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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

ArsThaumaturgis Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: I've been dreaming of True Love's Kiss
#30401: Apr 2nd 2025 at 11:05:08 AM

@WarJay: Ah, I think that your explanation does answer it, then! Thank you for indulging the question! ^_^

Hmm... If you want them to resort to violence more quickly than a span of a few months, then I might suggest a shortage of food, water, or some other such critical resource issue.

I'd still most likely see them initially just asking for help. But once it becomes clear that they're in very hostile waters, and with survival pushing them to extreme measures—and with a supernatural force actively eroding their state of mind—I could see them resorting to violence relatively quickly, I think. (As in, maybe a month, at a guess.)

My Games and Asset Packs
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)
#30402: Apr 2nd 2025 at 12:09:35 PM

[up] Makes sense. I think I can pull it off without it being played as "deterioration" so much as desperation, confusion, anger, and general stress. So more of a "we're alone, we only trust each-other, and something is going on, so we're going to fight" case rather than the Sanity Slippage I'd originally thought. That would still be in play but they wouldn't fall to savagery so much as take on a very "anything it takes" mindset. There are some other factors at play that I think will help that along, but I don't know if more context matters at this point

Thanks for the responses, guys. Gave me stuff to chew on

Edited by WarJay77 on Apr 2nd 2025 at 3:11:28 PM

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
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
#30403: Apr 3rd 2025 at 3:06:03 AM

[up] A bit late to the party, but I wanted to give an additional suggestion: you could speed up the process of their deterioration by having them encounter quite early another vessel that seems quite willing to help them, only to betray them in the worst possible way, stealing most of their resources and killing a couple of them. A couple of such encounters could drive them to a paranoid, trigger-happy state in a couple of weeks, if not sooner.

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
#30404: Apr 3rd 2025 at 5:06:14 AM

Does anyone have any thoughts on my question? If not I'll just let it go but I wanted to ask one last time.

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
Trainbarrel The Story Supporter from The Star Ocean Since: Jun, 2023 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
The Story Supporter
#30405: Apr 3rd 2025 at 6:26:52 AM

[up] Depends. Are they all acting as one regardless of what they actually want to do? Do they all work towards one single goal without strife at all among them?

If they are not, then they aren't a hive mind.

"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
#30406: Apr 3rd 2025 at 6:45:21 AM

[up] @ Trainbarrel:

No, definitely nothing like that. They have very distinct free will and beliefs, although they certainly have ironclad loyalty to their packs and species as a whole. They briefly become what you described while under the Big Bad's control but that is a complete exception.

So I guess not a Hive Mind. Thanks.

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
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
#30407: Apr 3rd 2025 at 7:05:18 AM

[up] Reading the trope page, I'd say Psychic Link would be closer to what you described.

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
#30408: Apr 3rd 2025 at 7:53:05 AM

[up] @ C105:

I actually didn't even know that trope page (or the trope itself) existed, so thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Yes, I guess Hive Mind may have just been my catchall term for something much more nuanced. The intent was to show how intrinsically linked they are to one another even across the planet, but not erase their individuality.

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
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)
#30409: Apr 3rd 2025 at 10:00:22 AM

@C105: Ooh, I like that idea.

See, I did at least want their captain to be badly wounded in a fight and planned for him to be essentially leading them from the bed until he died. So that's one way to get him hurt. And I was also toying with the idea of having the navigator not be missing at the start, but for him to be killed in action, leaving them screwed as the only person who knew where they were is gone.

So I think your idea could fit in really well. :)

Edited by WarJay77 on Apr 3rd 2025 at 1:00:41 PM

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
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
#30410: Apr 3rd 2025 at 4:04:36 PM

So right off the bat I'm well aware that this a Your Mileage May Vary type of situation, but wanted to at least see what some people thought.

TLDR: Major villain hunts main character and ultimately murders the main character's childhood friend and love interest while mocking him. Despite this personal link to one another, the villain in question is not killed by the main character at all. In fact the main character doesn't even try to press his vendetta as the story's plot moves "beyond" their conflict. Would this be a letdown even if there are understandable reasons?

More Detailed Information:

In my story there are four major villains, with the fourth turning out to be the Face Heel Turned main character himself.

