Tropes you are sick of seeing in RPs

[wonderandawe]

What tropes are you sick of seeing in RPs?  I want to make sure I am avoiding or subverting these tropes when I make my new quest.


I have a few I roll my eyes when I see:


1.  Every girl is a potential love interest.  


Seriously, that is a monk who has taken a vow of chastity and thinks you are a demon.  Yet you flirt with her and try to kiss her.  If this character was male, you'd not be trying to change her entire world view.  You'd accept the character's place as a villain and get on with the story.  


2.  Characters with no childhood.  


Yes, I get not everyone wants to deal with family baggage, so I'm cool with everyone your character is related to is dead.  But your character wasn't found fully formed in the bar where the game started.   Where are they from?  Did they go to school?  How was their relationship with their parents?   Did they have dreams they didn't achieve?


3.  Murder Hobo


I get you want to play a combat character, but maybe you can take a few non combat related abilities to flesh out your character?  Maybe your cool kung fu monk can drive?  Gardens?  Is a good debater of religious philosophy because he is a monk?!  Same with social characters that can't do nothing but talk.  Take some Resistance so you can drink and survive being poisoned at least.  


4. The Reluctant Adventurer


We get your character doesn't want to be here and rather be at home doing hobbit things.  But do we have to have a discussion everytime we need your character to do plot things?


/rant

 

[ewolf20]

1. High school roleplays. I've joined one once and I can tell it's going to be riddled with teenage garbage
   
2. Anime picture. Don't get me wrong, I love anime,  just keep it to a minimums ok.
   
3. Coded post. Unless it's a character sheet or a intro, please don't do it. Alas this very rare so thank god
   
4. Underrated roleplays.I'm the sea of garbage, There is a beckon of beautiful, well written, roleplays with interesting life and story. The only thing missing is people getting invested in it. Which is a gosh darn shame.
   
5. Sexual Orientation. Unlike others on this list, I can at least tolerant it but I see no point to it.
   

 

[call me rae]

FRIs - romantic interests that are shoved down you and your characters throats. They have no relevance to the story, barely any defining qualities, and exist solely so your character can have someone whose pants they ( theoretically ) want to get into.


Superman ( the trope not the canon character ) - basically these people ( males or females ) are perfect. They have achieved whatever is the highest rank / ability level possible for their particular species/people/society. They have little to no flaws, and what flaws they do possess do absolutely nothing to affect their day to day interactions. In short this person is finished. They have done what they need to do, accomplished all they can. They serve no point to the story because they have no where to go. 


Bonus points if the player character pretty much patronises everyone in the roleplay and "fixes" all their problems again with little to no thought or planning. 

 

[Shireling]

1. Everyone is Attractive or Edgy. Literally every person that you encounter is attractive, and no one seems older than thirty. In such settings, plastic surgery must be mandatory for all people of average looks. If they're not attractive in the conventional sense, they're weird and edgy with an emo haircut from 2004 and they identify as a gendergluid dragon of the Zorch species.


2. Religious characters that are not pious and know nothing about religion. This really only irks me because I am a religious person, but good grief in most fantasy settings, clerics are PRIESTS. Not only should you know the basics of your religion, you should know it up and down and, quite frankly, be zealous about it.

 

[Borkus Lazorus]

-Characters who are literally there to get in your pants and shove their tits at you in hopes of doing the mangle-mash. I've been fooled a few times into this on Shamchat and some things. 


- Characters with so many flaws that span a mile long wide range. Jesus christ, your person doesn't need to be a anti-social, quadraplegic, PTSD, weird habits, mute, blind, birth defected guy/gal.


- Characters who act indifferent to the fucking scenario and just stand there. ( I had this one-post-apocalyptic RP on Shamchat. The other RPer decided to be a 13 year old child. I rescued her, bandaged her up and then, just to display how brutal this world is; I killed some guys to save her. Then, as we rest in the cottage for night, she is so fucking traumatised by this experience that she doesn't eat food for three fucking days straight. Literally, I had two hours of this bitch just being a bitch and even when I tried the most, heart-breaking replies and try to wake her up from her traumatic experience. She writes, I shit you not.


" Charla's head flopped on the side of the bed, cutely."


I think I broke a artery at that point.)


