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* AcquiredErrorAtThePrinter: Played straight, parodied and lampshaded when it comes to setting the MC's name: The MC double-checks the wedding's seating plan after the printer previously messed up the invitations and spelling the MC's first name wrong. After the game then notes how it was misspelled, it gives the printers credit where it's due for at least getting the last name right. Cue a list of names that not even native speakers of a language would likely spell right on first try...
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* IdentityImpersonator: Played with, in a way: Various character might inform the MC (when they think MC is the Swashbuckler) that they figured that MC has always been the real Swashbuckler and the Swashbuckler during the fight at the studio was a body-double to dispel such notions. And by extension that the person they are talking to now is said body-double. So close...
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* DeathTrap: Courtesy of Firebrand. If he wins the fight after the apartment fire, he'll set one up in a fireworks warehouse. He feels a bit sorry for trying to kill MC in such a spectacular way, but ''the cause comes first''.
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* PolarOppositeTwins: The beginning of the game sets you and your sibling up to be this: you're the charismatic talk show host while they're the shy recluse. You can also potentially be the someone who hates the vigilante lifestyle and would rather remain a civilian, to contrast your twin running about fighting crime as the Swashbuckler.
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* SecretRelationship: Between the original Swashbuckler and the reporter. You only find out about this after the reporter gives you a passionate smooch while you're masquerading as the Swashbuckler.
* SiblingTeam: A possible ending, with two different variations. Either you debut with your own hero persona to fight alongside your twin, or both of you moonlight as the Swashbuckler.
* SiblingTeam: A possible ending, with two different variations. Either you debut with your own hero persona to fight alongside your twin, or both of you moonlight as the Swashbuckler.
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* SecretRelationship: Between the original Swashbuckler and the reporter. You MC only find finds out about this after the reporter gives you them a passionate smooch while you're they're masquerading as the Swashbuckler.
* SiblingTeam: A possible ending, with two different variations. Eitheryou debut MC debuts with your their own hero persona to fight alongside your their twin, or both of you them moonlight as the Swashbuckler.
* SiblingTeam: A possible ending, with two different variations. Either
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* StrangerBehindTheMask: Played straight if you unmask Firebrand without discovering his identity first. Also discussed when two captors elect not to unmask you because of this (ironically, you are possibly one of the handful of people in the city who most ''will'' recognise at a glance).
* TwinSwitch: The entire game is an extended one. If both of you decide to share the role of being the Swashbuckler in the ending, then your twin will regularly masquerade as Caledon City's most popular television personality while you're running about wearing the Swashbuckler mask.
* TwoPersonLoveTriangle: It's possible to invoke this in certain endings, where you (the Caledon City TV personality) are in love with the reporter, but chose to romance them with your hero persona (of which they don't know the true identity of).
* WhatYouAreInTheDark: If the protagonist hasn't revealed their secret identity to the Mayor and puts the moves on them as the Swashbuckler, a Mayor who they have a low relationship stat with happily accepts the 'Swashbuckler's' advances while making some pretty disparaging remarks about the protagonist. [[spoiler:Considering a low relationship Mayor is highly likely to be the M/Patriarch, this scene is a very early hint towards their hidden unsavouriness.]]
* TwinSwitch: The entire game is an extended one. If both of you decide to share the role of being the Swashbuckler in the ending, then your twin will regularly masquerade as Caledon City's most popular television personality while you're running about wearing the Swashbuckler mask.
* TwoPersonLoveTriangle: It's possible to invoke this in certain endings, where you (the Caledon City TV personality) are in love with the reporter, but chose to romance them with your hero persona (of which they don't know the true identity of).
* WhatYouAreInTheDark: If the protagonist hasn't revealed their secret identity to the Mayor and puts the moves on them as the Swashbuckler, a Mayor who they have a low relationship stat with happily accepts the 'Swashbuckler's' advances while making some pretty disparaging remarks about the protagonist. [[spoiler:Considering a low relationship Mayor is highly likely to be the M/Patriarch, this scene is a very early hint towards their hidden unsavouriness.]]
to:
* StrangerBehindTheMask: Played straight if you unmask Firebrand without discovering his identity first. Also discussed when two captors elect not to unmask you MC because of this (ironically, you are MC is possibly one of the handful of people in the city who most ''will'' recognise at a glance).
* TwinSwitch: The entire game is an extended one. If bothof you twins decide to share the role of being the Swashbuckler in the ending, then your twin the Twin will regularly masquerade as Caledon City's most popular television personality while you're MC's running about wearing the Swashbuckler mask.
* TwoPersonLoveTriangle: It's possible to invoke this in certain endings, whereyou (the the MC(the Caledon City TV personality) are in love with the reporter, but chose to romance them Bello with your their hero persona (of which they don't Bello doesn't know the true identity of).
