History Main / PlayingWithWiki

* "Zig Zagged" covers miscellaneous or multiple variations, such as a trope that is Subverted three or more times, or both Parodied and Exploited. Ideally, the example on a Playing With page should be a MindScrew or a Triple Subversion.

** "SquarePegRoundTrope" examples (They are not the genuine trope!)

** "DanBrowned" (Since this means that so-called "facts" are riddled with glaring errors, you may be tempted to use this to mean "the trope is used in a scientifically impossible way". However, this is not correct; DanBrowned is a trope, not a way to play with tropes.)

* '''Not all ways to play with a trope are applicable to all tropes.''' It should be obvious that [[IntendedAudienceReaction Plotted A Good Waste]] is only applicable to tropes that are normally unintentional, and only gender-specific tropes can be [[GenderInvertedTrope Gender Inverted]], but there are other, less obvious examples. Tropes that are beyond the control of the characters (e.g. tropes about the style of a work) cannot be Invoked or Defied, and ShesAManInJapan cannot be Inverted (as it covers any GenderFlip of any character in any translation of a work).

** "{{Exaggerated|Trope}}" and "{{Parodied|Trope}}" are not the same, despite the overlap. It helps get the point across better if your exaggerated examples are not also parodies, and your parodies are not also exaggerated. Having your parody example be "see Exaggerated" is right out.

** "Discussed" vs. "Lampshaded": A DiscussedTrope is when the characters talk about a trope which might apply to their situation. A LampshadeHanging is specifically when the trope occurs, but is made less jarring to the audience's WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief by having characters point it out. (Ideally, your Discussed examples should not also be Lampshades.)

** "{{Averted|Trope}}" vs. "{{Subverted|Trope}}": An Aversion is NotASubversion. Tropes are Averted when they are ''completely'' absent from the work. Subversions occur only when the audience is made to believe in advance that a trope will happen, but then it doesn't actually happen at all. In short, a Subversion is when a trope is [[BaitAndSwitch Bait And Switched]].

* "Zig Zagged" covers miscellaneous or multiple variations, such as a trope that is Subverted three or more times, or both Parodied and Exploited. Ideally, the example on a Playing With page should be a MindScrew, a Triple Subversion, or a continuation from one of the other examples.
* Adding the "PlayedForDrama" and/or "PlayedForLaughs" points and then just writing "As it almost always is" (or a variation of that) ''does not count as valid entry''! If you cannot think of an especially dramatic/comedic way to use the trope, just omit that point. It will be added in a future edit.
* '''Not all ways to play with a trope are applicable to all tropes.''' It should be obvious that [[IntendedAudienceReaction Plotted A Good Waste]] is only applicable to tropes that are normally unintentional, and only gender-specific tropes can be [[GenderFlip Gender Inverted]], but there are other, less obvious examples. Tropes that are beyond the control of the characters cannot be Invoked or Defied, and ShesAManInJapan cannot be Inverted (as it covers any GenderFlip of any character in any translation of a work).

* If the characters in your examples have names, ''be sure to use the same character(s) in all examples on the same page''. If the page consistently refers to "AliceAndBob", but one example calls them "Charles and Della" (for example), [[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife people will be confused]]. Although you may use different character when writing additional example of same playing, especially if the first character's name doesn't fit with new example. For example, when there is Straight example with HumongousMecha Troperian-Z as character, the second Straight example to potray how the trope can be use differently on EldritchAbomination may feature another character.

* If the characters in your examples have names, ''be sure to use the same character(s) in all examples on the same page''. If the page consistently refers to "AliceAndBob", but one example calls them "Charles and Della" (for example), [[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife people will be confused]].

* If the characters in your examples have names, ''be sure to use the same character(s) in all examples on the same page''. If the page consistently refers to "AliceAndBob", but one example calls them "Charles and Della" (for example), people will be confused.

What is 'Playing With' a trope? Showing what the trope would look like under the usual transformations. The usual transformations are listed in detail on the PlayingWithATrope page. They are things like subverted, inverted, enforced, exaggerated, and so on.

