Line #40 Webcomic/ACompleteWasteOfTime


1	->''"In this world there is a thin line between order and chaos. In an ideal world this line would be thicker, but no. This is not the case. In an ideal world, your work would be a complete waste of time. But no, this world is not ideal. There is that ever-present line.''\
2	''"In this insane world, it is you. You are that line."''
3	-->-- '''OpeningNarration, on Lorrex Kobol (aegisMason)'''
4
5	''A Complete Waste of Time'' is an [[Webcomic/MSPaintAdventures MS Paint Fan Adventure]] by [=clandestineTechie=], centering on a group of sixteen trolls as they play a game called [[AbsurdlyHighStakesGame META]]. What was originally supposed to be just a simple game session mutates into something very complex and trying on everyone as relationships are made and broken, another set of aliens is discovered, and of course everyone wastes each other's time.
6
7	Notable for impressive storytelling and worldbuilding, and for not being just another [[Webcomic/{{Homestuck}} SBURB]] playthrough.
8
9	* [[http://www.mspaforums.com/showthread.php?37178-A-Complete-Waste-of-Time-Thread-2-Cerana-Cover-evidence Latest forum thread]]
10	* [[http://mspfanventures.com/?s=99 Mirror]]
11	* [[http://mspafa.wikia.com/wiki/A_Complete_Waste_of_Time MSPFA Wiki entry]]
12
13	According to the mirror, it ran from July 16th, 2010 to October 2nd, 2012, with an impressive 950+ pages.\
14	On February 17th, 2018, a user named 1011686 [[https://mspfa.com/?s=99&p=957 posted on the mirror]] a notice that the adventure is now officially canceled, along with author notes.
15
16	Not to be confused with ''Website/PointlessWasteOfTime''.
17	----
18	!''A Complete Waste of Time'' has the following tropes:
19	* AbsurdlyHighStakesGame: META. For starters, it determines players by examining the server player's friends list. If anyone from that list hasn't installed the game within one day after the server starts, ''they die''. [[spoiler:This ends up causing a mass {{depopulation\| bomb}} of Seconia, as virtually everyone therein is connected to its natural network, and thus is connected to everyone else.]]
20	** While in game, you can accidentally murder your conscience, which leaves you incapable of moral decisions.
21	** [[spoiler:You'd better win, or your civilization ''ceases to ever have existed.'' Not just destroyed, but removed from history.]]
22	** [[spoiler:If you do manage to win, your prize a single wish (for anything) and a god to look over your people.]]
23	** [[spoiler:This wish can [[http://mspfanventures.com/?s=99&p=620 annihilate the universe]], [[http://mspfanventures.com/?s=99&p=877 defeat gods]], or [[http://mspfanventures.com/?s=99&p=618 do nothing at all.]] ]]
24	** Players who reach god tier [[spoiler:literally become gods]].
25	* AerithAndBob: The trolls are for the most part given normal first names (e.g. Rick, Noel, Vera), with a few exceptions (Cerana, Lorrex, ''Graves''). And then there are the Ithicans, whose psychenyms include such adjectives as Virulent or Virtuistic.
26	* AgentMulder / OccultDetective: Hans aspires to be one.
27	* AlchemyIsMagic: Alchemy plays an important part in the story; the trolls (and two Ithicans) are denoted by alchemical symbols, and like in ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' combining objects in forging pots creates new objects with the qualities of the components. Then there's GENESIS SHELL, the UltimateBlacksmith Denizen of Fire.
28	* ArcNumber: 35, which is ostensibly the number of pages each character is allotted in their introduction, though it shows up in other places as well.
29	** The Ithicans' concept of time revolves around the number 24
30	*** Their moon phases are 2*4=8 days long. There are 24 days in a "trilunar gyration". There are 24 [=TGs=] in a year, and Ithicans survive roughly 24 years.
31	*** There was also 2 groups of 4 Ithicans that played in their session.
32	* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: Plato's introduction almost directly mentions this trope.
