Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context Main / AppliedPhlebotinum

Go To

1%% Image removed per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16959497510.60465700
2%% Previous thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1603874183051158600
3%% Please do not add a new image without discussion in Image Pickin.
4%%
5%%
6->''"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a completely ad-hoc plot device."''
7-->-- '''Creator/DavidLangford''', [[http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/nonfiction/dlnw.htm "A Gadget Too Far,"]] as a corollary to Arthur C. ClarkesThirdLaw
8
9Phlebotinum[[note]]or "phlebotinium" in the Commonwealth countries[[/note]] is the versatile substance that may be rubbed on anything to cause an effect needed by a plot. Examples include but are not limited to: [[{{Nanomachines}} nanotechnology]], magic crystal emanations, pixie dust, and GreenRocks.
10%% List is long enough. More is not better.
11
12In essence, it is plot fuel. Without it, the story would grind to an abrupt halt. It's the science that powers the [[FasterThanLightTravel FTL]] drive on the starship so the characters can get somewhere, it's the magic that hatches the EggMacGuffin so the protagonist can save an endangered species, it's the strange things unknown to science or magic that do basically anything [[RuleOfDrama except those limits and dangers required by the plot]]. The reader does not know how Phlebotinum would work and the creators hope nobody cares. In essence, it's a plot device that abstracts away the problem of hard science.
13
14According to Creator/JossWhedon, during the DVD commentary for the pilot episode of ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', the term "phlebotinum" originates from ''Buffy'' writer (and ''Series/{{Angel}}'' co-creator) David Greenwalt's sudden outburst: "Don't touch the phlebotinum!" apropos of nothing.[[labelnote:Fun Fact]]Whether or not he had the etymological connection in mind, "phlebotomy" is the drawing of blood, coincidentally appropriate in context.[[/labelnote]]
15
16If the phlebotinum in question is simply a physical substance with unusual/extreme properties you are almost certainly dealing with the element {{Unobtainium}}.
17
18A.K.A. Handwavium, Contrivium, or Convenium. Compare AuthorPowers, HandWave, TheoryOfNarrativeCausality, MacGuffin, DeusExMachina, and AWizardDidIt. Contrast MisappliedPhlebotinum and ReedRichardsIsUseless, and MinovskyPhysics for when it's actually examined in scientific detail with clearly defined limits and uses. Not to be confused with [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phlebotomy Phlebotomy.]]
19
20----
21!!Tropes
22
23[[index]]
24[floatboxright:
25Categories:
26+ ForensicPhlebotinum
27+ FuturisticTechIndex
28+ GravityTropes
29+ HyperspaceIndex
30+ InsecuritySystem
31+ MagicAndPowers
32+ MagicalComputer
33+ PhlebotinumDuJour
34+ ThisIndexHasMagicProperties
35]
36
37* AbnormalAmmo
38* AchillesPowerCord
39* {{Aesoptinum}}
40* AgonyBeam
41* AmplifierArtifact
42* AmuletOfConcentratedAwesome
43* AmuletOfDependency
44* AncientArtifact
45* AnimatingArtifact