- ABUSED PARENTS WHO EXIST IN RPS. They're better off dead. 

Superman ( the trope not the canon character ) - basically these people ( males or females ) are perfect. They have achieved whatever is the highest rank / ability level possible for their particular species/people/society. They have little to no flaws, and what flaws they do possess do absolutely nothing to affect their day to day interactions.

I think a Rper could try to play to this idea of a god-like character. Hell, they could try to do a Dr Manhattan.

 

[call me rae]

As I said I'm not talking about a canon example. Nor am I saying the idea of an OP or God is flawed. The problem comes in when you don't understand what your playing. If you think being perfect is an asset rather than a character flaw. When you make a character that can't work with others and instead uses whatever their skills/powers are to control other people. Like basically if Superman went around just killing people or strong arming them into doing whatever he wanted by using his powers against them. And yet he was still expected to be treated like a hero and champion of justice.


like if you want to make someone all powerful go for it. But understand that other people will react to that power imbalance in realistic ways

 

[sevenstars]

The Uncooperative Player - someone who wants nothing to do with what anyone else is doing and just goes off with their own story that nobody wants or cares for. Often plays an edgy loner type character. 


Even worse is when they go out of their way to mess up the game when everyone else is enjoying it. I kid you not, I was in a D&D-ish RP in which one player had been semi-decent up until we were in a room full of traps. This guy just ran in and "accidentally" stepped on every pressure plate and "accidentally" swung a sword at me, nearly killing everything. Luckily these is easy to stop with a good GM.

 

[Birdsie]

REMINDER: Tropes aren't inherently benevolent nor malevolent. They are guidlines that writers use for furthering their own work. It's cliches that you are talking about. They're the scum that must be purged.


Top 10 Moves to make RP better:

1. Normal...ier, backstories. I am not saying that I expect all characters to have a normal childhood where they went to school - but when everyone's parents were murdered by the exact same dark elf, you know that someone, somewhere fucked up badly.
   
2. No identical pairs of anything. Stupid kids think that having two dual wield silver katanas with the exact same inscriptions makes their characters badass. Well, guess what? It makes them EDGY. And a jerkass whose sole response to being offered cooperation is "Fuck you." Is not a badass either. He's a punk. And he must be purged *Lifts flamethrower*
   
3. As above: Edgy characters will be purged. *Army lifts flamethrowers*
   
4. Half-Angels and Half-Demons. I mean, no racism intended - and they aren't that edgy either, but don't you think they have gotten just a biiiiiiiiiit overused by now? Surely you can find something more compelling. How about a half-eldritch abomination? That would be, not only extremely unique but I bet that people would accept the fact that your character had a fucked up childhood because their father is a cousin of Cthulhu and it's completely justified! I can imagine those combat scenes where this seemingly human boy turns into a monster with multiple eyes, made out of slimy goo and with hundreds of tentacles and suspicious append-- Actually, it might not be that much of a good idea after all. UGH, you know what I mean! If your character is a halfbreed (no offense,) try to be more creative!!!
   
5. Mary sues... PURGED. *A whole planet worth of soldiers lifts superhuman-sized flamethrowers and puts on anti-mary-sue-field-generation-helmets™*
   
6. If you're expecting to run a RP with 20 people and multiple IC threads - Guess what? No... just no. (Especially by yourself.)
   
7. More Worldbuilding. Please. Pretty please.
   
8. Strict GMs. They are the reason why we can't have nice things. Burn them on the stake. *Army of supersoldiers lifts flamethrowers in their adamantium helmets and burns several people tagged with "GM" whilst the crowds cheer in happiness*
   
9. More Badass characters and Magnificent Bastards, please. They are a race that is nigh extinct, and it is our honor and duty to uphold the ancient rites of character writing by preserving these holy character archetypes at all cost. For they are good. For they are venerable.
   