With that understood, I have a bit of an "issue" with the dynamics between the main character and one of these aforementioned three villains. The villain in question is a powerful and highly manipulative vampire noble, and one of the driving forces of the plot. In some ways he is the reason why the events of the story were kicked into motion, at least the ones that take place in the modern era.

Furthermore, this character is fixated upon the main character and obsessed with using his powers as weapon. Ultimately it becomes even more personal between them when this villain winds up killing one of the other protagonists right in front of the main character's eyes, costing him a lifelong friend and budding love interest.

Yet despite all of this, there is no "resolution" between them. Quite the opposite in fact; the main character does not wind up killing this villain and avenging his childhood friend/girlfriend. By the time he is in a position to do so, he has moved onto far bigger stakes such as protecting his family and reshaping the world as he sees fit for this goal.

Now, this villain is killed by someone he has a very personal and dark connection with, but it just isn't the guy he hunted and ultimately robbed of someone they loved deeply.

What I am wondering is if this would be a major letdown for those who wanted to have the two of them engage in some kind of final showdown? Granted there are plenty of reasons as to why this doesn't happen, but I am worried that it would feel hollow somehow.

Edited by Swordofknowledge on Apr 3rd 2025 at 4:07:09 AM

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
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)
#30411: Apr 3rd 2025 at 5:25:20 PM

Hmmm. I can see it feeling hollow, but I can also see it being handled well. It's subjective as you acknowledge, and it's hard to say for certain how it would make people react.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
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
#30412: Apr 4th 2025 at 3:23:58 AM

[up][up] I concur with WarJay77, it is really a matter of execution. On the one hand, it can be frustrating not to have the showdown happen. On the other, it can be also an interesting subversion of readers' expectations. Story-wise, the protagonist not bothering to go after the guy that somewhat started it all could be seen as another evidence of his Sanity Slippage and distancing of humanity.

Edited by C105 on Apr 4th 2025 at 12:24:17 PM

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
#30413: Apr 4th 2025 at 4:38:23 AM

[up] @ War Jay 77 and C105:

Thank you both for giving your thoughts, I really appreciate it. I can see what you mean, with it depending on the execution, and I'm definitely trying to frame it as "understandable" within the story's context even if it is disappointing for the audience.

Story-wise, the protagonist not bothering to go after the guy that somewhat started it all could be seen as another evidence of his Sanity Slippage and distancing of humanity.

I just wanted to say I like this particular interpretation, since so many times an obsession with vengeance is seen as or associated with Sanity Slippage and gradual loss of humanity, but I can see the opposite being true in this case.

What I'm essentially trying to go for is the fact that not only have the stakes moved far past the conflict between the main character and this villain, but he is also far more focused on protecting the living (his family) than avenging the dead (his childhood-friend-turned-girlfriend). If anything, her death is one of the things that made him so obsessed with protection of his remaining loved ones, to the point of insanity.

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
Nukeli Since: Aug, 2018
#30414: Apr 4th 2025 at 9:37:22 AM

How close to each other do you think creatures communicating with bioelectric signals would need to be for it to work?

~*bleh*~
Trainbarrel The Story Supporter from The Star Ocean Since: Jun, 2023 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
The Story Supporter
#30415: Apr 4th 2025 at 9:42:21 AM

[up] Why not have these creatures inventing a cybernetic support-tool to empower the bioelectric signal to increase the range for secure communication with each other over bigger distances?

Edited by Trainbarrel on Apr 4th 2025 at 6:42:28 PM

"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
#30416: Apr 4th 2025 at 9:52:12 AM

[up][up] @ Nukeli:

It depends on a lot of factors, so it is difficult to give a single concrete answer. One big one would depend on the "medium" through which these signals are being transmitted; for instance, if the creatures are located underwater, then that would have different rules as opposed to air.

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
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
#30417: Apr 4th 2025 at 11:49:00 AM

I'm wondering if this scene ruins the Offscreen Afterlife vibe that my story has for what comes after death.

In this story when werewolves and members of the story's Mage Species die, their souls are absorbed by the entity that created the werewolves. These souls essentially become part of its vast nervous system, and their memories all mingle amidst each other. It's the closest thing to an "afterlife" the story has. However, what this is like for the souls in question is never really discussed or really even comes up.

