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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

NitroIndigo ♀ | Small ripples lead to big waves from West Midlands region, England Since: Jun, 2021 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
♀ | Small ripples lead to big waves
#2451: Jul 21st 2021 at 12:55:29 AM

I wonder if the concept of mind-readers being able to detect that someone is possessed is common enough to be a trope? The best name I can think of for this is Sussing Out the Possessor, and the only example that comes to mind right now is the Leerans from Animorphs, who are so telepathic that they can instantly find out if someone's being controlled by a Yeerk.

Merseyuser1 Since: Sep, 2011
#2452: Jul 21st 2021 at 2:00:16 AM

One that could work as a subtrope of The Cameo:

  • Funeral Cameo: A cameo appearance is often common in episodes, but a cameo at a funeral can be used to indicate One Degree of Separation between the characters and that they either had a good/hostile relationship with the deceased; especially if it'd hadn't been established before in canon, or happened offscreen.

Examples would be The Skrulls showing up to mourn in The Death of Captain Mar-Vell, despite being antagonists to Captain Marvel; he died of cancer in the comic (listed on No Antagonist).

Edited by Merseyuser1 on Jul 21st 2021 at 10:10:16 AM

Adept (Holding A Herring) Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#2453: Jul 21st 2021 at 5:21:20 AM

Is Fake Mystery a viable trope? This is when a character deliberately sets up a mystery in order to prank/distract another character? It's done in the Mystery Episode in Heaven's Design Team and Haruhi Suzumiya

mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#2454: Jul 21st 2021 at 8:21:00 AM

[up][up] I'd say that could be broadened to any large gathering that features several cameos.

I can think of a non-funeral example during the party at the end of the South ParQ Vaccination Special in which characters across decades of seasons party after getting vaccinated.

Edited by mightymewtron on Jul 21st 2021 at 11:55:27 AM

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
miraculous Goku Black (Apprentice)
Goku Black
#2455: Jul 21st 2021 at 8:39:36 AM

Gathering Cameo

"That's right mortal. By channeling my divine rage into power, I have forged a new instrument in which to destroy you."
Merseyuser1 Since: Sep, 2011
#2456: Jul 21st 2021 at 11:28:27 AM

[up] Gathering Cameo works much better than my original idea; mine was too limited in scope, but the idea was there.

As a narrative function, it could work, as long as it's defined different enough from just The Cameo.

It's useful on recap pages.

mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#2457: Jul 21st 2021 at 12:53:20 PM

And it'd prevent entries for The Cameo from having a shitload of subbullets in cases where many characters cameo at a gathering.

It's related to Continuity Porn but not a dupe by any means.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
wingedcatgirl mys. minty from the silly dimension from lurking (Holding A Herring) Relationship Status: Oh my word! I'm gay!
mys. minty from the silly dimension
#2458: Jul 21st 2021 at 2:35:45 PM

Just came across a tumblr post discussing villains like Megamind and Doofenschmirtz who are more into the performance of evil than accomplishing any actual nefariousness. Think that's a thing?

Edited by wingedcatgirl on Jul 21st 2021 at 4:36:01 AM

Suddenly I'm... still rotating Fallen London in my mind even though I've stopped actively playing it.
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#2460: Jul 21st 2021 at 3:28:38 PM

Then Let Me Be Evil is as well, especially in Megamind's case.

I do feel like there's an even broader trope, possibly one that exists, for hero/villain stuff being theatrical rather than an actual battle of good vs. evil.

Edited by mightymewtron on Jul 21st 2021 at 6:31:56 AM

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
Nen_desharu Nintendo Fanatic Extraordinaire from Greater Smash Bros. Universe or Toronto Since: Aug, 2020 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Nintendo Fanatic Extraordinaire
#2461: Jul 21st 2021 at 7:42:33 PM

For Japanese cuisine, I propose the name Sushi Sashimi Wasabi.

Kirby is awesome.
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)
#2462: Jul 21st 2021 at 8:49:28 PM

So, lately there's been a lot of attention given to those really bizarre, super dishonest mobile game ads (you know the ones). So much so that I'm wondering if a trope for, say, Surrealist Advertising would be viable? It's definitely become something of an Advertising Trope...