33	-->"You exercise your caste's influence to dangerous levels and have been directly responsible for at least thirty-five MURDERS, sixteen ACCIDENTS, and two RATHER JEOPARDOUS ACCOUNTS OF JAYWALKING."
34	* ArtificialLimbs: Rick's right arm. Also the Ithicans, who are born without them and thus must create limbs from plants or metal, although the latter is considered heretical.
35	* AuthorAppeal: clandestineTechie loves peace lilies. He ''[[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=759 really]]'' [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=760 loves]] [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=761 them]].
36	* AuthorAvatar: cT shows up in the [?] segments as a fully-dressed Ithican (ironically the Ithicans themselves [[ExposedExtraterrestrials have no concept of clothing]]).
37	* AwesomenessMeter: It's not whether you achieve goals in META, but rather ''how'' you achieve them.
38	* AxCrazy: [[spoiler: Moira, in the doomed alpha timeline.]]
39	* BadassArmFold: Virulent does one [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=785 here]], but questions the badassery of something that requires arms to accomplish.
40	* BatmanGambit: Noel tries one to [[spoiler:assist in Moira's suicide, since she claimed that if she made it back alive she wouldn't trust anyone anymore. It of course fails since Graves realizes what was happening with her after having a change of heart]].
41	* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: [[spoiler:Gary managed to screw his team out of a HappyEnding for their session by wishing that they all got what the session god thought they deserved. He didn't know that god thought they deserved nothing, having gotten lucky for even beating META.]]
42	* BigDamnHeroes: [[spoiler:Unified, a wreck of an ithican who just killed Pliable Paeans, goes on a nihilistic rant about how the Ithicans are doomed and that they should just die instead of prolonging their "suffering". Just as he plans on killing the other survivors for clinging on to hope, Virtuistic comes out of nowhere and caves in his skull by metal-bending his helmet.]]
43	* BlackAndWhiteInsanity: [[spoiler:Alpha Moira, post-suicide-attempt.]]
44	* BreakThemByTalking: Future Graves give [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=683 this speech]] to Future Moira because he's tired of her killing him on sight simply because virulentPanacea told her to. So big, [[spoiler:it [[DrivenToSuicide drives her to suicide]] in the desert. After a cup of tea he [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone reconsiders his actions]].]]
45	* CastHerd: The F.A. Crew (Syd, Joan, Hans, and Gary), who are counterparts to the other sixteen trolls.
46	* CharacterFilibuster: Cerana, in text!
47	* ClusterFBomb: Permanent tries to talk like this to [[JiveTurkey sound hip]] with the Mizanian dream selves, but it always comes off as odd since he has no idea what those words even mean. [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=781 He eventually stops.]]
48	* CoolAirship: [[spoiler:Chad manages to snag one in the Alpha session.]]
49	* CoolMask: Gabe always has a mask on, without exception.
50	* CordonBleughChef: Felis
51	* CultureClash: Ithicans are a peaceful, nature-loving people. Trolls conquer everything in their path.
52	** Ithicans are [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=537 enthralled]] by the trolls' ability to '''have arms'''.
53	** Permanent does not understand the troll's [[ClusterFBomb strange alien language]].
54	** Cerana teaches the Ithicans [[spoiler:that are struggling to survive on their troll-desecrated planet]] the concept of inside vs. outside.
55	-->[[spoiler:"At least while we are all dying we are learning valuable alien concepts for when and if we survive." --Astral]]
56	** Subverted: Viridian is an outcast among the trolls, but falls in love with Ithican culture.
57	* DeathIsCheap: If you die in META, you'll simply respawn in your homeland with some penalties.
58	** Menders can revive the dead without problems. In the real world, even!
59	* DishingOutDirt[=/=]GreenThumb: Viridian
60	* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Future Moira gets a HeroicBSOD when Future Graves calls her out on her hypocrisy, and so chooses to perish in the harsh Alternian desert. Thankfully, he forgives her soon after.]]
61	** Unfortunately, [[spoiler:she then pulls a Gamzee.]]
