Category:Tropes of Legend: Difference between revisions

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'''Note:''' All The Tropes apologizes for the lack of autoplaying music from the web page. For optimum viewing experience, hum "[[Also Sprach Zarathustra|Thus Spoke Zarathustra]]" while reading below.<ref>Alternately Or open [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWnmCu3U09w&feature=related this] in a new tab, if you're too lazy to hum.</ref>
'''Note:''' All The Tropes apologizes for the lack of autoplaying music from the web page. For optimum viewing experience, hum "[[Also Sprach Zarathustra|Thus Spoke Zarathustra]]" while reading below.<ref>Alternately Or open [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWnmCu3U09w&feature=related this] in a new tab, if you're too lazy to hum.</ref>


Here is a list of the most widely-known and oft-referenced [[Trope|tropes]] we have on this entire site. If you're new to All The Tropes, this list will provide a good basis for understanding our... erm... [[All The Tropes Will Ruin Your Vocabulary|unique vocabulary]].
Here is a list of the most widely-known and oft-referenced [[Trope|tropes]] we have on this entire site. If you're new to All The Tropes, this list will provide a good basis for understanding our... erm... [[All the Tropes Will Ruin Your Vocabulary|unique vocabulary]].


On the other hand, if you're a veteran [[Troper]] and you still aren't familiar with all of these entries, this list might prove to be quite informative.
On the other hand, if you're a veteran [[Troper]] and you still aren't familiar with all of these entries, this list might prove to be quite informative.
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* [[Bittersweet Ending]]: An ending that mixes happiness and sadness, such as victory at a high cost.
* [[Bittersweet Ending]]: An ending that mixes happiness and sadness, such as victory at a high cost.
* [[Black Comedy]]: Comedy based on tasteless jokes.
* [[Black Comedy]]: Comedy based on tasteless jokes.
* [[Blatant Lies]]: Obvious untruths. [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin]].
* [[Blatant Lies]]: Obvious untruths. [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin]].
* [[Body Horror]]: Someone's body is mutating into something horrible.
* [[Body Horror]]: Someone's body is mutating into something horrible.
* [[Brainwashed]]: A character is hypnotized into doing something against their will, but that something isn't necessarily violent.
* [[Brainwashed]]: A character is hypnotized into doing something against their will, but that something isn't necessarily violent.
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* [[Crapsack World]]: A place which is really horrible to live in.
* [[Crapsack World]]: A place which is really horrible to live in.
* [[Curb Stomp Battle]]: A completely one-sided fight.
* [[Curb Stomp Battle]]: A completely one-sided fight.
* [[Darker and Edgier]]: The tendency of shows to try to give themselves a new feel that is [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|darker and edgier.]] Usually involves trying to add more angst, more violence, more rage from the characters, and [[Hollywood Darkness|less lighting]].
* [[Darker and Edgier]]: The tendency of shows to try to give themselves a new feel that is [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|darker and edgier.]] Usually involves trying to add more angst, more violence, more rage from the characters, and [[Hollywood Darkness|less lighting]].
* [[Dead Horse Trope]]: A trope that has been so overdone, analyzed, and mocked that its different varieties or parodies have had to be classified and given names. Most clichés are simply [[Discredited Trope|Discredited Tropes]].
* [[Dead Horse Trope]]: A trope that has been so overdone, analyzed, and mocked that its different varieties or parodies have had to be classified and given names. Most clichés are simply [[Discredited Trope|Discredited Tropes]].
* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: A very sarcastic character.
* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: A very sarcastic character.
* [[Deal With the Devil]]: A character trading their soul or a similar substitute in exchange for benefits.
* [[Deal with the Devil]]: A character trading their soul or a similar substitute in exchange for benefits.
* [[Deconstruction]]: Playing a trope in the way it would work in the real world, usually as criticism.
* [[Deconstruction]]: Playing a trope in the way it would work in the real world, usually as criticism.
* [[Department of Redundancy Department]]: Repetitive repetition.
* [[Department of Redundancy Department]]: Repetitive repetition.
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* [[Driven to Suicide]]: Events lead a character to kill themself.
* [[Driven to Suicide]]: Events lead a character to kill themself.
* [[Eldritch Abomination]]: [[Starfish Aliens|Incomprehensible aliens]] or demons from beyond, like Cthulhu.
* [[Eldritch Abomination]]: [[Starfish Aliens|Incomprehensible aliens]] or demons from beyond, like Cthulhu.
* [[The End of the World As We Know It]]: Civilization or life ([[Earthshattering Kaboom|sometimes the entire planet]]) getting destroyed.
