TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Random Questions Thread

Go To

Hello, fellow writers! Got any question that you can't find answer from Google or Wikipedia, but you don't think it needs a separate thread for? You came to the right place!

Don't be shy, and just ask away. The nice folks here, writers and non-writers, experts and non-experts, will do their best to help you.

The folder below contains links for special interest threads, mostly at OTC, but also from Yack Fest and Troper Coven.

    Special Interest Threads 

Also take a look at Useful Notes on various topics. They can be pretty useful.

Now, bring on the questions, baby!

edited 11th Apr '18 6:31:51 PM by dRoy

Marchen Too hot (Hot damn) from Somewhere Out in Space (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: It's not my fault I'm not popular!
Too hot (Hot damn)
#29476: Oct 7th 2024 at 11:12:08 AM

[up] So, working off of the idea of an evil sword wielded by invisible evil spirits with possibly the power of possession and incorporating the dungeon themes of water puzzles and magic nullification...

For water puzzles, the only thing that comes to mind is that you could manipulate the flow of water to have the boss arena flooded or not. The evil sword doesn't really have to care about water, so if it's dry you get more space or the phantom knight won't be able to KO in an instant by knocking you into the water.

For magic neutralization, maybe that's how you fight the possession? Use a magic neutralizing move and it kicks out the spirits?

Edited by Marchen on Oct 7th 2024 at 9:03:51 PM

Read Otr of the Flame (She/Her)
Trainbarrel The Story Supporter from The Star Ocean Since: Jun, 2023 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
The Story Supporter
#29477: Oct 7th 2024 at 11:28:34 AM

Why not have the water-puzzles involve the flow of gravity to them to be solved? And not just gravity down either but every direction to make it into an actual puzzle.

"If there's problems, there's simple solutions."
MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#29478: Oct 7th 2024 at 11:36:56 AM

[up] now that is inspired! I'll try that, thanks.

Swordofknowledge Spreading literacy with book and blade from I like it here... Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Spreading literacy with book and blade
#29479: Oct 7th 2024 at 1:19:54 PM

I'm kind of hung up on whether or not to have the main-character-turned-villain's family (his parents and aunt) learn about his true fate or to keep them in the dark and let them think he's just dead.

To explain:

The party's truly final battle against him is more of a waiting game to see how long they can keep his grotesque Clipped-Wing Angel form from making contact/possessing the young son of one of the other villains before he expires from being without a host. It appears that after his vampire ex-girlfriend (another of the protagonists) destroys this final attempt at prolonging his life and continuing his rampage that he is well and truly gone.

However, he is most definitely not. Because he merged with the entity that created werewolves he's become the "source" of all werewolves for all eternity, responsible for their transformations and other powers, but with zero control over them as opposed to the godlike power he possessed before. Essentially he's little more than a "battery".

The rest of the world thinks that he's dead and that his family members are among the heroes who saved the world from a madman (madboy?) who wanted to kill all supernatural beings and convert 90 percent of humanity into a Hive Mind. His family has somewhat different thoughts on the "hero" title, but they definitely believe he is dead.

I wondered if I should have his girlfriend (who is the only one who knows his true fate thanks to their final conversation) tell them about what happened to him, or just let them think he died thanks to his ill-fated plan to save them from the supernatural world.

I can think of good reasons on both sides of the issue, so I just wondered what people think would be better.

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
Marchen Too hot (Hot damn) from Somewhere Out in Space (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: It's not my fault I'm not popular!
Too hot (Hot damn)
#29480: Oct 8th 2024 at 6:43:33 AM

[up] That's really tricky. I'm the sort of person who, as a rule of thumb, believes that honesty is the best policy. If I were faced with this option in a video game I'd choose to tell the truth, since if anyone deserves to know what's happened it's the family.

The really boring answer is "well, what would this vampire ex do?", since she's the one who makes the decision. Is she the type of person who values a person's right to know the truth, or is her philosophy closer to ignorance being bliss? Is she The Wild Duck, or is she An Enemy of the People?

