History PlayingWith / SmallNameBigEgo

* '''Parodied''': People repeatedly tell Ted, to his face, that they hate him. He shrugs it off.
* '''Zig Zagged''': Alice and Bob seem to treat Ted as a friend. Then, when he's out of sight/hearing, Bob starts making fun of him. Alice chastises him because she really ''does'' consider him a friend.

* '''Justified''': All of Ted's friends are well-respected, so he naturally thinks he's the same.

* '''Inverted''': [[HeroicSelfDeprecation Ted is an incredibly clever, well-liked, charismatic individual...who has zero self-esteem.]]

* '''Zig Zagged''':: Alice and Bob seem to treat Ted as a friend. Then, when he's out of sight/hearing, Bob starts making fun of him. Alice chastises him because she really ''does'' consider him a friend.
* '''Averted''': Ted's self-esteem is proportionate to his attractiveness/skills.

* '''Defied''': A particularly cutting insult makes Ted start doubting himself and changing who he is.

** "Oh great...here comes Ted. Just ignore him and maybe he won't start talking about how great he is."

'''Basic Trope''': A character who thinks that he or she is more strong, smart, popular, and/or awesome than they really are.
* '''Straight''': Ted thinks he's a charismatic, intelligent ladies' man...when he's really stupid and no woman can stand him.

* '''Inverted''': Ted is an incredibly clever, well-liked, charismatic individual...who has zero self-esteem.

'''Basic Trope''': A usually obnoxious and unpleasant character who thinks that he or she is more strong, smart, popular, and/or awesome than they are in reality.

'''Basic Trope''': An unpleasant character who thinks s/he is more strong/clever/popular/awesome than s/he really is.

* '''Reconstructed''': ...However, said self-esteem begins paying off as he starts doing things to warrant it -- improving his life and so on.
* '''Played For Laughs''': Ted's self-image is simply an amusing character quirk that acts as a RunningGag. He has plenty of other defining characteristics and has a functional - if somewhat delusory - personal life.

%%* '''Plotted A Good Waste''': ???

%%* '''Plotted A Good Waste''': ???
%%* '''Played For Laughs''': ???
%%* '''Played For Drama''': ???

'''Basic Trope:''' An unpleasant character who thinks s/he is more strong/clever/popular/awesome than s/he really is.
* '''Straight:''' Ted thinks he's a charismatic, intelligent ladies' man...when he's really stupid and no woman can stand him.
* '''Exaggerated:''' Ted thinks he's God's gift to women...when said women openly insult him to his face.
* '''Downplayed:''' Ted thinks he's great at one particular thing, like playing Tropeball. He's not terrible, but he's still severely overestimating his skills.
* '''Justified:''' All of Ted's friends are well-respected, so he naturally thinks he's the same.
* '''Inverted:''' Ted is an incredibly clever, well-liked, charismatic individual...who has zero self-esteem.
* '''Subverted:''' It turns out some people really do treat Ted as a friend.
* '''Double Subverted:''' Then as soon as he's out of sight/hearing, they make fun of him for being a loser.
* '''Parodied:''' People repeatedly tell Ted, to his face, that they hate him. He shrugs it off.
* '''Zig Zagged:''': Alice and Bob seem to treat Ted as a friend. Then, when he's out of sight/hearing, Bob starts making fun of him. Alice chastises him because she really ''does'' consider him a friend.

'''Basic Trope''': An unpleasant character who thinks he[=/=]she is more [=strong/clever/popular/awesome=] than he[=/=]she really is.
* '''Straight''': Ted thinks he's a charismatic, intelligent ladies' man...when he's really stupid and the ladies can't stand him.
* '''Exaggerated''': Ted thinks he's God's gift to women...when said women openly insult him to his face.
* '''Downplayed''': Ted thinks he's great at one particular thing, like playing Tropeball. He's not terrible, but he's still severely overestimating his skills.
* '''Justified''': All of Ted's friends are well-respected, so he naturally thinks he's the same.
* '''Inverted''': Ted is an incredibly well-liked, charismatic individual...who has zero self-esteem.
* '''Subverted''': It turns out some people really do treat Ted as a friend.
* '''Double Subverted''': Then as soon as he's out of sight/hearing, they make fun of him for being a loser.
* '''Parodied''': Ted is told repeatedly to his face that people hate him. He shrugs it off.
* '''Zig Zagged''': Alice and Bob seem to treat Ted as a friend. Then, when he's out of sight/hearing, Bob starts making fun of him. Alice chastises him because she really ''does'' consider him a friend.