* [[The End of the World as We Know It]]: Civilization or life ([[Earthshattering Kaboom|sometimes the entire planet]]) getting destroyed.
* [[Epileptic Trees]]: [[Wild Mass Guessing|Wild, off-the-wall fan theories and speculation]] about a show's murkier plot points and characterizations.
* [[Epileptic Trees]]: [[Wild Mass Guessing|Wild, off-the-wall fan theories and speculation]] about a show's murkier plot points and characterizations.
** [[Jossed]]: The [[Word of God]] shoots the theories down.
** [[Jossed]]: The [[Word of God]] shoots the theories down.
** [[I Knew It!]]: When a particular theory turns out to be true.
** [[I Knew It!]]: When a particular theory turns out to be true.
* [[Everything's Better With Princesses]]: Princesses are quite popular to use in fiction, thus they tend to show up whenever a writer can fit them in.
* [[Everything's Better with Princesses]]: Princesses are quite popular to use in fiction, thus they tend to show up whenever a writer can fit them in.
* [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin]]: When the title tells you almost everything about something; for example, the film ''[[Snakes On a Plane]]''. Also used for [[You Know That Thing Where|YKTTWs]] that are exactly what they say on the title of the suggestion.
* [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin]]: When the title tells you almost everything about something; for example, the film ''[[Snakes on a Plane]]''. Also used for [[You Know That Thing Where|YKTTWs]] that are exactly what they say on the title of the suggestion.
* [[Executive Meddling]]: When a work is altered solely because the higher management of the company wants it to be changed.
* [[Executive Meddling]]: When a work is altered solely because the higher management of the company wants it to be changed.
* [[Expy]]: A character who is very similar to another character in a different work, often by the same author.
* [[Expy]]: A character who is very similar to another character in a different work, often by the same author.
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* [[Incredibly Lame Pun]]: Groan-inducing pun. Commonly used by a Mr. [[Report Siht]] in means both [[Incredibly Lame Pun|cruel and unusual]].
* [[Incredibly Lame Pun]]: Groan-inducing pun. Commonly used by a Mr. [[Report Siht]] in means both [[Incredibly Lame Pun|cruel and unusual]].
* [[Jerkass]]: A character who is offensively obnoxious.
* [[Jerkass]]: A character who is offensively obnoxious.
** [[Jerk With a Heart of Gold]]: An obnoxious fellow who's actually a nice guy underneath.
** [[Jerk with a Heart of Gold]]: An obnoxious fellow who's actually a nice guy underneath.
* [[Just in Time]]: Salvation that arrives just in time to create a fake sense of suspense.
* [[Just in Time]]: Salvation that arrives just in time to create a fake sense of suspense.
* [[Justified Trope]]: The work offers an explanation for the use of an otherwise illogical trope; can be anything from a [[Hand Wave]] to a perfectly reasonable explanation.
* [[Justified Trope]]: The work offers an explanation for the use of an otherwise illogical trope; can be anything from a [[Hand Wave]] to a perfectly reasonable explanation.
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* [[MacGuffin]]: A physical object, the pursuit of which drives the plot; but the purpose of the object is irrelevant to the plot.
* [[MacGuffin]]: A physical object, the pursuit of which drives the plot; but the purpose of the object is irrelevant to the plot.
* [[Mad Scientist]]: A character who exploits science for fun and profit.
* [[Mad Scientist]]: A character who exploits science for fun and profit.
* [[Magic A Is Magic A]]: The "Rules of the World", a set of rules and themes that make the whole universe believable as long as they're consistent. Breaking them can destroy the audience's willingness to accept the story.
* [[Magic a Is Magic A]]: The "Rules of the World", a set of rules and themes that make the whole universe believable as long as they're consistent. Breaking them can destroy the audience's willingness to accept the story.
* [[Masquerade]]: Weird things exist, but for some reason have to be hidden from the general public. The story thus takes place in "the real world", but with a supernatural undercurrent.
* [[Masquerade]]: Weird things exist, but for some reason have to be hidden from the general public. The story thus takes place in "the real world", but with a supernatural undercurrent.
* [[Meaningful Name]]: A name with a deeper meaning, which is no coincidence.
* [[Meaningful Name]]: A name with a deeper meaning, which is no coincidence.
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** [[That One Level]]: A video game level that is more difficult/frustrating than the rest of the game's levels.
** [[That One Level]]: A video game level that is more difficult/frustrating than the rest of the game's levels.
* [[Oh Crap]]: The moment at which characters realize that they are completely and totally screwed.
* [[Oh Crap]]: The moment at which characters realize that they are completely and totally screwed.
* [[The Oldest Ones in The Book]]: Tropes that really ''have'' been handed down by our ancestors.
