Duplicate tropes discussion thread

I can't distinguish "manipulation" and "manipulation for own agenda", nor I understand what the mod post is saying, so I guess two wick checks are in order.

As I was wondering why it's used for "a popular character becomes prominently featured in advertising and merchandise despite not being the main cast", Breakout Character has this line: "Ascended Extra is when a character gains any sort of increased role regardless of the character's popularity (or lack thereof)"

So Breakout Character is The Same, but More Specific to Ascended Extra?

Orbiting Particle Shield vs. Reverse Shrapnel? It seems like it's based on purpose and name, and an attack can be both?

Orbiting Particle Shield is defensive and Reverse Shrapnel is offensive. I'm not confident they are distinct enough.

I'll try to remember to TRS that eventually, thanks!

New Work, Recycled Graphics vs. Recycled Set vs. Cut and Paste Environments in video games?

New Work, Recycled Graphics seems to allow sharing between installments of a work, Recycled Set is Trivia and seems to be intended for "in different series / franchises / whatever", and Cut and Paste Environments seems to be shared stuff "in the same game"?

Made of Iron and Only a Flesh Wound?

• Made of Iron is a character trait. They can take a lot of hits with little to no ill effects.
• Only a Flesh Wound is more of a general Artistic License. The story treats supposedly serious injuries as a minor wound that the characters can easily ignore or recover from.

Edited by Adept on Nov 18th 2023 at 6:23:54 PM

^ So which trope would apply for a hero group of five consistently shrugging off injuries?

I'm thinking it depends on the injury. If they're fairly minor or can heal or is something like blunt force for example (i.e. it doesn't cause major physical damage), it probably fits Made of Iron more. However if it's someone quickly recovering from something like losing a chunk of flesh - or any injury that's normally quite severe or debilitating in real life but portrayed as much less grim in media - then Just a Flesh Wound would more likely apply.

These are my two cents, at least after having a quick look at both tropes.

Also the description of Only a Flesh Wound makes it seem like it's exclusive to gunshot wounds to specific parts of the body that media considers "safe", but aren't in real life, while Made of Iron can describe any wound including those in parts of the body that don't have that reputation as safe, and doesn't have to be a gunshot wound.

I don't understand the difference between Embarrassing Animal Suit and Goofy Suit.

Goofy Suit is explicitly for embarrassing outfits of any kind worn by mascots at their work. Embarrassing Animal Suit is for animal suits only, worn during any occasion.

Until next time...

Anon e Mouse Jr.

I have a question.

Never Live It Down is when fans "take some characters and narrowly define them based on one action or event, to the exclusion of other, often more important, actions of that character. (...) In short, it's like Flanderization, but instead of the canon actually making the character like that, fanon causes everyone to think the character is like that."

Memetic Loser is when "Sometimes a character is shown to be competent, maybe even heroic and badass. But that's not what they're remembered most for. (...) The fandom flanderizes that one time the character made a stupid mistake or got defeated in a shameful way, to the point that as far as the fandom is concerned they're a complete weakling who cannot defeat an insect."

What's the difference between these tropes? To me, Memetic Loser looks like The Same, but More Specific.

Never Live It Down isn't just about a character being pathetic but any minor or one-time behavior, positive or negative, that fans exaggerate to define the character.

I believe Memetic Loser doesn't require the character not be a loser in canon to some degree, so it doesn't need to be an unfair exaggeration, just anexaggeration. .

Is there Nurture over Nature does that Nature Versus Nurture doesn't already (except unneeded analysis section)?

I've seen these two tropes and I'm confused...

Quoting directly

> Please do not confuse this with Let's Get Dangerous!, which is when a seemingly ditzy or harmless character also demonstrates fighting skill, but without the change in personality and may not involve powers.

> Please do not confuse this with Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass, which is when a genuinely ditzy and harmless character demonstrates bouts of superior skill — and these moments are accompanied by a change in personality or powers.

I believe Let's Get Dangerous! is more about a badass moment while CMHB is about a badass character.

Thoughts?

What is the difference between Kids Are Cruel Vs Teens Are Monsters? The former trope apparently include teens as well (the page image depicts high schoolers), so it seems that the latter is just an exaggerated version of the former.

I think they're more likely to be lumped together if the cast is 20s and up, but in theory I think there's a difference between children being little shits because they're childishly impulsive/just don't know any better, and cruelty brought on by puberty, the introduction of more adult things like drugs/alcohol, and the more complex social structures of secondary education, etcetera. A youth focused work is more likely to draw a distinction, like the child protagonist complaining about their Big Brother Bully and his peers (e.g. Codename: Kids Next Door has children turn evil when they hit their teens).

What is the difference of Henotheistic Society, Patron God and Ethnic God?

Sudden Sequel Heel Syndrome and Rogue Protagonist seem suspiciously similar as described.

RP is the subtrope for protagonists. Not sure how relevant the distinction is.

Difference between Badass Transplant and Working for a Body Upgrade?

The upgrade being worked for doesn't have to be badass. It apparently could just be a Gender Bender or something.

Huh, I guess that's a fair distinction. Both tropes could use better descriptions though.

Another pair of tropes I came across last night is Where I Was Born and Razed and Bloodbath Villain Origin, which I'm genuinely stumped by because for the life of me I can't think of any distinction between them.

Where I Was Born and Razed refers to someone destroying their hometown (does not have to be an origin story or even a villain), Bloodbath Villain Origin refers to a villain getting their start through mass murder (does not have to be their hometown).

Edited by Synchronicity on Nov 29th 2023 at 11:54:12 AM