History Main / MadeOfPhlebotinum

* ''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]] [[MinovskyPhysics 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[[note]] And computers in the gun which calculate the size of the shot needed and shave it off of a large block inside the weapon.[[/note]]. How do [[spoiler:the Reapers build a space station in the '''[[UsefulNotes/BlackHoles galactic core?]]''']] '''''[[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]].

"MassEffect."]]-]

* 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]] [[MinovskyPhysics 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[[hottip:*: And computers in the gun which calculate the size of the shot needed and shave it off of a large block inside the weapon.]]. How do [[spoiler:the Reapers build a space station in the '''[[UsefulNotes/BlackHoles galactic core?]]''']] '''''[[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]].

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[[AC:{{Anime}}]]

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]

[[AC:TabletopGames]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]

[[AC:WebOriginal]]

[[AC:RealLife]]

* The Roman-based society of ''The CodexAlera'' is so connected with their Phlebotinum of Furycrafting that the use of certain techniques and technologies, such as quarrying, [[MedievalStasis are a lost art.]]

* Money. (Which may count as fundamental force of the universe as its been stated to make the world go round.) Its been around in some form or another since the Stone Age and if it were to suddenly vanish, Human Civilization as we know it would likely go up in flames. (The damage getting worse the longger money is gone.)

%%Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1323998813003506800
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[[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?"\\

But then some settings...are different. They have nothing ''but'' Phlebotinum. That CityOfAdventure the heroes are exploring around? It's completely [[FloatingContinent 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 [[EarthShatteringKaboom explode]]. Every single thing around requires whatever the local flavor of Phlebotinum is to run in worlds such as these, whether it's [[FunctionalMagic magic]], {{nanomachines}}, TheForce, or something else similar.

* ''{{Bleach}}''. Everything in the Soul Society is made of [[{{Phlebotinum}} spirit particles]].

* ''{{Touhou}}'' is pretty much supposed to be where, when TheMagicGoesAway on the rest of the Earth because [[MagicVersusScience the progress of technology leads to a lack of faith in magic]], all the magic is swept up and kept inside Gensokyo so that all the monsters, demons, and Gods can still live their magically supercharged lives. The technology is generally BambooTechnology hybrids with MagiTek, or simply stolen from "[[ThisIsReality the Real World]]". It is also worth noting that even the {{muggles}} have ''some'' kind of superpower in Gensokyo, it's just that you only hear about the [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld world-bendingly powerful little girls.]]

* ''The ChroniclesOfThomasCovenant.'' Then, in the Second Trilogy, [[spoiler:They lose the phlebotinum. This is way more horrific than it sounds.]]

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* ''StarWars'' could nominally be considered this trope, especially a planet like Coruscant, for example. [[SubspaceOrHyperspace Hyperdrive]], TheForce, [[FlyingCar levitating vehicles]], [[FrickinLaserBeams laser weapons]]...there wouldn't be much left to this [[TheVerse 'verse]] if you subtracted the {{Phlebotinum}}.

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]
* Technology in ''Series/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.
* ''Franchise/StarTrek'' probably is, too. Most tools in the Trekverse don't need to touch what they're working on, just to give one example.

[[AC:WebComics]]
* [[WebComic/EightBitTheater 8-Bit Theater]] has recently ''proven'' it's made of Phlebotinum, since, in that world, you can drill for mana.
** No, you can't. That's why attempting to do so is bankrupting Cornelia. Their king is just crazy.

* 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]] [[MinovskyPhysics 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[[hottip:*: And computers in the gun which calculate the size of the shot needed and shave it off of a large block inside the weapon.]]. How do [[spoiler:the Reapers build a space station in the '''[[UsefulNotes/BlackHoles galactic core?]]]]''']] '''''[[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]].
** [[http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Dark_energy It's till pretty hard]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_energy all things considering]].
** The consistency of this trope throughout the series is one of the reasons the [[spoiler:Synthesis]] ending was considered so terrible. It didn't do something with mass effect fields.

* 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]] [[MinovskyPhysics 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[[hottip:*: And computers in the gun which calculate the size of the shot needed and shave it off of a large block inside the weapon.]]. 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 consistency of this trope throughout the series is one of the reasons the [[spoiler:Synthisis]] ending was considered so terrible. It didn't do something with mass effect fields.

* 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]] [[MinovskyPhysics 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]].

* ''TengenToppaGurrenLagann''. The world runs on Spiral Energy, quite literally the quintessence of determination, [[HotBlooded hot blood]], love, and willpower.
** As one commenter on YouTube put it...

