Has nothing to do with barriers at all, even metaphorically: Barrier Maiden

Wicks and such are basic too, so I propose a rename.

Also, the name is too similar to Barrier Warrior.

Does have to do with barriers.

A common variation is for the maiden to somehow serve as a conduit for some power that generates a barrier between the world and some evil force (ie demons).

Seen It A Million Times

An example would be the Elfstones of Shanara where the maiden turns into a tree that locks the demons away.

This is a trope about a maiden who serves as a barrier to keep evil out. I'm not seeing how the name is misleading.

The name makes perfect sense to me. I've seen confusion with Barrier Warrior at least once, but I don't know which of the two tropes is to blame for that.

Well, granted the description doesn't specifically use the example of a barrier to keep evil out. Instead using the example of a pillar supporting the world (aka Atlas style), but these are variations on the same trope, and the Barrier Maiden trope has always been used to refer to both situations.

Maybe the description should be clearer about the different ways this trope can be played.

The trope as written is about someone whose very existence keeps the world from going to hell in a handbasket. That can be through serving as an anti-evil barrier, but also by keeping the laws of nature functioning properly, preventing the planet from exploding of its own accord or causing the Moon to remain in the sky instead of flying off into space. None of which is a "barrier".

Those aren't physical barrier, but they are metaphorical barrier. The girl is the only barrier keeping the bad thing from happening no matter what that bad thing is.

We should take out the maiden still, and yeah, the description needs some rework.

But it's almost always a maiden. 95% of the time it's an innocent young girl who is pure of heart and best described as a maiden.

edited 19th Aug '11 7:08:16 AM by shimaspawn

Didn't we find the last time this came up that it was a pre-existing term or something? I still hate the name, but that's what happens when you let amateurs catalog tropes.

I think there is sufficient reason to rename it something more explicit and descriptive. Personally, I even thought Barrier Maiden was just a female Barrier Warrior.

I think Pillar Maiden makes more sense (supports the world) if you want to keep it succinct.

Other options: Anchor Maiden, Nexus Maiden, Keystone Maiden

edited 19th Aug '11 6:35:36 PM by NoirGrimoir

I like Keystone Maiden, but I don't really see the issue with the current name.

Maybe put up a poll?

It kept getting confused for Barrier Warrior last time it came up, is that still happening?

I don't see a problem with the current name, but Keystone Maiden should at least be a redirect.

Also, I'm not sure what the OP meant by "wicks and such are basic".

Those are good stats. Maybe not perfect, but definitely not a sign of an ailing trope.

The thing I would look for is misuse for a female Barrier Warrior.

Grabbed a smattering of wiks, checking them now.

anime: wrong, referencing Orihime, who is a Barrier Warrior (although, she's a pacifist, so I'm unclear if that's a mistake)

Anime & Manga: seems correct "Tiffa Addil of After War Gundam X " as it's a gundam series, superpowers don't normally work like that. I haven't seen this one, so it could be accurate or way off.

Anime Japanese: wrong I believe this is another reference to Orihime.

Ar Tonelico: correct: character is claimed to prevent some kind of disaster.

B: wrong Orihime again. Goddamn, what is it with her?

Blonde, Brunette, Redhead: wrong Orihime.

Brigadoon Marin And Melan: seems correct, not referencing a super power.

Genius Bruiser: seems correct, referencing St George and subject appears to be a Damsel in Distress, as most of them are.

Hoshi Wo Miru Hito: unknown, character is being referenced in a group dynamic, but the page itself is a bashing stub.

Karin: wrong, referred to as an ability. However, I am not that familiar with the long series, so I could be wrong. correct, according to others.

Green Lantern Ring (Tou Hou): seems wrong: referenced as an ability, but example (thankfully filled out) seems to imply that it's an extension of an Exact Words powerset involving actual barriers, which would be Barrier Warrior.

Knights in the Nightmare: seems correct: Sacchito is the example, I'm guessing the character is both Barrier Warrior and Barrier Maiden.

Saint Seiya: correct character is a goddess who takes over various burdens that protect from cataclysms.

