Post/Author/DateTime	Post
rethgryn 04-21-08, 07:35 AM	http://tvtropes.org This site is addictive as hell. It is basically a wiki of every recurring plot device, cliche, narrative structure, character type, motif, found throughout literature, film, video games, anime, comic books, and tabletop gaming. It has the dreaded tetris effect on anyone who visits because you can seriously read article after article for hours. You can even add your own examples or suggest new tropes. I've actually used it for campaign ideas because tropes are kind of like a writers tool box. Everything from having a good guy become a bad guy (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FaceHeelTurn), avoiding creating NPCs who turn into the scrappy (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheScrappy) or the Mary Sue (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MarySue), or various (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MrExposition) techniques (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CaptainsLog) of (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Expospeak) getting (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AsYouKnow) exposition (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheRick) across, ways to move the story forward (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MacGuffin), ways to surprise players with good planning (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ChekhovsGun), and great techniques (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SchrodingersGun) for when the players go off the rails (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OffTheRails).
Alyss 04-21-08, 08:51 AM	Well, as the page says, a trope is something recognisable by the audience. It isn't a cliché. I see no problem.
Zousha_Omenohu 04-21-08, 08:58 AM	I agree with Alyss. All the elements listed in TVTropes are simply common elements that occur throughout all fiction. That you take these concepts and interweave them into your campaign isn't going to turn it into derivative trash. Remember, Tropes Are Not Bad (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TropesAreNotBad).
Artifact 04-21-08, 09:13 AM	Wow! The internet really is a small place. I found TV Tropes a couple of days ago (by accident) and am still engrossed actually. To answer the question in the title: No, its not bad to go to TV Tropes for advice. In fact, four out of five gamers recommend it ;). I forget how I found the site exactly. Think I started out reading the wikipedia entry on my old favorite the Rockford Files, the show that popularized the chase scene (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ChaseScene) ;).
AaronDireBear 04-21-08, 03:42 PM	I love using it for inspiration. Especially their take on the evil overlord list. I have a warlord who can NOT be defeated by adventurers. Period. Name any part of the overlord list and he follows the rules.
rethgryn 04-23-08, 10:17 PM	Ah, you went with the dangerously genre savy route. They should make that a feat.
cat_god 04-26-08, 05:34 PM	I love TVtropes. I'm there right now, actually. And, no, it's not bad.