History LetsPlay / ManyATrueNerd

'''Many a True Nerd''' ([[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDYZxJE8kLZ-o6nL8E1bXdQ Link here]]) is a WebSite/YouTube channel for the lesser known [[http://manyatruenerd.com/ website]] that focuses on [[LetsPlay Let's Plays]] for action, strategy, RPG, and simulation games. Hosted by Jon, a master DeadpanSnarker Brit, the channel has come to focus on high-difficulty playthroughs or unusual [[SelfImposedChallenge Self-Imposed Challenges]], such as {{Pacifist Run}}s, using none of a particular resource, or attempting single life bar, no-heal runs where death means a game over. He is particularly focused on the ''VideoGame/{{Hitman}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' series, though he has done strange runs on games in similar-styled series. He also likes to try and show off new or lesser known strategy and simulation games, and has also done limited runs or one-shots of lesser known games or old favorites. Jon is sometimes assisted by fellow MATN member Claire, usually as the second player in a two-player game or on occasions when he needs help [[ItMakesSenseInContext making sense of an alternate French universe]] version of things.

* NiceHat: Jon loves cool hats, and will go out of his way to seek them out. Even when they have no gameplay benefit.

* EvilIsSexy: [[invoked]] In his playthrough of ''VideoGame/StarWarsJediFallenOrder'' he becomes increasingly attracted to the Second Sister as the run continues, to the point of declaring that she should never be redeemed as that would make her less sexy.
%%** In his video introducing the ''Necroids'' expansion pack for ''Stellaris'', Jon notes that he finds it odd how attractive he finds the Necroids Advisor voice to be. (Administrivia/ZeroContextExample; how is the Necroids Advisor evil?)

* UnfortunateName: During the ''[[VideoGame/RollerCoasterTycoon RollerCoaster Tycoon 2]]'' playthrough, Jon decides to name his swinging ship ride "Captain Jon's Arrrrr-some Adventure" before realizing it actually sounds like a creepy pun on the word "arse." So, he then names the ride "Captain Jon's Non-Sexual Pirate Adventure"... except the name exceeds the character limit, so it just comes out as "Captain Jon's Non-Sexual Pirate."

* ATeamFiring: During ''Medieval II'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU1PYRIic7k&t=791 in one siege]] Jon's units of Norse Archers - 360 men in total - manage to fail to kill a single surviving enemy swordsman standing still in the city center, even after repositioning to point-blank range.

* FailedASpotCheck: Jon has an infamous and nearly memetic tendency to miss crucial information on the screen, to the rage and hilarity of the viewers. Highlights include:

** Jon switching back and forth between being a vampire and a werewolf leads to him trying to remember the plot of ''Film/{{Underworld}}.''

* StalkerWithACrush: His empire of [[CatFolk Tabbies]] in ''Stellaris'' became this towards the Raxar. They never wanted to form a Federation with him (or as Jon phrased it, '"take them to the prom"), and so when things became irreparable between them, Jon did the only [[AxCrazy rational]] thing one can do in such a situation: Build a [[StarWars Death Star]], move it into orbit around their homeworld, and declare that [[EarthShatteringKaboom Prom Night]] was here...

* AuthorAvatar: On the channel anniversary videos, Jon will always appear as a talking carton of eggs. [[spoiler: This includes his {{Cameo}} in ''WebVideo/DoorMonster'''s "[[https://youtu.be/TSZPaFrA8S0 CKIII: Technically Not Tyranny]]" where he is a carton atop a suit of armor.]]

** [[invoked]] Jon finds it hilarious that Lord Harkon's evil plan in ''Skyrim - Dawnguard'' is [[Recap/TheSimpsonsWhoShotMrBurns to block out the sun just like Mr. Burns]]. ''"Skyrim'' is having a [[WesternAnimation/SouthPark 'Simpsons did it' moment]]." Then when a later quest has him go up against a NPC named "the Skinner", he decides to [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7E2122ShortFilmsAboutSpringfield pretend to be named Chalmers to begin an elaborate deception over]] [[MemeticMutation steamed clams]].

* AnAesop: Subverted in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedOdyssey'' when [[https://youtu.be/uWOIkC8bi_A?t=1153 rescuing Phoebe]] from the Cyclops's thugs:
-->'''Jon:''' The important moral lesson I've learned here today is: The real treasure is the actual physical treasure that exists inside treasure chests.

* BattleCouple: In part 5 of his let's play of ''VideoGame/TotalWarThreeKingdoms'', Jon assigns Kong Rong's wife Liu Huimin as a general alongside him, making them a slightly ([[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking but only slightly]]) less hands-on version of this.

