History Main / MadeOfPhlebotinum

Some [[TheVerse settings]] ''have'' {{Phlebotinum}}. It helps [[ScrewTheRulesIHavePlot move along the plot]], HandWave various characters' [[WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief impossible]] powers, and conveniently get the {{Heroes}} [[TeleportersAndTransporters from point A to point B quickly]]. It can let you just say AWizardDidIt.

The main dividing line between a world that simply has a lot of Phlebotinum and one that's literally [[MadeOfPhlebotinum made of the stuff]] is this litmus test: if you took away the Phlebotinum, would your world still exist in any meaningful sense, or would it more or less just [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt collapse]]? If it would, your world is just plain Made Of Phlebotinum.

There is actually a great deal of evidence that ''RealLife'' is thus: when you develop a potent capability to the point that there are few side effects, you start using it for everything imaginable. When we learned to harness electricity easily, the only things weren't 100% electrical were the things that we used to generate electricity. When computers became advanced enough, we started carrying them around with us. Litmus Test? If you took away computers, it'd '''re-create TheGreatDepression'''. If you took away electricity, '''''ninety percent of the world would die within a decade'''''.

* The world of ''TalesOfMU'' is driven by {{Magitek}}, the physics are based on AWizardDidIt, and from the point of view of people in other worlds, a knife that was said to be "barely enchanted" is ''made out of magic''.

* ''TalesOfSymphonia'' and ''VideoGame/{{Tales Of Phantasia}}'' are like this. The main focus for most of both games is preserving the mana flow and thus preventing the collapse of the world. Without it, magic won't work, crops won't grow, etc.

* ''TalesOfSymphonia'' and ''{{Tales Of Phantasia}}'' are like this. The main focus for most of both games is preserving the mana flow and thus preventing the collapse of the world. Without it, magic won't work, crops won't grow, etc.

* Technology in DoctorWho is pure phlebotinum: the Sonic Screwdriver that can fix anything ([[PlotSensitiveItems unless it's deadlocked or wood]]), Psychic Paper (in the new series), Transmat teleporters, Dalek antigravity, time rings/vortex manipulators that fit on one's wrist, and of course the blue box that's bigger on the inside and travels through time and space. Despite its ostensibly scientific worldview, it's hard to think of a story that uses accurate science.

"{{Mass effect}}."-]

"MassEffect."]]-]

[[quoteright:300:[[AwkwardZombie http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Mass-Effect-as-Phlebotinum_6452.jpg]]]][[caption-width-right:300:"How could you HandWave everything like that?" "MassEffect."]]

Some [[{{The Verse}} settings]] ''have'' {{Phlebotinum}}. It helps [[{{ScrewTheRulesIHavePlot}} move along the plot]], {{Hand Wave}} various characters' [[{{Willing Suspension Of Disbelief}} impossible]] powers, and conveniently get the {{Heroes}} [[{{Teleporters And Transporters}} from point A to point B quickly]]. It can let you just say {{A Wizard Did It}}.

But then some [[{{The Verse}} settings]]...are different. They have nothing ''but'' {{Phlebotinum}}. That {{City Of Adventure}} the {{Heroes}} are exploring around? It's completely [[{{Floating Continent}} floating]] in the air, not one building is touching the ground. Why? {{Phlebotinum}}! In fact, the whole planet is probably bound together with some sort of magical or super-science energy, without which it would simply [[{{Earth Shattering Kaboom}} explode]]. Every single thing around requires whatever the local flavor of {{Phlebotinum}} is to run in worlds such as these, whether it's [[{{Functional Magic}} magic]], {{nanomachines}}, {{the force}}, or something else similar.

The main dividing line between a world that simply has a lot of {{Phlebotinum}} and one that's literally [[{{Made Of Phlebotinum}} made of the stuff]] is this litmus test: if you took away the {{Phlebotinum}}, would your world still exist in any meaningful sense, or would it more or less just [[{{The End Of The World As We Know It}} collapse]]? If it would, your world is just plain {{Made Of Phlebotinum}}.

!!Examples

* The [[strike: four]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_energy maybe five]] fundamental forces of the universe. We know ''how'' they work, the ''why'' on the other hand would need a theory of everything (Or at least this universe).

** According to [[http://www.viddler.com/rooreynolds/videos/26/ this]] video, Azeroth is a sphere about 12 kilometers across, with a density around a hundred times that of Earth. This explains why when you drop an item it disappears; due to the gravity it is crushed into an exremely fine powder spread over a wide area.

