I don't have the time to read absolutely everything, so my apologies. I think most already answered that true neutral =/= apathy.Â
I'm experienced in playing such kinds of characters so maybe I can provide examples, even if I swapped to chaotic characters when coming to TOR and then FFXIV since those settings are very expressive and "romantic" (not in the sense of love) and are pretty great for those kinds of characters.
Played a true neutral librarian/bookworm character with a social anxiety streak (Shrinking Violet ) in eve online and that for 8 years or so. I guess the character was engaging since I had very little issues interacting or finding people. The only problem as usual is how to initiate something since you have to rely on others to do it for you, and so you have to provoke them to do so. And the setting didn't make it exactly easy to find hooks and stories (complex setting with a lot of political sugarcoat is always more tricky to play and be creative in than a high fantasy adventure).
But in any case, that character was driven, and certainly not apathetic. They would do anything to discover new books and obscure texts and whatnot. They would engage very easily and surprisingly socially over the internet if a discussion or debate proved interesting and academic, and then would shrink back to their introverted self after. A bit like yours their view would sometimes clash with the bigoted and sometimes zealous ideals of the people in their own faction and they were often embroiled in political threats and struggles against their will, but being true neutral it was a matter of honor to hold their ground instead of yielding.
If you're after true neutral anime characters, the first thing that comes to mind and that I can only recommend is Kino's Journey main character, Kino, who is the perfect archetype of a true neutral character, and who also almost never takes directly part in each episode except a few ones, preferring to watch and observe most of the time. Can be insightful (and the writing is outstanding).
I'm experienced in playing such kinds of characters so maybe I can provide examples, even if I swapped to chaotic characters when coming to TOR and then FFXIV since those settings are very expressive and "romantic" (not in the sense of love) and are pretty great for those kinds of characters.
Played a true neutral librarian/bookworm character with a social anxiety streak (Shrinking Violet ) in eve online and that for 8 years or so. I guess the character was engaging since I had very little issues interacting or finding people. The only problem as usual is how to initiate something since you have to rely on others to do it for you, and so you have to provoke them to do so. And the setting didn't make it exactly easy to find hooks and stories (complex setting with a lot of political sugarcoat is always more tricky to play and be creative in than a high fantasy adventure).
But in any case, that character was driven, and certainly not apathetic. They would do anything to discover new books and obscure texts and whatnot. They would engage very easily and surprisingly socially over the internet if a discussion or debate proved interesting and academic, and then would shrink back to their introverted self after. A bit like yours their view would sometimes clash with the bigoted and sometimes zealous ideals of the people in their own faction and they were often embroiled in political threats and struggles against their will, but being true neutral it was a matter of honor to hold their ground instead of yielding.
If you're after true neutral anime characters, the first thing that comes to mind and that I can only recommend is Kino's Journey main character, Kino, who is the perfect archetype of a true neutral character, and who also almost never takes directly part in each episode except a few ones, preferring to watch and observe most of the time. Can be insightful (and the writing is outstanding).
Balmung:Â Suen Shyu
