New name.: Roboteching

There was an old thread that got locked from inactivity, but the crowner was clearly in favor of renaming. So now it's just a matter of what new name to give it.

The inbounds have nearly doubled since the last thread (an increase of about 600-700 or so in just two months). That's an incredible rate of growth. The trope is doing exceptionally well.

Misuse trumps inbounds, especially when redirects still mean the inbounds are kept. And misuse was shown in the last thread, and the vote was still for renaming.

Yeah, I helped check the wicks. If my count is correct, there was only one out of 27 that was unambiguously incorrect. Two that would have been better as Homing Projectile. A handful that we weren't sure about that I don't want to go and look at again right now but could re-check later. At least sixteen that were correct. 1 out of 27 is definitely not trumping the inbounds here. (For reference, here and here.) We could check more if you like, I guess.

edited 29th Apr '11 6:21:38 PM by troacctid

Its still a terrible name.

I'd be curious to see the context for the inbounds, since I never hear this term used, and I hang out in several very mecha oriented places.

The last time I looked the crowner was against renaming, and that was after the topic closed, so this looks rather questionable.

It's gotten over 600 new inbounds in just two months. That's amazing performance. This is a popular name. Popular = good.

Again, redirects=inbounds are not lost. And you didn't prove the misuses were not, you just disputed them.

As for the crowner being against before, that meant that the tide turned in favor of renaming more recently.

Well, remember, rule number one of renaming tropes: don't fix what isn't broken.

We want names that catch on outside of the Wiki. That's probably the best quality a name can have, because it means more traffic for the site, a growing userbase, increased interest in our mission, better advertising revenue, and all sorts of great things for the wiki, yada yada, right? Right.

We already know for sure that Roboteching has that. It works, and it works well. Great numbers, great growth, usage is overwhelmingly correct. Conclusion: It ain't broke. Don't fix it. Yes?

edited 29th Apr '11 6:58:00 PM by troacctid

I think with inbounds having grown so dramatically it would probably be better to rerun the original crowner at the very least and gather fresh data. On the surface of it it looks like something may have changed, better safe than sorry after all.

edited 29th Apr '11 6:59:11 PM by CrypticMirror

You're still ignoring misuse. And just claiming there is none is not enough.

The crowner also gained votes for renaming evidently. That means some still want a new name.

edited 29th Apr '11 7:04:28 PM by DragonQuestZ

can we get a recheck on the wicks then please, one person is saying they checked the wicks and found minimal misuse and one is saying there is loads of it.

I have time, so I'm willing to check some more wicks (going from the bottom up until Thunder Force).

Definitely correct

• Zone Of The Enders: Refers to a homing laser attack.
• X-COM: Waypoint-based targeting systems should indeed result in this trope.
• Wings Of Dawn: Notes a homing laser attack that does this.
• Pantheon.Weapons: Potholed with "which fire in several directions before converging on the target"; used redundantly but correctly alongside Macross Missile Massacre.
• Wartech: States that the lasers/missiles bend in midair.
• Characters.Warhammer 40000 Xeno Races: The attack "shoots up into the air (regardless of original orientation) then cruises along until it can fly straight into the target".
• Voices Of A Distant Star: X Just X, but Macross Missile Massacre is also listed, so there must be Roboteching.
• Awesome.Video Games: Referencing Zone Of The Enders.
• Vanquish: "Lasers go up, then down"
• Tyrian: Refers to a homing attack that can also do a Macross Missile Massacre, so it must be able to Robotech.
• Real Life: "Many guided weapons actually do this". A quick Google search and it seems to check out. I guess it's good.
• Warhammer40000.Tropes Q To Z: Refers to the same attack as the other Warhammer one.
• WorldOfWarcraft.Tropes I-P: Used to describe the motion of a Macross Missile Massacre.
• Trick Arrow: Used to refer to an arrow in Fable that splits into three in midair then homes in on the target; can't imagine that happening if they don't change direction. Seems good.
• Transformers Alter Verse: Used redundantly but correctly alongside Macross Missile Massacre.

Not sure

• Wake-Up Call Boss: Potholed in the name of an attack called "Firey". No other context.
• Characters.Valkyrie Profile: Just says one of the guy's attacks does this.
• Unseen Academicals: Well, he does make a projectile change direction in midair (I read the book and I remember that part), but it's not being used as a weapon. Does that still count?
• Unreal Tournament III and Unreal Tournament 2004: Listed with something called "The Cicada".
• Undocumented Features: Apparently it's referred to by name in the story. Does that count as Lampshaded or what?
• Transforming Mecha: Referring to a weapon in Thexter that can supposedly do this. Not enough context to say.
• Thunder Force: "The Hunter weapon. Your ship shoots out blue energy balls of doom that home in on the enemies." Leaning towards legit on this one.