* WhatYouAreInTheDark: If theprotagonist Protagonist hasn't revealed their secret identity to the Mayor and puts the moves on them as the Swashbuckler, a Mayor who they have a low relationship stat with happily accepts the 'Swashbuckler's' advances while making some pretty disparaging remarks about the protagonist. [[spoiler:Considering a low relationship Mayor is highly likely to be the M/Patriarch, this scene is a very early hint towards their hidden unsavouriness.]]
* TwinSwitch: The entire game is an extended one. If both
* TwoPersonLoveTriangle: It's possible to invoke this in certain endings, where
* WhatYouAreInTheDark: If the
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* IdenticalTwinMistake: What kicks off the story: The MC's identical twin, the ''real'' Swashbuckler, is kidnapped and mistaken for the MC, requiring the MC to take up the mask in their twin's place.
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The Hero Unmasked is a choice-based InteractiveFiction game, written by Christopher Huang and published by Creator/ChoiceOfGames.
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The Hero Unmasked Unmasked! is a choice-based InteractiveFiction game, written by Christopher Huang and published by Creator/ChoiceOfGames.
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!!''The Hero Unmasked'' provides examples of:
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!!''The Hero Unmasked'' Unmasked!'' provides examples of:
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* AntiClimacticUnmasking: This can happen with Firebrand if you best him in battle and decide to see who is under that hood [[StrangerBehindTheMask without having found his real name during your investigation before]].
* AntiVillain: Firebrand and Bloodmist, arguably. Firebrand donates what he steals to the less fortunate, while Bloodmist [[spoiler:seems to work majorly to keep the memory of her husband ''alive''.]]
* AntiVillain: Firebrand and Bloodmist, arguably. Firebrand donates what he steals to the less fortunate, while Bloodmist [[spoiler:seems to work majorly to keep the memory of her husband ''alive''.]]
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* BuildingSwing: What the Swashbuckler's grabbling hook is for.
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* BuildingSwing: What the Swashbuckler's grabbling grappling hook is for.
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* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Arguably all main characters, but most outstanding might be Firebrand. At first glance he could be mistaken as the brawns contrasting Bloodmist's brains, until you realize that while ''precision isn't his style'' (according to the MC) he [[spoiler: built a bomb with incorrectly color-coded wires on purpose, managed to set said bomb up without almost anyone noticing, and, at least in one path, learned how to direct fire's path in about two weeks]]. The MC is this too, depending how you play.
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* ElectricTorture: Should he capture you, the King of Diamonds will do this to you in an attempt to get information about the other villains.
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* FrozenFashionSense: Bloodmist's outfits always seem slightly updated from what was en vogue decades before any given photograph of her was taken.
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* KissOfDistraction: You can pull this with Bloodmist, Firebrand and the reporter. Bloodmist pulls this on you first.
* LetsGetDangerous: You. While you do have the same outstanding athletic abilities as your twin, you start out ''just'' a TV show host with no experience in crimefighting whatsoever. Does not mean you can't kick the behind of a villain threatening your station even before the story really starts.
* LightIsNotGood: Three out of four villains (Firebrand, The King Of Diamonds and The M/Patriarch) are wearing bright/light outfits. White and silver for the King of Diamonds. The M/Patriarch wears a robe of blinding white and uses light magic on top of that.
* LetsGetDangerous: You. While you do have the same outstanding athletic abilities as your twin, you start out ''just'' a TV show host with no experience in crimefighting whatsoever. Does not mean you can't kick the behind of a villain threatening your station even before the story really starts.
* LightIsNotGood: Three out of four villains (Firebrand, The King Of Diamonds and The M/Patriarch) are wearing bright/light outfits. White and silver for the King of Diamonds. The M/Patriarch wears a robe of blinding white and uses light magic on top of that.
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* SharingABody: [[spoiler: Can happen to you and your twin.]]
* SolomonDivorce: You and your twin are separated from each other in the wake of your parents divorcing.
* SolomonDivorce: You and your twin are separated from each other in the wake of your parents divorcing.
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* SuperheroesWearCapes: The Swashbuckler's cape is fire-resistant and detachable.
* SpyCatsuit: The Swashbuckler (and thus you) wears one.
* SpyCatsuit: The Swashbuckler (and thus you) wears one.
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* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Every opponent you face except Firebrand. [[spoiler: Desmond Lee, the King Of Diamonds, is a respected businessman, Sonia [=McAllister=], Bloodmist, is a wealthy and influential member of Caledon City's high society, and The M/Patriach can turn out to be either the mayor or the head of the most successful and famous society blog.]]
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added description of the game and fixed the work tropes
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added description of the game and fixed the work tropes
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%%The game follows the story and adventures of a TV news celebrity from Caledon City
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* BrainsVersusBrawn: Can apply to the player vs the villains, depending on playstyle. Also, Bloodmist and Firebrand are set up to be this to each other.
* BuildingSwing: What the Swashbuckler's grabbling hook is for.
* BuildingSwing: What the Swashbuckler's grabbling hook is for.
* CaptainSuperhero: One of the possible names the player can pick for their own hero persona in the respective ending is this paired with CaptainGeographic : Captain Caledon.
