History Main / DayOldLegend

* ''VideoGame/DwarfFortress'' will have engravers start depicting epic events on the walls and precious items of the fortress as soon as the event has happened. Maybe they're just vain. It's even possible, thanks to a particular bug involving sequestered items (ones dwarves can't get to, and don't necessarily realize they can't get to), to have an artifact contain decorations depicting ''the artifact itself'' (presumably including its decorations...) as well as the event of its completion.

* Averted in ''{{Neverwinter Nights}}'', where a weapon or piece of armor made by in-game will have the flavor text describe it being made by the specific blacksmith, in the current year and for the current campaign [[http://www.gamebanshee.com/neverwinternights/equipment/images/runehammerplus1.jpg but in the same style as the "ancient" equipment]] so it feels like the player is crafting their legend for future adventurers as they play the game.

* ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'' gives each class a starting weapon that can be upgraded to an Epic Weapon, then Legendary Epic Weapon, then Ultimate Legendary Epic Weapon. It spoofs this in having the Accordion Thief's ULEW have a legend about something that hasn't happened yet. "It's even whispered that Shelia the Creeper used it to assassinate the villainous Pope Flaunchett VIII, though it'll be a while before that can be confirmed, since the current Pope of the Kingdom of Loathing is Flaunchett VI."

* A recurring feature of the ''MightAndMagic'' games is the presence of ores of various qualities which can be brought to craftsmen and used to make equipment. With the best ores, you have a chance of making equipment which is not merely ancient, but unique and legendary. In the sixth game, one of the enchantments which can appear on equipment is the "antique" modifier which multiplies the item's value by ten. By using the Enchant Item on unenchanted items, you may randomly turn them into antiques.

* ''KingdomOfLoathing'' gives each class a starting weapon that can be upgraded to an Epic Weapon, then Legendary Epic Weapon, then Ultimate Legendary Epic Weapon. It spoofs this in having the Accordion Thief's ULEW have a legend about something that hasn't happened yet. "It's even whispered that Shelia the Creeper used it to assassinate the villainous Pope Flaunchett VIII, though it'll be a while before that can be confirmed, since the current Pope of the Kingdom of Loathing is Flaunchett VI."

* Happens to entire ''countries'' in the {{Ravenloft}} setting, where new realms that coalesce out of the Mists upon a new darklord's arrival come complete with their own "ancient" legends and histories.

* ''DwarfFortress'' will have engravers start depicting epic events on the walls and precious items of the fortress as soon as the event has happened. Maybe they're just vain. It's even possible, thanks to a particular bug involving sequestered items (ones dwarves can't get to, and don't necessarily realize they can't get to), to have an artifact contain decorations depicting ''the artifact itself'' (presumably including its decorations...) as well as the event of its completion.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFatnasyXII'' averts this. It's implied that the materials you sell eventually end up in the hands of craftsmen that make the stuff you buy there, but the best weapons are usually replicas of legendary weapons that are themselves nowhere to be found.

* ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'' has a blacksmith that can make various weapons and armor using plans you find in the world. Some of those items can also be found from [[RandomlyDrops monster drops]], but quite a few cannot. That doesn't stop them from having descriptions like 'forged by demons' attached though. [[WildMassGuessing maybe he's outsourcing his labor to hell?]]

** As far as the customer is concerned, [[HonestJohnsDealership yes]].

* ''DwarfFortress'' will have engravers start depicting epic events on the walls and precious items of the fortress as soon as the event has happened. Maybe they're just vain.
** It's possible, thanks to a particular bug involving sequestered items (ones dwarves can't get to, and don't necessarily realize they can't get to), to have an artifact contain decorations depicting ''the artifact itself'' (presumably including its decorations...) as well as the event of its completion.

* In ''VideoGame/FantasyLife'', there are two ways of getting an item depending on the way you play: buying it of making it yourself. The trope inevitably shows up for the latter case. It gets lampshaded on a scarecrow that can be obtained only by playing a carpenter and making it yourself: according to its FlavorText, it somehow already has bite marks on it.

