tropes
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| "Then so be it! I will destroy you, Vi!" | "Then so be it! I will destroy you, Vi!" | ||
| - | <cite>Record of a confrontation between two Muses, identities unknown. This conflict - occurring in a deeply non-canonical instance of //Twelfth Night// - is known to be the highest concentration of Tropes per scene (T/s) on record.</cite> | + | <cite>Record of a confrontation between two Muses, identities unknown. This conflict is known to be the highest concentration of Tropes per scene (T/s) on record.</cite> |
| </blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
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| Tropology does not replace Skills, [[Ideals]] or ordinary objects, but provides an additional boost to their power, versatility, or control of the narrative. You may own a sword, keep a pet cat, come close to dying - but to wield Tropes is something more. Your sword will never be **The Ancestral Blade**, fated to strike down **The Dark Lord**; your cat, adorable though she may be, will never be **The Hapless Kitten**, capable of scampering through the greatest chaos only to be found, licking her paws, atop the rubble; your brushes with mortality will never be **A Near Escape**, where bullet after bullet whistles past you, tousling your hair in a dramatic and picturesque manner as you laugh at danger. | Tropology does not replace Skills, [[Ideals]] or ordinary objects, but provides an additional boost to their power, versatility, or control of the narrative. You may own a sword, keep a pet cat, come close to dying - but to wield Tropes is something more. Your sword will never be **The Ancestral Blade**, fated to strike down **The Dark Lord**; your cat, adorable though she may be, will never be **The Hapless Kitten**, capable of scampering through the greatest chaos only to be found, licking her paws, atop the rubble; your brushes with mortality will never be **A Near Escape**, where bullet after bullet whistles past you, tousling your hair in a dramatic and picturesque manner as you laugh at danger. | ||
| - | Many - but not all - Muses have access to a Trope or two, as do a number of [[vignettes#impressions|Impressions]]; they are treasured heirlooms, valued tools of the trade or perilous investments against danger. Some wealthy Muses are known to stockpile large numbers of Tropes, using them to store value and barter for other goods and services. Members of [[Union]], as well as other brave explorers, often mine them directly from the living dreamscape, or from abandoned ruins, while [[NFWS]] exploration missions discover previously unknown, innovative Tropes in highly experimental [[Vignettes]]. | + | Many - but not all - Muses have access to a Trope or two, as do a number of [[vignettes#impressions|Impressions]]; they are treasured heirlooms, valued tools of the trade or perilous investments against danger. Some wealthy Muses are known to stockpile large numbers of Tropes, using them to store value and barter for other goods and services. The [[syndicate|Sell-Out Syndicate]] efficiently [[dreamscape#trope_mining|mine]] even the most mundane Tropes for all they're worth, while [[NFWS]] exploration missions discover previously unknown, innovative Tropes in highly experimental [[Vignettes]]. |
| That is not to say that Muses must be either rich or very brave (read: stupid) to get hold of Tropes - but acquiring them does require some degree of skill. Acting out a particularly moving romance in a Vignette might result in **The Honourable Proposal**, while defeating your sworn enemy could land you **There Can Only Be One**. | That is not to say that Muses must be either rich or very brave (read: stupid) to get hold of Tropes - but acquiring them does require some degree of skill. Acting out a particularly moving romance in a Vignette might result in **The Honourable Proposal**, while defeating your sworn enemy could land you **There Can Only Be One**. | ||
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| In rules terms, Tropes are a cross between an inventory in a video game and prompts in Improv comedy - they provide one-use power-ups, and ways of asserting direct control around the user used either with or without a Skill. Here are some rules that you should remember when using them: | In rules terms, Tropes are a cross between an inventory in a video game and prompts in Improv comedy - they provide one-use power-ups, and ways of asserting direct control around the user used either with or without a Skill. Here are some rules that you should remember when using them: | ||
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| + | * Tropes may only be used within Vignettes. | ||
| * Each Trope is one-use (although certain rare Trope Cards are rumoured to exist that can persist for longer). | * Each Trope is one-use (although certain rare Trope Cards are rumoured to exist that can persist for longer). | ||
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| * Tropes take the form of cards when not in use. They cannot be used in session, but can be traded (though [[uptime_and_sessions#theft|not stolen]]). We encourage that you brandish them dramatically when discussing them! | * Tropes take the form of cards when not in use. They cannot be used in session, but can be traded (though [[uptime_and_sessions#theft|not stolen]]). We encourage that you brandish them dramatically when discussing them! | ||
| - | ===== Types of Tropes ===== | + | ===== Suits ===== |