62	* ElectronicEyes: Lyanne.
63	* ExposedExtraterrestrials: As a general rule of thumb, Ithicans don't wear clothes. They are sometimes shown wearing armor in META, but it is probably for the stats.
64	* FinalBoss: [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=461 The Archfiend.]]
65	* FunetikAksent: A slight case; Philanian dreamselves and +devas speak with "ph" instead of "f", while Mizanian dreamselves and -devas speak with "z"s for "s"s. This is on top of each troll's normal quirk.
66	* FunWithAcronyms: [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=116 Rick's]] '''B'''reakneck '''A'''ccelerated '''D'''eath '''A'''rtifice of '''S'''upersonic '''S'''oaring.
67	* GadgeteerGenius: Rick, though he intentionally makes his objects breakable so that he always has something to occupy his time.
68	* GenderBlenderName: Spoofed. Rick was originally going to be named [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=108 Rikako]] [[GratuitousJapanese Asakura]].
69	* GodGuise: The trolls inadvertently play the part of "moon elders" to the Ithicans at one point in their history. While some are nice, others [[StopWorshippingMe don't really care]] about the godly business, and some (Lyanne in particular) [[AGodAmI absolutely enjoy]] [[JerkassGods tormenting]] the poor aliens.
70	* GoKartingWithBowser: Despite being rulers of opposing kingdoms, Virulent and Permanent at least have the decency to [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=788 talk to each other]], however awkwardly.
71	* GoodAngelBadAngel: The Devas serve this function to all META players.
72	* GoodWingsEvilWings: Comes with the KarmaMeter.
73	* HeadsTailsEdge: cT sets up a coin flip to determine whether or not to indulge in the drama of the events since [[spoiler:Moira's]] breakdown leading up to the Gamma session. [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=808 Guess what happens.]]
74	* HelloInsertNameHere: The trolls, as is the InteractiveComic standard.
75	** Ithicans come up with ''their own'' names on their first birthday.
76	* HeroicBSOD: Milo has one when he finds out he can't cast spells like he claimed he could. A more serious case is [[spoiler:Moira's emotional breakdown and attempted suicide after Graves calls her out on being a hypocrite]].
77	* {{Hipster}}: Milo is nearly obsessed with trying to out-cool Chad, even though it almost always fails.
78	* HorseOfADifferentColor / BondCreatures: The Survivor class has this as a special ability, and they can choose from one of four Denizens, each allied with an element:
79	** [[GiantFlyer SKY ALBATROSS]], Denizen of Air, who [[{{Mon}} will help fight alongside her master]]. In one of Noel's prophecies, Felis has tamed her and was riding her.
80	** [[ThreateningShark STEELMOLAR]], Denizen of Water, who knows many secrets since he [[PhotographicMemory remembers everything]]. Was tamed by Viridian [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=258 in the Alpha timeline]].
81	** [[SandWorm DUST WURM]], Denizen of Earth, who can help find places and objects. [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=173 He helped Rick and Moira]] [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=174 find the Dungeon of Glass and Heat]].
82	** And finally, GENESIS SHELL, Denizen of Fire, who can [[UltimateBlacksmith forge damn well anything]]. Felis has found and woken him up in the Alpha timeline, and seeks his help in repairing the timeline.
83	* ICallItVera: Rick's shotgun [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=112 Ol' Bucky]], Felis's bow [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=488 Sasha]].
84	* IChooseToStay: Virulent Panacea and Permanent Venom end up staying in the game-world of META as the Queen of Philan and the King of Mizan, respectively. It was for the better they didn't return to [[JustBeforeTheEnd an Alternia-conquered and later abandoned Seconia]].
85	* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Lyanne finds herself confronted by a [[spoiler:[[BlackAndWhiteInsanity crazed]] Moira]] and tries to snap [[spoiler:her]] out of it.
86	* ImAHumanitarian: Graves. [[spoiler:Especially when [[ITasteDelicious he eats his past self]].]]