* AnAesop: Subverted in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedOdyssey'' when [[https://youtu.be/uWOIkC8bi_A?t=1153 rescuing Phoebe]] from the Cyclops' thugs:

** "Oh, flip" and other variations of "Flip" since Jon is mostly a PG-13 GoshDarnItToHeck type of man. Occasionally he'll use "cocking" where other people might use a similar word that starts with a slightly later leter.

* DyingMomentOfAwesome: Jon describes Thorkel of Kalundborg's death as this in ''Medieval II'', since his death animation played at the same time as a Timurid elephant's - "He punched an elephant to death!"

* EvilIsSexy: [[invoked]] In his video introducing the ''Necroids'' expansion pack for ''Stellaris'', Jon notes that he finds it odd how attractive he finds the Necroids Advisor voice to be.
** Also, in his playthrough of Jedi: Fallen Order he becomes increasingly attracted to the Second Sister as the run continues, to the point of declaring that she should never be redeemed as that would make her less sexy.

* GirlOnGirlIsHot: Jon likes to play female characters. Jon often pursues lesbian romance options, especially if there's a nerdy or geeky girl. [[HasAType Guess what type of girl his girlfriend and editor is]]?

* HeelRealization: In Part 79 of his ''Skyrim'' playthrough, Jon looks back on what he's done and comes to an uncomfortable conclusion.
-->'''Jon:''' I'm feeling very conflicted indeed, 'cause, you know what? When I joined [[MurderInc the Dark Brotherhood]], I just wanted to kill everyone in the world. And now I've killed the most important and difficult-to-kill person in the world, and... I just feel, like in many ways, I'm not actually the good guy anymore. Like, I'm actually a vampire-serial killer-assassin-thief. And that just feels like the sort of thing that, when the history books of whatever era we're in right now - the Fifth Era I think - when they write the history books, I feel like that person is ''not'' going to be remembered as the great hero of the world. I think I've... I've made some mistakes. I've taken some missteps. And in many ways, killing '' everyone'' as a vampire serial murder, is actually ''not'' the right thing to do.

* ImplausibleDeniability: During his ''Mass Effect: Legendary Edition'' playthrough, Jon uses the melee attack to knock unconscious the Zhu's Hope mind controlled civilians in order to not kill them... but Wrex shoots one right after she got knocked down and she *incinerates.* Against all odds, *he gets away with it.*

* InsaneTrollLogic: He'll sometimes resort to this to justify why [[TautologicalTemplar everything he does is morally right]], such as in VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic where he justifies destroying the galaxy's main source of medicine by claiming that without medicine there will be less wars.

* RunningGag: Both of Jon's characters in the "Kill Everything" Runs are psychopaths named "Evil Jon", but are different people.

** [[invoked]] Jon finds it hilarious that Lord Harkon's evil plan in ''Skyrim - Dawnguard'' is [[Recap/TheSimpsonsWhoShotMrBurns to block out the sun just like Mr. Burns]]. ''"Skyrim'' is having a [[WesternAnimation/SouthPark 'Simpsons did it' moment."]] Then when a later quest has him go up against a NPC named "the Skinner," he decides to [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7E2122ShortFilmsAboutSpringfield pretend to be named Chalmers to begin an elaborate deception over]] [[MemeticMutation steamed clams.]]

* SpaceRomans: A case in his second ''Stellaris'' playthrough, where he tried to recreate the Roman Empire [[RecycledINSPACE IN SPACE!]].

* NamesTheSame: In-universe. Both of Jon's characters in the "Kill Everything" Runs are psychopaths named "Evil Jon", but are different people. [[EpilepticTrees Probably]].

* KillEmAll: The basis of the Kill Everything runs. If there's anything left alive, it's because it simply ''can't'' be killed. Don't think that will stop Evil Jon from trying, though. In particular, Shrapnel from Rivet City becomes something of nemesis to Evil Jon during the ''Fallout 3: Kill Everything'' Run, due to his "essential" tag and the fact he constantly wanders the Wasteland after Flak has been enslaved for Paradise Falls.

* AchievementsInIgnorance: In his video for ''VideoGame/GatoRoboto'', Jon accidentally performs a {{Sequence Break|ing}} by {{Rocket Jump}}ing to an area he's supposed to need the double jump to reach. He then proceeds to spend nearly half the video using the rocket jump as a substitute for the double jump under the assumption that the game is supposed to be about trick jumps and that he simply hit a DifficultySpike.

*** A Permadeath Run for ''Fallout: New Vegas'' appropriately titled "You Only Live Once" where he's not allowed to use any healing items at all; if he made it through the main game, he would move on to the DLC. He also did a similar run for ''Fallout 3''. [[note]][[UpToEleven And, in both cases he made it harder for himself]], by negating the fact that game "auto-heals" approximately 2/3rds of a hitpoint once every in-game hour, and kept a "true health" counter to compensate[[/note]]

--->'''Evil Jon:''' ''[running into the Paradise Falls infirmary]'' Doctor! Doctor, there's been about [[UpToEleven seventeen tragic misunderstandings]]!

