Line #18 Main/ThisIndexIsExpendable


1	%% Per wiki rules, potholing trope pages in page quotes is not allowed. Please do not add any potholes to this page's quote or restore previous ones. %%
2
3	->'''Commander''': Okay, let's see if I've got this right.... The kid's about to attack, and when he does, you want me to....
4	->'''{{Mook}}''': Surrender, sir.
5	->'''Commander''': Why would I do that?
6	->'''Mook''': Cuz sir, if we fight him, we're all gonna die.
7	->'''Commander''': What gave you that crazy idea?
8	->'''Mook''': Sir, I've checked around and no one aboard this ship has a name.
9	->'''Commander''': So what?
10	->'''Mook''': So it means we're goons! Faceless cannon fodder!
11	->'''Commander''': Bah! You have no proof of that!
12	->'''Mook''': Sir, in case you haven't noticed.... EVERYBODY ABOARD THIS SHIP IS WEARING A RED SHIRT!
13	->'''Commander''': Bah! Sheer coincidence!
14	->'''Mook''': YOU'RE LIVING IN DENIAL! YOU'RE GONNA WIPE US ALL OUT!
15	->'''Commander''': Bah! you're just cracking under the pressure, lad. Just relax. Here, let me show you something. It's a picture of my wife and kids! Ain't they something? They're the reason I'm here. I'm fighting for them. I ain't going to let them down.
16	->''[{{Beat}}]''
17	->'''Mook''': Well, nice knowing you captain.
18	-->-- ''Episode 345 of'' '''''Webcomic/CaptainSNES'''''
19
20	Sometimes a story will have loads and loads of generic characters; they could be soldiers, warriors, monsters, anything. They either exist as [[{{Mook}} enemies for the hero to blow through]] on his way to the BigBad or as his friends (but never actually of the TrueCompanions) to [[RedShirt die to show how serious matters have become]]. Either way, the deal is they're expendable.
21
22	See also SortingAlgorithmOfMortality.
23	----
24	!!Tropes:
25	[[index]]
26	* AnyoneCanDie: ''Everyone'' is expendable, and not even the main characters are completely or permanently protected by PlotArmor.
27	** EverybodyDiesEnding: The story ends with (almost) everyone dying, which is common for works of horror and tragedy.
28	** TheHeroDies: When even the story's main protagonist fails to survive.
29	** SacrificialLamb: A fairly important (yet otherwise minor) character is killed off to advance the plot.
30	** SacrificialLion: A very important, major character gets killed in order to prove there's a mortal threat to the rest of the main cast.
31	** SymbolicCastFadeout: A staple trope to use in a work with anyone can die in order to let the audience keep track of the status of the cast.
32	* AssholeVictim: A [[HateSink loathsome]] {{jerkass}} or villain gets killed off, just so that we can see someone die without feeling too sorry for them.
33	* CannonFodder: Generic minor characters, typically footsoldiers of some sort given little or no unique characteristics, who exist primarily to be exposed to terrible dangers instead of the major characters.
34	* ComMons: Weak, expendable {{mons}} found early in a game, intended to serve as generic enemies or be used by beginners.
35	* CListFodder: One-shot or minor recurring characters are killed off on the grounds that it's unlikely many people will be upset about their deaths.
36	* DeadlineNews: A journalist falls victim to whatever dangerous situation they're reporting on.
37	* DisposableIntern: TheIntern or other low-ranking employee is sent off to do a dangerous job.
38	* DisposablePilot: A vehicle's driver is killed or otherwise incapacitated while transporting people.
39	* DisposableSexWorker: Not many people will notice or care about what happens to prostitutes, which makes it easy for them to be killed or disappeared.
40	* DisposableVagrant: Not many people will notice or care what happens to homeless people, which makes it easy for them to be killed or disappeared.
41	* ExpendableAlternateUniverse: An AlternateTimeline/[[AlternateUniverse Universe]] undergoes an apocalyptic catastrophe, to give us an idea of what could happen to the story's "main" universe without destroying that one.
42	* ExpendableClone: It's not considered a big deal when a clone dies because more can always be made.
43	** DisposableDecoyDoppelganger: A clone being created and used up for the sole purpose of acting as a distraction.
44	* HumanShield: Grabbing a hostage and threatening to kill them to dissuade enemies from attacking you.
45	** BulletproofHumanShield: Someone gets used as a live meat shield to suffer the brunt of gunfire or damage, protecting their captor from such harm.
46	* ImmortalLifeIsCheap: A character is unable to (permanently) die, which others use as an excuse to not care about doing anything to them that could cause serious harm.
47	* JoggersFindDeath: Someone going out for a run or walk either stumbles upon a dead body or become one themselves.
48	* MenAreTheExpendableGender: Male death and suffering isn't considered as bad as female death and suffering.
49	* MonsterOfTheWeek: A one-shot antagonist who is typically killed, captured, incapacitated, or otherwise defeated after their first appearance. If they reappear to cause more trouble, then they get to join the RoguesGallery of recurring villains.
50	* {{Mooks}}: Generic EvilMinions serving under the BigBad, who are usually much less likely to make it through the story unscathed than their boss.
51	** FacelessGoons: If they're wearing face-concealing masks or helmets, then they'll have even less of a unique identity to spare them from death.
52	** MookHorrorShow: A OneManArmy slaughters their way through a large group of enemy mooks.
53	* NominalImportance: Nameless extras tend to have a higher mortality rate than even minor characters who do have a known name.
54	* RedShirt: Similar to Mooks but on the good guys' side, they often find themselves dying in place of the main protagonists.
55	** MauveShirt: A character who seems like they're in danger of becoming another expendable underling is developed enough that they're somewhat safer from being killed off.
56	** RedShirtArmy: An entire group of nameless troops get wiped out by the enemy.
57	* RentalCarAbuse: Someone rents a car and acts as if the car being a rental means that it's not their problem if the car gets damaged.
58	* SacrificialPlanet: An entire planet or other astronomic body is destroyed, in order to prove there's a world-ending threat which could do the same to Earth if they wanted to.
59	** PlutoIsExpendable: Since Pluto is now classified as a dwarf planet rather than a ''true'' planet, Pluto can be blown up in lieu of any of the larger bodies of the Solar System.
60	* StuffedIntoTheFridge: Someone's loved one is killed off in order to motivate them to go on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge.
61	** DisposableWoman: The victim of this plot device is often a female LoveInterest.
62	** TargetedToHurtTheHero: The villain kills the hero's loved one just for the sake of tormenting them.
63	* VictimOfTheWeek: An InnocentBystander (or AssholeVictim) gets attacked (and killed) by the VillainOfTheWeek to prove the threat they pose.
64	** BodyOfTheWeek: Their corpse is at the focus of the latest murder mystery for the heroes to solve.
65	** MonsterMunch: This character only exists to be preyed upon by the MonsterOfTheWeek.
66	* WeHaveReserves: As long as the underlings can be quickly and easily replaced, the boss doesn't care if any of them die.
67	* YouHaveFailedMe: An EvilMinion will find out that their life is forfeit if they disappoint their boss through severe incompetence.
68	* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: A villain's henchman learns that their services (and life) are no longer needed after they've (successfully) completed their final task.
69	[[/index]]

Context Main / ThisIndexIsExpendable