* '''Exploited''': ???

* '''Discussed''':

* '''Deconstructed''':
** Ted's disproportionate self-esteem turns out to be psychological - literally, he refuses to accept that he's not the most popular guy in the room (may be a result of [[TruthInTelevision Narcissistic personality disorder]])

* '''Reconstructed''': ...However, said self-esteem begins paying off as he starts doing things to warrant it - improving his life and so on.

* '''Downplayed''': ???

** It's clear that Ted has an inferiority complex, which he try to suppress by developing a superiority complex.

'''Basic Trope''': An unpleasant character thinks s/he's the most beloved person on earth.

* '''Deconstructed''': Ted's disproportionate self-esteem turns out to be psychological - literally, he refuses to accept that he's not the most popular guy in the room (may be a result of [[TruthInTelevision Narcissistic personality disorder]])
** It's clear that Ted has an inferiority complex, which he try to suppress by developing a superiority complex.
* '''Reconstructed''': ...However, said self-esteem begins paying off as he starts doing things to warrant it - improving his life and so on.

* '''Discussed''': "Oh great...here comes Ted. Just ignore him and maybe he won't start talking about how great he is."

Back to SmallNameBigEgo.
----

'''Basic Trope''': A creator develops an oversized ego as a result of their creation becoming successful and gaining a fandom.
* '''Straight''': Bob writes a novel, and its success goes straight to his head, prompting him to act in an egocentric and arrogant fashion to those around him.
* '''Exaggerated''':
** Bob writes a novel, and its success goes straight to his head, not only prompting him to act in an egocentric and arrogant fashion to those around him, but also he demands taking down bad reviews of his work, does not admit making [[OldShame poorly-recieved novels he made before]] and unpersons everyone who has done something him which he does not approve.
** Or, every novel he writes is poorly received, but Bob still defends every one of them as masterpieces of literature that are just misunderstood by the masses.
** Bob writes a novel, and only one person said it was decent, and the popularity rushes to his head, giving him a [[AGodAmI God Complex.]]
* '''Downplayed''': Bob is genuinely competent, but his ego still outstretches his actual level of ability; he sees himself as the best writer in all of history when he's just a good writer.
* '''Justified''':
** Most people who succeed in the creative arts are required to have a big ego, and Bob is no exception.
** The [[http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.64.2655&rep=rep1&type=pdf Dunning-Kruger effect]] has simply claimed another victim.
** Due to the limited scope Bob had in mind when writing, he comes off as having a big ego when it's a success because he reached a goal he wasn't sure he would. If asked about why he thinks he's such a big shot he'll reply, honestly, that "I don't know what you're talking about, but I never thought I would do so well".
* '''Inverted''':
** Bob, normally a very egocentric person, writes a novel which becomes successful... and the success makes his ego ''smaller.''
** Alternately, because Bob knows that fame is fleeting, he feels a sense of dread that his book is selling so well. Soon the fans will demand another book, and then maybe another one after that, and then a movie will be made, which may or may not totally suck, which would break his fanbase...
** Or...Bob writes a novel that becomes a best seller and is adapted into a famous movie and virtually everyone in the whole world knows his name and his work...but he is incredibly humble about it to a fault and claims the key to his sucess was his fans all along.
* '''Subverted''': Bob's novel is successful, and while his blog posts make it seem like he has an inflated ego, a second look makes you realize he's writing them as parody.
* '''Doubly Subverted''': For a while. Then the cracks begin to appear, and he starts using them as a place to filibuster.
* '''Parodied''':
** Only one person has bought Bob's book, and they didn't like it ''that'' much. Bob still sees this as sufficient justification to throw his weight around, and he does so in a drastically over-the-top fashion.
** Bob writes a novel, and it's success prompts him to dress like a king and hire some of his fans to carry him around on a throne. He demands that everyone refer to him as "Lord Outstanding The Amazingly Creative, Inspirational And Virile" instead of 'Bob'. He commissions a statue to be built, with an inscription describing in detail how he is the greatest author who ever lived.
* '''Zig Zagged''': Bob flipflops between preening arrogance and frantic insecurity as a result of his success.