46* {{Antimatter}}
47* AreTheseWiresImportant
48* ArtifactOfDoom
49* ArtifactOfHope
50* ArtifactOfPower
51* ArtificialGravity
52* ArtInitiatesLife
53* ArtisticLicenseChemistry
54* ArtisticLicenseSpace
55* AutomatedAutomobiles
56* BackgroundMagicField
57* BambooTechnology
58* BigRedButton
59* BioAugmentation
60* BlackBox
61* BlindJump
62* BloodBath
63* BloodIron
64* BodyToJewel
65* BuiltWithLego
66* ByThePowerOfGrayskull
67* CaptureBalls
68* CameFromTheSky
69* CantHaveSexEver
70* CarryingTheAntidote
71* ChemistryCanDoAnything
72* ClarkesThirdLaw
73* ClingyCostume
74* ClingyMacGuffin
75* CloneAngst
76* ColdIron
77* CollapsingLair
78* CommLinks
79* ContainmentField
80* CorrespondenceCourse
81* CounterpartArtifacts
82* CureForCancer
83* DangerousDeviceDisposalDebacle
84* DangerousPhlebotinumInteraction
85* TheDarkSide
86* DeadlyForceField
87* DeflectorShields
88* DepletedPhlebotinumShells
89* DetachableLowerHalf
90* DeusExNukina
91* DevolutionDevice
92* DisabilitySuperpower
93* DiscoTech
94* DisintegrationChamber
95* DivertingPower
96* DoAnythingRobot
97* DoomsdayDevice
98* DuctTapeForEverything
99* ElectricInstantGratification
100* ElectricTorture
101* ElementalAbsorption
102* ElixirOfLife
103* {{EMP}}
104* EnergyAbsorption
105* EveryCarIsAPinto
106* EverythingSensor
107* ExactTimeToFailure
108* ExplosiveInstrumentation
109* ExplosiveOverclocking
110* ExpositionBeam
111* ExtradimensionalPowerSource
112* FailsafeFailure
113* FantasticPlastic
114* FantasyMetals
115* FasterThanLightTravel
116* FertileFeet
117* FoldThePageFoldTheSpace
118* ForgottenPhlebotinum
119* ForgottenSuperweapon
120* FountainOfYouth
121* FunctionalMagic
122* GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke
123* GeniusSerum
124* GoingToGiveItMoreEnergy
125* GravitySucks
126* GreatBigBookOfEverything
127* GreenRocks
128* HandyRemoteControl
129* HardLight
130* HarmfulToTouch
131* HealingPotion
132* HealingVat
133* HelpingHands
134* HiddenWire
135* {{Hihiirokane}}
136* HoldingBackThePhlebotinum
137* HologramProjectionImperfection
138* HulkingOut
139* HumanPopsicle
140* HyperDestructiveBouncingBall
141* HyperspaceLanes
142* HypnoRay
143* IKnowYourTrueName
144* ImmortalityInducer
145* ImportedAlienPhlebotinum
146* IncrediblyObviousBug
147* InertialDampening
148* InfiniteSupplies
149* InfraredXrayCamera
150* InventionalWisdom
151* InverseLawOfUtilityAndLethality
152* InvisibilityCloak
153* InvoluntaryShapeshifting
154* InWorkingOrder
155* ItemAmplifier
156* ItRunsOnNonsensoleum
157* JackUpWithPhlebotinum
158* JetPack
159* LegoGenetics
160* LeyLine
161* LightningCanDoAnything
162* LiquidAssets
163* TheLittleDetecto
164* LivingBattery
165* LosingYourHead
166* LostTechnology
167* LotusEaterMachine
168* LovePotion
169* LoyalPhlebotinum
170* MadeOfExplodium
171* MadeOfIndestructium
172* MadeOfPhlebotinum
173* MagiBabble
174* MagicAIsMagicA
175* MagicalAccessory
176* MagicallyBindingContract
177* MagicalParticleAccelerator
178* MagicAntidote
179* MagicFromTechnology
180* MagicMeteor
181* MagicMusic
182* MagicPlasticSurgery
183* MagicPoweredPseudoscience
184* MagicTool
185* MakeAWish
186* MakeupWeapon: Weaponized cosmetics.
