powers stripped from him.

What do you think, and under what context does his authority constitute him as a god?
He has limited control over the natural element of lighting and when working along side other weather deities (ie Fujin) can control weather to a certain extent. He can also become the element he controls in a sense. Now I said limited control. He does not control all lighting all the time. This would an almost impossible job, even for a god. Most lighting is natural (auto-matic), however when things start to go bad (ie global warming) he and other gods take a more direct approach in order to ensure a balance is kept. His duty as a thunder/lighting god is to maintain a natural balance on Earth. Although, I have wondered since Raiden not only controls but derives power from lighting and the natural elements would global warming affect him directly in a sense that the weather is becoming more unstable would he and other gods do the same?

2. What do you believe his power source should be?
A combination of internal spiritual power and being able to add to this from the natural/supernatural energies found in Earth's atmosphere. This would explain that even when cut off from one power source (ie when 'visiting' Outworld) he is still able, although more limitedly, use lighting. The reason why he sticks to lighting is that is the form of energy he is most familiar and in tune with.

Since the canon offers no justification for his authority over Earth, or his lack of authority while on other realms...what are your ideas as a Raiden fan? Himself?, the Elders?, People? Other, lessor Gods? ?
He was granted this duty when he proved himself in some way to the Elder Gods. First he acquired the position of a lighting/thunder god and given access to Earth's energies. Then most likely after proving himself again in that war with Shinnok was given the honor and duty of Sworn Protector (if he wasn't already the Sworn Protector)

3. Pertaining to all six known realms in the MK Universe, Where does Raidens power extend to? And to what extent on whatever realm?
He is only able to have full access to his power on Earth, after all that is where a good portion of his power comes from. However, this does not mean he can't have or be given access to another realm's energies. I can very much see this happening in the case of Edenia since it has just recently broke free of Outworld and no one seems to know where that realm's former gods are. Someone needs to go in and see that balance is restored and since Earth's gods have proven helpful to Edenians as a whole in the past, there should be a good chance the Elder Gods (if they ever do anything) granting them access to that realm. Unless there is some unemployed gods somewhere that need a job. Something just dawned on me later on. If a link between Earth and another realm could remain open, then Raiden could still be able to access his energy source. This might be done with permission of a realm's active deities or the Elder Gods. Although, I really don't see this happening often since there wouldn't really be a reason to and realms that he would need his full powers is most likely not to be a friendly realm with agreeable gods.

3b. Are there any conditions? Like How long he can be some place? Do you think he is forbaide from going some places in the universe?
I don't think he is forbidden to go anywhere, just that he is vulnerable when traveling outside of Earthrealm. He only has his spiritual/personal power when may be more of a hindrance in some realms since anyone who can read power signatures would be able to tell who and where he is at a distance. He may be immortal, but there are some things worse than death that even an immortal can experience and he most likely would not have the release of death if the person(s) who caught him knew what they were doing. So if he is in a friendly realm he can stay as long as he likes with no worries, but in an unfriendly realm he can stay but it would not be too smart to do so. Now there is one realm which he may have problems staying in now that I think about it...the Neatherrealm. Only souls with a taint of evil are able to stay any length of time in that realm. Unless, Raiden has a soul that is in true balance in which case he has an equal amount of good and evil. Anyways, I do believe that the current 'Dark' Raiden can visit the Neatherrealm as long as he likes only with limited power and whether it would be good to his over-all mental health who knows.

4. I know we all have some projects open that pertain to Raiden in here, so which ways did you take him in your stories that pertain to all this?
Huh? I'm not really sure what you are asking here, but my Raiden projects started out with some komics poking fun at what it takes to be a thunder god and some fanfiction that got started because I couldn't find any good fanfics of MK: Conquest so decided to make my own. (The damn thing is worse than a weed! Spawned three other stories so far and I have three more running around in note form. *grrrrrrr*) In my projects I gave Raiden a more human-like aspect (With the emotional tie-ups and all) when he is dealing with mortals but when on duty he can and is a true force of nature.

5. Does Raiden have a flaw that you can see?
Yes. He is overconfident. He thinks he can do no wrong and if worse comes to worse he is the final say in Earth's defense. Now confidence in a god is good and all, but this whole dark Raiden thingy is telling me it is starting to go overboard. Also, he might seem a little blind in regards to mortal matters. This could be another example in overconfidence since he might be assuming being able to read souls and working with mortals for centuries would make them predictable. Even taking in the account of one of his closing lines from a non-canon source (MK the first movie) about humans being so unpredictable, its seems he was more joking about it than actually believing it.

6. How powerful is Raiden? Is he invincible? Should he be over powered, in his story//in the arena?
No, he is not invincible. Didn't that fight with Onaga, the Dragon King prove it? Even on Earth he was nearly defeated by Shinnok in that war ages ago. No matter how strong you are there is someone out there able to kick your butt. Thing is with these fights he was most likely in human form, now if he was in his elemental or celestial form who knows. I have yet to see him fight as pure lighting, but even then he would have his weaknesses and there would be defenses that can be employeed (rubber suit anyone). He can be hurt, its just a little more difficult with him than most people.
No, he should not be overpowered. I hate to admit it, but the rules about limited interference in mortal affairs is a good one. It may prevent gods from helping mortals but it also prevents them from harming mortals as well. The Elder Gods even left a loop hole in the rules for the gods if direct help was really needed: become a mortal. Thus Raiden was able to fight in that tournament. I don't see very many malevolent immortals who would be wiling to become mortal just to cause trouble.

7. Are there technicalities that pertain to his different forms(human//celestial)?
I think I already touched on this some, but guess I'll add to it. When Raiden is in human form, he also experiences some of the human 'failings' you might say. Humor, anger, hate, love, etc. Where in celestial form he knows the concept of emotions but does not really feel them or if he does at a distance. For example, in my current storyline Rayden (yes I spell it this way, it started out as a TV fanfic and that's how they spelled it) is soulbonded to a mortal. However, when he goes on duty as a thundergod the soulbond is affected in a way that is a danger to both (at least in the weakened state that is in after....nope not gonna spoil it) since the soulbond is both a spiritual and emotional connection.

8. Who do you think can beat Raiden in a fight? Who do you think could demolish Raiden for good?
A fully powered Elder God that is also tired of sitting on the sidelines for one. Now bring back my story, Raiden's soulbond is also a godslayer. She's already destroyed one god directly and aided in killing two others. (Remember destroyed is permanent and killed is not in the MK universe) There are also myths of god killing weapons and items (ie the Migard Serpent's venom, Hephaestus' weapons, etc). My idea that gods that are immortal, not eternal and therefore they have a beginning and an end.

9. What do you think his fighting styles should be?
I know little to nothing about martial arts so I'm gonna refrain from answering this except...why the hell would a god limit himself to just two to three fighting techniques since he has centuries to practice? Why not make up his own or combine the best of all of Earth's fighting styles, both present and past?

10. Anything else you wanna add to the previous 9 questions?
Not really, my head hurts now as it it but I might add something later.

Sry I didn't reply to your post there. Been too long since I been in this thread. Got busy so..


FanArt


Something random that I think we Raiden fans will appreciate. The Three Storms from Big Trouble in Little China

Enjoy.