* Be sure to use the same character(s) in all examples on the same page. If the page consistently refers to "AliceAndBob", but one example calls them "Charles and Della" (for example), people will be confused.

** "Invoked" vs. "Exploited": An ExploitedTrope is when a GenreSavvy character can predict that the trope will be in effect, or knows that a trope is already in effect, and adjusts his behavior accordingly. An InvokedTrope is when the character is even more pro-active and deliberately goes out of his way to set up the situation for the trope to occur.

** "Justified" vs. "Enforced": A JustifiedTrope is specifically defined as '''InUniverse'''. That means the writers made a logical InUniverse reason for the trope to occur in the setting. Not that meta-reasons make it a good choice to make it happen. If the writers ''have'' to use a trope because of ExecutiveMeddling, [[CensorshipTropes censorship]], [[NecessaryWeasel requirements of the genre]], or other external expectations or obligations, this is an "{{Enforced|Trope}}". Remember that [[TropesAreTools Tropes Are Not Bad]], and a Justification isn't necessarily good.

** "Lampshaded" vs. "Discussed": A LampshadeHanging is when the trope is used, and the characters point it out. A DiscussedTrope is when the characters talk about a trope which might apply to their situation, but it ''doesn't actually occur''.

** "Averted" vs. "Discussed": A Discussed trope is mentioned by GenreSavvy characters but not used. An Averted trope is neither used nor mentioned.

** "Averted" vs. "Discussed": A Discussed trope is mentioned by GenreSavvy characters but not used. An Inverted trope is neither used nor mentioned.

** "DarkerAndEdgier" or "LighterAndSofter" (These are ways of playing with ''franchises'', not tropes. A trope that is shown as DarkerAndEdgier is PlayedForDrama.)

** "DarkerAndEdgier" or "LighterAndSofter" (These are ways of playing with ''franchises'', not tropes.)

* This should be obvious even to new tropers, but '''don't bother playing with it if it's NotATrope'''.

* Obviously, don't bother playing with it if it's NotATrope.

* '''Not all ways to play with a trope are applicable to all tropes.''' Obviously, only gender-specific tropes can be [[GenderFlip Gender Inverted]], but there are other, less obvious examples. Tropes that are beyond the control of the characters, for instance, cannot be Invoked or Defied.

** "Justified" vs. "Enforced": A JustifiedTrope is specifically defined as '''InUniverse'''. That means the writers made a reason for the trope to occur in the setting. Not that meta-reasons make it a good choice to make it happen. If the writers do something because of ExecutiveMeddling or other external influence, the trope falls under "{{Enforced|Trope}}". Remember that [[TropesAreTools Tropes Are Not Bad]], and a Justification isn't necessarily good.

* Adding the "Played For Drama" and/or "Played For Laughs" points and then just writing "As it almost always is" (or a variation of that) ''does not count as valid entry''! If you cannot think of an especially dramatic/comedic way to use the trope, just omit that point.

** "DanBrowned" (Since this means that so-called "facts" are riddled with glaring errors, you may be tempted to use this to mean "the trope is used in a scientifically impossible way". However, this is not correct.)

** "UpToEleven" (There is no limit on how you can exaggerate trope, so there is no impossible.)

** "{{Averted|Trope}}" vs. "{{Subverted|Trope}}": An Aversion is NotASubversion. Tropes are Averted when the trope is ''completely'' absent from the work. Subversions occur only when the audience is made to believe in advance that a trope will happen, but then it doesn't actually happen at all. In short, a Subversion is when a trope is [[BaitAndSwitch Bait And Switched]].

** "Justified" vs. "Enforced": "Justified" is specifically defined as IN-UNIVERSE. That means the writers made a reason for the trope to occur in the setting. Not that meta-reasons make it a good choice to make it happen. If the writers do something because of ExecutiveMeddling or other external influence, the trope falls under "{{Enforced|Trope}}". Remember that [[TropesAreTools Tropes Are Not Bad]], and a Justification isn't necessarily good.