* [[The Oldest Ones in the Book]]: Tropes that really ''have'' been handed down by our ancestors.
* [[One-Winged Angel]]: A character (usually the [[Big Bad]]) suddenly turns into a monstrous super-human creature.
* [[One-Winged Angel]]: A character (usually the [[Big Bad]]) suddenly turns into a monstrous super-human creature.
* [[Only Sane Man]]: The only character who notices the insanity in a comedy.
* [[Only Sane Man]]: The only character who notices the insanity in a comedy.
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* [[Running Gag]]: A joke that recurs throughout the episode or series.
* [[Running Gag]]: A joke that recurs throughout the episode or series.
* [[Sarcasm Mode]]: Marking online text to indicate sarcasm.
* [[Sarcasm Mode]]: Marking online text to indicate sarcasm.
* [[Saving the World]]: The fate of the entire known world hangs in the balance, with the protagonists on one side and [[Take Over the World|World Domination]] (or [[The End of the World As We Know It|Destruction]]) on the other.
* [[Saving the World]]: The fate of the entire known world hangs in the balance, with the protagonists on one side and [[Take Over the World|World Domination]] (or [[The End of the World as We Know It|Destruction]]) on the other.
* [[Screw the Rules, I Have Money]]: When a character can screw the rules because he has a lot of money.
* [[Screw the Rules, I Have Money]]: When a character can screw the rules because he has a lot of money.
* [[Sealed Evil in A Can]]: A villain/evil force is locked away to prevent his escape. Usually breaks free.
* [[Sealed Evil in a Can]]: A villain/evil force is locked away to prevent his escape. Usually breaks free.
* [[Sequelitis]]: The unfortunately common occurrence that a sequel fails to live up to its predecessor.
* [[Sequelitis]]: The unfortunately common occurrence that a sequel fails to live up to its predecessor.
* [[Serious Business]]: A frivolous or commonplace activity that all the characters on the show take more seriously than they should, and which forms the premise of the show. Sometimes extended to everyone in the characters' "world".
* [[Serious Business]]: A frivolous or commonplace activity that all the characters on the show take more seriously than they should, and which forms the premise of the show. Sometimes extended to everyone in the characters' "world".
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* [[Smug Snake]]: A character who wants to be a [[Magnificent Bastard]] but lacks magnificence.
* [[Smug Snake]]: A character who wants to be a [[Magnificent Bastard]] but lacks magnificence.
* [[Stable Time Loop]]: A time traveller tries to prevent an event, but ends up inadvertently causing it instead.
* [[Stable Time Loop]]: A time traveller tries to prevent an event, but ends up inadvertently causing it instead.
* [[Stalker With a Crush]]: A character noted for their obsession with another character.
* [[Stalker with a Crush]]: A character noted for their obsession with another character.
* [[Status Quo Is God]]: [[Reset Button|Each episode ends up with the protagonists roughly where they started]], since change would mean that anybody who missed this episode would be lost. If they become rich at the beginning of the episode, they will lose the money by the end, and so on. Decades worth of shows, especially [[Sit Com|SitComs]], lived by this. Averting this has become increasingly common over the years, though.
* [[Status Quo Is God]]: [[Reset Button|Each episode ends up with the protagonists roughly where they started]], since change would mean that anybody who missed this episode would be lost. If they become rich at the beginning of the episode, they will lose the money by the end, and so on. Decades worth of shows, especially [[Sitcom|SitComs]], lived by this. Averting this has become increasingly common over the years, though.
* [[Stealth Pun]]: Pun with a hidden punchline.
* [[Stealth Pun]]: Pun with a hidden punchline.
* [[Story Arc]]: A series of stories which gradually moves a greater story along.
* [[Story Arc]]: A series of stories which gradually moves a greater story along.
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* [[What Could Have Been]]: Elements the authors thought about adding to the story but ultimately never did.
* [[What Could Have Been]]: Elements the authors thought about adding to the story but ultimately never did.
* [[What the Hell, Hero?]]: A hero is called on his morally ambiguous or directly evil actions by characters in the story.
* [[What the Hell, Hero?]]: A hero is called on his morally ambiguous or directly evil actions by characters in the story.
* [[Willing Suspension of Disbelief]]: The viewers' willingness to accept the story. The story doesn't have to conform to real world physics or logic, necessarily, but it does have to play by [[Magic A Is Magic A|the rules it sets for itself]] (which are often referred to as 'internal logic').
* [[Willing Suspension of Disbelief]]: The viewers' willingness to accept the story. The story doesn't have to conform to real world physics or logic, necessarily, but it does have to play by [[Magic a Is Magic A|the rules it sets for itself]] (which are often referred to as 'internal logic').
