Topic on Talk:Power Systems

There hasn't been a respond for around a year, so I am resolving it.

As far as I'm concerned, it seems to boil down to "A setting has a special term for super powers that means 'super powers'". While yes, it's undeniably true, how does it matter? How does a different choice of terminology impact a story? Would My Hero Academia have a different plot if it used "metatalents" instead of "quirks"? If the answer is "no", then what we have is a bit of trivia about vocabulary, not a trope that affects the setting or story. And I think the answer is pretty clearly "no".

Nominating for deletion as Not a Trope.

Pinging the Usual Suspects: @Agiletek @GentlemensDame883 @Goo Monster @HeneryVII @HornyLikeIAmA14YearOldGirl @Lequinni‎ @RivetVermin @Umbire the Phantom @Utini501 @Labster @Looney Toons @GethN7 @Robkelk @QuestionableSanity @Derivative @SelfCloak

Sorry to everyone especially @Looney Toons but counter to what Looney Toons stated cannot be made as a post but through a document found here: https://1drv.ms/w/s!AicNiSX_78jbg448opNhsf2qJMuI5w?e=O6uHdy

Sorry, I meant to write: 'but to counter what Looney Toons has stated, I left this link to a document containing it because it would be too large to post:'

I concur, it's Too Rare to Trope

Okay,@HeneryVII I am curious how in anyway is it Too Rare to Trope when there are lots of examples on the page.

Mmm, maybe it's salvageable, but it seems more like a labeling.

Sorry, I meant to write: 'but to counter what Looney Toons has stated, I left this link to a document containing it because it would be too large to post:' I can't post due to how it saying 'timeout' for some reason.

I'm going to play devil advocate for Kuma because I read through the examples and noted something interesting.

The title of the superpower does fit the People Sit On Chairs criteria on its own, but the examples often note how the name is indicative of specific limits of the powers, though some have non-indicative names. The trope could possibly be reworked to highlight these distinctions in naming the powers in question and if the name has special meaning as a plot element.

I second GethN7, along similar lines. A number of these powers all come from the same force, or have some close connection to one another, which can affect, as Geth mentioned, their limits (Deadman Wonderland having all powers requiring the users own blood as a cost being an obvious one), but also affects how those with and without powers would react to one another (see how X-men "mutants" are treated differently than standard superheroes). It would require a retooling of the description and some pruning of examples, but I think it IS a trope.

I don't get the impression of this being a trope so much as a piece of terminology that gets a mention in the work description

Thanks to GethN7 and RivetVermin, I wonder if I have been concentrating on the wrong parts of the trope. First, I would want to change the title to Power Systems. The next is where it should be about the Power Systems and what roles they play in the settings. The next is how when it comes to why the Power Systems are unique to every character. The common examples at least I have picked up on is how unique they come from personality, genetics, or luck is the cause. The other trait is how most of them have their rules, limits, restrictions, etc., which makes them more distinct. An interesting example from Jojo's is how Stands can affect other Stands. People with Stands attract each other where conflict will always arise. Another factor is how they affect the story. If it's a commonplace, a secret a few know about the power, or they act as a catalyst that has or can change the world forever. I can say that Power Systems from popular media has their own wiki pages on Fandoms. They are extensive enough that they could go beyond trivia and show world-building for the setting, along with how they affect the characters. I guess I shouldn't focus on the name part that much, but it is interesting to think about RivetVermin's statement. What other ways can expand it more away from People Sit On Chairs? On a side note, what are People Sit On Chairs, anyway?

Okay, if the plan is to shift the focus of this trope, we'll probably have to come up with a new name, then rewrite the description. Do you want to make a first stab at it, or should one of us have a go?

Sorry for not replying sooner, I would like to suggest Power Systems if that sounds good.

@Example People Sit On Chairs is a trope for something so common it's absurd to trope it. All humans breathe air to live, so a trope about humans breathing oxygen would be a rejected trope since that is so common troping it is absurd.

I do like your idea for reworking the trope, it would take it away from the issues mentioned.

Alright, thanks for telling me about People Sit on Chairs, I am not familiar with tropes like that. I would also like to know what idea do you have for reworking it?

If the whole focus of the trope was on the sources of powers, and the commonalities between the powers granted, then initially casting this as about the naming was just about the most unintuitive approach possible. You had me convinced until the last three messages that this entirely about naming conventions and nothing more.

I'm looking forward to the rewrite. And knowing what this is really supposed to be about, I have more examples to contribute when it's ready.

Well, I would like to post about a possible rewrite. The rewrite can be about superpowers that are unique to every character. One factor about their uniqueness would come from different factors such as personality, genetics, or just plain luck. It can also describe other traits about them, like if they have rules, limitations, advantages, etc., which influence how they are used by characters and even the setting. There is also how they may impact the setting where they are a well-kept secret in The Masquerade. Another example is a society where they are incorporated into everyday life to the point that they can use in employment. Next want to talk about sources of superpowers that varies in media. I would say that these sources may be a trait connected to these superpowers. While they are crucial, I would say that they should be a part of the trope rather than a focus. I am willing to discuss perspectives on why the focus could be on about source of powers if anyone wants to. Also, is there a trope or category for the source of superpowers called Power Source?

Also, is there a trope or category for the source of superpowers called Power Source?

Yes, as you could tell almost instantly two different ways -- first, from the fact that your link there wasn't a redlink, or by using the search prompt on every page to search for it.

Okay, so you agree that the trope should focus on unique powers rather than the sources of powers but making it a part of the trope since there is already a trope for sources of superpowers?

I've been trying to come up with a snappy name for this, and am coming up blank. Best one I have is "Shared Rules of Power" which I guess gets the point across and is reasonably short, but I feel it can be bettered.

Seeing as it deals with many heroes having similarly obtained abilities, Mass Super-Empowering Event would be a good page to compare and contrast (although of course, many examples don't have the singular "event")

Alright, I suggested Power Systems earlier so how about Unique Systematic Powers or Special Systematic Powers? I'd also like to suggest Power Grids, Power Structures, and Superpower Singularities.

Okay, I've rewritten the description in line with what we've been discussing, though I'm sure there's room for improvement. If we're going to go ahead with this interpretation, some examples may need pruning, which we can do once the description is agreed?

I guess it's alright; it's just a bit different from how I would describe the trope, but it works. Looney Toons also made his own changes, which works as well. I am curious about what examples would need to be pruned and why?

In what ways is it different from what you had in mind? It would help us all if you could please elaborate.

Well, I made the trope focusing on superpowers that are usually unique to individuals and the common traits that they share such as their limitations, being categorized, and other characteristics that they may share. The description is nice but I was thinking of having a bit more about the powers in the description.