Should be Homing Projectile

• Characters.Touhou Windows Two: Potholed with the phrase "homing projectiles".

WTF

• PrettyCoolGuy.Video Games: What is this I don't even

edited 29th Apr '11 7:41:10 PM by troacctid

"Tyrian: Refers to a homing attack that can also do a Macross Missile Massacre, so it must be able to Robotech."

Um, you can't just assume it must be. MMM is not automatically this trope, even with homing.

I'll check your other comments on the rest in a minute.

Tyrian checks out—I found a video of the weapon in question and it is correct.

edited 29th Apr '11 7:43:57 PM by troacctid

"Zone Of The Enders: Refers to a homing laser attack."

Lazer blasts are not always a long line. So they can do homing attacks without this trope.

"X-COM: Waypoint-based targeting systems should indeed result in this trope."

Just assuming without confirming the context.

"Voices Of A Distant Star: X, Just...X, but Macross Missile Massacre is also listed, so there must be Roboteching."

Again, the "must be" line does not make it definitely.

"Awesome.Video Games: Referencing Zone Of The Enders."

Already gave the reasons.

"World Of Warcraft.Tropes I-P: Used to describe the motion of a Macross Missile Massacre."

Still assuming that MMM is this trope.

"Trick Arrow: Used to refer to an arrow in Fable that splits into three in midair then homes in on the target; can't imagine that happening if they don't change direction. Seems good."

This isn't just changing direction. This is obvious sharp turns. Anything else is just homing projectiles.

"Transformers Alter Verse: Used redundantly but correctly alongside Macross Missile Massacre."

I checked the page, and characters cannot do this unless they use themselves as projectiles. Plus lack of context could just be confusing MMM for this trope.

The thing with anything in World Of Warcraft is they are this trope visually if your fast enough. If say someone fired a magic missile at you and took off with a flying mount you will have already took damage but the spell animation will still follow you no matter where you go or how improbable the turn is. The quest the example is talking about is this. (I had tons of fun with the guys outside Icecrown getting like 20 of them to shoot spells at me .)

Zone Of The Enders is correct they are a Macross Missle Massacre lasers however they can turn and follow the target many times with 360 degree arcs back at the target.

edited 29th Apr '11 8:10:40 PM by Raso

• X-COM: Video of the attack in question--looks good. Confirmed correct.
• Trick Arrow: Arrows in Fable fly outwards before curving inward. Confirmed correct.
• World Of Warcraft: Video of the attack in question. You can see it being fired initially off to the sides and then turning to go straight. Correct.
• Zone Of The Enders and Awesome.Video Games: Image of the attack (was a former page image for Beam Spam). Confirmed correct. (x2)

edited 29th Apr '11 8:12:55 PM by troacctid

Okay, those were confirmed, but it still stands that some are likely confusing this for MMM, considering how the examples are listed.

I don't see how they could be confusing it with MMM when MMM is also being used, correctly, in the same line. Shouldn't that indicate that they understand the difference?

Also:

• Characters.Valkyrie Profile: Video. Confirmed correct.
• Unreal Tournament: Video. Confirmed correct.

edited 29th Apr '11 8:32:48 PM by troacctid

I meant those that list it as though it was MMM.

But rather than argue further, how about I have the crowner attached to this thread, as long as it's still open?

I'm not sure what Roboteching is supposed to be upon first glance, it sounds like a trope for someone who is building a robot, and thus People Sit On Chairs. However, knowing that its redirect is Homing Laser helps quite a bit and thus helped me make a Laconic page for others who are both confused and not in the mood for thorough reading.

Laconically, I don't think Roboteching is a good name.

edited 29th Apr '11 8:34:54 PM by CalamityJane

Um, I don't think that's a proper redirect, as this is any projectile, but not just homing as an ability. That should be a redirect to Homing Projectile.

I think it's pretty evident this trope is not in need of repair. Are you sure this hasn't become about getting your way? Your forcing closer examination of the wicks has only shown how well the trope is being used.

Small amounts of misuse, good wicks, inbounds that were good to start with and are only getting better, exactly what are you trying to fix?

I do agree that Homing Laser is a bad redirect. Instead, we should change that to the alternative name DQZ wanted, and call it a day.

edited 29th Apr '11 10:01:11 PM by Daremo