Comments on: Mining Tropes for RPG nuggets: Opening up the mine http://critical-hits.com/2007/09/10/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-opening-up-the-mine/ The Journal of Gamer Culture Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:43:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dungeon Mastering » The omniscient D&D player http://critical-hits.com/2007/09/10/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-opening-up-the-mine/#comment-46311 Dungeon Mastering » The omniscient D&D player Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:30:00 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=42#comment-46311 [...] are being overpowered you might want to subvert his ideas - like the Chatty DM does with his subverted tv tropes  - that way he thinks he knows what’s coming but whatever he expected goes horribly wrong or [...] [...] are being overpowered you might want to subvert his ideas – like the Chatty DM does with his subverted tv tropes  – that way he thinks he knows what’s coming but whatever he expected goes horribly wrong or [...]

]]> By: Stupid Ranger http://critical-hits.com/2007/09/10/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-opening-up-the-mine/#comment-46310 Stupid Ranger Mon, 10 Sep 2007 22:54:00 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=42#comment-46310 I think it's very important to consider that the players do have expectations; it's how you handle them that makes the game intriguing.<br /><br />I expect that at some time I'm going to be introduced to everyone. We're going to be sent on a mission. Hopefully we're successful, and we're assigned a more important mission. But even this fairly predictable chain of events can be spiced up, especially with the subverted cliches. It's the how it happens that should change, and it's more fun when it does so unexpectedly. I think it’s very important to consider that the players do have expectations; it’s how you handle them that makes the game intriguing.

I expect that at some time I’m going to be introduced to everyone. We’re going to be sent on a mission. Hopefully we’re successful, and we’re assigned a more important mission. But even this fairly predictable chain of events can be spiced up, especially with the subverted cliches. It’s the how it happens that should change, and it’s more fun when it does so unexpectedly.

]]> By: Phil http://critical-hits.com/2007/09/10/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-opening-up-the-mine/#comment-46309 Phil Mon, 10 Sep 2007 17:29:00 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=42#comment-46309 Thing his, apart from the contact thing which admittedly is a good use of a cliché,a few of your examples are subverted clichés which makes them great!<br /><br />I think the line between clichés and Tropes is a fine one and relates to your group. If you mention the adventuring past of the innkeeper and everybody groans and says 'ahhh again?' you have a cliché on your hands. If you get a more neutral reaction, you have yourself a Trope. Thing his, apart from the contact thing which admittedly is a good use of a cliché,a few of your examples are subverted clichés which makes them great!

I think the line between clichés and Tropes is a fine one and relates to your group. If you mention the adventuring past of the innkeeper and everybody groans and says ‘ahhh again?’ you have a cliché on your hands. If you get a more neutral reaction, you have yourself a Trope.

]]> By: Dr-Rotwang http://critical-hits.com/2007/09/10/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-opening-up-the-mine/#comment-46308 Dr-Rotwang Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:57:00 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=42#comment-46308 Cliches are good! They are nuggets of instant info waiting to be customized, tricked out and redefined by you, the GM.<br /><br />Here's my favorite example -- you know how the innkeeper is ALWAYS a retired adventurer? Yeah, I know. Well, what does that <i>mean</i>? <i>I</i> think it means that he has knowledge, contacts, maps, goodies and secrets which may be of use to the PCs. What if he shares that stuff with them? What if he <i>witholds</i> it? What if he has a quest item innocuosly hidden in a cask in the cellar? What if he's an <i>evil traitor on the run from his former fellow adventurers</i>? <br /><br />The beauty of cliches is that they can, and should, be re-used. <br /><br /><b>Mercilessly.</b> Cliches are good! They are nuggets of instant info waiting to be customized, tricked out and redefined by you, the GM.

Here’s my favorite example — you know how the innkeeper is ALWAYS a retired adventurer? Yeah, I know. Well, what does that mean? I think it means that he has knowledge, contacts, maps, goodies and secrets which may be of use to the PCs. What if he shares that stuff with them? What if he witholds it? What if he has a quest item innocuosly hidden in a cask in the cellar? What if he’s an evil traitor on the run from his former fellow adventurers?

The beauty of cliches is that they can, and should, be re-used.

Mercilessly.

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