10. Speaking of Magnificent Bastards... *Army of supersoldiers aims flamethrowers at... YOU, the reader! One of them steps out and demands: "Submit, or die!"* I think we'll need more villains too! *INSERT EVIL LAUGHTER* Now, it is time for my evil monologue! Whilst it is true that tropes aren't either benevolent or malevolent - I have used this whole list to distract you while I built up my Superhuman Legions of Terror! My backstory is hella fucked up and I am a half-ghost. I have purged all Edgy boys, so now none shall be distracting me from victory. I have purged all Mary Sues so now none shall be able to take me away from victory. I have purged all GMs so now I have the approval of the whole RP Nation and became it's king and sovereign ruler! My army is made up of badasses and magnificent bastards! You think you can defeat me?! *Gloats amusingly, then once again: INSERT EVIL LAUGHTER* (Note, I dare you to defeat me!)
    

 

[Umbrie]

i am sick of seeing characters in Dice Roleplays who cater their class choice, weapon choice, and skill selection fully to the stereotypes of their race. i get that you need stereotypical characters for the non stereotypical ones to actually stand out, but please, can we get a dwarf who doesn't wear heavy armor and doesn't carry an axe? and can we get an elf that doesn't carry a scimitar, longsword or bow?

 

[Terrabreak]

Normal...ier, backstories. I am not saying that I expect all characters to have a normal childhood where they went to school - but when everyone's parents were murdered by the exact same dark elf, you know that someone, somewhere fucked up badly.

This is the one that always comes to my head when a topic like this rises up. People please show some mercy, stop killing your parents! Worst thing is that the bad parents are most of the time alive but its the good parents that reach the coffin. Have them do something else or live in a far away place, damn even having them disappear all of the sudden is not  that bad at this point.

 

[ewolf20]

REMINDER: Tropes aren't inherently benevolent nor malevolent. They are guidlines that writers use for furthering their own work. It's cliches that you are talking about. They're the scum that must be purged.


Top 10 Moves to make RP better:

1. Normal...ier, backstories. I am not saying that I expect all characters to have a normal childhood where they went to school - but when everyone's parents were murdered by the exact same dark elf, you know that someone, somewhere fucked up badly.
   
2. No identical pairs of anything. Stupid kids think that having two dual wield silver katanas with the exact same inscriptions makes their characters badass. Well, guess what? It makes them EDGY. And a jerkass whose sole response to being offered cooperation is "Fuck you." Is not a badass either. He's a punk. And he must be purged *Lifts flamethrower*
   
3. As above: Edgy characters will be purged. *Army lifts flamethrowers*
   
4. Half-Angels and Half-Demons. I mean, no racism intended - and they aren't that edgy either, but don't you think they have gotten just a biiiiiiiiiit overused by now? Surely you can find something more compelling. How about a half-eldritch abomination? That would be, not only extremely unique but I bet that people would accept the fact that your character had a fucked up childhood because their father is a cousin of Cthulhu and it's completely justified! I can imagine those combat scenes where this seemingly human boy turns into a monster with multiple eyes, made out of slimy goo and with hundreds of tentacles and suspicious append-- Actually, it might not be that much of a good idea after all. UGH, you know what I mean! If your character is a halfbreed (no offense,) try to be more creative!!!
   
5. Mary sues... PURGED. *A whole planet worth of soldiers lifts superhuman-sized flamethrowers and puts on anti-mary-sue-field-generation-helmets™*
   
6. If you're expecting to run a RP with 20 people and multiple IC threads - Guess what? No... just no. (Especially by yourself.)
   
7. More Worldbuilding. Please. Pretty please.
   
8. Strict GMs. They are the reason why we can't have nice things. Burn them on the stake. *Army of supersoldiers lifts flamethrowers in their adamantium helmets and burns several people tagged with "GM" whilst the crowds cheer in happiness*
   
9. More Badass characters and Magnificent Bastards, please. They are a race that is nigh extinct, and it is our honor and duty to uphold the ancient rites of character writing by preserving these holy character archetypes at all cost. For they are good. For they are venerable.
   
10. Speaking of Magnificent Bastards... *Army of supersoldiers aims flamethrowers at... YOU, the reader! One of them steps out and demands: "Submit, or die!"* I think we'll need more villains too! *INSERT EVIL LAUGHTER* Now, it is time for my evil monologue! Whilst it is true that tropes aren't either benevolent or malevolent - I have used this whole list to distract you while I built up my Superhuman Legions of Terror! My backstory is hella fucked up and I am a half-ghost. I have purged all Edgy boys, so now none shall be distracting me from victory. I have purged all Mary Sues so now none shall be able to take me away from victory. I have purged all GMs so now I have the approval of the whole RP Nation and became it's king and sovereign ruler! My army is made up of badasses and magnificent bastards! You think you can defeat me?! *Gloats amusingly, then once again: INSERT EVIL LAUGHTER* (Note, I dare you to defeat me!)
    