Read Otr of the Flame (She/Her)
C105 Too old for this from France Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Too old for this
#29481: Oct 8th 2024 at 7:14:13 AM

[up][up] In addition to [up], it could help knowing whether she views the situation as a Fate Worse than Death for the protagonist or if it makes him a Karma Houdini, and how does she think his family would react knowing that? Also, does she think there is a way for him to be rescued or definitely killed, and does she think that his family would think that?

Whatever your favourite work is, there is a Vocal Minority that considers it the Worst. Whatever. Ever!.
Swordofknowledge Spreading literacy with book and blade from I like it here... Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Spreading literacy with book and blade
#29482: Oct 8th 2024 at 10:07:14 AM

[up][up] @ Marchen:

Yes, it's a really tough call to make, since on one hand it has the potential to be a devastating blow. I can't imagine finding out that a loved one (in this case a son/nephew) will spend literally all eternity in some kind of limbo outside creation, being used as a source of power, never able to have a real natural death. Even if his own actions put him into that position, it's horrific. On the other hand...yes, there is something to be said for honesty in a situation like that.

The really boring answer is "well, what would this vampire ex do?", since she's the one who makes the decision. Is she the type of person who values a person's right to know the truth, or is her philosophy closer to ignorance being bliss?

The funny thing is that her honesty is a huge part of what caused this situation in the first place. Had she not brutally revealed that the main character wasn't human and shattered his belief he was just an Ordinary High-School Student, likely very little of the story's events would have unfolded. Of course, she told a whole bunch of lies that also pushed things along...

Anyway, all that is to say that it raises a lot of good points and I'd have to really think about her character and the story's events to decide whether or not she chooses honesty.


[up] @ C105:

it could help knowing whether she views the situation as a Fate Worse than Death for the protagonist or if it makes him a Karma Houdini, and how does she think his family would react knowing that?

Not to be cliche, but she sees it as both. On one hand, she thinks that he should suffer in some way for the hundreds of thousands of lives he ended across the globe and the several billion he forever altered via transforming them into werewolves. Him being beyond the reach of even supernatural justice is incredibly frustrating. But she also thinks that it is beyond horrific that he is condemned to wander the massive web of werewolf memories forever while acting as the source of their abilities.

Also a big part of it is his own reaction to his fate. At first it seems like he is a Graceful Loser who accepted his loss and what that means, but he eventually has an almost childlike breakdown over it. What calms him is her assurance that she will do everything in her power to ensure his family is safe.

Also, does she think there is a way for him to be rescued or definitely killed, and does she think that his family would think that?

No, she knows he's definitely "stranded" for eternity, especially with the way his powers work (or rather, used to work before his defeat). Considering that she is very close to his parents by this point, she knows that they would hold out hope of some kind (his father actually had hope that he could be talked down and life would go back to normal prior to the final fight). But that hope would just torture them, and perhaps affect the way they raised his little sister, which would of course cause her quality of life to suffer.

Edited by Swordofknowledge on Oct 8th 2024 at 10:07:33 AM

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
Marchen Too hot (Hot damn) from Somewhere Out in Space (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: It's not my fault I'm not popular!
Too hot (Hot damn)
#29483: Oct 8th 2024 at 10:40:21 AM

[up] In that case I would feel that it'd be interesting to have the vampire show some kind of growth in telling the truth to his family. Maybe she offers to tell them what happened during the final battle, but also says that they might not enjoy hearing about what went down with their son/nephew, plus since she's a vampire she'll probably stick around for a while (unless they're very different in your setting, considering the werewolf hive-mind), so gives them time to think and also lets them know where to find her if they ever change their minds or something.

In other words, contrast how she thoughtlessly revealed the truth to the protagonist with how she shows much more tact with his family?

Read Otr of the Flame (She/Her)
Swordofknowledge Spreading literacy with book and blade from I like it here... Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Spreading literacy with book and blade
#29484: Oct 8th 2024 at 5:03:51 PM

[up] @ Marchen:

That's a good idea, thank you. That contrast would work out well; it's a facet of things that I never even thought of.

