Line #7 Analysis/BFG


1	A BFG is a firm favourite BiggerStick for the AntiHero. If a supporting character has it, there's three possible reasons; to [[WeaponBasedCharacterization characterise]] someone as TheBigGuy, while other characters might pull one out or be given one if they're about to have a heroic LastStand. A weaker character, particularly the DamselInDistress, might happen upon the hero's discarded weapon after the aforementioned scene where the hero drops it; typically they'll struggle to aim it at the right person but ultimately succeed, upon which they'll either swear they'll never try to fire the weapon again or, more rarely, [[SmallGirlBigGun ask if they can keep it]].
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3	If a bad guy has it, expect him to be TheDragon, TheBrute or a PsychoForHire; the BigBad will usually arm himself with [[GoodGunsBadGuns something smaller but eviler]] unless he is an EvilGenius, in which case his BFG is likely to be a WaveMotionGun so big it has its own seat. It might be suggested an evil user is CompensatingForSomething, which [[BerserkButton might well be a bad idea]]. If the weapon is the bad guy's [[TheGimmick gimmick]], it will most likely [[ICallItVera have a name]], and might get a speech where the villain [[EvilGloating gloats]] about how big and awesome it is.
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5	It's often a sign that the user is [[CompensatingForSomething literally compensating for something]]; a bad guy using such a weapon is quite likely to [[OneHitKill go down from one punch]] after being relieved of it if he isn't also a [[TheBrute Brute]]. It's typically also used to escalate the action; much like we know TheBrute is a threat because he's physically imposing, we can tell a BFG-equipped Dragon or ColdSniper can do a lot of damage straight away, because their gun ''looks'' like it can. The [=BFG's=] range and firepower is likely to force the hero to defeat the user with cunning rather than straight-up firepower (much like if the bad guy has a [[VehicularAssault powerful vehicle]]); during this standoff, if the hero is armed with something more normal, his "puny weapon" is likely to be compared to it. If it has any kind of weakness (ammunition drum, flamethrower fuel tanks, ability to overload, etc) expect the user to be [[HoistByHisOwnPetard hoisted by his own petard]].
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7	In older videogames, the BFG is typically the last weapon the player acquires (though there might be a very well-hidden one [[DiscOneNuke earlier on]]), and coincides with the introduction of the toughest monsters; if it's powerful enough, it might go all the way up to EleventhHourSuperpower, with the player fighting [[EliteMook the game's toughest normal enemies]] as if they're just regular grunts; usually the ammo will be rare enough that it's restricted to only the most extreme situations, however. This can result in the weapon being TooAwesomeToUse. More modern games will typically limit a BFG by either fixing it in place (the result usually being HoldTheLine), using an [[LimitedLoadout inventory system that doesn't allow the player to keep hold of it]], making it so heavy it actually restricts the player's movement options, or just restricting ammo to specific boss areas so the player has to discard it afterward. If an enemy's got one, it usually instantly qualifies them as at least an EliteMook; [=BFGs=] are also the favourite armaments of the GiantMook, KingMook and BossInMookClothing. Game [=BFGs=] sometimes suffer from effects related to their awesomeness, such as {{Overheating}}, and may have a ChargeMeter.

Context Analysis / BFG