Prétear: correct

Prince of Persia: correct

Sekaikei Genre: correct

So, 5 wrong (4 of which are the same character) 5/16, 1 seems wrong, 5 seem correct 5/16, 4 are correct 1/4, 1 unknown.

If my guesses are right, that comes out to 6/16 wrong, 9/16 correct, 1 unknown. It'd be nice to have someone else do a sampling as well.

Corrected numbers: 5/16 wrong, 10/16 correct, 1 unknown. Almost a third is wrong, however 80% is from a single work, allowing for propagation from a single source. Will add another twenty or so in a bit.

edited 20th Aug '11 2:18:15 AM by Deboss

Karin is correct but its very complex to explain... it comes out once the source of her power is explained.

Tiffa Addil of After War Gundam X is iffy the way she is used is more The Seer but the way the plot goes she is very much treated as one if she falls into the hands of the enemy its all over. Its been forever since I actually watched the thing.

edited 20th Aug '11 2:04:56 AM by Raso

Orihime definitely is a Barrier Warrior, but not a Barrier Maiden

The Pre Tear example should be correct, though its been forgoddamnever since I watched it.

Ar Tonelico actually has several exmples of these, and Misha definitely counts

'nother grab. In no particular order:

Virgin Power: seems correct: example mentions something being imprisoned.

The Sunwell Trilogy: seems correct: compared to MacGuffin Girl.

The Elder Scrolls: seems correct: being used as a powersource.

Story-Breaker Power: unknown Soul Eater, if you've seen it.

Tairen Soul: unknown however, given that it's spoilered, it might be accurate.

Super Weight: seems correct Ga Rei, unclear but is weight 4, which is pretty damn high for a Barrier Warrior.

Save the Princess: seems correct Mario of all things. However, it might be being misused as MacGuffin Girl. Not sure.

Sins of Our Fathers: wrong MacGuffin Girl I think. Referencing Rain from G Gundam. Character has no supernatural abilities at all.

Romeo × Juliet: seems correct: cross referencing Apocalypse Maiden.

Player Punch: correct using Sealed Evil in a Can counts right?

Offing the Offspring: seems wrong Andromeda from the legend. Not familiar, but wasn't it just a generic virgin sacrifice or something?

No One Gets Left Behind: correct Saint Seiya again.

Non-Lethal K.O.: seems wrong Tou Hou again. correct others say so.

Morality Chain: correct, bad example trope is being used correctly, but it's not an example as far as I can tell.

Mai Otome 0 Sifr: seems correct: not directly referencing Barrier Warrior, but sufficiently unclear I'm not sure.

Magical Battle Arena: seems correct

MacGuffin Girl: correct related trope section, compared to Apocalypse Maiden.

Last Blade: unknown fucking X Just X. Spoilered, so maybe correct.

Knights Of The Old Republic: unknown more fucking X Just X.

Hot Witch: correct referencing He Man.

Go Out with a Smile: seems correct Magic Knight Rayearth if you've seen it.

God-Mode Sue: seems wrong King Of Fighters, someone is Mega Manning, which leads me to believe Barrier Warrior, which is something you'd actually go out of your way to see.

God-Emperor:

• Soul Eater seems correct reference to Sealed Evil in a Can.
• Fan Fic/Embers seems correct referenced Fisher King.

I'm getting a whole lot of correct/seem correct. Are we sure somebody didn't do a cleaning on the last TRS?

edited 20th Aug '11 4:35:25 AM by Deboss

The Touhou example in Non-Lethal K.O. is correct. The Spell Card system (a.k.a., the handwave for Non-Lethal K.O. in the game) was created because the youkai can't kill Reimu since she maintains the Hakurei Border, which keeps the Magical Land they live in intact.

I believe the Soul Eater example is correct.

G Gundam is Powered by a Forsaken Child (But as an Adult?) She was used as Dark Gundam's powersource iirc... Anyway going by what it says on MacGuffin Girl it seems to be Barrier Maiden.

edited 20th Aug '11 4:57:38 AM by Raso

I've been using the definition "a person who's wellbeing/life is used to keep something terrible from happening" is that wrong?