Empathic Weapon: Difference between revisions

 

{{examples}}

* ''[[The Big O]]'' played with this trope a lot. Roger Smith's [[Humongous Mecha]] locked up on him in combat more than once as a direct result of his emotional state. And when Alan Gabriel tries to use another mech for nefarious purposes, it outright murders him in particularly [[Nightmare Fuel|nightmare-inducing]] scene, even if the [[Psycho for Hire|sicko]] did deserve it.

* The Gundams of ''[[Mobile Fighter G Gundam|G Gundam]]'' all tended to have an empathic component, which was required to use their full strength.

** More Gundams do this sort of thing than you'd think. While either Retconned or handwaved away, oftentimes many Gundams somehow respond to their pilot's emotional state. Examples include the Zeta Gundam powering up to destroy the [[Big Bad]], or the Nu Gundam's {{spoiler|psychoframe technology suddenly creating a large psychic wave and sacrificing itself (and presumably the pilot) to prevent earth from being hit with a [[Colony Drop]]}}. Recently, the titular mech of Gundam 00 activated itself based on what appeared to be Setsuna's <s> [[Power of Love]]</s> persuasive argument to do so. In Gundam Wing, when Quatre activated the Sandrock's self-destruct sequence, the cockpit doors opened to let him out. Quatre understood this as the Gundam telling him to get off before walking away to its destruction. The Unicorn Gundam shut down on its own when Banagher was crying, but once he decides to fight, it activated on its own and on occasions, has activated its NT-D when Banagher wants it to.

* In ''[[Space Runaway Ideon]]'', though the titular robot itself is not sentient, the strange energy that powers it (called Ide) has a will of its own, and though it is never seen or technically communicated with, the show's cast know when it has been angered or has decided to forsake them.

* A [[Shinigami]]'s sword from ''[[Bleach]]'' is a living being, generated from the soul of its wielder. The sword becoming broken isn't as big a problem as for many other types of Empathic Weapons since the swords can heal themselves given enough time. In order to power it up to its next level, a bond is required; this usually requires years of training, although there are painful and risky alternatives. The sword spirit's personality appears to be a reflection of the shinigami's personality; when various characters try to learn their ultimate forms, two of which begin complaining about their swords' personality flaws, without realizing that they match their own.

* ''[[wikipedia:Hero Tales|Hero Tales]]'' has the conqueror's sword, Kenkaranpu. It can be drawn only by one acknowledged by the sword itself. First the only one who could do this was [[The Hero]] Taitō Shirei. Later, {{spoiler|when Taitō found out he was related to the emperor, but decided not to run for the throne (and thus turned down the fate of the conqueror), [[Big Bad|The Big Bad]] Keirō}} became able to draw the Kenkaranpu.

* Dai's orhicalcum sword in ''[[Dai no Daibouken]]'' can gauge the enemy ability: if he's too weak it stays locked in the scabbard to avoid eccesive damage. It's also shown reacting to Dai's determination and protecting him with an energy shield.

 

== Comic Books ==

* What Kyon's new weapon in ''[[Kyon: Big Damn Hero]]'' appears to be.

* Definitely John's Kansael and the Hunter's [[BFS]] Blackfire, and possibly George's Tribune ring, in ''[[With Strings Attached]]''. The Kansael is semi-sentient and often gives John ideas about what to do with water, though he rejects many of them because they're quite scary. It is also rather opinionated and protective of him. Blackfire turns out to be a demon bound in sword shape. George's ring proves to have [[Soul Jar|soul-bonded]] with him; at the very least, no one but him will ever be able to use it. It leaped onto his hand after having been torn from him. However, whether it's truly empathic is unknown.

 

== Film ==

{{quote|'''Blue Raja:''' Am I to understand that you have inserted your ''father's'' skull into that...ball for bowling?

'''The Bowler:''' No, no, of course not. The guy at the pro shop did it. }}

 

== Literature ==

*** The Bhelliom from ''[[The Elenium]]'' by the same author shares many traits with the Orb, having apparently limitless power (it actually created the world) and can only be safely handled and used by the wearer of two rings containing fragments of the Bhelliom. {{spoiler|Actually Anakha, that is Sparhawk, being ''[[The Chosen One]]'', can use it safely without the rings, since Anakha is supposed to be Bhelliom's servant anyway.}}

**** The Bhelliom also seems to have a slightly more sophisticated intellect than the Orb; at some point during the second series Bhelliom starts taking over one of the companion's body to speak through their mouths. It still goes in for overblown solutions, though; at one point when they are attempting to flee pursuit, Sparhawk asks the Bhelliom for assistance, and it responds by {{spoiler|raising a new mountain range between them and their enemies.}} It's quite proud of itself, too.