87	* InstantWebHit: In-Universe: Joan is this because of a combination of being a Nautical Aristocrat and having an ECLECTIC TASTE IN MUSIC. However, she doesn't revel in her popularity that much.
88	* InterfaceScrew: Eventually, the screen starts to glitch out at certain points, with messages from Permanent and Virulent appearing and overriding the SecondPersonNarration. Apparently, [[NiceJobBreakingItHero fast-forwarding and playing the tape has done a number on its integrity]].
89	* {{Invisibility}}: Camille has this power, which helps when she goes assassinating.
90	* IronicEcho: [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=573 "I cannot have tricksters]] [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=792 and liars among my ranks."]]
91	* IWorkAlone: Permanent, once he becomes the King of Mizan.
92	* {{Jerkass}}:
93	** Plato, especially after killing off his devas.
94	** Vera counts as well, when she is in a bad mood.
95	** [[spoiler: The gods that rule over META sessions don't blink at annihilating species who lose the game]]
96	*** [[spoiler: The gods' parents also do not blink at annihilating gods that fail META]]
97	* JerkassGods: Especially the deer god. It's so bad that one of his fellow gods has called him out on it once.
98	* KarmaMeter
99	* KillSteal: For all the effort Camille put into sacking a monster, Layla simply [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=831 blasts it]] into oblivion.
100	* KlingonPromotion: Virulent had to kill the previous Queen of Philan to achieve that status. The same could be said for Permanent and the previous ruler of Mizan.
101	* Letters2Numbers: Rick's typing quirk consists of him replacing the first letter of a word with a numeral (from zero to ten) whose initial phoneme(s) most closely resembles the words. 4or 8xample, 3hese 1ords 1ere most likely written by him.
102	* MadnessMantra: [=chronicConflagration=] has several: "dcmon!" "i nccd mocc blood" and a RapidFireNo.
103	* MeaningfulName:
104	** Philan and Mizan [[FridgeBrilliance are short for "philanthropy" and "mi[s]anthropy" respectively]].
105	** Virulent Panacea's surname refers to the ''panacea'' (her element, gold) that was the secondary goal of alchemists, behind {{immortality}}.
106	* MindScrew: If you can't get used to the very non-linear story format this adventure employs, expect to be confused about what events are happening when and why.
107	* MoodWhiplash: [[http://mspfanventures.com/?s=99&p=728 Let's go back to]] [[http://mspfanventures.com/?s=99&p=201the less depressing couple]]
108	** After the dramatic reveal of the origin of META, [[spoiler:Lyanne and Moira]] engage in sloppy makeouts.
109	* NeatFreak: Syd.
110	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Sure, Lyanne. [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=295 Hack the game]] and become an elite Level 255 Pilferer, while the game activates its [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=298 balancing features]] to make the enemies way too tough for your also-recently-entered friends. Thankfully, Gabe manages to [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=512 spawncamp her]] down to a reasonable level.
111	* NothingIsScarier / {{Sinister Silhouette\|s}}: [[spoiler:Moira]] shows up at one point, about to put [[spoiler:an axe]] into [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=797 Lyanne]]. It gets scarier on some monitors where, due to color settings, [[spoiler:she]] ''can't even be seen''!
112	* OohMeAccentsSlipping: Played for drama. When someone stops using their typing quirks, it means they have become serious about something (e.g. [[spoiler: an {{ascended\| demon}} Future Graves forgiving Moira for all the times she killed him, alpha Lorrex regretting playing META, Lyanne confronting an AxCrazy Moira, the group chat over the destruction of the alpha/beta sessions (with appropriate lampshading), etc.]]).
113	* OurMermaidsAreDifferent: Cerana [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=355 temporarily becomes one]] after encountering Steelmolar. Later, Viridian becomes one to explore the pillars of Seconia's history with Cerana.
114	* PlayfulHacker: Lyanne.
115	* PowerGivesYouWings
116	* ProfessionalKiller: Gabe and Camille.
