Basic Trope: The use of atomic and subatomic terminology in weapon names, realism notwithstanding.
- Straight: Alice's ship is armed with an "ion cannon", which fires colored beams that damage enemy vessels.
- Exaggerated: Alice's ship is armed with a variety of improbably named weapons, like thermoproton cannons, ion disruptors, neutrino beams, quantum nuclear warheads, and so on.
- Downplayed: There's mention of "particle weapons" being a type of ship armament, but the terminology doesn't get very abstruse.
- Justified:
- Alice's ion cannon is named that because that's what it does — it fires a stream of charged atomic nuclei.
- Photoprotoneutron torpedoes use an array of gamma-ray photon lasers to force a lump of metal (which has a lot of protons) into a fusion state, which releases a blast of neutrons. This reaction is used as both propulsion (which is fast but not especially manouverable, meaning that it has to be classified as a torpedo) and warhead. The designer had a quirky sense of humor, and why the much simpler Neutron Bomb wasn't used instead is left as an excersize for the viewer.
- Inverted: Weapons are named after very large things, such as planetary cannons or galaxy guns.
- Subverted: Alice's ion cannon is actually a bog-standard kinetic weapon with a fancy nickname.
- Double Subverted: Initially, it appears that Alice's ion cannon is just a bog-standard kinetic weapon with a fancy nickname. However, it is later revealed that the cannon actually harnesses charged particles to enhance its destructive power, staying true to its atomic terminology.
- Parodied: Alice's ship is armed with a Photoprotoneutron Torpedo, which is depicted as an absurdly convoluted and nonsensical weapon. Characters mock its name and question its effectiveness, highlighting the silliness of using atomic and subatomic terminology in weapon names.
- Zig-Zagged: Throughout the story, different weapons exhibit varying degrees of atomic and subatomic terminology. Some weapons have realistic names, while others have exaggerated or downplayed names. The trope is played with in multiple ways, keeping the audience guessing about the consistency of the naming conventions.
- Averted: There's no mention of atomic terms in weaponry, just lasers, ballistic weapons and missiles.
- Enforced: The writers intentionally include atomic and subatomic terminology in weapon names to create a futuristic or technologically advanced atmosphere. They want to evoke a sense of scientific sophistication and give the weapons a futuristic flair.
- Lampshaded: "So why is this thing called an ion cannon, anyway?" "I have no idea, but it sure sounds cool."
- Invoked: A character deliberately chooses to name their weapons using atomic and subatomic terminology to sound more impressive and intimidating. They believe that the use of such terminology will enhance their reputation and instill fear in their enemies.
- Exploited: A clever character takes advantage of the association between atomic and subatomic terminology and powerful weaponry. They use this perception to manipulate their opponents, making them believe that their weapons are more formidable than they actually are.
- Defied: The characters in the story actively reject the trend of using atomic and subatomic terminology in weapon names. They find it unnecessary or even pretentious, and instead opt for more straightforward and practical names for their weaponry.
- Discussed: The characters engage in a conversation about the prevalence of atomic and subatomic terminology in weapon names. They debate the merits and drawbacks of using such terminology, discussing its impact on public perception and its relevance to the actual capabilities of the weapons.
- Conversed: The trope of using atomic and subatomic terminology in weapon names is discussed in an unrelated or irrelevant situation. It might come up in a casual conversation or as part of a broader discussion about fictional technologies, without direct relevance to the story at hand.
