History Webcomic / ProblemSleuth

* LegitimateBusinessmensSocialClub: Mobster Kingpin's LEGITIMATE ESTABLISHMENT, a front for his speakeasy.

* AffectionateParody: To {{JRPG}}s and {{Adventure Game}}s.

* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: [[spoiler:Godhead Pickle Inspector]].

* AndTheAdventureContinues: "There's a problem. And you'll be damned if you aren't gonna be the fellas to sleuth it."

* ArtShift: The [[https://www.homestuck.com/?s=4&p=000975 narrative continues]] through a delightfully charming [[Webcomic/HarkAVagrant Kate Beaton]] style comic.
* AssKickingPose: Because [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome SHIT JUST GOT REAL]].

* BigStupidDoodooHead: Team Sleuth is notoriously bad at writing insults to each other. Ace Dick calls Problem Sleuth [[https://www.homestuck.com/problem-sleuth/85 an "Ass Hole" (note the space),]] PS [[https://www.homestuck.com/problem-sleuth/72 can't even rhyme his insults,]] and the worst PI can [[https://www.homestuck.com/problem-sleuth/129 come up with]] is meekly stating that Problem Sleuth is ''impolite''.

* ExpositionFairy: The Infinite Summation Honeybee Professor.

-->''You desperately bargain with Death, challenging him to any game you can think of for the fair damsel's life. CLUE, CONNECT FOUR, UNO, BATTLESHIP, SUDOKU, well ok not SUDOKU, but how about SNAKES AND LADDERS, that's fun, or what about HUNGRY HUNGRY HIPPOS god you LOVE HUNGRY HUNGRY HIPPOS.''

* WorldsStrongestMan: Ace Dick. Fiesta Ace Dick is [[UpToEleven stronger than that]].

* NiceHat: If Problem Sleuth's regular hat doesn't qualify, the Admiral's Hat certainly does.

* OppositeSexClone: Subverted. Ace Dick had too little imagination for a DistaffCounterpart, and instead just became a clone of himself with a blonde wig/[[NiceHat Prussian Picklehaube]].

** [[https://www.homestuck.com/?s=4&p=001514 You got the CHRONOSCOPE!!]] '''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZelda NYARGH PARODY DUMB]]'''

** [[https://www.homestuck.com/?s=4&p=001043 An incredible transmutation takes place]].
** Subverted, when [[https://www.homestuck.com/?s=4&p=001717 a phenomenal transmutation takes place]].

* PurelyAestheticEra: Problem Sleuth is supposed to be set in TheRoaringTwenties, but you wouldn't know that if they didn't mention bootlegging and Prohibition. At one point PS looks up a solution to a puzzle on ''[=GameFAQS=]''.

* PurpleIsTheNewBlack: Any antagonist worth their salt is shrouded with black when they use their poweres. [[spoiler:Black Hole Mobster Kingpin and higher forms]] are depicted as black but shoot out purple, and the Midnight Crew's shadow powers are stated to be black but are depicted as a mix of black and purple.

* CoolAirship: [[spoiler:Mobster Kingpin]]'s ship, [[https://www.homestuck.com/problem-sleuth/839 the CHICAGO OVERCOAT]], black thorn of the [[spoiler:imaginary]] skies.

* RandomDamageAttack: The Catenative Doomsday Dice Cascader is a machine that uses a process of dice-rolling to determine the damage it deals. First, a central dice is rolled to decide how many of the six others will be rolled to determine the actual damage. All the selected dice are then rolled, and each result is multiplied by the previous total to determine the sides of the next die (for instance, if the centra die rolls a six and the second one a two, all further dice have twelve sides; if the third rolls a seven then all further dice will have ninety-six sides, and so on). This can end with a final with a monstrous number of sides, which is then rolled to determine how much damage is dealt to the target. The Cascader is used in [[https://www.homestuck.com/extras/20 a non-canon strip against the Midnight Crew]], ending with a final die with over fifty trillion sides. It rolls a one.

* CoolAirship: [[spoiler:Mobster Kingpin]]'s ship, [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001057 the CHICAGO OVERCOAT]], black thorn of the [[spoiler:imaginary]] skies.

* DangerousForbiddenTechnique: Five separate times Problem Sleuth tried to call forth the "righteous fires of charisma" of [[spoiler:Sepulchritude]], and [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000876 every]] [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000930 time]] [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000970 he]] [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001106 was]] [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001282 stopped]]. After it is finally used, he [[spoiler:turns grey and beaten and, greatly weakened, falls into BHMK's Event Horizon]].

* EpicFail: Past Future Pickle Inspector's ultimate attack against the Midnight Crew in [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/extras/ps000020.html this bonus strip]].