* '''Averted''': Bob is a sensible man who understands that, although he has every right to be proud of his work and its success, that doesn't give him the right to throw his weight around.
* '''Enforced''':
** "I am a published writer! That means my work is UNQUALIFIED GENIUS!"
** Or Bob's literary agent and publishers have told him that "confidence" is the mark of a really great writer, so Bob is forced to throw his weight around and act like an arrogant jerk as a result.
* '''Lampshaded''': "Wow, Bob's head has really started to swell since his book came out".
* '''Invoked''': "My work is a modern classic! All the critics agree that I'm the best writer in the world -- and I am! I'm entitled to my ego!"
* '''Exploited''': ???
* '''Defied''':
** "It's just a book; it's not like I've cured cancer or anything".
** Alternatively, Bob, before publishing anything notable, goes through serious training, publishing unpopular things and getting used to negative reception and backlash towards him on a smaller scale before becoming famous so he'd be ready to accept that not everyone may not like him.
* '''Discussed''': "Creative types always seem to go mad with ego as soon as they're successful".
* '''Conversed''': "Wow, egocentric creative types annoy me. It's not like they've done anything ''that'' amazing".
* '''Deconstructed''': Bob's ego is an expression of deep-seated insecurity and abandonment issues which have seen him yearn to be accepted and appreciated for his art since childhood. Since gaining this acceptance, he doesn't know how to really handle it, and so has reacted in an overly egotistical fashion as he receives the validation he has been yearning for since childhood.
* '''Reconstructed''': Bob does indeed have insecurity and abandonment issues, but he's still an arrogant, egotistical douche despite them, not because of them.
* '''Plotted A Good Waste''': Bob deliberately presents himself as egocentric and arrogant as part of a project to make a statement on creators who let their egos get away from them.
* '''Wasted A Good Plot''': Bob becomes successful and egocentric, Charlie wants to chew him out for it, and Bob is only egocentric because of his abandonment issues. Weeks pass in universe and Bob never learned a lesson, Charlie never stood up to Bob, and Bob's abandonment issues remain or are never discussed again.

Back to SmallNameBigEgo
----
%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
%%
%%* '''Implied''': ???
%%* '''Played For Laughs''': ???
%%* '''Played For Drama''': ???

* '''Exaggerated''': Bob writes a novel, and its success goes straight to his head, not only prompting him to act in an egocentric and arrogant fashion to those around him, but also he demands taking down bad reviews of his work, does not admit making [[OldShame poorly-recieved novels he made before]] and unpersons everyone who has done something him which he does not approve.

* '''Justified''': Most people who succeed in the creative arts are required to have a big ego, and Bob is no exception.

** Due to the limited scope Bob had in mind when writing, he comes off as having a big ego when it's a success because he reached a goal he wasn't sure he would. If asked about why he thinks he's such a big shot he'll reply, honestly, that "I don't know what you're talking about, but I never thought I would do so well."
* '''Inverted''': Bob, normally a very egocentric person, writes a novel which becomes successful... and the success makes his ego ''smaller.''

* '''Parodied''': Only one person has bought Bob's book, and they didn't like it ''that'' much. Bob still sees this as sufficient justification to throw his weight around, and he does so in a drastically over-the-top fashion.

* '''Deconstructed''': Bob's ego is an expression of deep-seated insecurity and abandonment issues which have seen him yearn to be accepted and appreciated for his art since childhood. Since gaining this acceptance, he doesn't know how to really handle it, and so has reacted in an overly egotistical fashion as he receives the validation he has been yearning for since childhood.
* '''Reconstructed''': Bob does indeed have insecurity and abandonment issues, but he's still an arrogant, egotistical douche despite them, not because of them.

