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

[MGibster]

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.

Oddly enough I haven't seen some of these in many of the game I've played. The bard as a horndog is something I associate with online memes and comics not with actual game play.

 

[Bill Zebub]

Some new tropes to consider, as an alternative to the orphan trope:

"I wanted to study illusions, but my parents made me pick divination. They said the benefits were overpowered."

"I didn't know what else to do after apprenticeship, so I went to paladin school to study lawful good. I guess I'll try to make partner in my order some day, but it's just a job."

"My dad became a wealthy adventurer after the war, but he doesn't understand that it's just not as easy today."

 

[niklinna]

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

Lucky you! That said, I'd rather make up a background in which I did have loving parents.

Oh wait, I actually did that once. I was playing a halfling-type in a larp, and my back story was that (me being 5'10"+), one day I bumped my head on the ceiling beam—again—and mum said, "Son, have you ever thought of exploring the world?"

 

[niklinna]

Some new tropes to consider, as an alternative to the orphan trope:

...

"My dad became a wealthy adventurer after the war, but he doesn't understand that it's just not as easy today."

"Have you seen the price of a modestly-fitted keep these days? On the borderlands no less, nowhere near a good wizard school or tavern! As soon as it goes on the market some rich dungeon crawler drops down two chests of gold over asking, cash up front, and throws in a magic item to boot."

 

[abirdcall]

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.

You take that back!

 

[overgeeked]

You take that back!

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As you wish.

 

[Oofta]

You take that back!

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As you wish.

 

[Demetrios1453]

Most importantly, the GM can't use them as leverage to railroad you.

Meh, just be like Conrad of Montferrat when Saladin threatened to have Conrad's captive father killed if he didn't surrender Tyre. Conrad basically said his father had had a good, long life, so go ahead. Some stories even have Conrad aiming a crossbow at his father. Saladin of course didn't have him killed and actually ended up releasing him, but Saladin did have a few choice words for Conrad's unfilial behavior...

 

[Shiroiken]

What we're talking about here are cliches, but that's a trivial difference.

Technically correct, the best kind of correct!

The authorities are understanding about some random strangers having killed a couple dozen of the local townspeople and burned down a mansion because they explain that the dead people were secretly evil.

I honestly felt this was my biggest issue...

1st level characters with an epic 10 + page backstory in which they have survived enough trials and adventure to level them to 20.

$&$^*%#$#^& I hate this WAY more!

Having hooks the GM can tug on doesn't equate to railroading. Eliminating player agency is railroading.

This is why I deliberately add plot hooks hanging off my character for the DM to use. It's much different to provide your own, rather than have the DM twist your backstory without your consent.

 

[Yora]

A cliche is really just a trope that is ploped down without the context that makes it work as a meaningful story element. It's there because it's assumed to be supposed to be there, but it's not actually performing any function.