What Is "Grimderp"?

[Leliel]

No, I know what "Grimdark" is. This is something else.

I've come across the term on RPGnet, and apparently it originated on 4chan's /tg/ board (and no, that has nothing to do with the popular image of the board-that's /b/. The rest of it is just snarky self-deprecation, thanks to /b/).

So, what is grimderp, and how does it relate to grimdark?

[ZeroNumerous]

what is <...>derp?

The question kind of answers itself.

In case you don't quite get it: Grimderp is when Grimdark gets so dark it wraps around and becomes idiotic. I.E: Soulstorm's Imperial Guard somehow lost 100 Baneblades, the rarest weapons ever produced by the Imperium, by simple logistics errors.

[Comet]

I'd imagine it's just a derogatory term for works of fiction that take the whole grim and dark thing to ridiculous levels. Seeing as 'derp' is the famous sound effect used for being a retard in various ways.

edit: beat me to it!

[ObadiahtheSlim]

It's when the dark in Grimdark wraps around to derp.

[tyckspoon]

This is grimderp. (http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=005542)

[ninja_penguin]

It's basically when grimdark is so overbearingly dark and trying to be oppressive that you just stop and go 'what? no, this is just dumb'.

[Suedars]

Grimderp is grimdark gone wrong. It's grimdark taken so far or done so badly that it can no longer be taken seriously in the slightest and instead seems only laughable and stupid.

[Cogwheel]

Grimderp is grimdark gone wrong. It's grimdark taken so far or done so badly that it can no longer be taken seriously in the slightest and instead seems only laughable and stupid.

So... Warhammer 40k, then.

Of course, 40k is so stupid and ridiculous that it's somehow still awesome. And, well, hilarious.

[Suedars]

So... Warhammer 40k, then.

Of course, 40k is so stupid and ridiculous that it's somehow still awesome. And, well, hilarious.

40k really varies. Some of it is grimdark that can be taken seriously (Abnett), but a lot of it is rather grimderp.

[Cogwheel]

40k really varies. Some of it is grimdark that can be taken seriously (Abnett), but a lot of it is rather grimderp.

Point. Abnett can get downright tragic at times.

[The Glyphstone]

Didn't 40K originate the term 'grimdark' to begin with? How can it now be mostly grimderp, when the source material is effectively unchanged?

[Science Officer]

Didn't 40K originate the term 'grimdark' to begin with? How can it now be mostly grimderp, when the source material is effectively unchanged?


I wouldn't be too sure of that. Perhaps unchanged since the origin of the term... perhaps not. But 40k has changed a lot, I'm pretty sure. Some with more knowledge might elaborate how.

[Emperor Ing]

I agree, the biggest bit of Grimderp has to be Dawn of War: Memestorm. There's plenty of reasons why this is, but let's just say that being in a situation where one hundred mansion-sized tanks is necessary, and then losing them is just...derp.

[Zorg]

Grimdark (as a term and approach) only appeared from 3rd edition onwards. Many players from RT and 2nd ed find the whole thing stupid as it lacks the satire or black humour found in the earlier presentation.

I once tried writing a story satirising BL's often ridiculous 'edgy' writing (I generally like their books, but sometimes their metaphore generator just gets overworked) and it was almost indistinguishable from the real thing...

[Eldan]

Yeah... I think Warhammer and 40k both seem to generally work a bit better when they mix their darkness with parody.

Of course, as German speaking players we at least still have the satisfaction of laughing at Empire names.

[Mewtarthio]

But I thought the term "grimdark" by itself implied ridiculous extremes of hopelessness. If you don't take it to an insanely all-pervasive extreme, isn't that just dark and/or grim?

[Suedars]

But I thought the term "grimdark" by itself implied ridiculous extremes of hopelessness. If you don't take it to an insanely all-pervasive extreme, isn't that just dark and/or grim?

Both grimdark and grimderp take it to extremes. Grimdark does it well and creates a feeling of pervasive hopelessness. Grimderp does it poorly and just looks comically over the top.

[Closet_Skeleton]

Grimdark (as a term and approach) only appeared from 3rd edition onwards. Many players from RT and 2nd ed find the whole thing stupid as it lacks the satire or black humour found in the earlier presentation.

Despite it being derived from 2nd ed's tag line...

It only became a term around that time due to it being an internet term. No one in my real life gaming group uses it.

The loss of humour in 3rd ed was partly due to removing half the overcomplicated rules. The Black Library's output rose a lot during 3rd ed, so there isn't much 2nd ed stuff to compare it to.

At least the fantasy fluff is still silly.

For silly 40k we have Dawn of War.

[The_JJ]

Yeah... I think Warhammer and 40k both seem to generally work a bit better when they mix their darkness with parody.