Maybe she offers to tell them what happened during the final battle, but also says that they might not enjoy hearing about what went down with their son/nephew, plus since she's a vampire she'll probably stick around for a while (unless they're very different in your setting, considering the werewolf hive-mind), so gives them time to think and also lets them know where to find her if they ever change their minds or something.

She sticks with them for some time after the Final Battle and then goes on her way (in the Distant Finale she's kind of Walking the Earth as a drifter). But she does check in with them from time to time to catch up and ensure that they're okay (and she's kind of like an honorary aunt to the main character's little sister as she grows up).

She literally has all the time in the world to tell them (she had a long lifespan prior to the final fight due to being a vampire, but certain things that happen in the end make her truly immortal and immune to vampire weaknesses).

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
Nukeli Since: Aug, 2018
#29485: Oct 8th 2024 at 11:56:20 PM

How could i create believable uncertainty about whether or not the US government and their alien allies are evil in my scifi thriller? Or should i just abandon the idea of creating doubt in the reader, and instead just have the kids doubt what the truth is, and perhaps make the reader fear for them? Or could relying on Dramatic Irony get old or frustrating if it goes on for a large chunk of the story?

The kids have pretty strong reasons to hope the situation isn't what it is, because the human kids' mother is a veteran and works for the evil government organization (she doesn't know yet) and her friend who's basically their uncle is one of the evil aliens, as is another guy the kids are becoming close with (and who's trying to indoctrinate them).

~*bleh*~
Marchen Too hot (Hot damn) from Somewhere Out in Space (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: It's not my fault I'm not popular!
Too hot (Hot damn)
#29486: Oct 10th 2024 at 11:31:53 AM

[up] I don't know about believable, but my instinct says to pull a double feint on the readers. If they're anything like me, they'll examine the tropes and try to see where things are going, which means they might predict that the government is secretly evil.

Thus, if you make it seem that the government might be evil, they'll think it's too obvious, and think that there must be a secret good reason and they're actually the good guys, making it all the more surprising when the twists is how evil they are.

As a comparison, in Howl's Moving Castle, it first seems Sophie's mom is taking reasonable action in how she treats her daughters, then it turns out she's actually selfishly favoring one child over the others (especially Sophie), but then it turns out she was actually being good and reasonable all along and the previous judgement was biased.

Read Otr of the Flame (She/Her)
MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#29487: Oct 11th 2024 at 7:19:14 PM

okay I'm using this psot to try tog et ideas for a setting for a small half of a chapter

The context here is that half of a dungeon (otherwise a pristine crystaline place) had been turned into a swampy setting (still crystalline). This half is part of a duality with the other half, and the absorbed part had a cursed weapon sealed inside of it.

I already had the Final Boss sussed out (the weapon itself), but I'm looking for encounters and puzzles for it. My current ideas are:

  • an expy of FF Malboros (noxious moving flora)
  • alligators
  • blackened muck tides
  • Giant mantises (been itching to put them in for a while)
  • a Krampus (long story)
  • and a Swamp Monster

But i want to ask for other ideas besides. Most of these are tentative.

Edited by MorningStar1337 on Oct 11th 2024 at 7:20:28 AM

TMH-Sir-Iron-Vomit The clown of STEEL from Ichnusa Since: Mar, 2024
The clown of STEEL
#29488: Oct 12th 2024 at 2:03:22 AM

What about giant water bug and giant water beetles, dire toads and arapaimas, for encounters?

Edited by TMH-Sir-Iron-Vomit on Oct 12th 2024 at 11:03:49 AM

Oo oo ah ah
Marchen Too hot (Hot damn) from Somewhere Out in Space (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: It's not my fault I'm not popular!
Too hot (Hot damn)
#29489: Oct 12th 2024 at 2:24:30 AM

[up][up]Well, where is this dungeon? I mean, it doesn't matter much for a fantasy world, but the alligators make me specifically think of Florida.

