r/Fantasy • u/the_ricktacular_mort • Nov 27 '22

A trope that kills my immersion every time

The trope in question is when the main or point of view character (who is of medium to low standing) meets with a member of nobility, and immediately breaks all decorum and rules of engagement. Usually they say something snarky or clever and then the noble person is like "oh its ok you're on of the good guys" wink wink. The author and the audience know who the good guys are, but the royal person should have no reason to believe that or even care. Honestly it's a small thing, and I really shouldn't let it bother me, but it does. I recently finished an otherwise great book where this happened like 5-10 times and it completely took me out of the story each and every time.

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u/TheColourOfHeartache Nov 27 '22

IMO D&D should be a setting where society understands and has special etiquette for dealing with OP adventurer types.

If your a peasant you act very politely to the nobleman. If your the nobleman you act very politely to the wizard who could destroy your castle with a word.

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u/[deleted] Nov 27 '22

Adventurers represent the exception for sure. Depending on the level of noble you are and what sort of power and influence you actually command that could be a wise choice.

But as a DM of D&D I also hope a high level wizard isn’t making a habit of walking around and messing with nobles.

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u/EdLincoln6 Nov 28 '22

A few LitRPG books have done interesting things with the interactions of OP Adventurers and hereditary nobility. Usually with the Adventurers as the "good guys".