** "Invoked/Defied in vain"
** "DanBrowned"
** "DarkerAndEdgier" or "LighterAndSofter"

** Three or more [[ZigZaggingTrope Zig Zagged examples]] on one page.

* If a trope's subversion, inversion (etc.) is distinct enough to be a separate page on its own, just naming and linking to the separate page is fine.

! Some common misunderstandings, and things to keep in mind

** "Lampshaded" and "Discussed" are separate things. A LampshadeHanging is when the trope is used, and the characters point it out. DiscussedTrope is when the characters talk about a trope which might apply to their situation, even if it doesn't actually occur.
** "Invoked" vs. "Exploited": An ExploitedTrope is when a GenreSavvy character can predict that the trope will be in effect and adjusts his behavior accordingly. An InvokedTrope is when the character is even more pro-active and deliberately goes out of his way to set up the situation for the trope to occur.

** Several Zig Zagged examples

** "Played for Laughs" vs. "Parodied Trope": Played for Laughs is when a trope is Played Straight in a comedic context, while a ParodiedTrope means the trope is twisted or mocked in order to make it funny.

* "Zig Zagged" covers miscellaneous or multiple variations, such as a trope that is Subverted three or more times, or both Parodied and Exploited.
* Adding the "Played For Drama" and/or "Played For Laughs" points and then just writing "As it almost always is" (or a variation of that) does NOT count as valid entry! If you cannot think of an especially dramatic/comedic way to use the trope, just omit that point.

** Multiple Zig Zagged examples

** "Dan Browned"
** "Darker and Edgier" or "Lighter and Softer"

* Do not list Triple (or Quadruple or more) Subversions. Multiple Subversions are Zig Zaggings. (The Zig Zagged category also covers miscellaneous or multiple variations - e.g. a trope that is both Parodied and Exploited.)
* Do not list "SquarePegRoundTrope" examples. They are not the genuine trope, and as such, they are not worth noting on Playing With pages.

** "{{Averted|Trope}}" vs. "{{Subverted|Trope}}" vs. "{{Downplayed|Trope}}": Keep in mind to avoid confusion, tropes are Averted when they don't occur ''at all''; the trope is absent from the work completely. Subversions occur only when the audience is made to believe in advance that a trope will happen, but then it doesn't actually happen at all. For a trope to be Downplayed means it does occur, but to less of an extent than usual, regardless of the setup. Aversions and downplayings are [[NotASubversion not subversions]] of the trope.
** "Averted" vs. "Defied": An AvertedTrope, as noted above, is one that the writer simply fails to include. A DefiedTrope occurs when a GenreSavvy character goes out of his/her way to ensure its absence.
** "Averted" vs. "Inverted": When a trope is "X happens", the Inverted trope is ''not'' "X doesn't happen". That's an Aversion. An Inversion is where something very much like X happens, but some key aspect of the trope has been flipped to its opposite.
* "Justified" is specifically defined as IN-UNIVERSE. That means the writers made a reason for the trope to occur in the setting. Not that meta-reasons make it a good choice to make it happen. If the writers do something because of external influence, that usually means the trope falls under "{{Enforced|Trope}}". Remember that [[TropesAreTools Tropes Are Not Bad]], and a Justification isn't necessarily good.
* Adding the "Played For Drama" and/or "Played For Laughs" points and then just writing "Almost always it is" (or a variation of that) does NOT count as valid entry! If you cannot think of a well-defined dramatic/comedic case, just omit that point.
* "Played for Laughs" vs "Parodied Trope": Played for Laughs is when something is Played Straight in a comedic context while Parodied Trope is when a trope is twisted to be funny.

* "Parodied Trope" vs "Played for Laughs" : Played for Laughs is when something is Played Straight in a comedic context while Parodied Trope is when a trope is twisted to be funny.

A list of all the Playing With articles is [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/namespace_index.php?ns=PlayingWith right on the other side of a click to this link.]]

* The "Basic Trope" entry provided in the template above should only be a simple one sentence description of the trope. No excessive cleverness needed. Save the cleverness for the actual entries. To save time, consider grabbing this from the LaconicWiki.

* The "Basic Trope" entry provided in the template above should only be a simple one sentence description of the trope. No excessive cleverness needed. Save the cleverness for the actual entries.