History BigDamnHeroes / TabletopGames

*** Similar with Kaldor Draigo, Supreme Grandmaster of the [[EliteArmy Grey]] [[ThePaladin Knights]]. When Daemons appear to overrun a world and not even the Space Marines (or an [[EarthShatteringKaboom Exterminatus]]) can defeat them, he reappears in the nick of time to kill them all. However, due to his curse, whenever he gets rid of daemons, he has to go back to [[{{Hell}} the Warp]].

** Fear of this trope was the reason Horus dropped the deflector shield on his flagship at the Siege of Terra (and thus allowing the Emperor to attack him) - the entire Ultramarines legion (that's ''250,000'' Astartes) were on their way. The Space Wolves and Dark Angels (nearly as many marines again) were on their heels. And they were ''pissed''.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Nobilis}}'' has a fairly basic power available to starting characters which ensures they always show up in the nick of time. The more powerful version ensures they ALWAYS show up in the nick of time...even if the bad guys did it 35 minutes ago, or sacrificed the princess last week.
* In ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'', the aptly-named instant [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=154003 Dramatic Entrance]] lets you turn [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=89096 any]] [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=109684 given]] [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=191394 massive]] [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=179496 creature]] into your very own {{Big Damn Hero|es}}.
** There's also [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=46617 Avatar of Hope]], which [[YouShallNotPass can block anything]]. What's so big damn heroic about it? It costs only two mana to play when you have three life or less.
** [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=222774 Angel of Salvation]], which not only makes a sudden appearance to haul you out of trouble, but can also protect you from potential serious harm.
** [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=423776 Heroic Intervention]] depicts one of these, and it also protects your stuff from being destroyed for one turn.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Rifts}}''' galactic setting, ''Phase World'', this is the origin of one of the major interplanetary alliances. A group of [[InSpace Space Elves]] made an alliance with a group of wizards and other arcanists that called themselves The Warlock Council. Despite the name, the two groups weren't interested in conquest, but in exploration. What separated them was how they traveled to different worlds. The Elves used straight-up {{Magitek}} space ships, while the Warlocks just opened up portals to new worlds. Unfortunately, the explored too close one of the worlds controlled by [[EldritchAbomination the]] [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Splugorth]], an evil slaver race. Upon seeing that these groups were easy prey, the Splugorth attacked major colonies. The two groups raised their fleets to defend themselves, but [[DarkestHour they were about to be overwhelmed]], so they [[GondorCallsForAid send a desperate SOS across the Ley Lines hoping someone, anyone would help]]. [[BigDamnHeroes That's when the Dwarves, in riveted ships magicked to be space-worthy]], came in, guns blazing, allowing the warlocks and elves to turn the tables of the battle.
* The opening fiction of ''TabletopGame/HunterTheVigilDarkAndLight'' features a Hunter group risking themselves into a [[ReligionOfEvil Dark Cult]]'s lair and promptly get assaulted by [[TheHeartless Darkspawns]], to then be rescued just in time by a [[TabletopGame/PrincessTheHopeful Princess]].

** Played awesomely by the Eldar hero Prince Yriel. He was an admiral of Craftworld Iyanden's fleet, but he angering the craftworld's seer council with a rash tactical decision, and was exiled, leaving on his flagship, the ''[[CoolStarship Flame of Asuryan]]''. Years later, Iyanden came under attack by a Tyranid Hive Fleet, and the Tyranids swept across the craftworld destroying all in their path. Just as all hope seemed lost, the ''Flame of Asuryan'' reappeared over the craftworld followed by a ''huge'' fleet of [[SpacePirate Eldar Corsairs]]. Yriel's pirate fleet turned the tide back against the Tyranids and Yriel slew the Tyranid Hive Tyrant himself, breaking the hive fleet's back and saving Iyanden from certain destruction.

* In [[TabletopGames/{{Rifts}} Rifts']] galactic setting, ''Phase World'', this is the origin of one of the major interplanetary alliances. A group of [[InSpace Space Elves]] made an alliance with a group of wizards and other arcanists that called themselves The Warlock Council. Despite the name, the two groups weren't interested in conquest, but in exploration. What separated them was how they traveled to different worlds. The Elves used straight-up {{Magitek}} space ships, while the Warlocks just opened up portals to new worlds. Unfortunately, the explored too close one of the worlds controlled by [[EldritchAbomination the]] [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Splugorth]], an evil slaver race. Upon seeing that these groups were easy prey, the Splugorth attacked major colonies. The two groups raised their fleets to defend themselves, but [[DarkestHour they were about to be overwhelmed]], so they [[GondorCallsForAid send a desperate SOS across the Ley Lines hoping someone, anyone would help]]. [[BigDamnHeroes That's when the Dwarves, in riveted ships magicked to be space-worthy]], came in, guns blazing, allowing the warlocks and elves to turn the tables of the battle.

* ''TabletopGame/HunterTheVigilDarkAndLight'': the opening fiction features a Hunter group risking themselves into a [[ReligionOfEvil Dark Cult]]'s lair and promptly get assaulted by [[TheHeartless Darkspawns]], to then be rescued just in time by a [[TabletopGame/PrincessTheHopeful Princess]].