| - | Though Tropes are wide and varied, there are - it is broadly agreed - four different kinds, which are signified by a small symbol in the upper left of the card. Some Tropes are more powerful than others, and the value of the Trope Card is signified by the number of times its representative symbol is shown on the card. | + | Though Tropes are wide and varied, there are - it is broadly agreed - four different suits, which are signified by a small symbol in the upper left of the card. |
| The types of Trope Card are: | The types of Trope Card are: | ||
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| ==== Archetype ==== | ==== Archetype ==== | ||
| - | {{ archetype.png?nolink&|The Archetype symbol.}} | + | {{ archetype.png?nolink&118|The Archetype suit.}} |
| - | Whether we're talking about an **Elf** or **The Retired Badass**, these are the archetypal versions of themselves. When played, they will take on whatever form makes most sense in their Vignette - though if they're sentient, don't expect them to be too happy if they're completely out of context. | + | Whether we're talking about an **Elf** or **The Retired Badass**, these are the archetypal versions of characters. When played, they will take on whatever form makes most sense in their Vignette - though if they're sentient, don't expect them to be too happy if they're completely out of context. |
| These cards are <color blue>**blue**</color>. | These cards are <color blue>**blue**</color>. | ||
| - | ==== Armoury ==== | + | ==== Armament ==== |
| - | {{ armoury.png?nolink&|The Armoury symbol.}} | + | {{ armament.png?nolink&110|The Armament suit.}} |
| From **A Fiery Brand** to **A Suspended Grand Piano**, these are generally pretty combat-oriented. That doesn't mean you can't use them in new and innovative ways, but they won't tend to be of much use unless you're trying to bash someone over the head - or something similar. | From **A Fiery Brand** to **A Suspended Grand Piano**, these are generally pretty combat-oriented. That doesn't mean you can't use them in new and innovative ways, but they won't tend to be of much use unless you're trying to bash someone over the head - or something similar. | ||
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| ==== Narrative Device ==== | ==== Narrative Device ==== | ||
| - | {{ narrative_device.png?nolink&|The Narrative Device symbol.}} | + | {{ narrative_device.png?nolink&118|The Narrative Device suit.}} |
| **A Raging Storm** might set the scene, while **A Wig Snatch** might expose the villain for the fraud they always were. These tend to be for when you want to send the narrative in a new, interesting direction - or simply want to enhance the flavour of what's already there. | **A Raging Storm** might set the scene, while **A Wig Snatch** might expose the villain for the fraud they always were. These tend to be for when you want to send the narrative in a new, interesting direction - or simply want to enhance the flavour of what's already there. | ||
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| ==== Object ==== | ==== Object ==== | ||
| - | {{ object.png?nolink&|The Object Symbol.}} | + | {{ object.png?nolink&118|The Object suit.}} |
| Though we might be talking about **An Eerie Mask**, Objects need not be particularly tangible: **A Haunting Melody** could be the perfect addition to an otherwise unmoving piece. A miscellaneous selection of everything and anything, they can be used in any way you can think of. | Though we might be talking about **An Eerie Mask**, Objects need not be particularly tangible: **A Haunting Melody** could be the perfect addition to an otherwise unmoving piece. A miscellaneous selection of everything and anything, they can be used in any way you can think of. | ||
| These cards are **black**. | These cards are **black**. | ||
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| + | ===== Ranks ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Some Tropes are more powerful than others - in some cases by a considerable amount. It is broadly agreed that there are four ranks that a card my have, signified by a number in the upper left of the card. | ||
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| + | Though much of the effectiveness of a Trope comes down to context and how effectively it has been played, it is broadly accepted that higher ranks will be more influential on the narrative of a Vignette: | ||
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| + | * **Rank I**: A minor effect on the narrative, giving it new flavour. | ||
| + | * **Rank II**: A moderate effect on the narrative, directly affecting its plot. | ||
| + | * **Rank III**: A major effect on the narrative, shifting it in entirely new directions. | ||
| + | * **Rank IV**: A fundamental change to the narrative, with almost limitless possibilities. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Example Trope Card ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Here is an example of a Trope Card: | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{ trope_card.png?nolink&500 |A Trope Card.}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | The crown in the upper left and the blue colour indicates that this is an Archetype, and the number II specifies that this is of rank 2. To the right is the Card's name - in this case **A Bound Spirit**. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Below is some flavour of what the card represents, and below that is a quote of the Trope being used in a real-world piece of fiction. | ||
| + | |||
| + | //(Please note that real-world fiction will not be appearing in the game. The quote is there to give you but one example of how the Trope has been used in real life, **and your character will not be aware of it**.)// | ||
tropes.1569350969.txt.gz ยท Last modified: 2019/09/24 18:49 by gm_jaycee
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