History Roleplay / GreatInterstellarWar

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Pretty much every officer on both sides kicks plenty of ass.

* JoinTheArmyTheySaid: The very first comic is an example of this, in which a Wester grunt picks up a discarded recruitment ad with a highly upbeat tone and, upon examining it, promptly says, "Bullshit." Cut to an epic panorama of utter death and destruction.
** The Red version of the trope is more lighthearted, with the example showcased being a volunteer homemade video produced by a mechanic on an isolated military outpost. Service in the Red Army is [[WarIsHell just as crappy]] as it is in the Federation army though.

* PoweredArmor: Battlesuits are 10-12 foot tall armor suits, which squarely fit in this trope. [[OhCrap Unless its a]] [[HumongousMecha Gronzy class]].

* {{Expy}}: Take the Cold War with all its tropes and stereotypes, put it in space, then take it UpToEleven. Thats GIW.

* [[StrawCharacter Straw Conservative]]: Lazarus Dimaggio. He's like Bill O'Reilly taken UpToEleven and PlayedForLaughs.

* NiceHat: The [[PlanetOfHats hat]] of the aliens farmers featured in the Red secret police special comic, who without fail all wore various pieces of nice headwear throughout their appearance. Other aliens seem to have them as well. It seems to be used as an easy way for humans to tell them apart.

* GunsVsSwords: One Red school of military thought calls for forcing the enemy into close combat to negate their technological edge and firepower. Practically every branch of the Red Army is equipped with some kind of sword to [[KnifeNut invoke this trope]]. Idealistic and indoctrinated Red infantry are more than happy to.

* KnifeNut: Zenya in particular, the Red Alliance in general, having a liking for bladed weapons and close ranged combat.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: The GIW series spans several comics and stories, along with seven RPs. Its to be expected.

* NotSoDifferent: The Reds and Westers are actually not that different under the surface.

Now has a [[Characters/{{GreatInterstellarWar}} Character Page]].

This game provides examples of:

* CorruptPolitician: Both sides have their fir share of these, considering that the Westers are effectively run by {{NGO}}s and the Reds are run by a party that often sees a KlingonPromotion or two. Actually, there havnt been any CLEAN politicians shown so far.

* MaryTzu: In the Red Alliance, Mao Zedong received a HistoricalHeroUpgrade to this. As in, Sun Tzu and Mao are believed to be the same person.

The Great Interstellar War (GIW) is a shared roleplay universe on AlternateHistoryDotCom that was started by user Blackwave. It originated as a "future what if scenario" to be discussed as characters who were in-universe, but it eventually grew to become a full-fledged tactics RP (on both land and in space) with its own comic series as a spinoff, along with various short stories and other user fiction. The GIW universe is set about a few centuries into humanity's future, and the human-controlled galaxy has been rent asunder between two power blocs: the democratic Wester Federation and the communist Red Alliance. No other major factions have been mentioned, but WordOfGod says that there are alien factions out in the galaxy that are aware of humanity but don't really care about the cataclysmic war tearing it asunder.

* CorruptPolitician: Both sides have their fir share of these, considering that the Westers are effectively run by NGOs and the Reds are run by a party that often sees a KlingonPromotion or two. Actually, there havnt been any CLEAN politicians shown so far.

** Boston's gunner and driver are named [[{{Blackadder}} George and Baldrick.]]

* TheBerserker: If Red commandos aren't [[ColdSniper detached]] or [[SociopathicSoldier unfeeling]] they become this, using combat drugs and throwing themselves at the enemy without any regard for their own survival.

* VodkaDrunkenski: The Reds are ALWAYS drinking. Awarding gifts of high quality alcohol to subordinates is often used as a substitute for medals.

** Major Lucrezia Starace and Bles from the current roster of player characters.

* AmazonBrigade: Its attempted by both sides, mostly as a morale/propaganda tool. Blue Witches Squadron commanded by 1st Lt. Bles receives focus in the RP. Noticeably they do not perform any better (and in some cases even worse) than regular units.

* HollywoodTactics: Played straight by Selvaria Bles and the “Blue Witches,” and lampshaded a bit by the other characters.

* MsFanservice: Eagle Emily, the Westers' “pinup girl.” Selvaria Bles is a Miss Fanservice turned battlesuit commander. Often lampshaded by some of the other characters.
--> '''Starace on Bles:''' "I think I can handle a pornstar in a Beria."

** General Amasova also has one in the comic: "Follow my ass as if you could HAVE IT!"

* StrawConservative: Lazarus Dimaggio. He's like Bill O'Reilly taken UpToEleven and PlayedForLaughs.

* RatedMForManly: Shan, Boston, Feng, Zenya (kind of) all show a certain level of bluntness and testosterone on occasion.

* ShoutOut: A lot of things...
** Selvaria Bles is also the name of a character from the game VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles.
** Also, the Bersaglieri are a veteran Wester Marine unit ingame; in real life, they're Italy's elite assault troops.

* StealthExpert: Wester Geists commandos are slightly less physical than Red spetsnaz, but are MUCH more dangerous due to their stealth abilities.

** Played straight by Shan himself, as his superiors are continually reassigned from the 1st Combined Arms until he is in command.
* ZergRush: Often used by Red infantry. Commissars and combat drugs help with motivating.