* '''Averted''': Bob is a sensible man who understands that, although he has every right to be proud of his work and its success, that doesn't give him the right to throw his weight around.
* '''Enforced''': "I am a published writer! That means my work is UNQUALIFIED GENIUS!"

* '''Lampshaded''': "Wow, Bob's head has really started to swell since his book came out."

* '''Defied''': "It's just a book; it's not like I've cured cancer or anything."

* '''Discussed''': "Creative types always seem to go mad with ego as soon as they're successful."
* '''Conversed''': "Wow, egocentric creative types annoy me. It's not like they've done anything ''that'' amazing."

* '''Wasted A Good Plot''': Bob becomes successful and egocentric, Charlie wants to chew him out for it, and Bob is only egocentric because of his abandonment issues. Weeks pass in universe and Bob never learned a lesson, Charlie never stood up to Bob, and Bob's abandonment issues remain or are never discussed again.

* '''Plotted A Good Waste''': Bob deliberately presents himself as egocentric and arrogant as part of a project to make a statement on creators who let their egos get away from them.

** Bob's novel is successful and Bob is called the writer of one of the best books this year. Bob, however, decides that this means that he is '''THE GREATEST WRITER EVER''' instead.

'''Basic Trope''': An unpleasant character thinks s/he's the most beloved person on earth.
* '''Straight''': Ted thinks he's a charismatic, intelligent ladies' man...when he's really stupid and the ladies can't stand him.
* '''Exaggerated''': Ted thinks he's God's gift to women...when said women openly insult him to his face.
* '''Justified''': All of Ted's friends are well-respected, so he naturally thinks he's the same.
* '''Inverted''': Ted is an incredibly well-liked, charismatic individual...who has zero self-esteem.
* '''Subverted''': It turns out some people really do treat Ted as a friend.
* '''Double Subverted''': Then as soon as he's out of sight/hearing, they make fun of him for being a loser.
* '''Parodied''': Ted is told repeatedly to his face that people hate him. He shrugs it off.
* '''Deconstructed''': Ted's disproportionate self-esteem turns out to be psychological - literally, he refuses to accept that he's not the most popular guy in the room (may be a result of [[TruthInTelevision Narcissistic personality disorder]])
** It's clear that Ted has an inferiority complex, which he try to suppress by developing a superiority complex.
* '''Reconstructed''': ...However, said self-esteem begins paying off as he starts doing things to warrant it - improving his life and so on.
* '''Zig Zagged''': Alice and Bob seem to treat Ted as a friend. Then, when he's out of sight/hearing, Bob starts making fun of him. Alice chastises him because she really ''does'' consider him a friend.
* '''Averted''': Ted's self-esteem is proportionate to his attractiveness/skills.
* '''Enforced''': "Hey, you remember that kid in high school that thought he was all that? Let's make a character like that!"
* '''Lampshaded''': "I know everyone claims to hate me, but they're just jealous!"
* '''Invoked''': Everyone for most of Ted's life gives him nothing but compliments.
* '''Defied''': A particularly cutting insult makes Ted start doubting himself and changing who he is.
* '''Discussed''': "Oh great...here comes Ted. Just ignore him and maybe he won't start talking about how great he is."
** "Why can't you accept that people don't like you?" "I live in a very advanced state of denial."
* '''Conversed''': "When will Ted realize that people hate him so much?"
----
Back to SmallNameBigEgo.
----

