Have an idea for a new trope, but don't know for sure if it's a good idea? Did Trope Finder give you similar concepts, but not exactly what you wanted? Are you just looking for a focus to a broader idea?
You've come to the right place!
On this thread, you can share your ideas with the masses before making that TLP draft, so if there's any lingering uncertainty about the validity of your idea or you just want some help pinning down a good idea, ask away and help others out, too!
A related sandbox I need to pitch is the Trope Idea Salvage Yard. If you've an idea but can't personally work on it, you can add it to the yard and let someone else create the draft. Or you can browse it yourself if you need more draft ideas, whether or not you feel they should be mentioned here first.
Got ideas for non-trope pages you need help with? Never fear, the New Page Workshop Thread
is here!
With that out of the way: Let's discuss some ideas.
Edited by MacronNotes on Feb 27th 2022 at 1:49:11 PM
- So it's Energetic Lead Guy Uses Fire?
Otherwise I'm not seeing why Fire = Protag-ish, which otherwise is just a random pattern.
Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576
I'm thinking kind of the other way around, where Protag = Fire. Think Heroes Prefer Swords, but less weapons and more magic (or a magic equivalent). If Heroes Prefer Swords is a trope, I'd argue Heroes Prefer Fire - or something to that effect - should be considered one too.
- Well, Heroes Prefer Swords has this to say. If you've got something like that for fire, like The Flame of Life, Cleansing Flame, Light vs. Darkness, Warmth vs. Evil Is Deathly Cold...
Well, I've basically written it for you.
Edited by Malady on Nov 21st 2020 at 1:55:01 AM
Disambig Needed: Help with those issues! tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13324299140A37493800&page=24#comment-576As I work on splitting "New School Friend" like I vowed to do months ago, I'm wondering about a trope for characters who try and "reinvent" themselves when they move to a new school- becoming a new person to try and make friends more easily or to clean the slate. I have examples from Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide and Zoey 101.
Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper WallSweet.
Though I'm wondering if broadening it to any time a character attempts to "reinvent themselves" would be smarter. These would still be examples obviously but it'd probably be a healthier trope.
Edited by WarJay77 on Nov 22nd 2020 at 1:55:10 PM
Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper WallThat's what I was wondering. Reminds me of the BoJack Horseman episode where Todd reinvents himself as a cooler, confident version of himself as an homage to the "Stefan Urquelle" thing from Family Matters (which may or may not be an example cuz I haven't seen that series firsthand - I think it's a result of scientific mumbo jumbo which seems beyond this trope's scope). There's also the arc in Season 20 of South Park where Cartman suddenly reinvents himself to be calm, politically correct, and a good boyfriend.
I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.So it's definitely a thing. I feel confident that I can start a draft for it. Not tonight though. Maybe when I launch "Revenge Via Storytelling".
Unless anyone wants to take it first; if you do feel free.
Edited by WarJay77 on Nov 22nd 2020 at 2:09:44 PM
Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
Another sample of "re-invent themselves in a new setting" would be Babs Seed in "One Bad Apple" who acts as a tough and mean Manehattanite to stay in the good graces of local Alpha Bitches Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon at the expense of the CMC.
Do we have a trope for something along the lines of "Genre Resurrection"?
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And Applejack trying to be a proper City Pony in her backstory would also count I believe.
Edited by WarJay77 on Nov 23rd 2020 at 5:37:33 AM
Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper WallWhat about in The Amazing World of Gumball when Gumball discovers his name is Zach and reinvents his personality to be cool enough to match the name?
EDIT: Actually on second thought it might be more of a subversion or some other played-with example, as Zach eventually develops into a Split Personality as opposed to just a "cooler" persona.
Edited by mightymewtron on Nov 23rd 2020 at 7:02:57 AM
I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.I don't watch Gumball, but an example that is.
This draft will go well I suspect, I just don't know if I have the time to make it right now. If I don't make it before my other draft launches, someone else can take it. If not it'll be posted next week.
Edited by WarJay77 on Nov 23rd 2020 at 6:59:46 AM
Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper WallFor a while I've been thinking of creating an in-universe equivalent of Creator Breakdown and Reality Subtext. I remember we did something similar with Never Live It Down, where Once Done, Never Forgotten was created to cover in-universe examples of the trope. Would it be worthwhile to do the same with Creator Breakdown and Reality Subtext? Or do we already have a trope that covers this?