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#2463: Jul 21st 2021 at 9:07:24 PM

We have Dada Ad, but if you mean those weird "IF YOU WIN THIS GAME YOU CAN LEGALLY BECOME PUMPKIN" mobile ads, I was also wondering if that would be a trope at this point.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
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)
#2464: Jul 21st 2021 at 9:13:12 PM

Yeah, those are the sort of ads I'm referring to.

Well, the genre of "bad mobile game ads" is a wide and scary one, but those "Legally Skilled" versions are definitely something worth discussing.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#2465: Jul 21st 2021 at 9:15:07 PM

Oh, we also have Very False Advertising which outright mentions mobile game ads in the RL examples.

Edited by mightymewtron on Jul 21st 2021 at 12:15:18 PM

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
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)
#2466: Jul 21st 2021 at 9:17:25 PM

Mm, that covers part of it, definitely.

Is there a trope for advertising via fanservice or sympathy? A lot of these ads involve sexual or tragic scenarios that have no relevance to the game. (Obviously they fall under the trope you linked above, but it'd overlap in this case.)

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#2467: Jul 21st 2021 at 9:21:43 PM

Well, the fanservice part is Sex Sells and, more specifically, Lady Not-Appearing-in-This-Game, but I don't know if "emotionally manipulative advertising" has a trope. If so, National Lampoon's "If you don't buy this magazine we'll kill this dog" cover would definitely fit, as would many PSAs.

Edited by mightymewtron on Jul 21st 2021 at 12:22:32 PM

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
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)
#2468: Jul 21st 2021 at 9:23:34 PM

Hmmm...That's an idea then.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
Twiddler (On A Trope Odyssey)
#2469: Jul 22nd 2021 at 10:48:34 AM

"If you don't buy this magazine we'll kill this dog" cover

That's Abusive Advertising

windleopard from Nigeria Since: Nov, 2014 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
#2470: Jul 22nd 2021 at 10:56:40 AM

I have an idea for a deity trope about gods whose domains are darkness/night and the moon. Should I make them one single trope or keep them separate?

mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#2471: Jul 22nd 2021 at 11:28:50 AM

[up][up]Abusive Advertising is related, but I was thinking emotional manipulation instead of threats. A better example would be the ASPCA "In the Arms of an Angel" sad sick puppy ad.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
themayorofsimpleton Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him from the Island of Koridai (Captain) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him
#2472: Jul 22nd 2021 at 1:23:20 PM

[up] I know what you're talking about. I have a family member who watches a lot of old tv show reruns, and the network that airs them is filled with those type of ads. I've also seen "save the elephants" ads with sad music and slow motion clips, and "save the homeless children" ads with sad music and emotional heartstring-tugging narration. It's definitely a thing, it just needs a name. Maybe something like Heartstring Tugging Charity Ad, or Emotional Charity Ad, or perhaps a better name than those two.

Works That Require Cleanup of Complaining | Troper Wall
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)
#2473: Jul 22nd 2021 at 1:26:11 PM

Well, the concept is broader than the charity ads. Going back to mobile games, a surprising amount of their advertisements feature sad women being cheated on, Imperiled in Pregnancy, or generally mistreated...when the games have nothing to do with these things.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
themayorofsimpleton Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him from the Island of Koridai (Captain) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him
#2474: Jul 22nd 2021 at 1:27:02 PM

[up] I think of those as separate ads, though. I was talking more about stuff like the ASPCA ads, or ads for elephants, children in Africa, homeless children, poverty-stricken Holocaust survivors, etc. I think that might be a trope onto its own, actually.

Works That Require Cleanup of Complaining | Troper Wall
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)
#2475: Jul 22nd 2021 at 1:28:00 PM

Right, but what started this entire discussion was us discussing the potential for a broader "Emotionally Manipulative Advertising" trope, which would also include the mobile games. If anything, the charity version is a subtrope.

Edited by WarJay77 on Jul 22nd 2021 at 4:28:27 AM

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall

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