* In ''VideoGame/FantasyLife'', there are two way of getting an item depending on the way you play: buying it of making it yourself. The trope inevitably shows up for the latter case. It gets lampshaded on a scarecrow that can be obtained only by playing a carpenter and making yourself: according to its FlavorText, it somehow already has bite marks on it.

* ''KingdomOfLoathing'' has the Legendary and Ultimate Legendary Weapons of each class; with four each; even if one is an upgrade of another. It spoofs this in having the Accordian Thief's Ultimate Quest Weapon have a legend about something that hasn't happened yet. "It's even whispered that Shelia the Creeper used it to assassinate the villainous Pope Flaunchett VIII, though it'll be a while before that can be confirmed, since the current Pope of the Kingdom of Loathing is Flaunchett VI."

* ''DwarfFortress'' will have engravers start depicting epic events on the walls and precious items of the fortress as soon as the event has happened.

** And [[{{Deconstruction}} smashed apart]] with the description of the Avatar of Boris weapon, Trusty, a remarkably well-written treatise which posits that most weapons of legend started out being grabbed from some nameless enemy's hand in a moment of desperation, and eventually become legendary ''because people '''think''' they're legendary''.

** Played straight in the ExpansionPack ''Hordes of The Underdark''. The game take place only a few months later and you find the über version of those same items, only they have [[ContinuitySnarl new backstories]].

** In that case however "Legendary" is describing the quality of the weapon, not it's history.

There are some possibilities here. Perhaps the item was made, then became ExcaliburInTheRust; but Rusty Excalibur [[LegendaryWeapon had its own name and legend]]. Maybe you've merely rediscovered an old formula. Maybe you're not actually crafting a new weapon, but using some sort of SummonMagic to call the item from wherever it's resting. Maybe it'll go back in time after you're done with it and have been used then. Maybe in [[LegacyCharacter this universe items]] can be [[{{Reincarnation}} reincarnated]]. Maybe AnEntrepreneurIsYou, and [[HonestJohnsDealership not a very honest one]] at that.

...Maybe we're [[MST3KMantra overthinking it]]? Justified, somewhat, in that eBay users tend to do the same thing, fluffing their sold items with an InformedAbility or two. Perhaps this is just a way to "add value" to a newly made item.

** The pixel whip subverts it: "[[{{Castlevania}} This legendary vampire-slaying whip has been in your family for generations.]] No, wait, I'm thinking of a different whip. This one was made out of brown pixels by a crazy guy in a shed in the woods."

There are some possibilities here. Perhaps the item was made, then became ExcaliburInTheRust; but Rusty Excalibur [[LegendaryWeapon had its own name and legend]]. Maybe you've merely rediscovered an old formula. Maybe you're not actually crafting a new weapon, but using some sort of SummonMagic to call the item from wherever it's resting. Maybe it'll go back in time after you're done with it and have been used then. Maybe in [[LegacyCharacter this universe items]] can be [[{{Reincarnation}} reincarnated]]?

Supposedly you first create so-and-so item, let's call it a Fire Sword, five minutes ago. Flavor text will tell of how the sword was used in an ancient battle between wizards 500 years ago. "Five hundred years ago? I made the thing TODAY!?"

** There's a reason for that. [[spoiler:Nier is a direct sequel to one of Drakengard's (most infuriating) endings. Most, if not all, of those weapons were Caim's.]]

* A recurring feature of the MightAndMagic games is the presence of ores of various qualities which can be brought to craftsmen and used to make equipment. With the best ores, you have a chance of making equipment which is not merely ancient, but unique and legendary. In the sixth game, one of the enchantments which can appear on equipment is the "antique" modifier which multiplies the item's value by ten. By using the Enchant Item on unenchanted items, you may randomly turn them into antiques.