Plot Device: Difference between revisions

Whenever someone uses the term derisively (if they are using the term properly), it is because there is a dissonance between it and the actual needs of the story. For example, the hero has a chance to stop the [[Big Bad]] but he is called away because his wife is [[Trapped Byby Mountain Lions]]. It makes the story more complicated without adding anything in return. The villain doesn't build any credentials by setting up the [[Sadistic Choice]] and the hero doesn't spend time agonizing over his missed opportunity.

{{quote| The [[Fun Withwith Acronyms|Phased Linear Oscillation Transducer]] is a miraculous device, capable of producing such a variety of effects that many find it simply unbelievable. However, overusing a P.L.O.T. device can have serious consequences, and the more [[Egregious]] uses can strain the very fabric of reality. P.L.O.T devices have fallen out of favor overall, but many a young and reckless pioneer has picked up a well-used P.L.O.T. device and run with it.}}

* [http://vimeo.com/24320919 This] short by Seth Worley features a device called [[Exactly What It Says Onon the Tin|Plot Device]], which is a yellow box with large friendly letters reading "Plot Device" with a [[Big Red Button]] on its top and enables the user to turn his life in a movie and travel between different film genres.

* One ''[[Captain Mar -Vell]]'' comic, starring Genis-Vell, featured a very clever Kree fellow named "Plaht," whose "device" cleared away several plot inconveniences.

* In ''[[The Dresden Files (Tabletop Gamegame)|The Dresden Files]]'' RPG, certain characters are noted as being "plot device level" characters. Most of them are considered [[Plot Device|Plot Devices]] because they're so ridiculously powerful that no [[Player Party]] would ever reasonably be able to take them on directly, making stats meaningless, and thus would have to outmanuever, work around, or run away from them; these include the [[The Fair Folk|Faerie Queens]], [[Our Angels Are Different|Angels]], and [[Our Dragons Are Different|Dragons]]. A handful, however, are noted as being a [[Plot Device]] because they're so far down on the other side of the scale that they can only really provide one specific and specialized purpose, such as Elidee, a tiny pixie--even by pixie standards--who shows up briefly in one book to serve as a guide/flashlight for Dresden.