D&D 5E Which played-out D&D trope needs to die?

[abirdcall]

My family was killed and I was powerless to stop it. Now I'm an angsty loner with no feelings and an unquenchable desire to kill everything I encounter. Even though I'm a loner, I'm going to hang out with this group of random people. I say offensive things because that's what I, the character, would do.

This is one of the worst.

Thankfully I haven't had to deal with it in years and forgot that it is a common thing in many groups.

 

[J.Quondam]

It's opting out of your character being connected to the world and saying no thank you to potential adventures. Which is an odd choice to make...for an adventurer.

Speaking from personal experience, though, I know that sometimes a player chooses a character like that because it's appealingly different than their real life. You know, same reason some people like to play dragonborn or wizards.

 

[abirdcall]

Yeah, the whole "disability and/or disfigurement = evil" trope can go away.

This is the worst one here though I wouldn't call it a "D&D" trope specifically.

Just something that is common in fiction in general.

That said we can definitely work to get rid of it from our hobby.

 

[Oofta]

I think it’s less fantasizing about being an orphan and more wanting to have a character with no personal ties to anyone or anything.

Whenever someone does that I go out of my way to craft a parent or sibling they thought was dead or miraculously survived. Not only that, but they're the BBEG behind the scenes.

Kidding. Mostly. It has happened, but normally I just ask for a better background or make something up if I care. Nobody just appeared out of the vacuum. Well, except for that one PC that ended up switching universes because of a wild surge.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

The DM going out of their way to make sure the players never get into a situation where failure is an option. (I've noticed that this is normally because DMs all-too-often have the only option of failure be death.)

 

[Bill Zebub]

How about the trope “These changes are just (XYZ Company) catering to (undeserving audience, mostly comprised of kids).”

 

[Yora]

The DM going out of their way to make sure the players never get into a situation where failure is an option. (I've noticed that this is normally because DMs all-too-often have the only option of failure be death.)

While also having a script for the campaign in which the PCs must not fail.

 

[jmartkdr2]

I've never understood the orphan fantasy, I actually like my parents.

Another reason: if you don't have a family, it makes sense for you to be a wanderer. If you have a revenge mission, it makes sense for you to be a murdering nomad.

This, plus instant sympathy, are why it's a common trope in fantasy fiction.

 

[TerraDave]

I haven't finished the thread, but yes, a lot of those suck.

Though I didn't even realize they were things...And I run a pretty traditional game.

I do know someone who used the dream thing as a way of salvaging his campaign, but this is like 1 time in decades.

There have been some rescued noble ladies. Again, 1 time I think it was the main plot, and that was from a module, played for a few sessions.

I have done cosmic threat a few times, but apparently in a more original way.

On the other hand, I did use a variant of the tavern recently, but they where supposed to meet, and that happened to be where.

 

[overgeeked]

This, plus instant sympathy, are why it's a common trope in fantasy fiction.

Maybe the first 9 million times it was used it elicited sympathy. Now, it's a groan-worthy cliche and has been for a few decades. Same with farm boy with a destiny. Or the BBEG is really my long-lost parent/uncle/etc.