** [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000477 It has a HAIRPIN trigger]].

** And then there's [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001598 this]].

** [[https://www.homestuck.com/?s=4&p=000605 The pumpkin]] doesn't count, because clearly there [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001295 is not]] and [[https://www.homestuck.com/?s=4&p=001256 has never been]] a pumpkin [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001298 there]].

-->''[[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/extras/ps000016.html Sunglass-Free Stiller Bust: Emerge from the tear in space-time, floating slowly and eerily towards the viewer]].''

** And let's not forget our history! It comes, of course, in the form of a delightfully charming [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000975 KATE BEATON-style comic]].

''[[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001298 THIS FUCKING PUMPKIN]]''

* ArtShift: The [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000975 narrative continues]] through a delightfully charming [[Webcomic/HarkAVagrant Kate Beaton]] style comic.

* BornLucky: Mobster Kingpin. "[[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000864 As luck would have it, your VIM gauge maxes out]]." [[spoiler:Later, it's revealed that [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001294 he was cheating]]]].
* BottomlessBladder: Lampshaded/subverted: "[[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000299 You remember you're pissed off at Ace Dick, and in addition to which, you haven't been able to pee once in the 13 and a half hours you've been locked in your office]]."
* BrickJoke: Almost every BrickJoke is also a ChekhovsGun, but one example that fits better here is Ace Dick [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001484 walking]] the [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000522 UGLY DOG]].

** [[spoiler:Ace Dick ends up falling ''backwards'' in canon [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001555 into]] ''Webcomic/{{Jailbreak}}'', revealing answers brought up to questions ''in a different game'']].
** [[spoiler:Ace Dick also [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001577 visits the swamp]] from ''Webcomic/BardQuest''.]]

** {{Invoked}} using the [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000617 ALLEGIANCE MENU]] to decide between siding with the weasels or the elves.
** Later, the [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000787 ALLEGIANCE MESH]] depicts the convoluted alignment among the four kingdoms.

* ChessWithDeath: Happens quite a few times, even without anything at stake, and never once with chess. At least not the [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001008 traditional version of it]].

* TheComputerIsACheatingBastard: "[[spoiler:Sensing his impending demise, DMK [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001742 grows a few extra health meters]]]]."

* ContinuityNod: [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001506 Over 1000 strips later]], we rejoin the sunglasses that were stolen from the Starsky bust. Although the plot relevance makes this technically a CallBack, it has the largest "time since last mention":"relevance to plot" ratio in the game.

* CreationMyth: [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001682 With equal parts absurd myth and hard science]].

* CutAndPasteComic: Lampshaded in some of the "pose as a team" commands; "[[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000509 You copy and paste your previous poses into a new file and animate the background rapidly]]."
* CuttingTheKnot: [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001377 After having a solved puzzle reset, Fiesta Ace Dick uses this to solve it a second time]].

* DeathByOriginStory: [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001524 Your losses cause you to feel an all-consuming sense of vengeance. You feel like every superhero origin cliche is swirling around you at once]]!
* DeathIsCheap[=/=]DeathIsNotPermanent: You get 3 imaginary lives and, if your physical body dies, you can challenge Death to the game of your choice in the afterlife or [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001586 just sneak out while he's not looking]].
* DeliciousDistraction: [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000436 Battle Technique: Torso Flail]].
* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001718 If your IMAGINATION was a face you would punch it. In the face]].

* DeusExMachina: [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001486 DEUS EX SEWING MACHINA]]

** No, ''[[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001027 Fluthlu]]''.

* FinalBoss: The [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001069 battle]] with [[spoiler: Demonhead Mobster Kingpin spans over half the comic and]] parodies several boss battle tropes.

* TheGodsMustBeLazy: [[spoiler:GPI]] will only respond to the command "[[spoiler:Fondly regard creation]]". He actually does do two things, but those things are [[spoiler:create the universe via StableTimeLoop with the help of the temporally-replicating Pickle Inspectors and sewing the universe back together when it is torn apart]]. Never once does he directly help the protagonists, except for perhaps in [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001115 this]] instance.

* GoodOldFisticuffs: [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000996 You call for a diplomatic laying down of arms]].
* GravityIsAHarshMistress: [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001058 You suddenly remember the universe is upside-down]]!
* GrievousHarmWithABody: AD attempts this with [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000978 BATTLE TECHNIQUE -> LV. 2 TORSO FLAIL]], but fails at even providing a DeliciousDistraction like with the original [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000436 Torso Flail]].

* HalfTheManHeUsedToBe: "[[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000374 The window loses it's extra-dimensional portal properties, and severs you mid-way through. You are dead]]."

* HappyDance: Frequently. [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001030 THIS one is REALLY impressive]].