* In [[TabletopGames/{{Rifts}} Rifts']] galactic setting, ''Phase World'', this is the origin of one of the major interplanetary alliances. A group of [[InSpace Space Elves]] made an alliance with a group of wizards and other arcanists that called themselves The Warlock Council. Despite the name, the two groups weren't interested in conquest, but in exploration. What separated them was how they traveled to different worlds. The Elves used straight-up {{Magitek}} space ships, while the Warlocks just opened up portals to new worlds. Unfortunately, the explored too close one of the worlds controlled by [[EldritchAbomination the]] [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Splugorth]], an evil slaver race. Upon seeing that these groups were easy prey, the Splugorth attacked major colonies. The two groups raised their fleets to defend themselves, but [[DarkestHour they were about to be overwhelmed]], so they [[GondorCallsForAid send a desperate SOS across the Ley Lines hoping someone, anyone would help]]. [[BigDamnHeroes That's when the Dwarves, in riveted ships magicked to be space-worthy]], came in, guns blazing, allowing the warlocks and elves to turn the tables of the battle.

* It could be said that ''{{Exalted}}'' takes this to an extreme, as not only do you show up in the nick of time, but you are all but guaranteed a flashy, even gaudy entrance that defies all logic.

* In ''MagicTheGathering'', the aptly-named instant [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=154003 Dramatic Entrance]] lets you turn [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=89096 any]] [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=109684 given]] [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=191394 massive]] [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=179496 creature]] into your very own {{Big Damn Hero|es}}.

* In [[TabletopGames/{{Rifts}} Rifts']] galactic setting, ''Phase World'', this is the origin of one of the major interplanetary alliances. A group of [[InSpace Space Elves]] made an alliance with a group of wizards and other arcanists that called themselves The Warlock Council. Despite the name, the two groups weren't interested in conquest, but in exploration. What separated them was how they traveled to different worlds. The Elves used straight-up {{Magitek}} space ships, while the Warlocks just opened up portals to new worlds. Unfortunately, the explored too close one of the worlds controlled by [[BugEyedAliens the Splugorth]], an evil slaver race. Upon seeing that these groups were easy prey, the Splugorth attacked major colonies. The two groups raised their fleets to defend themselves, but [[DarkestHour they were about to be overwhelmed]], so they [[GondorCallsForAid Send a desperate SOS across the Ley Lines hoping someone, anyone would help]]. [[BigDamnHeroes That's when the Dwarves, in riveted ships magicked to be space-worthy]], came in, guns blazing, allowing the warlocks and elves to turn the tables of the battle.

* In [[TabletopGames/Rifts Rifts']] galactic setting, ''Phase World'', this is the origin of one of the major interplanetary alliances. A group of [[InSpace Space Elves]] made an alliance with a group of wizards and other arcanists that called themselves The Warlock Council. Despite the name, the two groups weren't intersted in conquest, but in exploration. What separated them was how they traveled to different worlds. The Elves used straight-up {{Magitek}} space ships, while the Warlocks just opened up portals to new worlds. Unfortunately, the explored too close one of the worlds controlled by [[BugEyedAliens the Splugorth]], an evil slaver race. Upon seeing that these groups were easy prey, the [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Splugorth]] attacked major colonies. The two groups raised their fleets to defend themselves, but [[DarkestHour they were about to be overwhelmed]], so they [[GondorCallsForAid Send a desperate SOS across the]] LeyLines [[GondorCallsForAid hoping someone, anyone would help]]. [[BigDamnHeroes That's when the Dwarves, in riveted ships magicked to be space-worthy]], came in, guns blazing, allowing the warlocks and elves to turn the tables of the battle.

** Not surprisingly, both cards are part of the MetaGame for that exact reason.

* Some cards from the ''{{Yu-Gi-Oh Card Game}}'' have effects that emulate this trope.

* The ridiculously extensive battle history of ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' has hundreds of these moments on every side, to the point where in the latest [[SuperSoldier Space Marine]] codex, Vanguard Veteran Squads have a 'Heroic Intervention' ability exclusively to pull off these moments...though it doesn't always work.

** The Legion of the Damned is a Space Marine chapter with this as their schtick. [[spoiler: Despite losing most of their chapter and being horribly mutated by a freak warp storm]], the surviving members of the [[spoiler: Hawk Lords]] chapter remain loyal to the Imperium, and have since then dedicated themselves to teleporting onto the battlefield when all hope of victory for the forces of the Empire has been lost, and soundly beating the crap out of the enemy before disappearing back into the warp only to show up somewhere else.

* The ridiculously extensive battle history of ''{{Warhammer 40000}}'' has hundreds of these moments on every side, to the point where in the latest [[SuperSoldier Space Marine]] codex, Vanguard Veteran Squads have a 'Heroic Intervention' ability exclusively to pull off these moments...though it doesn't always work.

** Not surprisingly, both cards are part of the MetaGame for that exact reason.

** The Legion of the Damned is an entire Space Marine chapter with this as their schtick. [[spoiler: Despite losing most of their chapter and being horribly mutated by a freak warp storm]], the surviving members of the [[spoiler: Hawk Lords]] chapter remain loyal to the Imperium, and have since then dedicated themselves to teleporting onto the battlefield when all hope of victory for the forces of the Empire has been lost, and soundly beating the crap out of the enemy before disappearing back into the warp only to show up somewhere else.

** The Legion of the Damned is an entire Space Marine chapter with this as their schtick. No one knows exactly who they really are or what they're really up to; all that they really know about the Legion is that they show up at the worst possible moments, when the enemies of the Imperium have almost acheived total victory, and wipe the floor with them before leaving without a word.

** There's also Avatar of Hope, which [[NoneShallPass can block anything]]. What's so big damn heroic about it? It costs only two mana to play when you have three life or less.

* Fear of this trope was the reason Horus dropped the deflector shield on his flagship at the Siege of Terra (and thus allowing the Emperor to attack him) - the entire Ultramarines legion (that's ''250,000'' Astartes) were on their way. The Space Wolves and Dark Angels (nearly as many marines again) were on their heels. And they were ''pissed''.