History Webcomic / ExperienceBoost

* TwentyBearAsses: This kind of fetch quest shows up several times given that the comic is parodying MMORPGs. Much to Keran's displeasure.

* AntiClimax: The story's final battle is ultimately ended when the Game Master has to initiate a server reset due to the sheer amount of PvP going on in the new expansion zones.

* BigDamnHeroes: xMurderBanex shoulder checks MurderBane (yes, you read that right) [[https://www.xpboostcomic.com/comic/shoulder-check/ off of a high ledge]] and saves [[DamselInDistress Zhusen]] just in the nick of time, causing both of them to [[TakingYouWithMe plummet to their dooms]].

* HeroicSacrifice: xMurderBanex pulls one off in one of the final strips when he [[https://www.xpboostcomic.com/comic/shoulder-check/ shoulder checks]] MurderBane (yes, again, you read that right) off of a ledge, saving Zhusen at the cost of sending himself off the edge too, leading to both of their deaths.

** Vedrana was apparently this on her previous account, Sharah. Part of why [[spoiler: Orhan]] was able to wrest control of the Order of Swords away from her so easily was that she was easily frustrated "whenever things went south". Part of her [[CharacterDevelopment Character Development]] is learning to take it easy and be much more patient with her guildmates, aided by Keran and Lysandra's moderating influences.

* Heroic Sacrifice: xMurderBanex pulls one off in one of the final strips when he [[https://www.xpboostcomic.com/comic/shoulder-check/ shoulder checks]] MurderBane (yes, again, you read that right) off of a ledge, saving Zhusen at the cost of sending himself off the edge too, leading to both of their deaths.

* BigDamnHeroes: xMurderBanex shoulder checks MurderBane (yes, you read that right) [[https://www.xpboostcomic.com/comic/shoulder-check/ off of a high ledge]] and saves [[DamselInDistress Zhusen]] just in the nick of time.

* MortonsFork:

** Vedrana was apparently this on her previous account, Sharah. Part of why [[spoiler: Orhan]] was able to wrest control of the Order of Swords away from her so easily was that she was easily frustrated "whenever things went south". Part of her [[CharacterDevelopment]] is learning to take it easy and be much more patient with her guildmates, aided by Keran and Lysandra's moderating influences.

* ExtremeDoormat: Zhusen's [[FatalFlaw]]. She's incredibly nice and accommodating, and has a hard time saying 'no' to someone in need- to the point where standing up for herself causes her a near [[https://www.xpboostcomic.com/comic/advanced-role-play/ panic attack]]. [[spoiler: This is actually weaponized against her in the final battle, when one of Orhan's former guildmates keeps her in a low-level zone by playing as a newbie who desperately needs her help. Thankfully, she asserts herself and goes to help her friends.]]

* PaperThinDisguise: Ohran's alt, Narho, has the exact same facial features as his Ohran account. While his cloak did conceal his face, he's playing an MMO. Anyone who clicks on him can probably put two and two together when they see the Sdrawkcab Name alias he's using.

* WakeUpCallBoss: The Alpha Gopher, the first true boss in the game, is infamously difficult to get past.

** Also, Lanton the Gnome Fisherman, who has dedicated his time in-game to leveling up as a sorcerer ''solely'' by [[FishingMinigame fishing.]] When his favorite spot is taken over by the Legion, Vedrana advises him to tweet that he can't fish at his favorite fishing hole any more. After doing so, a massive group of Vanguard players sweep the pond of the Legion, and he can fish again.

Tropes:

[[caption-width-right:557: From left to right: [[ThePaladin Keran]], [[SquishyWizard Vedrana]], [[ForestRanger Theron]], and [[WhiteMage Zhusen]]]]

* AllForNothing: Orhan doesn't accomplish a single long-term objective of his master plan that the entire endgame of the comic is devoted to, and doesn't even accomplish much of his short-term objectives either. About the only thing he successfully managed to do is waste a bunch of players' time, but they were all having a blast with the massive inter-faction conflict, so nobody really cared.

* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: Zhusen is able to rally significant amounts of players in extremely short periods of time all because she's a very nice person that everyone loves.

* ComingOutStory: A small arc in the story is dedicated to [[spoiler: Zhusen coming out as transgender.]] She's received well by her guildmates and the many, MANY friends she's made in the story, but [[spoiler: Theron's]] reaction causes some friction.
* DeusExMachina: Orhan's machinations are ultimately brought to an end when Castor informs the Game Master that Orhan [[spoiler: hacked Theron's account and took away all his possessions, resulting in a permanent ban of his main and alternate account.]] Bonus points since the Game Master literally descends in a pillar of divine light.

** xMurderBanex is a potty-mouthed trogdolyte who wouldn't know social graces if they bit him in the arse [[spoiler: which makes sense when you consider he's thirteen]]. But when [[spoiler: Zhusen]] comes out, his sole remark is to make a quick, tasteful joke about it, and afterwards, he's very careful to get her pronouns right, even correcting himself in voice chat when he slips up.
* FetchQuest: Realm of Quests has these.
* Flashback: An arc of the story (starting [[https://www.xpboostcomic.com/comic/thinking-back/ here]]) details how Vedrana (formerly Sharah) met Orhan, and how they founded the Order of Swords together. [[spoiler:And how she lost it following Orhan's betrayal.]]
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: Keran repeatedly points out things about the gameplay that don't make sense from a story standpoint.

* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Orhan's master plan ends up with him getting [[spoiler: permanently banned by the Game Master, largely because he hacked Theron and xMurderBanex's accounts to do it.]]

[[caption-width-right:557: From left to right, [[ThePaladin Keran]], [[SquishyWizard Vedrana]], [[ForestRanger Theron]], and [[WhiteMage Zhusen]]]]

Experience Boost is a webcomic by Robin Brooks that follows the adventures of Keran, Vedrana, and their friends (and enemies) in the fictional MMO ''[[{{Expy}} Realm of Quests]]''. Early strips are mostly one-shot gags about the various quirks of playing [=MMOs=], but as the series goes on it progresses into a story-based comic with multiple arcs centered around Keran and Vedrana's guild, One Crit Wonder, as they progress through the game's raids and various features.