'''Basic Trope''': A creator develops an oversized ego as a result of their creation becoming successful and gaining a fandom.
* '''Straight''': Bob writes a novel, and its success goes straight to his head, prompting him to act in an egocentric and arrogant fashion to those around him.
* '''Exaggerated''': Bob writes a novel, and its success goes straight to his head, not only prompting him to act in an egocentric and arrogant fashion to those around him, but also he demands taking down bad reviews of his work, does not admit making [[OldShame poorly-recieved novels he made before]] and unpersons everyone who has done something him which he does not approve.
** Or, every novel he writes is poorly received, but Bob still defends every one of them as masterpieces of literature that are just misunderstood by the masses.
** Bob writes a novel, and only one person said it was decent, and the popularity rushes to his head, giving him a [[AGodAmI God Complex.]]
* '''Justified''': Most people who succeed in the creative arts are required to have a big ego, and Bob is no exception.
** The [[http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.64.2655&rep=rep1&type=pdf Dunning-Kruger effect]] has simply claimed another victim.
* '''Inverted''': Bob, normally a very egocentric person, writes a novel which becomes successful... and the success makes his ego ''smaller.''
** Alternately, because Bob knows that fame is fleeting, he feels a sense of dread that his book is selling so well. Soon the fans will demand another book, and then maybe another one after that, and then a movie will be made, which may or may not totally suck, which would break his fanbase...
** Or...Bob writes a novel that becomes a best seller and is adapted into a famous movie and virtually everyone in the whole world knows his name and his work...but he is incredibly humble about it to a fault and claims the key to his sucess was his fans all along.
* '''Subverted''': Bob's novel is successful, and while his blog posts make it seem like he has an inflated ego, a second look makes you realize he's writing them as parody.
* '''Doubly Subverted''': For a while. Then the cracks begin to appear, and he starts using them as a place to filibuster.
* '''Parodied''': Only one person has bought Bob's book, and they didn't like it ''that'' much. Bob still sees this as sufficient justification to throw his weight around, and he does so in a drastically over-the-top fashion.
** Bob writes a novel, and it's success prompts him to dress like a king and hire some of his fans to carry him around on a throne. He demands that everyone refer to him as "Lord Outstanding The Amazingly Creative, Inspirational And Virile" instead of 'Bob'. He commissions a statue to be built, with an inscription describing in detail how he is the greatest author who ever lived.
* '''Deconstructed''': Bob's ego is an expression of deep-seated insecurity and abandonment issues which have seen him yearn to be accepted and appreciated for his art since childhood. Since gaining this acceptance, he doesn't know how to really handle it, and so has reacted in an overly egotistical fashion as he receives the validation he has been yearning for since childhood.
* '''Reconstructed''': Bob does indeed have insecurity and abandonment issues, but he's still an arrogant, egotistical douche despite them, not because of them.
* '''Zig Zagged''': Bob flipflops between preening arrogance and frantic insecurity as a result of his success.
* '''Averted''': Bob is a sensible man who understands that, although he has every right to be proud of his work and its success, that doesn't give him the right to throw his weight around.
* '''Enforced''': "I am a published writer! That means my work is UNQUALIFIED GENIUS!"
* '''Lampshaded''': "Wow, Bob's head has really started to swell since his book came out."
* '''Invoked''': "My work is a modern classic! All the critics agree that I'm the best writer in the world -- and I am! I'm entitled to my ego!"
* '''Defied''': "It's just a book; it's not like I've cured cancer or anything."
** Alternatively, Bob, before publishing anything notable, goes through serious training, publishing unpopular things and getting used to negative reception and backlash towards him on a smaller scale before becoming famous so he'd be ready to accept that not everyone may not like him.
* '''Discussed''': "Creative types always seem to go mad with ego as soon as they're successful."
* '''Conversed''': "Wow, egocentric creative types annoy me. It's not like they've done anything ''that'' amazing."
* '''Plotted A Good Waste''': Bob deliberately presents himself as egocentric and arrogant as part of a project to make a statement on creators who let their egos get away from them.

Back to SmallNameBigEgo

* '''Exaggerated''': Bob writes a novel, and it's success prompts him to dress like a king and hire some of his fans to carry him around on a throne. He demands that everyone refer to him as "Lord Outstanding The Amazingly Creative, Inspirational And Virile" instead of 'Bob'. He commissions a statue to be built, with an inscription describing in detail how he is the greatest author who ever lived.

** Alternatively: The novel Bob wrote was incredibly good, widely considered a classic, and Bob's skill in writing it praised as being genius. Who ''wouldn't'' let that go to their head a bit?