From time to time I'm fairly convinced that the WH40k fandom consists of those who get the joke, those upon whom the joke is being perpetrated, and those who like painting mini's.

[The Glyphstone]

From time to time I'm fairly convinced that the WH40k fandom consists of those who get the joke, those upon whom the joke is being perpetrated, and those who like painting mini's.

Is it like engineering, in which you're only allowed to pick two of the three options?

[The_JJ]

I'm fairly sure that the three are not mutually exclusive as well.

[shadow_archmagi]

The question kind of answers itself.

In case you don't quite get it: Grimderp is when Grimdark gets so dark it wraps around and becomes idiotic. I.E: Soulstorm's Imperial Guard somehow lost 100 Baneblades, the rarest weapons ever produced by the Imperium, by simple logistics errors.

KHOPTEJhopiaejth;ijaeith;ojaet'hioaeita;etioean;le tj;oaeha

NO, they were SENT OUT.

Dispatched to other systems. They had 100 baneblades, and then they got orders to send the 100 baneblades to OTHER PLACES.

It's like when the gun factory ships a box of guns. Only with tanks.

Okay? The imperium is a big place, and someone got 100 "Baneblade request" forms from 100 different planets at the same time.

[Shpadoinkle]

Okay, take a 13 year old. Any average 13 year old kid. Have that 13 year old kid write the darkest, most evil, vilest story story they can possibly come up with.

99 times out of 100 you'll end up with Grimderp.

[banthesun]

I'm fairly sure that the three are not mutually exclusive as well.

Like when you give a single model in your army a hot pink bolter.

And this is about the only reason I wish I could play.

Well, that and orks.

[Storm Bringer]

KHOPTEJhopiaejth;ijaeith;ojaet'hioaeita;etioean;le tj;oaeha

NO, they were SENT OUT.

Dispatched to other systems. They had 100 baneblades, and then they got orders to send the 100 baneblades to OTHER PLACES.

It's like when the gun factory ships a box of guns. Only with tanks.

Okay? The imperium is a big place, and someone got 100 "Baneblade request" forms from 100 different planets at the same time.

thing is, the average planet having hundred baneblades on it was what was stupid, at least according to the fluff surrounding banelblades. where an planet conquoring army was considered lucky to have a full company of 4


think of it as the average backwater country (lets say.....singapore) having a hundred nucular powered aircraft carriers, plus airplanes, then selling them all on or otherwise getting rid of them.

[dsmiles]

This is grimderp. (http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=005542)

GRIMDERP?!?! No,
http://www.maniacworld.com/sparta-remix.jpg

[Lord_Gareth]

thing is, the average planet having hundred baneblades on it was what was stupid, at least according to the fluff surrounding banelblades. where an planet conquoring army was considered lucky to have a full company of 4


think of it as the average backwater country (lets say.....singapore) having a hundred nucular powered aircraft carriers, plus airplanes, then selling them all on or otherwise getting rid of them.

To be fair, said planet was also a baneblade factory.

[Storm Bringer]

To be fair, said planet was also a baneblade factory.

And, before said planet was invented for the game (nothing wrong with that, mind. Games Workshop do that all the time.), baneblades were supposed to be so complex that many forge worlds had trouble making them.


suffice to say, i just throw my hands up, ignore the whole problem, and get back to Blowing Stuff Up with said 11 barreled monsters.


to be fair, i always prefered that they were not super rare, just bloody uncommon at 40K scale. their're common enough at epic scale, at least.

[shadow_archmagi]

To be fair also, they apparently just assemble the parts via a lengthy convoy system, so maybe the Imperium ships parts from different forge worlds to that planet for assembly and crewing?

[Zorg]

Despite it being derived from 2nd ed's tag line...

True, there was 'grim darkness', but only on the cover of the box and nowhere else. Grimdark (http://www.grimdark.com/)came later.

[Tengu_temp]

I'd say that the main component of Grimderp is wanting to be taken seriously. A setting so dark and violent as WH40K must be written with a pinch of salt, with self-awareness how outrageous everything in it is, or else what you get is a gigantic pile of narm. Officers giving bombastic speeches to gigantic armies, guns with spikes, driving me closer so I can hit them with my sword and everything about Orks are not Grimderp, they're just awesome. Wanting to be treated like Platoon, only on a larger scale and IN SPACE? Now that is Grimderp.

[Eldan]

That's probably the best definition, yeah.

Though it's a fine line between Grimdark and total comedy, then. Which at least the Orks (and goblins even more so) regularly step over.

[GolemsVoice]

I'd say it's Grimdark as long as you can think "this is ridicilous, but I can ignore that, because it's also cool". Grimderp is when you only think: "this is ridicilous"

[Psyren]

"One More Day" (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OneMoreDay) is the perfect example of Grimderp.

Also, the wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider-Man:_One_More_Day)