117	* PunctuatedForEmphasis: [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=528 Or]] [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=529 rather,]] [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=530 INCREDIBLE SILLINESS.]]
118	* TheQuietOne: Gabe.
119	* RageAgainstTheMentor: +Moira [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=789 throws a big fit]] at Virulent when she is caught chatting it up with Permanent, who was supposed to be "the enemy". She had it particularly bad since Virulent had ceaselessly urged her to kill Graves, Permanent's pupil.
120	* SelfDuplication: Milo randomly makes clones of himself to aid in such things like completing dungeons. When a clone dies, his memories pass on to the original Milo. Needless to say, it gives him a headache.
121	* ShapeshifterWeapon: The ithicans who use metal for their [[ArtificialLimbs limbs]] can transform those limbs into sharp bladed weaponry.
122	* ShipperOnDeck: Gabe.
123	* ShockAndAwe: All ithicans store enough electrical energy in their systems to be able to easily sculpt metal; that is to say, their energy output is about half of a lightning bolt's. [[spoiler:It's also the reason that VP looked intimidating to Lyanne the first time they met; VP's immense output was confusing her scanners so that she appeared infinitely leveled when really she was only Level 100]].
124	* ShoutOut: Just before the Gamma session, we get to [[http://nixshadow.com/mspfa/?s=99&p=819 choose our player]] in the style of VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2 USA.
125	* {{Sidequest}}: The Pilferer class was specifically made for these kinds of quests.
126	* SingleBiomePlanet: Seconia is always in a rainforest-like state [[spoiler:until the core dies in the META wipe, which causes Autumn to happen for the first time ever.]]
127	* SnakeTalk: Nagendra, and Noel when he is with Nagendra (albeit unintentionally).
128	* SpaceCompression: Camille exploits this trope to get across her homeworld faster. Unfortunately, she also runs into RandomEncounters.
129	* TheStoic: Syd.
130	* StrangeSyntaxSpeaker: Milo mixes up his verb conjugations (and some plurals) for his typing quirk.
131	* StrawNihilist: [[spoiler:Unified, after returning to a ruined Seconia.]]
132	* TakeAThirdOption: After the result of the above HeadsTailsEdge, cT decides to improvise; rather than go through the plot normally or fast-forward it, he does ''both''. [[spoiler:And makes the tape suffer for his decision.]]
133	* TalkToEveryone: {{Invoked}} with the Entertainer Class. They can gain information from {{NPC}}s that no other class can.
134	* TerrifiedOfGerms: Syd.
135	* ThirdPersonPerson: Moira usually chats like this, unless she puts her text between parentheses (((like so))).
136	* ThisIsGonnaSuck:
137	-->'''cT''' ''(upon observing the drama unfolding on Seconia)'': Okay, let's see what the ithicans are up to oh boy are they boned. [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere I'm going back underground]].
138	* TimeParadox: Graves causes this when [[http://mspfanventures.com/?s=99&p=619 he wishes for META to cease existing]]. The resulting TimeCrash breaks the universe and drastically reduces the time the players have to beat the game.
139	* TimeStandsStill: Moira.
140	* TitleDrop: To the point of it being a RunningGag.
141	* TouchOfDeath: Gabe's power, which he has to wear special gloves to contain.
142	** Also, >cT: Recap Act 5. [[spoiler:In [[{{Wingdinglish}} Ithican script]]. He later gives us a transcribed version.]]
143	* WhamEpisode: [[spoiler: Lyanne confronts the god of the Troll's META session and uses her CURSE powers to search through his memories. She discovers META was a test given to gods by their parents to decide if they are fit for their duties. The trolls' session god decided that civilizations should be tested, not gods, and wished to reverse the process, putting him in charge.]]
144	* {{Wingdinglish}}: There are various phrases written not with the Latin alphabet but instead with the flowy cipher-script of the Ithicans. Decoding those passages will enrich your experience. [[spoiler:Especially when reading the (handwritten) Act 5 recap.]]

Context Webcomic / ACompleteWasteOfTime