Does Not Illustrate: Black Swords Are Better

The image is of a black sword. It doesn't in any way show that this is a better sword. Do we have a better idea?

I think it would actually take a shot of a black blade in action against another sword or something similar to actually get the trope across.

How about this one of the darksaber from Star Wars? Has the blade clashing with another blue lightsaber, and the Jedi seems to be at a disadvantage.

https://www.starwarsauthentics.com/iSynApp/productDisplay.action?sid=1102083&productId=1390712&isynsharedsession=Omuk6pa9Tlc7rh1O1P71AnrlnzbV94pz02l2gXYxJu9EdaSACl02r4aCDzYhNvUm

But if that's not to your taste here's an alternate shot with a more "cool" pose.

http://www.rebelsreport.com/index.php/2017/01/22/review-trials-of-the-darksaber/

Edited by Stage7-4 on Feb 19th 2020 at 10:11:18 AM

For a simple comparison, this?

I had to edit the words in as they're placed elsewhere on the menu, so I may correct their placement later, but it doesn't seem like that big of a deal. The black sword can also be upgraded an infinite number of times, so it could have an attack value of 505 or higher, if we need a stronger comparison. Anyway, thoughts?

Edited by Piterpicher on Feb 19th 2020 at 7:42:16 PM

That looks more like Elaborate Equals Effective, which happens to have a similar image.

Edited by petersohn on Feb 19th 2020 at 8:13:00 PM

I know that, but I feel like the first that will come to mind here is the blackness of the sword, with the elaborateness being more of a bonus (which may actually help the image and show its strength better), unlike Elaborate Equals Effective which just focuses on that. Also, the game doesn't really follow this principle, as it seems to zigzag between simple and elaborate swords, with the final sword (the black one) being the most extravagant. Anyway, here it is with the sword one level below the previously used one, it is better as both are rather unusual (though one more than the other), and the top one has a yellow hilt rather than a black one further adding to the effect.

Edited by Piterpicher on Feb 19th 2020 at 8:41:08 PM

Maybe use all 3 images. That rules out Elaborate Equals Effective, and also has an interesting bonus for this trope: the first has light hilt and shiny blade, the second has shiny hilt and black blade and better, and the last one has black hilt and blade and is even better.

Edit: or maybe that would be too much, I'm not sure.

Edited by petersohn on Feb 19th 2020 at 9:09:54 PM

Found this while searching for a Thunderbolt Iron replacement:

Edited by Synchronicity on Feb 19th 2020 at 2:26:52 PM

That doesn't show a white sword for comparison to show it's better and seems a bit too busy. Besides, if Elaborate Equals Effective has four swords, this can have three, and Petersohn's arguments like the hilt change and the aversion to Elaborate Equals Effective seem valid for mine and mine is from a work that has zero illustrations, though so is yours.

Edited by Piterpicher on Feb 19th 2020 at 9:33:21 PM

A work having zero illustrations means nothing.

We want clear and illustrative images. Not representativeness.

I can give up the representation argument and I did know illustrativeness is the most important aspect (I mean, I was the guy who probably cared about it the most, and I did put it in spoilers), but I think 9 is the most illustrative as well, it shows the comparison of white sword to black sword perfectly in a simple way, plus there's the rest of Petersohn's arguments like the subtle effect with the hilt or averting Elaborate Equals Effective.

Edited by Piterpicher on Feb 19th 2020 at 9:42:57 PM

I still would prefer something that's not too similar to another trope image.

I don't think it's too similar. There's the different general coloration of the image, three swords are shown instead of four, and the fact it's elaborate>simple>elaborate rather than an escalation makes it unmistakable for that trope.

Edited by Piterpicher on Feb 19th 2020 at 9:49:11 PM

Yeah, the guidelines say that it can have *some* impact. I interpret this as it shouldn't be a deciding factor unless everything else (illustrativeness, quality, etc) is equal and the choice is between an image from any other thing and, say, the Simpsons, but it shouldn't be used as part of an image pitch.

I think 9 works for this page, but I agree that it is too similar in concept to the current on Elaborate Equals Effective. Since that one also relies on two black swords, it can even be moved to this page and we get some other non-sword example on there.

Edited by Synchronicity on Feb 19th 2020 at 2:47:13 PM

I don't think so, the third sword on Elaborate Equals Effective looks more dark blue to me (scratch that, zooming in shows it's more black, but far away it seems dark blue and that's the color my picker associates it with), and the different weapon pattern makes 9 unmistakeable for what's currently on there (and it ultimately shows the black sword part for this trope). Maybe there could be some non-sword picture for that, but I'd have to find it first, while 9 should go well on Black Swords Are Better.

Edited by Piterpicher on Feb 19th 2020 at 9:52:56 PM

Has anybody looked at my Star Wars examples? I feel they solve a lot of the issues we're discussing.

Sorry I don't quite know how to post pictures in these threads yet. The "welcome to" threads are very good at telling what not to do, but not so good on what to do.

Edited by Stage7-4 on Feb 19th 2020 at 12:55:58 PM

I personally think they're okay as the black saber being bigger implies it being better with a preference towards the first suggestion, but 9 shows the battle stats which may be more easily understandable.

Edited by Piterpicher on Feb 19th 2020 at 9:58:31 PM

You can access the image uploader by clicking "edit" on a random page.

Ooh, I actually really like 3.2 D'oh! 3.1. The swords are in the center, one is clearly very black, and the wielder of the blue sword looks like he's on the defensive. Here's a version of it without the watermark:

Edited by Synchronicity on Feb 19th 2020 at 3:18:38 AM

By the way, here's my last attempt at a suggestion with a stronger contrast than blue and black, though this one isn't quite black and is the second-strongest sword rather than the best:

Edited by Piterpicher on Feb 19th 2020 at 10:10:03 AM

I'm actually warming up to that since it's somewhat an unique, yet fitting way of showing the trope. A tentative .

Edited by Drope on Feb 19th 2020 at 1:10:44 AM

I say 3.1.

Edited by jandn2014 on Feb 19th 2020 at 4:11:14 AM

Yeah, Piter's suggestions are pretty good, but the Star Wars one captures the trope without needing a textual explanation all while being simply more visually appealing.

3.1 / 18.

18

I'm not really feeling 18. It doesn't show that it's better. Even though its wielder is winning but it looks like to me that it's because of her skills, not the sword. 8 is definitely too busy, but I think something like that would work: showing that the black sword can cut through something big. A direct comparison is not absolutely necessary.

Or, alternatively, 19 is OK for me too.

Edited by petersohn on Feb 19th 2020 at 10:44:11 AM