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* DaywalkingVampire: Bloodmist. Might or might not have something to do with her [[VoluntaryShapeshifting shapeshifting ability]] (see below).
* FlungClothing: Happens when the player picks paths that require getting into disguise.
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* KissOfTheVampire: Bloodmist, naturally.
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* LightEmUp: The M/Patriarch wields light-based sorcery.
* LightIsNotGood: Three out of four villains (Firebrand (see above), The King Of Diamonds and The M/Patriarch) are wearing bright/light outfits. White and silver for the King of Diamonds. The M/Patriarch wears a robe of blinding white and uses light magic on top of that.
* LightIsNotGood: Three out of four villains (Firebrand (see above), The King Of Diamonds and The M/Patriarch) are wearing bright/light outfits. White and silver for the King of Diamonds. The M/Patriarch wears a robe of blinding white and uses light magic on top of that.
to:
* NeverBeAHero: The main plot starts out like this, in a way: The public believes that the Player was fooling around in a Swashbuckler outfit when they got kidnapped.
* RecruitTheMuggles: Several sticky situations can be resolved by rallying bystanders to help.
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* YouCantThwartStageOne: Subverted. Playing your cards right can have you best and arrest the first villain you fight as The Swashbuckler.
%%BrainsVersusBrawn: Can apply to the player vs the villains, depending on playstyle. Also, Bloodmist and Firebrand are set up to be this to each other.
%%BuildingSwing: What the Swashbuckler's grabbling hook is for.
%%CaptainSuperhero: One of the possible names the player can pick for their own hero persona in the respective ending is this paired with CaptainGeographic : Captain Caledon.
%%TheCommissionerGordon: Chief Robinson (or Jamison, if the player picks 'Robinson' as their name). Sort of, at least. He does respect the Swashbuckler, but makes no secret of Swash kinda grinding his nerves. Will also not hesitate arresting the player for wasting police time.
%%FlungClothing: Happens when the player picks paths that require getting into disguise.
%%NeverBeAHero: The main plot starts out like this, in a way: The public believes that the Player was fooling around in a Swashbuckler outfit when they got kidnapped.
%%RecruitTheMuggles: Several sticky situations can be resolved by rallying bystanders to help.
%%BrainsVersusBrawn: Can apply to the player vs the villains, depending on playstyle. Also, Bloodmist and Firebrand are set up to be this to each other.
%%BuildingSwing: What the Swashbuckler's grabbling hook is for.
%%CaptainSuperhero: One of the possible names the player can pick for their own hero persona in the respective ending is this paired with CaptainGeographic : Captain Caledon.
%%TheCommissionerGordon: Chief Robinson (or Jamison, if the player picks 'Robinson' as their name). Sort of, at least. He does respect the Swashbuckler, but makes no secret of Swash kinda grinding his nerves. Will also not hesitate arresting the player for wasting police time.
%%FlungClothing: Happens when the player picks paths that require getting into disguise.
%%NeverBeAHero: The main plot starts out like this, in a way: The public believes that the Player was fooling around in a Swashbuckler outfit when they got kidnapped.
%%RecruitTheMuggles: Several sticky situations can be resolved by rallying bystanders to help.
to:
* YouCantThwartStageOne: Subverted. Playing your cards right can have you best and arrest the first villain you fight as The Swashbuckler.
%%BrainsVersusBrawn: Can apply to the player vs the villains, depending on playstyle. Also, Bloodmist and Firebrand are set up to be this to each other.
%%BuildingSwing: What the Swashbuckler's grabbling hook is for.
%%CaptainSuperhero: One of the possible names the player can pick for their own hero persona in the respective ending is this paired with CaptainGeographic : Captain Caledon.
%%TheCommissionerGordon: Chief Robinson (or Jamison, if the player picks 'Robinson' as their name). Sort of, at least. He does respect the Swashbuckler, but makes no secret of Swash kinda grinding his nerves. Will also not hesitate arresting the player for wasting police time.
%%FlungClothing: Happens when the player picks paths that require getting into disguise.
%%NeverBeAHero: The main plot starts out like this, in a way: The public believes that the Player was fooling around in a Swashbuckler outfit when they got kidnapped.
%%RecruitTheMuggles: Several sticky situations can be resolved by rallying bystanders to help.Swashbuckler.
%%BrainsVersusBrawn: Can apply to the player vs the villains, depending on playstyle. Also, Bloodmist and Firebrand are set up to be this to each other.
%%BuildingSwing: What the Swashbuckler's grabbling hook is for.
%%CaptainSuperhero: One of the possible names the player can pick for their own hero persona in the respective ending is this paired with CaptainGeographic : Captain Caledon.
%%TheCommissionerGordon: Chief Robinson (or Jamison, if the player picks 'Robinson' as their name). Sort of, at least. He does respect the Swashbuckler, but makes no secret of Swash kinda grinding his nerves. Will also not hesitate arresting the player for wasting police time.
%%FlungClothing: Happens when the player picks paths that require getting into disguise.
