Markup View

Author: FactoidCow

Aug 4th 2016 at 8:28:54 PM

^ So I looked into it...

In InverseLawOfUtilityAndLethality, as far as I can tell from the trope description, "utility" essentially means "getting the job done". The trope refers to settings where characters with lethality- or combat-focused powers rarely get anything done with those powers (killing people or otherwise), while characters with non-combative powers get all sorts of things done with their powers (even killing people).

Here, to quote the trope description, "utility" apparently means "how much the characters want to use [the power]". It's forward-looking (which powers do you ''think'' will be the most useful), while InverseLawOfUtilityAndLethality seems more backwards-looking (which powers ''turned out'' to be the most useful). It's a subtle difference, and I don't know if it's an important one or not. It might just be a matter of writing style. Otherwise the definitions are pretty similar.

In any case, "utility" here is not tied to lethality in any way, so it is a distinct trope.

The current trope description here mentions PowerLevels; I think renaming this proposed trope to UtilityThereforePowerLevel would make it a lot clearer.

EDIT: I take that back; looking at the page for PowerLevels, that trope refers to granular numerical measurements of abstract power, which is not really what we've been discussing here. Perhaps UtilityThereforePowerRanking instead?