** General Amasova, Commissar Ziyi, Ann Sasaki, and Mina Glover from the comic.

** Bles often shows signs of this when interacting with her platoon.
** Dimitri Sergoff, Steave Boston, and Luke Jaeger sometimes display elements of this with their own subordinates.
** [[TheNeidermeyer Captain Zenya]] is a different take on the trope, being apparently a neglectant and PTSD suffering father, who never wanted kids in the first place, to his men. Oddly, he's actually rather decent to everyone when he's not in a position of authority.

* AmazonBrigade: Its attempted by both sides, mostly as a morale/propaganda tool. Most notably Blue Witches Squadron commanded by Lt. Bles.

** Amasova also has one in the comic: "Follow my ass as if you could HAVE IT!"

* BioAugmentation: Major Luke Jaeger. The Hei Gui assassins are a more extreme variety.

* ColonelBadass: Steave Boston, although he was promoted to General, so perhaps he's a FourStarBadass.
** Manthei, Sergoff, and Beck.

* CorruptPolitician: Both sides have their fir share of these, considering that the Westers are effectively run by NGOs and the Reds are run by a party that often sees a KlingonPromotion or two. In particular, Marshal Vostrikov is one, and Emily Jaeger shows signs of one as well.
* CurbStompBattle: Shan's spaceborne landings in the mountains on Taiga-Zhai become this, as the initial Wester invasion utterly steamrolls the Red defenses and scatters them to the wind. Remarkable in that none of the characters involved were used to fighting a battle that easy.

* FourStarBadass: Engels Shan.
* FrontlineGeneral: Engels Shan, Boston, Manthei, Beck, Feng and pretty much every other flag rank character.

* GeneralRipper: Played with with Feng gunning for Shan. Whats interesting is that [[DangerousDeserter Shan]] apparently doesnt hold it against him.

* HandicappedBadass: Zenya has a prosthetic arm. Jaeger has a faulty nervous system. Both are still badass.
* HeroesPreferSwords: Neither Westers or Reds could be considered totally heroic, but the latter do love their swords. From infantry bayonets, to battlesuit vibroblades, commando knives and ceremonial officer jian swords. For the Westers this trope has been thoroughly discredited by association.

* HollywoodTactics: Played straight for Selvaria Bles and the “Blue Witches,” and lampshaded a bit by the other characters.

* IndyPloy: Zenya is not especially good at stealth. He is however good enough to fight his way out of most situations he finds himself in. Becomes a bit awkward when his first reaction in non combat situations is to go nuts.

* IronWoobie: Literally any soldier who manages to stay sane in this war.

** The Red version of the trope is more lighthearted, with the example showcased being a volunteer homemade video produced by a mechanic on an isolated military outpost. Service in the Red Army is just as [[WarIsHell crappy as it is in the Federation army though.]]

* KnifeNut: Zenya in particular, the Red Alliance in general, having a preference for bladed weapons and close ranged combat.

* MsFanservice: Eagle Emily, the Westers' “pinup girl.” Selvaria Bles is a former Miss Fanservice turned battlesuit commander. Often lampshaded by some of the other characters.

** Grozny suits. In Russian Gronzy means [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin "to be feared."]]

* OfficerAndAGentleman: Major Luke Jaeger.

* PatrioticFervor: Red infantry are specifically noted to have much better morale than their opponents. Wester RI conscripts are [[OhCrap generally unprepared]] for the level of hardship the Reds are [[MotherRussiaMakesYouStrong willing to endure]] for their cause. While the Wester Army has better training and technology, the Red Army has their patriotism. The two sides are evenly matched.

* AmazonBrigade: Its attempted by both sides, mostly as a morale/propoganda tool. Most notably Blue Witches Squadron commanded by Lt. Bles.

* CurbStompBattle: Shan's spaceborne landings in the mountains on Taiga-Zhai become this, as the initial Wester invasion utterly steamrolls the Red defenses and scatters them to the wind. Unfortunately for those Westers involved in the attack on Borzya, Feng's battlegroup proves to be far better prepared.

* DirtyCommunists: The Reds.

* DrivesLikeCrazy: General Feng of all people, when he was younger, tended to use his tank as an improvised battering ram.

* GenderIsNoObject: Justified, as the Great Interstellar War is set centuries into the future. In addition, both armies will conscript anyone with four working limbs.

* HonorBeforeReason: An InformedFlaw of the Red Army, requiring political officers to keep things under control.

* KlingonPromotion: Pulled off by Marshal Vostrikov in the comic, with the unwitting help of Marine officer Battlesmere.
* KnifeNut: Zenya in particular, the Red Alliance in general, having a preference for bladed weapons and close ranged combat. Especially their Kom-23 special forces.

* MeaningfulName: Lt. Mook Redshirt and his son Cpl. Mook Redshirt Jr.

* MoralMyopia: Neither sides are saints. Both will use pretty much any tactic to win. Although the Reds tend to be quicker to do so.

** Grozny suits. Their name actually means "to be feared."
* NeutralityBacklash: It's hinted that there are neutral human factions, but that they generally don't last long, being invaded by either the Reds or the Westers or dragged into the fray kicking and screaming by other means.

* ScrewtheWarWerePartying: Life actually isnt that bad if you live on a civilian world. Don't party too hard though, or you might find yourself conscripted and sent to the frontlines.

* SpaceMarine: The Wester Battlesuit Marines.

* TheNeidermeyer: Zenya could arguably be characterized as this. He's an extremely skilled soldier and a competent tactician, but a HORRIBLE team leader.

* VodkaDrunkenski: The Reds are ALWAYS drinking. Awarding gifts of high quality alcohol to subordinates is often used as a substitute for medals even.