Edited by RustBeard on Nov 23rd 2020 at 6:44:58 AM
Reality Subtext and Creator Breakdown are both trivia tropes. As I understand it, trivia tropes can't be played with.
In-universe examples of Trivia can be played with, I think. At least, Trivia can be listed on a main page if it's in-universe.
Edited by mightymewtron on Nov 23rd 2020 at 9:50:59 AM
I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.Trivia tropes can exist In-Universe, though, and I don't think Creator Breakdown and Reality Subtext need to be split into separate tropes for real and In-Universe examples. Hell, even the former's page image is from an In-Universe usage of the trope.
Edited by jandn2014 on Nov 23rd 2020 at 9:52:43 AM
There is a difference between “Never Live It Down In-Universe”, which would be the audience never forgiving a Show Within a Show character, and Once Done, Never Forgotten, which is about characters never letting go of something another character did. The latter was also like 50% used to describe the former and splits can happen based on usage volume.
The tropes you describe are implicitly about the creative process so I think just adding In-Universe will cover them fine. (In-Universe isn’t a Playing With)
Edited by Synchronicity on Nov 23rd 2020 at 4:46:10 PM
Berserk Button: misusing Berserk Button
Hey, so I have a new idea for an index of sorts: RPG Maker Horror Games. While it may sound like simply horror games made in RPG Maker, which would just be The Same, but More Specific, RPG Maker Horror Games are different. I dunno if anyone here plays them as much as I do, but the basic idea is that these games have similar structures and mechanics that distance them from traditional RPG Maker games.
Basically, unlike traditional RPG Maker games, which tend to place their emphasis on the turn-based combat system that is pretty much the staple of the genre, RMHGs (which I will use to refer to them onward) tend to eschew combat entirely in favor of exploration and puzzle-solving. Even the ones that do feature combat don't focus on it as much as traditional RPG Maker games, or have non-turn-based combat. They also tend to take place in a single haunted location (though this is not always the case).
For examples to get a better feel for what I am talking about, here are some of the most popular of this sub-genre:
- Ib is probably the single most popular.
- The Corpse Party series and it's fangames are also probably the most popular.
- Misao and its loose prequel Mad Father
- The Witch's House
- The Strange Men Series: When I say non-turn-based combat, I mean this. The series has a combat system but it is more like a Zelda game or a top-down action adventure where you fight the boss directly with your weapon and stuff.
- Yume Nikki and its fangames sorta count- though theydon't have much of the puzzle-solving aspect, they still eschew combat in favor of exploration and otherwise have some of the hallmarks.
- Angels of Death, which became a decently popular anime and manga
- Ao Oni and its fangames
Some lesser known ones, in no particular order:
- Kinder: This one actually has combat, but it is much more puzzle-oriented.
- Bevel's Painting
- Forest of Drizzling Rain
- The Room (RPG Maker)
- Captive (RPG Maker)
- Purgatory (RPG Maker)
- Hello? Hell...o?
- Mermaid Swamp
- Hand In Hand
- Alice Mare: Not officially considered such, but it has many of the hallmarks and is pretty damn creepy.
- Blank Dream
- Insanity
- Seven Mysteries
- Pocket Mirror
- (Mario) The Music Box
- Cat in the Box
- Dear Mariko
- Castle Red
- Trick & Treat and The Witches' Tea Party (bit more lighthearted, but does fit the pattern)
- Cloé's Requiem
- Fantasy Maiden's Odd Hideout
- Dreaming Mary
- Prom Dreams
- Basically all of Charon's games
And many more- this is by no means a complete list, but it is one that I feel illustrates that this is a recognizable pattern, and thus could be viable as a trope/index. But what do you all think?
One of these days, all of you will accept me as your supreme overlord.

I was thinking more specifically for lead characters. So protagonists, supporting protagonists, hell (no pun intended) even villain protagonists. At the absolute minimum, deuteragonists. Not just "this one random good guy shows up for two episodes and uses fire magic". Does that sound good?
We are all destined to make our own choices.