The best heroes are always the simplest? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Zeraph · 04-17-2009, 07:35 PM

In scifi and fantasy, particularly in books. In animes we get some cool weapons and powers going on, but in books it's always just, two pistols, or two schimatars, or a single light saber, or a wand that the hero relies on. Like it's never multiple things like a pistol, a shotgun, magic powers, magic wand, and a talking dog. Anyone else notice this? Warhammer 40k is the closest I can think of for more complicated fantasy action. They mix magic and metal, but still tend to keep unique powers/weapons to one per scene. Do you think there's like an overload on what people can keep track of in terms of unique tech? Or maybe it ruins the suspension of disbelief if there's too much going on. Hmmm

The_Jazz · 04-18-2009, 11:11 AM

Hmmm, I don't know that I agree - with the big glaring caveat being that we're talking solely about books. I'm a big fan of hard scifi, which lends itself to the fantastic. These tend to be one of two variations when it comes to powers/weapons: either one side is far ahead of the other (nukes vs. spears as in Stephen Baxter's Xeelee Sequence) or they're evenly matched (dueling subluminal planetoids like Walter Jon Williams' Implied Spaces).

I'll grant that this is genre-specific and may not translate well to others, but it's the one that I know fairly well.

Did I get the right medium? If not, I have some thoughts on "Star Wars" when you have multiple new weapons being used single scenes, as does Battlestar Galactica.

Zeraph · 04-19-2009, 11:01 AM

Frankly I was high when I wrote that. I'm not sure exactly where I was going with it.

I think I'm questioning why heroes always rely on things as their thing. Like Luke with his lightsaber. They just sort of seem to define themselves by the gear they carry. But the hero should define himself by his character, not how big his penis err lightsaber is.

highthief · 04-19-2009, 05:36 PM

Like Captain Kirk!

04-17-2009, 07:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
Zeraph Banned Location: The Cosmos	The best heroes are always the simplest? In scifi and fantasy, particularly in books. In animes we get some cool weapons and powers going on, but in books it's always just, two pistols, or two schimatars, or a single light saber, or a wand that the hero relies on. Like it's never multiple things like a pistol, a shotgun, magic powers, magic wand, and a talking dog. Anyone else notice this? Warhammer 40k is the closest I can think of for more complicated fantasy action. They mix magic and metal, but still tend to keep unique powers/weapons to one per scene. Do you think there's like an overload on what people can keep track of in terms of unique tech? Or maybe it ruins the suspension of disbelief if there's too much going on. Hmmm

04-18-2009, 11:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	Hmmm, I don't know that I agree - with the big glaring caveat being that we're talking solely about books. I'm a big fan of hard scifi, which lends itself to the fantastic. These tend to be one of two variations when it comes to powers/weapons: either one side is far ahead of the other (nukes vs. spears as in Stephen Baxter's Xeelee Sequence) or they're evenly matched (dueling subluminal planetoids like Walter Jon Williams' Implied Spaces). I'll grant that this is genre-specific and may not translate well to others, but it's the one that I know fairly well. Did I get the right medium? If not, I have some thoughts on "Star Wars" when you have multiple new weapons being used single scenes, as does Battlestar Galactica. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

04-19-2009, 05:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
highthief Junkie Location: Ontario, Canada	Like Captain Kirk! __________________ Si vis pacem parabellum.

04-19-2009, 11:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
Zeraph Banned Location: The Cosmos	Frankly I was high when I wrote that. I'm not sure exactly where I was going with it. I think I'm questioning why heroes always rely on things as their thing. Like Luke with his lightsaber. They just sort of seem to define themselves by the gear they carry. But the hero should define himself by his character, not how big his penis err lightsaber is.