Invisibility Flicker: Difference between revisions
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An Invisibility Flicker is when a [[Cloaking Device]] or other form of ability appears to drop momentarily, allowing the cloaked person to be seen for a split second. While [[Visible Invisibility]] is another common way to clue the audience in that there is something invisible around, it has issues with not giving much suspense due to the audience already knowing where it is. With an
The trope has the requirement that the flicker is in universe even if nobody sees it. The most common form is when the invisible object gets hurt, is physically contacted in some way or launches an attack itself. In action sequences, this often happens just before the invisible object does something awesome. Many times, it is also used as a form of balance. While this usage is especially common in games where it would be unfair for one party to be indefinitely invisible, it can also be seen in other mediums with handwaves such as the need to draw power away from the cloaking device to power the weapons.
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** Subverted also in ''[[Star Trek: Nemesis]]'' with the ''Scimitar'', which can fire while cloaked; there's a whole scene devoted to Picard figuring out how to counteract this.
*** The ''Countdown'' comic (prequel to the ''[[Star Trek (film)|Star Trek]]'' film) shows that this ''Scimitar'' was only the first of many. Apparently, the Remans have made at least two more. It is unknown if all of them are equipped with impenetrable cloaks that allow a ship to fire, engage shields, and enter warp without becoming visible. It can be assumed they lack the thalaron weapon, though.
** This becomes the plot point of an episode of ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Star Trek Deep Space Nine]]'', where Worf is on trial for destroying a Klingon transport ship. Worf was waiting for a Klingon Bird-of-Prey to do an
* The {{spoiler|Nox}} in the ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' episode "The Nox" turned invisible, but then would reappear when {{spoiler|healing or resurrecting someone.}}
* Shadow battleships from ''[[Babylon 5]]'' were not invisible but they phased in from hyperspace in a very blink-like manner (every other type of ship needs to open a GIANT glowing wormhole). Sometimes they did it right before obliterating enemy ships thus earning their place on this page.
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** Solid Snake not only disrupts his cloaking device, but outright wrecks it during the opening sequence of the second game. He casually tossed his rain jacket aside, lept off a bridge, and made a 10 point landing on the boat below; the cloak completely dies in flurry of discharged electricity. This entrance also made it into ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]. Brawl''.
{{quote|[[No Fourth Wall|"Kept you waiting, huh?"]]}}
* In ''[[Civilization]] III'', certain units are
** Another, worse, problem: The AI doesn't seem to mind declaring war in order to get a unit to wherever it wants as long as the AI SEES no one there. As a result, the AI can declare war because a submarine of his was where the AI decided to move a ship.
** This was fixed for Civ 4 because Civ 4 allows units from different factions to occupy the same square. Hostile ships float right over your submarine unless they can detect it.
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** It's been said that while the B-2 has a very stealthy signature most of the time, as soon as the bomb-doors open, it shows up on radar the same size as the B-52.
** Also true of the F-22 and F-35. Not true of the Eurofighter, sadly.
** To further ameliorate this problem, standard tactics are to change heading before opening the bays, then change back after they're closed, so anything that spots you during the
* Long before stealth aircraft, there were submarines. Modern subs (especially the non-nuclear ones) are holes in the water but in order to fire any of their weapons they have to announce their presence. And "torpedo in the water!" is one giant [[Oh Crap]] blink.
** As long as the sub in question is using passive sonar, of course. If the target has passive sonar too, the sub doesn't need to fire, merely opening the torpedo launch tubes will freak out their opponent.
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