** Appearing in the second book in the series, there is the titular Subtle Knife. Iorek Byrnison examines {{spoiler|and reforges}} it in the third book and tells Will that the knife may have its own intentions that Will himself is not aware of.

* In the ''[[Revelation Space]]'' Saga by [[Alastair Reynolds]], the Hell-Class Weapons are controlled by AIs somewhere between beta- and gamma-level. That is, they don't have fully-fledged personalities, but are quite capable of acting on their own initiative.

{{quote|My first enhancement, that day you bore me through the Logrus, involved sensitivity to danger, mobility, combat reflexes, and a limited sentience. This time the Logrus added direct mental communication and expanded my awareness to the point where I could deliver messages. }}

 

* Arguably, [[Xena: Warrior Princess]]'s [[Precision-Guided Boomerang|chakram]] is one of these.

* The Madan Ryu from ''[[Madan Senki Ryukendo|Ryukendo]]'', who are as much a part of the main cast as the heroes themselves. Notable is one scene where [[Sixth Ranger]] Koichi's ZanRyuJin does his backtalking for him.

* In ''[[Earth: Final Conflict]]'', the ''skrill'' are bio-engineered weapons fused to a human operator's forearm, and which draw upon the operator's own blood supply—so rapid use can cause the human to pass out. In fact, and not generally known to the characters, the skrill were originally an independent sapient lifeform; and despite the best efforts of the Taelons to eradicate that sapience, they sometimes communicate with their hosts.

* In the ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' episode "Warhead," the series 5 long-range tactical armor unit counts as one.

 

== Music ==

* The [[Blue Öyster Cult|Blue Oyster Cult]] song "Black Blade" is about Stormbringer, the sword of [[Elric of Melnibone]] (see Literature below), told from Elric's perspective. The words spoken by the blade at the end of the song are spoken by [[Michael Moorcock]] [[Casting Gag|himself.]]

 

== Tabletop Games ==

* In ''[[Pathfinder]]'', the entire "Bladebound" archetype for the Magus class is a direct [[Shout-Out]] to [[The Elric Saga]].

* Like the GURPS example above, ''Legends of Anglerre'' includes rules for intelligent items both as equipment and [[Player Characters]].

 

== Video Games ==

* Eternity swords in [[Eien no Aselia]] fall under this. Some of them aren't very intelligent, but have will. Some are intelligent as well, and others are intelligent enough to be truly rational.

* In the [[Norse Mythology]] influenced [[Cyberpunk]] game ''[[Too Human]]'' Baldur's melee weapon (it can be reforged into practically anything), Fenrir, is a bloodthirsty AI imprisoned in a weapon. It can be heard snarling as Tyr holds it.

 

== Web Comics ==

* [[The Dreamland Chronicles]]: Alex's sword. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120911032507/http://www.thedreamlandchronicles.com/the-dreamland-chronicles/chapter-15/page-1163/ It's not too empathetic to him.]

* Dies-Horribly's artificial arm in [[Goblins]] combines this with [[Morph Weapon]]. Typically it transforms itself into some sort of spiked weapon in response to Dies' near-constant fear of his [[Prophetic Name]] coming true, but it can alos be used as a [http://www.goblinscomic.com/03252011/ grappling hook], [http://www.goblinscomic.com/11152011/ spiked shield], and even a [http://www.goblinscomic.com/11182011/ protective cocoon].

 

== Web Original ==

* A lot of advanced personal weapons in [[Orion's Arm]] have integrated [[A Is]] to make up for their users' [[Puny Earthlings|pathetic reaction times]]. Some, known as [[Evil Weapon|"Demon Weapons"]] have their own agendas that might conflict with that of their wielders.

* [[Atop the Fourth Wall|Linkara's]] {{spoiler|magic gun showed a minimal level of empathy when it stopped him from shooting himself in the head. It seems to consider him a friend and a partner...her parents, to their [[Laser-Guided Karma|deserved misfortunate]], were regarded a bit more poorly.}}

 

== Western Animation ==

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Narrative Devices]]

[[Category:Power At a Price]]

[[Category:Paranormal Tropes]]

[[Category:Weapons and Wielding Tropes]]