The Lord Marksman and Vanadislight novel series features an extensive cast of characters created by Tsukasa Kawaguchi and illustrated by Yoshi☆o and Hinata Katagiri. The series takes place in an alternate version of Europe, where wars are waged to maintain peace and equality. The protagonist of the series is Tigrevurmud Vorn, a Count from the Brune principality of Alsace who is taken prisoner by Zhcted war maiden Eleonora Viltaria. Tigre, Elen, and their allies interact with various groups and organizations, which some are involved in civil wars.
Creation and development
Author Tsukasa Kawaguchi contributed the concept of a young male archer and a female fighter who uses a sword as the protagonists, which the editorial department of MF Bunko J approved of. At the editorial department's suggestion, Kawaguchi included seven additional fighting girls and called them "war maidens". Kawaguchi wanted to have another weapon from a novel he had previously worked on for Tigre. The Monster Huntervideo game franchise gave Kawaguchi the inspiration to develop Tigre's archery skills. Other influences for Tigre included historical archers such as Nasu no Yoichi and Robin Hood. Kawaguchi cites Record of Lodoss War, Fortune Quest as well as foreign and domestic light novels in writing Lord Marksman and Vanadis. When creating the names of the Vanadis, he used Russian names as he based Zhcted on that country. On deciding a good name for a character, Kawaguchi said that he first decides on a common name, as he feels that it might be hard for readers to understand strange names. After deciding on what the character's name means, Kawaguchi thinks of the name's quality based on if they have an active role.
In reviewing the first three episodes of the anime adaptation, Jacob Hope Chapman of Anime News Network stated that Tigre has "some of that "perfect milquetoast" blood running through him, but the stakes are raised so highly against him that it somehow works". On the relationship between Elen and Tigre, Chapman said that the "sympathetic barbs the two trade back and forth is reminiscent of the endearing character dynamics in Spice and Wolf or MAOYU." On Ludmila's character development, Chapman said that Tigre's "roundabout journey to winning Ludmila's heart made for some nicely paced episodes with enriching character development." In his review of the eleventh episode, Chapman criticized Valentina's characterization as "a major step down from the degree of respect and character writing the story allowed the rest of its female cast" and said that the bath scene with Regin contains a "hilarious continuity error" when she reveals herself. Can Tran of Digital Journal not only liked the diversity of the female characters and villains but also liked the relationship between Tigre and Elen. Tran also said that Tigre "proves to be a true underdog hero."