* ''VideoGame/EmpireTotalWar'': Constantly putting his men in front of other infantry. Often, he'll forget to tell his infantry to stop shooting as cavalry crash into the enemy unit's flanks. He never notices the discrepancy between the amount of men the enemy killed and the amount of men he lost, and sometimes says a few piddling friendly-fire casualties are acceptable losses.

** "Oh, flip" and other variations of "Flip" since Jon is mostly a PG-13 GoshDarnItToHeck type of man.

* AwesomeMcCoolname: In his ''Crusader Kings II'' let's play, Jon names Connor III's sickly son Havoc with the logic that nobody with a name that badass could possibly die in infancy. [[spoiler:It works.]]

* CuteKitten: Tabitha, a.k.a. Tabby, Jon and Claire's cat. She has appeared in a few announcement vidoes, and one of the benefits of being on Patreon is occasional pictures of Tabby.

* BadassBeard: In the Restoration of Rome ''Crusader Kings II'' playthrough, Jon allows characters of House Choirosphaktes who distinguish themselves to adopt a double-braided beard.

* BaldOfAwesome: Julianus Vatinius, hero of the ''Rome: Total War'' campaign, has a bald character portrait. Jon notes that as soon as Julianus starts making a name for himself, Romans across the Mediterranean start shaving their heads as early as 16.

* ImplausibleDeniability: During his ''Mass Effect: Legendary Edition'' playthrough, Jon uses the melee attack to knock unconscious the Zhu's Hope mind controlled civilians in order to not kill them... but Wrex shoots one right after she got knocked down and she *incinerates.* Against all odds, *he gets away with it.*
-->'''Jon:''' If anyone asks, she melted of natural causes.

'''Many a True Nerd''' ([[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDYZxJE8kLZ-o6nL8E1bXdQ Link here]]) is a WebSite/YouTube channel for the lesser known [[http://manyatruenerd.com/ website]] that focuses on [[LetsPlay Let's Plays]] for action, strategy, RPG, and simulation games. Hosted by Jon, a master DeadpanSnarker Brit, the channel has come to focus on high-difficulty playthroughs or unusual [[SelfImposedChallenge Self-Imposed Challenges]], such as {{Pacifist Run}}s, using none of a particular resource, or attempting single life bar, no-heal runs where death means a literal game over. He is particularly focused on the ''VideoGame/{{Hitman}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' series, though he has done strange runs on games in similar-styled series. He also likes to try and show off new or lesser known strategy and simulation games, and has also done limited runs or one-shots of lesser known games or old favorites. Jon is sometimes assisted by fellow MATN member Claire, usually as the second player in a two-player game or on occasions when he needs help [[ItMakesSenseInContext making sense of an alternate French universe]] version of things.

* DyingMomentOfAwesome: Jon describes Thorkel of Kalundborg's death as this in ''Medieval II'', since his death animation played at the same time as a Timurid elephant's - "He literally punched an elephant to death!"

-->'''Jon:''' I'm feeling very conflicted indeed, 'cause, you know what? When I joined [[MurderInc the Dark Brotherhood]], I just wanted to kill everyone in the world. And now I've killed literally the most important and difficult-to-kill person in the world, and... I just feel, like in many ways, I'm not actually the good guy anymore. Like, I'm actually a vampire-serial killer-assassin-thief. And that just feels like the sort of thing that, when the history books of whatever era we're in right now - the Fifth Era I think - when they write the history books, I feel like that person is ''not'' going to be remembered as the great hero of the world. I think I've... I've made some mistakes. I've taken some missteps. And in many ways, killing ''literally everyone'' as a vampire serial murder, is actually ''not'' the right thing to do.

** [[invoked]] Jon finds it hilarious that Lord Harkon's evil plan in ''Skyrim - Dawnguard'' is [[Recap/TheSimpsonsWhoShotMrBurns to block out the sun just like Mr. Burns]]. ''"Skyrim'' is literally having a [[WesternAnimation/SouthPark 'Simpsons did it' moment."]] Then when a later quest has him go up against a NPC named "the Skinner," he decides to [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7E2122ShortFilmsAboutSpringfield pretend to be named Chalmers to begin an elaborate deception over]] [[MemeticMutation steamed clams.]]

* SpaceRomans: A literal case in his second ''Stellaris'' playthrough, where he tried to recreate the Roman Empire [[RecycledINSPACE IN SPACE!]].

--->'''Jon:''' Aaaaaan ''FLAMETHROWER!!!'' Flamethrower, flamethrower, flaaaamethroweeeeer... okay, so this is ''definitely'' morally questionable. The point where you start singing ''the flamethrower song'', potentially you've gone over the line.