--->''[[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000647 PS]]: Quit falling and land already!''
** In fact, [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000680 it took a cheat code that skipped hundreds of pages]] [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000682 for Pickle Inspector to finish falling]].

** [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001688 It could be that these are the one thousand angels which are said to dance on the head of a pin...]][[spoiler:[[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001689 Or the head of a KINGPIN]]]].

** "[[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000625 Appoint Pickle Inspector as chosen savior of the weasels]]."
** "[[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001045 You cannot descend into the sky because the universe is not upside-down]]!!!"
** "[[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001667 It's DMK's third and final face. He is more fearsome than ever, with THREE HEALTH METERS, and a deadly BLACK HOLE VERSION OF HIS NON-IMAGINARY SELF pulsing on top of his HAT]]."

* KleptomaniacHero: Your motto is "[[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000257 let no inventory go uncluttered]]".

* LampshadeHanging: "[[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001416 You feel it is incredibly important that events in this adventure maintain strict adherence to the laws of physics, because it would just be so stupid if there were any inconsistencies]]."
* LastBreathBullet: [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000997 Zombie Hired Muscle heroically saves Problem Sleuth from the last of the Cultural Rainbow mob]].

** MindScrewdriver: Thank goodness Godhead Pickle Inspector [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000843 explains it all]] at one point. He also thinks [[MST3KMantra you should just relax and have fun, and not worry too much about it]].
** And then Death [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001330 provides a recap]] later.
** And later there's one by [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001696 the Devil]].

** Best example: [[spoiler:[[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001731 DING]]]].

** [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000605 The pumpkin]] doesn't count, because clearly there [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001295 is not]] and [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001256 has never been]] a pumpkin [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001298 there]].
** [[LampshadeHanging You can't imagine]] [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001555 what could possibly go wrong]], unless you [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=1&p=000096 remember]] the [[NoodleIncident Unexplained Aftermath]] from ''[[SequelDisplacement Jailbreak]]''. This is [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001577 followed by]] [[HomageShot a series of homages]] to ''Webcomic/BardQuest'' (each linked in the description texts).

** At one point in the game, Ace Dick beats someone to death [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000721 with a stat meter]].

* PaperThinDisguise: [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001398 A quick change in headgear makes all the difference.]]

* PotHole: "[[spoiler:[[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001649 Death throws down his hat in disappointment]]]]. He really must remember to invest in stronger [[http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=woodwind%20instruments security measures]] for [[spoiler:the afterlife]]."

* PrettyLittleHeadshots: [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000997 Dramatic variant]].
* PrivateEyeMonologue: Parodied in several [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000263 places]], [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001889 including the epilogue]].

* RecapEpisode: Two of them (the first one by Death, [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001696 the second one]] by the Devil), and a third one on the wiki.

* RevealShot: [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001689 Technically]] a CloseupOnHead, at least by name.

** Each also has a expendable item that temporarily boosts it much in the manner of potions. Imagination is boosted by alcohol, Pulchritude is boosted by candy, and Vim is boosted by hotsauce. Early in the game, Vim is boosted by [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000337 coffee,]] so really any hot drink will do.

** Business cards loaded with DoubleEntendre. [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000457 Subverted with Glass Blowers, Inc]].

** [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001747 The universe is becoming a rather crowded place]].''

* SeriousBusiness: Any and all forms of [[ChessWithDeath anything but chess with Death]]. Such as [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001078 Sudoku]].

** PS: Webcomic/CtrlAltDel. [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000788 GAME FUCKING OVER]] May also qualify as a TakeThat.
** [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000871 You're here for two things]]: [[Film/TheyLive to fucking ruin someone's shit, and to play a friendly game of make-believe]]. [[VideoGame/DukeNukem3D AND YOU'RE ALL OUT OF IMAGINATION]].

** [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001008 Death plays]] [[Literature/HarryPotter Wizard's Sudoku]] with one of the characters.
** [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001327 Summon Moe]].
** [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001383 One of the scythe's forms]] is ''Webcomic/DinosaurComics''' T-Rex, after Ryan North's praise of ''MSPA''.
** [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001403 Another form the scythe takes]] is the head of Manny Calavera from ''VideoGame/GrimFandango''.

** [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001629 LV. 4 HOOPTECH]]--[[VideoGame/KatamariDamacy DMMK KATAMARI BALL]]
** [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001514 You got the CHRONOSCOPE!!]] '''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZelda NYARGH PARODY DUMB]]'''

** When the [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001561 Dapper Gentlemen are beating up Fiesta Mobster Kingpin]], the narration launches into "A British Tar" from ''Theatre/HMSPinafore''.