%%NeverBeAHero: The main plot starts out like this, in a way: The public believes that the Player was fooling around in a Swashbuckler outfit when they got kidnapped.
%%RecruitTheMuggles: Several sticky situations can be resolved by rallying bystanders to help.
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* AWolfInSheepsClothing: Bloodmist, The King Of Diamonds, and the M/Patriarch are this in their civilian guises.
* BigBad: The Matriarch/Patriarch [[spoiler: It's either the mayor or the reporter, depending on who you have a worse relationship with.]]
* BigBad: The Matriarch/Patriarch [[spoiler: It's either the mayor or the reporter, depending on who you have a worse relationship with.]]
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* BrightIsNotGood: Firebrand's costume is bright orange and yellow.
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* CoolMask: The Swashbuckler wears a scarlet wrap-around mask.
* CoolSword: The Swashbuckler's saber. It's quite literally a basket-hilted lightsaber.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Desmond Lee [[spoiler:who is The King Of Diamonds]]. What would a good superhero story be without the mob boss hiding behind the mask of a legitimate businessman?
* CoolSword: The Swashbuckler's saber. It's quite literally a basket-hilted lightsaber.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Desmond Lee [[spoiler:who is The King Of Diamonds]]. What would a good superhero story be without the mob boss hiding behind the mask of a legitimate businessman?
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* EvenEvilHasStandards: Firebrand will not attack churches, no matter the denomination. He also fights tooth and claw to keep the King of Diamonds' drugs out of his district.
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* HemoErotic: With Bloodmist. It's stated that her bite feels ''really good'', to the point of getting a content sigh out of the MC.
* IOwnThisTown: The King of Diamonds pretty much the King of Caledon City's underworld. That is [[spoiler: Until the M/Patriarch comes along. The sheer fact that they were able to put The King of Diamonds under their thumb, and how the underworld reacted to that (with fear) made it clear just how powerful either is.]]
* IOwnThisTown: The King of Diamonds pretty much the King of Caledon City's underworld. That is [[spoiler: Until the M/Patriarch comes along. The sheer fact that they were able to put The King of Diamonds under their thumb, and how the underworld reacted to that (with fear) made it clear just how powerful either is.]]
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* NonPoweredCostumedHero: At the start of the story there's a raging public debate about whether this applies to the Swashbuckler or not.
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* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Bloodmist.
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The Hero Unmasked is a choice-based InteractiveFiction game, written by Christopher Huang and published by Creator/ChoiceOfGames.
%%The game follows the story and adventures of a TV news celebrity from Caledon City
----
!!''The Hero Unmasked'' provides examples of:
* AbsenceMakesTheHeartGoYonder: Defied with a Mayor who has high relationship values with the protagonist, who firmly shuts down any advances the Protagonist-as-Swashbuckler makes on them if they don't know that the protagonist ''is'' the Swashbuckler. Played straight with a Mayor that the protagonist has a bad relationship with, who is pretty on board with having the Swashbuckler as a side piece.
** Can unintentionally occur with the Reporter. They start the game in a relationship with the protagonist's twin in their Swashbuckler identity. When the protagonist takes up the mantle of the Swashbuckler, they can romance the reporter without letting them know that the person under the mask has changed.
* AntiClimacticUnmasking: This can happen with Firebrand if you best him in battle and decide to see who is under that hood [[StrangerBehindTheMask without having found his real name during your investigation before]].
* AntiVillain: Firebrand and Bloodmist, arguably. Firebrand donates what he steals to the less fortunate, while Bloodmist [[spoiler:seems to work majorly to keep the memory of her husband ''alive''.]]
* AWolfInSheepsClothing: Bloodmist, The King Of Diamonds, and the M/Patriarch are this in their civilian guises.
* BigBad: The Matriarch/Patriarch [[spoiler: It's either the mayor or the reporter, depending on who you have a worse relationship with.]]
* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: Comes in two varieties: One: If your twin dies at the hands of the M/Patriarch at the cathedral and you take up their mask as the Swashbuckler (possibly including pretending you are them) Two: If you and your twin merge into one being you can pick that you are fine with that, and even get an in-universe stat boost from it.]] See Downer Ending below.
* BrightIsNotGood: Firebrand's costume is bright orange and yellow.
* CapeSnag: Averted/subverted. The text explicitly says that the Swashbuckler's cape is detachable.
* {{Cliffhanger}}: All chapters end on one. [[spoiler: The game itself can also end on one, depending what happened at the wedding. This ranges from you discovering that even from jail the M/Patriarch is pulling strings in Caledon City's underworld, to trying to find a way to un-merge you and your twin.]]
* CoolMask: The Swashbuckler wears a scarlet wrap-around mask.
* CoolSword: The Swashbuckler's saber. It's quite literally a basket-hilted lightsaber.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Desmond Lee [[spoiler:who is The King Of Diamonds]]. What would a good superhero story be without the mob boss hiding behind the mask of a legitimate businessman?