 

there's a very good reason I'm putting a limit on half angels and demons in my roleplay (through demons have different subspecies so you can be a half-despair demon if you like)

 

[_Line 213]

If you're expecting to run a RP with 20 people and multiple IC threads - Guess what? No... just no. (Especially by yourself.)

Really? This one sounds crazy easy to me, especially in a slow-as-molasses forum format.


Granted, I've also played five different characters in five different roleplay chats at once before, so maybe I'm just accustomed to multitasking in roleplay.

 

[ewolf20]

Really? This one sounds crazy easy to me, especially in a slow-as-molasses forum format.


Granted, I've also played five different characters in five different roleplay chats at once before, so maybe I'm just accustomed to multitasking in roleplay.





 

i tried that before so ya

 

[Umbrie]

there's a very good reason I'm putting a limit on half angels and demons in my roleplay (through demons have different subspecies so you can be a half-despair demon if you like)

are Half-Faeries also Limited? better to ban Half-Angels and Half-demons in general than to allow 1 or 2 people to play them. limiting character archetypes by number really doesn't work well in roleplay. the rule of one (also called the one wookie rule) generally upsets more players than it pleases.

 

[Windsock]

I hate anime tropes.

 

[ewolf20]

are Half-Faeries also Limited? better to ban Half-Angels and Half-demons in general than to allow 1 or 2 people to play them. limiting character archetypes by number really doesn't work well in roleplay. the rule of one (also called the one wookie rule) generally upsets more players than it pleases.





 






 

I'm not sure since faeries do not breed with humans. If they do, the child in question may either get stolen to be killed or eaten. Also, I'm not going to ban a race because it's overused. just ask them to play around with it. Being overused can be bad unless the depiction is different. 


You know, I have half-oni in one I'm role play in participating in, oni are demos more of less but the last time I checked, I haven't anyone do such a character. That's how you make something original, but making over done concepts fresh....and dare I say unique.

 

[Scattered Ambitions]

6 hours ago, Birdsie said:



REMINDER: Tropes aren't inherently benevolent nor malevolent. They are guidlines that writers use for furthering their own work. It's cliches that you are talking about. They're the scum that must be purged.


Top 10 Moves to make RP better:

1. Normal...ier, backstories. I am not saying that I expect all characters to have a normal childhood where they went to school - but when everyone's parents were murdered by the exact same dark elf, you know that someone, somewhere fucked up badly.
   
2. No identical pairs of anything. Stupid kids think that having two dual wield silver katanas with the exact same inscriptions makes their characters badass. Well, guess what? It makes them EDGY. And a jerkass whose sole response to being offered cooperation is "Fuck you." Is not a badass either. He's a punk. And he must be purged *Lifts flamethrower*
   
3. As above: Edgy characters will be purged. *Army lifts flamethrowers*
   
4. Half-Angels and Half-Demons. I mean, no racism intended - and they aren't that edgy either, but don't you think they have gotten just a biiiiiiiiiit overused by now? Surely you can find something more compelling. How about a half-eldritch abomination? That would be, not only extremely unique but I bet that people would accept the fact that your character had a fucked up childhood because their father is a cousin of Cthulhu and it's completely justified! I can imagine those combat scenes where this seemingly human boy turns into a monster with multiple eyes, made out of slimy goo and with hundreds of tentacles and suspicious append-- Actually, it might not be that much of a good idea after all. UGH, you know what I mean! If your character is a halfbreed (no offense,) try to be more creative!!!
   
5. Mary sues... PURGED. *A whole planet worth of soldiers lifts superhuman-sized flamethrowers and puts on anti-mary-sue-field-generation-helmets™*
   
6. If you're expecting to run a RP with 20 people and multiple IC threads - Guess what? No... just no. (Especially by yourself.)
   
