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Author: VioletOrange

Apr 2nd 2011 at 12:46:19 PM

Was about to launch it in YKTTW, but then saw that it already exist. Abandoned ? Here is my corrected version.\
alt terms : Fluff Text\
FlavorText is text in a game that has no effect on gameplay and nothing to do with the rules. It's a common way to [[ShownTheirWork show your work]] in realistic settings and to add depth to fantasy/SF universe. Often found in  MonsterCompendium, [[PamphletShelf Pamphlet Shelves]] and [[VideoGameItemsAndInventory inventory items]], they sometimes  take the form of an EncyclopediaExposita.

Like their names implies, FlavorText are not necessary to understand the plot, but provide personality to a work.
!!Examples:

[[AC:CollectibleCardGame]]
* MagicTheGathering has a lot of FlavorText, some player types even build decks based on the "story" of the cards, leading to such weird but fascinating combos as sacrificing the embodiment of your death into pure damage with which to kill an opponent.

[[AC:Tabletop Games]]
Most TabletopGames require by their very nature FlavorText to help telling the story. Put there only particular example

[[AC:Video Games]]
* AgeOfWonders and its sequel has FlavorText for each unit which goes from plain to snarky.
* Blizzard Works ({{Starcraft}}, {{Warcraft}}, WorldOfWarcraft) are full of FlavorText
* AgeOfEmpires, AgeOfMythology have long in universe description of their unit
* The TotalWar series use FlavorText on units to [[ShownTheirWork show their work]]
* ''{{Vindictus}}'' has flavor text for all items. Oddly, it often describes effects that ought to have an effect on the gameplay but don't, notably {{curse}}s.
* For each {{Pokemon}}, there always one sentence or two in the Pokedex which describe them in universe.
* In ''StarOcean2'', there are a huge number of items that are raw materials for crafting and items that can be crafted.  Many of them contain flavor text not related to what the object does, such as describing the texture or taste of [[HyperactiveMetabolism food items]].