Suggestion: Elemental Rock Paper Scissors

Honestly I think the "snark" in the example (along with the bit more complex lines) make it a poor example rather than a straight example.

Maybe a simple one should be suffice. It gives the simple rock papers scissors aspect easy to convey.

There is a Fire Emblem image that, while not involving elements, does entirely explain its "Weapon Triangle". I believe it is from Shadow Dragon.

I don't think the suggestion is an improvement, though it's not really worse either.

I agree. Suggestion is a good Image Links candidate.

All of the Fire Emblem games have Weapon Triangle images.

Here's some versions of them.

[1]◊ [2]◊ [3]◊

None of the examples so far really are any better than current. Keep Until Better Image Suggested.

The first two are pixelated, and the last one, the icons are frankly meaningless.

Keep Until Better Image Suggested

I like OP's suggestion.

I prefer OP's suggestion to current.

A Weapon triangle image is are already used for Tactical Rock–Paper–Scissors the supertrope.

Though the current isn't bad, I do like the OP's suggestion a little better because the relationships are immediately intuitive. On the other hand, a bit of a nitpick is how Pokemon makes effectively no distinction between ERPS and TRPS - everything has an assigned "type" slot and gets the associated RPS effects, regardless of whether a traditional RPG would classify it as "physical" or "magic". ERPS is meant to be cases where about half of the combat theatre (namely, physical weapon combat) is Non-Elemental and it's primarily just the magic system utilizing elemental relations.

edited 27th Nov '12 10:46:58 AM by Stratadrake

I always thought ERPS is TRPS but with magic/elements than units/weapons.

Exactly.

Which is why I thought emphasizing the basic elements over the snarky, "modern" take of Stick (man this place really likes that webcomic) works much better.

edited 28th Nov '12 2:12:23 AM by Ookamikun

the image is not an Order Of The Stick one... It's in the caption!.

edited 29th Nov '12 5:22:03 AM by CobraPrime

I rather like the first one, but the OP's Suggestion is somewhat more clear.

That is, you have to know what the page is about to have a firm grasp of what the image means.

Water beats Fire beats Grass beats Water is more intuitive.

I prefer the OP pic for several reasons:

1. It's more intuitive. The "elements" used in the current image are so unorthodox that they look almost entirely random. I mean, "stench" beats "heat" and "spooky"? In the suggestion, the elements are much more logical; water>fire>grass. Grass>Water is a bit odd, but it makes more sense than Spooky>Slease.

2. It's simpler. The current one is a bit busy. It's not hard to understand, but it still takes a few seconds to figure out exactly what it's doing. The suggestion is almost immediately understandable.

3. The suggestion is more visually interesting. The current image is just a chart with very minimal visual elements to it.

I'd like a higher quality version of the OP. It's kinda blurry.

Keep until better image is suggested. Honestly, in regards to the "elements are more intuitive", it doesn't have to explain why the elements work better than the others, it just has to work that way.

No, it doesn't have to. "Weird" combinations are examples, totally. A more intuitive relationship is a better illustration, though.

I'm actually looking for it. Last I saw it was from the RB manual lol

The OP's image is much better. A straight example is always a better illustration than a joke example.

Crowner between the OP and the current?

I prefer the OP's image for the aforementioned reasons (the image is supposed to illustrate the trope as best as it can; the current image does not illustrate what the arrows mean for several of the interactions, while we intuitively understand "Water>Fire" or "Fire>Grass"). However, I'd really enjoy a version of it where the background is blanked out, because that tan is pretty ugly.

edited 20th Dec '12 12:13:08 AM by Scardoll

Here's one with a white background◊ and new labels in a font from the Game Boy Pokemon TCG.