7. More Worldbuilding. Please. Pretty please.
   
8. Strict GMs. They are the reason why we can't have nice things. Burn them on the stake. *Army of supersoldiers lifts flamethrowers in their adamantium helmets and burns several people tagged with "GM" whilst the crowds cheer in happiness*
   
9. More Badass characters and Magnificent Bastards, please. They are a race that is nigh extinct, and it is our honor and duty to uphold the ancient rites of character writing by preserving these holy character archetypes at all cost. For they are good. For they are venerable.
   
10. Speaking of Magnificent Bastards... *Army of supersoldiers aims flamethrowers at... YOU, the reader! One of them steps out and demands: "Submit, or die!"* I think we'll need more villains too! *INSERT EVIL LAUGHTER* Now, it is time for my evil monologue! Whilst it is true that tropes aren't either benevolent or malevolent - I have used this whole list to distract you while I built up my Superhuman Legions of Terror! My backstory is hella fucked up and I am a half-ghost. I have purged all Edgy boys, so now none shall be distracting me from victory. I have purged all Mary Sues so now none shall be able to take me away from victory. I have purged all GMs so now I have the approval of the whole RP Nation and became it's king and sovereign ruler! My army is made up of badasses and magnificent bastards! You think you can defeat me?! *Gloats amusingly, then once again: INSERT EVIL LAUGHTER* (Note, I dare you to defeat me!)
    

 

While I agree with most of this and I myself do not enjoy an overly strict GM, they aren't all bad. Sometimes you need them.

 

[ewolf20]

I hate anime tropes.

me too, especially in the pics. 

 

[JustNicole]

REMINDER: Tropes aren't inherently benevolent nor malevolent. They are guidlines that writers use for furthering their own work. It's cliches that you are talking about. They're the scum that must be purged.


Top 10 Moves to make RP better:

1. Normal...ier, backstories. I am not saying that I expect all characters to have a normal childhood where they went to school - but when everyone's parents were murdered by the exact same dark elf, you know that someone, somewhere fucked up badly.
   
2. No identical pairs of anything. Stupid kids think that having two dual wield silver katanas with the exact same inscriptions makes their characters badass. Well, guess what? It makes them EDGY. And a jerkass whose sole response to being offered cooperation is "Fuck you." Is not a badass either. He's a punk. And he must be purged *Lifts flamethrower*
   
3. As above: Edgy characters will be purged. *Army lifts flamethrowers*
   
4. Half-Angels and Half-Demons. I mean, no racism intended - and they aren't that edgy either, but don't you think they have gotten just a biiiiiiiiiit overused by now? Surely you can find something more compelling. How about a half-eldritch abomination? That would be, not only extremely unique but I bet that people would accept the fact that your character had a fucked up childhood because their father is a cousin of Cthulhu and it's completely justified! I can imagine those combat scenes where this seemingly human boy turns into a monster with multiple eyes, made out of slimy goo and with hundreds of tentacles and suspicious append-- Actually, it might not be that much of a good idea after all. UGH, you know what I mean! If your character is a halfbreed (no offense,) try to be more creative!!!
   
5. Mary sues... PURGED. *A whole planet worth of soldiers lifts superhuman-sized flamethrowers and puts on anti-mary-sue-field-generation-helmets™*
   
6. If you're expecting to run a RP with 20 people and multiple IC threads - Guess what? No... just no. (Especially by yourself.)
   
7. More Worldbuilding. Please. Pretty please.
   
8. Strict GMs. They are the reason why we can't have nice things. Burn them on the stake. *Army of supersoldiers lifts flamethrowers in their adamantium helmets and burns several people tagged with "GM" whilst the crowds cheer in happiness*
   
9. More Badass characters and Magnificent Bastards, please. They are a race that is nigh extinct, and it is our honor and duty to uphold the ancient rites of character writing by preserving these holy character archetypes at all cost. For they are good. For they are venerable.
   