187* MatterReplicator
188* MayContainEvil
189* MechaEnablingPhlebotinum
190* MedievalStasis
191* MenstrualMenace
192* MentalPictureProjector
193* MergingMachine
194* MindControlDevice
195* MindProbe
196* MineralMacGuffin
197* MinovskyPhysics
198* MirrorMoralityMachine
199* MisappliedPhlebotinum
200* {{Mithril}}
201* MobileSuitHuman
202* MutagenicGoo
203* MyCarHatesMe
204* {{Nanomachines}}
205* NeutronBomb
206* NoBloodForPhlebotinum
207* NoOffButton
208* NoTechButHighTech
209* NotOfThisEarth
210* NoWaterProofingInTheFuture
211* NuclearNullifier
212* NuclearTorchRocket
213* TheNudifier
214* OffscreenVillainDarkMatter
215* {{Orichalcum}}
216* OurClonesAreIdentical
217* OurDarkMatterIsMysterious
218* OurPhlebotinumChild
219* OverclockingAttack
220* OverrideCommand
221* {{Panacea}}
222* ParanormalMundaneItem
223* PercussiveMaintenance
224* PerilousPowerSource
225* PerpetualMotionMachine
226* PhilosophersStone
227* PhlebotinumAnalogy
228* PhlebotinumBattery
229* PhlebotinumBomb
230* PhlebotinumBreakdown
231* PhlebotinumDependence
232* PhlebotinumGirl
233* PhlebotinumHandlingEquipment
234* PhlebotinumHandlingRequirements
235* PhlebotinumInducedSteampunk
236* PhlebotinumInducedStupidity
237* PhlebotinumKilledTheDinosaurs
238* PhlebotinumMuncher
239* PhlebotinumOverdose
240* PhlebotinumOverload
241* PhlebotinumPills
242* PhlebotinumProofRobot
243* PhlebotinumRebel
244* PlacebotinumEffect
245* PlotSensitiveButton
246* PlotSensitiveItems
247* PlotTechnology
248* PortalBook
249* PortalPicture
250* PortalPool
251* PowerCrystal
252* PoweredByABlackHole
253* PoweredByAForsakenChild
254* PowerSource
255* PowerUpFood
256* ProfessorGuineaPig
257* ProjectedMan
258* PsychicNosebleed
259* PublicDomainArtifact
260* PureEnergy
261* QuantumMechanicsCanDoAnything
262* RadiationInducedSuperpowers
263* ReactionlessDrive
264* ReadingsAreOffTheScale
265* ReadingsBlewUpTheScale
266* ReinventingTheTelephone
267* RestrainingBolt
268* ReversePolarity
269* RewritingReality
270* RidiculouslyPotentExplosive
271* RubeGoldbergDevice
272* RunsOnIgnorance
273* SavedByThePhlebotinum
274* ScienceCannotComprehendPhlebotinum
275* ScrewLearningIHavePhlebotinum
276* ScrewballSerum
277* SecretProjectRefugeeFamily
278* SelfDefenseless
279* SelfDestructMechanism
280* SelfGuardingPhlebotinum
281* SelfHealingPhlebotinum
282* SentientCosmicForce
283* SentientPhlebotinum
284* SharpenedToASingleAtom
285* ShoePhone
286* ShrinkRay
287* SilverBullet
288* SinglePhlebotinumLimit
289* SolidClouds
290* SoulFragment
291* SoulPoweredEngine
292* SpaceIsMagic
293* SpySatellites
294* StatesOfPhlebotinum
295* SupernormalBindings
296* SuperSerum
297* {{Superweapon}}
298* SuperWristGadget
299* SurgicalImpersonation
300* SwirlyEnergyThingy
301* TechnoBabble
302* ThinDimensionalBarrier
303* ThirtySecondBlackout
304* ThoseMagnificentFlyingMachines
305* ThunderboltIron
306* TimTaylorTechnology
307* TimeStandsStill
308* TimeTravel
309* TooSpicyForYogSothoth
310* ToxicPhlebotinum
311* ToxicWasteCanDoAnything
312* TrackingDevice
313* TransformationCauses
314* TransformationRay
315* TransformationTrinket
316* TranslatorMicrobes
317* TruthSerums
318* UniversalRemoteControl
319* UnknownPhenomenon
320* {{Unobtainium}}
321* UpgradeArtifact
322* UtilityBelt
323* UtilityMagic
324* VillainBeatingArtifact
325* VirginPower
326* VirginSacrifice
327* VirtualGhost
328* WeaponOfMassDestruction
329* WeatherControlMachine
330* WeHaveForgottenThePhlebotinum
331* WhatDoYouMeanItsPhlebotinum
332* WheelOfPain
333* WhenThingsSpinScienceHappens
334* WireDilemma
335* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity
336* WithinParameters
337* WordsCanBreakMyBones
338* WorldHealingWave
339* ZillionDollarBill
340[[/index]]
341----
342
343Applied Phlebotinum is among the JustForFun/TropesOfLegend.

Top