Boisterous Bruiser: What is it about exactly?

Moving a couple of questions from the Discussion Page of Boisterous Bruiser, as it appears that no one is frequenting the page these days.

Kersey475: So, is a Boisterous Bruiser basically a more cheerful and bombastic Blood Knight (and in return, is a Blood Knight a calmer and more serious Boisterous Bruiser)?

Marq FJA: I don't know how Boisterous Bruiser counts as a Sub-Trope of In Harm's Way, despite reading the description, which incidentally talks a lot more about the "boisterousness" of the character type's personality than any fight-seeking tendencies. Can someone explain?

edited 14th Nov '10 5:02:32 AM by MarqFJA

At first glance, I don't see any good reason for Boisterous Bruiser being a subtrope of In Harm's Way. Sister trope, maybe, but it seems way too limiting to require all Boisterous Bruisers to also have all the attributes of In Harm's Way.

I also notice that pretty much only the last paragraph of the description bothers to talk about Boisterous Bruiser's fighter side at all.

That and the Laconic description, which is along the lines of "party animal meets crazy warrior." A Boisterous Bruiser might enjoy a scrap, but he doesn't live for it like a Blood Knight. As for the thread title's actual question, in my opinion the trope's generally about big, cheerful guys who, while sometimes grating, are enthusiastic enough and good enough in a fight if it comes to that to be liked anyway. A lot of it seems to come down to the "big and loud" idea, especially given one of the alt titles - if I recall - is "Big Friendly Guy".

So, they're confusing the Boisterous Bruiser being usually also a Spirited Competitor for being a more "sane" and "friendly" Blood Knight?

Agree that Boisterous Bruiser is not a subtrope of In Harm's Way.

Why is in the index for Tricksters?

Same reason You Fail The IQ Test (before I split it, it's now only a redirect) was on the Narrative Devices index. When a trope isn't clearly defined, it can get sorted into all kinds of places that it doesn't fit.

edited 14th Nov '10 3:47:47 PM by TotemicHero

Okay, then I assume we agree that it should be taken out from In Harm's Way, and the laconic definition needs urgent replacement. Does the description itself look okay?

PS: The way this discussion is going, it looks more appropiate in the Repair Shop. I wasn't expecting that, BTW.

edited 14th Nov '10 5:28:40 PM by MarqFJA

Needs an Image Pickin' thread too, come to think of it. I'm an MST 3 K fan and saw the episode being quoted and imaged, and still can't quite recall why it would fit.

I always thought of it as the Large Ham among fighter archetypes.

My understanding is that the Boisterous Bruiser's personality isn't defined by being a bruiser, it's just that he's most likely in the story because he's helpful for the protagonists to have around in case a fight does break out. He's all about enjoying life, but when violence happens he's capable.

Brian Blessed, is loud, always laughing, plays characters to type and on his days off gives motivational speeches to children saying that if people tell you you're completely mad you know you're doing something right.

He's also a 5th dan black belt who managed to keep Oliver Reed sober through fear alone.

Harkness from Honor Harrington has a face that shows a thousand bar brawls, a disciplinary record spotted with bar fights against people who were quite happy to blow off steam themselves and with smuggling nice things aboard ship to keep people supplied with things navy regs might not permit on a "minor technicality". In the books, he sees his first fight in book 4, which lasts about a paragraph, and his second in book 7. Aside from those his combat prowess is mostly an Informed Ability.

So does anyone object to removing Boisterous Bruiser from In Harm's Way?

No.