I was suggesting Skull Kid as an example because he was talked about at length and there wasn't really any opposition to him or arguments started that are like the Pichu or Shadowdorf arguments. I'd really rather just see the conversation not steer into those arguments again (and it looked like it had or was), so I'd welcome any character discussion, haha.
I don't know much about Mother/Earthbound because I never played the games, so my cursory knowledge of characters would be limited to believing Claus and Porky to be the best choices for the a new rep. I know Jeff is an Assist Trophy, and that Ninten looks almost exactly like Ness, haha. What's the scoop on them?
Jeff is the third party member in Earthbound, and he's unique in that he doesn't use PK attacks at all because he's not psychic. He's a genius, though, and creates devices like explosives and ray guns, so he could be cloned from Snake.
Ninten is the main character of the first Earthbound game, and he's unique in that he revolves around support PSI like buffs, shields, and healing. He's the only PSI user without any direct psychic attacks. He does have potential for a unique attack in Smash, PK Beam, which is an attack that only appears in his game and could be borrowed from his team mate Ana. His official appearance looks similar to Ness, but he appeared differently in the original, japanese commercial, wearing different clothes and a bandana around his neck. This is how most fans draw him, to differentiate him from Ness, and since it was in the official commercial, it's a viable way to present him in Smash. He would complete the trio of characters who make up the main ones in the series.
Claus, the Masked Man, is Lucas' twin brother, and the final boss of Mother 3. He uses a sword, and most of his PSI attacks are thunder based. He, like Lucas, is also capable of using PK Love. In addition, he has mechanical wings and a blaster. He's undoubtably one of the most popular characters for Mother. One of the only points of contention here is that his identity is meant to be secret right up until the final battle, so calling him a walking spoiler isn't off the mark at all. Of course, most people do know who he is, but seeing how many people are introduced to Earthbound through Smash, there's a good chance of spoiling Mother 3 for people just by having him in it.
Porky is absolutely useless as a fighter outside of his mech, which you've seen pretty accurately in Brawl. His moves consist of hiding behind Ness, crying, and ordering Ness around. I don't really feel like I need to expand on him.
I would love a beam move. Someone needs a straight shooting beam.
Something I would have loved to see for Lucas was a PK Beam that he could use after absorbing 3 projectiles with his down B.. Basically, rather than his down B acting like Ness's where it heals him, I wish it worked like G&W's bucket, but with a beam once its fully charged. Maybe something like that could work for Masked Man?
I like it, but shields and PK Beam don't suit Masked Man all that much. Claus has two main, iconic PSI, I believe, and those are PK Love and PK Thunder. He could use a thunder-based variation of your suggestion.
Actually, this is a really suitable idea for Ninten. It would work better than Power Shield from a gameplay standpoint, and it fits his character as someone who doesn't have true attack PSI, but turns enemies' attacks back on them.
... Actually, there is an important Mother character I've just thought of that hasn't been brought up. Giygas. Not his insanely OP Earthbound form, but the one from Earthbound Zero where he was an alien rather than the personification of evil. He was the original inspiration for Mewtwo so he can be cloned from him, and he is one of the few characters to be in more than one Earthbound game. Thoughts, anyone?