* ''WorldOfWarcraft'' seems more MadeOfPhlebotinum than most fantasy worlds, what with all its [[{{Magitek}} magically-powered civilizations]] and such. What's also notable is the multitudes of flavors of {{Phlebotinum}}; The Draeni lean towards magic crystals [[ImportedAlienPhlebotinum given them by the Naaru]], [[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]].

"{{Mass effect}}."]]-]

* ''TengenToppaGurrenLagann''. The world runs on Spiral Energy, quite literally the quintessence of determination, [[HotBlooded hot blood]], love, and willpower.

* ''StarWars'' could nominally be considered this trope, especially a planet like Coruscant, for example. [[{{Subspace Or Hyperspace}} Hyperdrive]], {{the force}}, [[{{Flying Car}} levitating vehicles]], [[{{Frickin Laser Beams}} laser weapons]]...there wouldn't be much left to this [[{{The Verse}} 'verse]] if you subtracted the {{Phlebotinum}}.

* ''{{Discworld}}'' can seem ordinary enough at first glance, until it's pointed out that, without heavy duty magic involved, a flat world on the back of a giant turtle that swims through space should be utterly impossible.

* ''{{Eberron}}'''s {{Dungeon Punk}} world comes to mind as an especially obvious example of this trope. Without that magical-flavored {{Phlebotinum}}, everything in that world would fall apart ''hard''. It's pretty much {{Made Of Phlebotinum}}.
** To a lesser extent, all ''{{Dungeons And Dragons}}'' settings fit this trope. ''{{Planescape}}'' and ''{{Spelljammer}}'' especially, but even a place like ''{{Forgotten Realms}}'' is mildly {{Made Of Phlebotinum}}.

* ''{{World Of Warcraft}}'' seems more {{Made Of Phlebotinum}} than most fantasy worlds, what with all its [[{{Magitek}} magically-powered civilizations]] and such. What's also notable is the multitudes of flavors of {{Phlebotinum}}; The Draeni lean towards magic crystals [[ImportedAlienPhlebotinum given them by the Naaru]], [[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]].
** 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 extremely fine powder spread over a wide area.
* In ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'', the magical floating continent of Zeal is this. It completely depends on magical energy to stay aloft and its residents do pretty much everything by magic.

* ''VideoGame/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.
* 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]] [[MinovskyPhysics 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]].

* In the blog-novel ''FlyoverCity!'' – Malphysical Particles create a cosmic loophole which render the laws of physics “malleable”, allowing the story’s superheroes to do all those superhero-y things that are impossible in the real world.

* Money. (Which may count as fundamental force of the universe as its been stated to make th world go round.) Its been around in some form or the other since the Stone Age and if it were to suddenly vanish, Human Civilization as we know it would likely go up in flames. (The damage getting worse the longger money is gone.)

* Money. (Which may count as fundamental force of the universe as its been stated to make th world go round.) Its been around in some form or the other since the Stone Age and if it were to suddenly vanish, economies would crash and Human Civilization as we know it would likely go up in flames.

* ''StarTrek'' probably is, too. Most tools in the Trekverse don't need to touch what they're working on, just to give one example.

* ''{{World Of Warcraft}}'' seems more {{Made Of Phlebotinum}} than most fantasy worlds, what with all it's [[{{Magitek}} magically-powered civilizations]] and such. What's also notable is the multitudes of flavors of {{Phlebotinum}}; The Draeni lean towards magic crystals [[ImportedAlienPhlebotinum given them by the Naaru]], [[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]].

* In ''ChronoTrigger'', the magical floating continent of Zeal is this. It completely depends on magical energy to stay aloft and its residents do pretty much everything by magic.

** In ''TheLastHero'' Discworld comic, Cohen and his Silver Horde have made it their mission to bring fire back to the gods --- via a large explosive. This would suddenly remove magic from the world and cause everything to die.

* The four (or [[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).

But then some settings...are different. They have nothing ''but'' Phlebotinum. That CityOfAdventure the heroes are exploring around? It's completely [[FloatingContinent 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 [[EarthShatteringKaboom explode]]. Every single thing around requires whatever the local flavor of Phlebotinum is to run in worlds such as these, whether it's [[FunctionalMagic magic]], {{nanomachines}}, TheForce, or something else similar.

* The four (or [[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).

* [[EightBitTheater 8-Bit Theater]] has recently ''proven'' it's made of Phlebotinum, since, in that world, you can drill for mana.