* [[Word of God]]: Any statement made by the authors to clarify confusing or controversial parts in a series. The name is because their statements are taken as final and absolute.
* [[Word of God]]: Any statement made by the authors to clarify confusing or controversial parts in a series. The name is because their statements are taken as final and absolute.
* [[World War II]]: The historical event which shaped the modern world more than almost anything else.
* [[World War II]]: The historical event which shaped the modern world more than almost anything else.
* [[Writer On Board]]: When the writer hijacks the story's previously-established plot and characterizations in order to make [[An Aesop|a political or moral statement.]]
* [[Writer on Board]]: When the writer hijacks the story's previously-established plot and characterizations in order to make [[An Aesop|a political or moral statement.]]
* [[Xanatos Gambit]]: A plan designed to succeed regardless of the outcome -- there are two or more possible outcomes to a plan, and you ensure that you win no matter which one happens.
* [[Xanatos Gambit]]: A plan designed to succeed regardless of the outcome -- there are two or more possible outcomes to a plan, and you ensure that you win no matter which one happens.
** [[Batman Gambit]]: A plan based on manipulation, derived from others predictable behavior.
** [[Batman Gambit]]: A plan based on manipulation, derived from others predictable behavior.
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|-|
|-|
Wiki Specific or YMMV Tropes=
Wiki Specific or YMMV Tropes=
* [[All The Tropes Made of Win]]: The in-wiki equivalent of [[Moment of Awesome (Sugar Wiki)|Moment of Awesome]], where a contribution is really funny or otherwise very, very good.
* [[All the Tropes Made of Win]]: The in-wiki equivalent of [[Moment of Awesome (Sugar Wiki)|Moment of Awesome]], where a contribution is really funny or otherwise very, very good.
* [[This Exists (Darth Wiki)|Darth Wiki]]: The wiki's [[Evil Twin]]. [[This Exists (Darth Wiki)|Darth Wiki]] is the home of venting, complaining, and tongue-in-cheek criticism that would be out of place in the actual wiki.
* [[This Exists (Darth Wiki)|Darth Wiki]]: The wiki's [[Evil Twin]]. [[This Exists (Darth Wiki)|Darth Wiki]] is the home of venting, complaining, and tongue-in-cheek criticism that would be out of place in the actual wiki.
* [[Sweet Exists (Sugar Wiki)|Sugar Wiki]]: Likewise, a section for mindless gushing and fandom, which is also not acceptable in the real wiki.
* [[Sweet Exists (Sugar Wiki)|Sugar Wiki]]: Likewise, a section for mindless gushing and fandom, which is also not acceptable in the real wiki.
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* [[Accidental Nightmare Fuel]]: Things in media that scare people even though they were never meant to.
* [[Accidental Nightmare Fuel]]: Things in media that scare people even though they were never meant to.
* [[Alternative Character Interpretation]]: Essentially, [[Wild Mass Guessing]] over a character.
* [[Alternative Character Interpretation]]: Essentially, [[Wild Mass Guessing]] over a character.
* [[Anvilicious]]: [[An Aesop]] so lacking in subtlety it's like being [[Anvil On Head|hit over the head with an anvil]].
* [[Anvilicious]]: [[An Aesop]] so lacking in subtlety it's like being [[Anvil on Head|hit over the head with an anvil]].
* [[Ass Pull]]: When a story element is introduced with no buildup - it's basically pulled out the writer's ass.
* [[Ass Pull]]: When a story element is introduced with no buildup - it's basically pulled out the writer's ass.
* [[Bellisario's Maxim]]: "We could fill in all the [[Plot Hole|plot holes]], but that would take too much time."
* [[Bellisario's Maxim]]: "We could fill in all the [[Plot Hole|plot holes]], but that would take too much time."
* [[Better Than It Sounds]]: The premise is [[What Do You Mean It Wasn't Made On Drugs?|ridiculous]] (especially if you take it at face value), but the work is great.
* [[Better Than It Sounds]]: The premise is [[What Do You Mean It Wasn't Made on Drugs?|ridiculous]] (especially if you take it at face value), but the work is great.
* [[Canon Dis Continuity]]: When something is declared null and void by the authors themselves.
* [[Canon Dis Continuity]]: When something is declared null and void by the authors themselves.
** [[Fanon Discontinuity]]: When something that is canon is, for some reason - usually for being bad, out of place, or stupid - ignored by a large portion of the fandom.
** [[Fanon Discontinuity]]: When something that is canon is, for some reason - usually for being bad, out of place, or stupid - ignored by a large portion of the fandom.
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