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1'''Basic Trope''': A more or less normal character becomes a much more powerful and generally non-corporeal being due to GoalOrientedEvolution, being TouchedByVorlons, using NinetyPercentOfYourBrain or something similar. This usually results in a much reduced role for the character, and [[RealLifeWritesThePlot sometimes that's the goal to start with]].
2* '''Straight''': Bob gets killed, but he's the mentor to the hero, so [[SpiritAdvisor his spirit hangs around]] giving the protagonist emotional support and cryptic advice for the rest of the series.
3* '''Exaggerated''': Bob gets killed in a significant HeroicSacrifice - and comes back and proceeds to use his newfound power to easily beat his killers and everyone else.
4* '''Downplayed''': Bob gets killed, but even as a ghost he remains an active principal character.
5* '''Justified''': Ghosts exist in the setting, and they do tend to be more powerful than actual people, and [[MagicAIsMagicA the way they're made]] is well-explained and strictly followed.
6* '''Inverted''':
7** CrystalDragonJesus gets {{Depower}}ed.
8** DraggedOffToHell
9** Bob actually gains a more significant role in the story after becoming a ghost. He barely appeared before but now he frequently acted as a messenger and even [[StaringDownCthulhu - got the gods to back down from destroying the human race]].
10* '''Subverted''':
11** [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence Ascending to a higher plane of existence is possible]] in this setting, and Bob should be capable of it... but no, he fails or [[AnyoneCanDie just plain dies]] and doesn't come back.
12** Ascending is entirely possible... but Bob doesn't want to. So he doesn't.
13** Alternately, it's possible to Ascend... but it just means joining a HiveMind, which people really wouldn't want if they knew what they were in for.
14** Alternately, it's possible to Ascend, and a good thing... but Bob was misinformed about how to do it or misunderstood and winds up dying embarrassingly.
15** Bob ascends, but he is given the option to go back and takes it. Or he is [[ItIsNotYourTime kicked back to the real world.]]
16** Bob begins to ascend, only to be interrupted before it is complete.
17* '''Double Subverted''':
18** It looked like Bob tried to Ascend, but he failed... but then it kicked in much later than it should have.
19** Alternately, the HiveMind seems unpleasant, but it's not all that bad.
20* '''Parodied''':
21** Bob getting promoted to Regional Manager (or fired) from his desk job is treated as Ascending.
22** Or [[CelestialBureaucracy vice versa]].
23* '''Zig Zagged''': Bob prepares to Ascend to solve some problem, but at the last minute it seems he doesn't need to. He goes through with it anyway, but he fails and remains a normal human or dies. But it seems that it did work after all. But he wishes it didn't because now he's stuck at a [[CelestialBureaucracy cosmic desk]]. Or Is He?
24* '''Averted''':
25** AnyoneCanDie, and there is no afterlife in this setting
26** Alternately, ghosts do exist, but there's no way to control who becomes one and they aren't particularly powerful and no main characters ever happen to come back.
27** Alternately, there are no EvolutionaryLevels in this setting, despite all the AppliedPhlebotinum and {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s.
28* '''Enforced''': Bob's actor wants off the show. The writers want to leave open the possibility of reusing the character, or just want to give him a dignified, awesome sendoff that completely inverts DroppedABridgeOnHim, so he gets SoapOperaDisease and the main characters manage an EpicHail so that {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s take him back to their planet to convalesce for an unstated amount of time.
29* '''Lampshaded''': When Bob Ascends, a character waves and shouts, trying to get the attention of the [[TouchedByVorlons aliens taking him]] so they'll take him too.
30* '''Invoked''': Bob knows or even researches a magic ritual to Ascend, and uses it.
31* '''Exploited''': Bob owes Alice a favor. Bob Ascends. Alice can now ask for practically anything.
32* '''Defied''': Bob is waiting for the {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s to come down and help him Ascend. Too bad Alice has been giving him doses of the aliens' WeaksauceWeakness for weeks.
33* '''Discussed''': "Bob died? Really? How?" "It was complicated. I'll ask him next time I see him."
34* '''Conversed''': ???
35* '''Deconstructed''': Bob Ascends. His friends still grieve for him, because they may know he's Ascended but it's hard to believe, and they miss him because they don't get to see him anymore or know what he's doing. If he does come back, he now believes wholeheartedly in BlueAndOrangeMorality and/or is now [[BewareTheSuperman dangerous]]. If it's too easy to Ascend, [[ReligionOfEvil the wrong people may do it]].
36** Everyone winds up furious at Bob for [[TheGodsMustBeLazy not using his new unprecedented power at all to help them]].
37* '''Reconstructed''': Bob's friends miss him, but he leaves mementoes for them now and then and pops up to offer solace in times of need. A need to BewareTheSuperman is hinted at, but Bob ultimately does the right thing despite [[AGodAmI the lure of power]], or his actions actually were [[OmniscientMoralityLicense serving the greater good]] even though it didn't look that way.
38* '''IntendedAudienceReaction''': Bob Ascends; it's set up as a big deal, it comes with powers that might or might not give him [[StoryBreakerPower Story Breaker Status]], the audience is left wondering what it will mean for the character and the show... but it's just because this was just the easiest way to [[PutOnABus put him on a bus]], and he's never discussed again.
39* '''Played For Laughs''':
40** The ButtMonkey Ascends... and is still Butt Monkey in the new dimension he's now stuck in.
41** Alternately, in a setting where DeathIsCheap, someone Ascends by accident. Or Ascends when they actually [[DeathSeeker wanted to die]].
42* '''Played For Drama''': Glowing lights. Alice mourns even if she really should know better. [[EvilLaugh Mad, cackling laughter]] at Bob's [[AGodAmI newfound power]].
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44Back to AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence
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46%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
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