tvtropes.org. Great resource for GMs?

[celestialkin]

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...aledEvilInACan
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Precursors
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...aysChaoticEvil
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...eroicWillpower
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...orhoodVampires
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...eYouVampireDad

The above are just a few examples of what I have read during the last two hours.

Sure, this site is meant to showcase the cliches in TV shows and all forms of media, but come on, if the "big-time" writers who get paid in millions can't ever invent something original, what chance do us lowly DMs have?

[Zeta Kai]

TV Tropes is absolutely fabulous as a resource for both what to do & what not to do with your campaigns. Another good resource is the Evil Overlord List. No self-respect villain should ignore the wisdom inherent to both places.

[MisterSaturnine]

First of all, Tropes Are Not Bad. It's OK to have characters or plots that follow tropes--they're used a lot because they work. Also, I personally love the site because the more knowledgeable you are about tropes, the more fun you can have subverting them. For example, I once had a character (who unfortunately was never used) who was the stereotypical "Blind Seer"...except she wasn't really blind, she just pretended to be to increase credibility.

[Oracle_Hunter]

As is unsurprising, I also endorse TV Tropes.

The "plot" section can be a very good starting point if you're trying to make an adventure from scratch. The other Tropes can help you flavor your BBEGs appropriately, since people recognize tropes even if they don't read TV Tropes.

Good examples include using the Red Right Hand and Glamour Failure to sinister-up your BBEG. The examples on those and other pages can also be used to dress-up your own NPCs and add some nice flavor to the game.

Of course, don't use easily identifiable styles (like a literal red right hand of stone a la Hellboy) since that looks like lazy copying.

All in all, it's a good addition to the DM Toolbox, but it shouldn't be your only tool.

[Tengu_temp]

If you ask me, TV Tropes is a mandatory read for everyone who wants to create works of fiction. Which also includes RPG campaigns.

[Prophaniti]

Yeah, tv tropes is an awesome site. Gives you good ideas for what to do and what not to do. Anyone else ever felt like this, though?

[Lord Seth]

Yeah, tv tropes is an awesome site. Gives you good ideas for what to do and what not to do. Anyone else ever felt like this, though?

That was my reaction upon first visiting the site. It was "okay, just one more article...let's just check out that link and we're done..." except it went on for hours. Should've kept track of how long (at least 3 hours), but I know I was up way too late and was tired the next day. Then I made another visit and spent a lot of time there also. It's why when I recommend the site to people, I always mention they need to set aside a few hours for their first visit.

[Tengu_temp]

Anyone else ever felt like this, though?

That's how my normal day looks like.

[The Demented One]

TV Tropes is absolutely fabulous as a resource for both what to do & what not to do with your campaigns. Another good resource is the Evil Overlord List. No self-respect villain should ignore the wisdom inherent to both places.

Except for a real Evil Overlord!

But yes, Tvtropes is fantastic. I'm running a time travel campaign, and being able to look through all the time travel tropes has helped me ensure that it'll be about traveling through time and adventuring, not worrying about paradoxes. Timey Wimey Ball to the rescue.

[hamishspence]

Been reading Tv Tropes recently. I like it a lot: whether the tropes are used, or deliberately subverted, a la Rich Burlew, Terry Pratchett, or other authors.

[Nerd-o-rama]

If you ask me, TV Tropes is a mandatory read for everyone who wants to create works of fiction. Which also includes RPG campaigns.

What the Dalek Girl Thing said.

[Rockphed]

First of all, Tropes Are Not Bad. It's OK to have characters or plots that follow tropes--they're used a lot because they work. Also, I personally love the site because the more knowledgeable you are about tropes, the more fun you can have subverting them. For example, I once had a character (who unfortunately was never used) who was the stereotypical "Blind Seer"...except she wasn't really blind, she just pretended to be to increase credibility.

Is that Genre Saavy, Dangerously Genre Saavy, or Contractually Genre Blind?

[JoshuaZ]

First of all, Tropes Are Not Bad. It's OK to have characters or plots that follow tropes--they're used a lot because they work. Also, I personally love the site because the more knowledgeable you are about tropes, the more fun you can have subverting them. For example, I once had a character (who unfortunately was never used) who was the stereotypical "Blind Seer"...except she wasn't really blind, she just pretended to be to increase credibility.

Oooh. Yoink. Definitely rememering that for future use.

[Little_Rudo]

Another player in one of my PBP games linked me to this over a year ago, and I've been hooked ever since. In fact, for the PBP game we're in, I'm currently running a little pet-project where I list and explain tropes that apply to the homebrew setting and to the PCs. (I'm tempted to add in a Subverted Tropes section for each character, but it can be a bit of a pain to differentiate subverted and averted tropes.)

[bosssmiley]

Re: tvtropes.org. Great resource for GMs?

Chatty DM seems to think so. He's got at least a score of articles on how to apply tropes in your game.

If you're going to steal (which all good DMs do - shamelessly and without cease), then make sure you're stealing from the best.