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Arguably all main characters, but most outstanding might be Firebrand. At first glance he could be mistaken as the brawns contrasting Bloodmist's brains, until you realize that while ''precision isn't his style'' (according to the MC) he [[spoiler: built a bomb with incorrectly color-coded wires on purpose, managed to set said bomb up without almost anyone noticing, and, at least in one path, learned how to direct fire's path in about two weeks]]. The MC is this too, depending how you play.
* DatingCatwoman: It is possible to romance both Bloodmist and Firebrand. [[spoiler:You may also unknowingly be doing this if the mayor turns out to be the M/Patriarch.]]
* DaywalkingVampire: Bloodmist. Might or might not have something to do with her [[VoluntaryShapeshifting shapeshifting ability]] (see below).
* DeathTrap: Courtesy of Firebrand. If he wins the fight after the apartment fire, he'll set one up in a fireworks warehouse. He feels a bit sorry for trying to kill MC in such a spectacular way, but ''the cause comes first''.
* DevelopersForesight: Paired with OneSteveLimit, to a degree (see below). The Reporter, the Police Chief and the MC's scientist friend (also some minor characters down the line) can all have their names changed if the player picks the same name for themself. The Reporter can become Richard/Ross, respectively Regina/Rose from Robert/Rebecca (surname is always Bello), the chief would become Jamison from Robinson and your friend can be renamed Quincy or Quillon from Quentin and his surname can change to Morris from Marsh.
* DistressedDude[=/=]DamselInDistress: The plot kicks off after your twin is taken hostage by a mysterious villain. You yourself can also fall into the clutches of Firebrand, Bloodmist or the King of Diamond (netting an achievement if you manage to get [[FailureHero captured by all three in the same playthrough.]])
** Bloodmist abducts either the Mayor or the Reporter after the Historical Society Gala. The latter two are also held at gunpoint when either Bloodmist or Firebrands goons storm the charity auction. [[spoiler:Being sick of constantly becoming this is partly the reason why the reporter becomes the M/Patriarch.]]
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: If your twin dies at the Cathedral and you decide to get back to your civilian life, the whole town goes to hell, with all sorts of villains now trying their luck there. Alternatively, if you and your twin merge you can go search for a way to reverse it. At the end of the game however, that search remains fruitless.]]
* ElectricTorture: Should he capture you, the King of Diamonds will do this to you in an attempt to get information about the other villains.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Firebrand will not attack churches, no matter the denomination. He also fights tooth and claw to keep the King of Diamonds' drugs out of his district.
* EveryoneIsBi: You can romance all the possible romantic interests regardless of what you play as.
* FissionMailed: Not having the right stats to escape Firebrand's deathtrap looks like this for a moment.
* FrozenFashionSense: Bloodmist's outfits always seem slightly updated from what was en vogue decades before any given photograph of her was taken.
* HappyEnding: [[spoiler: In the best ending you capture the M/Patriarch and either go back to your civilian life, double with your twin as the Swashbuckler or become a hero in your own right. In either case you can hook up with your romantic interest and often a new hero pops up, too.]]
* HemoErotic: With Bloodmist. It's stated that her bite feels ''really good'', to the point of getting a content sigh out of the MC.
* IOwnThisTown: The King of Diamonds pretty much the King of Caledon City's underworld. That is [[spoiler: Until the M/Patriarch comes along. The sheer fact that they were able to put The King of Diamonds under their thumb, and how the underworld reacted to that (with fear) made it clear just how powerful either is.]]
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: This can happen to Firebrand/Bloodmist and your twin.]]
* KissOfDistraction: You can pull this with Bloodmist, Firebrand and the reporter. Bloodmist pulls this on you first.
* KissOfTheVampire: Bloodmist, naturally.
* LetsGetDangerous: You. While you do have the same outstanding athletic abilities as your twin, you start out ''just'' a TV show host with no experience in crimefighting whatsoever. Does not mean you can't kick the behind of a villain threatening your station even before the story really starts.
* LightEmUp: The M/Patriarch wields light-based sorcery.
* LightIsNotGood: Three out of four villains (Firebrand (see above), The King Of Diamonds and The M/Patriarch) are wearing bright/light outfits. White and silver for the King of Diamonds. The M/Patriarch wears a robe of blinding white and uses light magic on top of that.
* LovesMyAlterEgo: Averted with the reporter's relationship with the original Swashbuckler, where it's highly implied that knowing their secret identity won't change their feelings (though your twin has no intention of ever revealing that to them.) Played straight if the player decides to create a new superhero identity and then romance the reporter while under that secret identity.
* NonPoweredCostumedHero: At the start of the story there's a raging public debate about whether this applies to the Swashbuckler or not.
* OneSteveLimit: In part, see DevelopersForesight above. While three of the main npcs change their name depending on what the MC's name is, other characters, including the three main villains will always have their civilian names. However, the player can't pick their aliases as their own should the player make their own hero persona in the end.