However, very late in the story, one of the hero group dies during a Heroic Sacrifice. Due to being a member of the aforementioned Mage Species, his soul is absorbed into this entity upon the destruction of his body.

He awakens as a child, at his grandfather's cabin in the woods, where he was raised by the old man before being taken and forcibly inducted into the organization that controls his people. So, in other words he reappears in the last place where he was truly happy.

Furthermore, his grandfather is there, and the two of them begin having a conversation about his life and all that has gone on since he walked off that porch with the adults who would be "taking care" of him now. I should also note that his grandfather here is real, not just a comforting illusion.

There's somewhat more to it than that, but I figure that is enough to get the gist of what I mean. Does this ruin the image of that vague-but-known afterlife?

Edited by Swordofknowledge on Apr 4th 2025 at 11:49:54 AM

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
Florien The They who said it from statistically, slightly right behind you. Since: Aug, 2019
The They who said it
#30418: Apr 4th 2025 at 9:46:44 PM

[up] Yes, pretty hard. Also doesn't sound much like the "the souls all become a big collective soul blob where their individual identity is eroded and their memories blur together" like you're suggesting either, it sounds instead like just a fairly standard heaven.

Nukeli Since: Aug, 2018
#30419: Apr 4th 2025 at 9:56:41 PM

[up]x4

They don't have the technology. And even if they did, ut'd propably still be a good idea to figure out how it works without.

[up]x3

Air.

I haven't thought about what the planet's atmosphere consists of though.

~*bleh*~
Trainbarrel The Story Supporter from The Star Ocean Since: Jun, 2023 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
The Story Supporter
#30420: Apr 5th 2025 at 12:53:52 AM

[up] In that case, the range would be skin-contact.

As in, they most likely would have to touch each other directly just to make it work at all.

"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
#30421: Apr 8th 2025 at 5:31:30 AM

How long would it take for a person to "forget" about their loved ones in a Lotus-Eater Machine?

First of all, heavy use of air quotes since it isn't exactly forgetting, as I'll elaborate on in a minute. In order for his power to function, let alone at its full potential, the main-character-turned-Big Bad needs one of the other villains to act as a "battery" for it.

To accomplish this, he assimilates her into his new body and places her under a comforting illusion where she is just a child again, living in the woods with her family before they were massacred. She's surrounded by her parents and siblings and there is no one to bother them, harm them, and her whole reason for fighting is rendered moot.

By the time one of the heroes manages to break into this Happy Place during the final battle, the villain in question has completely accepted this as her life and has no intention of breaking free. She knows that she has a whole other life on the "outside" and that she has a son and husband, but she has been with her lost family for so long that they seem distant, and dim compared to what she's experiencing now.

I'm wondering how long it would take for this to happen to a person? Technically she's only in there for less than four days, but time can be easily manipulated in this state (two characters later spend literal decades in a similar state when in reality only a few minutes passed in the real world) so that's not a real factor.

I just wondered how many years it would take to lose touch of reality like that?

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
Nukeli Since: Aug, 2018
#30422: Apr 9th 2025 at 12:22:56 AM

You know how in drawings, black hair is shaded with blue, gret, or even purple because otherwise it'll look flat?

What if i distinguished physically identical alternate universe versions of a character eho has black hair by shading one's hair with dark blue and the other's with dark grey? Or would that be too subtle?

~*bleh*~
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
#30423: Apr 9th 2025 at 5:18:51 AM

[up] @ Nukeli:

That's certainly one way to distinguish an alternate universe version of a character, yes. I wouldn't use that as the only means of identifying them though; it's a very subtle characteristic that would likely not be picked up on at first glance.

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
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
#30424: Apr 9th 2025 at 5:20:47 AM

Does anyone have thoughts on my question [up][up][up], which is basically how long it would take for someone to stop really thinking about their loved ones in the real world when being trapped in an illusion of being reunited with dead family members while reliving the best part of their childhood?

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
TMH-Sir-Iron-Vomit The clown of STEEL from Ichnusa Since: Mar, 2024
The clown of STEEL
#30425: Apr 9th 2025 at 6:26:34 AM

Maybe five months to one year of perceived time (as opposed to the less than four days in reality)?

Oo oo ah ah

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