[Mando Knight]

That was my reaction upon first visiting the site. It was "okay, just one more article...let's just check out that link and we're done..." except it went on for hours.

Ah... the good ol' Archive Binge, eh? Well, any good troper knows, TV Tropes Will Ruin Your Life, so trope responsibly. Now you know...

EDIT: Apparently, this was my 666th post itP...

[kpenguin]

First of all, Tropes Are Not Bad. It's OK to have characters or plots that follow tropes--they're used a lot because they work. Also, I personally love the site because the more knowledgeable you are about tropes, the more fun you can have subverting them. For example, I once had a character (who unfortunately was never used) who was the stereotypical "Blind Seer"...except she wasn't really blind, she just pretended to be to increase credibility.

I think that there was an FR novel with a gnome oracle who did the same thing.

[MisterSaturnine]

I think that there was an FR novel with a gnome oracle who did the same thing.

Really? Poo. Well, I guess it's good she never went anywhere, then. And yeah, she was very genre-savvy (although not dangerously so). Another really tiny subversion I took joy in was a character with bright red hair who was an extreme introvert. Not necessarily shy...but think Nick Carroway, and you've got a close approximate of the basic way he acts.

[JeminiZero]

What the Dalek Girl Thing said.

Dalek Osaka to be precise. Or Dalek Ayumu for those who actually remember her real name.

[Tengu_temp]

I'm sure Nerdo has seen Azumanga Daioh.

And while we're on this topic, read here, the part about Osaka. Creepy.

[shadow_archmagi]

Great. Theres two days I won't see again. I did find the side-by-side doctor and dalek avatars humorous though.

Will use this for next campaign.

[Fri]

I don't know how or why did this happened but Gitp forum is tvtropes' unofficial forum. Wikipedia said it, so it must be true!

[Tengu_temp]

But remember - according to Wikipedia, Yu-Gi-Oh The Abridged Series doesn't exist.

[Totally Guy]

I don't know how or why did this happened but Gitp forum is tvtropes' unofficial forum. Wikipedia said it, so it must be true!

Ok, I never knew that. I thought everyone read it.

[Shazzbaa]

Yeah, tv tropes is an awesome site. Gives you good ideas for what to do and what not to do. Anyone else ever felt like this, though?

Why yes, I have, now that you mention -- *ahem* Thanks for the link, Prophanti.

And that was not my first visit. My first visit I visited 1000 pages over the course of seven and a half hours. My second visit was another seven hours... I just kept thinking I would run out of stuff to do eventually, but now I've come to accept that even at this point, after I've memorised half the tropes and speak in WikiWords by accident sometimes, I still need several free hours if I'm going to visit.
It's ridiculously addictive, but I try to send everyone I know there.

Part of it is certainly the ability to steal ideas from TVTropes, but part of my love of the place is that it gave me a language I could use to easily discuss the parts of plots and devices and characters that crop up all the time, but never had a word, because it would be too complicated to invent a word for them. Instead, TVTropes has article titles, so that each phrase is defined in full within the article, and we speak in Trope Titles... and when you have a word for something it's loads easier to identify and talk about it. It's easier to understand the inner workings of your plots and ideas and characters if you have words for all the pieces.

Oh, and to Little_Rudo-- The rule of thumb is that in a subverted trope, the author has tried to make you believe he's going to use the trope, but then it turns out you were deceived, and he doesn't use it after all. If the work in question doesn't set you up to expect the trope, then it's probably an averted trope instead.
Yeah, tropers have some trouble with that one. Mostly I think people take some sense of pride in saying their favourite thing was a subversion. I hope that TVTropes eventually shows people that everything's been done, so they'll stop being so obsessed over doing something that no one's ever done before. People worry too much over doing something new, and not enough about trying to do it with style, IMO.

Buuuuut I'm going off on a tangent now. ^^;

[Totally Guy]

Instead, TVTropes has article titles, so that each phrase is defined in full within the article, and we speak in Trope Titles... and when you have a word for something it's loads easier to identify and talk about it. It's easier to understand the inner workings of your plots and ideas and characters if you have words for all the pieces.

They've already got that one.

[chiasaur11]

They've already got that one.

Will it ever!

[AslanCross]

Yeah, tv tropes is an awesome site. Gives you good ideas for what to do and what not to do. Anyone else ever felt like this, though?

Yes.

TV Tropes is secretly run by Cthulhu, and it's his attempt to enslave the human race using the internet.

Seriously now, I do think it's a good source for any writer. A DM can benefit from it greatly.

[Another_Poet]

I also think tvtropes is a great site. However!

I feel annoyed when people link a bunch of random words and phrases in every other post as if gamers need a 2 page article to understand every theme, trope, and concept that crops up in a typical RPG.

Bleh.

ap

[chiasaur11]

Yes.

TV Tropes is secretly run by Cthulhu, and it's his attempt to enslave the human race using the internet.

Seriously now, I do think it's a good source for any writer. A DM can benefit from it greatly.

Of course, he's been hoisted by his own petard.

He's hooked too.