* PolarOppositeTwins: The beginning of the game sets you and your sibling up to be this: you're the charismatic talk show host while they're the shy recluse. You can also potentially be the someone who hates the vigilante lifestyle and would rather remain a civilian, to contrast your twin running about fighting crime as the Swashbuckler.
* SecretIdentityApathy: The villains don't seem to care much about who is behind The Swashbuckler's mask, even when they have you in their clutches. Handwaved/lampshaded at least twice, once with you musing about how Firebrand could have unmasked you but didn't, and once by a goon telling his partner it's not worth unmasking you as they probably won't know you.
* SecretRelationship: Between the original Swashbuckler and the reporter. You only find out about this after the reporter gives you a passionate smooch while you're masquerading as the Swashbuckler.
* SharingABody: [[spoiler: Can happen to you and your twin.]]
* SolomonDivorce: You and your twin are separated from each other in the wake of your parents divorcing.
* SiblingTeam: A possible ending, with two different variations. Either you debut with your own hero persona to fight alongside your twin, or both of you moonlight as the Swashbuckler.
* SiblingTriangle: Happens if you pursue the reporter, who is already in a relationship with your twin.
* SuperheroesWearCapes: The Swashbuckler's cape is fire-resistant and detachable.
* SpyCatsuit: The Swashbuckler (and thus you) wears one.
* StrangerBehindTheMask: Played straight if you unmask Firebrand without discovering his identity first. Also discussed when two captors elect not to unmask you because of this (ironically, you are possibly one of the handful of people in the city who most ''will'' recognise at a glance).
* TwinSwitch: The entire game is an extended one. If both of you decide to share the role of being the Swashbuckler in the ending, then your twin will regularly masquerade as Caledon City's most popular television personality while you're running about wearing the Swashbuckler mask.
* TwoPersonLoveTriangle: It's possible to invoke this in certain endings, where you (the Caledon City TV personality) are in love with the reporter, but chose to romance them with your hero persona (of which they don't know the true identity of).
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Every opponent you face except Firebrand. [[spoiler: Desmond Lee, the King Of Diamonds, is a respected businessman, Sonia [=McAllister=], Bloodmist, is a wealthy and influential member of Caledon City's high society, and The M/Patriach can turn out to be either the mayor or the head of the most successful and famous society blog.]]
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Bloodmist.
* WhatYouAreInTheDark: If the protagonist hasn't revealed their secret identity to the Mayor and puts the moves on them as the Swashbuckler, a Mayor who they have a low relationship stat with happily accepts the 'Swashbuckler's' advances while making some pretty disparaging remarks about the protagonist. [[spoiler:Considering a low relationship Mayor is highly likely to be the M/Patriarch, this scene is a very early hint towards their hidden unsavouriness.]]
* YouCantThwartStageOne: Subverted. Playing your cards right can have you best and arrest the first villain you fight as The Swashbuckler.
%%BrainsVersusBrawn: Can apply to the player vs the villains, depending on playstyle. Also, Bloodmist and Firebrand are set up to be this to each other.
%%BuildingSwing: What the Swashbuckler's grabbling hook is for.
%%CaptainSuperhero: One of the possible names the player can pick for their own hero persona in the respective ending is this paired with CaptainGeographic : Captain Caledon.
%%TheCommissionerGordon: Chief Robinson (or Jamison, if the player picks 'Robinson' as their name). Sort of, at least. He does respect the Swashbuckler, but makes no secret of Swash kinda grinding his nerves. Will also not hesitate arresting the player for wasting police time.
%%FlungClothing: Happens when the player picks paths that require getting into disguise.
%%NeverBeAHero: The main plot starts out like this, in a way: The public believes that the Player was fooling around in a Swashbuckler outfit when they got kidnapped.
%%RecruitTheMuggles: Several sticky situations can be resolved by rallying bystanders to help.
%%The game follows the story and adventures of a TV news celebrity from Caledon City
----
!!''The Hero Unmasked'' provides examples of:
* AbsenceMakesTheHeartGoYonder: Defied with a Mayor who has high relationship values with the protagonist, who firmly shuts down any advances the Protagonist-as-Swashbuckler makes on them if they don't know that the protagonist ''is'' the Swashbuckler. Played straight with a Mayor that the protagonist has a bad relationship with, who is pretty on board with having the Swashbuckler as a side piece.
** Can unintentionally occur with the Reporter. They start the game in a relationship with the protagonist's twin in their Swashbuckler identity. When the protagonist takes up the mantle of the Swashbuckler, they can romance the reporter without letting them know that the person under the mask has changed.
* AntiClimacticUnmasking: This can happen with Firebrand if you best him in battle and decide to see who is under that hood [[StrangerBehindTheMask without having found his real name during your investigation before]].
* AntiVillain: Firebrand and Bloodmist, arguably. Firebrand donates what he steals to the less fortunate, while Bloodmist [[spoiler:seems to work majorly to keep the memory of her husband ''alive''.]]
* AWolfInSheepsClothing: Bloodmist, The King Of Diamonds, and the M/Patriarch are this in their civilian guises.
