Basic Trope: Something happens to distract a character right when it was most convenient for another character.
- Straight: Gunhild the Barbarian has Hans the Lovable Rogue helpless at her feet. Just as she lifts her sword to kill him, Hans' pet weasel knocks over a barrel, distracting Gunhild long enough for Hans to escape.
- Exaggerated:
- Gunhild is completely boggled by the tipped-over barrel and spends an hour trying to figure out what happened, allowing Hans to rob her blind.
- Downplayed:
- Gunhild is distracted for a moment, but dismisses it and returns to trying to stab Hans.
- Justified: Gunhild is a hardened warrior from the wilds, and has learned to pay immediate attention to any sudden sounds that might herald danger.
- Inverted:
- Gunhild is halfway through making a sandwich when Hans knocks over a barrel, causing her to notice and attack him.
- Subverted: Just as Hans is about to escape with Gunhild distracted, she realizes what's happening and grabs him.
- Gunhild was only pretending to be distracted to lull Hans into a false sense of security.
- Double Subverted: Hans' weasel then knocks over another barrel, and Gunhild is immediately distracted again.
- Parodied:
- Zig Zagged:
- Averted: Hans manages to escape without his weasel's help.
- Hans gets stabbed.
- Defied: "Nice try, Hans. You still die."
Go back to Conveniently Timed Distraction... wait, what was that??