For the vibe of a cursed swamp, I'm thinking skeletons. Doesn't have to be human skeletons, lots of animals have really sick skeletons. Maybe a whale skeleton for a big threat in the latter half of the dungeon? The undead in general could work.

Actually, how swampy is the place? Like, lots of swampy plants, or just noxious and, uh, swampy? Maybe some sort of evil lily pad?

Snakes would be a pretty good choice in my eyes. There's something serene and holy about snakes that fits with a holy temple, but also something dark and ominous that fits with the corrupted half.

To finish it off... Uh, ghosts? You mentioned the sword being haunted by spirits, maybe some of them appear as regular enemies? Could also serve as a tutorial of sorts, where the strategies you use against them also kinda work against the boss.

Read Otr of the Flame (She/Her)
Trainbarrel The Story Supporter from The Star Ocean Since: Jun, 2023 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
The Story Supporter
#29490: Oct 12th 2024 at 7:33:27 AM

How about throwing log-mimics in the swampy dungeon and have one puzzle being to traverse a deep trench of the swamp, using only floating logs to do so, with an unknown number of them being mimics who only reveal themselves when you have both feet on them, upon which they roll over, drop you in the swamp, and then eat you with their big jaws on the underside of the "logs"?

Would make for a nerve-wrecking challenge.

"If there's problems, there's simple solutions."
Swordofknowledge Spreading literacy with book and blade from I like it here... Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Spreading literacy with book and blade
#29491: Oct 12th 2024 at 8:38:16 AM

I'm curious if the following example is an example of committing suicide. It's important to how a certain character dies and thus I wanted to be sure it counts as ending one's own life.

To explain: The Evil Mentor (well, kind of evil; it's complicated and far grayer than that) of one of the Big Bad Ensemble was immortal. He couldn't age past the point he obtained immortality, and he didn't need sustenance. The only things that could kill him were extremely powerful flames, injuries to a certain area of his body, and repeated use of a certain Dangerous Forbidden Technique.

He continually used this dangerous ability again and again, ensuring that his body slowly weakened and his health took a nosedive. He claimed it was for the good of the organization he served, since it let him see into the past and obtain a steady flow of important information for them to use.

However, he later admits the truth—-losing his wife and son in a horrific way and facing the prospect of eternity without them was too much to bear, and that he intends to end it all to have peace from the painful emptiness of their absence.

I'm just wondering if this counts as suicide or not.

Edited by Swordofknowledge on Oct 12th 2024 at 8:39:16 AM

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
Marchen Too hot (Hot damn) from Somewhere Out in Space (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: It's not my fault I'm not popular!
Too hot (Hot damn)
#29492: Oct 12th 2024 at 10:00:48 AM

[up]Since you technically didn't describe him dying I'll refrain from calling it suicide, but I'd probably call his actions suicidal. If he then succumbs to the strain of his powers or ends it in a more traditional manner I'd call it suicide. If someone else does him in I'd not call it suicide, but it does obey the spirit of the matter, if not the letter.

Read Otr of the Flame (She/Her)
Swordofknowledge Spreading literacy with book and blade from I like it here... Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Spreading literacy with book and blade
#29493: Oct 12th 2024 at 10:42:44 AM

[up] @ Marchen:

Thanks for the thoughts!

Since you technically didn't describe him dying I'll refrain from calling it suicide, but I'd probably call his actions suicidal. If he then succumbs to the strain of his powers or ends it in a more traditional manner I'd call it suicide

That's a fair point. He does die as a result of overusing these powers, although it's fairly indirect. He is weakened to the point where his death is inevitable even if he stopped completely, but rather than die from that, he winds up getting the person he was mentoring to kill him, in order to let somewhat break free of the Mind Control she was under at the time.

So essentially, he went down the road of using these powers to slowly take his own life, but his actual death came from directing another person to kill him as a kind of sacrifice to free them.