* BigBad: The Matriarch/Patriarch [[spoiler: It's either the mayor or the reporter, depending on who you have a worse relationship with.]]
* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: Comes in two varieties: One: If your twin dies at the hands of the M/Patriarch at the cathedral and you take up their mask as the Swashbuckler (possibly including pretending you are them) Two: If you and your twin merge into one being you can pick that you are fine with that, and even get an in-universe stat boost from it.]] See Downer Ending below.
* BrightIsNotGood: Firebrand's costume is bright orange and yellow.
* CapeSnag: Averted/subverted. The text explicitly says that the Swashbuckler's cape is detachable.
* {{Cliffhanger}}: All chapters end on one. [[spoiler: The game itself can also end on one, depending what happened at the wedding. This ranges from you discovering that even from jail the M/Patriarch is pulling strings in Caledon City's underworld, to trying to find a way to un-merge you and your twin.]]
* CoolMask: The Swashbuckler wears a scarlet wrap-around mask.
* CoolSword: The Swashbuckler's saber. It's quite literally a basket-hilted lightsaber.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Desmond Lee [[spoiler:who is The King Of Diamonds]]. What would a good superhero story be without the mob boss hiding behind the mask of a legitimate businessman?
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Arguably all main characters, but most outstanding might be Firebrand. At first glance he could be mistaken as the brawns contrasting Bloodmist's brains, until you realize that while ''precision isn't his style'' (according to the MC) he [[spoiler: built a bomb with incorrectly color-coded wires on purpose, managed to set said bomb up without almost anyone noticing, and, at least in one path, learned how to direct fire's path in about two weeks]]. The MC is this too, depending how you play.
* DatingCatwoman: It is possible to romance both Bloodmist and Firebrand. [[spoiler:You may also unknowingly be doing this if the mayor turns out to be the M/Patriarch.]]
* DaywalkingVampire: Bloodmist. Might or might not have something to do with her [[VoluntaryShapeshifting shapeshifting ability]] (see below).
* DeathTrap: Courtesy of Firebrand. If he wins the fight after the apartment fire, he'll set one up in a fireworks warehouse. He feels a bit sorry for trying to kill MC in such a spectacular way, but ''the cause comes first''.
* DevelopersForesight: Paired with OneSteveLimit, to a degree (see below). The Reporter, the Police Chief and the MC's scientist friend (also some minor characters down the line) can all have their names changed if the player picks the same name for themself. The Reporter can become Richard/Ross, respectively Regina/Rose from Robert/Rebecca (surname is always Bello), the chief would become Jamison from Robinson and your friend can be renamed Quincy or Quillon from Quentin and his surname can change to Morris from Marsh.
* DistressedDude[=/=]DamselInDistress: The plot kicks off after your twin is taken hostage by a mysterious villain. You yourself can also fall into the clutches of Firebrand, Bloodmist or the King of Diamond (netting an achievement if you manage to get [[FailureHero captured by all three in the same playthrough.]])
** Bloodmist abducts either the Mayor or the Reporter after the Historical Society Gala. The latter two are also held at gunpoint when either Bloodmist or Firebrands goons storm the charity auction. [[spoiler:Being sick of constantly becoming this is partly the reason why the reporter becomes the M/Patriarch.]]
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: If your twin dies at the Cathedral and you decide to get back to your civilian life, the whole town goes to hell, with all sorts of villains now trying their luck there. Alternatively, if you and your twin merge you can go search for a way to reverse it. At the end of the game however, that search remains fruitless.]]
* ElectricTorture: Should he capture you, the King of Diamonds will do this to you in an attempt to get information about the other villains.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Firebrand will not attack churches, no matter the denomination. He also fights tooth and claw to keep the King of Diamonds' drugs out of his district.
* EveryoneIsBi: You can romance all the possible romantic interests regardless of what you play as.
* FissionMailed: Not having the right stats to escape Firebrand's deathtrap looks like this for a moment.
* FrozenFashionSense: Bloodmist's outfits always seem slightly updated from what was en vogue decades before any given photograph of her was taken.
* HappyEnding: [[spoiler: In the best ending you capture the M/Patriarch and either go back to your civilian life, double with your twin as the Swashbuckler or become a hero in your own right. In either case you can hook up with your romantic interest and often a new hero pops up, too.]]
* HemoErotic: With Bloodmist. It's stated that her bite feels ''really good'', to the point of getting a content sigh out of the MC.
* IOwnThisTown: The King of Diamonds pretty much the King of Caledon City's underworld. That is [[spoiler: Until the M/Patriarch comes along. The sheer fact that they were able to put The King of Diamonds under their thumb, and how the underworld reacted to that (with fear) made it clear just how powerful either is.]]
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: This can happen to Firebrand/Bloodmist and your twin.]]
* KissOfDistraction: You can pull this with Bloodmist, Firebrand and the reporter. Bloodmist pulls this on you first.
* KissOfTheVampire: Bloodmist, naturally.