* SoftReset: [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000617 When prompted]], selecting the command to press the shoulder buttons, start, and select will take you to the title screen. Then you have to start the entire comic all over again.
* SolveTheSoupCans: More and [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000604 more weird puzzle shit]] as the story progresses. The Moonlight Sonata piano from VideoGame/ResidentEvil makes a cameo.
* SpaceWhale: [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001551 Harpooned]].

** In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', clicking on the Problem Sleuth [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=001931 game cartridge]] boots up the [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/extras/PS_titlescreen/ start screen, complete with a theme tune]].

* StronglyWordedLetter: [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001732 Problem Sleuth sends one to Mobster Kingpin.]]

* StairwayToHeaven: [[spoiler:DMK: [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001744 LADDER TO HELL]]]]

* StrangeMindsThinkAlike: A command suggested switching hats with an enemy to disguise Problem Sleuth, but to no avail. [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001398 Later]], Mobster Kingpin does this successfully.

** [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001014 MK: SUMMON WILFORD BRIMLEY]]

** [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001043 An incredible transmutation takes place]].
** Subverted, when [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001717 a phenomenal transmutation takes place]].

* VictoryPose: [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001030 Victory dance]]!
* VisualPun: The typewriter/tommygun [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001736 used near the end of the comic]]. Another nickname for the tommygun is the Chicago Typewriter.

* WaveMotionGun: [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001793 The most recent instance]].

* WeakSpot: [[spoiler:DMK's [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001281 NETHER-REGIONAL VULNERABULB]] blooms]], briefly exposing his WEAK SPOT.

* WrittenSoundEffect: [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000222 Thud]].

--->''[[WorldOfCardboardSpeech Actually this sort of bothers me too]]. The bottom line is I just started rattling off numbers without even realizing how big I was making them. A while ago I went back and changed the volume exponent, just so the number wouldn't indicate that he was almost infinitely tiny. I left the mass as it was, because I didn't think it mattered too much if it was just indicated as "VERY BIG". [[{{Foreshadowing}} But I might go back and just delete the exponents altogether, and just string more zeros after base of "10". It's safe to say that with the numbers as they are now, MK would be the biggest black hole in the universe]].''

-->-- '''[[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000497 Chapter 4]]'''

''[[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4 Problem Sleuth]]'' is the third webcomic under the ''Webcomic/MSPaintAdventures'' banner, written by Creator/AndrewHussie, and was arguably the one which first brought Hussie and his work into the limelight. Written and presented [[InteractiveComic in the style of]] an ersatz text/point-and-click adventure game, it details the antics of three especially {{hardboiled detective}}s--[[TheHero Problem Sleuth]], [[TheLancer Ace Dick]], and [[TheSmartGuy Pickle Inspector]]--in their attempts to [[LockedInARoom get out of their offices]], all the while working to aid the turmoil-stricken kingdoms of the Weasels, Clowns, Hogs, and Elves and to foil the dastardly plots of Mobster Kingpin.

--->''[[WorldOfCardboardSpeech Actually this sort of bothers me too]].\\
\\
The bottom line is I just started rattling off numbers without even realizing how big I was making them.\\
\\
A while ago I went back and changed the volume exponent, just so the number wouldn't indicate that he was almost infinitely tiny. I left the mass as it was, because I didn't think it mattered too much if it was just indicated as "VERY BIG".\\
\\
[[{{Foreshadowing}} But I might go back and just delete the exponents altogether, and just string more zeros after base of "10".\\
\\
It's safe to say that with the numbers as they are now, MK would be the biggest black hole in the universe]].

* SelfDisposingVillain: While DMK, Mobster Kingpin's imaginary counterpart, is dispatched by the heros during an extensive BossBattle, [[spoiler: Mobster Kinpin himself doesn't get defeated by the sleuths. Instead, he gets accidentally pushed through his gravity corset by the moon, ejected from his black hole, and falls to his death, where he is gruesomely impaled on the Ham Needle.]]

** Superego: Pickle Inspector (TheSmartGuy)

* PowerGivesYouWings: [[spoiler:Problem Sleuth]] gains a pair of wings upon using [[spoiler:Sepulchritude]].

* PowerTrio: Early on, before the cast expands:
** Ego: Problem Sleuth.
** Id: Ace Dick.
** Superego: Pickle Inspector.

* NightmareFuel: A few, one that stands out being Pickle Inspector [[https://www.homestuck.com/problem-sleuth/325 abruptly decaying,]] the skin sloughing off his face in more detail than the comic's style would suggest, when he enters [[ItMakesSenseInContext Ace Dick's real office from the imaginary world.]]

** [[spoiler:PS would later use a similar letter about how much DMK sucks as ammo for his Pax Problicum attack, which somehow actually shook the guy enough to make a serious spike to his Sick Burn meter.]]