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
Marchen Too hot (Hot damn) from Somewhere Out in Space (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: It's not my fault I'm not popular!
Too hot (Hot damn)
#29494: Oct 12th 2024 at 11:45:28 AM

[up] In that case I wouldn't call it suicide. If you get someone else to kill you, it's not suicide. At best it's euthanasia with extra steps. Compare the story about how Vikings could die a warriors death by being given a sword at their death-bed and having a friend stab them. If it's good enough for Odin, it's good enough or me.

Read Otr of the Flame (She/Her)
Swordofknowledge Spreading literacy with book and blade from I like it here... Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Spreading literacy with book and blade
#29495: Oct 12th 2024 at 12:18:30 PM

[up] @ Marchen:

Yes, that does make sense in a way. The whole point of the situation is that while this character wanted to end his existence, he couldn't quite bring himself to do it directly. Thus, his roundabout way of going about the grim deed. So, I guess the ending still fits his character.

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
ChicoTheParakeet Since: Oct, 2019 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#29496: Oct 14th 2024 at 11:42:42 PM

I’m writing an autobiographical comic. I state many times how I’ve strayed away from DC Comics.

That said, my comics teacher had written and drawn for Batman before. I find that takes a lot of talent to be hired for such an assignment.

Am I contradicting myself?

WarJay77 It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (8,356/50,000) from My Writing Cave (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (8,356/50,000)
#29497: Oct 15th 2024 at 12:11:38 AM

No?

And even if it does, does it matter? It's an autobiography. Your goal should be to be honest about your life, and people contradict ourselves all the time. We're not perfect people who never have double standards or personal inconsistencies, and worrying about that sort of defeats the purpose. Don't judge yourself for your own thoughts and opinions, especially if you're writing about your life.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
ArsThaumaturgis Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: I've been dreaming of True Love's Kiss
#29498: Oct 15th 2024 at 1:26:58 AM

To build on the above:

To recognise that a thing takes skill doesn't imply that one likes that thing, or that you think that said thing is good.

So I see no necessary contradiction in saying that it takes skill to be hired by DC while also saying that one has moved away from reading DC.

And to be taught be someone who worked for a given company doesn't necessarily imply that one likes the output of said company.

So again, I see no contradiction here.

But indeed, I feel like WarJay's main point above is worth underlining: if a work is an autobiography, then one might expect it to include those points on which one is contradictory. (Where one indeed is so.)

Edited by ArsThaumaturgis on Oct 15th 2024 at 10:27:10 AM

My Games and Asset Packs
MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#29499: Oct 15th 2024 at 8:52:44 AM

Context: thinking of turning some character into houses/building for a spinoff. Was wondering what kind of plotlines would work with this besides the obvious "getting them back to normal" angle (which I'm not using)? Likely for a character study on them.

Also am looking into possible themes for it as part of a broader exploration of genius loci.

Edited by MorningStar1337 on Oct 15th 2024 at 9:08:51 AM

Swordofknowledge Spreading literacy with book and blade from I like it here... Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Spreading literacy with book and blade
#29500: Oct 15th 2024 at 9:19:42 AM

[up] @ Morning Star 1337:

A good one would be the exploration of the character-turned-house's mental state in regards to their condition.

There is an amazing webcomic I read many years ago, and one of the plotlines dealt with the main protagonists accidentally turning a random evil Mook into a tree in self defense. Unfortunately it was not something easily undone, and a huge plot point was how the person-turned-tree slowly dealt with this And I Must Scream situation (going through the stages of grief, slowly accepting her fate) and also how it slowly took her from random henchwoman to a fully realized character and heroine in her own right.

You could do something like that there at least about the feelings of the character who was turned into a house. Perhaps even adding in a sense of urgency, like them slowly losing their humanity/consciousness to the transformation (although I guess that would bleed into the "get them back to normal" aspect). Still the mental changes and overall horror they would feel is enough of a plot on its own.

Edited by Swordofknowledge on Oct 15th 2024 at 9:20:14 AM

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace

Total posts: 31,256
Top