* LetsGetDangerous: You. While you do have the same outstanding athletic abilities as your twin, you start out ''just'' a TV show host with no experience in crimefighting whatsoever. Does not mean you can't kick the behind of a villain threatening your station even before the story really starts.
* LightEmUp: The M/Patriarch wields light-based sorcery.
* LightIsNotGood: Three out of four villains (Firebrand (see above), The King Of Diamonds and The M/Patriarch) are wearing bright/light outfits. White and silver for the King of Diamonds. The M/Patriarch wears a robe of blinding white and uses light magic on top of that.
* LovesMyAlterEgo: Averted with the reporter's relationship with the original Swashbuckler, where it's highly implied that knowing their secret identity won't change their feelings (though your twin has no intention of ever revealing that to them.) Played straight if the player decides to create a new superhero identity and then romance the reporter while under that secret identity.
* NonPoweredCostumedHero: At the start of the story there's a raging public debate about whether this applies to the Swashbuckler or not.
* OneSteveLimit: In part, see DevelopersForesight above. While three of the main npcs change their name depending on what the MC's name is, other characters, including the three main villains will always have their civilian names. However, the player can't pick their aliases as their own should the player make their own hero persona in the end.
* PolarOppositeTwins: The beginning of the game sets you and your sibling up to be this: you're the charismatic talk show host while they're the shy recluse. You can also potentially be the someone who hates the vigilante lifestyle and would rather remain a civilian, to contrast your twin running about fighting crime as the Swashbuckler.
* SecretIdentityApathy: The villains don't seem to care much about who is behind The Swashbuckler's mask, even when they have you in their clutches. Handwaved/lampshaded at least twice, once with you musing about how Firebrand could have unmasked you but didn't, and once by a goon telling his partner it's not worth unmasking you as they probably won't know you.
* SecretRelationship: Between the original Swashbuckler and the reporter. You only find out about this after the reporter gives you a passionate smooch while you're masquerading as the Swashbuckler.
* SharingABody: [[spoiler: Can happen to you and your twin.]]
* SolomonDivorce: You and your twin are separated from each other in the wake of your parents divorcing.
* SiblingTeam: A possible ending, with two different variations. Either you debut with your own hero persona to fight alongside your twin, or both of you moonlight as the Swashbuckler.
* SiblingTriangle: Happens if you pursue the reporter, who is already in a relationship with your twin.
* SuperheroesWearCapes: The Swashbuckler's cape is fire-resistant and detachable.
* SpyCatsuit: The Swashbuckler (and thus you) wears one.
* StrangerBehindTheMask: Played straight if you unmask Firebrand without discovering his identity first. Also discussed when two captors elect not to unmask you because of this (ironically, you are possibly one of the handful of people in the city who most ''will'' recognise at a glance).
* TwinSwitch: The entire game is an extended one. If both of you decide to share the role of being the Swashbuckler in the ending, then your twin will regularly masquerade as Caledon City's most popular television personality while you're running about wearing the Swashbuckler mask.
* TwoPersonLoveTriangle: It's possible to invoke this in certain endings, where you (the Caledon City TV personality) are in love with the reporter, but chose to romance them with your hero persona (of which they don't know the true identity of).
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Every opponent you face except Firebrand. [[spoiler: Desmond Lee, the King Of Diamonds, is a respected businessman, Sonia [=McAllister=], Bloodmist, is a wealthy and influential member of Caledon City's high society, and The M/Patriach can turn out to be either the mayor or the head of the most successful and famous society blog.]]
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Bloodmist.
* WhatYouAreInTheDark: If the protagonist hasn't revealed their secret identity to the Mayor and puts the moves on them as the Swashbuckler, a Mayor who they have a low relationship stat with happily accepts the 'Swashbuckler's' advances while making some pretty disparaging remarks about the protagonist. [[spoiler:Considering a low relationship Mayor is highly likely to be the M/Patriarch, this scene is a very early hint towards their hidden unsavouriness.]]
* YouCantThwartStageOne: Subverted. Playing your cards right can have you best and arrest the first villain you fight as The Swashbuckler.
%%BrainsVersusBrawn: Can apply to the player vs the villains, depending on playstyle. Also, Bloodmist and Firebrand are set up to be this to each other.
%%BuildingSwing: What the Swashbuckler's grabbling hook is for.
%%CaptainSuperhero: One of the possible names the player can pick for their own hero persona in the respective ending is this paired with CaptainGeographic : Captain Caledon.
%%TheCommissionerGordon: Chief Robinson (or Jamison, if the player picks 'Robinson' as their name). Sort of, at least. He does respect the Swashbuckler, but makes no secret of Swash kinda grinding his nerves. Will also not hesitate arresting the player for wasting police time.
%%FlungClothing: Happens when the player picks paths that require getting into disguise.
%%NeverBeAHero: The main plot starts out like this, in a way: The public believes that the Player was fooling around in a Swashbuckler outfit when they got kidnapped.
%%RecruitTheMuggles: Several sticky situations can be resolved by rallying bystanders to help.