* MassEffect uses this as its ''CharacterTitle [[TitleDrop Drop]]'', despite being one of the [[MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness hardest]] {{Space Opera}}s to date. How does [[CasualInterstellarTravel Casual]] FasterThanLightTravel work? [[AppliedPhlebotinum Mass Effect Fields]], generated by [[{{Unobtainium}} Element]] [[MinovskyParticle Zero]]. How do the {{Flying Car}}s fly? Mass Effect Fields, generated by Element Zero. How do [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual Biotics]] [[MindOverMatter move things with their minds]]? Mass Effect Fields, generated by Element Zero. How do the guns have BottomlessMagazines? Mass Effect Fields, generated by Element Zero. How do [[spoiler:the Reapers build a space station in the '''[[{{UsefulNotes/BlackHoles}} galactic core?]]]]''' [[strike:[[HisDarkMaterials Subatomic Angels]]]] '''''[[OverlyLongGag Mass Effect Fields, generated by Element Zero.]]''''' And of course, without Mass Effect Fields, generated by Element Zero, [[AnthropicPrinciple there would be no interstellar civilization]].

* The [[strike:four]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_energy maybe five]] fundamental forces of the universe. We know ''how'' they work, the ''why'' on the other hand would need a theory of everything (Or at least this universe).

The [[strike:four]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_energy maybe five]] fundamental forces of the universe. We know ''how'' they work, the ''why'' on the other hand would need a theory of everything (Or at least this universe).

** The ''Science of Discworld'' books go on to give the Phlebotinum a name: narrativium, which (together with chelonium and elephantigen) in fact makes the formation of flat worlds on board giant turtles and elephants not only natural, but ''inevitable''. Too bad Roundworld lacks these ''perfectly normal elements'' and had to concoct some outlandish alternative involving big rocky balls...

* ''{{World Of Warcraft}}'' seems more {{Made Of Phlebotinum}} than most fantasy worlds, what with all it's [[{{Magitek}} magically-powered civilizations]] and [[{{Cool Starship}} crystal planeships]] and such. What's also notable is the multitudes of flavors of {{Phlebotinum}}; The Draeni lean towards the [[ImportedAlienPhlebotinum aformentioned crystals]], [[OurElvesAreBetter Blood Elves]] throw around Arcane magic like it's going out of style, the [[OurGnomesAreWeirder Gnomes]] love their tech, with a healthy dose of Arcane, and the [[EverythingsBetterWithCows Tauren]] stick to their [[NatureHero hunting, gathering, and communion with nature]].

*** We also lack the perfectly normal element deitium, without which belief can't coalesce into gods. We stagger on with religion regardless out of instinct and a fundamental understanding of how the universe is ''supposed'' to work.

* MassEffect uses this as its ''CharacterTitle [[TitleDrop Drop]]'', despite being one of the [[MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness hardest]] {{Space Opera}}s to date. How does [[CasualInterstellarTravel Casual]] FasterThanLightTravel work? [[AppliedPhlebotinum Mass Effect Fields]], generated by [[{{Unobtainium}} Element]] [[MinovskyParticle Zero]]. How do the {{Flying Car}}s fly? Mass Effect Fields, generated by Element Zero. How do [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual Biotics]] [[MindOverMatter move things with their minds]]? Mass Effect Fields, generated by Element Zero. How do the guns have BottomlessMagazines? Mass Effect Fields, generated by Element Zero. How do [[spoiler:the Reapers build a space station in the '''[[{{UsefulNotes/BlackHoles}} galactic core?]]''' [[strike:[[HisDarkMaterials Subatomic Angels]]]] '''''[[OverlyLongGag Mass Effect Fields, generated by Element Zero.]]''''' And of course, without Mass Effect Fields, generated by Element Zero, [[AnthropicPrinciple there would be no interstellar civilization]].

There is actually a great deal of evidence that ''RealLife'' is thus: when you develop a potent capability to the point that there are few side effects, you start using it for everything imaginable. When we learned to harness electricity easily, the only things weren't 100% electrical were the things that we used to generate electricity. When computers became advanced enough, we started carrying them around with us. If you took away computers, it'd '''re-create TheGreatDepression'''. If you took away electricity, '''''ninety percent of the world would die within a decade'''''.

** The spirit particles may not qualify as phlebotinum. They're there, and they are implied to be the reason why things work the way they do, but they don't actually ''do'' anything.
* The ''{{Hayate no Gotoku}}'' universe, and the important people in it, are just about unilaterally made of phlebotinum, to the point where "normal" constitutes [[IKnowKungFu kung-fu butlers]], surviving fatal blows, [[TheDoctorDolittle talking animals]], [[AbsurdlyPowerfulStudentCouncil super-powered student councils]], [[CutLexLuthorACheck weapons-grade assisted living robots]], japanese-speaking aliens, inexplicable time travel, [[NoFourthWall a fully-interactive (even corporeal at one point!) narrator]], and much more!

* The novel ''Fade Out'' has aliens with a "anti-electricity" field. When [[spoiler:they extend it over the entire planet, civilization collapses]].

[[AC:RealLife]]
* Currently: Oil. Also, see the novel ''Fade Out'' above. Our civilization can not exist without electricity, just try going without it.
** We know how oil works, though, so it may not qualify as phlebotinum. Magnets, on the other hand...

* The world of ''{{Warhammer}}'' has a moon made entirely of {{Green Rocks}}. It's as bad as it sounds. And every so often, it spits out a Green rock monolith. The Skaven regard it as a divine event.