10. Speaking of Magnificent Bastards... *Army of supersoldiers aims flamethrowers at... YOU, the reader! One of them steps out and demands: "Submit, or die!"* I think we'll need more villains too! *INSERT EVIL LAUGHTER* Now, it is time for my evil monologue! Whilst it is true that tropes aren't either benevolent or malevolent - I have used this whole list to distract you while I built up my Superhuman Legions of Terror! My backstory is hella fucked up and I am a half-ghost. I have purged all Edgy boys, so now none shall be distracting me from victory. I have purged all Mary Sues so now none shall be able to take me away from victory. I have purged all GMs so now I have the approval of the whole RP Nation and became it's king and sovereign ruler! My army is made up of badasses and magnificent bastards! You think you can defeat me?! *Gloats amusingly, then once again: INSERT EVIL LAUGHTER* (Note, I dare you to defeat me!)
    

Some of these points I agree with, but I have to contest you on number 6.


Yes, it is exceeding rare that such a roleplay functions and lasts long, and I would say that it takes more than a single GM for certain, but I have seen teams and people capable of doing such roleplays successful. For example, AEGIS, which has been running since around February of last year with multiple ICs and far more than 20 members.

 

[Faricarnon]

Characters with no backstory. They're inserted into some plot or story merely to perform actions or do said role than be an actual human being themselves. It's annoying to actually conversate (or rp) with them cause chances are it won't be as well thought as someone who's put effort into creating an actual character. I find this to be a common occurrence with people who "self-insert" (although I'm sure this doesn't apply to everyone who does), who tend to be the ones taking insults to heart and are rather defensive about their characters.

 

[Sunbather]

1. Everyone is Attractive or Edgy. Literally every person that you encounter is attractive, and no one seems older than thirty. In such settings, plastic surgery must be mandatory for all people of average looks. If they're not attractive in the conventional sense, they're weird and edgy with an emo haircut from 2004 and they identify as a gendergluid dragon of the Zorch species.


2. Religious characters that are not pious and know nothing about religion. This really only irks me because I am a religious person, but good grief in most fantasy settings, clerics are PRIESTS. Not only should you know the basics of your religion, you should know it up and down and, quite frankly, be zealous about it.

Mhhh, that makes me think: I've encountered many, many "religious" people who don't really know their professed faith's scriptures, and I've also encountered many people who don't really live a life that aligns with their faith. Admittedly, I am rather opposed to religion, so perhaps my motivation makes me biased, but wouldn't these characters be quite realistic? I agree that if you're gonna play a priest or a nun you should know the basics at least, but for the everyday person who is the "kind of religious but I doesn't go church" type, it's pretty accurate, no? Or are you talking about deeply religious characters where it's the predominant trait?


Also hell yeah to that first one. It's SO common, holy crap.

 

[Transparent]

10 minutes ago, SweetNicole said:





Some of these points I agree with, but I have to contest you on number 6.


Yes, it is exceeding rare that such a roleplay functions and lasts long, and I would say that it takes more than a single GM for certain, but I have seen teams and people capable of doing such roleplays successful. For example, AEGIS, which has been running since around February of last year with multiple ICs and far more than 20 members.






 






 

I have to agree here. It's entirely possible, Aegis is a great example too. You can run anything if you have the time and patience.

 

[Shireling]

Or are you talking about deeply religious characters where it's the predominant trait?

I'm talking specifically about clerics or priests. 

 

[ewolf20]

I have to agree here. It's entirely possible, Aegis is a great example too. You can run anything if you have the time and patience.

agreed. even if you have the patience of a trigger happy gunslinger. 

 

[Devious Dilbert]

These are less tropes/ cliches, but more... things I despise in general in rps and, unfortunately, see a lot.


1. Teen angst. ): Token emo kid that is and/or edgy. You can pick these out easily if their cs has a depressing and cringy teen softrock song as their theme.


2. Dead parents. This trend has reached epidemic levels.


3. And another about bios: Backstories meant to evoke emotion, but instead just make us cringe. Let's spice it up a bit. How about- and I know this might sound a little crazy- but give your guy a pretty average life?


4. That one guy immune to all consequences. Usually characters like this also fit under the category of 'edgy.' They are untouchable. They built their character around the fact that nothing would be able to detain them. This guy could straight up kill 27 people and he just goes home and takes a nap. GM doesn't really care, he doesn't really care.


5. Very similar to above: The guy that autododges to hell and back. Also untouchable and can be defined as edgy. Too perfect to get hit. Combat skills too honed to lose. Every hit of theirs, however, will knock you the fuck out.